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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Great Plains group concluding its tour of Greece through eyes of Paul
St. Francis UMC’s thrift store does good for church, community
Proposed 2024-2025 budget slashed amid church losses
Fresh Expressions movement offers hope
GENERAL CONFERENCE
Deadline set for March 15 to submit legislation for annual conference
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Retired, active clergy invited to Butler Bass online workshop March 12
Great Plains sends 21 to Exploration in Orlando
New resources available for clergy, congregations in pastoral transition
March 18 is deadline to register for spiritual renewal retreat for clergy
Matching internship grants are open for kids, youth, pastoral ministry
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Laity Summit just a few days away; register now as individual or group
Nominate clergy, laity or youth for Denman Evangelism Award
Registration now open for health fund retreat
Women’s, men’s retreats are scheduled for March
Laity invited to Academy for Spiritual Formation; deadline is March 15
MERCY & JUSTICE
Be the Bridge training resumes next month in Waverly
‘Hope Beyond Despair’ subject of March 2 talk with Archbishop Chacour
Register now for Korea Peace Advocacy Week, March 18-22
Watch video commemoration of centennial of UM building
Need an explanation of what’s going on in Holy Land?
DISASTER RESPONSE E
Be hands, feet of Jesus as a volunteer with Disaster Response
ADMINISTRATION
March 19 is deadline to register for event for all stages of ministry
March 31 is deadline to apply for Nebraska UM Foundation grants
RESOURCES
Find DVD studies from Eldredge, Spoelstra, Hamilton
UMCOR Sunday is March 10; there’s still time to order materials
Healing racialization webinar set for next week
Help shape future of church communications
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Bus, driver sought to transport Kenyan church leaders
In other news
Newsletters
Classifieds
Great Plains group concluding its
tour of Greece through eyes of Paul
A group of 37 from the Great Plains Conference, led by Bishop David Wilson, will conclude their tour of Greece as seen through the journeys of Paul when they return to the Midwest on Friday.
Here’s a photo album of the trip so far.
The bishop has also recorded daily videos with his reflections on the day’s events, which can be found here.
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St. Francis UMC’s thrift store
does good for church, community
If your thoughts of a thrift store are a mishmash of clothes, items on their last legs, and rejects from grandma’s attic, the folks at the St. Francis United Methodist Thrift Store would like to have a few words.
“It was referred to the other day in a (social media) post as a ‘boutique,’” Mary Lehman, a volunteer at the store, said. “There is definitely an effort by the managers to make sure we have high-quality items.”
A town of about 1,200, St. Francis sits at the northwesternmost point in Kansas.
“We have people from Colorado and Nebraska and way into Kansas who come in and compliment us on this store and how well it’s organized and the quality of the merchandise,” Lehman said. “They also donate here, rather than donate where they live. We appreciate that.”
Read more here.
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Proposed 2024-2025 budget
slashed amid church losses
The United Methodist Church’s financial leaders met to finalize the proposed denominational budget heading to General Conference. Their work included making more cuts in response to church disaffiliations.
The leaders also agreed to a plan to shore up financial support for the bishops. General Conference delegates will have the final say when they vote on the 2025-2028 budget that supports denomination-wide ministries.
Read more from United Methodist News Service.
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Fresh Expressions
movement offers hope
People are increasingly choosing to stay away from churches, and the answer to that dilemma for The United Methodist Church may be to hold meetings elsewhere, say members of the Fresh Expressions movement. Finding community in brew pubs, coffee shops, campgrounds and digital spaces was examined and promoted during Futuring Forward: The Reawakening of the People Called Methodist, the first national meeting of the group.
Read more from UM News Service.
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Annual Conference
Deadline set for March 15 to submit
legislation for annual conference
Instructions for submitting resolutions and petitions for the Great Plains Annual Conference session this summer are available for review at www.greatplainsumc.org/annualconference.
The website page includes details about submissions, including instructions on how to structure your proposed legislation.
