In this edition of GPconnect:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
United Methodists respond to Nepal earthquake
Register now for annual conference golf tournament
UMMen’s 100 Club accepting applications for scholarships
Epworth Village seeks new executive director
Eureka First UMC celebrates 150 years of ministry
Commission on General Conference favors discernment process
United Methodist Church giving app rebranded and now available
General Conference sites chosen for 2024 and 2028
EQUIP DISCIPLES
Pony Express stewardship program available for use
East Heights UMC shows love for Wichita
Lay servant training and mission camp for kids through the South Central Jurisdiction
Free copyright webinars offered
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Leadership guide for church building projects available now
Clergy self-care model that works
Associate pastor discusses officiating her first funeral on TiM blog
MERCY AND JUSTICE
More than a hand-out: Campus Ministries Spring Break Trip
From dependency to sustainable development – Mercy and Justice Team meet
EAD 2015 – Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation
OTHER NEWS
Newsletters
Classifieds
Press Clips
United Methodists respond to Nepal earthquake
Photo by ACT Alliance, DCA
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, the most powerful quake in 81 years to hit the region, caused significant damage in Patan Durbar Square in Kathmandu.Responding with prayer, aid after Nepal earthquake by Linda Bloom
NEW YORK (UMNS)
United Methodists joined Christians around the world in a prayerful response to the earthquake that has claimed thousands of lives in Nepal and neighboring China and India.
BBC News reported the death toll at 4,000 people, with at least 7,000 injuries by Monday evening as the Nepalese army and police undertook massive search and rescue operations. Many were living in “vast tent cities” in the capital of Kathmandu as aftershocks from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake continued.
Five missionaries working in Nepal for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries were reported safe.
PARTNERSHIP IN NEPAL
The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries “has been in mission with the people of Nepal a long time, and that is a great grace in this time of need,” says Thomas Kemper, the board’s top executive.
United Mission to Nepal, a long-time partner, assigned an officer to in a recent disaster readiness and response training held by the United Methodist Committee on Relief in the Philippines last February.
The Rev. J. Denise Honeycutt, who leads UMCOR, pointed out that the regional trainings “fortify our partners’ capacity to respond quickly and efficiently to crises.”
Read full story from the Board of Global Ministries
In a joint statement, the World Council of Churches and the Christian Conference of Asia called churches around the world to pray for those affected by the earthquake and “extend every possible support for humanitarian aid assistance in Nepal and other affected areas in the neighboring countries.” The World Methodist Council also offered its prayers for the people of Nepal.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is planning to offer assistance through international and local partners, including the United Mission to Nepal, a longtime church partner. UMCOR approved a $90,000 grant April 27 toGlobalMedic, which will help earthquake survivors access clean water by providing household and public water-filtration units.
Church organizations begin work
UMCOR is part of the ACT Alliance, a coalition of more than 140 churches and affiliated organizations associated with the WCC or Lutheran World Federation, some of whom already have a presence in Nepal.
The Lutheran World Federation, for example, has an emergency team on the ground and is coordinating its efforts through the ACT Alliance Nepal forum with the Nepalese government and the United Nations.
Over the weekend, the federation distributed tarpaulins, hygiene kits and ready-made food to about 400 families in Kathmandu and is working on emergency shelter and water, sanitation and hygiene materials.
DanChurchAid, which has a local office in Kathmandu, is building a temporary tent camp where survivors could safely stay.
The United Nations refugee agency is sending plastic sheets, 4,000 solar lanterns and tarpaulins for shelter, while UNICEF, the U.N. Children’s Fund, is mobilizing to help children and families affected by the earthquake.
Missionaries survey damage
Dr. Mark Zimmerman, a United Methodist missionary and medical doctor serving in Kathmandu as director of the Nick Simons Institute, which trains rural health care workers, was with his family in church when the earthquake struck at noon Saturday Nepal time.
At first, he said, the damage seemed minimal. But Zimmerman and his wife, Deirdre Zimmerman, a missionary who serves as advisor for nutrition programs, soon learned that was not the case.
The more serious concern is in the rural areas, where communication and relief support are sparse,”he wrote in an April 26 letter. “No one knows the extent of the loss of life and the hardship out there.”
TO DONATE
Donations to support the response to the earthquake in Nepal and other international disasters can be made online through UMCOR Advance # 982450. Checks also can be made out to your local United Methodist church. Write UMCOR Advance #982450 on the memo line and put in the offering plate.
