Greetings in the name of Christ! We are writing you to give you details of the upcoming District Lay Rally and EXPO that is scheduled for Sunday, February 26, 2012, at First United Methodist Church in Elizabeth City. We are also asking your support in publicizing this event in your churches. We encourage you to involve the lay leadership of your churches to assist you in getting the message out to your congregations.

The EXPO will be held in the Asbury Room and Fellowship Hall of the church beginning at 3:00 PM (Doors will actually open at 2:45 PM to accommodate early arrivals.). The EXPO is continued this year because of the positive feedback given about last year’s initial event. The EXPO has been designed by the District Board of Laity and the District Ministry Team as a means of supporting our denomination’s mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The goal of the EXPO is to highlight, for both laity and clergy, programs and ministries that are making a positive difference in the lives of church members, their surrounding communities, and beyond. We hope that “seeds will be planted” and that those who attend will return home inspired to replicate some of the ministries and programs they have observed or have been inspired to start up ministries of their own.

Our Lay Rally is a long-standing tradition in our district. In response to suggestions and feedback from both clergy and laity, the Lay Rally, which begins at 4:00 PM, has been designed to appeal to a broad range of laity—from children to senior citizens. Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, Resident Bishop of the Mississippi Conference and a native of Gates County, will preach our sermon. In addition to inspired preaching, many avenues to worship involving youth and adults will be featured. A special offering to support district laity initiatives will be received. Scouts from our district will serve as ushers for the Lay Rally. Nursery service will be provided. If you have questions about any of the details of the Lay Rally and EXPO, please contact either of us. John’s contact information is jguard@mchsi.com or (252) 482-4733.

In addition to your helping get the word out and encouraging attendance at the District Lay Rally and EXPO, we ask that you join us in praying that God will use this event to strengthen the churches in our district. We pray that God will continue to bless and guide each of you as you serve your churches in His name.

— John Guard, District Lay Leader

The agenda for the afternoon will include an abbreviated worship service followed by workshop sessions focusing on six topics. Workshop sessions are designed to assist churches by equipping laity to work hand-in-hand with their pastors to achieve our denominational goal of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

We are fortunate to have secured strong presenters for each workshop topic. In response to feedback from participants over the years, the District Board of Laity (DBOL) has changed the format for the workshops in an effort to allow most participants to attend sessions on two different topics (in past years, the format allowed participants to choose only one session to attend). Five of the six workshop topics are scheduled for fifty minutes in length and will be repeated. Churches can, in effect, cover twice as many topics when compared to past years. Workshop topics that will be presented for two sessions include the following:

(1) “Christian Formation: Sunday School & Beyond”—Steve Taylor, Outreach Ministry Team Coordinator,
NCCUMC Staff
(2) “Programming for Older Adult Ministries”—Juanita Staples, Trinity UMC, District Older Adult Ministries
Coordinator
(3) “Reaching Out Through Children & Youth Ministries”—Rev. Susie Fitch-Slater, Mt. Hermon UMC & Rev.
Toni Wood, Newland UMC, District Youth Coordinators
(4) “The Role of the Staff/Parish Committee in Strengthening Your Church’s Ministry & Outreach”—Rev.
Richard Stone, District Superintendent
(5) “Vision Casting for 21st Century Ministry & Outreach”—Rev. Larry Bowden, Hertford UMC
The following workshop is scheduled as a “double” session and will NOT be repeated:
(6) “Nuts & Bolts for Church Treasurers, Financial Secretaries & Finance Committees”—Conference
Treasurer, Christine Dodson, NCCUMC Staff

The DBOL is asking pastors to encourage attendance at the District Workshops. Please share this information with your lay leaders and also help us publicize through your church-wide communications. Although both experienced and new officers and committee chairs can benefit from attendance, workshops are open to all laity as well as clergy.

Thank you in advance for your support of the District Laity Workshops. I pray for each of your congregations as you lead them in active Christian service. Feel free to contact me at (252) 482-4733 or email me at jguard@mchsi.com if you have questions or need more information on the workshops.

