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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Pastors explore 'Purple Zone' in opening of Orders & Fellowship
Virtual worship is here for good, as churches worldwide learn to adapt
Conference hosting COVID test sites in 4 western Kansas churches
Lenexa church hosting online hymn singalong
Missouri pastor creates Black Genius School; students include Kansas girl
Correction
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
For Your Life Retreat for clergy offering in-person or virtual options
Clergy Covenant Groups give support in troubled times; grants available
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Summer activities scheduled to make their return to Camp Fontanelle
‘Holy Week in a Box’ offered by Great Plains Conference
Openings for Resurrection Fellow at Saint Paul School of Theology
Sign up to write one of our Daily Devotions
MERCY & JUSTICE
Doing Justice Initiative continues with workers sought for programs
Program seeks ethnic young adults for internships
February AIDS webinar focuses on racial disparities
ADMINISTRATION
FEMA seeks teens for Youth Preparedness Council
ADMINISTRATION
Kansas Area UM Foundation to host Wespath investment forum
Friday is deadline for Nebraska UM Foundation COVID emergency grants
RESOURCES
Experts release guide on marking Ash Wednesday safely
UMCom offers new Bible studies for new year
Saving Grace offers guide on personal finance
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Kansas church remembers those who have died of COVID-19
Topeka Susanna Wesley UMC hosts blood drive
Church partners with Emporia soup kitchen to plant fruit trees
Church of the Resurrection members make day off a ‘Day On!’
In other news
Newsletters
Commentaries
Classifieds
Pastors explore 'Purple Zone'
in opening of Orders & Fellowship
Pastors in the Great Plains Conference learned about the "Purple Zone," and statistics about themselves and their churches, in the opening of the 2021 Orders & Fellowship virtual clergy gathering, which began this morning and concludes tomorrow. A second session is next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Rev. Dr. Leah Schade, author of “Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide,” is the keynote speaker, sharing information from her book and a survey of 278 pastors in the Great Plains Conference.
Read more here.
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Virtual worship is here for good, as
churches worldwide learn to adapt
If there's a positive side to the coronavirus for churches, it's that many of them have dramatically upped their game online. Internet responsibilities have increased the workload of pastors, who will get even busier as churches return to normal after the pandemic eases.
Read more from UM News Service.
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Conference hosting COVID test
sites in 4 western Kansas churches
The Great Plains Conference is starting a pilot program with four churches in western of Kansas for coronavirus testing.
“We’re going to run a pilot for two weeks, and then following the two weeks we’ll take a look. We’ll see how it went and then decision will be made whether to open up more of our United Methodist churches to provide testing sites,” the Rev. Hollie Tapley, disaster response coordinator, told WDAF-TV, Kansas City.
If things go well, the churches could turn into vaccination sites.
“It’s important for us to do our part to keep people safe, to keep people well,” Tapley said.
Churches that are a part of this pilot program will be announced through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in the coming days.
Read more here.
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Lenexa church hosting
online hymn singalong
Organizers at Lenexa UMC had planned on hosting an online hymn singalong last Sunday, but a little something called the AFC Championships that sent the Kansas City Chiefs back to the Super Bowl got in the way.
So the church is trying again this weekend, gathering on Facebook Live Sunday to sing some of their favorite songs.
Find out more here.
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Missouri pastor creates Black Genius
School; students include Kansas girl
 
A Missouri UMC pastor has expanded her children’s school at home into a thorough study of African-American history and culture.
The Black Genius School, created by the Rev. Charity Goodwin and her sister, began in September and has students including 8-year-old Mapalo Chali, daughter of the Rev. Kalaba Chali, Great Plains Conference mercy and justice coordinator, and the Rev. Jill Sander-Chali, pastor of Wichita College Hill UMC.
“We’ve always been intentional about giving Mapalo role models who look like her, and now she’s at an age where she really sees it,” Sander-Chali says.
Read more from the Missouri Conference.
