General Board of Discipleship offers free webinars for church leaders

Register at www.gbod.org/committee_resources  January 18 at 1:30 PM CST: PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH RENEWAL FOR DS’S Key factors for setting a path toward renewal of district congregations   January 31 at 6:30 PM CST: GOAL SETTING FOR VITAL CONGREGATIONS A guide for setting realistic numerical goals for your congregation on the website umvitalcongregations.org   February 9 at 6:30 PM CST: 10 COMMANDMENTS FOR CHURCH WEBSITES A website is the new front door to your church....

Faith in Transition: Being a Christian in College

Save the Date! The third-annual Faith in Transition: Being a Christian in College will be held Saturday-Sunday, February 4-5, 2012, Noon-Noon, on the campus of Albion College.  This is a free retreat for UMC high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, to learn skills for continuing their Christian journey into the college years.  A concurrent Youthworker Lab for adults will be held with Deacon Carl Gladstone, '01. Registration information for both will be posted shortly.  For...

Racial Ethnic Local Church Sunday

9th Young Clergy Capitol Hill Forum

The 9th annual Young Clergy Capitol Hill Leadership Forum sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) will be Wednesday to Friday, Feb. 8-10, at the historic United Methodist Building, next door to the Supreme Court and across the street from the U.S. Capitol.   Annual conferences are urged to send up to two persons, age 35 and under, who may be either Elders or Deacons, and serving full-time. The Conference Director of Connectional Ministries should...

Safe Sanctuaries and Safety Webinars

Feb. 9, 2012. 4 pm eastern time. SAFE SANCTUARIES: TIPS, TRENDS, AND ISSUES IN BACKGROUND SCREENING.  Presenters will be Joy Melton and Chad Stair, VP of Trak-1. Login in for the visual portion at https://umpct.ilinc.com/join/vkmwmfz.  Call in for the audio portion at 1-800-598-7441. Code: 5596370.  Participants are encouraged to join in twenty minutes early.   Feb. 29, 2012. 4pm eastern time.  RECORD KEEPING BASIC PROCEDURES FOR JUDICIAL COMPLAINTS.  Presented...

Music, Art & Family Fun in February

Friday, February 10 – Wednesday, February 22 Celebration of the Arts First United Methodist Church will celebrate the 39th anniversary of Celebration of the Arts, a juried exhibit of spiritual and sacred art, beginning Friday, February 10th with a special Artists Reception and awards presentation from 7:00 – 9:00 pm (open to the public). The exhibit hours are 10:00 am – 6:00 pm from Saturday, February 11th through Tuesday, February 21st and Wednesday, February 22 from 10:00...

"The Park's Got Talent"

Wyoming Park's 2012 "The Park's Got Talent" theme is "Broadway"! February 11, 5:30 pm at Wyoming Park UMC, 2244 Porter St. SW, Wyoming, 49519. Lasagna Dinner, Silent Auction, and Variety Show, all for $5.00! Children 12 and under are free. We'll feature songs from "Grease", "Rent" and "Annie", plus magic from "Andrew the Magnificent". Call or write for tickets at 616-532-7624 or wpumc@comcast.net....

The John Wesley Theological Institute

“Christian Conferencing in a General Conference Year”  February 12-14, 2012 Sunday 5:00pm - Tuesday 12:00pm   Aylesford Carmelite Center 8433 Bailey Road, Darien, Illinois 60561   ♦   Cass Avenue and I-55   ♦   (630) 969-4141 QUESTIONS? Want to register? Please contact Fernando Siaba, (630) 653-7116, Fsiaba48@yahoo.com  ...

Volunteer Fair has a place for everyone

Volunteer Fair, Sunday, Feb. 12, 11:30-1:00, hosted by University United Methodist Church, East Lansing Come find out how you can get involved in the community! Over 15 different agencies and community organizations from the Lansing area will be available to explain their activities, their needs, and explore how you can get involved in their work. Groups include those focusing on animals, children, families, the elderly, international families, ESL speakers, the environment, nature,...

