OAK GROVE

GRACE SUFFICIENT

Elizabeth City District – March 2010

R. Carl Frazier, Jr., Superintendent

LAITY  WEEKEND  HAS  FINALLY  ARRIVED

COME  JOIN  IN

( Just Come and Enjoy  -- No Registration Required )

TWO  WORKSHOPS  OFFERED  SATURDAY  &  THE  LAY  RALLY  ON  SUNDAY

 We will be welcoming John Ed Mathison to the Elizabeth City District this weekend, March 6-7.  On Saturday March 6, John Ed will be leading a workshop on small group ministries as formation for lay leadership in the congregation.  The workshop will be offered twice.  The first workshop will be at Edenton UMC at 10 a.m. Saturday and the second workshop will be at Mount Olivet in Manteo at 2:00 p.m. Saturday.

Then, on Sunday, March 7, John Ed will be the keynote speaker at the District Lay Rally at First UMC, Elizabeth City at 3 p.m.  

BISHOP  GWIN  IS  VISITING SOON  :   EPISCOPAL  EXPERIENCES

Bishop Gwinn will be in the Elizabeth City District on April 22 at Edenton United Methodist Church.  The gathering for clergy will be at 2:00 p.m. that afternoon and a gathering for lay leadership (lay leaders, council chairs, etc.) will be at 7:00 p.m. 

CLERGY  SPOUSE  DAY  IS FAST  APPROACHING

Or something like that.  Please remember to let your spouse (spice?) know of the Conference Clergy Spouses’ Day Apart on Saturday, April 24  at Nashville UMC.  Margaret Therkelsen will be the featured speaker.  We are asking that spouses who are planning to attend contact the district office so that carpooling can be coordinated. 

“SINGING WHAT WE BELIEVE”  …  COME  &  JOIN  US  AT  SHARON UMC

Wednesday, March 17^th at  7 p.m.

Darlene  At   The  District  Office  Wants  You  To  Know :

THANK  YOU  FOR  ALL YOUR  SUPPORT !

     Now that the paperwork deadlines have passed (for now) and the year end fiscal responsibilities have been met, it is time to look forward to the new year and all the new adventures it will bring!  So, we simply have to keep moving forward and hope that the changes that are coming are both wise and beneficial for all.  Keep up the good work and try to keep me on my toes!

AN EVENING WITH KAY WARREN  --  A Benefit for Orphaned Children in Africa

Duke Chapel, Duke University Campus, Durham, NC

Kay Warren’s ministry “is the story of someone who models the journey from self-interested religiosity to unconditionally loving Christ by embracing the lepers of our own age--the victims of HIV/AIDS,” writes speaker, author, and pastor Tony Campolo.  Ms. Warren, author, activist, wife of Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren, challenges everyone, especially the church, to actively make a difference on behalf of those who suffer due to HIV/AIDS.  Join ZOE Ministry for this special Evening with Kay Warren at 7:30pm on March 19.  100% of your ticket purchase will make a difference in the lives of children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa .  Also offered that day is a free Mission Symposium with the Rev. Shane Stanford at 3:30pm. Rev. Stanford will be in Durham to speak about his journey as an HIV+ hemophiliac and Christian minister who contracted the disease during a blood transfusion and to introduce Kay Warren that evening.  For tickets and more information visit the Duke University Box office at http://tickets.duke.edu/default.asp

DISTRICT  YOUTH  EVENTS  . . .   Susie Fitch-Slater

March 20      Confirmation Celebration  10am-2:30 pm at Edenton UMC . A day for confirmation classes to come together for fellowship and worship as we explore what it means to service Christ and his church with our gifts, our prayers, our service, our presence and our witness. Lunch will be provided. A brochure and registration forms are available on the district website.

March 27    EC District Day at the MERCI Center     Lets spend a day together working at the Merci Center in Goldsboro. We will be leaving Edenton UMC at 7:30 am and working until 5pm. Please contact Susie Fitch-Slater (252-312-0546 or sfitch-slater@nccumc.org) if you plan to attend or want to coordinate travel arrangements. Each church needs to provide their own lunch and snacks. We will be stopping for dinner on the way home.

July 5- July 10. The District Youth Mission Trip to Robeson County Church and Community Center. Registration forms will be available soon on the district web site. Mark your calendars now.

