In this edition of GPconnect:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Seed money grants available for social justice projects
Kansans invited to participate in Church Development Loan Fund program
Nehawka UMC to celebrate 125 years
Cavitt honored with African-American Leadership Award in Omaha
EQUIP DISCIPLES
Take your education partnership to the next level
Register now for Toxic Charity seminar Oct. 24
Men Make the Difference set to be annual gathering in Wichita
Date set for Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger
Strengthen your marriage with special weekend in October
United Methodist Youth Institute registration closes July 13
Lay Servant Courses to be offered in Comeca Retreat
Perkins extends fall application deadline to Aug. 1
MERCY AND JUSTICE
July 7 web discussion focuses on race, children and society
Respond now to long-term needs in communities hit by disaster
Big Garden makes big plans for Omaha campus
Prayers for people of AME church impacted by senseless shootings
Central Nebraska VIM complete nine-day trip
Epworth Village adds music to curriculum
OTHER NEWS
Build a Church ... without pounding a nail!
Newsletters
Classifieds
Press Clips
Conference offices will be closedFriday, July 3
The Great Plains Methodist Conference offices in Lincoln, Topeka and Wichita will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. We wish everyone a happy, safe and blessed holiday weekend.
Seed money grants available for social justice projects
Does your church or organization have a project that you think could address a social justice issue but you need a little help to get started? The Great Plains Conference Mercy & Justice team might be able to help.
Social justice seed money grants are available to local churches through the Great Plains Conference. These grants are for outreach ministries focusing on root causes of injustices and the underlying reasons of why people are in need, and working towards structural changes.
Learn more about the grants and find a link to the grant application here.
Kansans invited to participate in Church Development Loan Fund program
United Methodist Churches across Kansas can participate in the Church Development Loan Fund that makes loans to Kansas United Methodist churches and agencies for new buildings, additions or renovations.
This innovative program is funded by Certificates of Participation – available only to United Methodist individuals, churches and agencies – for a minimum investment of $1,000. Then, the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation will pay you competitive interest rates for one- and two-year maturities.
To learn more about this and other programs, visit the foundation’s website at www.kaumf.org.
Nehawka UMC to celebrate 125 years
Nehawka (Nebraska) UMC will be celebrating 125 years on Oct. 18, 2015. The Sunday service will begin at 10 a.m., with a joint service inviting the sister church and friends in Weeping Water, Nebraska. The service will be followed by a lunch at 11:30 a.m., at the community building with a program and entertainment.
God’s gift of a west ramp and south entry steps, as well as the faithfulness of God’s people to the church, will be celebrated during the anniversary gathering. Any and all former pastors and family members who once served the church are invited to join in the celebration of the life of the church.
A cookbook is being published to sell and a banner is being made to commemorate the event. The Sunday school children will give a presentation, 50-plus year members and the churches oldest and youngest members will be recognized. Families in the congregation, members and friends are being recognized throughout the year as they attend the services.
If you are unable to attend, letters with memories of the church and congregation are welcome and will be shared with those attending. Send letters or cards to Eileen Norris at 631 N 95th Lincoln, NE 68305.
Cavitt honored with African-American Leadership Award in Omaha
The Rev. Portia Cavitt, pastor of Clair Memorial United Methodist Church in Omaha, recently was honored at the 26th annual African-American Leadership Awards of the Urban League of Nebraska. Cavitt was one of eight people honored, with her acknowledgement coming in the faith category, for outstanding leadership in the community. Cavitt has been the pastor of Clair for seven years and is a community leader, especially related to working with young people.
Take your education partnership to the next level
Look for help with starting a school partnership, overcoming barriers or taking your partnership to the next level? Make plans to participate in the Educational Partnership webinar on July 7, 4-5:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time.
This interactive webinar is open to all Great Plains United Methodists and hosted by the Kansas Leadership Center and the Great Plains Conference. Seth Bate, KLC coach, and the Rev. Evelyn Fisher, director of Congregational Excellence, will lead this event. No registration is required.
Visit greatplainsumc.org/education for the link to join the webinar on July 7 at 4 p.m. You can use a headset with your computer or you will be asked for an area code and phone number, then the conference will dial you. You do not need an Adobe Connect account. You can sign is as a guest. If you need more information, contact TruDee Little at tlittle@greatplainsumc.org.
Register now for Toxic Charity seminar Oct. 24
Together, we can serve our world in a way that affects life-altering change. Join the discussion on Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas as author Robert Lupton presents on Toxic Charity. His nationally acclaimed book explains how churches and charities hurt those they intend to help, and how we can reverse that system. (See book info on Amazon.com.)
