UM GBCS Bill Mefford to speak at Peace with Justice luncheon

Bill Mefford, Director of Civil Rights and Human Rights for the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), will speak at the NTC Church and Society/Peace with Justice Luncheon June 5 at the Plano Centre. The luncheon will begin following the adjournment of the annual conference morning session. Mefford, a United Methodist layman, will speak on "Who is my Neighbor? Responding in Faith to Immigration." In his GBCS position, he works primarily on the issues of immigration, refugees, criminal...

Around the Conference

First UMC, Allen, presents a free musical, "Godspell," May 6, 7:00 p.m. by the popular youth group, "Elation" from St. Stephen UMC, Mesquite. For more information, please call Allison Thomas, 972-727-8261, ext. 214. *** University UMC, Wichita Falls, in conjunction with Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry, announces Prayer Service in the Manner of Taize, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, please call Rev. Cheryl Murray, 40-7673720. Sorrow Frances "Jo" Smith, spouse of the late Rev. Laaden...

Annual Conference - Gathering together as Christians

Dear Friends:I write to you on the eve of the 2007 Session of the North Texas Annual Conference. This will be, I trust, a mountaintop experience for all who will be in attendance. The idea of Holy Conferencing for United Methodists had its genesis with the founders of our denomination. Gathering together as Christians, amid the promptings and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, to discuss, plan, report, pray, worship and strategize, for effective witness and mission is a noble enterprise. It also...

2007 Annual Conference, Plano Centre June 3-6

BY DR. JOAN GRAY LABARR Editor Bishop Alfred L. Norris will preside over the 141st session of the North Texas Annual Conference June 3-6. Bishop Norris will also preach for the opening celebration of worship and Holy Communion at 7:00 p.m. June 3 at First UMC, Richardson. A reception honoring Bishop Alfred L. and Dr. Mackie Norris will follow the worship service. Bishop Norris' sermon title is "Many Languages...One People." He will draw on the Tower of Babel story in Genesis 11 as the...

Clergy candidate profiles invited

Clergy who are interested in being elected as delegates to the 2008 General and Jurisdictional Conferences are invited to submit profiles that will be assembled in a booklet and distributed at the clergy session of the 2007 North Texas Annual Conference. The heads of the orders of elders and deacons, with the support of the leader of the 2004 General Conference delegation, are initiating this process in order to provide information for voting clergy members of the annual conference. Any NTC...

UM Men and Big Brothers Big Sisters join forces on Amachi

The General Commission of United Methodist Men (UMMen) has signed a historic agreement with Big Brothers Big Sisters Amachi, a program matching local church congregations with youth whose parents are incarcerated. NT UMMen president Todd Bristow has been instrumental in developing this partnership, which carries the promise of offering new hope and new life to thousands of children. Amachi is a Nigerian word meaning, "Who knows but what God has brought us through this child?" Big United...

Denton Wesley seeking youth planning to attend UNT or TWU

The United Methodist Campus Ministry at the University of North Texas (UNT) and Texas Women’s University (TWU), Denton, would like to welcome any youth who will be attending these universities in the fall of 2007. Ministry leaders will contact the students personally to extend an invitation to the campus ministry activities. A form is available on the www.ntcumc.org website so churches can send in a list of students, or contact Rev. Cammy Gaston, director, 940382-3813 or e-mail:...

Pre-Conference District Meetings

The six North Texas Conference Districts have announced pre-annual conference meetings on Sunday, May 20 at the following times and locations. Dallas-Denton 3:00 p.m. - Webb Chapel UMC, Farmers Branch  Dallas Northeast 2:00 p.m. - Greenland Hills UMC, Dallas Dallas South 3:00 p.m. - Kessler Park UMC, Dallas Paris-Sulphur Springs 3:00 p.m. - First UMC, Mount Vernon Sherman-McKinney3:00 p.m. - Grace UMC, Sherman Wichita Falls 3:00 p.m. - First UMC, Bowie ...

Clergy and Laity Sessions Sunday, June 3

Clergy Session - 3:30 p.m. First UMC, Plano Laity Session - 3:30 p.m. followed by Laity Dinner First UMC, Richardson ...

Whitewright UMC to mark 125th Celebration NTC

On Heritage Sunday, May 20, the First UMC, Whitewright, will have a "125 Celebration" commemorating 125 years of history and service in the Whitewright community. A 10:50 a.m. Sunday worship service, under the leadership of Pastor Doyle Henderson, will welcome Rev. Jim Dorff, NTC Provost as the guest speaker. Immediately following Sunday worship, church members will bury a time capsule near the church's Historical Marker, 125 balloons will be released by the youth of the church, and a...

