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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Conference controller/assistant treasurer leaving after 11-plus years
With only handful of members, Kansas combined church stays strong
Ten from Great Plains ERT team work on flood relief in Louisiana
New website offers guidance for sexual harassment survivors
‘I was a stranger’ photo series focuses on work at U.S.-Mexico border
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Boundary 201 trainings offered this fall in face-to-face, online formats
Self-care mini-grants up to $450 available for clergy
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
New cycle of courses, including music ministry, begin in January
Two weekends left for pumpkin patch, corn maze
MERCY & JUSTICE
Faith Voices for Medicaid Expansion webinar coming Thursday
Creation Care online event, 'Christians & Climate,' is tonight
ADMINISTRATION
New partner selected for conference insurance programs
Foundation hosting webinar on 'Charitable Giving in 2021'
RESOURCES
Advent, Christmas resources available for children, youth
Nov. 4 webinar examines pandemic and Black churches
Ready to read the Bible in a year? Upcoming webinar will give you help
Here's 7 tips for including lay members in worship
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Southwestern College selects interim president
Southwestern dean receives national honor
Silver Lake's Harvest Home has been a fall tradition for 95 years
South Sioux City church celebrates 150th anniversary
In other news
Newsletters
Commentaries
Classifieds
Conference controller/assistant
treasurer leaving after 11-plus years
After 11 ½ years as second-in-command of the administrative services department, Niki Buesing is leaving the Great Plains Conference.
Buesing, assistant treasurer and controller, will leave the conference in mid-November to become the chief financial officer for Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever worked with anyone who works as hard as Niki,” Scott Brewer, treasurer and director of administrative services, said. A search is on for a successor as controller.
Read more here.
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With only handful of members, SW
Kansas combined church stays strong
Churches nationwide have seen drops in their attendance, but it's even more noticeable when you can count the congregation on two hands.
That's the case for the Holcomb Community Church in southwest Kansas, a combined United Methodist and Presbyterian church where members remain optimistic.
“We’re probably just stubborn and not ready to give it up,” church member Lary Cole said. “It’s where we come, it’s where we choose to be, and we’re going to keep doing it till the chain falls off the bicycle.”
Holcomb is one of 21 congregations in the Great Plains Conference than share two denominations, and the third in a four-part series, "Under One Roof."
Read more here.
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Ten from Great Plains ERT team
work on flood relief in Louisiana
A group of 10 Early Response Trained individuals from around the conference traveled to Louisiana the last week of September to assist with Hurricane Ida relief. The team was assigned to Algiers, Louisiana, and worked there and in Gretna, Belle Chasse and Port Sulphur doing muck outs, tarping roofs, and removing debris.
The team was well cared for by the folks of the Algiers United Methodist Church. Meals consisted of great Cajun foods like gumbo, catfish and beignets, along with community coffee and sweet tea.
Part of the ERT experience is spending time with the homeowners, and one particular break time consisted of sitting on the front porch at Miss A’s home. Conversation consisted of topics around her family and life. Like all great Southern conversations, it didn’t take long before we were talking about all the great southern foods, like fried chicken and pecan pie. She quickly pointed out that the only way to make a great pecan pie was by using Karo Syrup (I totally agree! That’s the way my mother made them). At the end of the next day, we arrived at the church to find Miss A had delivered fried chicken. On Friday afternoon we arrived back to find more fried chicken and two pecan pies!
The work is hard, it’s hot, and dirty, yet the people we meet and spend time with steal a piece of our hearts. Enjoy a few pictures from the trip.
-- Rev. Hollie Tapley, disaster response coordinator
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New website offers guidance
for sexual harassment survivors
A new website offered by the Commission on the Status and Role of Women offers step-by-step guidance on the complaint process for people who are considering pursuing sexual misconduct charges against a church official. The Do No More Harm site strives to make the system put forth in the United Methodist Book of Discipline more clear.
Read more from United Methodist News Service.
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‘I was a stranger’ photo series focuses
on work done at U.S.-Mexico border
In September 2021, a UM News team accompanied leaders from The United Methodist Church and the Methodist Church of Mexico on visits to growing migrant communities in multiple towns on the U.S.-Mexico border. While policymakers in Washington struggle to find solutions, the response from faith leaders has been simple: Welcome the strangers, as Jesus instructed. UM News photographer Mike DuBose documented the ministry in a photo essay.
