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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Commissioning, ordination service is Saturday morning at Resurrection
All videos from annual conference now available online
Nearly 100 participate in Great Plains 5K virtual race
AC offerings raise more than $2,500; there are still opportunities to give
ICYMI: Bishop Saenz to add Central Texas Conference to duties in 2022
Kansas pastor mourns loss of son, granddaughter in highway accident
Stanton receives Royal treatment for Lou Gehrig Day
Chali's work with mercy, justice ministries celebrated by staff
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
At the Threshold is ready to celebrate with 'Proclaiming Great Joy'
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Discipleship Ministries partners with Good Neighbor Experience
Institute hosting one-day experience July 17 at Camp Chippewa
MERCY & JUSTICE
Micah Corps spends third week learning, preparing, traveling
All of Us campaign hosting online prayer vigil on Friday
ADMINISTRATION
Deadline for seminary, local pastor scholarship applications is June 30
RESOURCES
Author gives 10 tips for leading a small group on Zoom
Online events to introduce financial health program
College scholarships up to $3,000 are still available
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Pets get blessing from Omaha church
In other news
Newsletters
Commentaries
Classifieds
Commissioning, ordination service
is Saturday morning at Resurrection
Clergy in the Great Plains Conference will take the next steps in their ministries with a service of recognition, commissioning and ordination on Saturday morning.
The service at 10 a.m. CT Saturday at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood is by invitation only. It can be viewed on livestream at greatplainsumc.org and on the conference Facebook page. Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, episcopal leader of the Northwest Texas and New Mexico area, will deliver the sermon.
Hyun Ju Gil, Tino Herrera, Hyemi Jones, David Kim and Annie Ricker will be ordained as elders in full connection. Daekyung Kim will be received as a full member after completing the process of transfer from the Korean Methodist Church.
Sue Barham will transfer from full membership in the Order of Deacons to full membership in the Order of Elders and be ordained as an elder.
Claire Cough will be ordained as a deacon in full connection.
Bonnie Brock, Martin Leeper and Cyd Stein will be recognized as associate members.
Deb Dahlke, Jeanne Koontz, Allison Marcus, Mike Marcus, Maria Penrod and Justin Schoolcraft will be affirmed as provisional deacons.
Ever Vennah Mudambanuki (Zimbabwe Conference) and Abiba “Alice” Shomari (South Congo Conference), after ministry in other conferences will be welcomed as elders in full connection in the Great Plains Conference.
Commissioned as provisional elders will be Caitlin Bentzinger, Andrew Finch, Jee Sook Gil, Sangyeop Han, Joshua Johnson, Spenser Johnson, Ryong Jae Jung, Kalaba Kapundu, Keunsik Lee, Karissa Miller, Helen Paus, Daniel Reffner, Blake Stanwood, Jay Stewart, Lauren Baker Thomas, Lacey Wheeler and Matthew Wilke.
Not participating in the ceremony, but being recognized as licensed local pastors, are Renelle Aytes, Brennan Cummings, Michael Hader, Mark Hendrickson, Priscilla Kaimathiri, Changhyun Kim, Jane Lang’at, Marshall Larson, Chris Lehew, Jed Linder, Albert Longe, Cameron Miller, Lami Oladimeji, Pamela Savery, Valecia Scribner, Rachel Stone and Brad Zimmerman.
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All videos from annual
conference now available online
All of the videos from the 2021 virtual annual conference are available at greatplainsumc.org/annualconference. They are separated into 26 different segments, or the option of the entire conference split into early Friday, late Friday and all of Saturday.
A letter from the Rev. Nancy Lambert, director of clergy excellence and assistant to the bishop, including links to a survey, information about new appointments and details about the 2022 AC location, is available to read here.
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Nearly 100 participate in
Great Plains 5K virtual race
Participants from Juniata UMC in Nebraska, including Pastor Kathy Uldrich.
