Click here for a printable version of the June 4 GPconnect.
In this edition of GPconnect:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Great Plains UM Conference local church audit policy revision
Annual Conference Session hospitality volunteers needed
Annual Conference Session reporters sought
Great Plains seminarians graduate from Saint Paul SOT
Call for Great Plains business cards orders
Last call for help with UMCOR collection
Imagine No Malaria basketballs available for events
EQUIP DISCIPLES
Regenerate gathers Great Plains church planters for retreat, learning and connecting
Changing Wichita Diaper Bank: caring for the least of these
Players, sponsors sought for golf scramble to benefit Camp Horizon
“Interpreter” magazine asks for your thoughts
Loretto UMC honors 80-year member
Worship Ways newsletter focuses on musicians
Newsletter links
MERCY AND JUSTICE
Disaster recovery news
Hands on the Great Plains to change the world
Anselmo UMC adopts Epworth Village as mission project
Micah Corps connects with local churches
But let justice roll down like waters
Nigeria orphanage receives sea container from Iowa
Great Plains UM Conference local church audit policy revision
The Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) recommended, and the Connecting Council approved, a revised audit policy for local churches with annual receipts of over $500,000. The Connecting Council voted on this change at its spring 2014 meeting. The original language can be found in the Plan of Organization. The new policy is linked below.
The audit policy adopted at the Uniting Conference meeting in August 2013 was questioned and called for research that delineated more clearly what the policy was attempting to do.
The goal is to provide a less expensive alternative to a full audit of the “books” for churches with over $500,000 in annual receipts. CFA believes this ensures that an appropriate review is done but in a way that reduces the cost to mid-sized and larger congregations. Churches with annual receipts less than $500,000 are still covered (as originally outlined in the Plan of Organization) by volunteers reviewing their “books” using the Local Church Audit Guide provided by the General Council on Finance and Administration.
Annual Conference Session hospitality volunteers needed
If you will be attending the Great Plains Annual Conference Session next week, please consider volunteering to help with hospitality. Volunteers are needed to greet, usher and serve coffee. Even if you are only able to volunteer for a small portion of time, your help will be appreciated.
To volunteer, or if you have any questions, please contact Morgan Whitaker Smith at mwhitakersmith@gmail.com or call 785-817-6977.
Annual Conference Session reporters sought
The Great Plains Communications office is recruiting annual conference session attendees who might be interested in being a reporter for a session or a segment, or if you’re interested in being part of the social media strategy. Interested persons should email Kathryn Witte at kwitte@greatplainsumc.org. Interested persons should have good writing skills, attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines.
Great Plains seminarians graduate from Saint Paul School of Theology
Six members of the Great Plains UMC Conference received their degrees from Saint Paul School of Theology during the seminary’s 53rd commencement ceremony, held on May 23. Graduates include (front row) Jose Miranda, Master of Divinity; Donna Clark Fuller, Master of Divinity; Michelle Byerly, Master of Divinity; (back row) Darren Guthridge, Master of Divinity with Specialization in Restorative Justice and Prison Ministry; Myunghoon Han, Master of Divinity; and Mark Crist, Doctor of Ministry with Specialization in Children & Poverty in a Globalized Economy.
The Class of 2014 was the first to graduate from the seminary’s Greater Kansas City campus at Church of the Resurrection, in Leawood, Kan. Saint Paul School of Theology is reinventing theological education by creating groundbreaking collaborations with United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and Oklahoma City University. With each institution contributing its core strengths, students integrate theological education with real-world, practical ministry experience.
Call for Great Plains business cards orders
With the appointment season here, be sure you have an updated business card. If you need additional Great Plains United Methodists branded cards or if you have to update your business cards, contact Roxie Delisi at rdelisi@greatplainsumc.org. Please provide the information you would like on your card, including church or agency affiliation, address, phone numbers, fax, email, website, etc.
The Great Plains logo treatment retains the fonts from the Kansas Area and the watermark from the Nebraska logotypes and stationery treatments. The cost is approximately $35 or less for 500 cards, depending on the number of people who choose to purchase cards. Click here to see a sample card.
Last call for annual conference session help with UMCOR collection
Volunteers are needed to help manage the donations coming in to the truck heading to the Midwest Distribution Center of United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
Short term volunteers (for 1-2 hours at a time) are needed to help complete paperwork for the donated supplies. Minimal lifting will be required.
The truck will be located at 3333 Landmark Cir., Lincoln, Neb., adjacent to the Lincoln office of Great Plains United Methodists.
Volunteer hours to be filled:
- Tuesday, June 10: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, June11: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Thursday, June 12: 7-10 a.m.