Missionary Katherine T. Parker expressed appreciation for the outpouring of concern by church members and made specific prayer requests as the earthquake recovery began. Parker deals with issues of water, sanitation and hygiene as a member of the health team of United Mission to Nepal.
“Our relief focus will be primarily in Dhading and planning for this has started,” she wrote about the mission’s plans in a Facebook post. “Two doctors from Tansen left from Pokhara this morning to go to Gorkha. We are coordinating all of our efforts with other local partners.”
Thousands of homes and most schools reportedly were destroyed in Gorkha, one of the closest districts to the earthquake’s epicenter.
No damage was reported at Tansen in western Nepal, where a hospital related to the United Mission to Nepal was established in 1954 as a partnership between the people of Nepal and a coalition of 20 Christian organizations on four continents.
A United Methodist missionary couple has worked at Tansen hospital since 2012. Dr. Lester Dornonis a senior physician and Deborah Dornon is coordinator of expatriate services. They also served in Nepal and Tansen from 1990 to 2002.
Bloom is a United Methodist News Service multimedia reporter based in New York. Follow her athttps://twitter.com/umcscribe or contact her at (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.orgUMCOR has been in contact and confirmed that all General Board of Global Ministries missionaries and their families are safe. Read Mark and Deirdre Zimmerman's update.
Read “United Methodists Respond to Nepal Quake”.
Donations to support the response to the earthquake in Nepal and other international disasters can be made through UMCOR Advance # 982450.
UMCOR approved a grant of $90,000 for partner GlobalMedic to bring sorely needed clean water to Nepal earthquake survivors through distribution of household and public water-filtration units. Read more.
Checks can be made out to your local UMC; write UMCOR Advance #982450 in the memo and put in the offering plate.
Gifts can be made online through UMCOR or GlobalMedic.
Register now for annual conference golf tournament
Registration is open for the 2015 Great Plains Annual Conference Benefit Golf Tournament. This event is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, the day prior to the start of the conference session, with sign-in taking place at 7 a.m. that day prior to the 7:30 a.m. tournament start.
The registration fee for this “best ball scramble” format is $75 for golfers and $30 for people who don’t intend to play but who want to help with the fundraising effort while having fun. The fee includes the golf, cart, lunch, the opportunity for prizes, fun and laughter.
Money raised will go to the Great Plains Clergy Emergency Fund.
The event – sponsored by the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness and St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska – will take place at the Arthur B. Sims Golf Course, 2020 Murdock St., in Wichita, Kansas.
Register by May 20.
Download the registration form.
Download the flier.
Download the rules.
UMMen’s 100 Club accepting applications for scholarships
Deadlines are approaching for three scholarships created to benefit men and women who plan to enter full-time Christian service, and registration is now open for a dinner during the annual conference session at which the scholarships will be awarded.
The United Methodist Men’s 100 Club is offering as many as five $1,000 scholarships. The deadline to apply is May 1. Download the application.
The Fleming Family Foundation is offering a scholarship worth up to $1,000. The deadline to apply is May 15. Download the application.
The Fleming-Humphrey-Goff Scholarship also is worth up to $1,000 and has a May 15 application deadline. Download the application.
Instructions for submissions are included on the application forms.
The scholarships will be awarded at the 26th annual Scholarship Dinner and Live Auction starting at 5 p.m. June 10 at Wichita First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway St., in Room 110B. The featured speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith, executive pastor of generosity at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. Donations for the auction should be brought to the church to room 110B after 1 p.m. June 10.
For more information, to purchase a meal ticket or to provide a description of your auction item, please email Randy Fleming atauctioneer_32@msn.com or call him at 402-210-4885. The featured speaker will be Dr. Clayton Smith
Epworth Village seeks new executive director
This person will report directly to a dedicated board of directors and will oversee a staff of approximately 60 people engaged in the dynamic mission of residential care, foster care, transitional living and in-home family services for girls, boys and families.
The board prefers for applicants to hold a master’s degree in social service work. A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years of experience in this or related fields is required. Applicants should be self-motivated, skilled and professional with a strong commitment to helping kids achieve their goals.
Please address all letters of application to Dr. Nancy Dob, board president, at 625 N. Lincoln Ave., York, NE 68467. Or email materials todrdob@midamericavision.com. Call 402-363-8400 with questions.
Applications must be received by June 15, 2015.
To learn more about Epworth Village, go to www.epworthvillage.org.
