Other responses are forthcoming. Each district in the Annual Conference is being asked to bring supplies to the MERCI center in Goldsboro. The Elizabeth City District is supplying health kits (see below). There are three collection dates: the first collection should be received by January 31 and delivered to MERCI before February 6; the second, by February 21 and delivered before February 27; the third, by March 21 and delivered by March 27.

Collection sites have been established throughout the district to transfer health kits to Goldsboro by the deadlines. They are at Windsor UMC, Mann’s Grocery Store (next to Bethany UMC in Wanchese), and Riverside UMC in Elizabeth City. Volunteers will be needed to transport the kits; if you are willing to assist with the transportation, please ask your pastor to send your contact information to the Reverend Ed Rutenkroger, our District Missions Secretary. Volunteers at the MERCI Center will also be needed from the Elizabeth City District on Saturday, March 27, to inspect, sort, and pack containers for shipping to Haiti.

Important Kit Assembly Information
All items included in kits must be NEW items.
All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.
Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

Food Kits Items – $12 Value

· New, unopened & sealed bag of dried beans
· New, unopened & sealed bag of rice
· New, unopened cans of vegetables (pop top lid)
· New, unopened cans of fruits (pop top lid)

Important Food Kit Assembly Information
NO GLASS JARS!!
All food items included in kits must be NEW items.
All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.
Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

A second cut-off is “cutting off” mailing District Work Fund remittances to the District office. Effective January 1, 2010, it is Annual Conference policy that 2010 District Work Fund remittances be submitted to the Conference Treasurer who will forward monies back to the District. Please communicate this information to your local church treasurers!

The cut-off date for submitting SPRC Assessments and Pastor Self-Assessments is December 15, 2009. Ministry Evaluation Conversation Forms are due December 19, 2009. Finally, Pastor and Charge Profiles are due January 20, 2010.

As you begin to move about today and tomorrow, please remember to be careful and ensure your own safety. As you assess damage to church and parsonages (if any), please contact me as soon as possible if you will need any assistance from the connection. If there is sustained and significant damage in any of your communities, I would like to know that as well. Carol Goehring and I will respond in the most appropriate ways we can.

I look forward to seeing you all Sunday at the Training Workshops.

Blessings.
Carl

R. Carl Frazier, Jr.
Elizabeth City District Superintendent
North Carolina Annual Conference
(252) 335-2415

The District Board of Laity and our very own District Superintendent would like to ask that each of your churches spread the news.  The Session Topics and Guest Speakers list is linked below. There is also a document for your own church’s use to complete for the Nominations of the Outstanding Ministry Recognition at the 2010 Annual Conference.  All the instructions are listed for your reference and we do hope that you seriously consider nominating the fine work of our laity!

• Lay Workshop Session Information, click here
• Outstanding Lay Ministry Nomination Form, click here