Sept 3- Sept 4  Jr. High Adventure     An overnight for Jr. High Youth at the 4-H Center in Columbia. Our theme is "Building the Body of Christ". Mark your calendars now and stayed tuned for more information.

Thank you, to all our great volunteers!

Everything you do is appreciated! UMCOR Responds to Earthquake in Chile

UMCOR :  One Great Hour of Sharing is March 14
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS), a United Methodist Special Sunday, is March 14. This Special Sunday offering enables the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to respond to disasters around the world by covering its operational and administrative costs. Unlike other mission programs, UMCOR receives no World Service or other apportionment money. By giving to One Great Hour of Sharing, you enable UMCOR to keep the promise that 100% of designated gifts go to specified causes. For downloadable materials and more information on One Great Hour of Sharing, go online  to One Great Hour of Sharing.

MERCI  Materials & Volunteers are still needed for the MERCI relief effort for Haiti.  If you can help with the following needs as outlined by Jim Huskins, please call to make him the offer.   Also, see the volunteer opportunity listed above : March 27^th EC District Day at MERCI in the Youth Events just prior to this section of the newsletter.

From: James Huskins [mailto:JHUSKINS1@nc.rr.com]
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 12:20 PM
Subject: urgent need at MERCI

Dear Servants of God:

The MERCI center has been running  full throttle in the effort to meet the needs of the Haiti response.  There are two desperate needs  to be met for the current pace to continue.

One. Volunteers who can spend several days working at MERCI once they become trained and accustomed t o the procedures of receiving, sorting, packing, weighing and shipping of the massive amount of material that have been so generously donated.

Two. MERCI has reached the bottom of the stack of usable cardboard packing boxes to transship the materials.  I am confident that we have folks with access to such boxes or  could find a source of low cost quality boxes to be used in this great work.

Thanks,

Jim Huskin

MERCI volunteer

PRAYER REQUESTS

            ♥          To Mrs. Merle Yow on the passing of her husband, the Rev. Carl Yow on Friday, February 12, 2010.

            ♥          To Rev. Ed Rutenkroger and his family on the loss of his mother, Mrs. RobertaRutenkroger on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.

            ♥          To Rev. Gayla Colins on a speedy recovery from her recent illness and hospital stay.

            ♥          To Rev. Walter Johnston on his speedy recovery from ankle surgery.

            ♥          For wisdom and guidance of the Appointive Cabinet with their difficult task.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Lee  Edwards      3 / 4

Charles   McKenzie      3 / 16

David  Woolsey      3 / 18

Toni  Wood      3 / 27

Just A Glimpse . . .

2010  DISTRICT  CALENDAR  OF  EVENTS

         MARCH

             4-7         Emmaus Weekend

               6           Lay Leadership Workshop, Edenton UMC, Edenton, NC, 10 a.m.

               6           Lay Leadership Workshop, Mt. Olivet UMC, Manteo, NC, 2 p.m.

               7           District Lay Rally, First UMC, Elizabeth City, NC,  3 p.m. – Keynote Speaker is John Ed Mathison

           11-12       Cabinet Meetings

              20          District Youth Confirmation Event, Edenton UMC, Edenton, NC, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

           18-21       Emmaus Weekend

              25          EC District Committee On Ministry Meeting, First UMC, Elizabeth City, NC, 9 a.m.

              27          EC District Day at MERCI Center, MERCI Center in Goldsboro, NC, 7:30 a.m.  (8 p.m.)

              28          Palm Sunday

          APRIL

               4           Easter Sunday  

           12-16       Cabinet Meeting

              20          DBOL Meeting, Duck UMC, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

              22          Bishop’s Day in the District, Edenton UMC, 2 p.m. Meeting w/ Pastors  &  7 p.m. Meeting w/ Lay Leadership

              24          Clergy Spouses’ Day Apart in Nashville, NC

              24          District Lay Speaker Training Event, Mt. Olivet UMC, Manteo, NC,  8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

              29          Bishop’s Day of Empowerment for Moving Pastors, Englewood UMC, Rocky Mt. District, TBD

            29-2        PCI Kairos Weekend  # 21

            MAY

           11-13       Academy for Leadership Excellence, Wrightsville Beach

           18-19       Cabinet Meeting

              31          Memorial Day – District Office Closed

           JUNE

• 10-12          Annual Conference, Greenville Convention Center, Greenville, NC

         22          NCC Moving Day for Clergy

Updated: 3/3/10

Although the EC District is providing Lay Speaker Training, some of our laity experience difficulty in attending due to conflicting schedules.  The following information is provided for such a conflict.