A few fun facts about the Great Plains 2021 Therefore GO! 5K Virtual Race:
- There were 97 participants
- Ages ranged from 8-85 years old
- Fastest submitted time for this year's Great Plains Virtual 5K virtual race: 22 minutes, 32 seconds
- Clergy and laity walked together
- One church walked a 5K and delivered May baskets along the way
- Small groups walked together
- A Youth Group walked together
- Country roads were explored
- Neighborhoods were prayed over
- New personal challenges were embraced
- Colleagues encouraged one another
- Grandparents, children, and grandchildren participated together
- 97 stories that are each unique and powerful
Thanks to participant generosity through donations, $1,270 was raised to help sponsor first aid mental health trainings in the Great Plains Conference.
If you are interested in additional mental and behavioral health resources for you, your family, your congregation, or community we have included some below.
--Rev. Shelly Petz
Clergy Faith and Wellness
Participants from Valley Center UMC in Kansas.
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AC offerings raise more than $2,500;
there are still opportunities to give
Three offerings took place during the virtual annual conference this year to raise funds for various organizations:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, received $1,365
- The Youth Service Fund, which supports the global United Methodist mission led by youth, received $695
- The Crounse Fund, which supports grants for emergency and hardship assistance for active and retired Great Plains clergy, received $560
Even though the annual conference is over, donations will still be accepted through mailed check, online or text. Instructions are noted above.
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ICYMI: Bishop Saenz to add Central
Texas Conference to duties in 2022
Announced last Thursday by the South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops, Great Plains Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. will add coverage of the episcopal duties for the Central Texas Conference beginning Jan. 1.
He will succeed Bishop Mike Lowry, who is retiring. The Central Texas Conference, based in Fort Worth, is one of five conferences in the state. It has five districts and 270 churches.
Read more here.
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Kansas pastor mourns loss of son,
granddaughter in highway accident
A Great Plains Conference elder is mourning the deaths of his son and granddaughter in a Memorial Day weekend head-on crash south of Salina.
The Rev. Phillip Hett, 39, and his 10-year-old daughter Abigail were killed in the May 30 crash, and 13-year-old Jillian Hett is recovering at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
Phillip’s father, the Rev. Warren Hett, currently serves the Roxbury United Parish in McPherson County, and lives in Lindsborg, as did his son and granddaughters.
Read more here.
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Stanton receives Royal
treatment for Lou Gehrig Day
About 100 staff, clergy and laity from the Great Plains Conference joined the Rev. Nathan Stanton and his family at Kauffman Stadium on June 3, as Stanton had the honor of the Buck O’Neil seat at the Kansas City Royals game.
Major League Baseball honored Lou Gehrig Day last week, including showing this video at stadiums.
See a photo gallery from Thursday’s game.
Watch KCTV coverage of Stanton and his family.
From last week: Stanton starts #LoveStrong movement.
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Chali's work with mercy, justice
ministries celebrated by staff
The Rev. Dr. Kalaba Chali's seven years as mercy and justice coordinator for the Great Plains Conference were celebrated with a staff lunch Monday at the conference office in Topeka.
His wife, the Rev. Jill Sander-Chali, and their daughter, Mapolo, were also at the celebration.
On July 1, Chali will become the pastor of Wichita Pleasant Valley UMC. He will be succeeded by the Rev. Sarah Marsh as mercy and justice coordinator on that date.
View a photo gallery here.
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Clergy Excellence
At the Threshold is ready to celebrate
with series, 'Proclaiming Great Joy'
This has been a hard year, hasn’t it? Between the “typical” challenges of pastoral leadership, the last few years have brought a great deal of conflict and pressure in the lives of clergy. We do not want to gloss over or minimize the challenges, and yet, our theology compels us forward. Psalm 126:5 is our banner: “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy!” The opportunity for tears has been plentiful. Is it possible for a harvest of joy to be on the horizon?
For Summer 2021, At the Threshold will be “Proclaiming Great Joy.” Instead of providing interviews with people who can help us navigate the liminal season of the pandemic, we are collecting stories of joy that clergy are experiencing. Starting the week of June 21 and continuing over the course of the summer, we will release episodes in video and podcast form. As a way of connecting for conversation (and hopefully exhortation of one another), we invite pastors to gather via Zoom once in June, July and August so that we might encourage one another to continue on in this hard and important work of pastoring God’s people in the Great Plains. Those who join at least two of the three sessions will receive a “Joy Box” full of some resources and items that help pastors plant — and harvest — seeds of joy in their lives and communities.
