GPconnect Feb. 21, 2018

Transcription

1 GPconnect Feb. 21, 2018 Bishop invites Great Plains to join him for daily online Lenten devotionals What is your salvation story about God that needs to be shared with the world? Who would resonate with your God story if you would tell it? Why? Those are some of the questions Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. asks in today s edition of Our Journey to the Cross, his daily Lenten reflection. God s saving grace cannot remain a private secret, Bishop Saenz Jr. writes. God stories of salvation, healing, and liberation must be openly proclaimed so that others may know and turn to God so their hearts can live forever in wonder, love, and praise to God! Bishop Saenz will provide scripture for reflection, prayer and a question or two on which you can meditate, as together we journey toward the cross. See links to all of his Lenten devotion blog entries. Bishop, cabinet share insights of making appointments It's that time of year when the bishop and cabinet meet often to discuss, pray about and discern appointments for pastors throughout the Great Plains Conference. But what, exactly, plays into that decision? Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. and the district superintendents have provided a document to help clergy and laity better understand the factors the appointive cabinet members consider as they do their best to match up clergy with churches. Read the document from the bishop and cabinet. Keep track of appointment changes, retirements throughout the year. 1

2 Clergy Excellence District superintendents Emmert, Davis leaving cabinet at end of appointive year There will be some changes ahead for the cabinet of the Great Plains Conference. Rev. Dr. Bruce Emmert, superintendent of the Kansas City District since 2015, will be moving to St. Andrew s United Methodist Church in Omaha effective July 1, the beginning of the church year. He will replace Rev. Bruce Davis, who is retiring after 13 years as pastor of the Omaha church. I will count having worked alongside Bishop Saenz and my Cabinet colleagues as one of the highlights of my ministry, Emmert said. Rev. Eldon Davis, who has served three years as district superintendent of the Elkhorn Valley District, has announced that he will retire at the end of June. I feel like it s time to go to a different stage in my life, said Davis, 69. I m looking forward to working with churches and being a part of a church teaching or wherever I can fill in at the pulpit. Pastors, laity can help nurture Culture of Call with grants, resources If you are a pastor or laity particularly interested in nurturing those called to ministry, check out the Culture of Call grant, designed to provide churches, campus ministries and United Methodist organizations in the Great Plains Conference with resources to fuel your imaginations in creating opportunities to cultivate a Culture of Call. Need ideas for brainstorming a proposal of your own? Check out our new resource page. You can view budgets, flyers, videos and other resources from projects that have already been completed. This page will be updated periodically to include recently completed projects. Be sure to check in from time to time for ideas, resources or just to see how the Great Plains is nurturing a culture of call in our conference! 2

3 Grants will be awarded in the range of $500 - $2,000. Early deadline to apply is March 1, 2018, late deadline is Sept. 15, If you ve got questions, please contact Rev. Ashlee Alley Crawford (aalleycrawford@greatplainsumc.org) at , Ext Equipping Disciples Bishop encourages Olympic-sized goals for youth at confirmation rally Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. told about 125 confirmands and youth group leaders Saturday that their journeys are similar to the athletes in the Winter Olympics. They didn t just get there for the opening celebration, he told those attending the Bishop s Confirmation Rally. They got there years and years and years before. The rally, at First United Methodist Church in McPherson, Kansas, was the first of two this year in the Great Plains. The other will take place March 3 at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. Meanwhile, 15 high school students participated in the DEEP Leadership Training, learning how to be effective leaders in their church and their communities, which will also be repeated March 3 at Nebraska Wesleyan. Read more about the rally and DEEP training. Spread the word on summer internships in the Great Plains Conferences Send the word out about Great Plains Summer internships with this logo and information about a paid summer internships. Students and young adults 18 years and older can learn about social justice, pastoral leadership, youth ministry or lay leadership for the summer. A great way to grow in faith and leadership. Check out more information here. In addition, if your church has an internship ministry, please share information with the Rev. Nicole Conard, young adult leadership coordinator, at nconard@greatplainsumc.org, so we can publicize and encourage ministry with young leaders across the connection. 3