Magic Bob and Suzie To Bring Magic and Chalk Art

Magic Bob and Suzie will bring their Christian program of magic and chalk art to United Methodist Church of the Dunes on Saturday, February 18, beginning with a spaghetti dinner at 5:00 p.m., followed by the magic program at 6:30 p.m. The general public is encouraged to attend.  United Methodist Church of the Dunes is located at 717 Sheldon Road, Grand Haven.   Cost to attend the event is $10 per person and $25 per family. Nursery care will be available for parents with small...

Three Mile Project lock-in event

The Grand Rapids District Youth Council is planning their annual winter lock-in event to be held at the Three Mile Project in Walker on Friday, February 24th, 2012.  This facility is a faith-based, nonprofit organization that was designed to give youth somewhere to go and keep them off of the streets.  Take a look at their website at: www.3mileproject.com. Some of the activities available are: basketball, volleyball, gaga ball, re-ball, indoor skate park, coffee bar and...

Youth Council Lock-In Event

The Grand Rapids District Youth Council is busy planning their annual winter lock-in event.  This year we are changing venues and it is going to be held at the Three Mile Project in Walker on Friday, February 24th, 2012.  If you have never heard of this wonderful facility, it is a faith-based, nonprofit organization that was designed to give youth somewhere to go and keep them off of the streets.  Take a look at their website at:  3mileproject.com/home  Some...

JFON offers retreat on Immigrant Welcoming Congregations (IWC)

The West Michigan Conference was chosen by the UMC General Board of Church and society as 1 of the 7 national pilot Immigrant Welcoming Congregations (IWC) programs. The IWC Program is based on a successful model developed and successfully completed with a group of downtown Chicago congregations last year. Our goal with the 1-year journey is to build “Immigrant Welcoming Congregations” by equipping churches to travel from mercy to justice, from service-only to multi-faceted...

Albion & Kalamazoo Districts Bishop's Day

"Birthing a New Promise: The Church, Health and Hunger" Guest speakers: Marv Baldwin, President & CEO, Foods Resource Bank Joyce Thompson, Professor Emerita, WMU Bronson School of Nursing REGISTER ONLINE FREE!...

Bishop's Day Lansing District

  Lansing District - Bishop's Day, Saturday, March 3 at University UMC.  This year, the theme throughout the church is a focus on Global Health.  We are pleased to announce that Rev. Ted Warnock, a Special Projects Missionary with UMCOR Health Ministries will be our guest speaker.  Please get the word out to your congregation that this will be a red-letter day in understanding health initiatives throughout the world through the United Methodist Church –...

WMC Leadership Team

Location TBA...

UMCOR Haiti gathering and opportunity

UMCOR staff person in Haiti, Lauren James, will be available to discuss Haiti and future projects and partnerships.  She will answer questions and allow for an up to date idea of what is going on in Haiti today.  Anyone who has a heart for Haiti is invited to this gathering, following our Grand Rapids Bishop Day Event on  March 10, 2012 at Cornerstone UMC.  This meeting with Lauren will gather following the Bishop's Day from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. Questions: Dave...

North Central Jurisdiction Disaster Response Academy

For those wanting to help before, during and after disasters March 14 – 17, 2012 North Central Jurisdiction Academy. Koinonia Retreat Center, 7768 Pilger Ave NW, South Haven, MN 55832 Register online.  Go to www.umvimncj.org → Disaster Response subpage, for information on course options, registration and course schedule. Questions? Contact Lorna Jost, UMVIM-NCJ Coordinator, umvim-ncj@brookings.net. March 14-17, 2012 – Disaster Response Preparedness.  March 14,...

One Great Hour of Sharing

Keep Making Peace with Shane Claiborne

Keep Making Peace with Shane Claiborne March 31, 9:30 to 3:30 East Lansing University UMC 1120 S Harrison Rd Space is limited so please pre-register online at http://msuwesley.org/claiborne or you may register by phone at 517.332.0861, Tuesday through Thursday, 10am to 3pm.   Checks should be made out to Keep Making Peace. Fee due on day of event, cash or check only please.   Students Free, $15 per person, $25 per family. Lunch Included. Shane is a founder of The...