- June 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. Register here.
- July 29, 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. Register here.
- August 26, 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. Register here.
When they’re available, the episodes will be here. For questions, reach out to Ashlee or Shelly.
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Equipping Disciples
Discipleship Ministries partners
with Good Neighbor Experience
Discipleship Ministries, as an extension of its #SeeAllThePeople movement, has formed a partnership with the Wichita-based Good Neighbor Experience to help congregations discover new ways to be in ministry. The Good Neighbor Experiment is a nine-month training process for congregations that want to be better neighbors in their communities.
Read press release. Learn more here.
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Institute hosting one-day experience
for youth July 17 at Camp Chippewa
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UMY Institute is having a one-day experience event for youth groups at Camp Chippewa from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 17.
Join the Youth and Adult Coordinating Teams for a day of fun, fellowship and faith at Camp Chippewa.
Registration for this day event is available through the Camp Chippewa website. Youth groups are asked to bring a love offering to worship to help outset the cost of the day event.
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Mercy & Justice
Micah Corps spends third week
learning, preparing, traveling
The third week report from Micah Corps is provided by Mulu Bannister, a sophomore at Wichita State University from Hays:
Hard to believe that it has already been three weeks of the Micah Corps. We have been busy learning, preparing and traveling.
This week we kicked it off with a check-in with fellow Great Plains Conference summer interns. Following our check-in, we visited the Nebraska Appleseed, which is a nonprofit organization that fights for justice and opportunities for all Nebraskans. We met with coordinators Darcy Tromanhauser and Cesar Garcia, who informed us about the U.S. immigration system and how we can create change. During our talk, we made phone calls and emailed to Congress to support the positive immigration laws.
Next, we met with Micole Harms-Brazell to talk about justice issues in Omaha, and places to visit. We ended our Tuesday with a Zoom call with the Justice for Our Neighbors organization which is a United Methodist Immigration Ministry that welcomes immigrants by providing free or low-cost expert immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. During this call, we discussed ways to talk with our state representatives. The following day we met with the Rev. Chris Jorgensen and Pastor Maddi Baugous about justice in the local church. These two lovely women took a few minutes out of their day to give us insight into justice work. To wrap up the week, we met with Micole Harms-Brazel and Andrea Paret to work on presentations. It was so kind of them to give the interns feedback on their presentation to make it stronger.
This week, the interns worked hard preparing the second presentation, to present to Argonia UMC, Mayfield Federated, and Arkansas City First and St. Paul UMC. The group was divided so they could spread the word of social justice to more crowds. If you would like to watch the presentations, they are on our Facebook page. This was a great third week of presenting for the second time.
As I reflect on my two weeks with the Micah Corps, I have come to understand that justice work is slow but very important. We are now focusing our attention on week four where we will go to Hesston UMC.
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All of Us campaign hosting
online prayer vigil on Friday
In coordination with National Justice for Our Neighbors and the General Board of Church and Society’s All of Us Campaign, an online prayer vigil open to everyone will take place at noon CT Friday, June 11.
After a full week of legislative visits and writing op-eds and letters to the editor to advocate for citizenship for all, leaders are going to celebrate their efforts. Join them in a space of music, poetry and collective witness as we pray together on zoom. And again — this is open to anyone — so please share this 30-minute prayer vigil invitation with all of your networks!
The link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85172386308
Meeting ID: 851 7238 6308
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Administration
Deadline for seminary, local pastor
scholarship applications is June 30
The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation has scholarships available for seminary students, undergraduate students, and local pastors pursuing a career in church leadership. Scholarship applications for the 2021-2022 academic year can be found at www.numf.org and must be postmarked by June 30, 2021.
