August 30, 2016
Transition Week
Bishop Goodpaster is closing out his last days as bishop before Bishop Paul Leeland begins his work on September 1.  The Children's Home Sunday is September 11th, please plan to celebrate in your local church.  Be sure to take a look at the many upcoming opportunities for continuing education and leadership development.  Please share all of this with your local congregation.


The next full issue of ENews will be September 13 , 2016,  please get news items and information to  mrich@wnccumc.org  no later than  September 8, 2016.

The Children's Home Sunday is September 11th

Join congregations around the Conference on September 11, 2016 to pray for our children and to support the important work we do at The Children's Home. Based on your own church calendar, you may have chosen another date to highlight The Children's Home and we would love to know the date so we can be praying for your congregation.

Download Resources for September 11th

CONFERENCE NEWS AND NOTES


2016 CLERGY ASSESSMENTS

The deadline for completion of all assessment documents is 
November 2.
 
To determine which forms need to be completed, please use  this chart
.
For detailed instructions, please click  here. |  Website Resource


BUILDING TEAMS FALL CONFERENCE- SEPTEMBER 16-18

Expanding Our Connections
Sept. 16-18, 2016
Camp Tekoa
211 Thomas Rd, Hendersonville NC





DISASTER RESPONSE INFORMATION

The devastating flooding in South Louisiana is still in the rescue phase. It is too early for early response teams to go in but there are still tangible ways you can help. Through your local church - Place your gift in the offering plate at your church. Please make the check clearly identifiable as being for the benefit of UMCOR. Make the check out  to UMCOR and in the memo line write Disaster Response, United States (#901670) or send a check directly to the Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Please note "AUGUST 2016 FLOOD" in the memo field, this will go directly to Louisiana relief efforts.



UPCOMING DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING

Training sessions available on the following dates:



LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Courageous Leadership: Healthy Ministry in the Midst of Change - This workshop has been designed and will be led by Kathryn McElveen and Dave Zietlow, a clergy and lay member of WNC. Changes in our communities, our congregations, our families, and ourselves call for individual and communal courage, the kind of courage that comes from the heart of leadership.  This 3-day retreat introduces habits and practices of courageous leadership for ourselves and our communities in the midst of change, and supports our accessing the courage we need to lean into the challenges ahead.  September 12-14, 2016 at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory. READ MORE
 
Creating a Culture of Renewal interrupts church decline by empowering church leaders-clergy and laity-to do the impossible with people who may not even get along!  We do this by equipping you with emotional intelligence and practical leadership skills to enable your church to dream like Jesus again.  Three WNC clergy scholarships are available for   Track 1: Culture and Communication  a 6-month process that runs January-June 2017. 



WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY IS OCTOBER 2ND

Start planning now-  
The North Carolina Council of Churches is sponsoring workshops across the state this fall helping churches to deal with issues of our political climate.
 "The North Carolina Council of Churches believes that when churches are used for political purposes and when politics is used to advance contentious religious dogma, the integrity of both are undermined." 


Nominations sought for Culture of the Call Award

The Foundation for Evangelism invites nominations for its 2016 Culture of the Call Church Award, which recognizes local United Methodist churches that excel in nurturing young people who are called to Christian service. The award includes a plaque and $1,000 grant. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 15. Self-nominations are welcome.
To learn more 

Grant Writing Seminar
United Methodist Foundation in Huntersville
Oct. 7th 10 am - 1 pm
$10 for lunch
Checks made to UMF,WNC payable at the door
Get details and registration information


HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY INVITES YOU TO CHAPEL SERVICES AND MORE

Check out 2016 -2017 programming coming from High Point University¹s Chapel and Religious Life Office. We are excited to be living out our UMC heritage and connection. Join us for all of these events and keep up with what is happening in religious life at High Point University. Download 2016-17 Brochure | Checkout Facebook Page


MISSION ENGAGEMENT TEAM SURVEY

The Conference Mission Engagement Team exists to equip churches of the WNCC to participate in the mission of God. We are asking that strategic leaders from each church spend time filling in the following Survey Monkey- 
Please fill in one survey per church.

 
For Your Information:

COMMONGROUND ROUNDTABLE

Saturday, Sept. 10 @ 10am-1pm
at Bethpage UMC, 109 Fellowship Ave, Kannapolis, NC 28081.  Sharing best practices and making connections with congregations cultivating (or curious about) third spaces beyond their walls where neighbors connect with God and each other.  Bring pictures and stories.  
Lunch will be served.  Please RSVP to Noel Sweezy @ PreacherNoel@gmail.com.