"Public service is a way of life for Americans; giving is a part of our national character. But compassionate instincts and generous spirits aren't enough," says veteran urban activist Robert D. Lupton. In this groundbreaking book, Lupton shows how good-intentioned people are actually hurting the very people they are trying to help.
In his four decades of urban ministry, Lupton has experienced firsthand how our good intentions can have unintended, dire consequences. Join us as Lupton will challenge Great Plains United Methodists to look at their outreach with a new perspective and challenge the many assumptions about effective philanthropy. He will offer specific organizations as examples of what he believes is a healthier model of charity and give practical ideas for how to develop programs that produce deep, measurable and lasting change.
There is no charge for this event. Lunch will be provided. Register online now.
For more information visit GreatPlainsUMC.org/ToxicCharity or contact the Rev. Kalaba Chali at kchali@greatplainsumc.org.
Men Make the Difference set to be annual gathering in Wichita
Editor’s note: The following was submitted by George Houle.
Ephesians 4 tells us that Christ has given each of us gifts. Great, I love getting gifts. But these gifts are different. They are not for me to keep.
The scripture goes on to tell us we are to use those gifts for works of service, to build up the body of Christ or as we know it His Church. How can we do that? Well, what if we gathered together in prayer and worship for one day? What if we used the money from the registration for that gathering and invested in the next generation of apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers by establishing a scholarship fund for young men and women to go to Christian college and explore their calling to pastoral or lay leadership?
That is the vision of the men organizing the first of what is planned to be an annual gathering of MEN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE, a challenge for Christian men to use their gifts to influence our society through local churches.
Wichita Calvary will host this year on Sept 19. Rev Tom Albin, a Kansas native, will be our spiritual director. He will give a series of talks and after each one we will get a chance to explore our thoughts in a small group.
Another Kansas native, Don Davis, will share his message of how one man transformed his life while playing in the NFL. He will challenge us to help transformed the next generation of Christians. The Keynotes from Southwestern College will share their music and message. Of course, lunch is included. All this for only $35 – remember that money goes to future pastors and lay leaders.
For more information and to register, go CalvaryWichita.org. Calvary can only sit 300 men comfortably so register early.
If you want to personally help underwrite the cost of this event or have a business who would like to contribute, please contact George Houle at ummwbb11@att.net.
MEN, this is our chance to Make the Difference for Jesus!
Date set for Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger
The Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger announces its 2015 celebration event for Saturday, Nov. 21, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Douglass County Fairgrounds in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Bishop’s Round-Up Against Hunger is an annual event to celebrate what the church is doing to meet the needs of the poor and hungry. Each year more than 125 youth gather to participate in a youth lock-in event. Each year more than 20 agencies come to the event to receive supplies for their ministries to the poor and hungry in their local communities.
Learn more about the round-up and how you can participate.
Strengthen your marriage with special weekend in October
For more than 30 years, married Nebraskans have been attending United Methodist Marriage Encounter Weekends across the state. With a mission to build better marriage relationships, make our world a better place and renew the church, thousands of lives have been changed for the better!
If you or a married couple in your congregation – or any married couple you know – would like to rekindle their romance, restore communication and renew their commitment to each other with God at the center of their marriage, they should sign up for an all-inclusive United Methodist Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next weekend in Nebraska will be Oct. 9-11 in Omaha, Nebraska. You can make reservations by contacting Pastor Dan and Nancy Spearow at 402-764-5411 or 402-764-5411, or by sending an email to pastordan@encounter.org orpastordan913@gmail.com.
To learn more about United Methodist Marriage Encounter, visitwww.encounter.org.
Should your local congregation want to talk about scheduling a weekend or other Marriage Encounter experience at your church, Pastor Dan and Nancy Spearow would be happy to discuss that with you.
United Methodist Marriage Encounter Weekends are available across the nation, should you wish to attend in a different location. You can find those dates and locations at www.encounter.org.
United Methodist Youth Institute registration closes July 13
The Institute 2015: “Just As I Am” registration closes July 13. Guarantee your spot at Institute this summer by registering at campchippewa.org. The event is scheduled for July 27-Aug. 1.
