E-news - Japan: How to give, Missional worship

Pacific Emergency: How to give

A March 11 earthquake and tsunami left parts of northeast Japan with 10-foot debris piles where villages once stood and a deepening nuclear crisis. Japanese public broadcaster NHK reports that over 450,000 people are living in shelters.

WV Conference churches who receive offerings via checks in the offering plate should follow these instructions from the Conference Treasurer's Office.

You can also give and designate your gift to your local church on UMCOR's website.

There's also a bulletin insert and powerpoint slide for use in worship services.

One Great Hour of Sharing is coming up on April 3. Money received from this offering cover UMCOR's administrative costs, allowing the agency to designate 100% of other donations to specific causes. You can find more information and order resources at UMCOR.org.

Worship: a Way of Life

Rev. Cathy Townley believes in missional worship, which she says is "a relevant, outwardly-focused service that puts the church in the context of its missional field."

She also says that worship leaders usher people into Christ's presence "worship defines our relationship with God."

Want to learn more about how your church can create missional worship? Sign-up today for Ambassadors for Christ: Commission Possible II, and you'll learn from Cathy first-hand. Other speakers include Rev. Tyrone Gordon and Dr. Paul Borden.

A group of four from your church can sign up for $100; individual registration is only $30. Read more about the event and register here.

The Shout-out: Back next week!

We've gotten some great local church and ministry stories this week, and need some more time to finish them. Don't forget to check the Conference FB page for more stories - we update the page several times a day: facebook.com/wvumc, and you can keep sharing your stories via email as well: wvumc@wvumc.org.

Harry Denman Evangelism Award Nominations

The West Virginia Conference is now accepting nominations for The Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Clergy, Lay, and Youth. This award recognizes a person whose life and ministry exemplifies the teaching of Christ and the Great Commission. Recipients of these awards, nominated by their local church and selected by the Annual Conference, live their call to "Offer Them Christ" daily as modeled by Dr. Harry Denman, founder of The Foundation for Evangelism that sponsors these awards. You can nominate someone online by clicking here.

Questions? Contact Rev. Amy Shanholtzer or at 1-800-788-3746 ext. 26. Nominations must be received no later than April 11, 2011.

Summer Intern Program

Many pastors remember early experiences - preaching their first sermon, leading their first youth retreat. Those early experiences amplified and clarified God's call. You can provide those same experiences for people exploring ministry now. Host a summer intern from West Virginia Wesleyan! Click here for more information and to download the application.

Annual Conference Forms

You can find forms and other information on Annual Conference 2011 at wvumc.org/conference. We'll update it as information becomes available. Right now you can download forms for the ministry fair and special meals.

C.O.M.E. Dates

The 2011 Celebration of Mission Events will be April 30 or May 1, depending on your district. Click here for more information on the C.O.M.E. in your district.

In 2010 more than $98,000 was raised for Conference mission projects and church & community workers.

Kairos Prison Ministry Volunteers

The Kairos Prison Ministry seeks volunteers who are called to present the love of Jesus in West Virginia prisons. Kairos will host several informational gatherings around the Conference March 19 from 9-11am. You can download this flier for more information.

Appointment Announcements

It is the intention of Bishop Ernest Lyght to appoint the following pastors to the churches below effective July 1, 2011.