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Download the printable version of the Sept. 26 issue of GPconnect.

In this edition:

THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Western Nebraskans hear about proposed way forward
Ogallala’s got ‘talents’ – confirmation class projects benefit church
Find resources to help promote, explain World Communion Sunday

GENERAL CONFERENCE
Letter urges special session delegates to prioritize exit plan

CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Learn about Sacred Encounters, Fresh Expressions in Oct. 26 retreat

EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Looking into strength as a gift while serving in lay servant ministry
Registration open for 2019 OneEvent, Jan. 5-6 at Tony's Pizza Center, Salina

MERCY & JUSTICE
#MeToo is topic of this year’s ‘For the Transformation of the World’

DISASTER RESPONSE
Damage assessments begin after Florence in North, South Carolina

ADMINISTRATION
Business cards available by contacting conference office

ACROSS THE CONNECTION
‘Coloring’ time draws pastor, people together in Grand Island
Lincoln church to host African choir from Omaha on Oct. 7
In other news
Resources
Networks have new home on Great Plains Conference website
Newsletters 
Blogs and opinion
The week ahead
Classifieds

 

Western Nebraskans hear
about proposed way forward

More than 450 western Nebraskans heard about the three proposals for the future of The United Methodist Church during Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr.’s town hall meetings last weekend in Scottsbluff, Ogallala and Cozad.

The bishop said that even though his colleagues may be publicly endorsing one plan over another, he is “taking the position of impartiality.”

“From where I’m sitting, I see both sides of this concern,” he said. “It’s not that I’m neutral, I’m just trying to be impartial.”

The final town hall in Nebraska is at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, at Grand Island Trinity UMC.

Read more about the western Nebraska stops.

Check out our Forward in Unity page, including full documents and graphics explaining the proposals.

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Ogallala’s got ‘talents’ – confirmation
class projects benefit church

Talk about a return on an investment. Last year, four confirmation students at Nebraska’s Ogallala UMC were given $30 each to use as “talents” to grow their faith and work toward the church. Out of that $120, $2,880 was returned this spring after the students did a variety of projects that resulted in money raised for the church.

For the 13th year, the church’s pastor, the Rev. Chuck Rager, is investing money with confirmands – seven this year, all boys – and can’t wait to see the result.

Read more about Ogallala’s unique confirmation program.

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Find resources to help promote,
explain World Communion Sunday

World Communion Sunday is Oct. 7, and there are an assortment of materials available including a pastor and leader’s kit (with Facebook countdown cards, videos, eBooks, scripts, slides, infographics and downloadable inserts and posters), posters and envelopes, and videos explaining the impact of donations made during World Communion Sunday.

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General Conference

Letter urges special session
delegates to prioritize exit plan

A theologically diverse group of United Methodists urges delegates for the special General Conference in 2019 to put an exit plan for churches at the top of the agenda. The open letter started in the West Ohio Conference and is drawing signatures. 

Read more from United Methodist News Service.

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Clergy Excellence

Learn about Sacred Encounters,
Fresh Expressions in Oct. 26 retreat

Do you have a passion for people beyond the local church? Tired of typical “churchiness?” Is God calling you to create a new community of faith?

If you said “yes” to even one of the above questions, "Sacred Encounters: Meeting God's People Where They Live" retreat is for you! 

Sacred Encounters is a one-day retreat from 1-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at The 180 Room in Olathe.

The workshop will feature:

  • Rev. Michael Beck, a national speaker for Fresh Expressions and a pastor of Wildwood UMC, a network of Fresh Expression communities
  • Rev. Dr. Mike Graves, author and emeritus professor at Saint Paul School of Theology and an advocate for “Dinner Church”
  • Rev. Lia McIntosh, missional strategist for the Missouri Conference.

With your $50 registration, you'll experience a content-rich, lively introduction to the Fresh Expressions movement that has captured the missional imagination of United Methodists around the world. Fresh Expressions is a movement that creates Christian communities with people who would never attend a regular church. Fresh Expressions have started in pubs, skateparks, living rooms and wherever people naturally gather for work, play and daily living. 

Each of the day’s presenters will offer insight into creating sacred encounters within your community followed by a “dinner church” experience including a buffet catered by Joe’s Kansas City BBQ.

Hosted by Friends of Saint Paul School of Theology, the Sacred Encounters Retreat is endorsed by the Great Plains Conference and Saint Paul School of Theology and is supported in part by the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation through the Pathways for Discipleship funds.

Join us to explore how God is calling you to the next step in your discipleship and ministry.

For more information and to register.  

Download an event flier and schedule.

If you have any questions email Rena Yocom, renayocom@gmail.com.

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Equipping Disciples

Looking into strength as a gift
while serving in lay servant ministry

We are all called to ministry -- not necessarily the kind that requires ordination documents, but the kind that arises from using our strengths and developing the gifts and graces we may not yet know we have. Lay Servant Ministry wants to help you discover your call. Read this inspiring blog post by Phyllis Stoppel, Hutchinson District director of Lay Servant Ministry, to learn how.

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Registration open for 2019 OneEvent, Jan. 5-6 at Tony's Pizza Center, Salina

The OneEvent is Jan. 5-6 at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina. Registration is up and brochures have been sent to churches.

Here’s the brochure electronically with all the information! Invite any sixth to 12th-graders and youth workers to this OneEvent!

New this year: Any church that signs up by Nov. 15 will receive a free youth worker admission ($59 registration fee) for every two youth workers per church, to say thank you to those who work with youth!