The cost is $390. The fee covers housing, meals, all activities, a T-shirt and large-group photo. Students will want to bring additional money for snacks, personal items and offerings. A limited number of scholarships are available to assist with attending Institute based on need and ethnicity, and are funded by Camp Chippewa and the Ethnic Local Church Concerns Committee. For more details please contact James at Camp Chippewa by calling 785-242-6797. There is still a need for adult staff for Institute. If you know of someone who would make a great adult at Institute, is at least 23 years of age and certified through Safe Gatherings, please contact Pam Farrant at pamfarrant@gmail.com.
For more than 100 years, young people have come to Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, to attend United Methodist Youth Institute. Institute is a week of Christian spiritual growth and faith development for high school students, incoming freshman through graduating seniors. At Institute, youth experience Christian community and are taught to receive and give care and support as modeled by Jesus Christ. Institute is intentional about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The theme for Institute 2015 is “Just as I am.”
Lay Servant Courses to be offered in Comeca Retreat
Oct. 23-24, 2015 will find course leaders and lay servants gathering at Camp Comeca, near Cozad, Nebraska, for a 24-hour retreat and course study. Four courses will be offered; each participant will choose one course from these:
Accountable Discipleship — This course focuses on the concept of the household of God, the importance of scripture as divine revelation, Wesleyan understandings of grace and the importance of the office of class leader in the development of the Methodist movement. You are encouraged to look at your own faith community and see how it is (or is not) a reflection of genuine Christian community.
Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition — Structured around Wesley’s “Means of Grace,” this study covers, among other topics, prayer, scripture, the Lord’s Supper and fasting — major features in John Wesley’s devotional life. Participants will learn how they can apply Wesley’s ministry to their own life.
Planning Worship — This course builds on the course Leading Worship, and it is grounded in the principles and practices of worship planning. Leading Worship is, however, not a prerequisite for registration for this course. Readers, liturgists, worship leaders and members of church worship committees will all benefit from understanding the concepts included in this course.
You Can Preach! — This course is designed for those who have not completed formal preaching training, for pastors seeking a basic refresher course, and for others who are called upon to preach in a pastor’s absence.
All of these count as advanced courses toward certification as lay servants or lay speakers. Anyone can take a course whether he/she has attended the required basic course or not.
Built into the 24-hour retreat are worship, recreation, and study — all offered in a relaxing setting away from daily routines and responsibilities. Course leaders and classmates will contribute to your spiritual life and learning.
For more information or to register for a class, contact Peg at the Gateway District office at pmccollough@greatplainsumc.org or Ardith Davenport, Gateway director of lay servant ministries ata.r.davenport@gmail.com.
Perkins extends fall application deadline to Aug. 1
Perkins School of Theology/Southern Methodist University has extended the fall 2015 application deadline to Aug. 1 with modified course schedules in Dallas and the Houston-Galveston Extension Program to better accommodate students’ needs. Fall 2015 courses will provide more flexibility for students with Monday-Wednesday block classes and also evening classes, including:
The Christian Heritage I, taught in a new format by Dr. Tamara Lewis and Dr. Ted Campbell, Tuesdays from 6 to 8:50 p.m.
Major Motifs of Biblical Theology/Contemporary Issues in Philosophy of Religion: Historiography, with Dr. Susanne Scholz and Dr. William J. Abraham, Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:50 p.m.
The Houston-Galveston Extension Program — relocated July 1 to Texas Medical Center — will offer classes in one-month modules of four Thursdays and two Friday-Saturday sessions at venues including Houston Methodist Hospital, St. John’s “Downtown” UMC, St. Paul’s UMC and Moody Memorial UMC in Galveston. Also offered in fall 2015 is World Religions Encounter, an immersion course with Dr. Ruben Habito and Dr. Robert Hunt, set for Oct. 14-20 during the meeting of the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Salt Lake City, Utah. Students may apply for the Master of Theology degree — new for fall 2015 — in addition to the following degree programs: master’s of divinity (M.Div.), the master’s of arts in ministry (M.A.M.), the master’s of sacred music (M.S.M.), and the master’s of theological studies (M.T.S.); doctorate of ministry (D.Min.); and — through the graduate program in religious studies with SMU’s Dedman College — the Ph.D. and master’s of arts in religious studies. Learn more about degree programs at smu.edu/Perkins/FacultyAcademics/degrees.
Prospective students can find additional information at smu.edu/perkins/admissions or apply online.
For more information, contact Herbert Coleman via email at hcoleman@smu.edu or by calling 214-768-2139.
July 7 web discussion focuses on race, children and society
Our nation continues to face many issues surrounding race. In just the past few weeks, people have been killed in an African Methodist Episcopal Church, and at least eight traditionally Black churches have been burned down in the southern states.