To volunteer, please contact the Rev. Alan Gager at agager@greatplainsumc.org or call 308-293-2642.
Imagine No Malaria basketballs available for events
If you’re having an event and would like to use Imagine No Malaria basketballs, the Great Plains Conference will provide you with the plastic basketballs while supplies last. If interested, please let Roxie Delisi know at rdelisi@greatplainsumc.org. We’d love to hear about your event. If possible, provide a story describing your event and how much was raised. Make sure to add some photos!
Regenerate gathers Great Plains church planters for retreat, learning and connecting
“We all want to grow in breadth and depth; and we don’t put a value on sizes,” said the Rev. Matt Miofsky of The Gathering, in St. Louis, Mo., in his opening remarks. Regenerate is part of the Five Touch program of the new church development process in the Great Plains United Methodist Conference. Each appointed pastor of a new church start was part of a two-day retreat that included worship, led by the Rev. Mitch Reece and Nathan Brooks of Church of the Resurrection (Rez) West; and conversations around leadership development and generosity, led by Miofsky.
Regenerate, a two-day retreat, offered time and space for the planters of new churches in the Great Plains to share their challenges around leadership development and developing a culture of generosity. A round-table discussion also enabled planters to address other topics and issues with Miofsky and conference staff who were in attendance. As new church planters continue to grow their congregations, Regenerate provided the space for participants to listen to one another and ask questions. Outside expertise empowers planters to make adjustments where needed and to grow in fruitfulness.
A planter’s truest currency is her or his story. The Rev. Junius Dotson, senior pastor, Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Wichita, Kan., shared his faith journey and experiences. Dotson talked about the launch of Genesis United Methodist Church, a parachute drop in the Silicon Valley in the 1990s; and his experience of leading Saint Mark in Wichita, through the development of a satellite campus in southeast Wichita.
The Rev. Debra McKnight, First United Methodist Church, Omaha, Neb., talked about First’s Urban Abbey satellite congregation. McKnight shared her faith journey as an associate pastor as they developed a space where all people would be welcome in a coffee shop and bookstore in downtown Omaha.
Great Plains Conference new church projects include: In Nebraska, Prairie View, Lincoln; Water’s Edge, Papillion; and Urban Abbey, Omaha. In Kansas, Living Water, Kansas City; Life Bridge, Shawnee (Kansas City); The Church at Park City, Park City (Wichita); Saint Mark Southeast Campus, Wichita; The Church at the Well, Wichita; and Korean Fellowship/First UMC, Pittsburg.
The first Regenerate retreat closed with Bishop Scott Jones preaching. Jones also commissioned each planter as they prepared to return to their various mission fields in the Great Plains.
New Church Lawrence launches this summer, and is a hybrid start of Kansas University campus ministry working with the development of a new church in the greater city of Lawrence.
Regenerate will be a yearly gathering of Great Plains planters for retreat, learning and connecting with one another.
For more information contact Nathan Stanton, new church start coordinator, at nstanton@greatplainsumc.org.
Changing Wichita Diaper Bank: caring for the least of these
The Homeless and Low Income Committee at First UMC in Wichita, chaired by Rev. Frances Rathbun, invited the congregation to establish a ‘diaper bank’ for babies of local poor families, those at poverty level and the working poor. The National Center for Children in Poverty reports that in Kansas, 22% of children under three years old live in poor families with 48% living in low income households. This is 163,134 Kansas families with 239,121 young children!
Most child care facilities do not accept the care of babies without a day’s worth of disposable diapers. A working mother cannot be at her job without safe child care. This poses a threat to family income as well as a child’s health and cleanliness as the purchase of diapers is not included in food stamps. The church saw an opportunity to make a difference.
The Committee chose Mother’s Day to launch this ministry. On that Sunday containers were provided in the narthex for collecting sealed boxes of disposable diapers of any brand and any size. Babies come in all sizes! The boxes were delivered to babies through Open Door and Inter-Faith Ministries. The drive ends on Father's Day, June 15. The goal is to collect 10,000 diapers, which would adequately diaper 1,000 babies for one day.
There is a sign in the church nursery at First UMC in Wichita that reads: “We will not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” Methodists make joyful souls and happy bottoms!
Players and sponsors sought for golf scramble to benefit Camp Horizon
Camp Horizon will host a four person golf scramble on July 26, at Quail Ridge Golf Course (QRGC) in Winfield, Kan. The scramble will start at 8:30 a.m., and will cost $65 per person, $260 per team or $55 for ARGC Pass holders. This cost includes green fee, cart, range balls and lunch. Entry deadline is July 18.
