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AC09 News & Information
The Leader's Edge
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2009 New England Annual Conference Session
The Leader's Edge
________________________________________
2009 New England Annual Conference Session
JUNE 18-20, 2009
Gordon College, Wenham, MA
(clergy session Wednesday, June 17)
News and Information
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Rev. Adam Hamilton is featured presenter!
The Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in
ALL are invited! Bishop Peter Weaver is pleased to invite New England and Vermont United Methodists to Adam Hamilton's Leading Beyond the Walls presentations this June. Join us at the Memorial Chapel at
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Changes to CCYM Penny Challenge
Dear Avid Youth Supporter,
We are sending this letter to inform you of the changes we are making to the Penny Challenge this year. Due to the shortened length of Annual Conference and the extreme about effort it takes to count the pennies, CCYM will be raising funds a little differently this year. With the pennies you have already gathered, we ask you to cash those in and bring us a check or cash, equal or greater, to the amount of money you raised.
We will be calling this the Change Your Change for Changing Youth.
There will again be 2 awards given out this year. The first winner will be the district with the highest percentage of participating churches. The second winner will be the district with the greatest amount of money raised. To make this fundraiser most beneficial, we ask for a minimum donation of $20 from each church.
Nearly 100% of the funds we raised last year went to mission work. $3000 was given to the Mission of Peace, $820 was given to the National YSF, $1076 was used for our BAM (Being Abstract in Ministry) event, $1200 was sent to Duxbury and an additional $600 was given to the MOPers (the three youth from our conference who went on the mission of peace trip)_from bussing tables at last years Annual Conference.
Imagine the possibilities. . . if every church in the
We appreciate your support and hope to see you at Annual Conference.
Thank you and Shalom,
The Youth of The
Contact Andrea Harvey at andilou@aol.com with questions on the penny challenge changes.
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2009 Confirmands Welcomed at Annual Conference!
All 2009 Confirmands are invited to attend the Ordination Service of this year's Annual Conference on Saturday afternoon, June 20th. Confirmands will be greeted by Bishop Weaver and may be invited to participate in the worship service. Lodging, food, and activities are available on the Gordon College campus Friday evening for those youth and youth leaders traveling long distances.
As 2009 Confirmands, these youth are our newest members and represent the best of Christ's kingdom both today and in the future! Please contact Bryan Pretzer (pepbwp@hotmail.com) to RSVP your group or with any questions.
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The times for Learning Centers at AC 2009 are Thursday morning, and Friday during lunch. Rooms will be in the new
If you wish to lead a Learning Center session, but haven't submitted your information yet - please do so ASAP or your session will not make it into the pre-conference materials! Submit the following information to Kathy Macedo, 207-945-3952 or bluecat02914@yahoo.com
- Your Name, Address, E-mail, and Telephone Number
- The Title and 2-3 sentence description of your workshop
- Room size/Number of chairs needed
- Equipment needed (podium, powerpoint projection, etc.)
- Which day/time you prefer
Register in Advance
This year Conference members are encouraged to register in advance for learning centers. Learning centers are offered at no charge, and current sessions are:
Thursday 9:30 10:15AM
- Conflict as a Means of Grace.
Thursday 10:30 11:15AM
- Intro to Muslim-Christian Relations.
- Come Share at the Table with United Methodist Women
- Unit Insurance Plan.
- Where theres a Will, theres a Way.
Friday 12:15 1:00PM
- Intro to Muslim-Christian Relations.
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- Unit Insurance Plan.
- Stories for Worship: Revitalizing Ministries
For full descriptions and link to
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Volunteers needed!
If you volunteered to help at Annual Conference 2009 or would like to volunteer, please contact Bonnie Marden at BonMarden@comcast.net.
We look forward to hearing from you. As we recruit over 200 volunteers each year, please speak up if we missed you!
