Download the printable version of the May 31 issue of GPconnect.
In this edition:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Questions about conference health care vote? Livestream set for Thursday
Learn more about Topeka as conference office location choice
2017 journals are now available for preorder
2017 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Conference countdown: One week from today -- see you in Grand Island!
Check out our home for next week's Annual Conference sessions
Grand Island pastors give restaurant recommendations
Partners in ministry sets activities for conference
Mission Lunch will feature women’s, children’s advocate
Methodists for Renewal banquet is June 8
Scholarship dinner, auction set for next Wednesday
Want to golf before Annual Conference?
GPconnect goes daily next week
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Preaching Rocks completes first class
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Worship a major part of Institute experience
MERCY & JUSTICE
Social media tools help promote Peace with Justice Sunday
SCJ Mission Academy set for September in Nebraska
Disaster response training sessions set
Meet the Micah Corps interns for 2017
ADMINISTRATION
Kansas Area UM Foundation offers Pathways for Discipleship
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Parsons District group gives scholarships, makes blankets
In Other News
Resources
Blogs and Opinion
Classifieds
Questions about conference health care vote? Livestream set for Thursday
Up for a vote at next week’s Annual Conference session is whether Great Plains clergy should stay with the current stipend coverage plan or revert to a group health plan. Both options will be discussed in a livestream taking place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Here’s a preview of the livestream and more information on the proposals.
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Learn more about Topeka as
conference office location choice
Our story about the choice of Topeka as a possible home for a single Great Plains Conference office has been updated this week with a video featuring the Rev. Steve Flader, chair of the conference Board of Trustees. In the video, he explains how the location task force decided on Topeka as the best location for a single office.
Watch the video.
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2017 journals are now
available for preorder
You can now preorder the 2017 Great Plains Journal. You have five options when ordering.
- Volume A - $20
- Volume B - $16
- Directory - $12
- Volumes A, B and directory - $45
- Volumes A and B - $36
Volume B includes clergy records, audit and stat tables. Volume A includes everything not in Volume B. All shipping costs are extra, depending on the method used to ship the materials.
Preorder your journal at www.greatplainsumc.org/journal.
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2017 Annual Conference
Conference countdown: One week
from today -- see you in Grand Island!
The 2017 Great Plains Annual Conference session begins a week from today.
The conference will take place at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska on June 7-10. The event will begin with the opening worship service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, in the Eihusen Arena followed by a meet-and-greet gathering open to all attendees in the Bosselman Conference Center.
You may pick up your nametags and packets beginning at 3 p.m. June 7. Please keep in mind that there may be a long line if you arrive right before the worship service begins.
The Annual Conference workbook is now available on the website. You will want to read through it in preparation for conference. We ask that you print this workbook and bring it with you to conference.
The theme this year, “Therefore Go: Know God,” begins a four-year emphasis on elements essential to our Wesleyan heritage. This four-year focus will help us learn and work together as clergy and laity to enhance and expand the Wesleyan witness in the Great Plains. Churches large and small have contact with people and are involved in helping individuals know God and grow in faith and witness. This year’s speakers and workshops are focused on discipleship and spiritual growth. An additional workshop, TeamMates, will give you information about a program that can help connect your church to your local schools. The speaker and workshops that have been arranged are:
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady – “A Problem of Magnitude: Worship in the United Methodist Church”
Workshops:
Rev. Dr. Anne Gatobu – “Self-care as a Spiritual Discipline”
Rev. Dr. Hal Knight – “How to Grow Closer to God: Advice from John Wesley”
Rev. Dr. Steve Manskar – “Disciples Making Disciples: The Wesleyan Way of Disciple-making”
Dr. Phil Maynard – “Membership to Discipleship”
Rev. Dr. James Bryan Smith – “Narrative: The Most Important Thing About You”
Rev. Marjorie Thompson – “Sabbath as Center in an Unstable World”
Brandon Leppke, Allyson Horne – “TeamMates Mentoring Program”
All Annual Conference Session details can be found at this link. Please check this webpage periodically for updates.
General information about the conference and the event is posted here.
Here is the tentative schedule for the 2017 Annual Conference Session.
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Check out our home for next week's Annual Conference sessions
If you are curious about our venue for the 2017 Annual Conference session, you can take a video tour to learn a little more about the Heartland Events Center and Fonner Park.
The communications team shot a brief video while some members of the session planning team took a final tour last month in Grand Island.
View the video and download a map of the facility.
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Grand Island pastors give
restaurant recommendations
Welcome Great Plains Annual Conference participants! Here are the favorite restaurants of the United Methodist pastors of Grand Island: Rev. Kelly Karges, Revs. Russ and Trudy Anderson and Rev. Lance Clay.