If you are unable to attend, but would still like to support Camp Horizon, sponsorships are available. Churches and individuals are invited to sponsor a hole ($100), the scoreboard ($50) or special events ($50).
Thanks to last year’s scramble, the camp was able to purchase kitchen appliances for the new sanctuary.
If you or your church is interested in being a sponsor, download the sponsor form. If you are interested in participating in the scramble, download the entry form. Additional information can be found on the forms.
“Interpreter” magazine asks for your thoughts
The following was sent by the United Methodist Communications’ magazine the “Interpreter.” The magazine posts a question and will run various answers in the upcoming issue.
Dear “Interpreter” reader:
Thanks to all of you who responded to our May-June “We asked ...,” “You said, ...” question. We received many responses; several are in the magazine, many more will be on the website, www.interpretermagazine.org.
“We asked, ...,” “you said ...” features “Interpreter” readers' responses to a question that we send you a few weeks prior to finishing each issue. We use some responses in the magazine and more on the website.
Here's the question for the July/August - and we do want your responses soon:
"If you described your local church as a 'faithful community,' what would you be saying about the congregation of which you are part?"
Send your response of 50-100 words to us at interpreter@umcom.org. Please include your name, local church, city and state - and a telephone number in case we need to contact you. Please note that by sending a response, you are giving us permission to use it in the magazine, on the website and in social media related to “Interpreter.” (We’ll keep your words, but we reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.)
We look forward to hearing from you.
Giving thanks for you,
Kathy Noble, Editor
Loretto UMC honors 80-year member
The Loretto UMC, located in Loretto, Neb., has been Phyllis Michel's home church for over 80 years. On Methodist Heritage Sunday, May 25, Pastor Larry Barbary presented Phyllis with a certificate honoring her for her faithful service and attendance.
Michel is an active member of the congregation and has served in many capacities from years of working with Sunday school, Methodist Youth Fellowship and leadership roles in various church offices. She currently serves as secretary for the Loretto unit of the United Methodist Women.
Michel, daughter of Joe and Seine Knott, was baptized and confirmed at Loretto UMC. ''There were eight of us in my family and we were all raised in that church,'' she said. ''I love my church.''
As a congregation Loretto UMC is proud of Michel and all she has accomplished and what she continues to do. Michel is also active in the community and regularly stirs up a double batch of banana bread which she shares with those needing just a bit of cheering up.
Her husband, Marion Michels is deceased and their children are Rodney, Dennis, Janet (deceased), Janelle, Randall and Jill. She has 15 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
Worship Ways newsletter focuses on musicians
How do I get my musicians to do what I want them to do? Find out how in this edition of Worship Way by Lucinda Holmes.
Lucinda Holmes is a coach and vocational mentor with more than 30 years of experience. From micro-sized congregations to large-church congregations, Holmes is a popular consultant/coach in the Missouri and Great Plains areas of The United Methodist Church. She is a former executive pastor of worship and ministerial development with the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, in Leawood, Kan.
Learn more on the Worship Way website.
Newsletter links
Disaster recovery news
Disaster Recovery Coordinator Linda Stewart says thank you to everyone who volunteered during the early days of tornado recovery during the past four weeks. The long term recovery process is now underway in both Baxter Springs, Kan., and Beaver Crossing, Neb., to help people in those communities develop their individual recovery plans. Case managers are being trained and case management activities will be ongoing through June.
That process will help identify the available resources and unmet needs of those who seek help repairing and rebuilding their homes. The plan is to begin working on those projects in early July through the end of October. Contributions to the Great Plains United Methodists Disaster Fund (Advance 975) will help meet shortfalls of available resources and be a wonderful blessing to many families.
Specific Volunteer in Mission opportunities for these sites will be announced soon; as we are eager to turn hope into a reality for these communities.
Contacts for each site:
Baxter Springs
Lin Harris, Baxter Springs Disaster Recovery Site Manager for Great Plains United Methodists
Email: umc.dr.baxtersprings@greatplainsumc.org
Phone: 918-607-5125
Beaver Crossing
Dorothy and Mike Aspegren, Beaver Crossing Disaster Response Site Managers for Great Plains United Methodists
Email: umc.dr.beaver@greatplainsumc.org or umc.dr.beaver@outlook.com
Phone: 402-641-9698
"When a disaster strikes a deserted island, nature handles the recovery, but when it strikes a community, it takes human hands to bring about the recovery," said Stewart.
Hands on the Great Plains to change the world
Transforming service to the world is one of the Great Plains Conference’s missional priorities. Engaging in service to the community demonstrates an interest in the people outside the church walls and conveys Christ’s love to all.
