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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Bishop offers Christmas blessing to the Great Plains Conference
NW Kansas UMCs responding to food needs in their communities
Chris Lehew is remembered for his joy, spirit, discipleship
Gepford talks about how churches can reach Gen Z, Alpha
Taking time to remember United Methodists who left us in 2023
GENERAL CONFERENCE
Leaders making preparations for GC in Charlotte in 2024
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Jan. 10 is deadline for young adults to register for Exploration
Group offers financial support at trying time for clergy, families
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
January trainings are scheduled for rookie, veteran committee chairs
National Care Ministry Webinar set for Feb. 23-24
Great Plains UM Men receive grant to train new generation
MERCY & JUSTICE
Still time to register for Kansas City Epiphany Justice Encounter, Jan. 6
RESOURCES
Books on clergy health available from resource center
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Prairie Village Asbury UMC travels world without leaving Kansas
Omaha church’s Blue Christmas tackles sadness during holidays
Sing the Lord’s Prayer to the tune of ‘Auld Lang Syne’
Nebraska pastor's widow to celebrate her 100th birthday
In other news
Newsletters
Classifieds
Bishop offers Christmas blessing
to the Great Plains Conference
Bishop David Wilson recorded a video for United Methodists across Kansas and Nebraska. In his message, the bishop reminds us of our Advent journey and talks about some of his treasured traditions.
He also urges us to remember that the Savior whose arrival we remember on Christmas came for all people and came to save all of humanity, not just a select few.
View the video and, if you desire, share it in worship this Christmas season.
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NW Kansas UMCs responding to
food needs in their communities
United Methodist Churches in two northwest Kansas towns have become the epicenters for food distribution to their communities.
For Bird City Immanuel UMC, it’s a continuation of a longstanding commitment thanks to a generous donor. For Oberlin UMC, pictured above, it’s a newly created mission of service.
Read more and see a photo gallery.
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Chris Lehew is remembered
for his joy, spirit, discipleship
Just days after he was approved by the Hutchinson District Board of Ordained Ministries to become a candidate for provisional elder at next year's annual conference, Chris Lehew died unexpectedly at age 44.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Lyons First UMC, where he had served since 2022. The service will include at least 20 musicians paying tribute to the former music teacher, and guests are asked to wear flannel, a Lehew favorite.
"He brought the best out of people, and to know him was to love him," said Rev. Michael Tomson-DeGreeff, Lehew's friend and mentor.
Read more here.
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Gepford talks about how
churches can reach Gen Z, Alpha
Gen Z and Gen Alpha are the first generations who have never known a world without smartphones, streaming services or social media. What does that mean for them as a group and those serving them?
In a recent NextGen Ministries training event in the Missouri Conference, Rev. Melissa Collier Gepford, Great Plains intergenerational discipleship coordinator, was among speakers who delved into the dynamics of serving Gen Z (born between 1995 and 2009) and Gen Alpha (born between 2010 and next year).
See more from the Missouri Conference.
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Taking time to remember
United Methodists who left us in 2023
This year, United Methodists mourned the passing of beloved bishops, influential church scholars, the editor of The United Methodist Hymnal and a country music radio pioneer who boosted careers as diverse as Randy Travis and Taylor Swift. United Methodist News Service has 29 remembrances of notable church members memorialized in 2023, including Etta Mae Mutti, wife of former Kansas Bishop Fritz Mutti.
Read about them here.
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General Conference
Leaders making preparations
for GC in Charlotte in 2024
The commission that plans The United Methodist Church’s international legislative assembly met to make some additional preparations for the long-delayed General Conference. Commission members heard an update on visa invitations and discussed the handling of certain proposals coming before delegates.
Read more from UM News Service.
Meet the Great Plains Conference delegates.
Livestream orientation Feb. 29 to March 1 to inform delegates.
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Clergy Excellence
Jan. 10 is deadline for young adults
to register for Feb. 16-18 Exploration
Do you know a college student or other young adult who has the gifts for and a possible call to ministry? Consider attending Exploration, a three-day event held in Orlando for young adults aged 18-26 to hear, discern, and respond to God’s call to ordained ministry and to explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church. Register and book air travel by Wednesday, Jan. 10.
The details:
- It’s held in Orlando from Feb. 16-18 for people aged 18-26 considering a call to ministry
- Register through our link to receive a $350 scholarship (leaving participants $50 for shared room or $150 for private room)
- The Great Plains UMC will provide travel scholarships for airfare (while funds last…see below* for guidelines).