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Correction
A story published in GPconnect last week on United Methodists in the U.S. Congress inadvertently left out Rep. Troy Nehls, a United Methodist from Texas. The same article also incorrectly included Rep. Jahana Hayes, who is a member of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Clergy Excellence
For Your Life Retreat for clergy
offering in-person or virtual options
Would you benefit from having a two-day, guided retreat (in-person or virtually) to give you an opportunity to connect with others through worship together, take an honest look at how you’re doing, and also learn about creating a Rule of Life and Learning Plan for focusing your plan for growth?
In true 2021 style, we’ve got a really flexible way for you to engage in this retreat! “For Your Life: Giving your soul time and means to grow” is a retreat that will introduce you to the framework for creating a Learning Plan, give you resources, guide you in worship, and most importantly, give you space to spend time in solo reflection and/or connection with others. You’re welcome to join in a “real time” experience in person or via Zoom that will start at 9 a.m. Monday, March 8. The in-person retreat will be held at St. Benedict’s Retreat Center in Schuyler, Nebraska or, you could choose to join a virtual group which will have a combination of pre-recorded learning session and live sharing together. Both retreats wrap up by 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 9.
The cost to participate in the in-person retreat is $25 and in the virtual retreat is $10. The in-person retreat includes one night of lodging, meals and a retreat notebook. The virtual retreat includes a “Retreat in a Box” kit with resources, items for worship and a little bit of fun thrown in for good measure! The deadline for registering for the in-person retreat is Friday, Feb. 19. The deadline for registering for the virtual retreat is Monday, March 1.
Are you interested in a self-guided version of this retreat? We’ve now got a way for you to plan a solo or small group format with a couple of your friends. Contact the Rev. Ashlee Alley Crawford for details.
To register and for more information, check out the website, www.greatplainsumc.org/foryourlife or email aalleycrawford@greatplainsumc.org.
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Clergy Covenant Groups give support
in troubled times; grants available
There is much to praise God for, much to wonder about, and much to be anxious about in this season of unknowns. As clergy, you have lots of demands on your time and energy and you might be struggling with how to respond to these in a healthy way. You might have difficulty right now remembering that the love of God surrounds you and gives you strength. Having a small group of clergy who walk the journey of ministry with you can be just what you need to stay focused, centered in Christ, and in touch with your call to ministry.
A small group of others with whom you can be honest, open, and accountable in our own spiritual lives is at the heart of a covenant group. Right now may be the right time to start, restart or refresh yourself in a covenant group. The Clergy Excellence team has worked on some resources that will hopefully equip and inspire you to live out your faith in close community. You can find those resources here. And in case you’re wondering, here is how we define Clergy Covenant Group:
- a definite group of three to eight clergy who meet for encouragement, support and accountability
- committed to pray for one another
- may have a written covenant
- meets regularly, though maybe not monthly
- may be a residency, local pastor mentoring group, or Transition into Ministry group
- not a network meeting, lectionary study group, or book club
The main goal of the Clergy Covenant Group is to encourage, support, and hold one another accountable for continuing in your own discipleship. The leadership can be shared or you can identify someone to serve as your leader. Would you consider if this is something that you’re willing to start, restart or refresh for the year ahead? Find two other clergy with the same desire and you’ve got the beginning of a group.
Needing some focus or inspiration? Check out our website for some different models of covenant groups to find one that connects with you. While you’re there, scroll to the bottom and find out how you can apply for a grant up to $500 for your group. If clergy in a Network design a time away for support, accountability, and/or study together, the Network may also apply for a Covenant Group grant.
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Equipping Disciples
Summer activities scheduled to
make their return to Camp Fontanelle
There might be 12 inches of snow on the ground, but Camp Fontanelle is thinking warm thoughts as preparations are made for a full summer of camping.
Registration is open and ready for families to register for summer camp. Even during this pandemic, camp staff are optimistic that they will be ready for campers and once again, providing a quality program for all who attend.
Many of the popular themed camps will be offered, like Splish Splash, Zoobilee, Girls Only, Road Rules and Survivor. There is also Day Camp and five-day resident camp programs for elementary, middle school and high school-age children/youth.
“Providing a Day Camp during this pandemic, may provide a much-needed outreach for those parents who are working from home and need a place for their children to be during the day,” Jane Van Horn, camp coordinator, said.
