THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Pastors share their challenges, anxiety over threats of deportations
Living nativity at Omaha UMC draws newcomers from across city
Leadership Gathering design team set for new 2026 event
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Rule change for continuing education grants (up to $500) for GP clergy
Western Nebraska CRCC clergy families gather for fellowship
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Family mission experience in OKC scheduled for June 16-20
Share your thoughts, perspective with Great Plains in Daily Devotions
MERCY & JUSTICE
Church and Society shares recap of advocacy, success in Congress
How can Listening Encounters help your local church? Video tells more
Dates set for Justice Encounter: Civil Rights Immersion in Alabama
DISASTER RESPONSE
With snow, ice approaching, are you #WinterReady?
Be hands, feet of Jesus through our Disaster Response Ministry
ADMINISTRATION
NUMF awards more than $65,000 in ministry grants
RESOURCES
Ten-week DVD studies can fill the Christmas-to-Lent gap
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Solar power means a more sustainable future for Lincoln church
Omaha church’s Christmas giveaway helps community
Sweet Shoppe returns to Topeka Highland Park UMC
In other news
Newsletters
Classifieds
Pastors share their challenges,
anxiety over threats of deportations
The campaign promise by President-elect Donald Trump for mass deportations has created more than a little anxiety among people who are immigrants to the United States. While some Americans may think it worthwhile to deport people illegally in the country, many people who are on the pathway to permanent residency or even citizenship fear the route the finish line they have been moving toward may be pushed farther back or eliminated.
Todd Seifert, conference communications director, talks to three pastors — Cesar Duran, Juan Espinoza and Velma Tim, themselves immigrants to the United States — about the fears they have heard from members of their communities and what their churches are doing to try to help. Download the episode.
David Burke, conference content specialist, also participated in those interviews and provides a story summarizing the fears and providing context for what the talk of mass deportations means for a few small towns in the Great Plains.
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Living nativity at Omaha UMC
draws newcomers from across city
It was born out of the pandemic, when Omaha FaithWestwood UMC had to adjust its annual Christmas pageant into a drive-thru living nativity.
Through the last five years, it's added homemade cookies and cocoa at the end of the route, where Rev. Cindi Stewart says two-thirds to three-fourths of the families gathered in the church fellowship hall had no previous connections to the church.
Read more and see a photo gallery.
Does your church have a living nativity? Share the pics with us and we'll show the whole conference!
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Leadership Gathering design
team set for new 2026 event
Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone has named the design team to plan the council’s Leadership Gathering that is scheduled for April or May of 2026. The team will design an experience that will bring together episcopal leaders, clergy and laity from across the worldwide connection to engage in collaborative conversations that inspire vision, hope and imagination for the future of The United Methodist Church.
Read press release
Earlier: Bishops plan for different kind of gathering
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Clergy Excellence
Rule change for continuing education grants (up to $500) for GP clergy
You may have noted in an earlier GPconnect that the Board of Ordained Ministry has approved a new Continuing Education funding source for clergy (active or retired) who are serving an appointment or assignment in the Great Plains. Please note that while they are receiving applications for 2024 that will reimburse for expenses, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the application must be completed before the expenditures are made.
Read below for information about the Great Plains Clergy Education Fund Scholarship.
The Great Plains Clergy Education Fund Scholarship, up to $500 within a given year, may be requested for any continuing education event including the following: seminary, course of study, licensing school, continuing education events, Orders & Fellowship, or for the purpose of enriching one's pastoral leadership/ministry. This is a grant that is over and above current grants and scholarships that are available, including the Board of Ordained Ministry Scholarships.
The application for the Great Plains Clergy Education Fund Scholarship is found here.
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Western Nebraska CRCC
clergy families gather for fellowship
The Western Nebraska District Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural clergy family gathering happened Dec. 7 at Kearney First United Methodist Church, bringing together pastoral families for a time of fellowship and community building. Rev. Seulki Choi, intercultural family ministry coordinator, hosted the event in partnership with the Western Nebraska District office. The 14 participants, including District Superintendent Ron Harris, met to strengthen relationships and share mutual support.