4 United Methodist scholarship deadline is March 1 A variety of scholarships are available for United Methodist students who need help with tuition expenses at United Methodist-related schools. Many have unique or specific criteria established by the donor. Some scholarships benefit students attending seminary or planning to serve in ministry, a couple are for persons planning to become a military chaplain, and numerous others are specific to a certain state, conference, region, school or area of study. There is one scholarship that benefits a student who is deaf, blind, or hard of hearing. Click here to find out if a perfect scholarship is available for you the deadline for applications is March 1. Mercy & Justice Africa University was a turning point for Great Plains pastor/professor Now an associate professor at Saint Paul School of Theology and pastor of Omaha Living Hope UMC, Israel Kamudzandu was one of the first students at Africa University, founded by the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in Mutare, Zimbabwe. After training as a teacher at Nyadire Mission, east of Harare, Kamudzandu was encouraged by Bishop Christopher Jokomo to enroll in the Faculty of Theology. When he did so, in 1993, Kamudzandu was one of 14 students in the faculties of theology and agriculture. My first week at Africa University opened a new vision that would see me embracing the global village, Kamudzandu recalls. It was a dream come true. Africa University became a place of new dreams, not just for me, but also for many students from all over the continent of Africa. As part of our Black History Month features, the United Methodist News Service looks at Africa University and how it helped Kamudzandu and other students like him. 4

5 Disaster Response Small Prairie Rivers churches band together for Texas recovery project On Jan. 28, 12 members of the Prairie Rivers District, representing 10 different churches, joined together for a mission trip to the Texas Conference to help with the Hurricane Harvey recovery effort. Rev. Lance Clay, Prairie Rivers District superintendent, asked Martin Leeper, Prairie Rivers district disaster coordinator, and Russell Anderson, Great Plains Central Region disaster coordinator, to form a district mission team. Many of the smaller-membership churches within the district, he suggested, are not able to put together enough people for a mission team, so this would allow persons from those churches to have the opportunity to serve. During the week of Jan. 28 to Feb. 3, the team worked on two homes in the Orange County, Texas, area that had received as much as 54 inches of rain in as little as 72 hours, as Harvey came ashore Aug. 25. One of the homes the team worked on got several feet of flood waters in it. Once the homeowners, both of whom are retired, were able to return to their home, they discovered much of their belongings in the lower level of their two-story house had to be removed and discarded, along with the bottom four feet of drywall. During the week, the team worked at replacing drywall and did the accompanying mudding and taping work. They were able to finish the work needed in one of the bedrooms, allowing the occupants to move back in to that portion of the house. This was a much-needed blessing for the homeowners who were extremely grateful. The other home, located several hundred yards from a bayou, was completely flooded, with water up to the roof. Many of the homes in that area were destroyed by the rising flood waters or torn down. The 80-year-old home owner was not in such a place that would allow her to tear down her home and build again, nor could she afford to move elsewhere. She, along with her 89-year-old friend and his grandson, started putting the house back together again. By the time the mission team arrived, much of the drywall was in place, however, it still needed to be mudded and taped. During the week, the team was able to install the remaining drywall and was able to get the entire house mudded and taped. Though the house was far from completed, the 89-year-old friend of the homeowner said that it would have been nine more months before he could have got as much done as the team did that week. By the time the team left, the walls were ready to be painted and cabinetry installed in the kitchen and bathroom. Those blessed by taking part on the mission team and the work done were Karla Sheffy, Aurora and Bradshaw; Russ Anderson, St. Paul; Martin Leeper (Bruning, Davenport, Shickley and Ong; Larry Nuss, Sutton; Richard Percival, Hebron; Trish Reimer and Ann Joseph, Aurora; Pam Johansen, Julie Nitsch and Steph Manzabkowski, Cairo; and Gary and Jo Kubicek, Davenport. The Orange, Texas, First UMC hosted the work team in the Malloy Center, a multipurpose facility with kitchen, showers and bunk beds used to house mission work teams. It will take years for the recovery effort from Hurricane Harvey to be completed. Many homes in the area are still in need of repair. Many more have been torn down leaving vacant lots scattered throughout neighborhoods. Some have not even begun the work of mucking out from the flood waters. 5

6 Due to the extensive flooding, some of the residents of Orange County left the area and do not plan on returning. As a result many of the churches in the area have lost membership, including the Orange First UMC. Please continue to pray for all affected by Hurricane Harvey and their rebuilding efforts. -- Russ Anderson, Central Region disaster coordinator Administration Herndon resigning from Kansas UM Foundation position The executive director of the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation is resigning to return to his home state. Alan Herndon, who has been with the foundation since 2014, announced his resignation last week. I have accepted a unique opportunity to work with the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation with a focus on strengthen a planned giving focus for Oklahoma City University, my alma mater, he wrote to board members, adding that he will remain in his position until April 30. The son of an Oklahoma United Methodist clergy, Herndon has served in various leadership roles within higher education institutions, Oklahoma City University and Saint Paul School of Theology. Herndon has formerly served on the Board of Ordained Ministry, District Committee on Ministry, church lay leader and, for many years, as an Annual Conference lay delegate. He is currently a member of the Great Plains Conference New Church Development, Inc. board of trustees and Hutchinson First UMC finance committee. Nebraska UM Foundation offers New Start/New Faith Community Grants The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation announces a new church development grant opportunity available to Nebraska churches and affiliated Nebraska agencies of the Great Plains United Methodist Conference. 6

