Download the May 10 edition of GPconnect.

In this edition:

THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Nehemiah Assemblies in Lincoln, Lawrence make advances
Friends, colleagues remember former Nebraska lay leader Schwaninger
Bishops requesting May 2026 General Conference post-disaffiliation

ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Deadline to register for this year's AC is 12 days away
Annual conference session workbook to be ready by May 15
Is your church celebrating a milestone birthday this year?

CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Another week added for clergy sermon planning retreat
Renewal Grant applications for 2024 are available starting today
Clergy invited to consider reflective supervision

EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Omaha TRI Community hosting women’s conference May 27
Daily devotions start day out right, but we can't do it without your help
Openings still available for METour, June 16-25
Summit Youth Academy hosts song competition

MERCY & JUSTICE
Report shines light on exploited immigrant children in Nebraska
Sunday is deadline to apply for Justice Encounter trip to Alabama

ADMINISTRATION
Nebraska UM Foundation presents May 18 webinar on faith, finances

RESOURCES
Variety of parenting DVDs available from media center
Here are 10 policies that church leaders should consider

ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Retirement reception for Stubblefield is May 21
Norfolk First UWF displays variety of quilts in show
Newsletters
Classifieds

Nehemiah Assemblies in
Lincoln, Lawrence make advances

A week's worth of Nehemiah Assemblies across the Great Plains Conference wrapped up in Lawrence on Sunday.

The Lincoln-based Justice in Action made progress in improved mental health treatment and criminal justice reform in its first assembly.

And the Lawrence-based Justice Matters set its priorities of restorative practices in schools, elder care and ending homelessness.

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Friends, colleagues remember former
Nebraska lay leader Schwaninger

Whether at the local, conference or jurisdictional level, Lavina Schwaninger was devoted to The United Methodist Church.

“Her heart was so full of love for her church,” Great Plains Conference lay leader Lisa Maupin said. “She really, truly had a heart for God and a heart for the church. She loved the church so much, but she loved the greater church.”

Schwaninger, who served for 16 years as lay leader and associate lay leader for the former Nebraska Conference, as well as the group formerly known as United Methodist Women, died last week at age 91.

Bishops requesting May 2026
General Conference post-disaffiliation

United Methodist bishops see a need for the denomination’s top lawmaking body to hold an additional meeting to deal with changes resulting from church disaffiliations. Meanwhile, the denomination’s finance agency has its own concerns.

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Annual Conference

Deadline to register for this
year's AC is 12 days away

Registration for the 10th regular session of the Great Plains Annual Conference – “Clay in the Hands of Our Creator” – will remain open through Monday, May 22.

Following an online business session on May 31 to vote on disaffiliations and closings, with an online clergy session scheduled for June 5. The in-person sessions of annual conference are June 7-10 at the La Vista Convention Center in La Vista, Nebraska. The conference begins with a service of commemoration and communion at 3 p.m. June 7; addresses by Bishop David Wilson and conference lay leader Lisa Maupin and recognition of retirees on June 8, and reports from connectional ministries and the service of ordination and commissioning on June 9. The budget is scheduled to be approved on June 10.

To register for annual conference, click here.
To register for onsite childcare, click here.
To view a list of available hotels, click here. (The hotels in the convention center, Embassy Suites and Courtyard by Marriott, are sold out.)

For all information about the annual conference session, visit greatplainsumc.org/annualconference.

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Annual conference session
workbook to be ready by May 15

The annual workbook for the Great Plains Annual Conference session will be available for download by May 15, if not sooner. We will make a notification on our website and social media when it becomes available to download.

The workbook contains information about resolutions and petitions to be considered at the annual conference session, information about the proposed conference budget, and reports from conference staff, mission agencies and ministry partners.

The annual conference session begins with an online meeting May 31 for all clergy and lay members to annual conference. And the in-person portion of the annual conference is scheduled for June 7-10 in La Vista, Nebraska.

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Is your church celebrating
a milestone birthday this year?

Birthday parties are fun and your church may be planning one!
If your church is celebrating (or has celebrated) a significant milestone in ministry such as 100, 125, or 150 years in 2023 we want to know about it.

The Archives Commission wants to recognize your church at annual conference in June and by awarding a framed certificate acknowledging your years in ministry. Please contact the Commission via archivesteam@greatplainsumc.org, cdeverhart@aol.com or educator2@aol.com.