DOWNTOWN
- Wave Pizza -- (Kelly’s favorite) wood oven-baked pizza voted in top 10 restaurants in Nebraska
- Sin City -- great gourmet burgers/fries
- McKinney’s Irish Pub -- Burgers, fish/chips, bangers and mash etc.
- Coney Island -- chili dogs/shakes, a Grand Island institution (unchanged for 40 years)
- Kinkaider Brewing Co. -- micro-brewery/burgers etc., just opened. -- new hot place to eat
- Chocolate Bar -- Espresso, cakes, truffles, sandwiches/wraps etc.
NEAR U.S. 281
HASTINGS (Downtown)
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Partners in ministry sets
activities for conference
Great Plains Partners in Ministry, a group for active and retired clergy spouses, will have several activities throughout the Annual Conference sessions, June 8-10 in Grand Island.
A brunch and annual meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 9, at the Gathering Room of Trinity United Methodist Church, 511 N. Elm St. Registration begins at 9. The speaker will be Maye Saenz, wife of Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., and a new constitution will be presented and voted upon.
Informal activities will take place that afternoon including a tour of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer and Railroad Town.
Donations will be accepted but are not required.
Reservations are due by June 1 to Dianne Karges or Joleen Perry.
A silent auction booth will also be in place during the conference sessions.
More information is available here.
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Mission Lunch will feature
women’s, children’s advocate
A Mission Lunch will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at the Bosselmann Conference Room, Heartland Event Center, Grand Island, during Annual Conference.
Each year, the Great Plains Mercy & Justice Team organizes a lunch. This year, the team is excited to have Susan Burton, director of women’s and children’s advocacy at the General Board of Church and Society, be the speaker. Burton will focus on the impact of health care on maternal and child health, including child survival, preparedness for school and poverty reduction.
There will also have the opportunity to meet the 2017 Micah Corps interns.
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Methodists for Renewal
banquet is June 8
The annual banquet for the Great Plains United Methodists for Renewal will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at the Central City, Nebraska, United Methodist Church, located at 2801 18th Ave.
The cost is $10 for the meal, and $10 for membership, and both can be paid at the door. Reservations are due June 2 by calling Wichita Asbury UMC, 316-942-1491.
This year’s speaker is the Rev. Walter Fenton from Good News, speaking about navigating through tumultuous times in the life of the denomination. There also will be a special offering for seminary scholarships for evangelical students. Childcare is available.
For more information, contact the Rev. Rick Just, 316-942-1491.
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Scholarship dinner, auction
set for next Wednesday
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The 28th annual Scholarship Dinner and Auction presented by the United Methodist Mens’ 100 Club will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 511 N. Elm St., Grand Island.
Seventy percent of auction proceeds go to scholarships for young people entering fulltime Christian service.
To purchase a meal ticket or donate an auction item, contact Randy Fleming at 402-210-4885 or email auctioneer_32@msn.com. A list and photos of items for sale are online at gpsold.com.
The dinner, catered by Chances R Restaurant, will be $35 per person with parts of dinner costs going to youth conference meals and a scholarship fund.
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Want to golf before
Annual Conference?
Bill Selby and the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies are once again sponsoring a Best Ball Golf Tournament on Wednesday, June 7, prior to the annual conference session.
Selby will be applying his wacky rules to this time of fellowship and relaxation before the beginning of our annual conference session. We will be teeing off at 9 a.m. at Jack Rabbit Run Golf Course in Grand Island. Please arrive early and you will be assigned to foursomes. Cost is $50 per player and covers nine holes, a cart and lunch. Prizes will be awarded to the winning team.
Part of the fee will go toward the Neighbors in Need fund of Trinity UMC, Grand Island. Please RSVP to the Rev. Kelly Karges (kjkarges@hotmail.com) or call Trinity UMC, Grand Island, at 308-382-1952 so we can know how much food is needed for lunch.
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GPconnect goes
daily next week
The weekly GPconnect email newsletter will not publish next week. Instead, the communications team will publish a daily email GPconnect during the annual conference session starting after the Wednesday opening worship and concluding after the Saturday closing session.
Encourage your friends and church members to subscribe by following the simple instructions at greatplainsumc.org/subscribe.
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Clergy Excellence
Preaching Rocks
completes first class
The first class of Preaching Rocks has completed its work. The workshop met every other month from September through May at Grace United Methodist Church in Hastings. Rev. Dr. Lew Kaye-Skinner facilitated the group by drawing upon his years of experience preaching and teaching public speaking. The workshop dealt with many aspects of proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pictured are Lew Kaye-Skinner, left, Javier Martinez, Phil Sloat, Daniel Kipp, Emmanuel Afful and Ryan Findley.
