REGION 3 UPDATE
Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands and the U.S. States of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the District of Columbia (Washington, DC), North Carolina, South Carolina January 2007 PLACE Training All of our churches struggle with helping members and new people discover and find their ministry area. To address these topics Region 3 will be sponsoring a training session by PLACE Ministries in February 2007. People from three of our churches, Imago Dei MCC, Open Door MCC & MCC of the Spirit in Harrisburg , have participated in this training event and highly recommend it to all of our churches. We encourage every church to send at least two, if not more, people to attend this unique training event . It really can make a difference! How many of your church members are actively involved and serving in ministry? Of those faithful servants, how many are serving in an area that truly fits their Personality, Spiritual Gifts, Abilities, Passions, and Experiences? How many are dissatisfied with their role in the church or are serving out of guilt or obligation? The ministry needs of the local church are many and varying and unique... and so are your members! The Bible says, " The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts. And though its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." (I Corinthians 12:12) PLACE is a tool that will help your church discover its true, God-given potential for service and ministry. it is not just a program, but a process of self discovery and service for all Christians. PLACE integrates spiritual gifts with abilities, passions for ministry, life experiences and personality types in a way that helps individuals discern where it is that they are truly called and gifted to serve Christ and the Church. What makes PLACE different is that each person who goes through the PLACE workshop in the local Church will then sit down with a trained listener who will help them look at their individual results and discern where they will find the best place to serve. Come join us at the PLACE training weekend led by the author of PLACE, as he teaches us how to implement the program into our local churches and help people find their true place in ministry to God! Date : Friday Saturday, February 16th and 17th Instructor: Jay McSwain, the author will lead the event. Cost : The cost for the event is: $89 early registration (2 weeks in advance) and $99 after that. This includes a participant guide, a facilitator's guide and a consultation and training guide for each participant ($50 of materials). For more information and to register, call PLACE Ministries 1-877-463-2863. (YOU MUST REGISTER WITH PLACE MINISTRIES FOR THIS EVENT.) Location: Open Door MCC, Boyds, MD. They will provide space and refreshments each day throughout the event. Lunch will be on our own at local places throughout the area. A list of what is available in Germantown will be provided. Hotel group rates are available at Fairfield Inn and Suites in Germantown . Ask for Open Door MCC when calling 301-916-0750 MCC Winston Salem , NC, Elects New Pastor Rev. Joe Cobb will be the new pastor at MCC Winston Salem, NC, beginning March 18. Joe was recently ordained in MCC at MCC of the Blue Ridge in Roanoke , VA. He holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology and is a transfer clergy from the United Methodist Denomination. Pastoral Searches In Process New Life MCC - Norfolk , VA MCC Charlotte, NC (seeking an interim pastor) MCC Charleston , SC If interested in any of these pastorates, contact Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman A Wonderful New CD Is Now Available Cheryl Bragg's new CD is titled, With All of My Heart. Cheryl is the choir director at MCC Christ the Liberator, NJ, and last year wrote the theme song for the MCC People of African Descent Conference. You can contact Cheryl A. Bragg at: Whosoever Music For an order form email: whosoevermusic@verizon.net or call: 732-259-3782 The CDs are $15. Ruth Perkinson of MCC Richmond , VA Interviewed on Radio Station On Friday, January 12 th , Ruth Perkinson of MCC Richmond, VA discussed her book on WRIR 97.3, an independent radio station out of Richmond , Virginia that streams worldwide on the Internet. Ruth's debut novel, Vera's Still Point , were at the heart of the discussion; however, the topics of the Bible, education, politics were all touched upon as she proudly talked up MCC Richomd, where she attends regularly. She also advocates for gay youth and the non-profit entities of ROSMY (Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth) and Equality Virginia. It was a thirty minute show and proved to be newsworthy. You can visit www.WRIR.ORG and listen to the primary stream. Worship Resource North Carolina Council of Churches offers free worship resources and the topic for January 28, 2007 is "...Except the Syrian", Embracing Those Excluded on the Basis of Sexual Orientation. The focus text is Luke 4:21-30. The link for the January 28 worship resource is: Regional Elder Schedule January February While traveling Elder Ackerman can be reached via cell phone, instructions are given by calling the office phone. Rev. Elder Arlene J. Ackerman PO Box 276 Phone: 717 898-3713 E-mail: arleneackerman@mccchurch.net MCC HEADQUARTERS MAILING ADDRESS! Please update your mailing lists and files. Please begin using this new address, effective immediately. Please share this information with your church staff and your church treasurer, in your church's newsletter, and with anyone who may need to contact MCC Headquarters. |