Detroit Conference Connection - March 11, 2010

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In This Edition of the Connection:

CONFERENCE NEWS

Does Your Church Want to Change The World?

Change the World, a denomination-wide event, is taking place on Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25. All United Methodist Churches are encouraged to participate in the event to make a difference by building community locally and fighting malaria globally. If your church is interested in participating in the event, information about Change the World and the various ways to participate can be found by visiting www.detroitconference/changetheworld.

Annual Conference Worship Participants Needed

If you are interested in playing for the conference brass choir, singing in the conference choir, or volunteering to assist with ushering during the worship services for the 2010 annual conference, please click here to download a volunteer form.

Four Bishop's Day 2010 Events To Take Place on Saturday, March 13

Events will take place in Lapeer, Albion, Mount Pleasant, and Caledonia this weekend as part of Bishop's Day 2010. In Lapeer, Celinda Hughes from United Methodist Communications will be the keynote speaker, while in Albion, Bishop Robert Schnase will be the lead presenter. The Mount Pleasant Bishop's Day will be highlighted by the Rev. Mike Slaughter of Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, Ohio, while Scott Rigsby will be speaking in Caledonia. For information on all of the Bishop's Day 2010 events, please visit www.detroitconference.org/bishopsday2010.

These Stories Appeared Last Week, But We Thought You Should Still Know About Them ...

CONNECTIONAL NEWS

One Great Hour of Sharing

This Sunday, March 14, is One Great Hour of Sharing, one of the six church-wide special Sundays in The United Methodist Church. Special Sundays are placed on the calendar to “make clear the calling of the church as the people of God, and to give persons the opportunity to contribute offerings to special programs.” (The Book of Discipline 2008, para. 262.)

When you give to One Great Hour of Sharing, you give to help make such distributions possible. Your gifts lay the foundation for all of UMCOR’s work. They allow UMCOR to act on your behalf and bring much-needed relief and joy to vulnerable children and adults alike.

UMCOR receives no apportionment or World Service funds of any kind. Gifts to this offering underwrite UMCOR's "costs of doing business." That helps us keep our promise that 100 percent of every other gift you make to a specific UMCOR project can be spent on that project⎯not on home office costs.

Offering gifts over and above those used to cover administrative costs are channeled where they're most needed. UMCOR's specialized ministries ⎯ responding in disaster, fighting hunger, alleviating poverty, providing relief supplies around the world, and offering hospitality to immigrants and refugees⎯all assist the most vulnerable people whose need is greatest.

For more information and resources for One Great Hour of Sharing, please visit www.umcgiving.org.

Please note that all UMC special Sundays can be celebrated at any time throughout the year if there is a conflict with your church calendar.

Music & Worship Arts Week - June 20-25, 2010 at Lake Junaluska, N.C.

Make plans now to attend Music & Worship Arts Week at Lake Junaluska, NC: A multi-generational, family-friendly event of arts, praise, and renewal in the beautiful Smoky Mountains - June 20-25, 2010.

Especially designed for those who want to sing, ring, dance, or act all week, as well as for those who lead these ministries in local congregations.

Registration/Leadership/Schedule is available online at www.umfellowship.org or from the links below. Just click on training events - Music & Worship Arts Week. You'll also find there a printable brochure and poster so that you may advertise the event at your local church.

Click here to register today: http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=768583

Click here for more information: http://fummwa.affiniscape.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=10

Come join us this summer in the beauty of the mountains. This event is sponsored by the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts.

Looking for Communications Tips and Tools?

MyCom, a newsletter from United Methodist Communications, is published provides United Methodist Churches with communication tips and tools for ministry. To view the latest edition, and to subscribe to receive this resource by e-mail, please click here.

Upcoming Webinar from United Methodist Communications - March 16 - The Basics of Podcasting

United Methodist Communications weekly webinar series, Tuesdays @ 10 a.m. Central, will conduct a webinar about the basics of podcasting on Tuesday, March 16.

Tuesdays @ 10am Central is a free 30-minute Webinar hosted by United Methodist Communications to share up-to-date and relevant information, resources and tools that will enhance your church's communications ministry. While the live broadcast of the Webinars is free, UMCom does ask that you register the first time at its online registration center. After you register the first time, you will automatically receive an invitation and access to subsequent live Webinar broadcasts. At any time, you can request to discontinue receiving invitations.

Upcoming Webinars:
Topics and presenters are subject to change, but UMCom makes every effort to keep to the list below. If you would like to suggest a topic for a communications ministry Webinar, send UMCom an email.

March 16, Explore the basics of podcasting. This is the third of five webinars dedicated to "Mastering the Multimedia Maze."

March 23, Use UMTV video stories on the Web and in worship. This is the fourth of five webinars dedicated to "Mastering the Multimedia Maze."

March 30, Take a look at photo sharing online. This is the fifth of five webinars dedicated to "Mastering the Multimedia Maze.

To visit the Tuesdays @ 10 am Central Web site, please click here.

Haiti Coordinator Positions Announced

A plan for United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) team response to the earthquake devastation in Haiti has been designed in consultation with President Gesner Paul and other leaders of the Eglise Methodiste d'Haiti (EMH). Due to the earthquake and changes in EMH leadership, a new list of priority projects and needs have been identified by the church.

Conversations with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) have led to a formalized funded proposal for coordination of UMVIM teams to Haiti. The plan includes a US based calendaring office along with staffing in Haiti to assist in the site planning and hosting of teams. The positions of US-Haiti Coordinator, Haiti-Financial Hospitality Coordinator and Haiti-Volunteer Coordinator have been posted to the GBGM website or you can write Lorna Jost, North Central Jurisdiction VIM Coordinator, for copies. Pending approval of this proposal, we estimate some volunteers may be on the ground in Haiti by April 1st.

Teams are encouraged to form, raise funds and start considering when they would be ready to volunteer in Haiti. All UMVIM teams will be expected to work on prioritized projects as set by the EMH and are coordinated through the US-Haiti Coordinator with advisement to Annual Conference UMVIM coordinators.

Based on our observations and experience, teams serving in Haiti need to meet the following criteria:

  • No more than 8-12 members/team.
  • Team leader has prior experience in Haiti.
  • Team leader has UMVIM team leader training
  • Necessary immunizations are up to date (Cholera and tuberculosis may be needed soon - watch the CDC recommendations)
  • Early Response Training is not necessary but would be helpful

We suggest that team membership include skills/supplies for Vacation Bible School/education, medical, and construction/deconstruction components.

Specialized teams for pastoral care will be needed soon to work with the pastors and lay pastors in Haiti.

We look forward to serving with you in building relationships with our Haitian sisters and brothers to work with them to bring healing to their country.

In Christ's name,

Greg Forrester, NEJ

Paulette West, SEJ

Lorna Jost, NCJ

Debbie Vest, SCJ

Heather Wilson, WJ