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Clergy Excellence

Another week added for
clergy sermon planning retreat

In response to the excellent registration for the clergy retreat A Time Apart, an additional week has been scheduled from 5 p.m. Monday, July 24 to 3 p.m. Friday, July 28, also being held at the Saint Benedict Center in Schuyler, Nebraska. The cost is $200. Registration for the previously announced week of July 30 to Aug. 3 is full, but if you’d like to be included in a wait list, contact Rev. Ashlee Alley Crawford, aalleycrawford@greatplainsumc.org.

Participants may arrive early or stay for a longer time by making arrangements directly with the retreat center.

Each week pastors face the humbling and awesome task of preparing a sermon and worship that touches the lives of worshippers in our congregations. Our perplexing and difficult times call for authentic worship and preaching where people can encounter Christ. Yet, the daily demands of ministry often keep us from having as much time as we would like for sermon and worship preparation, and especially for long range sermon and worship planning. Taking time apart, like Jesus, gives us the opportunity to root our planning in prayer and to open ourselves to the directions of the Spirit.

The retreat leader is Rev. Dr. Theresa Mason, a retired Great Plains Elder and a visiting instructor at United Theological Seminary.

Learn more and register here.

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Renewal Grant applications for
2024 are available starting today

The Office of Clergy Excellence announces the fourth round of Clergy Renewal Leave Grants for grants to be distributed in 2024. Clergy renewal leave is one way that the Great Plains Conference invests in developing, equipping, and empowering today’s leaders for the church of tomorrow. Is God calling you into an extended season of attentiveness to your own soul so that you might be faithful to the work that Christ is calling you to in your congregation(s) and community? Consider whether a Renewal Leave or Clergy Wellbeing Mini-Grant might be a resource for you. And read more about Clergy Faith and Wellness here.

Renewal Leave is a period of time (usually about 12 weeks) that is granted by one’s local church for pastors to take an extended length of time to take a respite from the normal pastoral ministries for the purpose of renewing one’s vision, restoring one’s soul, and refocusing for the season of ministry and life ahead. The Clergy Renewal Grants are up to $3,000 and are available for full or associate members of the Great Plains Conference or local pastors who have completed course of study who have served at least six consecutive years under appointment. Past grant recipients have used the funds to cover pulpit supply while they’re away or travel or program expenses for a program of their own design for their season of renewal.

The process of applying for the Renewal Leave grant is one that includes approval from the District Superintendent and one’s local church. The inquiry form that helps us identify if you’re eligible for the grant will be available on May 10. After your eligibility is confirmed, pastors are encouraged to begin creating a proposal for coverage of ministry responsibilities and plans for renewal during the time away. All Renewal Leave plans must be jointly approved by the District Superintendent and PPRC/Administrative Board of the church/charge.

Grant applications for 2024 will be received through Aug. 1, 2023, and applicants can expect to hear by Sept. 1 about the status of their application. Late applications received after Aug. 1 deadline will be considered on a rolling basis while funds are still available.
You can read more about Renewal Grants (including FAQs) at our website and hear from some past grant recipients here.

All clergy serving under appointment in the Great Plains UMC are eligible for a Clergy Wellbeing Mini-Grant, up to $400 (to be used in 2023 and 2024). The next grant cycle will open July 1 and will be open through Nov. 1. Learn more here.

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Clergy invited to consider
reflective supervision

There’s a set-apart space waiting for clergy where you can regularly step out of the flow to catch your breath, reflect on and strategize around some aspect of your work as a minister and its impact on you and those with whom you work. It’s called reflective pastoral supervision. This is supervision, not in the sense of your being evaluated, but as a conference provided place of support and accountability for your development, safety, and well-being, and that of those with whom you work.

Every six to eight weeks you’ll meet with a person trained to help you reflect on an issue that you bring from your ministry on which you’d value some help in exploring.

Equipping Disciples

Omaha TRI Community hosting
women’s conference May 27

Omaha TRI Community United Methodist Church is presenting a women’s conference beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 27.

Among the presenters are Pastor Ronda Kingwood, Wichita Heart of Christ UMC; and Rev. Dr. Charlotte Abram, Omaha Living Hope UMC.

