Mocksville Missional Network, Feb 21, 2017 Meeting & News

Good morning all, Brad here.

I have the minutes/notes/news from our meeting last night of our Missional Network for your info.  Please note the dates, and here we go.

I opened with prayer.

Then we talked about having joint Lenten services, so be a "network."  What a concept!  Rev. Tony Owens has spearheaded this, and it has been met with great enthusiasm!  Here are the Lenten dates;

• Ash Wednesday Service: at 1st UMC Mocksville at 7pm.  
• Maundy Thursday Service at Liberty UMC at 7pm.  It will be a reenactment of the Last Supper called, "Is It I."  We dress up as the disciples, and you don't have to memorize any lines (your script is on the table itself), just volunteer, clergy and laity!  Tony Owens has already signed up, so technically there are 11 spots left!  Please email or call/text Brad at 980-521-3531, bcfishjedi@yahoo.com if you are interested.
• Good Friday Service at Hardison UMC at 7pm.  
• Details regarding these services will be forthcoming as the dates come near.  Till then, please keep your churches informed with these dates.  

Next our guest speaker Spencer Santiago came to share with us about the Vineyard Camp, a nearby camp in Stokes County.  It has been around for 34 years and they want to make connections with area churches to offer its services.  It has 300 acres of property and is modeled as a International Christian Sports Camp (many of its international campers come from as far as France & China).  There are 3 needs that the Vineyard has that we can tap into;

1. They need quality staff, 18 years old and up.  They are the ones to share the Gospel, and help bridge the gap between the US and international campers.
2. The Vineyard would like to offer its facilities for our church needs (1 week for a 75% discount).
3. Also the Vineyard is open for us to use it for a Retreat Center (such as a weekend, a single day, etc.).  They would feed us and man the activities, we just bring the chaperones. 

If you are interested please check out their excellent website at vineyardcamp.com, or email Spencer at spencer@vineyardcamp.com

Then me, Rev. Brad Cunningham shared about a new ministry he volunteered at called Buddy Break.  Buddy Break is a free church ministry for kids with special needs.  Here is how it works; for one day a month for 3 hours kids come and literally hang out at the church.  It is unstructured time, as kids with cognitive disabilities (such as autism, severe ADD) and also children with physical disabilities enjoy being able to do as they wish within the church.  Each child is assigned a "buddy," and lunch is provided by the parents.  Those 3 hours are a gift to the parents who are usually overworked and overwhelmed.  The need is great as 20 million children in the US have a disability.  Perhaps this is something the network could do, to meet this need?
Please check out the website at www.nathanielshope.org/events-programs/buddy-break.  The 5 minute YouTube video explains it very well, which you'll find on the page.  Note this was the first time I have ever presented, so it's a big deal for me as I have an autistic child and know how tough it can be.  Please check it out!

Then we talked briefly about the Summer Food Bags via Danny Cartner.  So far financing is going very well with Don Routh getting some excellent grants.  We are still asked to help with finances and manpower in the next few months.

Also 1st UMC is hosting a Wednesday Dinner on April 5th at 5:30 pm, with the proceeds going to help Family Promise.

Finally our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16th at 7:00 pm at Liberty UMC.

Thank John for the notes, I just type them!  God Bless, Brad