Van Horn also said that they are anticipating that numbers will be greatly down from previous years but looking forward to having campers back on site.
“We are, once again, looking for ways to reach out to our camp family and the community, to provide traditional camping and other ways to meet the needs of those seeking God's Word,” she said.
All camp sessions are open for taking registrations. A description of these sessions can be found on the camp website, or in the registration system. For specific questions, please contact the camp at 402-478-4296 or fontanelle@greatplainsumc.org.
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‘Holy Week in a Box’ offered
by Great Plains Conference
With the Lenten season beginning in three weeks and uncertainty about resuming in-person worship continuing, the Great Plains and Michigan conferences are distributing “Holy Week in a Box.”
The kit includes scripture, activities and prayers for the entire family.
Download “Holy Week in a Box” here.
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Openings for Resurrection Fellow
at Saint Paul School of Theology
Do you have a desire to renew the church and transform the world? Do you feel called by God to become a United Methodist pastor?
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, in partnership with Saint Paul School of Theology, offers an innovative three-year Resurrection Fellows Program to educate future church leaders. Resurrection Fellows receive three years of full tuition, books and fees, a ministry mentor and a paid fellowship up to 20 hours per week at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. Fellows work closely with Church of the Resurrection staff to learn ministry skills in areas such as evangelism, worship, pastoral care, and discipleship. For more information: www.spst.edu/fellows. Deadline is Jan. 31 — so if God is prompting you, explore right away!
Read press release and promotional material.
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Sign up to write one
of our Daily Devotions
You have a perspective that's worth hearing, and we have openings for our Daily Devotions. What a match!
Dates for February and most of March are available for signup here.
Included is a link to the Vanderbilt lectionary to give you Biblical inspiration, although you may use any verse you wish. Write about 300 words and send it to us at least three days before the published date.
Thank you for considering writing one of our Daily Devotions!
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Mercy & Justice
Doing Justice Initiative continues
with workers sought for programs
As we continue to live into our Great Plains Conference Doing Justice Initiative, the Great Plains Mercy and Justice Team is faithfully at the table working to help clergy, congregations and communities engage in a deeper biblical understanding of justice. This team is committed to leading the way across the Great Plains Conference to live out the call from Micah 6:8 to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly” with God. From our Mission Agency partnerships to the Micah Corps intern ministry, to working alongside existing partners, and engaging new work in both Kansas and Nebraska with DART (Direct Action & Research Training) and WORC (Western Organization of Resource Councils) to build sustainable communities of justice seeking organizations there is much to be done! We are always looking to welcome passionate and faith-filled workers to the mission—both laity and clergy are important to this work!
The Doing Justice Initiative is well underway. This year’s DART Clergy Conference moved online and because of our partnership many clergy from around the conference will be attending the training the first week of February! Even with the challenges of launching this important work during a global pandemic, our partner agencies have begun the assessments, have been connecting with key stakeholders, and begun the work of building community partnerships for this work to be sustainable over time!
One of the next key pieces to put in place is the hiring of the community organizers. We need your help to get the word out about the job openings by sharing the application links to your social media and other communication channels. We also need you to be talking to the people you know with passion for justice work, initiative and follow-through in their work ethic, and who have a heart for engaging people in the work of justice. They may be the right fit for these roles or know someone who is!
Here are the links to our partner organization job openings:
If you have a passion for justice ministry, a connection to any one of our mission agency partners, or a desire to impact the lives of the most vulnerable in our mission fields – we want to hear from you and see how we might help connect you to a new way of serving God with your whole heart on our way to a more just world.
So much energy and engagement in justice issues comes to us through the Micah Corp Interns each year and applications for summer 2021 are now being received. Here is the link for more information and a link to apply: https://www.greatplainsumc.org/micahcorps .
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Program seeks ethnic
young adults for internships
The Ethnic Young Adult Internship (EYA) is designed for United Methodist young people wanting to put their faith in action! Interns gain professional experience with Church & Society partner organizations who work on justice issues in the sphere of public policy, nonprofit and advocacy.