- Submit travel receipts here, up to $650.
It’s a potentially lifechanging opportunity to be open to or get direction in God’s call in the context of other young adults, ministries of the church and campus ministers.
Participants will engage in vibrant worship, connect with other young adults, learn about ministry possibilities from workshops, and have space to encounter God in a new way. Representatives from the United Methodist Seminaries will be present for conversation if seminary is a next step. Check out their website here: https://www.explorecalling.org/exploration/
Are you interested in learning more about the scholarships, or do you have questions? Contact Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford: aalleycrawford@greatplainsumc.org or 785-414-4216.
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Group offers financial support
at trying time for clergy, families
The Great Plains Mutual Aid Association is both a sympathy expressing organization and a death benefit organization. This year when a member dies a family member gets a $1,500 check to use in any way they want to. The family also gets a list of members who have contributed to this sympathy expressing gift. The way this is financed is that the members send in $5 each time a member dies to pay for the death benefit.
The secretary/treasurer, Pastor Bob Neben, states, “So far during 2023 the Mutual Aid Association has had 17 members die meaning that so far this year each active member has sent in $85 to make the death benefit available to send to a relative as a sympathy expressing gift.”.
If you would like more information about this very good organization, please email Pastor Bob Neben at nebenmary@hotmail.com or 402-499-3636. Neben is a retired minister who lives in Lincoln and is willing to answer your questions.
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Equipping Disciples
January trainings are scheduled
for rookie, veteran committee chairs
Are you chairing a committee in 2024 or have you chaired a committee for a lengthy period? Maybe even been approached by someone and they said to you, you would be such a good person to chair this committee, handed the reins, and then, said, OK, now, what do I do?
The Congregational Excellence Team would like to extend an invitation for you to “save the date” and plan to participate in an informational session for the chairs of the following committees.
- Staff Pastor Parish Committee Chair (SPRC/PPRC), Monday, Jan. 22
- Trustee Committee Chair, Tuesday, Jan. 23
- Finance Chair, Wednesday, Jan. 24
- Administrative Council Chair and One Board (Simplified Accountability Structure), Thursday, Jan. 25
The workshop sessions will be via Zoom, from 7-8:30 p.m. CT, 6-7:30 p.m. MT. An experienced Lay Person will facilitate each session along with a district superintendent representative. The facilitators will help explain the “why” of our committee ministry.
As a leader, knowing your “why” has the potential to make a profound impact on the ministries in your local mission field as you help equip laity to fulfill the mission of the United Methodist Church through your role.
During this time together you will have the opportunity to listen and then ask questions. It will also be an exciting time to connect to a support system with other local church leaders. Who knows you may want to set up a monthly or quarterly Zoom meeting so that you can encourage each other and learn together as you disciple others through your leadership role. We truly are better together as we live into our mission as the United Methodist Church in the Great Plains Conference.
Look for registration information to be published after the first of the year. Also, know that your pastor and your committee teams are also welcome to participate in these sessions.
If you have any questions please contact Jeff Clinger, Great Plains Director of Congregational Excellence by email: jclinger@greatplainsumc.org; by phone at 785-272-9111 or Jeanie Leeper, Lay Leadership Coordinator by email jleeper@greatplainsumc.org or by phone 308-380-7223.
We look forward to learning and growing with you!
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National Care Ministry
Webinar set for Feb. 23-24
The Caring Congregation, a non-profit ministry, presents its National Care Ministry Webinar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT Friday-Saturday, Feb. 23-24.
This is a two-day livestreamed introductory course for churches of all sizes to establish and equip pastors and laity to provide excellent care for their congregations and communities. It includes a special session on care for congregations after disaffiliation. Sample Schedule. Registration cost is $250 per person or view our discounted Group Watch Party pricing for churches.
Register at this link.
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Great Plains UM Men receive
grant to train new generation
The board of directors of the Nebraska United Methodist Foundation approved a ministry grant in the amount of $4,500 for the GP UMM Ministry. The money is for training the next generation laity men’s leadership.
This very generous ministry grant will be administered by your GP UMM leadership team and made available to all districts and local churches across the conference.