Eureka First UMC celebrates 150 years of ministry
Bishop Jones preached on Ephesians 2:8-10, which states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
The Rev. Kenneth Baker is the lead pastor at the church, which is located at 521 N. Main St., in Eureka, Kansas. Learn more about the church by going to its website at www.eureka1stks.org.
Commission on General Conference favors discernment process
The Commission on the General Conference gave the go-ahead for an alternative process of discernment for dealing with legislative petitions that may benefit from discussion in small groups.
The process would have to be voted on and approved by delegates at the 2016 General Conference in order to take effect. The Commission plans to request that this process be used for dealing with petitions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity at the 2016 General Conference, but it could also apply to other legislation at the option of the legislative body.Commission on General Conference Favors Discernment Process
Commission on the General Conference
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2015
Portland, Ore.: The Commission on the General Conference gave the go-ahead for an alternative process of discernment for dealing with legislative petitions that may benefit from discussion in small groups.
The process would have to be voted on and approved by delegates at the 2016 General Conference in order to take effect. The Commission plans to request that this process be used for dealing with petitions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity at the 2016 General Conference, but it could also apply to other legislation at the option of the legislative body.
The Commission adopted a tentative process and authorized the executive committee to further refine the specifics of the plan, whereby General Conference delegates will have the opportunity to discuss selected legislation in small groups. The small groups will give reports of their discussions to a facilitation team of delegates, who would be elected near the start of General Conference. The facilitation team would compile the information, look for trends and directions, develop a report to the plenary and craft a petition or petitions which will then come to the plenary for consideration according to the current rules of the General Conference. The full plan will be shared once it is fully developed.
The 2012 General Conference requested the Commission look at possible ways to move the General Conference debate from issues of governance towards building consensus on ministry.
In addition, the Connectional Table requested a change in the process and rules for dealing with all legislation regarding homosexuality in small groups –instead of in legislative committees – to be discerned "through the lens of the values of centrality of mission, unity for the sake of mission, and our identity as Christians and as United Methodists."
Earlier in the week, the Commission invited representatives of Good News, MFSA, Love Prevails, Reconciling Ministries, and The Confessing Movement to participate in listening sessions so they might hear various perspectives that would help them move forward with preparations for General Conference and identify common aspirations and goals.
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Media contact:Diane Degnan ddegnan@umcom.org
615.742.5406 (w) 615.483.1765 (c)
United Methodist Church giving app rebranded and now available
The app, developed for members of United Methodist churches, allows users to search and find a local United Methodist church. This can be done for one’s home church that use Vanco Payment Solutions, or for anyone traveling who would like to continue to donate to their home church or donate to a church in the area they are visiting. Type in the name of the church in the SEARCH box and follow the prompts. Additional materials to explain the Joyfully2UMC app can be provided for local churches to give to their church members and attendees by contacting the GCFA Shared Services department atSharedServices@gcfa.org or 615.329.3393.
“GCFA is dedicated to exploring opportunities and working with reputable partners to help local churches increase funds for ministry,” said Moses Kumar, top executive with GCFA.
If your church does not currently use Vanco Payment Solutions to receive funds, you can let your finance committee know or contact Vanco Payment Solutions. For more information about how a local church can participate in any of the electronic giving programs it provides, call Vanco at 800- 774-9355.
The General Council on Finance and Administration coordinates and administers financial resources, safeguards the legal interests and rights of the Church, and provides administrative resources to enable the fulfillment of the mission of The United Methodist Church.
General Conference sites chosen for 2024 and 2028
Legislative Body to meet in Philippines and Zimbabwe
Meeting in Portland, Oregon this week for their final meeting before General Conference 2016, the Commission on the General Conference voted to take the quadrennial legislative gathering out of the U.S. for the first time in 2024 – and again in 2028.
Manila, Philippines was chosen as the site for the 2024 General Conference. The Commission also voted to hold the 2028 conference in Harare, Zimbabwe.General Conference Sites Chosen for 2024 and 2028
Commission on the General Conference
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2015
General Conference Sites Chosen for 2024 and 2028
Legislative Body to meet in Philippines and Zimbabwe
Portland, Oregon: Meeting in Portland, Oregon this week for their final meeting before General Conference 2016, the Commission on the General Conference voted to take the quadrennial legislative gathering out of the U.S. for the first time in 2024 – and again in 2028.