Youth will leave this event with a desire to study scripture, knowledge about the Bible and then live it out! This year we are focusing on “Proclaiming Christ,” focusing on studying scripture and using our words to share Christ. All youth will connect with youth across the conference and get to know at least two other opportunities outside of the local church in our connectional United Methodist Church. You won’t want to miss this!

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Mercy & Justice

#MeToo is topic of this year’s
‘For the Transformation of the World’

Great Plains Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. and retired Bishop Ann Sherer-Simpson will address the church’s role in the era of #MeToo in the annual “For the Transformation of the World” event, Oct. 27 at Lexington (Nebraska) First United Methodist Church.

For the Transformation of the World is an annual Mercy & Justice educational event that is organized to equip and resource Great Plains congregations and communities to engage and address specific social justice issues affecting our mission field. Besides Bishop Saenz and Bishop Sherer-Simpson, this year’s event will be feature a staff person from General Board of Church and Society, and Gerise Herndon, a faculty member from Nebraska Wesleyan University.

In the era of #MeToo our news outlets are flooded with stories of sexual harassment, assault and abuse where high-profile men across many industries, from Hollywood stars to top media personalities, politicians, schools, and even religious institutions, have used their position to dehumanize our sisters, the church must employ her prophet voice to challenge the system and her healing power to support the victims. As United Methodists one of our core missional practices is social holiness, which calls us to use our faith in Jesus Christ to transform the community and bring about God’s peaceable kingdom where all of God’s children experience abundant life.

The Mercy & Justice invites laity and clergy across the Great Plains to join us for this time of learning and organizing to dismantle systemic evils of sexism that have been going on in our society. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. with a group of panelists and continues in the afternoon with workshops for in-depth discussions and ways to organize to dismantle evil systems of sexism that continue to harm our societies.

While the event is free, we would like everyone to register so that we have an accurate count for meals. Here is the online registration link.

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Disaster Response

Damage assessments begin after
Florence in North, South Carolina

As the water recedes from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence, damage assessments in North and South Carolina have begun.

Many areas are still no access due to high water. Affected Conferences are managing their responses locally and will make requests for materials and response teams as they continue their assessments.

ERTs in North Carolina are assessing and responding to needs. ERTs in South Carolina started clean up this morning in areas where the water has receded. It is asked that those wishing to assist please do not self-deploy or donate unsolicited items.

No relief kits (flood buckets) have been requested at this time. If and when the kits are requested, the conference and its Disaster Response team will spread the word.

“If churches have begun with assembling kits, they will need to store them in their facilities, as we do not have storage space available,” said the Rev. Hollie Tapley, disaster response coordinator.

Donations can be made through your local church and coded as UMCOR US Disasters #901670.

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Administration

Business cards available by
contacting conference office

Maybe you have a new appointment and with all the flurry of changes, forgot to update your business cards.

Or maybe you’ve been networking with so many people that your supply has depleted.

If you are in need of business cards, send your name, church or agency affiliation, address, phone numbers, email and website to Lisa Soukup, lsoukup@greatplainsumc.org. The cost is approximately $35 for a box of 500 cards.

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Across the Connection

‘Coloring’ time draws pastor,
people together in Grand Island

The pastor of Grand Island Trinity United Methodist Church is coloring outside the lines as a way to bring people together.

The Rev. Kelly Karges (in this photo from the Grand Island Independent) has started “Coloring with Pastor Kelly” every Wednesday at a chocolate shop in Grand Island, calling it “stress reduction” as the participants find a way to “give God room” in their lives.

Here’s a story from the Grand Island Independent.

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Lincoln church to host
African choir from Omaha on Oct. 7

The African Umoja (Unity) Choir from Omaha's St. Paul United Methodist Church will give a free concert at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 at Lincoln New Hope UMC, 1205 N 45th St. A free-will offering will be taken for the choir to cover expenses. For more information, contact Kathy at the New Hope office, 402-466-5238 or email newhopeumclincoln@gmail.com.

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In other news


Resources

Networks have new home on
Great Plains Conference website

Networks of churches, pastors and lay leaders have been growing in the Great Plains Conference – if your church isn’t involved in one already, it likely soon will.

A new page on the Great Plains Conference website, greatplainsumc.org/networks, aims to be a resource for those on various stages of the network experience.

It includes explanation of networks, a curriculum for exploring networks, a list of best practices and materials for getting started, as well as strategies and a list of networks broken down into the 17 districts of the Great Plains.

More information and resources will constantly be added to the page.

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Newsletters 

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Blogs and opinion

  • Pointing the way: The former pastor of Dodge City’s First United Methodist Church is featured in a new book, “For the Common Good,” by Ed O’Malley and David Chrislip. The Rev. Lance Carrithers (pictured above), now pastor at Derby Woodlawn UMC, noticed a growing Hispanic population in town while his congregation was older and nearly all-white. He began reaching out to the Hispanic community. “Carrithers set the tone early, stressing a faith-driven message of inclusivity,” Michael Smith, an Emporia State University political science professor reports in an op-ed piece that ran in several newspapers this weekend. “He also delivered straight talk during sermons. He spoke of how the church could do great new things if they embraced change — and how they would wither away otherwise.”
  • Presence, witness in ICE detention center: The experience of families in an ICE detention center was heartbreaking and challenging, writes a United Methodist deaconess and lawyer from Texas who provided limited legal representation to women preparing to present their initial claim for asylum. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” writes Mary Ellen Kris.

The week ahead

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Classifieds  

View other classifieds and submit your own at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.

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PO Box 4187
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