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Equipping Disciples
Worship a major part
of Institute experience
At United Methodist Youth Institute, worship takes place twice a day. The morning worship happens behind the Osborne Chapel outdoors. This time of worship is closed out with Personal Quiet Time. During PQT the Institute community spreads out across the Baker University campus for quiet time to reflect on the worship experience.
Evening worship is held at First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City, Kansas. Instituters have worshiped in this local church since it was built 85 years ago. They even purchased the central stained glass window in the sanctuary when the church was constructed after a devastating fire destroyed the previous structure. Evening worship is a great time to be challenged in our faith.
Our spiritual life coordinator for the week of Institute is the Rev. Jeff Clinger. Jeff will be leading us through our theme for the week “Branching Out.” Come to worship expecting to be comforted, challenged and called out into the world. Worship is a great time to consider “Branching Out.”
In addition, to Jeff, Kevan Welsh will be returning as our musician in residence for the week of Institute. Kevan will be working with two youth who will be serving as youth musicians in residence.
On Wednesday night, visitors are invited to worship with us in the Baldwin First UMC sanctuary. Family, friends and alumni can come and share in worship on Wednesday night.
For more than 100 years, young people have come to Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, to attend United Methodist Youth Institute. Institute is a week of Christian spiritual growth and faith development for high school students (incoming freshman through graduating seniors). At Institute youth experience Christian community and are taught to receive and give care and support as modeled by Jesus Christ. Institute is intentional about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Come join us for Institute this summer as we learn about “Branching Out.”
You can register for Institute today! Just go to www.campchippewa.org/institute/
to begin your Institute experience.
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Mercy & Justice
Social media tools help promote
Peace with Justice Sunday
We all know how social media can start conflicts and promote injustice in our broken world.
However, what if you and your congregation could turn that around this year and use it for peace and justice?
We have prepared a collection of free social media tools to help you and your leadership team promote Peace with Justice Sunday, June 11. Share these images on your personal page or your church's page to raise awareness about this important Special Sunday.
Check out our social media tools.
Remember to order your free offering envelopes and posters while you have time.
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SCJ Mission Academy set
for September in Nebraska
The South Central Jurisdiction Mission Academy is scheduled for Sept. 10-13 at the Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska.
The Mission Academy is an event of the United Methodist Church where those who desire to serve others through hands-on mission service can come together to learn, share, and discuss healthy and effective ways to do so.
Courses offered are:
- UMCOR Foundations
- In Mission Together: The 50/50 Initiative
- Conference DRC Workshop/UMCOR grants
- Disaster: From Relief to Recovery
- Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care
- Spiritual Growth in Mission
- Powerful Presentations: Upgrade Your Facilitation Skills
- Hands-On Mission Opportunity
- Connecting Neighbors: Introduction and Ready Churches
- Disaster Long-Term Recovery Group Development
- Cultural Competency
- Health Mission: Wholistic Health
- Disaster Recovery Project Development
- UMCOR/UMVIM Communication in Disaster
- Mexico: Mission on the Border
- Serving Refugees Through Mission
The cost is $350 with lodging in a private room, $280 with a roommate; and $150 with no lodging.
More information and registration is available here.
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Disaster response
training sessions set
Three disaster response training sessions have been set for this summer in Kansas.
Early Response Training sessions are set for June 7 at Wamego United Methodist Church, and July 8 at Belleville UMC.
A spiritual and emotional care training session will be Sept. 23 at Chapel Hill UMC in Wichita.
Safe Gatherings certification is required for all training sessions. Register for these sessions here.
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Meet the Micah Corps
interns for 2017
Last week, the 2017 interns for the Micah Corps summer internship came together in Salina, Kansas, for worship, introductions, self-discovery, fellowship and fun.
Micah Corps is a 10-week summer internship that focuses on equipping local United Methodist churches and leaders to “do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.” These words from Micah 6:8 are the driving force for all of the summer’s experiences.
In doing justice, each intern works with a partner to prepare a myriad of presentations surrounding a specific justice area (immigration, peace and nonviolence, food security, environment, children in poverty) in order to share with local congregations, communities and leaders. In loving kindness, the interns work on living in community with rich diversity, as well as communicating lovingly with congregations who hold varying beliefs. Finally in walking humbly with God, the interns learn and teach new prayer practices daily to nurture their heart for our Creator God of love and justice.
We are about to hit the ground running, so please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see where our adventures take us! For now, meet our Micah Corps 2017 interns:
- David Emile, originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is a student at Peru College in Peru, Nebraska, studying computer management and information systems. His area of focus is the environment.
- Primerose Emile, originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is a student at Peru College, studying psychology and business. Her focus area is children in poverty.
- Millie Flores is from Wichita, studying mechanical engineering at Florida State University. Her focus is children in poverty.
- Nabi Gatobu is from Eagle, Nebraska, studying business administration at Nebraska Wesleyan University. His focus area is peace and nonviolence.