The deadline for submissions has been set for March 15. That will allow for the proposals to be included in the workbook that is published prior to the annual conference session, which is scheduled for June 6-9 in Kearney.
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Clergy Excellence
Retired, active clergy are invited to
Butler Bass online workshop March 12
Renowned author Diana Butler Bass will be the featured speaker at the annual online learning event sponsored by the Great Plains Association of Retired Clergy and Spouses (GPARCS).
Registration is open now for the March 12 event with the theme of "Perceived Possibilities." Bass will share thoughts on the focused verse of Isaiah 43:19 and how the church — particularly mainline Protestant congregations — have license to try new things in the fast-changing world around them. She also will talk about how openly discussing politics can be a way of addressing the needs of young adults related to their spirituality and how imagination is important in ministry.
She will address what she calls the "deep spiritual structure" today, as well as the Three B's of Faith: Believing, belonging and behaving.
This online event is open to all retired and active clergy.
The cost is $20 per person or $30 for a group. Groups may join from anywhere, but gathering locations are planned for Hutchinson, Lenexa, Manhattan and Wichita in Kansas, as well as Lincoln in Nebraska.
Register here.
Watch Todd Seifert's video interview with Butler Bass.
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Great Plains sends 21
to Exploration in Orlando
Twenty-one representatives from the Great Plains Conference – including students, campus pastors, conference staff and Bishop David Wilson – attended Exploration, Feb. 16-18 in Orlando.
Exploration, according to its website, creates sacred space for young adults, ages 18-26, to be in meaningful fellowship, passionate worship, theological reflection, and practical workshops as they discern whether God’s call on their life is to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church and what faithful steps they can take in response.
Rev. Karen Jeffcoat, registrar for the Board of Ordained Ministries for the conference, co-led a workshop, “Deep Dive into the Candidacy Process.” Bishop Wilson participated in a panel with other episcopal leaders.
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New resources available for clergy, congregations in pastoral transition
Transition of Pastoral Leadership can create stress and opportunity, grief and excitement. The clergy and congregations who will be experiencing a transition of pastoral leadership are invited to join several new opportunities to navigate the change in healthy ways.
- Zoom-based training meetings designed by the Offices of Clergy and Congregational Excellence to provide a healthy foundation amid pastoral change for the outgoing pastor, plus1-2 congregational leaders (SPRC, Administrative Board, Lay Leader, or other key leaders from the congregation) to identify healthy strategies for the leadership change. Participants can choose to attend one meeting of the following options that will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. (CT) on March 7, April 9, and May 9.
- New and Updated Resources added to our website for creating healthy pastoral transitions.
- Clergy who are moving appointments this year are invited to attend a For Your Life retreat that will be focused on soul care and creating a plan for spiritual health amid the transition. For details, contact Rev Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford, aalleycrawford@greatplainsumc.org.
Learn more and register for events here: www.greatplainsumc.org/pastoraltransitions.
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March 18 is deadline to register
for spiritual renewal retreat for clergy
Clergy, you are invited to take some time away from the routines and challenges of ministry and be attentive to your relationship with God. We hope you will consider attending Roots For Your Soul, a spiritual formation retreat planned just for you, clergy of the Great Plains Conference.
The spring retreat is designed specifically for clergy to attend right after Easter, to do what you need to do. The only cost to you is $50 to reserve your spot for this two-night, three-day retreat. Space is limited, so please register early as there are a limited number of private rooms available. Scholarships available. See the registration form for details. Registration deadline: March 18.
Spring 2024 — Time for rest and renewal after Easter
April 1-3, 2024, $50 to include two nights, three days of lodging and food
- Webster Conference Center, Salina
- Collaborators: Rev. Doug Gahn, Rev. Anne Gahn, Rev. Dr. Shelly Petz
- Register for the Spring 2024 retreat by March 18
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Matching internship grants are
open for kids, youth, pastoral ministry
Do you have a young adult, at least 18 years old, who has the gifts for serving in your church full or part time as an intern in kids, youth, or pastoral ministry this summer? The conference is offering Matching Internship Grants for churches this summer up to $2,400 for the summer. The deadline for applying is April 15. Check out more information here.
