E-news: Hurricane Irene Relief, Early Bird Registration Ends Today

Earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand, tornadoes in the American south, and a hunger crisis in the horn of Africa are a few reasons why 2011 is shaping up to be a record-setting year when it comes to the cost of natural disasters. Total losses for the first six months of this year top out around $265 billion - and that was before Hurricane Irene blew through the eastern seaboard of the U.S. last weekend.

Click here for more on this story and how you can support UMCOR online and through your local church.

New Places for New People

*Early registration ends today - save $50!

Have you ever thought about starting a church? Or, exactly how to create 'new spaces for new people' as part of your ministry? We hope you will join us Sept. 22 - 23 to discover answers to these questions. Specifically, you'll learn more about:

your leadership style
how you are 'wired' to connect with people
new church starts, from church planters

You can read more about the event and register here. Early registration ends today - sign-up now and save $50 on the workshop fee. Mail Amy Shanholtzer with questions, or give her a call at 800-788-3746, ext. 26.

2011 Journal available online

This year's Journal is now available to download on wvumc.org.

The print edition of the Journal will be mailed in mid-September; CD copies will ship in early September.

He Descended Into Hell

Dr. Heather Murray Elkins, Professor of Worship, Preaching and The Arts at the Drew University Theological School is the presenter for Convocation 2011 at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, Huntington, WV. Clergy, note that 10 contact hours (1 CEU) can be earned at this event. Read more>>

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and Stones of Hope

Depending on what your frame of reference is, the date August 18 might conjure up a variety of memories. The first memory for me is that it is my late mother's birthday. For this reason, I have fond memories of August 28th when mom would bake a cake for her birthday. This date has another reference for me, because it was on this date in 1955 that Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi. Read more at the lyghthouse.wordpress.com>>

Conference Center hours

The Conference Center will be closed Monday, Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day. Regular center hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) resume Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Fall West Virginia United Methodist

The Fall edition of the West Virginia United Methodist will be in production next week; and in mailboxes in mid-September. Click here to browse the West Virginia United Methodist archive.

Irene Louise Cole

Irene Louise Cole, 89, passed away on August 26, 2011 in Cridersville, Ohio. Irene was the daughter of the Reverend Emory Ray and Ohla (Cave) Cole. She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Virginia Kraner (James) of Sun Lakes, Arizona, and a brother the Reverend Robert Cave Cole (FE-R, spouse Adele Sue) of Buckhannon, West Virginia. You can read more about Irene's life here. Please be in prayer for her family during this difficult time.