The gathering provided a meaningful opportunity for clergy families to connect during Advent. Participants enjoyed sharing experiences, encouraging one another, and building deeper connections within the CRCC ministry. Rev. Jane Langat, intercultural development coordinator, attended as a special guest and added her blessing to the fellowship.
Though our group was small, the setting allowed for genuine connections and meaningful conversations. We truly felt God's presence as we gathered together. CRCC clergy family gatherings play an important role in supporting and connecting CRCC clergy families across the conference.
-- Rev. Seulki Choi, intercultural family ministry coordinator
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Equipping Disciples
Family mission experience in
OKC scheduled for June 16-20
Join our United Methodist Volunteers in Mission for a Family Mission Experience at Skyline Urban Ministries, Oklahoma City, from Monday-Friday, June 16-20.
Skyline Urban Ministries is a mission to serve those living in the shadows of their community by bridging the gaps in their resources with kindness and respect. The majority of our time will be spent working with Travis Andrews with the gardening ministry.
Our days will be filled with harvesting foods, mowing, weeding, and planting seedlings. On Wednesday they receive truckloads of food that we will offload and place on the shelves in the pantry. Other areas that we may be engaged in include the clothing department, bagging groceries or in the eyeglass center.
Cost will be left up to each individual/family. We are working with the Oklahoma Annual Conference to arrange for a special rate at a nearby hotel. Meals will be at your own cost.
Watch for more details as plans are being made and finalized. To sign up, contact Rev. Hollie Tapley at htapley@greatplainsumc.org.
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Share your thoughts, perspective with rest of Great Plains in Daily Devotions
Our Daily Devotions are almost entirely written by the people of the Great Plains Conference -- clergy, laity, retirees and staff.
There's no requirement for a degree in divinity. Just a love of God and a willingness to share your thoughts and perspective with us.
We have openings through the end of February and are glad to get new participants to add to our reliable writers. More information and signup dates can be found here.
Want to read the devotions? Click here to subscribe.
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Mercy & Justice
Church and Society shares recap
of advocacy, success in Congress
From advocating on Capitol Hill to collaborating with annual conferences and Washington, D.C. coalitions, United Methodists raised their voices to ensure those in power heard our calls to live into the mission of transforming the world.
Going into the next administration and the 119th Congress, the General Board of Church and Society is taking a moment to reflect on actions of engagement for the UMC connection and the U.S. Congress, while analyzing best methods for future impact and results.
Read more here.
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How can Listening Encounters help
your local church? Video tells more
The Mercy & Justice team, in partnership with Joy Skjegstad and Heidi Unruh, are excited to invite Great Plains United Methodist congregations to apply to be a “Listening Encounter (LE) Church.” A Listening Encounter is a community listening process that will lead local congregations to engage deeper in their communities for the sake of justice work. Each LE Church will be matched with a trained LE Coach (one of our 14 Great Plains clergy!) to conduct the Listening Encounter over a six-month period. To participate, it costs LE churches $1,500 with grant options available.
Not sure if your church is a good fit? Hear from Rev. Maddie Johnson, Rev. Jeanne Koontz, and Rev. Yves Kinangwa as they share their experience as one of our first Listening Encounters churches in Coffeyville, Kansas: https://vimeo.com/1033639617
To learn more or apply today, visit this website https://www.greatplainsumc.org/listening-encounters or reach out to Justice Collaborative contractor, Rev. Maddie Johnson, at mmjohnson@greatplainsumc.org.
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Dates set for 2025 Justice Encounter:
Civil Rights Immersion in Alabama
The Mercy & Justice team will be hosting the 2025 Justice Encounter: Civil Rights Immersion from Wednesday-Sunday June 18-22. This five-day immersion will be based out of Montgomery, Alabama, and include sites such as the Equal Justice Initiative, the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, and Dr. King’s parsonage at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.
More details, including the application, will be coming in early January.
For past immersions, visit here: https://www.greatplainsumc.org/justice-encounters or email Rev. Maddie Johnson at mmjohnson@greatplainsumc.org.
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Disaster Response
With snow, ice approaching,
are you #WinterReady?
