For this year’s Lenten Guide, each member of the Council staff chose a verse from a favorite hymn to write about. We will post their reflections throughout Lent, for Ash Wednesday, each Sunday, and throughout Holy Week. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? “Were You There” — The United Methodist Hymnal #288 Powerful. Moving. Visceral. Every year these words and this melody stop…
Advent Guide: Epiphany, January 6
Excerpted from How Will We Welcome the Prince of Peace? An Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the NC Council of Churches. In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all…
Health, Wholeness, and Climate Change?
“Partners in Health and Wholeness, an initiative of the North Carolina Council of Churches, is designed to bridge issues of faith, health and social justice.” These are the words that you find on our website that explain why we do what we do. The NC Council of Churches and its program areas like Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) are inspired by a vision for faith communities that embraces the health of the whole person; mentally, physically, and spiritually. We realize there are many factors that impact our health, from…
Untapped Resources: A Treasure for One Congregation and Their Community
July 16, 2016 is the 2-month mark since Regional Coordinator for Western North Carolina became my full time position with the NCCC’s Partners in Health and Wholeness Initiative. This is significant for me because in these two months the exciting ministries of so many congregations in Western North Carolina have entered my world. One of those is The Restoration House, a ministry of Bryson City UMC. Earlier in July, the Rev. Wayne Dickert of Bryson City UMC and Nantahala River of Life invited me to see the vision taking shape at The Restoration House in Swain County on…