MISSIONS 3.0
 
Davidson UMC is hosting a missions conference September 23-24 especially designed for missions teams and missional networks to come and hear about the best practices for missions in the 21st century.  Teams will be seated together at tables to hear from Rev. Tom Bassford, a Kansas-city based missions consultant.  Rev. Bassford will speak, share about successes and failures, and then give teams an opportunity to discuss and plan and receive feedback about their own missions' strategy.  The cost is intentionally being kept low so that churches of all sizes can participate.   Details for the event


TEACHING AND LEADING SMALL GROUPS Course
 
1.0 CEU offered upon completion of this course.  Price:$50.00

Life Around the Table Retreat- Eating Together- September 23-24

Life Around the Table invites you to join us for a weekend retreat September 23-24 to celebrate the mystery and miracles that happen when we gather around the table.  At the retreat you will get a taste of our new curriculum, Eating Together, and its application to your community, along with opportunities for creative worship, storytelling, networking with local food practitioners, and hands-on workshops. Come and take part in an extended conversation about food and faith as we eat together.


Healthy Parsonage Family Workshops

The nonprofit Ministry Development Services will continue its Healthy Parsonage Family workshop series Sept. 13, September 27, October 25 -  Details


Duke Convocation and Pastor's School- October 10-11

2016 Convocation & Pastors' School
, Oct. 10-11 at Duke Divinity School. The annual two-day conference offers lectures, worship and seminars for Christian leaders of all traditions.  Register for Convocation & Pastors' School


2016 WNCC ELDERS' RETREAT
.
November 14-16 | Lake Junaluska, NC | Registration open now!


BIG SIGH MINISTRIES OFFERS GRACE BREAK WORKSHOPS

Upcoming workshop  for clergy September 22


THE BIG SILENCE
 
You are invited to experience big spaces of solitude and silence in community for the purpose of tending the inner fire of your soul. Inspired by the documentary The Big Silence with Abbot Christopher Jamison, and encouraged by several Clergy School of the Spirit students, this 4-day mostly silent retreat will be grounded in the modern classic The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen. Since it was first published more than twenty years ago, The Way of the Heart has helped millions of men and women cast off the anger and greed that trouble the world--and find love, compassion and peace in the heart of God. The Big Silence Retreat will be held January 15-18, 2017.  Click here for more information:  http://www.centenary-ws.org/?p=4860  
 
 


Rally for Recovery

September 10, 10 am - 2:00 pm at Lake Junaluska (Open Air Gym) More Information
 

A Fresh Wind Blowing - UMW Celebration - September 9-11

Go to www.wnccumw.org for detailed information and on-line advance registration.  Take advantage of the $15 discount on-line registration; on-site registration will be $25. Event Item


Changing Church: A Challenge and a Chance

September 15, 9 am - 3 pm at Lake Junaluska- Mary Scifres, Workshop Leader. FULL DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

Preaching Workshop- "Sermons that Stick and Series that Pop"

September 26th- 9:30- 11:30 am- Morris Chapel UMC in Walkertown  - Talbot Davis is the presenter- More information


Sprinkle Preaching Mission- September 18-20

First UMC, Mocksville . With Dr. James Moore of Dallas, TX. More details


Stewardship in African American Church 

October 22, 2016 at Greater Vision UMC in Huntersville, NC-  more details


Nadia Bolz-Weber Lecture

November 7th at Davidson College- More Information


More offerings from local churches, plus ongoing information and calendar items are in the full version-see link below:

 



 
Upcoming Events

Labor Day Weekend
Adult Hike 
Sep 2 @ 2:00 pm -
Sep 5 @ 12:00 pm

WNC United Methodist Women's Celebration 
Sep 9 @ 4:00 pm -
Sep 11 @ 12:00 pm
 
ERT - Recertification 
Sep 9 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
 
ERT Basic 
Sep 10 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
 
CommonGround
Roundtable 
Sep 10 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Rally for Recovery 
Sep 10 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

2016 Strength
for Service Initiative 
Sep 11

The Children's Home Sunday 
Sep 11
 

Newest Careers

Director of Children &
Youth Ministries
Cashiers UMC
Cashiers, NC
 
Children/Youth Director
Bethesda UMC,
Haw Creek Commons
Asheville NC

Reservations Specialist
Asbury Hills Camp &
Retreat Center
Cleveland, SC
 
  Nursery Worker
Hickory Grove UMC
Charlotte, NC

Music Director
Oak Hill UMC
Morganton, NC