Manila, Philippines was chosen as the site for the 2024 General Conference. The Commission also voted to hold the 2028 conference in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Judi Kenaston, chairperson of the Commission on the General Conference, said that the Commission has been considering holding the assembly outside the U.S. for some time. Bishop Rodolfo Alfonso Juan of the Manila Episcopal Area and Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa of the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area both extended invitations for the General Conference to meet in their respective areas, an important consideration in choosing those areas.
"The Commission wanted to set these locations now to allow plenty of time for all involved to make the necessary preparations," said Kenaston.
“Meeting outside the U.S. is an important statement to say that we're a worldwide denomination,” said Sara Hotchkiss, business manager of the General Conference. “The enthusiasm and hospitality in the two host countries has been remarkable.”
The meeting is expected to cost more than the 2016 General Conference, but pricing is not available at this early date. Hotchkiss said there are two convention centers in Manila to be considered and that the University of Zimbabwe would be a potential location in Harare, but it is too soon to make any definite decisions.
The Commission also took steps to help delegates from outside the U.S. participate more fully in the 2016 General Conference. They voted to provide tablets to Central Conference delegates so they would be able to receive documents electronically.
"We want to utilize technology to improve communication and provide opportunities for discussion for non-U.S. delegates ahead of time," said the Rev. Gere Reist, secretary of the General Conference. "It will enable us to ensure delivery of the Advance Edition Daily Christian Advocate to delegates who have the tablets in a more timely way ... they could get the information at the same time as delegates in the U.S. and participate more fully."
Reist said the General Conference had specifically charged the Commission to look at "greater use of technology before General Conference to inform our debate, let dialogue between delegates begin before arriving at the session and to prioritize petitions."
The staff at United Methodist Communications evaluated a variety of tablets to see which would work best, looking at pricing, ease of use, size, weight, battery life and durability in harsh environments, and chose the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4.
Sherri Thiel, interim General Secretary of United Methodist Communications, said her agency would distribute the tablets beginning in October and would also be responsible for training delegates how to use the tablets and coordinating help-desk support during the 10-day event.
"It's an exciting opportunity," said Thiel. "This is just one of the ways that technology is transforming the way the church communicates. We want the delegates to have the tablets in advance so they will be able to get familiar with the technology."
She said the tablets would also include an electronic version of the Bible and the United Methodist Book of Discipline.
"We think this is a good opportunity to see how the tablets work to test whether they might move towards going to an electronic state for all delegates in 2020," said Hotchkiss. “We’d love to avoid the bulk of the paper and lessen our environmental impact.”
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Media contact: Diane Degnan ddegnan@umcom.org
615.742.5406 (w) 615.483.1765 (c)
Pony Express stewardship program available for use
Wahoo First United Methodist Church in Nebraska is offering to share years one and two of the Pony Express stewardship program with other Great Plains Conference churches. This program gets laity involved in sharing the importance of stewardship by dividing the church into units to relay information and to ensure every household is included.
If your church is interested in using this stewardship program, contact Sue in the Wahoo First United Methodist Church office at 402-443-4219. Or reach out via email at office@wahoomethodist.org.
East Heights UMC shows love for Wichita
See the slideshow of photos.
Does your congregation have a story to share with the rest of the conference? Let us know at www.greatplainsumc.org/SubmitANewsStory
Lay servant training and mission camp for kids through the South Central Jurisdiction
Lay Servant Academy
May 13-16 at Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference CenterLay Servants are to serve the local church or charge in any way in which their witness or leadership and service inspires the laity to deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship. This includes the interpretation of scriptures, doctrine, organization, and ministries of the church.
Lay Servants are leadership among the laity who desire to be better equipped for service. The basic course serves as a platform and the advanced courses build upon that. Courses offered are in a wide range of areas of the ministry of the church. Those who go through the basic course can be an asset to their local church. It is a great model of how God does not call the equipped, but equips the called.
Register for and view more information on Lay Servant Academy.
Youth Lay Servant Academy
June 21-24 at Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center
This academy is designed for individual young people (sixth through 12th grades) who have leadership potential in the local church. This event is not for entire youth groups and not designed for college-age or young adult individuals.
Youth who come will go through the Basic Course as well as choose from an advanced course in Spiritual Gifts, Leading Worship or Leading Prayer. There will also be mission projects both at Mount Sequoyah and in the community to add an element of service to the academy. Additional forms will be mailed to participants and must be presented at check-in.
Register for and view more information on Youth Lay Servant Academy.
Destination: Mission Blast Off!
July 8-11 at Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center
Destination Mission is a division of the Arkansas Conference Council on Children's Ministries of the United Methodist Church. It provides mission opportunities for service for third to sixth graders as well as worship and fellowship designed to be age appropriate. Each group coming should have one adult for every four students.