Through the Seminary Scholarship Program, the Foundation has more than $40,000 available in scholarship funds for the 2021-2022 academic year. The following is a list of seminary scholarships available:
- Albert R. Murdoch Ministerial Scholarship
- Alice Kruse Ministerial Scholarship
- Alice Kruse Seminary Scholarship
- Alva Clark Seminary Scholarship
- Andrew & Nevabelle Howe Scholarship
- Baldwin F. & Amy L. Kruse Scholarship
- Ben & Martha Simmons Scholarship
- Charles & Marilyn Humphrey Seminary Scholarship
- Cowles United Methodist Church Memorial Scholarship
- Floma Taylor Ministerial Scholarship
- Harlan & Mabelle Wyrick Memorial Scholarship
- Murdock Ebenezer UMC Professional Church Leader Scholarship
- Myrtle E. Williams Seminary Scholarship
- Scahill Family Scholarship
- Verl & Sylvia Miller Memorial Scholarship
- Tither’s Scholarship
- Women in Ministry Scholarship
Those students applying for the scholarships listed above will also subsequently be considered for the following scholarships: Cal Leeds Scholarship, Darrell & Joyce Pickett Scholarship, Rev. Albert W. Winseman Scholarship, and Atherton Memorial Scholarship.
Through the Local Pastor Scholarship Program, the Foundation has over $8,000 available in scholarship funds for the 2021-2022 academic year.
The following is a list of local pastor scholarships available:
- Rev. Robert E. and Lily A. Berlie Local Pastor Scholarship
- Frederick and Esther Paulus Local Pastor Scholarship
- NUMF Gifts From The Heart Local Pastor Scholarship
The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation would like to acknowledge the generous gifts donors have made to make these scholarships possible. Thank you for being our partner in ministry. If you would like to talk to someone about how you can honor the memory of a loved one through a named scholarship or provide further financial assistance for a seminary student, call the Foundation at 877-495-5545.
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Resources
Author gives 10 tips for
leading a small group on Zoom
Zoom has been a way of our personal, business and spiritual lives for more than a year now. Yet the video conference system can cause great anxiety, especially for those not considering themselves computer literate.
Angela Schaffner, author of "Gather Us In: Leading Transformational Small Groups," gives 10 tips for leading a small group on Zoom, available through the Upper Room website.
Read here.
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Online events to introduce
financial health program
Wespath and Abingdon Press are offering informational events to familiarize clergy and local church leaders with Saving Grace, a biblically based Wesleyan curriculum that can help participants reach financial well-being goals. People can choose between two online events scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. CT July 20 and 26.
Register here.
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Up to $3,000 in college
scholarships are still available
A limited number of United Methodist Dollars for Scholars awards are still available for the 2021-22 academic year from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. The scholarships are for United Methodist students attending United Methodist higher education.
Learn more and apply.
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Across the Connection
Pets get blessing
from Omaha church
Dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes got treats and a blessing last week from Omaha Hanscom Park UMC.
The third annual pet blessing combined the sit-down ceremony from 2019 and the drive-thru element from last year.
More from KPTM.
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In other news
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Newsletters
- Faith in Action, June 9, 2021
- Communication Essentials, June 9, 2021
- Slingstones (in Korean), June 2021
- CCLI, June 9, 2021
- Leading Ideas, June 9, 2021
- Immigrant Legal Center, June 8, 2021
- A Sermon for Every Sunday, June 8, 2021
- MyCom, June 8, 2021
- Mission Link with Dr. David Upp, June 2021
- Discipleship Ministries: Worship Planning, June 7, 2021
- United Methodist Communications (in Korean), June 4, 2021
- Discipleship Ministries: Equipping Disciples, June 3, 2021
- Ministry Matters, June 2, 2021
Commentaries
- Asking United Methodist polity questions: Discussions over a split in the denomination raise complicated questions related to United Methodist polity. The Rev. William Lawrence, former president of the United Methodist Judicial Council and former dean of Perkins School of Theology, used a combination of historical research and pastoral experience to address several of those questions.
- Tragedy leads to trauma ministry, book: George Floyd's murder prompted questions as well as a drive to bring healing and address mental health challenges. Those questions led the Rev. Dr. Ron Bell in St. Paul, Minnesota, to write a book on dealing with trauma and create healing ministries at his church.
Classifieds
Classifieds are posted for 30 days unless otherwise requested. Submit your classified here.
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