EYAs participate in weekly seminars that explore faith, identity, and a variety of justice issues. EYAs are introduced to The United Methodist Church’s history of social action and our UM Social Principles. Interns learn from staff about work of justice, peace, and advocacy. EYA’s engage in weekly devotions and opportunities for faith formation and vocational discernment.
Program qualifications:
- Be a member of The United Methodist Church
- Be between 18 and 22 years old (Central Conference interns are accepted up to 24 years old)
- Be at the academic level of rising sophomore, junior or senior in college/university studies or employed full-time
- Show active leadership and participation in the local church/community and an involvement in social justice activities
- Self-identify as a person of color
Apply by March 1. You can find the application and more information at www.umcjustice.org/internships.
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February AIDS webinar
focuses on racial disparities
The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee (UMGAC) has announced the theme and panelists for their next webinar at 1 p.m. CT Monday, Feb. 1.
“Racial Disparities, HIV & AIDS” will be the theme for the panel which supports the United Methodist Dismantling Racism initiative, a multi-level effort to initiate a sustained and coordinated effort to dismantle racism and promote collective action to work toward racial justice.
Racial disparities are abundantly evident when assessing HIV and AIDS statistics regarding health care, education, and housing in the United States. We have also witnessed those disparities in the COVID pandemic. Panelists will discuss how we can better understand these disparities and work to ameliorate them, as well as how the church can respond to these realities.
This is the second in a series of webinars planned for the coming months to educate, support, and advocate for those affected by HIV/AIDS. The complimentary session will be made available online through Facebook.com/UMCglobalaidsfund and archived on their website.
The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee – established by the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church – has sought to strengthen the church’s compassionate response to those affected with HIV/AIDS by helping to stem the tide of the pandemic through education and advocacy. Subsequent free webinars will be held April 1 and June 1 of 2021.
Read more here.
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Disaster Response
FEMA seeks teens for
Youth Preparedness Council
Do you know a young leader who is passionate about making a positive impact on their community? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is looking for students in grades 8-11 interested in supporting disaster preparedness and making a difference in their communities to join the Youth Preparedness Council (YPC). During their two-year terms on the council, members will take on projects at both a local and national level and develop their leadership and project management skills.
Why Is It Important for Youth to Apply? The youth of today are integral to building prepared communities of the future. By applying to and joining the YPC, youth will have the opportunity to become influential change agents in their community. FEMA is committed to actively involving youth in preparedness-related activities through the YPC. By applying to and joining the YPC, youth will have the opportunity to build preparedness and become change agents in their community.
How Does the YPC Work? YPC members meet with FEMA leadership throughout their term to develop strategies, initiatives, and projects. Also, YPC members attend the annual YPC Summit, where they will meet with FEMA representatives and complete emergency preparedness projects. Please note, the 2021 YPC Summit will be conducted virtually. Learn more about the projects YPC members have worked on here.
What Is FEMA Looking For? Students in grades 8-11 who have a passion for preparedness and helping others, are involved in their community, and have an aptitude for working in a team and as a leader.
Spread the Word! You can spread the word by sharing information about the YPC with parents, educators, schools, organizations, and reaching out to friends and family! Do you know a student who would make a great candidate? Encourage them to apply today!
How to Apply? The YPC application period is currently open and closes on March 7. To learn more about the YPC and application requirements, visit the website and click the following link to apply! Hard copy of application here.
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Administration
Kansas Area UM Foundation
to host Wespath investment forum
On Tuesday, Feb. 9, Wespath Institutional Investments will present “2021 Near and Long-term Risk and Opportunities Affecting the Markets” at the Investment Forum hosted by the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation. Churches and organizations who invest with the Foundation, those interested in investing with the Foundation or are interested in learning more about long-term sustainable investments are invited to join. The forum will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. CT on Zoom.
During the forum, Wespath’s Dave Zellner, chief investment officer; Trish Halper, deputy chief investment officer; and Karen Manczko, director of institutional relationships, will be sharing how the Foundation’s funds performed in 2020, the targets for 2021, and Wespath’s long-term investment strategy.