Register for and view more information on Destination: Mission Blast Off!
SHOUT! Mission Camps
July 19- 22 and July 22- 25 at Mount Sequoyah
Mount Sequoyah and Destination: Mission are partnering together for two sessions this summer for third to eighth graders. Each church that comes needs to send one adult for every four students. Youth helpers will be needed but must apply. Groups will stay at Mount Sequoyah and do mission projects both at the retreat center and in the surrounding community.
Session 1 is July 19-22. Check-in at 3 p.m. on Sunday and check-out at9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Session 2 is July 22-25. Check-in at 3 p.m. on Wednesday and check-out at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Register for and view more information on SHOUT! Mission Camps.
Free copyright webinars offered
CCS has archived the free Webinar Copyright Curriculum Series on their new site www.thecopyrightcoach.com. Click below on any of the links to watch them today.
The “Why” Behind Honoring Copyrights
You’ll learn about five reasons it’s important for churches to honor copyrighted works, including avoiding legal risks, understanding scriptural guidelines and supporting songwriters.
Copyrights 101: Basic Building Blocks for Churches
You’ll learn three important building blocks to help you become copyright compliant: 1) What is a copyright, 2) What can be copyrighted, 3) Exclusive rights of copyright owners.
Religious Service Exemption, other exemptions and Fair Use
The U.S. Copyright Law has only a few exemptions, and the Religious Service Exemption is vital for church and ministries. You’ll learned what is and is not included in the exemption, as well as what is covered under Fair Use.
Blanket Licenses Coverage
Churches and ministries are blessed to have multiple blanket licenses available for pre-cleared permission to use copyrighted material. You’ll learn how to maximize the use of blanket licenses for the easiest, most affordable and comprehensive coverage.
Copyright Planning and Budgeting
Church leaders excel at planning activities, programs and events, but often copyright clearances are not included in their plans. You’ll learn how to plan and budget for copyright licensing by implementing policies and procedures.
Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation
Leadership guide for church building projects available now
The Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation has advised and guided many churches through project planning, assessment, documentation, and implementation. Since we consult exclusively with United Methodist churches, we understand the specific needs of that community, including the denominational structure and the Book of Discipline and how they relate to building projects.
This handbook is designed to guide the District Board of Church Location and Building Committee and the local church through a successful and effective process for expanding God’s kingdom. To request a copy, contact the Foundation Office at foundation@kaumf.orgor 888-453-8405.
The agenda for the group is determined by the subjects presented from each pastor’s case study. The group readings will focus on local church ministry.
Sessions will be held either on Tuesday or Thursday of the month, beginning September 2015 thru May 2016. Place and time for sessions are listed on the back of the Financial Agreement. Cost is $250. Also check out the Hospitality Table at the Great Plains Annual Conference Session and the Counseling and Mediation Center’s Facebook page.
Leaders for the groups will be Jim Godbey, D. Min., AAPC certified pastoral counselor, a licensed marriage and family therapist. Godbey is the clinical coordinator for Dodge City Office of Counseling and Mediation, retired United Methodist elder. The other leader is Douglas Morphis, D. Min., AAPC Diplomat and a retired United Methodist elder. Morphis is one of the founders of CMC and former executive director.
Please read and return Financial Agreement with your intentions byAugust 20 to Counseling and Mediation Center Inc. 200 W. Douglas #560, Wichita, KS 67202. Reminder, each group has a minimum of six for the group to go. And host the pastor needs to be part of group. If you have any questions contact 620-227-2503, cmcdodgecity@gmail.com or visit the booth at the annual conference session.
Associate pastor discusses officiating her first funeral on TiM blog
The Transition into Ministry (TiM) Program is designed to assist young pastors in making the transition from seminary to effective full-time pastoral leadership. The TiM associates offer weekly blogs sharing their experiences.
This week, Michelle Byerly, associate pastor at Emporia First UMC, Emporia, Kansas, talks about officiating her first funeral.
First Funeral by Michelle Byerly
Transition into Ministry ProgramPastor Michelle Byerly is currently serving as a TiM associate pastor at Emporia First United Methodist Church, Emporia, Kansas (2014-2016).