View photo essay
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Clergy Excellence
Boundary 201 trainings offered this
fall in both face-to-face, online formats
If you need to renew your Boundary 201 training before the end of the year, the conference will be offering face-to-face trainings in November for you to attend. The dates and locations will be announced soon.
You may also renew your Boundary Training online if you prefer not to attend a face-to-face training. The links to take the training online are listed below. Once you complete the online training, please be sure to send your certificate to Julie Kohr, jkohr@greatplainsumc.org, so she can update your information in the conference database.
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Self-care mini-grants up
to $450 available for clergy
John Wesley was known to ask, “How is it with your soul?” The Office of Clergy Excellence is offering clergy the opportunity to create space to ask that ever-important question by investing up to $450 per clergy in a self-care mini-grant to be used before June 30, 2022. We have provided some soul-care resources for planning your own solo (or small group) retreat, meeting with a conference peer coach or having conversation with a Spiritual Director. Clergy, would you give yourself the gift of reflection?
Check out our website for self-care mini-grant opportunities.
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Equipping Disciples
New cycle of courses, including
music ministry, begin in January
A new cycle of online ministry certification courses is set to begin Jan. 17 at BeADisciple.com. BeADisciple.com is part of the Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College and has offered quality online educational experiences with roots in Wesleyan theology since 2006.
Church leaders and interested persons can begin progress toward certification in 10 different disciplines— Christian education, children's ministry, youth ministry, women’s ministries, spiritual formation, evangelism, rural ministry, missions, ministry with people with disabilities, and music. Requirements typically include successful completion of four online courses, and each course is six weeks long. (Some programs include a 12-week practicum in place of the fourth course.)
Full information is available online at www.beadisciple.com/ifd-certifications.
The certification in music ministry is new this cycle and is coordinated by Dr. Jeffery Seeley. Seeley recently retired as associate professor of church music at the Mercer University Townsend School of Music. He also is director of music at Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon, Georgia.
Unlike individual interest courses, persons working toward certifications move through the sequence with a cohort of learners. This allows for sharing of participant knowledge and experience.
The four 2022 classes are set to be held Jan. 17 to Feb. 25; March 14 to April 29 (no class during Holy Week), May 9 to June 17, Aug. 22 to Sept. 30, and Oct. 10 to Nov. 18.
For more information or to enroll in the course, visit BeADisciple.com.
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Two weekends left for
pumpkin patch, corn maze
This weekend is a BIG weekend at Camp Fontanelle's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze. The weekend starts with a Scary Maze night from 7-10 p.m. Friday. The weekend will continue with the regular corn maze hours of 1-7 p.m. At 7, the maze goes scary for another night of fun.
The annual Search for Treats in the Maze will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday. Guests will wander through the maze looking for treats being handed out by volunteers. The corn maze and pumpkin patch will be open from 1-6 p.m.
Volunteers are needed for all hours the maze is open this weekend. Please consider how you can help. Contact Jane Van Horn to volunteer. 402-278-0526 or jvanhorn@greatplainsumc.org.
The money raised at the pumpkin patch and corn maze goes to the ministry of Camp Fontanelle.
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Mercy & Justice
Faith Voices for Medicaid
Expansion webinar coming Thursday
The first online meeting of Faith Voices for Medicaid Expansion will be from 7-8 p.m. CT Thursday, Oct. 21.
Register for the Zoom webinar at this link.
Here is a story from August about the group.
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Creation Care online event,
'Christians & Climate,' is tonight
Join the UMC Great Plains Conference Creation Care team for “And God Saw That It Was Good: Christians & Climate,” via Zoom from 7-8:15 p.m. CT today. The webinar is a time of affirming God’s good creation and taking seriously the realities of a changing climate.
Martha Shulski and Rachel Myslivy will help us face challenges and see opportunities for faithful action. Dr. Shulski serves as the director of the Nebraska State Climate Office and State Climatologist for Nebraska. Myslivy is associate director for the Climate and Energy Project in Kansas.