Our objectives for Church Matching Internship Grants are:
- To help churches identify a young person with gifts for ministry.
- To support a vibrant and creative summer season of ministry.
- To connect interns with a learning community of other interns throughout the summer.
Our expectations for the churches applying:
- Your intern will be paid an hourly rate (at least minimum wage) for up to 40 hours per week. Internship must be a minimum of 10 weeks, running from May 20 to July 29.
- Mentors will receive onboarding resources and interns will receive a welcome box from the conference.
- Someone from the church staff will be an assigned supervisor throughout the summer and will meet weekly with the intern for supervision and making space for reflecting on the intern’s summer learning.
Contact Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford to learn more about the Pastoral Leadership internship, aalleycrawford@greatplainsumc.org or 785-414-4216 or Rev. Melissa Gepford to learn more about the kids or youth internships, mgepford@greatplainsumc.org or 785-272-9111. And if having an intern is new for you and you’d like to learn more about best practices, reach out to Ashlee or Melissa. This could be a life-changing summer for a young adult or for your congregation to nurture the call of an intern. Will you check out the possibilities today?
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Equipping Disciples
Laity Summit is just a few days away; register now as an individual or group
Laity Summit on Sunday, March 10, is not far away.
Wouldn’t it be fun to compare it to the super bowl of virtual and in-person gatherings across the Great Plains as ministry testimonies are shared and plays are passed! Think about all the collaborating, the encouraging, and the excitement that can happen! Everyone is invited to participate!
Registration will be open. You can register as an individual or as a “Watch Party.”
To view the schedule and the bios of the presenters go to the Laity Summit page.
Laity, please help spread the word about this event in your local mission field!
Hope to see you all in the Laity Summit virtual space!
If you have any questions please contact Jeanie Leeper, GP Lay Leadership Coordinator, jleeper@greatplainsumc.org or 308-380-7223.
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Nominate clergy, laity or youth
for Denman Evangelism Award
Each year The Foundation for Evangelism works with annual conferences to offer the Denman Evangelism Award to three recipients: one clergy, one laity and one youth.
This is a meaningful way to honor and thank people who demonstrate evangelistic passion to reach others for Christ. Awards are presented at Annual Conference sessions. Nominations for the 2024 awards are due by May 1. Instructions and guidelines are on this the Nomination Form; specify whether you are nominating clergy, laity or youth.
Nomination forms in the Great Plains should be submitted to Rev. Jeff Clinger, director of congregational excellence, at jclinger@greatplainsumc.org.
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Registration now open
for health fund retreat
Interested in how you can help improve the health of your congregation and community? Reserve your place at the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund’s 2024 Healthy Congregations Retreat, April 18-19 in Salina.
The retreat is for all Great Plains United Methodists interested in health ministry – and especially valuable for Healthy Congregations team members. Community partners invited by Healthy Congregations teams are also encouraged to participate.
Facilitated by Rev. Adam Barlow-Thompson, executive director of The Neighboring Movement, Day 1 will focus on relationship and connection-building, leveraging strengths and talents, and developing effective partnerships - empowering teams and individuals to work together and reach their chosen congregational and community health goals.
Day 2 (April 19), billed as Intersections of Faith & Health, is designed for an expanded audience including retreat participants as well as those from other faith communities, public health, health professionals, and community members. Intersections explores current and emerging health issues with an emphasis on how stakeholders can work together and leverage their unique strengths to improve community health for all. Participants will hear from health experts across the state and go deeper into topics of interest through small-group conversations. Planned topics include maternal and child health, childcare, Medicaid expansion, food insecurity, and civic engagement.
Through Health Fund sponsorship, the event is provided at no cost to participants. Overnight accommodations are available for April 18, but rooms are limited, and the hotel cutoff is March 24; please register early to reserve your place.
