Busy Fall Season Begins
The fall calendar for the West Virginia Annual Conference is packed with workshops, retreats and meetings.  Here are a few highlights.

Dr. Rhonda VanDyke Colby is one presenter at this year's Pastor's School Sept. 28-30 at Cedar Lakes near Ripley. She is the Dean of Spiritual Life and Co-director of The Institute for Church Professions (ICP) at Shenandoah University.  Complete schedule and speaker profiles are online.

It's not too late to sign up for From Tippers to Tithers Sept. 25 at Christ Church UMC in Charleston, a workshop that will help your church rethink stewardship.  The workshop will be led by church planter and congregational coach Jim Griffith, who will stay in WV through the weekend to lead Are you a Church Planter? Sept. 27 (Monday) at Calvary UMC in Ripley.

Heather Murray Elkins is the featured speaker at this year's UMW annual Fall Meeting October 22-23.  Click here for the brochure and printable registration form.

A Convocation on the Black Church Oct. 14-15 at WV Wesleyan College will feature Dr. Fred Allen, national director for Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st century (SBC 21).  Call Rev. Thomasina Stewart for more information and to register: 800-788-3746, ext.25 or e-mail her at thomet25@aol.com


The Incarnational Stream, a spiritual growth retreat, is coming up October 8-9 at Spring Heights.  Rev. Brent Sturm (OSL) is the facilitator.

United Theological Seminary presents Exploring the Faith, a lecture series that begins October 28-29 with "The Bible and Church Renewal" at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

You can view more events,download brochures and registration materials online at wvumc.org/calendar.  Many of the events above qualify as continuing education opportunities.  Contact J.F. Lacaria for questions regarding CEU's:  800-788-3746, ext. 27. or email him: jayeph@aol.com.

Mick named Kids Count Board President
Conference UMW president, Pat Mick, was named Kids Count Board president.  Mick will be the first woman to lead the board, and was unanimously elected Sept. 1.  Last year, Mick led the UMW to give Kids Count more than $7,000, which helped offset a deficit the organization suffered after the 2008 economic slowdown.

Read the press release on the Kids Count Fund website.

Special Sunday resources at umcgiving.org
Bulletin inserts, online courses in connectional giving, 'mission moments' and much more are available for clergy and laity to use to support Special Sundays - and learn more about connectional giving in the United Methodist Church.  Visit and Bookmark umcgiving.org for more information.