Conference and district offices will be closed
Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

Download the May 24 edition of GPconnect.

In this edition:

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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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.

Read more here.

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Renewal Grant applications
for 2024 are now available 

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 August 1, 2023, and applicants can expect to hear by September 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 FAQ’s) 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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Equipping Disciples

UMY Institute returns from
June 26 to July 1 at Baker U

Friends, UMY Institute will meet this summer on the Baker University campus the week of June 26 to July 1. This will be our second summer in-person post-pandemic. Institute is a week-long event focusing on faith formation and spiritual growth. Our theme for this summer is "Fruit Full Faith." Youth who have completed the 8th grade through those who graduate from high school this May are eligible to attend.

At UMY Institute youth have the opportunity to experience powerful worship daily, grow in their faith through awesome small groups, and have the opportunity to lead their peers. Young people have been gathering on the Baker University campus for UMY Institute for over 100 years. It is a grand tradition of Kansas Methodism. Young people can register for the week of UMY Institute on the Camp Chippewa website, www.campchippewa.org.

Institute really is a life-changing week. As the Community Life Coordinator for this summer, I look forward to meeting youth from your faith community at UMY Institute this summer! As always if you have questions about the week, or about scholarship opportunities do not hesitate to reach out to me.

-- Rev. Kurt Cooper, UMY Institute

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Omaha TRI Community hosting
women’s conference this Saturday

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 Meagan Finch, wife of TRI Community pastor Rev. Andrew Finch.

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

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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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Mercy & Justice

Peace with Justice Sunday
is scheduled for June 4

“I look upon all the world as my parish.” – John Wesley, 1739
 
Peace with Justice Sunday was created by the 1988 General Conference as part of our Social Principles that call us “as disciples of Christ to love our enemies, seek justice, serve as reconcilers of conflict.”  (Social Principle ¶ 165.D)

It is always scheduled for the Sunday after Pentecost, which falls on June 4 this year. But congregations can also choose another Sunday.

Former General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, and Holly Metcalf, Director of Peace with Justice, wrote:

“Each year, United Methodists across the globe faithfully give a Special Peace with Justice Sunday offering to fund actions that promote peace and social advocacy. Fifty percent of those offerings are administered by the General Board of Church and Society to benefit peace with justice ministries in communities and nations throughout the world.
 
“As we see in the Bible, at the center of the Old Testament is the concept of shalom: that marvelous Hebrew word that means peace. But shalom is much more than the absence of war. Shalom is positive peace: harmony, wholeness, health, and well-being in all human relationships. It is the natural state of humanity as birthed by God. It is harmony between humanity and all of God’s good creation.
“While we see many glimpses of God’s kingdom and peace every day, parts of the world are still broken and violent.”

We all struggle with the brokenness of our world, where so many suffer from oppression, hunger, violence, and war. God calls us to extend God’s love to all, near and far.

The General Board of Church and Society reports that in 2022 over $302,000 were given “to support programs and ministries to educate, equip and mobilize actions in support of identified Economic, Health, and Gender Justice Priorities. Your donation provided funds for three different grants for United Methodist congregations and organizations that support Ethnic/Minority Local Church ministries, and programs related to the Peace with Justice Sunday. Your generosity is transforming our social impact.”
In the past, offerings in our conference have supported campus ministry trips, have sent church members to Ecumenical Advocacy Days or other trainings, and supported our peace organizations in Kansas and Nebraska and more.

Resources for Peace with Justice Sunday can be found here: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/umcgiving/special-sundays/peace-with-justice-sunday-pastor-and-leader-kit.

-- Andrea Paret, Peace with Justice coordinator

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Resources

Max Lucado studies on DVD
are available from media center

Eighteen DVD studies by Max Lucado are available from United Media Resource Center, plus studies for Advent and Lent.

Among the titles are "3:16: The Numbers of Hope (Updated Edition)," "Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear" and "Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions."

 See those and more here.

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Across the Connection

Bishop Wilson visits Lincoln,
Camp Fontanelle early this week

Bishop David Wilson has been spending some time the past few days in Nebraska. He preached at Aldersgate UMC in Lincoln on Sunday and visited Camp Fontanelle on Monday with Blue River/Elkhorn Valley districts Superintendent Nancy Tomlinson.

Camp Fontanelle will celebrate the grand opening of its Olson Lodge with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

See more photos here.

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In other news

• Travelers make pilgrimage through Washington, Baltimore Methodist churches
• Carlton Young, UM Hymnal editor, dies at 97
• Michigan church helps Afghan refugees resettle
• Georgia churches merge for larger impact
• Delaware Methodists walk for a cause
• Disaffiliating Rio Texas churches to follow requirements
• Foundation offers ‘clergy well-being’ grants

Newsletters

• Ministry Matters, May 23 ,2023 
• Leading Ideas, May 24, 2023 
• Great Plains United Methodist Men, May 2023 
• Discipleship Ministries: Elevating Adult Ministry, May 2023 
• Discipleship Ministries: Worship Planning, May 22, 2023 
• Leading Ideas Talks, May 20, 2023 
• Equipping Disciples, May 18, 2023 

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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. 

• First UMC Lawrence, KS is seeking a part-time West Campus worship leader 
• Part-time director of youth discipleship position open at First UMC, Lawrence, KS 
• Digital campus director needed at Omaha St. Andrew's 
• Pews looking for a good home 
• K-State Wesley Foundation is looking for a campus minister 
• Office Manager needed at Stilwell, KS UMC 
• GCFA announces a search for the senior travel and meeting planner position 
• GCFA is searching for a data management specialist 
• Food Truck Party VBS decorations needed 
• The Great Plains Conference is searching for an emerging faith communities cultivator 

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