The General Board of Discipleship invites you to listen in on a web chat titled “The Church: Children, Race and Reconciliation” starting at 7 p.m. CDT July 7. This thought-provoking web conversation will share how we address race and reconciliation with our children through the teachings of Jesus Christ. Leaders in ministry in The United Methodist Church nationwide – including Donna Banks, Melanie C. Gordon, Leanne Hadley, Lisa Schubert-Nolwing, Lanecia Rouse Tinsley and Cindy Yanchury – will discuss their experiences with race and religion in their generational contexts. And each leader will offer steps to help our children address racial issues in our society through the Gospel.
Register online today. Once you are approved by the host, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the session.
Respond now to long-term needs in Great Plains communities hit by disaster
Currently we are dealing with the 2015 storm season. As of the end of June, the following long-term needs have been identified:
Wallace, Nebraska – We have one home that was flooded and is in need of putting up sheetrock, painting, putting in new kitchen cabinets, and laying flooring. This family lost everything and insurance denied their claim.
Mankato, Kansas – A family from the local UMC is in need of help getting a home in order to move into. Their present home was hit by the tornado. While repairs would buy them a little more time in that home, a medical condition necessitates a move into town to be closer to doctors and medical facilities. The family has been working to get a house in order, but the situation caused by the tornado has made it difficult for them to handle all that is involved. Electrical and plumbing work are needed as well as placing siding on the home. We need teams to get at least the first floor of the house in working order.
DeWitt, Nebraska – A local Long Term Recovery Committee is beginning work on July 9. This community was entirely flooded. Images above show damage at the church.
If you feel called to serve as a volunteer for the Great Plains Conference in one of the areas mentioned above, contact the Rev. Hollie Tapley, disaster response coordinator, at htapley@greatplainsumc.org.
Big Garden makes big plans for Omaha campus
The Big Garden, an effort by United Methodist Ministries in Omaha, Nebraska, is launching an ambitious effort to build a full campus over the next 18 months.
The Big Garden, which started in 2005 with a goal of building 12 community gardens in Omaha, has worked with hundreds of churches, schools and non-profits to build gardens. Along the way, it has taught thousands of people how to grow their own food and has made dozens of communities in three states healthier and more beautiful places to live.
The new campus will allow the Big Garden to grow more food with neighbors who struggle with hunger, to teach more kids how to grow their own food and to develop long-lasting relationships.
Read more at greatplainsumc.org/newsdetail/1456746.Big Garden makes big plans for Omaha campus
The Big Garden, an effort by United Methodist Ministries in Omaha, Nebraska, is launching an ambitious effort to build a full campus over the next 18 months.
This artist rendering shows one concept of what the Big Garden Campus may
look like in North Omaha, Nebraska.
The Big Garden, which started in 2005 with a goal of building 12 community gardens in Omaha, has worked with hundreds of churches, schools and non-profits to build gardens. Along the way, it has taught thousands of people how to grow their own food and has made dozens of communities in three states healthier and more beautiful places to live.
The Big Garden has had a positive impact in low-income neighborhoods across Omaha and in rural communities in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. In the Omaha area alone, more than 70,000 people are food insecure. One in five kids in Omaha go without adequate nutrition. The Big Garden has a waiting list of potential garden sites. If it had the resources and the staff, it could offer 10 weeks of Big Garden summer programming to 500 more kids this summer. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have adequate space for the staff it has now. It also doesn’t have adequate space to store equipment for the Big Garden and neither its office nor its garage has running water. In order to meet the need, the organization has to move.
The new campus will allow the Big Garden to grow more food with neighbors who struggle with hunger, to teach more kids how to grow their own food and to develop long-lasting relationships in a neighborhood where we can do so much good. The Big Garden will partner with two organizations that share the vision of fighting hunger and building community. One of those organizations, 75 North, was founded in 2011 with the goal of creating healthy, sustainable, mixed-income communities in the Highlander neighborhood of North Omaha. The Big Garden Campus will be built near the 75 North redevelopment site in North Omaha. The other organization is Whispering Roots, an Omaha-based nonprofit with a mission to provide fresh, locally grown, healthy food for socially and economically disadvantaged communities by using aquaponics, hydroponics and urban farming. Whispering Roots has aquaponic units at several local schools where they teach principles of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) by using hands-on experiential learning. The Big Garden will share greenhouse space with Whispering Roots.