7 Due to the generosity of donors supporting congregational development, the Nebraska Foundation has grants available to enhance and support your new church development. The ultimate goal of these awards is to alleviate a little bit of the financial burden. 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. Grants will be awarded on an annual basis and must be received by April 1 to be considered. For application materials and more information, please visit If you have questions about the application process or would like to talk to the Foundation about how you can help grow these types of grants, please call ConnectioN Point links UNL campus, Lincoln community Across the Connection The former Faith United Methodist Church in Lincoln is now ConnectioN Point, a hub of activity for UNL students and the community. On any afternoon through the week, you ll find people there picking up groceries, practicing English, studying and doing homework, learning life skills or just enjoying a cup of coffee and socializing. Read more in this article from the Lincoln Journal Star. Speaker to talk about hijacking of Christian faith Tangled Up in the Red, White, and Blue: An Urgent Call to Resist the Hijacking of the Christian Faith by American Nationalism will be from 7-9 p.m. Friday at Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kansas. 7

8 Nationalism makes it impossible to see the kingdom of God and diminishes Jesus from King of Kings to the reduced role of personal savior, says pastor, theologian and author Brian Zahnd, who will reintroduce the gospel of peace and challenges notions on what it means to be a follower of Christ in America today. Zahnd is the author of Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, Water to Wine: Some of My Story and A Farewell to Mars: An Evangelical Pastor s Journey Toward the Biblical Gospel of Peace. This event is free and open to the public. The Dykman Lecture Series is presented in memory of former Metro Lutheran Ministry board president Loyd Dykman. In other news Pastors, churches respond to Florida school massacre Church agencies stress results, partnerships Neighbors concerned after stabbing at church s homeless ministry British Methodists open doors to stay relevant Resources UMCOR Sunday, formerly one Great Hour of Sharing, March 11 Social media graphics for Lent Newsletters Ministry Matters: Feb. 21 United Methodist Communications: Resources for Ministry Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas United Methodist Church: United Methodist Now 8

9 Blogs and opinion Billy Graham found his place into our hearts: It s not theologians and historians who can measure the impact of Billy Graham, who died Wednesday morning, but the everyday people 215 million of them in all who filled stadiums for his crusades. Ken Garfield, director of communications at Myers Park UMC in Charlotte, N.C., and a former religion reporter for the Charlotte Observer, reflects. #MeToo makes its way to churches: Not everyone can share their stories about sexual harassment or assault. "But, the #MeToo movement is creating spaces for some voices to be heard," writes Susan Greer Burton of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. "And it s absolutely making a difference." In memoriam Edith DeMoss Heisz, 90, surviving spouse of a clergy member, died Jan. 30, On June 5, 1949, two days after her graduation from Kansas Wesleyan University, she married Leslie ( Les ) Heisz in Osborne, Kansas. Together, they served many United Methodist churches in the Kansas West Conference. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Leslie M. Heisz, she is survived by her sons, Kenneth (Leslie) Heisz and Keith Heisz. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Newton, Kansas, on Saturday, June 9. Burial of her ashes will be held on June 10 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery near Courtland, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Asbury Park, 200 SW 14th St., Newton, KS or the Trinity Heights United Methodist Church Foundation Fund, Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main, Newton, KS Glenwood G. Yancey, Jr., 84, a retired local pastor, died on Saturday, Feb. 3, After retirement from the State of Kansas, he served as a licensed local pastor for the United Methodist Churches in Pomona, Vassar and Ozawkie. He also served as the executive director for the Topeka Breakthrough House. Survivors include children, Glenwood G. Yancey, III, Michael W. (Cindy) Yancey, Patrick K. (Tamra) Yancey. Services were Feb. 12. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Highland Park United Methodist Church, 2914 SE Michigan Ave., Topeka, KS

10 The week ahead Friday and Sunday: Forgiveness: Finding Peace Through Letting Go, Aldersgate UMC, Lincoln Friday-Saturday: Basic Lay Servant Class, First UMC, Franklin, Nebraska Saturday: Early Response Training, First UMC, Ord, Nebraska Saturday: Soup and Sandwich Supper, Lefler UMC, South Omaha Submit your event to our calendar. Classifieds Summer intern opportunity at Sutton Federated Church Kansas United Methodist Archives offers internship Director of youth ministry needed at Worden UMC Submit a classified and view other ads at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds. 10