Christian ministry scholarship for college students

Tyler Street UMC, Dallas, has announced that the deadline for applications for the Ted R. Dempsey Memorial Scholarship has been extended to July 1. The scholarship is awarded to college students on a junior level or above who are majoring in a field related to Christian ministry. The Scholarship Memorial Fund was established to promote the spread of Christianity throughout the world by providing monetary support for a student pursuing ministerial studies. Details are available by contacting...

C.C. Young, Umphress Road UMC launch partnership Housing for low-income seniors

BY DR. JOAN GRAY LABARR Editor April 15, the Sunday after Easter, was a lively time at Umphress Road UMC, Dallas, as members joined with representative of C. C. Young Retirement Center and community leaders to officially break ground for Umphress Terrace, an apartment project for low-income seniors. The church sold three acres of land adjacent to its facilities for the apartment project. By selling at a greatly reduced price, Umphress Road helped make the project affordable. Umphress...

Wesley Study Group takes hymn to Rev. 'Bill' Stephenson

BY REV. KATHRYN RANSDELLSt. Andrew UMC, Plano"It's time for your Wesley Study Group," Alyce Stephenson announced to her husband, Rev. "Bill" Stephenson, NTC retired, as present and former members of the Wesley Study Group entered his hospital room at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4. "I'm so glad to see you," Bill said to the group members who had changed their Wednesday morning meeting venue to Baylor Hospital so that they could surprise him with a hymn the group commissioned in his...

Annual Conference Speaker Rev. R. Randy Day, UMC GBGM

The Rev. R. Randy Day, General Secretary of the  General Board of Global Ministries, will be the opening session guest speaker at the  NTC Annual Conference, on June 4. Rev. Day will also be the speaker for the Sunday afternoon Laity Dinner and the Monday noon Sending Servants Luncheon. Before assuming his current responsibilities in 2003, Rev. Day served as Global Ministries' deputy general secretary with responsibilities for evangelization and church growth, and community and...

Renewing hope through mission

Both current volunteers in mission and all those interested in a deeper understanding of Christian mission are invited to "Hearts and Minds for Mission: An Intensive Seminar for Lay Mission Volunteers" The seminar will be held Oct. 16 at First UMC, Richardson, by the Global Theological Education Program at Perkins School of Theology, SMU. Perkins faculty members will offer in-depth workshops exploring how the scriptures speak of hope for the nations, how Volunteers in Mission can join in...

Holy Land tour for handicapped

Rev. Diane Mettam of the California-Pacific Annual Conference has announced the first-ever UM-related tour of  the Holy Land for physically challenged travelers, Nov. 6-15, from Los Angeles, CA. Accessible busses and lodging, and a slower-paced schedule, permit travelers to renew their spirits in places like the Jordan River, Masada, Qumran, Jerusalem, and many other sites. Able-bodied travelers are also welcome, and travelers needing more than marginal assistance are urged to travel...

Winnsboro UMC launches Community Service Day

Rev. Allen Snider, back row, second from right, First UMC, Winnsboro, has provided leadership for organizing Winnsboro’s first interfaith Community Service Day scheduled June 23. Attending the planning meeting held on April 12 at First Presbyterian Church, Winnsboro, were, from left: front row, Linda Kemp, community representative; Rev. Gene Wellborn, NTC retired; Carolyn Jones, Winnsboro mayor and layperson at First UMC; and Nancy Frederick, Presbyterian Hospital, Winnsboro. Back row: Rev....

UMC General Conference

UMC General Conference Ft. Worth April 23 - May 2, 2008   150 volunteer marshalls and pages needed   Apply on the Internet http://gc2008.umc.org Under "Resources", select "Volunteer to be a page or marshall at general conference"...

Companions in Christ training, May 10-12

Rev. Marjorie Thompson will lead a 3-day Leader Training event for the Companions in Christ series, May 10-12 at Upper Room Ministries, 1908 Grand Ave, Nashville. The event begins with registration at 3:00 p.m. May 10 and will end by mid-day May 12. Thompson is a Presbyterian minister, author and spiritual director of the Companions in Christ initiative in Nashville. Those who attend the leader-training event will receive Companions in Christ resources essential for initiating Companions...

Prothro Center seeks weekend volunteers

The Prothro Center at Lake Texoma, a ministry of hospitality owned and operated by the NTC, is seeking either a volunteer individual or couple to greet and host guests, to be a host at meals, to sell items in the gift shop, and to do light cleaning.Volunteers would spend a weekend a month, or longer at the beautiful 65 acre state-of-the-art conference and retreat center. The Prothro Center is located 75 miles north of Dallas, near the lakeside community of Pottsboro. Qualifications include a...