Our hope is this is a 50/50 partnership where the GP UMM provides up to $500 and the district/local church also provides funding. An example may be where a district or local church would like to provide a one-day workshop that will help grow men spiritually. GP UMM would provide seed money. An attendance fee could be charged to cover additional expenses. The goal is to help each districts develop servant leaders for the future of the church. Reminder, when possible, women and youth will be invited to be part of the training.
Interested? Want more information? Contact George Houle, ummwbb11@att.net or 316-573-8359.
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Mercy & Justice
Still time to register for Kansas City
Epiphany Justice Encounter, Jan. 6
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Join us for the KC Epiphany Justice Encounter, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, hosted by Mercy & Justice and Leadership Lab.
Discover the true essence of Epiphany, the Christian holiday celebrating the journey of the Magi in search of the sacred, at our KC Epiphany Justice Encounter. This unique event invites you to embark on a transformative journey through the heart of Kansas City, exploring the pursuit of justice in the community.
General Itinerary:
8:30 a.m. -- Begin our day with a reflective devotion, setting the tone for our exploration of justice.
9 a.m. -- Engage in thought-provoking discussions and immersive experiences at various justice ministries in the Kansas City area.
11:45 a.m. -- Recharge with a delicious meal and continue to build connections with fellow participants.
12:30 p.m. -- Delve deeper into the principles of justice as we visit more impactful ministries.
3:30 p.m. -- Reflect on the day's encounters, share insights, and forge lasting connections.
5 p.m. -- Wrap up the day's journey, leaving with a renewed sense of purpose and understanding.
Epiphany is a time for illumination, a moment of revelation. Just as the Magi sought the divine, we too are on a quest – a quest for justice, mercy, and a deeper connection to the sacred in our world. By joining us on this special day, you'll gain a fresh perspective on the pursuit of justice and the role you can play in creating a more compassionate community.
We look forward to sharing this transformative experience with you.
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Resources
Books on clergy health
available from resource center
Dozens of books on clergy health are available from United Media Resource Center.
Titles include "Calling and Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life" by Will Willimon; "Elephant in the Church: What You Don't See Can Kill Your Ministry" by Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner and Mary Lynn Dell, and "Pastor's Family: Shepherding Your Family Through the Challenges of Pastoral Ministry" by Brian and Cara Croft.
Find those and more here.
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Across the Connection
Prairie Village Asbury UMC
travels world without leaving Kansas
Members of Prairie Village Asbury got to visit the Middle East, India and Korea this year, and didn't have to use their passports.
Rev. Daekyung Kim, associate pastor of the church, led the "Travel More Project," where church members learned about the culture of the countries through their food, films and other presentations. He shares the experience and shows the itinerary.
Read about it here.
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Omaha church’s Blue Christmas
tackles sadness during holidays
While Christmas may be full of festivity and joy, for some it is a reminder of pain and loss.
That’s why Omaha St. Andrew’s UMC conducted its Blue Christmas service last week, to help the community cope with sadness during the holidays.
See video from KMTV.
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Sing the Lord’s Prayer to
the tune of ‘Auld Lang Syne’
Dr. David Upp, a longtime missionary with the Great Plains Conference, offers a way to sing the Lord’s Prayer to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne” on New Year’s Eve worship.
Here’s a video.
Upp gives suggestions for singing:
“A hyphen means hold syllable one more beat/note. é means pronounce syllable. Easiest Teaching: Have a solo or choir sing one line, then congregation repeat that line, then sing back through the entire prayer.”
Our Father who- art in heaven/ Hallowéd be Thy name/
Thy kingdom come/ Thy will be done/ O-n ea-rth as in heavén./
Give us today our daily bread/ And for-give our sins/
As we forgive each one of those/ Who- si-ns against us/
And lead us not to the time of trial/ But deliver us from evil/
For Thi-ne is the ki-ngdom/ The- power and the glory.
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Nebraska pastor's widow
to celebrate her 100th birthday
On Dec. 27, Ruth Ireland will be 100 years old. Ruth is the widow of Rev. Melvon Ireland. They served the following churches in Nebraska: Pierce, 1945; Wauneta, 1948; Blair, 1953; Norfolk, 1959; Omaha District Superintendent, 1964; Lincoln Christ Church, 1970; Scottsbluff, 1978 and retired in 1985.
Ruth Ireland’s address is Concordia Catered Living #202, 11 Professional Drive, Bella Vista, AR 72715.
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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 David Burke to update or renew your classified. Submit your classified here.
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