Being #WinterReady means understanding winter risks you face and taking steps now to prepare. This page will be updated throughout the winter to add more resources and information.
Why should you be #WinterReady?
- Sixty-three percent of temperature-related deaths are attributable to cold exposure.
- Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, and winter is when most home fires happen.
- Travel during the winter has unique risks, especially if you travel by car.
Download the FEMA App to get preparedness strategies, real-time weather and emergency alerts.
Learn more here.
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Be hands, feet of Jesus through
our Disaster Response Ministry
Make plans now to become a part of our Great Plains United Methodist Conference Disaster Response Ministry. Four dates of training are confirmed (in-person):
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Administration
NUMF awards more than
$65,000 in ministry grants
The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation would like to recognize and congratulate the 22 churches and organizations that received a ministry grant this fall.
The 2024 Fall Ministry Grant recipients are: Bellevue Aldersgate UMC, Bloomfield Christ Memorial UMC, Camp Fontanelle, Camp Norwesca, Chadron UMC, Crete Grace UMC, Geneva UMC, Gibbon Faith UMC, Hastings First UMC, Kimball Trinity UMC, Lincoln Neighbors, North Platte First UMC, Palisade UMC, Plainview UMC, Polk UMC, Ponca UMC, Schuyler Christ UMC, Stratton UMC, Tilden Faith UMC, The Vine -- Scottsbluff UMC, Wahoo First UMC and York First UMC.
These grants are made possible through the generosity of fellow United Methodists contributing to the Foundation’s Gifts from The Heart Endowment Fund. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please contact 402-323-8844, e-mail info@numf.org or visit www.numf.org.
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Resources
Ten-week DVD studies can
fill the Christmas-to-Lent gap
Did you know there are 10 Sundays between the end of Christmas and the beginning of the Lenten season in 2025?
United Media Resource Center has a dozen 10-session DVD studies for adults to fill that time in the calendar.
Titles include “Bad Girls of the Bible” by Liz Curtis Higgs, “Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God” by Francis Chan, “Creating Sabbath Space in Our Lives” by Ron Rollheiser, and “Organic Wesley: A Christian Perspective on Food, Farming and Faith” by William Guerrant.
Find those and more here.
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Across the Connection
Solar power means a more
sustainable future for Lincoln church
As the season of giving and light approaches, Horizons Community Church in Lincoln is reflecting on the gift of sustainable energy. One year ago, Nelnet Renewable Energy finished installation on a solar power system at Horizons, thanks to the generosity of various donors who share Horizons' commitment to "Impacting the World Around Us."
Since then, the solar panels have generated 36.8 MWh of clean electricity, reducing the church's carbon footprint and illuminating its path toward environmental stewardship.
The impact of Horizons' solar installation extends beyond its own walls. The church has actively engaged with other local churches and ministries, including Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light and the United Methodist Church, to share its experience and encourage similar projects. To date, nine other ministries have begun exploring solar energy options.
“Caring for the beautiful planet God entrusted to us can feel overwhelming at times, but when we each take small, intentional steps, we can collectively make a profound impact,” said Rev. Mandy Barkhaus, lead pastor at Horizons Community Church. “We’re thrilled to be leading by example and encouraging others to join us in our commitment to sustainability.”
This Christmas season, Horizons Community Church invites the community to join in celebrating the light of faith and the promise of a brighter, more sustainable future.
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Omaha church’s Christmas
giveaway helps community
Omaha Clair Memorial UMC’s annual Christmas giveaway drew hundreds of people from its neighborhood last week.
Clothes, purses, books, shoes, household items and toys donated by a number of organizations in Omaha were available.
“It helps us when we need it the most, great church, very nice people here,” one recipient said.
See video from KMTV, Omaha.
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Sweet Shoppe returns to
Topeka Highland Park UMC
Your holiday sweet tooth can help various Topeka missions this weekend thanks to the United Women in Faith group at Topeka Highland Park UMC.
The Sweet Shoppe includes cookies, cakes, pies and baked goods for people to purchase. Proceeds benefit the various ministries the group supports, including adopting residents of a local senior care home, the church’s I Care Food Pantry and Topeka Rescue Mission.
Watch video from WIBW, Topeka.
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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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