North Alabama Conference of the UMC

A prayer for the First Sunday in Lent from umcdiscipleship.org.

Ash Wednesday prayer from the United Methodist Hymnal, #353.

Bishop David Graves and Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett have collaboratively established a task group to begin shaping the future of the United Methodist annual conferences in North Alabama, Alabama-West Florida and South Georgia.

Bishop Graves and Bishop Wallace-Padgett form task group for Episcopal transition The task group comprises members selected from the three annual conferences, bringing together diverse talents and perspectives to foster unity and collaboration.

Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday, United Methodist Book of Worship, #319.

A prayer from the Worship Elements page of the Ministry Matters website.

There is still time for you church leaders to register to be part of North Alabama's simulcast for the first-ever FX (Fresh Expressions) UMC National Gathering Conference on February 7-9! Make sure you register by noon on Monday.

New and Renewing Churches invites your congregation to event to learn new ways to reach new people North Alabama Conference will host a simulcast for the first ever FX (Fresh Expressions) UMC National Gathering Conference on February 7-9. Participants will gain a plethora of practical tools, tips, and processes to do something new!

For many laity, faithfully upholding their church membership vows includes serving in leadership and using their God-given talents and abilities. Elmore Center UMC recently said thank you to their long-serving treasurer Mary Tilley.

Church treasurer recognized for long-term service For many laity, faithfully upholding their church membership vows includes serving in leadership and using their God-given talents and abilities.

Canterbury UMC's Books to Prisons Ministry serves incarcerated individuals in Alabama and nationwide by providing books and magazines via U.S. Mail. Volunteers from the congregation and partner organizations are living the story of Jesus by sharing fiction and nonfiction books and building relationships.

Books to Prisons Ministry reminds inmates they are remembered Volunteers are actively invested in building relationships, sharing stories and bringing Jesus to the minds of incarcerated persons.

Last week (Jan 15-18), the North Alabama appointive cabinet joined other SEJ bishops and district superintendents for the annual cabinet consultation at Epworth by the Sea in St. Simons, Georgia. They worshipped and learned together, guided by the theme of Wesleyan discipling as a means of healing. North Alabama leaders also gathered several times with the Alabama-West Florida and South Georgia cabinets to collaborate and brainstorm how our proposed new episcopal area could work together to revive The United Methodist Church in Alabama, south Georgia and the Florida panhandle. Here they are pictured together. We are grateful for their leadership, energy and excitement for living the story of Jesus.

A prayer adapted from umcdiscipleship.org.

Save the Date! A visit to the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery is planned for North Alabama Conference churches on May 18, 2024.

North Alabama Day at the Museum planned for May A visit to the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery is planned for North Alabama Conference churches on May 18, 2024.

Today we celebrate the tireless advocacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his vision for a more just and compassionate country.

Could you survive a month in poverty? It is difficult to truly understand the situations that families living in poverty experience every day – the decisions they have to make and the fears and frustrations they feel. The Ministry with the Poor Team invites you and others from your congregation to participate in this February 24 learning event. It is an excellent experience for churches already engaged in ministry with those living in poverty and for churches considering starting such ministries. Register today!

Ministry with the Poor team to host Poverty Simulation on February 24 This learning tool has been created to help people understand the realities of poverty. This simulation is an excellent experience for churches already engaged in ministry with those living in poverty and for churches considering starting such ministries.

The Southeastern Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy issued an important update regarding their recommendations for episcopal areas beginning Sept. 1, 2024. Read their letter below.

Update from the SEJ Committee on Episcopacy The Southeastern Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy issued an important update today as a result of their meeting with the SEJ College of Bishops last week.

The Ignatian Examen is a spiritual practice of looking back over one's day to notice the presence of God and discern God's calling. The Spiritual Formation Team offers a Midweek Examen every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on the Google Meet platform. All are encouraged to join at this link: meet.google.com/oby-tudn-ucg

Midweek Examen nurtures spiritual growth The Spiritual Formation Team offers an online examen—a set of reflection questions that encourage spiritual honesty and growth—every Wednesday evening.

Prayer for the First Sunday after the Epiphany/Baptism of the Lord written by Ruth C. Duck, Touch Holiness: Resources for Worship, Updated (Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2012).

An Epiphany prayer from The United Methodist Hymnal ( #255).

Seed-money grants of up to $1,000 are available to North Alabama congregations doing something new in the work of offering Christ every day in their communities — making evangelism a lifestyle rather than just a ministry. The grants come from the special offering received at the 2023 North Alabama Annual Conference. $10,000 has already been awarded to our GBGM Missionaries from North Alabama serving in Zambia and in Panama.

Offering Christ Every Day grant for new ministries of evangelism deadline is Jan. 31, 2024 Grants up to $1,000 will be awarded to North Alabama Conference churches engaging in new models of evangelism that intentionally focus on the work of offering Christ every day.

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission is a way many North Alabama United Methodists Live the Story of Jesus by putting their “Christian Love in Action.” Here is the story of a Jacksonville First UMC member developing sustainable situations to help people in Nigeria receive dental care.

Dentist Bruce Cunningham’s passion for Christian mission helps make the world a better place His vision of setting up sustainable situations through regular training and follow-up trips makes his mission work setting up clinics a viable Christian witness.

John Wesley's Covenant Prayer informed his theology and preaching. United Methodists are encouraged to pray this prayer at the beginning of each new year as a way of remembering and renewing their baptismal covenant.

Read Together 2024 starts tomorrow. Check out the reading plan and join other United Methodists in reading the Bible in a year.

Read Together You are invited to join Bishop Wallace-Padgett and other North Alabama Conference United  Methodist leaders in continuing this meaningful spiritual discipline. We will continue to maintain our page for comments and discussions on the daily reading and post weekly podcasts featuring medit...