When I came to Emporia First United Methodist, I had never officiated at a funeral before. I was concerned about how the loss of an immediate family member might impact my ability to serve with those in their time of grief. What I found, though, was that I was able to draw on my experience as a means of connecting with families in times of grief, not necessarily sharing it, but as a means of connecting with them in this time. I have also been grateful for the chance I have as part of the Transition into Ministry program to have mentoring as I walked through the process of doing my first funeral.
My second week in Emporia, there was a funeral of a congregation member, and I observed my senior pastor in action as she met with the family, planned, and officiated the service. She provided her insights and resources from the Book of Worship that were very helpful for providing a structure to the service and a good place from which to draw. I was able to observe my senior pastor as she met with the family to see how she interacted and what sorts of questions she asked of them. Her primary concern as well as mine going forward was in that pastoral care in a time of grief. Genuine words of comfort and more importantly, listening were helpful as they went through looking at things like what music to include, any scriptures, and then listening to those stories to gain a sense of the person whose life she was celebrating. Her philosophy is that a funeral is about celebrating the life of that person, but also about giving glory to the work of God as witnessed in that person. Holding the balance between those two things was very helpful for me as I approach the funerals I have done.
The following week another funeral came up and I was asked to officiate. I had met the person once before on a visit where I shadowed our Parish Visitor in the care homes. One of the challenges new pastors and pastors in new places face is that we often have to celebrate the life of a person we may not have known well and still remain authentic in what we say about them. This is where I saw the importance of listening to the stories the family shares. Hearing those stories is a way to help the family share in their grief and to hold on to those things about that person that they want to remember. It was also a great place to find those personal pieces to share in the sermon as well as in designing the service, so that even if I did not know that person well, I could still celebrate their life in a way that was meaningful for the family. It also speaks to the importance in these times of pastoral care to listen more than talking, as well as simply being present with them. The most meaningful moments of pastoral care I have had have been those times when I said very little and was simply there to be an agent of grace.
One of the first questions I ask after making the space to hear the stories that the family wants to share is whether the person had any specific requests for scripture, music, readings, or anything else in the service. If so, I include those pieces in the service and often make mention that those were things that the person specifically requested. If not and the family has not shared their stories about the person, I ask about those stories and what they will miss the most about the person. What I have found is that if a specific scripture has not been requested, one usually comes to mind as I hear about the person. For example, another funeral I did was for person who worked in the nursery and Sunday School of the church, and I gravitated to the passages in Matthew where Jesus emphasizes his care for children and shared how this person embodied that spirit in her life. The feedback I received was that those passages were very meaningful and apt in celebrating this person’s life. I also find that in using the Book of Worship it is meaningful to use the resources that are more natural to me and to the person whose life I am celebrating.
When I write the sermon, I have found it helpful to celebrate the person’s life, speak to the work of God and our faith in resurrection, and provide words of comfort that allow for the process of grief to continue. This was helpful as a structure to work within and also fits with the overall purpose of a funeral which does those things as well. I always end with a word of hope that proclaims the Gospel message that Christ is resurrected for us, so that our human grief in loss and death is not the end of the story. There is hope and good news in the faith we proclaim, and I see that as a gift to share as a way forward.
The final area of concern in meeting with the family is ensuring that knowing the logistics of the service, such as coffin versus cremation, graveside arrangements, and a funeral dinner. For those who are new to a context or new in ministry, it can be very helpful to have a checklist for your own use that makes sure you have all of that information so that all of the details are covered. When those are cared for, the process goes much more smoothly and anxiety is greatly reduced. Attending to those things is a gift itself for a family who is already experiencing the loss of a loved one. Connecting with your local funeral homes is helpful in this process and they are great resources to work with in preparing for the service.
I started by talking about my own concern about what I was bringing in that could affect the care I was able to provide. I return to that with the most important piece of advice I have learned for funerals and ministry in general. The focus of ministry is on God — it’s not about us. As pastors, we are called as servants of God as we share comfort and hope with those in times of great joy and in great grief, but ultimately it is not about us. That is not to ignore those pieces of baggage we carry, but it is to say that we need to address those first before we go in to those times interacting with the families we serve. When I did that work, I have found that funerals have been the most sacred work that I get to be a part of. When I am able to be present with families in those times, I believe God is there in the midst, working in and through those moments, providing comfort in small and great ways. Thanks be to God!
Past articles authored by TiM pastors can be viewed on the Great Plains website. Learn more about the TiM Program
More than a hand-out: Campus Ministries Spring Break Trip
During spring break in March 2015, thirteen young adults traveled with campus ministries from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, to Heifer International's Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas. The week was filled with service, livestock care, maintenance and gardening. Significant time was also spent in educational sessions doing team building and learning about the Heifer model of passing on the gift. This trip was supported through a Peace with Justice grant from the specialSunday offering taken each year.