Register for the forum at https://kaumf-reg.brtapp.com/WespathInvestorForum.
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Friday is deadline for Nebraska UM Foundation 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. 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
Experts release guide on
marking Ash Wednesday safely
With COVID-19 still a threat, worship leaders are urging increased caution in observing Ash Wednesday on Feb. 17. An ecumenical team convened by three United Methodists, two of them from Candler School of Theology, produced a six-page guide to reduce health risks as Christians mark the start of Lent. The guide draws on a range of experts, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Read guide.
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UMCom offers new
Bible studies for new year
The beginning of a new year is a popular time to dive into a new Bible study, as is Lent, which is coming up Feb. 17. Here’s an overview of 10 new Bible studies from the United Methodist Publishing House that are useful for small groups or individual study.
Find out more here.
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Saving Grace offers
guide on personal finance
Wespath Benefits and Investments and the United Methodist Publishing House have released “Saving Grace: A Guide to Financial Well-Being,” a new personal money-management curriculum guided by Wesleyan values that seeks to promote financial wellness with clergy and laity. Resources are available through the Publishing House's online platform, AmplifyMedia.com. They also can be purchased on Cokesbury.com and Amazon.com.
Read press release, watch videos or order curriculum.
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Across the Connection
Kansas church remembers
those who have died of COVID-19
Newton Trinity Heights UMC led a remembrance of those who died from COVID-19, lighting 40 candles outside the church for the 400,000 deaths in the U.S.
“Every community really has lost people, and this is really hard on people,” the Rev. Donna Voteau told The Newton Kansan. “I have had people who have gotten better and have been touch and go for a long while. This, for how many, we still go ‘oh my word.’"
Read more here.
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Topeka Susanna Wesley
UMC hosts blood drive
Topeka Susanna Wesley UMC hosted a blood drive on Saturday, and the work of the volunteers was captured in a photo gallery by KSNT.
View the gallery here.
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Church partners with Emporia
soup kitchen to plant fruit trees
Emporia Grace UMC has partnered with Abundant Harvest, a soup kitchen in Emporia, to plant trees that will bear fruit within about 2 ½ years.
Watch video from KSNT.
From November: Big Garden branches out with orchard planting in Kansas.
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Church of the Resurrection
members make day off a ‘Day On!’
The campuses of United Methodist Church of the Resurrection turned what was supposed to be their day off, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, into a “Day On!”
More than 600 adults and children served at 20 agencies in the Kansas City area.
Read more from the Missouri Conference.
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In other news
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Newsletters
- Communication Essentials, January 27, 2021
- Safe Gatherings, January 27, 2021
- Leading Ideas, January 27, 2021
- A Sermon for Every Sunday, January 26, 2021
- The Source, January 26, 2021
- Discipleship Ministries: Worship Planning, January 25, 2021
- United Methodist Now, January 25, 2021
- Discipleship Ministries: Generous Living, January 22, 2021
- GBHEM Resources, January 21, 2021
- UMCOMtigo (in Spanish), January 21, 2021
- Compass, January 21, 2021
- Ministry Matters, January 20, 2021
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Commentaries
- Was my vote sinful?: Nancy Boyda, a former United Methodist pastor and former member of the House of Representatives from Kansas' 2nd District, co-writes an opinion piece in today's USA Today. America's churches are supposed to be uniting the nation, she co-writes with Thomas Wheatley, not dividing it with political rancor or elevating politicians to messianic figures.
- Federal laws a threat to ‘actual religions’: Two acts of Congress, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, have “advanced a legal understanding of religion that is essentially secular and deleterious to actual religions,” writes the Rev. Robert Hunt, a professor at United Methodist Perkins School of Theology, for the Dallas Morning News.
- Leading during turbulent times: Amid all the challenges churches face in this time of pandemic and economic distress, the tragic events at the U.S. Capitol require United Methodists' best leadership. Lewis Center leaders the Rev. Doug Powe, Ann A. Michel and the Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership outline ways church leaders can respond to the fallout from ongoing political upheaval.
Classifieds
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