In Christ’s Service,
John E. Guard, District Lay Leader

• Hurricane Irene Team Information Packet
• 2010 ERT On Site Management Resource Guide
• 2010 ERT On Site Management PP handout

Choose one of the following:

1.       Visit www.nccumvim.org and register your availability to serve as an individual or as a team.

2.       Contact the NC Disaster Response Call Center directly at (888) 440-9167 or via email at disasterresponse@nccumc.org.

You will be asked to provide the appropriate contact and supplemental information to allow the staff to match your skills with the requests for help in the most efficient manner possible.

Visit our EC District Download Page (click here) for more information.

2011 CHARGE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

CHARGE DAY/DATE/TIME HOSTING CHURCH

• Grace*, Perkins/Wesley*,    Sunday, Sept. 18–6:30 PM,  Grace (E. City)
• Bethany (Chowan)/ Perquimans Charge*,   Tuesday, Sept. 20–6:30 PM, Perquimans Charge
• McBride/Camden*,   Wednesday, Sept 21–6:30 PM, Camden
• All God’s Children*,   Thursday, Sept. 22- 6:30 PM,  All God’s Children (Aulander)
• Colerain, Harrellville/Powellville, Ahoskie*, Sunday, Sept. 25–2:30 PM Ahoskie (Ahoskie)
• South Mills Charge/Newland*,  Tuesday Sept. 27–6:30 PM,  Newland
• Shiloh/Mann’s Harbor Charge*,  Wednesday, Sept. 28, 6:30 PM,  Manns Harbor Charge
• Center Hill/Anderson*,  Sunday, Oct. 2–1:00 PM,  Anderson
• Newbegun/Riverside*,  Sunday, Oct. 2- 5:00 PM,  Riverside
• Mighty Wind/ Colington*,   Tuesday, Oct 4, 6:30 PM,  Colington/ K.D.H)
• North Gates Charge/ Gatesville Charge*,   Wednesday, Oct. 5 – 6:30 PM,  Gatesville
• Union/Murfreesboro*,  Thursday, Oct. 6 – 6:30 PM,  Murfreesboro
• Plymouth/Windsor*,   Sunday, Oct . 9 – 4:00 PM,  Windsor
• Mt. Hermon (Creswell)/ Albemarle Charge*,   Monday, Oct 10 – 6:30 PM,  Albemarle Charge
• Clarks Bethel/Fairhaven*,  Tuesday, Oct. 11 – 6:30 PM,  Fairhaven (Rodanthe)
• Duck/Kitty Hawk*,   Wednesday, Oct 12 – 6:30 PM,  Kitty Hawk
• Ocracoke*,   Sunday, Oct 16 – 11:00 AM,  Ocracoke (Ocracoke)
• St. John’s/Hatteras Charge*,  Sunday, Oct 16 – 3:00 PM,  Hatteras Charge
• New Hope/Hertford*,  Sunday, Oct. 23 -3:00 PM,   Hertford
• Creswell/Tyrell Charge*,  Monday, Oct. 24 – 6:30 PM,  Wesley Memorial Columbia
• Mt. Olivet/ Bethany (Wanchese)*, Wednesday, Oct 26 – 6:30 PM,  Bethany Wanchese
• Edenton*,    Thursday, Oct 27 – 6:30 PM,  Edenton (Edenton)
• Moyock/Pilmoor Memorial*,  Sunday, Oct. 30, 3:00  PM,   Pilmoor
• Mt. Hermon (E. City)/Woodland*, Monday, Oct 31, 6:30 PM,  Woodland
• First UMC (E. City)/City Road*,  Wednesday, Nov 2 – 6:30 PM,  City Roads
• Sharon/Currituck Charge*,  Thursday, Nov. 3 – 6:30 PM,  Currituck Charge

ITEMS NEEDED Prayers for affected areas and persons Tarps (all sizes) Health Kits and/or supplies to assemble the kits Flood Buckets and/or supplies to assemble the buckets Baby Supplies especially disp. diapers and baby wipes Pop-Top Food (i.e., prepared food item in easy-open cans) Paper Products School Suppplies.

Steve Taylor (Outreach Team Coordinator, NCCUMC)
Email: tornardoresponse@nccumc.org -
MERCI website: www.merciumc.org