Hannah Robinson reflects on this trip: "I went into this trip thinking we were going to do nothing but work on the ranch all day everyday but getting to do the education parts was very eye opening. We not only learned from Natalie and Luis (our HI staff/host) in the afternoons, but we learned from each other, the other groups, and from the volunteers at the ranch. It was amazing getting to see how many people this ranch has affected. I am now really conscious of the amount of food I take and throw away. I feel bad if I take more than I can eat. This whole experience was amazing, even staying in the Global Village. I plan on going back some time."
Heifer International's mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.
“We empower families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity – but our approach is more than just giving them a handout. Heifer links communities and helps bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. Our animals provide partners with both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market.
The core of our model is Passing on the Gift. This means families share the training they receive, and pass on the first female offspring of their livestock to another family. This extends the impact of the original gift, allowing a once impoverished family to become donors and full participants in improving their communities. The goal of every Heifer project is to help families achieve self-reliance. We do this by providing them the tools they need to sustain themselves.” (www.heifer.org)
Spencer Johnson writes: "Through a series of challenges and struggles 13 students braved the Arkansas outdoors in search of meaning. Through a variety of service work, like caring for animals, gardening and maintenance around the ranch the students bonded like they never had. As the week went on the students spent a night in the Heifer Global Village, in which they were given scarce supplies and told to survive. The students had to communicate and share with each other if they wanted to survive the evening. On the final evening the students presented ways about how they would pass on Heifer's mission in their own community. There is no doubt that we bonded as a group and grew stronger in our relationships to each other and to our savior as well. Each participant had something to offer and through this trip we learned to appreciate each other and their gifts".
Peace with Justice Sunday will be celebrated on May 31, 2015, with a special offering. Churches can also choose another Sunday if this works better for them.
Please plan to participate in this Special Sunday. For more information about Peace with Justice Ministries go to greatplainsumc.org/peacewithjustice.
From dependency to sustainable development – the Mercy and Justice Team meet
During a good part of the team’s time together they focused on the Great Plains Conference’s global mission partnerships with conferences in Haiti, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Exciting new ideas was developed on how to strengthen the partnerships for the future with the emphasis on partnering – where both sides give and receive and work together in mutuality. The team had an opportunity to have Skype conversation with Gaston Warner, executive director of ZOE Ministry and explore ways of collaboration with our global mission partnerships. “ZOE is a distinctive three-year program, developed in Africa that empowers orphans and vulnerable children around the world to overcome extreme poverty, become fully self-reliant and learn of God’s love for them. Active in Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Liberia, Guatemala and India.”
Team members also spent time in worship, sharing scripture verses that call to mercy and justice work. “Let justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry,” from Amos 5:24 was one of the scriptures.
Visit greatplainsumc.org/mercyandjustice for more information about the team’s work.
EAD 2015 – Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation
Hundreds of Christian advocates were fired up for justice in the light of the difficult issues and injustices in domestic U.S. and international criminal justice and immigrant detention system at the 13th Annual National Gathering of Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) for Global Peace with Justice. The annual event and Congressional advocacy day, held in Washington, D.C. from April 17-20, 2015, was entitled, “Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation.”
“Together we have joined in a movement to shake the foundations of systems of human exploitation, including a prison-industrial system that incarcerates millions of people in the U.S. and abroad,” said Doug Grace, Executive Director of EAD. “A world that incarcerates so many and allows some to profit from the exploitation of slave, trafficked and forced labor remains far from the ‘beloved community’ which we are all called to seek.”
Read more.EAD 2015 – Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration & Systems of Exploitation
The 2015 National Gathering of EAD in Washington, D.C. addressed solutions to national and worldwide issues of imprisonment, exploitation, and forced labor
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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Hundreds of Christian advocates were fired up for justice in the light of the difficult issues and injustices in domestic U.S. and international criminal justice and immigrant detention system at the 13th Annual National Gathering of Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) for Global Peace with Justice. The annual event and Congressional advocacy day, held in Washington, D.C. from April 17-20, 2015, was entitled, “Breaking the Chains: Mass Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation.”
“Together we have joined in a movement to shake the foundations of systems of human exploitation, including a prison-industrial system that incarcerates millions of people in the U.S. and abroad,” said Doug Grace, Executive Director of EAD. “A world that incarcerates so many and allows some to profit from the exploitation of slave, trafficked and forced labor remains far from the ‘beloved community’ which we are all called to seek.”