- Kidest Ketema is originally from Ethiopia and currently studying at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, studying international business. Her focus area is food security.
- Roy Koech is from Chappell, Nebraska, currently studying criminal justice at Fort Hays State University. His focus area is immigration.
- Mary Korch is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, studying economics, theology and pre-law at Creighton University in Omaha. Her focus area is food security.
- Ahlam El Mernissi is originally from Morocco, studying economics at Smith College in Massachusetts. Her focus area is peace and nonviolence.
- Paige Thompson is from Hill City, Kansas, at Fort Hays State studying photography and art history. Her focus area is the environment.
- Austin Wall is from outside Nashville, Tennessee, studying international relations, Chinese and history at Rhodes College in Memphis. His focus area is immigration.
-- Maddie Johnson and Deb Metcalf, Micah Corps coordinators
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Administration
Kansas Area UM Foundation
offers Pathways for Discipleship
Have you ever been blessed by a random act of kindness? Maybe some thoughtful person took the time to mow your lawn or prepare a meal for you when you were sick. It is a wonderful feeling that touches your heart and soul. Imagine being on the receiving end of a gift so large, from a family you have never met, that it transforms your ministry forever.
This past fall, the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation Board of Trustees approved to strengthen the Foundation’s mission of supporting the ministries of the Great Plains Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church through the development of Four Endowment Funds. Alan D. Herndon, President and CEO of the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation said; “I am excited about the creative ministry our Board of Trustees did to offer a clear direction naming these four different pathways for discipleship.” Herndon continues to say; “it will continue the rich history of the Foundation being a partner in ministry connecting United Methodists with causes that matter to our local church’s mission.” Some gifts already entrusted to the Foundation support God’s work through these Four Endowment Funds.
The Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation provides support to advance the ministries of the United Methodist Church throughout the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Pathways for Discipleship Funds of the Foundation provides United Methodist Churches, individuals and families with the opportunity to support areas which reflect their personal interests and values. In addition to named funds that would memorialize individuals and families, gifts to these Pathways for Discipleship Funds may be unrestricted within these fund purposes.
Leadership Education Fund
This pathway fund provides support to students for their seminary education and continuing education training for clergy and laity serving local congregations. This fund may assist leadership development programs for local church laity to strengthen their knowledge and service of the church as a whole.
Children/Youth Program Fund
This pathway fund provides support for all aspects of programming for children, youth and young adult ministries. The endowment fund assists with the developing of new, unique programs to attract children, youth and young adults to the church through local church, district, campus ministry or conference experiences. This fund may assist camping and campus ministry leadership development or training.
Ministry and Outreach Grant Fund
This pathway fund provides ministry grants for local churches that will expand the missional outreach of the United Methodist Church. These grants will be for programing, outreach ministry requests, mission trips. NOT FOR BRICK AND MORTAR REQUESTS.
Foundation Sustaining the Witness Fund
This pathway fund supports the efforts of the Foundation to continue and expand its services. It provides funding for expanding services and programs which implement the vision of the Foundation, including facilities, staffing, and leadership development.
The gifts of generosity are a marvelous way of exercising one’s faith in order to expand God’s kingdom.
Herndon added, “The Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation continues to expand its programs to assist United Methodists in making a lasting contribution to the ministries of the Church.”
If you would like to make a difference within one of these Pathways for Discipleship Funds, please contact your Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation at www.kaumf.org, foundation@kaumf.org or 888-453-8405.
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Across the Connection
Parsons District group gives scholarships, makes blankets
The Parsons District Care and Share (District Council on Ministry) met on April 27 for its monthly fellowship dinner and meeting at the Edna United Methodist Church. Members voted to approve scholarships to send 18 kids to summer camp. This ongoing ministry offers $75 scholarships to Methodist Summer Camps, Institute and United Methodist Women’s MET Tours. They also offer $50 scholarships to first-time Lay Servants. This year they have already given 59 scholarships (38 scholarships to Camp Chippewa, 3 to Camp Horizon, 13 to Institute, one to UMW MET Tours and four Lay Servant scholarships). Many of the generous donations came from events such as the Annual District Celebration and Worship Service and the “Jesus Jar” from district church conferences. The churches of the Parsons District also have special offering collections during May for these scholarships.
After the meeting, members put their hearts and hands to work to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ with shut-ins throughout the Parsons District. Clergy and laity made blankets and springtime cards of encouragement. Many stories were exchanged with fellowship and laughter. They are praying that they can make this an annual event.
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In Other News
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Resources
Blogs and Opinion
- That still small voice - Bryan Hankins, Missouri River District director of Lay Servant Ministries, shares resources on answering a calling as laity.
Classifieds
Submit a classified and view other ads at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
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