The conference is hosted by Megan Finch, wife of TRI Community pastor Rev. Andrew Finch.

Registration is $25, online at https://forms.gle/3hC21HkYiBw7XM96A.

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Daily devotions start day out right,
but we can't do it without your help

Whether you're awake at 5 a.m. when our daily devotions arrive in your email or you hit the snooze button, you can join clergy and laity from across the Great Plains by reading and reflecting on them.

Our devotions are written by a faithful cross-section of clergy, laity, staff and retired elders, and we are always looking for new contributors. You don't need degrees in theology or literature! Share with us what inspires you and it might do the same for one of your spiritual siblings in the two-state area.

Subscribe to daily devotions here.
Sign up for a date to share your devotions.

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Openings still available
for METour, June 16-25

Young women ages 15-20 are invited to participate in the Great Plains United Women in Faith’s Mission Education Tour (METour), June 16-25.

METour participants have the opportunity to engage in mission, learn about United Methodist Women in Faith and experience the United Methodist connection by visiting and working at National Mission Institutions, Volunteer in Mission sites and United Methodist-related agencies in Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky.

Click on this link for more information and to register.

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Summit Youth Academy
hosts song competition

The Summit Youth Academy and Southwestern College proudly announce and invite you to participate in the first annual Summit Youth Academy Worship Music Contest designed specifically to encourage and promote new works of worship music by composers of all levels.

The contest is open to all musicians including (but not limited to) youth, youth directors, worship leaders, pastors, and choir directors. There is no entry fee, but each entry must be accompanied by a nomination for the 2023 Summit Youth Academy.

Entries will be accepted in two categories -- worship songwriting and instrumental.

All entries must be received by Friday, June 1 at 5 p.m. CT. Winners will be announced on June 15. Winners in each category will receive a $100 prize and an invitation to perform their work at the Summit Youth Academy talent show on Friday, July 14. Winners and other selected entries could receive a special invitation to a professional recording session, mixed and mastered by one of the top recording professionals in the United States. Carter Green at Green Jean studios has a long recording and mastering career with top artists and movie studios around the world.

See the entry form at this link for guidelines and more information.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord and tell us your story in song!

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Mercy & Justice

Report shines light on exploited immigrant children in Nebraska

Erik Omar, executive director of Immigrant Legal Center, formerly Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska, shares the following news:

“Sunday’s shocking ‘60 Minutes’ report uncovered a devastating reality: immigrant children as young as 13 were being employed on the kill floor of a meatpacking plant in Nebraska. These children, many of whom had recently arrived in the United States seeking safety and refuge, were enduring dangerous and grueling conditions while working overnight shifts at the plant. Some had even suffered acid burns on the job.

"If it weren't for teachers in Grand Island who first noticed and reported signs of abuse in students who were working at the plant, the nationwide investigation into the cleaning company that was responsible for employing these children likely would not have happened. The U.S. Department of Labor's investigation found 102 minors working at various plants across eight states. This is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges and injustices faced by immigrants in Nebraska and across the nation.

"Most of the children recently arrived in our country without a parent or guardian after enduring perilous journeys to seek refuge in the US. Since October 2020, over 2,200 unaccompanied immigrant children have been placed with sponsors in Nebraska, creating a critical need for resources to shield them from exploitation.

"Last year, we launched a groundbreaking initiative to bridge the resource gap by offering free legal representation and social work services to unaccompanied children in Nebraska--the first program of its kind in the Midwest. Our team of dedicated attorneys and social workers has grown to provide aid to over 300 children, with hundreds more needing services.

"But we can't do it alone. We need your help to advocate for and protect the rights of immigrant children. Here's how you can make a difference:

Share the “60 Minutes” report with your family, friends, and colleagues to raise awareness about the exploitation of children in our country. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-investigation-into-slaughterhouse-cleaning-company-that-hired-children-60-minutes-transcript-2023-05-07/
Contact your Congressional representatives and urge them to pass laws that strengthen child labor protections and hold companies accountable for illegally employing children.
Donate to support Immigrant Legal Center + Refugee Empowerment Center at immigrantlc.org. Your contribution will help provide critical resources and legal representation to vulnerable children and their families.