Register here.
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Administration
New partner selected for
conference insurance programs
The Board of Trustees have selected American Church Group as broker for the Great Plains Conference’s insurance program beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The decision came after an extensive vetting and interview process with various brokers.
“This change was responsive to the concerns articulated this past year regarding price increases and a lack of coverage options,” Trustees President Stephanie Ahlschwede said. “We think American Church Group will provide excellent customer service to the wide variety or church sizes and needs that we have in the Great Plains.”
“One of our primary goals in this selection process has been finding the partner that will offer the greatest value to churches for their premium dollars,” Conference Treasurer Scott Brewer said. “The people at American Church Group have been tremendous throughout this process. They demonstrate an abiding commitment to understanding and responding to the needs of churches and I’m very excited to begin this partnership.”
American Church Group’s agencies insure about 2,500 ministries across the Midwest and Rockies. They have local representatives across the entire Great Plains Conference area who are committed to understanding the needs of the local church. “We are extremely honored to have this opportunity to build a direct relationship with the churches that exist within the Great Plains Conference. In addition to an insurance program that will be designed to fit the needs of all of the churches within the conference, we will also be offering a wealth of custom ministry risk management and safety resources,” Kansas Territory Director Del Rae McCullough said. “We will be communicating more information in the next month about the various ways we can help churches within the conference.”
With the selection of American Church Group, churches participating in the mandatory insurance program of the former Kansas East Conference and the existing voluntary program available throughout the remainder of the Great Plains will see their primary carrier change to Brotherhood Mutual Insurance beginning with their Jan. 1, 2022, renewal. Participating churches will receive additional information and contact by American Church Group representatives in the coming weeks.
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Foundation hosting webinar
on 'Charitable Giving in 2021'
Are you looking for ways to make the most impact with your charitable giving in 2021?
From 10-11 a.m. CT Tuesday, Oct. 26, the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation invites you to join an online webinar on “Charitable Giving in 2021.” Sarah Bartel, Senior Manager/Director for Tax Services with Lewis, Hooper & Dick, LLC, will share options for tax-advantaged charitable giving.
Since joining the Lewis, Hooper & Dick, LLC team in 2012, Bartel has been dedicated to providing high quality tax services and solutions to both businesses and individuals. As a senior manager and head of the firm’s Tax Department, she is responsible for overseeing tax operations, including designing and implementing tax policies and procedures. Additionally, she continues to prepare and review income tax returns, compilations and reviews, and financial statements. She also offers QuickBooks consulting and tax planning services and is a federal and state taxing authority correspondent.
All clergy and laity are welcome to attend. There is no cost to attend, and all registered participants will receive a link to the recording after the presentation. Register today at https://kaumf-reg.brtapp.com/LearnGrowSeminarRegistration.
For questions, contact the Foundation Office at jtrapp@kaumf.org or 620-664-9623.
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Resources
Advent, Christmas resources
available for children, youth
It’s 39 days until the first Sunday of Advent, and the United Media Resource Center has selections to talk with children and youth about the coming of Jesus.
Included this week are seven DVD studies, 27 books, 10 study guides for use with children, and 11 study guides for use with youth.
Find out more here.
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Nov. 4 webinar examines
pandemic and Black churches
Gammon Theological Seminary plans to have a webinar at noon CT Nov. 4 on its recent study of how COVID-19 affected Black United Methodist congregations. The study, on matters such as digital discipleship, online giving and pastors' well-being, was conducted in partnership with multiple United Methodist organizations.
Register for webinar.
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Ready to read the Bible in a year?
Upcoming webinar will give you help
Amplify Media, part of the United Methodist Publishing House, is offering “The Bible Year” to help small groups and churches that want to read the entire Bible over 12 months but are feeling a bit overwhelmed at the idea. A webinar introducing the project’s resources and key contributors will be held at 1 p.m. CT Oct. 26.
For more information, to register.
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Here's 7 tips for including
lay members in worship
The word "laity" is from the Greek word "laos," meaning "people of God." The South Georgia Conference and United Methodist Communications have seven tips for including church members in services.
Read more.