Congregations across the Great Plains Conference were encouraged to engage in hands-on mission in their communities between April 26 and May 18. The effort was kicked off on the weekend after Easter and ended with Change the World weekend.
The following list of projects registered at www.HandsOnTheGreatPlains.org shows some Great Plains United Methodists felt the need to organize projects beyond May 18. In fact some churches have upcoming projects not listed here. After all, engaging in community service is actually a year-round effort.
April 26
- LOVE Wichita
- Hands on Gardner Day
- Hands on Horton
April 27
- Change the World (Concordia, Kan.)
- Mission Sunday in Hoisington
May 3
- Spring Fling 2014 in Wichita
- Hands on Topeka
May 10
- Change the World Day in Columbus
- Helping Hands @ Douglass UMC
- Fellowship Festival in Ft. Scott
May 17
- Hands on Vinland Valley
- Hands on the Great Plains Day in Winfield
May 18
- Church Without Walls (Great Bend, Kan.)
- Mission Sunday in Ellinwood, Kan.
- Hands on Edgerton
- Faith in Action (Grant, Neb.)
May 31
- Brush Up Hutch
- Imagine No Malaria Tennis Camp (McCook, Neb.)
June 1
- The Church Has Left the Building (Norfolk, Neb.)
Anselmo UMC adopts Epworth Village as mission project
Recently, Anselmo UMC in Anselmo, Neb., adopted Epworth Village as their church’s mission project. Connie Hansen, Epworth Village ambassador, and Anselmo church members actively pray for, learn about and support Epworth Village and its mission. Harrietta Reynolds, Epworth Partners coordinator, said, “Our partnership with the Anselmo church has definitely been a blessing and we are so thankful for their support.” In addition to support and prayers, a banner was donated as well as a butterfly to remind staff and clients that the Anselmo UMC is praying for the mission and work of Epworth Village.
Photo: Epworth Village staff, Staci M., volunteer Karen S. and Ashley L., with a banner and butterfly made by the Anselmo United Methodist Church members and youth.
Micah Corps connects with local churches
Supported by Peace with Justice Sunday offering
On Sunday, June 1, the Micah Corps team split up and shared in eight different worship services and one youth class. They are taking the message of Micah 6:8 out and about.
Micah Corps intern, Kaity Klein, led the youth at St. Paul's UMC in Papillion, Neb., in a "where do you stand" activity. The youth learned about some of our UM Social Principles. They were then invited to stand on a spectrum from strongly agree to strongly disagree and then respectfully discuss their views.
Do you know where the United Methodist Church stands on social issues? Check out the Social Principles and keep up with the Micah Corps this summer at micahcorps.wordpress.com.
You can help programs such as the Micah Corps by giving to the special offering on Peace with Justice Sunday, June 15.
Peace with Justice Sunday is June 15
But let justice roll down like waters
The following was submitted by Andrea Paret, Great Plains peace with justice coordinator.
“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream." - Amos 5:21-24
Local churches across the Great Plains Conference are invited to participate in the Peace with Justice Sunday offering (PWJ Sunday). The suggested date this year is June 15 (the first Sunday after Pentecost), but each local church can choose its own date. Part of the offerings stay in the conference supporting local projects while the other part is sent to the General Board of Church and Society for projects around the world.
In the May 14 issue of GPconnect, you were able to read about students from United Methodist Campus Ministries at two Kansas universities receiving support for their spring trip this March.
Read above about this year’s Micah Corps interns who are also partially supported through the PWJ Sunday offering.
A variety of resources are available.
Videos on the Great Plains website:
Nigeria orphanage receives sea container from Iowa
The Jalingo, Nigeria, orphanage is the host for the sea containers sent annually by the Iowa Conference with contents primarily directed for Iowa’s Junior Senior Secondary School and the health clinic in Zing, Nigeria. Supporters of the orphanage have traditionally been afforded the opportunity to also send items in the container to support the orphanage.
Orphanage Director Simon Benjamin has provided a PowerPoint with recent photos of the orphanage as well as the reception of the sea container.
Donations to the Nigeria Orphanage Advance is 300 and can be made through the local church offering plate or sent to: Advance 300, Great Plains United Methodist Conference, PO Box 4187, Topeka, KS 66605.
Editorial Policy: The content, news, events and announcement information distributed in GPconnect is not sponsored or endorsed by the Great Plains Methodist Conference unless specifically stated.
Want to submit a letter to the editor? Email Kathryn Witte at kwitte@greatplainsumc.org