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Women’s, men’s retreats
are scheduled for March
Do you need a get-away to refresh and be in fellowship? Camp Fontanelle is offering a couple of retreats in March that provide just that!
There is still time to register for the “Ladies Paint and Sweets Retreat” March 8-9. Held in Olson Lodge, this overnight will have yummy treats, fellowship and an opportunity to show your creative side with wooden sign painting. Bring your bestie for this fun overnight.
The Men’s Retreat will be March 22-23. Also held in Olson Lodge, the retreat will have participants experiencing the wilderness and fellowship around a campfire. Many fun, outdoor activities are planned and you won’t go away hungry.
For more information about either of these retreats, contact the camp at 402-478-4296.
Registration is open for summer camp. Summer is a great time to experience all of the activities at Camp Fontanelle while learning about your faith and being in communion with others. There are camp sessions for adults with children through 2nd grade and resident camps for 2nd grade through high school. Go to campfontanelle.com to see the schedule and to get registered. There are some great discounts through April 1.
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Laity invited to Academy for Spiritual Formation; deadline is March 15
Clergy and laity: mark your calendar for a spiritual retreat held right here within the Great Plains for an opportunity to learn, worship, and connect — with God, yourself, and others. The Five-Day Academy will be offered shortly after Easter at St. Benedict’s Center in Schuyler, Nebraska. It is a program of Upper Room Ministries with regional leadership, that provides the opportunity for participants to tune their hearts toward God through a daily rhythm of prayer, worship, learning and reflection. Each day includes teachings by gifted spiritual leaders for deeper discipleship, periods of silence, morning and evening prayer, Eucharist, and an opportunity to share with one another. It is open to anyone — laity or clergy — and is ecumenical.
The theme of the upcoming retreat is "Loving Well: Community, Healing, and Resilience," led by presenters Elaine A. Heath and Jeanine B. Heath-McGlinn. They are sisters whose vocations as theologian and therapist emerged from their own healing journeys. In this series they will explore what it means to foster spiritual communities that love well, that build resilience, offer healing, and hope in a broken world.
Registration for the 2024 Great Plains 5 Day Academy for Spiritual Formation are as follows:
- In-person single-room occupancy: $625
- In-person double-room occupancy: $590
- On-line Zoom participation: $300
Some scholarships are available, $200 for in-person or $100 for online, especially for first-time laity participants. CEUs are available. To learn more and register, check out the website: https://www.gpspiritualformation.org/.
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Mercy & Justice
Be the Bridge training
resumes next month in Waverly
Be the Bridge training has resumed in the Great Plains Conference, with a March 14-16 session in Waverly.
Are you passionate about making your church or community group equitable and inviting for everyone, regardless of background? Elevate your leadership skills with this transformative training event.
The Great Plains Board of Ordained Ministry, the Mercy and Justice Team, and other committed partners from the Annual Conference have collaborated with Be the Bridge — an organization focused on fostering racial healing, equity, and reconciliation — to offer this opportunity.
Training began last year and continue through June 2025 in Wichita, Omaha, Shawnee and Kearney.
Find out more here.
An interview with Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison.
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‘Hope Beyond Despair’ subject of
March 2 talk with Archbishop Chacour
Mark your calendars for a March 2 conversation with Abuna Elias Chacour, the Archbishop Emeritus of Galilee, author of the book “Blood Brothers,” and founder of Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI) in I’billin, Israel. Join others from around the world at 11 a.m. CT
Pilgrims of I’billin will host this webinar: “Abuna Chacour has spent his life working to build peace through education, teaching students to see the beauty and value in each other regardless of their religious or ethnic background. In his words, ‘We are all children of God. We were all born babies.’
“Abuna Chacour will discuss a recent book, ‘Sermon on the Mount: the Way to the Kingdom,’ his understanding of the Beatitudes, a distillation of his faith and life. (For those who have been patiently waiting for the English translated version of this book - you'll be happy to know that the translation is under way and we hope it will be published and available soon.)
He will also speak about MEEI and some of the challenges they face in the year ahead.”