<< Upcoming Lay Speaker Training Events and Contacts >>

Rocky Mount, 4/17/10, Basic, call the District Office - 252-234-0472/236-5490 to register.

Burlington, 5/21/22, Advance, call Bonnie Francis - 336-449-9636 to register.

Rocky Mount 5/1/10, Advance 5/1, call the District Office - 252-234-0472/236-5490 to register.

Sharon UMC Announces :

      We have received a rather unique gift … 4 cemetery plots at Laurel Gardens Memorial Cemetery.  We would like very much to sell these plots and think perhaps the best way to share the gift and let others know about the plots is through a news article.  Below is the information.  We appreciate you  sharing this information with your church congregations.

      Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Markvart have bequeathed four cemetery plots in Laurel Gardens Memorial Cemetery on Macedonia Church Road, Poplar Branch to Sharon United Methodist Church .  The Markvart’s were members of the church and bequeathed the plots when they retired to Florida.  The Trustees of Sharon Church want to sell these plots and use the funds from the sale to support the programs of the church.  Specific information follows:

4 cemetery plots - 

Call Sharon United Methodist Church 252-453-2806

Thank you!

Rev. Renee Edwards & Susie G. Spruill /// Sharon UMC     (453-2084 if you need additional information)

The Wilmington District Invites You To :

FAN THE FLAME – A SMALL MEMBERSHIP CHURCH

REVITALIZATION EVENT – April 16-18

In the NCC UMC, there are about 815 churches.  Of those churches, at least 617 average 100 or fewer people in worship attendance.  Some of these churches could be on the verge of closing within the next 20 years if things don’t change.  Many small membership churches are in places of opportunity but cannot seem to make any real advancement toward growth or ministry.  Windsor UMC invites pastors & 2 key lay people to come and engage in a time of renewal and learning that is aimed at helping your church Fan the Flame.

Attached is the registration form for Fan the Flame for churches with 100 or less in worship attendance.  Deadline for registration is March 15.  Details of registration and cost is explained in the brochure

. 

LAY SPEAKER TRAINING

MOUNT OLIVET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 300  Ananias Dare Street, Manteo, NC Saturday, April 24, 2010   from  8:45 a.m.  to  5:00 p.m.

The Lay Speaking Ministries (Basic Course)Instructor:  Rev. Toni Wood,  Newland UMC As the first step in becoming a Local Church or Certified Lay Speaker, this required course focuses on many aspects of lay ministry such as preaching, leading, teaching, serving, proclaiming the gospel, disciple-making, storytelling, and growth through personal spiritual formation. 

Lay Speakers must complete this basic course.

Text:  Lay Speaking Ministries Basic Course by Sandy Jackson  -  Bring your Bible

Lay Speakers Lead in Stewardship (Advanced Course)

Instructor:  Rev. Jim Huskins

GBOD approved advanced course helps participants develop a holistic understanding of stewardship.  Lay speakers examine their own gifts and learn ways to assist others in identifying theirs.  In addition to the basic course, Certified Lay Speakers must complete an Advanced Course every three years to maintain certification.

Text:  “You Can Preach"  by Jack Gilbert  -  Bring your Bible

REGISTRATION   (Includes Lunch)By Thursday, April 8, 2010,     Detach and mail with a registration fee of $12.00 to:Elizabeth City District Lay Speaker Training,  P.O.  Box 1662,  Elizabeth City,  NC 27906

Contact information for District Lay Speaking Ministries Leader please email Mr. Gib Harrison at  obxtrooper@embarqmail.com  or call the Elizabeth City UMC District Office at 335-2415.

Service Times

Sunday Morning's

9:00 AM Worship Service

9:50 AM Fellowship and Breakfast

10:30  AM Sunday School

ALL  ARE WELCOME

Welcome to Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

We hope you are able to visit us on Sunday and join as we Worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.