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Download the Jan. 20 edition of GPconnect.

In this edition:

THIS WEEK'S NEWS
'Women of Justice' featured in newest episode of 'Potluck'
Great Plains camps Fontanelle, Lakeside seeking site directors
Methodists in Congress are a near  balance of Democrats, Republicans

CLERGY EXCELLENCE
First session of virtual O&F begins next Wednesday
'Spiritual Formation in Today's World' yearlong online sessions begin soon 

EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Great Plains' second Laity Summit begins two months from today
Readiness 360 can get congregations rolling in new year

ADMINISTRATION 
Nebraska UM Foundation offers New Start/New Faith Community Grants
Nebraska UM Foundation has new round of COVID emergency grants 

RESOURCES
Easter outreach materials available for local churches

ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Hamilton talks about ‘megachurch,’ changes brought on by pandemic
In other news
Newsletters
Blogs and commentaries
Classifieds

 

'Women of Justice' featured
in newest episode of 'Potluck'

Five districts in the Great Plains Conference have recently added justice coordinators, working with concerns in their areas of their states.

Those four "Women of Justice" -- clockwise from upper left, the Rev. Marcee Binder, Missouri River District; the Rev. Beth Graverholt, Blue River District; Jeanne Koontz, Hutchinson and Salina districts; and the Rev. Carter Ellis, Kansas City District -- are the guests on the newest episode of "Potluck," a podcast from the Great Plains Conference.

Listen here.

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Great Plains camps Fontanelle,
Lakeside seeking site directors

Two of the five camps in the Great Plains Conference are looking for new leadership.  Camp Fontanelle, near Nickerson, Nebraska, and Camp Lakeside, near Scott City, Kansas, are both looking for new directors. 

Sara Shaw, camping ministry coordinator, said that all interested applicants must include a resume, cover letter and statement of faith and send it to her at sshaw@greatplainsumc.org. The deadline for applications for Camp Fontanelle is Jan. 31 and for Lakeside is Feb. 1.

Read more here.

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Methodists in Congress are a near 
balance of Democrats, Republicans

Although two Kansans – Sen. Pat Roberts and Rep. Steve Watkins – are no longer on the list, the 117th Congress includes 31 United Methodists: 16 Republicans and 15 Democrats. Six are in the U.S. Senate and 25 are in the House of Representatives.

Read more here.

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Clergy Excellence

First session of virtual Orders & Fellowship begins next Wednesday

Registration has closed for the 2021 Orders & Fellowship. The first session begins a week from today, Jan. 27-28, and the second session is Feb. 2-3.

Dr. Leah Schade, author of "Preaching in the Purple Zone," will speak at the two online-only sessions. Her book is available in hardback, paperback or eBook at a 30% discount at rowman.com or by calling 800-462-6420. Use code RLFANDF30.

Listen to an interview with Schade.

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'Spiritual Formation in Today's World' yearlong online sessions begin soon

As we continue to work for justice, following Jesus into the unknown: Nourish your spiritual life. Grow in community. Ground yourself in God.

"Spiritual Formation in Today’s World," a new online offering from The Academy for Spiritual Formation, is available for all whose souls are weary and in need of rest and renewal.

Incorporating the elements of community, wisdom teaching, worship, and stillness, the four three-day online sessions will follow a modified Benedictine Daily Office, as well as invite participants into communal formation with the same cohort throughout the year. Each session will cover topics of longing, healing, reconciling, and justice-seeking, led by experts in the field of spiritual formation — Amy Oden, Safiyah Fosua, Ray Buckley and Luther Smith — and include suggestions for creating sacred space at home, as well as tools for healthy, embodied ways to learn online.  

Space is limited. Reserve your spot for "Spiritual Formation in Today’s World" today.

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Equipping Disciples

Great Plains' second Laity Summit
begins two months from today

The Laity Summit will take place on Saturday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT virtually. This is for Lay Servants, Speakers, Ministers, Leaders and for anyone discerning a call to leadership. It will be a one-stop virtual leadership event for church and community leadership.

Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries Mary Feit, Conference Lay Leader Lisa Maupin, Gateway District Lay Leader Kathy Pierce, and Conference Coordinator of Lay Leadership Shane Warta have been planning this gathering since the first Laity Summit back in March was complete.

The planning team is aiming for laity and registrants to experience learning and resources for lay leadership. The overall theme for the gathering is “Building a New Normal.” The keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Junius Dotson, General Secretary for Discipleship Ministries. There will be worship, workshops and networking.