Note: There will be time for questions from those attending. For security reasons, it has been requested that political questions be avoided. We appreciate your understanding.
Register: http://tinyurl.com/2fxtc6xx
Submitted by Andrea Paret, Holy Land Task Force
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Register now for Korea Peace
Advocacy Week, March 18-22
Every year, Korea Peace Advocacy Week brings together hundreds of people around the country to participate in meetings with their members of congress to advocate for legislation supporting peace in Korea.
Participants will join two or three half-hour online meetings via Zoom with staff from their Representative’s office, sharing personal stories and urging members to support H.R.1369, the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act. The registration deadline is March 1. An online training session will be offered for all participants the week of March 4.
This year’s Korea Peace Advocacy Week is being organized by American Friends Service Committee, Korea Peace Now!, The United Methodist Church, and Women Cross DMZ. This is the ninth year of coordinated advocacy days for the cause of peace in Korea, and the fifth year of it being held online.
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Watch video commemoration
of centennial of UM building
The General Board of Church and Society celebrated the 100th anniversary of The United Methodist Building in Washington, D.C., with a livestream broadcast on Feb. 13.
A one-hour video of the livestream is now available, as well as resources called “Celebrating 100 Years of Social Witness.”
Find those and more here.
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Need an explanation of
what’s going on in Holy Land?
What is happening in the Holy Land?
It can be very difficult to find reliable news about the situation in Palestine/Israel these days. Censorship is happening in many places. The Great Plains Holy Land Task Force put together a flyer with several news sources to hear from a variety of groups and organizations who are working hard for peace in the Holy Land.
Find the flyer here.
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Disaster Response
Be hands, feet of Jesus as a
volunteer with Disaster Response
Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, the size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for His harvest. ~ Matthew 9: 35-38
Are you looking to grow in your discipleship and make a difference in someone else’s life at the same time? The Great Plains Disaster Response Ministry is for you! Our ministry is based on making disciples by showing compassion and care to all people affected by a disaster. If you are 18 years and older, we need you! Volunteers are crucial and serve as the “hands and feet” of Christ. Without an abundance of willing volunteers, the work does not get done for those who cannot afford insurance or have limited insurance.
You are needed to make a difference! You are needed to make disciples! Contact Rev. Hollie Tapley, htapley@greatplainsumc.org for more information and to sign up.
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Administration
March 19 is deadline to register for event for those in all stages of ministry
The 2024 Preparing for Your Future seminar will be Wednesday-Thursday, April 3-4, at Salina Trinity UMC.
Preparing for Your Future is a unique opportunity to learn about the many benefits affecting your life and ministry. You will be given guidance on all life stages from active ministry to a retirement lifestyle. Caring for one's physical, emotional, spiritual and social wellbeing is essential to maintaining, and even improving, one's quality of life.
Here is the schedule:
April 3, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Clergy not retiring in the next five years will gain understanding on their worksheet and pay, financial wellness, dissolving debt, and on planning for retirement in a 3½ -hour presentation. Clergy having not been to a Preparing for Your Future seminar or have not been in the last five years and not retiring in the next five years are encouraged to come to the morning session. You will gain a wealth of knowledge and enjoy socializing over lunch before heading home.
April 3, 2-5 p.m. -- Clergy retiring July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2029, will benefit from the remaining presentations on estate planning, Social Security and retirement, Medicare and Medicare supplementals.
April 4, 9-11 a.m. -- Pension and Making Retirement Selections.
Lunch and dinner will be provided April 3. Hotel accommodation for the night of April 3 will be provided by the Board of Pensions. Breakfast will be provided by the hotel at no cost on April 4.
Learn more and register here. The deadline is March 19.
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March 31 is deadline to apply for Nebraska UM Foundation grants
Nebraska United Methodist Foundation announces three grant opportunities for churches and individuals
Dean & Keitha Thomson Mission Grant: The Dean & Keitha Thomson Mission Grant is available to a member of a United Methodist church or a member of a recently disaffiliated UM church who is in need of financial assistance for a mission trip. Mission trips may be located locally, nationally, or internationally with a focus on global health, including but not limited to medical needs, or disaster and recovery efforts. The mission trip work must be considered to be of a beneficial nature to the larger community and an integral part of a long-range plan for growth and outreach.