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Across the Connection
Southwestern College
selects interim president
Southwestern College has chosen an interim president to begin service in January when President Brad Andrews departs for a new position in North Carolina.
The college's board of trustees announced last week that Tony Crouch, who currently serves Southwestern as the vice president for finance and chief financial officer, will step into the role of interim president in mid-January.
Read more here.
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Southwestern dean
receives national honor
The American Conference of Academic Deans (ACAD) Board of Directors has announced that Ross Peterson-Veatch, vice president for academic affairs and Dean of Southwestern College, is the recipient of the 2021 award for Excellence in Academic Leadership.
The award was established by ACAD to recognize individuals who exemplify excellence in academic leadership through shaping and supporting positive change on their campuses and in their communities.
Read more here.
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Silver Lake's Harvest Home has
been a fall tradition for 95 years
The history of Harvest Home can be traced to the farming heritage of Silver Lake, Kansas, when, just before Thanksgiving, church members would gather for a noontime meal and bazaar to give thanks for the completion of harvest season. In 1931 the celebration switched to an evening meal open to the community. In 1970, in addition to the dinner, a lunch was added -- primarily to feed the ladies in the kitchen who were busy preparing the evening Harvest dinner -- but when word of the lunch began to spread, people started to come and it grew so popular that it was decided to expand the bazaar hours and incorporate the lunch into the celebration. Planned and hosted by the Silver Lake United Methodist Women, Harvest Home has become a popular fall tradition and community event that is open to all! Mark your calendar and enjoy a pleasant fall drive to Silver Lake for the SLUMC Harvest Home! Come hungry -- leave fulfilled!
Date: Oct. 27
Location: SLUMC Fellowship Hall - 204 Madore St., Silver Lake (just west of the high school's marquee board on US 24)
What: Baked goods and craft bazaar open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Lunch served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Soups, sandwiches and homemade pies
Dinner served from 5-7 p.m; Dinner includes roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, side salad (variety of offerings), dinner roll, dessert, beverage
Drive-thru option available
Cost: Adults -- $10/ Children 10 and younger -- $5
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South Sioux City church
celebrates 150th anniversary
St. Paul UMC in South Sioux City, Nebraska, is among several churches in the Great Plains Conference that are celebrating their 150th anniversaries this year.
“This is an exciting anniversary for us, celebrating 150 years in ministry that, of course, is a milestone. The people of St. Paul United Methodist Church are very proud to have years, hundreds of years of serving the community by feeding people, by taking care of community needs and also by providing a safe space to worship and to celebrate those moments of life,” the Rev. Abby Caseman, the church’s pastor told KCAU-TV in Sioux City.
Watch the video.
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In other news
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Newsletters
- Communication Essentials, October 20, 2021
- Ministry Matters, October 20, 2021
- Leading Ideas, October 20, 2021
- A Sermon for Every Sunday, October 19, 2021
- MyCom, October 19, 2021
- Faith in Action, October 18, 2021
- Discipleship Ministries: Worship Planning, October 18, 2021
- United Methodist Now, October 18, 2021
- Leading Ideas Talks, October 16, 2021
- United Methodist Communications (in Korean), October 15, 2021
- UMCOMtigo (in Spanish), October 14, 2021
- Discipleship Ministries: Older Adult Ministry, October 14, 2021
- Discipleship Ministries: Offertory Prayers, November 2021
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Commentaries
- Bishop calls for more concern for the poor: Indiana Conference Bishop Julius C. Trimble writes about the conflict between claims that the United States was founded on Christian principles and the lack of urgency to help the least among us. He urges people of faith to support legislation that would strengthen the social safety net for those most in need of help. "Is the world better off when some of us are doing just fine while millions wake up hungry and go to bed without shelter? I think not," he writes.
- Models for small church ministry in pandemic: Small churches are often isolated from each other, so one congregation may not be aware of how other congregations are coping. The Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter shares different ways small churches have kept worship alive and Christian education thriving in the pandemic. Her main message to churches: “You are not alone.”
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Classifieds
Classifieds are posted for 30 days unless otherwise requested. Please allow three business days for your classified to appear on the website. Email jmcfarland@greatplainsumc.org to update or renew your classified. Submit your classified here.
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