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UMCOR Kits at Annual Conference
Once again we are collecting UMCOR Emergency Kits at Annual Conference this year. To find out about the kits and what they should contain you may go to the website at:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/
The truck for the kit collection will be parked in the chapel parking lot. It will be there from Wednesday to Saturday and then will be driven to Mission Central in
If you have any questions you may contact Rosemary McNulty at the Resourcing Team Office at RmcNulty@neumc.org or (978) 682-7676 ext. 201. Thank you for helping to support this very important ministry.
Please consider donating $1 per kit to help cover the cost of delivery.
Donations may be sent to:
Attention: Rosemary McNulty.
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Cell Phone Drive for Safe Havens
Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence, in conjunction with the New England Annual Conference, is once again launching a used cell phone drive in local churches across
Last year the used cell phone collection at Annual Conference was an incredible success, with more than 900 phones collected. Many were donated to survivors of domestic violence. From the ones that were recycled, Safe Havens received almost $1000, which helps to pay for education and advocacy programs about domestic violence.
Like last year, newer cell phones that are collected will be reprogrammed to allow victims of domestic violence to dial 911 in an emergency. Older phones will be sold for parts, and the proceeds will support Safe Havens’ work to end domestic violence. We will accept ANY cell phone and battery. The phones can be brought to Annual Conference in June, where Safe Havens will provide a collection box.
Click here for the Cell Phone Drive Resources for your church, including a letter with instructions, a flyer or bulletin insert, and a short announcement to read to your congregation or publish in your church newsletter.
Thank you in advance for your cell phones. Your donation could save a life!
For more information, Safe Havens can be reached at 617-654-1820.
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Globa AIDS Offering Invitation
An offering for the Global AIDS fund at the Thursday evening worship service will help us
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Invitations to New England Authors
If you have published materials through Cokesbury or Abingdon Press and would like to request that Cokesbury include your work in the Cokesbury Display at Annual Conference, please send your name and titles of the materials to Bonnie at BonMarden@comcast.net by February 24th.
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The Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) will be bussing tables Friday at lunch and dinner during Annual Conference. The money donated will be given to the youth chosen to attend the Peace trip to
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ProCheck Health Screening at Annual Conference
June 18 & 19
6:30 am to 10:00 am
at the
One of the special health offerings at annual conference this year is the ProCheck health screening. Using a simple blood test, the ProCheck health screening provides information about cholesterol levels, heart disease risk, stroke risk, diabetes risk and management, thyroid abnormalities, kidney disease, anemia or iron overload, prostate cancer in men and liver disease.
The ProCheck screening is offered for no fee for all participants and spouses covered by HealthFlex active medical plans or Medicare companion plans. Clergy, lay workers and spouses not covered by HealthFlex also may take the ProCheck screening during annual conference for a fee of $115 (payable at the time of service by cash, check or credit card). These tests might cost much more at a doctors office or other medical facility.
Don't forget to bring your HealthFlex Card.
Fast for Best Results: For the most accurate results, fast (no food or beverages) until after your ProCheck blood draw, but its OK to drink water and brush your teeth. ProCheck screenings will begin early in the morning, so you can catch up on breakfast right after the screening.
Some people with diabetes or on certain medications should not fast. If youre not sure, ask your doctor.
Look for the ProCheck sign at annual conference.
ProCheck screenings are administered by Health Ministries Association (HMA), under contract with HealthFlex. HMA hires local phlebotomists to perform the blood draws.
$25 Incentive
There is an added incentive for HealthFlex participants and spouses covered under active medical plans (not Medicare companion plans). Take the ProCheck screening and earn a $25 HealthCash reward if you are also enrolled in the Virgin HealthMiles walking program. HealthCash will be credited to your HealthMiles account within six weeks after the screening.
If you are not already registered for the HealthMiles program, enroll now. Go to www.gbophb.org, log in to your HealthFlex/WebMD account, select Virgin Health miles and Join Now!
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Pray for Annual Conference
We welcome your prayers and your support as we prepare for Annual Conference June 18-20, 2009.
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Stay tuned for more information coming soon!