Ministry Grant: The NUMF ministry grants are available to all Nebraska United Methodist churches and affiliated agencies of the Great Plains United Methodist Conference. These grants are available to enhance and expand church ministries. The ultimate goal of these awards is to provide assistance, both for new ministries and thriving ministries wishing to grow. These grants are made for programs and activities, and include operating expenses and supplies necessary for those programs or activities. They are not made for building repair, replacement, or expansion.
Congregational Support New Start/New Faith Community Grant: The Congregational Support New Start/New Faith Community Grant is available to Nebraska United Methodist churches and affiliated Nebraska agencies of the Great Plains United Methodist Conference to enhance and support new church development. Grant applicants should be aware that priority will be given to the following:
- A New Start that is recognized by Congregational Excellence as a New Start/New Faith Community.
- A New Start deemed to be of an outreach and beneficial nature to the larger community.
- A New Start that is in collaboration with other United Methodist entities.
- A New Start that has identified other sources of revenue.
- A New Start that is an integral part of a long-range plan for growth and outreach.
The deadline for all grants is March 31. For more information including grant guidelines and applications, please use this link.
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Resources
Find DVD studies from
Eldredge, Spoelstra, Hamilton
In the fourth and final installment of DVD studies available from United Media Resource Center, you can find “Becoming Myself: Embracing God’s Dream of You” by Stasi Eldredge, “Names of God: His Character Revealed” by Melissa Spoelstra and “Simon Peter: Flawed but Faithful Disciple” by Adam Hamilton.
Find those and more here.
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UMCOR Sunday is March 10;
there’s still time to order materials
You still have time to order printed pew cards for UMCOR Sunday, which is set for March 10. Download and use the resources in the pastor and leader kit to promote UMCOR Sunday or incorporate resources into your service or classes. Need a little more help? Download the how-to guide for more ideas.
Get the how-to guide.
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Healing racialization
webinar set for next week
A webinar, “Coming to the Table: Healing Racialization through Building Justice-Based Communities” will be at 11 a.m. CT Thursday, March 7.
Michael Adam Beck and Stephanie Moore Hand will lead this inspirational webinar on healing racial divides in communities.
Learn practical strategies for justice-oriented advocacy and transitioning towards inclusivity and equity. Discover how to create spaces where racial equity, justice, and liberation thrive. Equip your church with practical steps to become a beacon of God’s love for all.
Learn more and register here.
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Help shape future of
church communications
United Methodist Communications, The United Methodist Church’s communications agency, is looking for input from clergy and lay leaders to help prioritize its activities for the future. The agency’s research team has developed a questionnaire to collect information that will help inform the agency’s work across all teams as it prepares to update its strategic plan. The questionnaire should take about 15 minutes to complete. Questions can be sent to umcomresearch@umcom.org.
Complete questionnaire.
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Across the Connection
Bus, driver sought to
transport Kenyan church leaders
Rev. Dr. Anne Gatobu from Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, and Rev. Harun Gatobu, Overland Park St. Mark’s UMC, are hosting a fellowship group from their former congregation in Nairobi, Kenya, who hope to experience and learn more about the American culture and church history.
This is a group of key leaders of the church from Nairobi area. The group is in need of a bus for up to 30 passengers and a driver for their road trip. Chartering a bus has proven to be too expensive for the group to afford.
Would you have a church bus that you could kindly lend to this group between the dates of May 7-14? The road trip will take the group to Branson, Atlanta, Orlando and end at Miami. They will pay the driver, fuel the bus and give a small honorarium to the church for the use of the bus.
If so, please contact the Gatobus at kiomeanne@gmail.com or hgatobu@greatplainsumc.org.
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In other news
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Newsletters
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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