Together, advocates were inspired by dynamic preachers of the liberating Gospel, including Rev. Traci deVon Blackmon pastor from Flourissant and Ferguson, Mo. and Bishop José García of Bread for the World. Participants learned about the historical and theological foundations of problems in contemporary criminal justice systems and racial and economic exploitation systems around the world from witnesses such as Dr. Iva Carruthers, General Secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference and Rev. Dr. Bill Mefford, of The United Methodist Church General Board of Church & Society. They were challenged to action by panel discussions on the role of the church in the “War on Drugs” and deeply moved to tears and action in light of the deplorable incarceration and abuse of children, women and men in prisons around the world. EAD activists were educated about the many related issues of global exploitation, torture, and incarceration through issues workshops and a moving and disturbing meditation from within a replica of a solitary confinement cell. (More information about EAD’s 2015 plenary speakers and preachers can be found here.)
Opportunities for networking by denomination and by state and local regions enabled a focus on EAD’s 2015 Congressional advocacy “Ask,” which focused on efforts to end mandatory minimum sentences for low-level and nonviolent offenders and to end the immoral and unjust immigration bed quota, which often encourages, rather than discourages, mass immigrant detention on the U.S. border and elsewhere. Advocates were also given the opportunity hone their organizing skills through training workshops.
Grace provided a theological context for the National Gathering and the legislative activity: “As people of faith, we denounce the elements in our world that justify such systems of exploitation and mass incarceration. At EAD, we confessed our personal and corporate failure to break the chains of poverty, racism, and greed institutionalized in our laws, economy, and social behaviors that have colluded to perpetuate such human exploitation and strip civil and human rights from so many.
“As people of Hope,” Grace continued, “we are reminded that Jesus’ radical message was one of liberation for all and restoration of right relationships. Through prayer, worship, advocacy training, networking and mobilization with other Christians, we have faced the reality of mass incarceration and corporate exploitation, and now call for national policies that bring liberation both to the prisoner and to a world in need of restoration.”
Photos from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the National Gathering are now available, with additional photos of EAD’s Monday Lobby Day to be added in the days to come. Videos of the plenary speakers and panels, as well as the celebration and worship services will be added in the coming days and weeks, along with other written resources from the event.Photo: The Rev. Loren Drummond from the United Methodist Church in Lyndon, Kansas, participating in one of the workshops at EAD. Drummond and Andrea Paret, Peace with Justice Coordinator, were the representatives from the Great Plains Conference.
Newsletters
General Board of Church and Society: Faith in Action
Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church:connectNmission
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas
Ministry Matters: April 28, 2015
United Methodist Church Development Center: Spiritual Giving
United Methodist Committee on Relief: Hotline
Classifieds
Choir director needed at First UMC in Independence
Lenexa UMC looking for director of children's ministries
UM Open Door seeks administrative assistant
Woodlawn UMC seeks alter
View these and other classifieds at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
Press Clips
Congregations across the Great Plains Conference are making the news in their local newspapers. View our newspaper clipping reports to see if there are stories, ideas and ministry happenings you can learn from to use in your own congregation. Press clips can be found at greatplainsumc.org/inthenews. You can see education partnership ideas at greatplainsumc.org/education.
Editorial Policy: The content, news, events and announcement information distributed in GPconnect is not sponsored or endorsed by the Great Plains Methodist Conference unless specifically stated.
To submit a letter to the editor, send it to info@greatplainsumc.org.
___________________________________Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church In Memoriam
She grew up near Concordia, KS and graduated from Concordia High School. She married Rev. Ralph J. Jones on Dec. 9, 1945. He preceded her in death on Sept. 16, 2011. She and Ralph lived in several different communities throughout Kansas and Illinois while Ralph served as a Methodist minister to those communities. She was a member of Concordia First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women Circle throughout the years.
Violet is survived by her daughter, Sharon Jones of Gainesville, GA; son, Ronald (Wendy) Jones of Jamestown; daughter, Mary Jones; son, Wesley Jones, both of Springfield, IL.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Ralph; her parents; brothers, Reynold, Harold, Emil, Melvin & Carl Swenson & a sister, Blossom Harrington.
The funeral service was held Friday, April 3, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church, Concordia with Pastor Tessa Zehring officiating. Burial was at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia.
Family suggests memorials to the Concordia United Methodist Church or the Jamestown United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home.
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