"We believe that Nebraskans will join together to support immigrant children as they realize their full potential in our communities. While there is a lot of work to do, Immigrant Legal Center + Refugee Empowerment Center is doing everything we can. Join us in fighting for the rights of children and protecting their future."

Erik Omar
Executive Director

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Sunday is deadline to apply for
Justice Encounter trip to Alabama

The Mercy & Justice team of the Great Plains Conference is thrilled to organize the second Justice Encounter from July 12-16. This immersive trip will bring together a group of 30 clergy and laity who are compelled by their faith to listen and learn about the history of the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the reality of racial justice in our country today.

The original vision for this trip came during Bishop Dee Williamston’s time with the Great Plains Conference, when she worked with the Equal Justice Initiative’s Community Remembrance Project to dedicate a historical marker in memory of Dana Adams, a 19-year-old man who was lynched in Salina. Inspired by this advocacy, this Justice Encounter team will be spending time in Montgomery, Alabama (as well as the nearby cities of Birmingham and Selma), to visit historical sites and museums and hear from community leaders like folks at the Equal Justice Initiative. Both Bishop Williamston of the Louisiana Conference and Bishop David Wilson of the Great Plains Conference will be attending, as well as the Micah Corps young adult interns who spend their summer focused on social justice.

Over the next week, the Mercy & Justice team will be accepting applications from any clergy and laity in the Great Plains Conference who are interested in learning about racial justice and building beloved community. Priority will be given to young adults (16-35) and folks of color. All applicants are encouraged to apply on or before May 14.

To learn more about the trip, please visit the website, or you can reach out to the trip leader, Rev. Maddie Johnson, at mmjohnson@greatplainsumc.org, if you have any questions.

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Administration

Nebraska UM Foundation presents
May 18 webinar on faith, finances

The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation would like to invite you to a luncheon webinar on faith and finances called “Leaving a Legacy: Planned Giving that Makes an Impact.” This event will take place virtually from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 18.

The seminar will be presented by Matthew McKeever of Burnett Wilson Law and Kristine Roberts with the Nebraska United Methodist Foundation. The Foundation is here to help guide and support you in building the legacy you wish to contribute to others. We will assist in identifying ways to plan for the future and help you decide how to utilize your gifts to maximize their impact on others. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP at www.numf.org/RSVP.

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Resources

Variety of parenting DVDs
available from media center

With Mother's Day just four days away, the United Media Resource Center is showcasing its parenting DVDs available to borrow.

Titles include "Boundaries with Kids" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend, "Grow at Home: A Beginner's Guide to Family Discipleship" by Winfield Bevins, and "Hoodwinked: Ten Myths Moms Believe and Why We All Need to Knock it Off" by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk.

Find those and more here.

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Here are 10 policies that
church leaders should consider

Do you know what your church expects of you? Or what you should expect from the church in return? One way to make everything clear is through written policies. Ken Sloane, director of stewardship and generosity at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, outlines 10 policies churches should consider. The list includes items on building use, gifts and communication.

Learn more.

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Across the Connection

Retirement reception
for Stubblefield is May 21

University of Nebraska-Kearney’s United Campus Ministry is planning a retirement reception for Laura Stubblefield from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at Kearney First UMC.

Stubblefield has been the campus pastor for the ministry for more than 20 years.

Come and share memories with your friends and our church communities and an afternoon of fellowship. We are excited to celebrate the past and future of UCM. Additional information can be found at United Campus Ministry at UNK Facebook page.

ICYMI: Stubblefield looks back at 20-plus years of campus ministries.

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Norfolk First UWF displays
variety of quilts in show

Norfolk First UMC’s United Women in Faith held a Guest Event on May 8. The meal was a Salad Bar followed by the Quilt Show. There were over 30 quilts in the show, representing all types of quilting, some well-loved and used as well as the pristine.

We had a Quilt of Valor on loan from the recipient for her service in the Medical Corp serving in Hawaii in 1944-46. There was a Lewis & Clark quilt in memory of their exploration, a 100-year anniversary memorial quilt of Charles Lindbergh's flight, a wedding quilt from 1935 as well as a 50th anniversary quilt and all kinds of collectors quilts on loan from members of the local UWF group.

We had 32 in attendance. The program was enjoyed by all!

-- Lavonne Nightengale, Norfolk First UWF

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In other news

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Newsletters

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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.

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