The first 200 people that are registered by Feb. 20, will receive a participant box filled with useful resources, Dotson’s “Soul Reset” book and giveaways for an increased virtual experience. They will be mailed directly to the registrant.

Registration is here.

Visit the webpage here.

If you have questions about Great Plains 2021 Laity Summit contact: 

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Readiness 360 can get
congregations rolling in new year

To get ready for next year, check out this visioning resource and plan on when might be best for your congregation to do this in the new year. Readiness 360 can help churches have conversations that would lead to embracing new ways for discovering a new context for your ministries.

Here are two video resources to help share about R360 with 3-minute or 7-minute testimonies from Great Plains churches.

We have found sending the emailed R360 survey code out electronically can be helpful to keep a congregation connected. When the survey is returned and calculated, the leadership team meets electronically with a coach to talk about next steps and visioning. The leadership can come up with a plan which will provide some strategic planning to live into for the next year.

For more information go to www.greatplainsumc.org/readiness-360 and/or contact your district Congregational Excellence liaison:

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Administration

Nebraska UM Foundation offers New
Start/New Faith Community Grants

The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation is pleased to announce a new church development grant opportunity available to Nebraska churches and affiliated Nebraska agencies of the Great Plains United Methodist Conference.

Due to the generosity of donors supporting congregational development, the Nebraska United Methodist Foundation has grants available to enhance and support your new church development. The ultimate goal of these awards is to alleviate a little bit of the financial burden.

Grant applicants should be aware that priority will be given to the following:

  • A New Start that is recognized by Congregational Excellence as a New Start/New Faith Community.
  • A New Start deemed to be of an outreach and beneficial nature to the larger community.
  • A New Start that is in collaboration with other United Methodist entities.
  • A New Start that has identified other sources of revenue.
  • A New Start that is an integral part of a long-range plan for growth and outreach.

Grants will be awarded on an annual basis. Applications must be received by April 1 to be considered. For application materials and more information, visit www.numf.org/scholarships-grants.

If you have questions about the application process or would like to talk to the Foundation about how you can help grow these types of grants, call 877-495-5545.

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Nebraska UM Foundation has new
round of COVID emergency grants 

The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation is announcing a 2nd round of COVID-19 Emergency Grants to Nebraska United Methodist churches. Due to the generosity shown through its Gifts from the Heart Endowments, the Foundation will make available $55,000 to commemorate the Foundation’s 55th anniversary.

These grants are available to support Nebraska churches as they continue to navigate through this pandemic. Any Nebraska United Methodist Church in need is welcome to apply. You do not need to have an account with the Foundation to be considered.

There grants are available to support:

  • Mission and Ministry: to include, but not limited to mission and ministry line items in a church’s general budget, i.e. Christian education or youth group, choir, Bible study, etc.
  • Greatest Needs: to include, but not limited to, operating costs and technology needs

Only one application per church will be accepted. The grant application is available at www.numf.org and will be due by Jan. 29, 2021. Applications not postmarked by Jan. 29, or received by this date electronically, will not be considered.

Grant checks will be mailed by March 1. The Foundation appreciates the generosity and vision of United Methodist individuals for making grants like these possible. If you would like to donate to this fund or create an endowment of your own to support churches and ministries through the Gifts from the Heart Program, call 402-323-8841 or visit its website for more information.

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Resources

Easter outreach materials
available for local churches

Many people in your community will be searching for a place to find renewal and hope this Easter. United Methodist Communications sells a wide variety of customizable outreach resources to invite people to church, including postcards, banners and digital tools. Use code UMCEA21 to receive $150 off an order.

Order here.

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Across the Connection

Hamilton talks about ‘megachurch,’
changes brought on by pandemic

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, is the guest of KSHB anchor Taylor Hemness for the station’s weekly “Faith in KC” segment.

Hamilton talks about the concept of the “megachurch,” as well as the changes that COVID-19 has brought to the most-attended church in the denomination.

Watch the interview here.

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In other news


Newsletters

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Blogs and commentaries

  • Clergy should advocate for vaccination: The Rev. Chase Green, pastor of Primrose UMC in Little Rock, Arkansas, calls on fellow United Methodist clergy to be cheerleaders for the COVID-19 vaccines rolling out. His essay notes the keen interest of John Wesley, Methodism's founder, in health and remedies.
  • Undoing America’s white supremacy: Watching the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, United Methodist Insight editor Cynthia B. Astle saw an unmasking of the nation’s problems with white supremacy and what Christians must do to confront it. “The only way for Christians to get beyond this inherent evil in America’s identity is to surrender fully to the good news embodied in Jesus Christ,” Astle writes. 

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Classifieds

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