The plans for the Big Garden Campus include three large greenhouses that will allow for the growth of seedlings for the community garden network as well as provide more fresh produce to partners at local food pantries. The greenhouses also will provide space for partners at Whispering Roots to develop larger-scale aquaponics systems that will grow fish and vegetables while providing a living laboratory for science education for students in North Omaha. The campus also will develop a large learning garden where a variety of organic gardening classes can be taught to church, school and community groups. This garden will include a self-guided trail with signage describing the plants being grown and explaining the organic practices being used to grow them. Finally, there will be a office/garage/storage facility that will provide space for Big Garden staff, storage for garden pickup trucks and other equipment and materials that we need to manage the growing garden network. This facility also will provide classroom space where staff can teach more children and adults how to grow, cook and preserve their own food.
The Big Garden Campus will require an investment of roughly $750,000. The organization already has raised $65,000. If you'd like to learn more about the Big Garden Campus, please contact Nathan Morgan at nmorgan@bigmuddyumc.org or by calling 402-415-6780.
Prayers for people of AME church impacted by senseless shootings
Attendees of Saint Mark United Methodist Church gathered for prayer during worship services June 28 at the church’s southeast campus in Wichita, Kansas, to reflect on the deaths of people at Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. Nine people were shot and killed June 17, reportedly at the hands of a man believed to be a white supremacist. This photo reflects men of different races comforting and praying for one another and the people impacted by the shootings.
Central Nebraska VIM complete nine-day trip
Forty nine participants from around Nebraska, left Arcadia, Nebraska, on Saturday, June 6, and returned on Sunday, June 14, after spending the week helping rebuild homes in Brookport, Illinois. They were also joined by a young lady from Texas and one from Austria. Ten members of the group were first-time volunteers and the members ranged in age from 14 to 83. The vast majority were unskilled in carpentry but were willing to learn and to help. A love for helping others in need is what brought them all together. The theme for this year’s trip was, “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) Nebraska towns represented included Arcadia, Brady, Crete, Central City, Broken Bow, Curtis, Kearney, Gibbon, Norfolk, North Bend, North Platte, Pleasanton, Ravenna, Oconto, Lawrence, Martell, Schuyler, Fremont, St. Paul, Ord, Sargent, Loup City and Lincoln. The mission team is coordinated by the Arcadia UMC. This was their fifteenth trip since 2006.
Team members and their hometowns include: Rachel Green, The Woodlands, Texas; Bailey Coons, Corri Slagle, Shelby Schneider and Abby Osborne, Sargent; Rhyan Luehm, Journie Woodward and Kasey Hornickel, Ord; Taylor Hornickel, Tiffany Hoagland and Josie Rademacher, Lincoln; Kendra Staab, Broken Bow; Sandi Kouril, Austria; Shawn Meyers and Earlene Wulf, Central City; Ryan and Kristen Boden, Pat and Julie Hoagland, Brady; Kelsey Scheer, St. Paul; Michael Bebout, Schuyler; Kelli Wiiest, Curtis; Kyla Jensby, Crete; Sheryl Block, Martell; Eldon Adams, Loup City; Barb Buescher, Lawrence; Angie and Eric Gearhart, Gibbon; Marilyn Musil, Ravenna; Terry and Fredi Eichelberger, Oconto; Lance Hehner, Pleasanton; Leona Killham and Chuck Scripter, North Platte; Pat Fittje, North Bend; Penny Zauha, Norfolk; Linda Johnson, Kearney; Ashley Einspahr, Hollie Sell, Madison Dodson, Hannah Miller, Matt and Tim Berry, Katrina Gould, Chris Paider, Bill and Teresa Staab and Rolen and Betty Sell, Arcadia.
The volunteers arrived by charter bus in Metropolis, Illinois, on June 7 where they were housed in the United Methodist church. During the week, they dug footings for a new triplex and dug and poured concrete footings for additions to an existing foundation for another new home. The workers began construction of the new home for Charles and Sharon at the deck plates and erected floors, walls, partitions, and applied sheeting and insulation. A garage on the property was refurbished, as well as a metal fence which surrounded the property. Other members continued with the construction of a large storage building on the site of the triplex, including roofing, siding, installation of doors and windows, and interior shelving. Many piles of rubble and storm residue were cleaned up at both sites. Members of the team also did substantial painting and cleaning in the host church and helped prepare for an upcoming summer Bible school session.
Brookport was struck by an EF 3 tornado Nov. 17, 2013. Dozens of homes and mobile homes were destroyed, three people were killed and 13 were injured. There was an initial surge of volunteers in the community, which is located across the Ohio River from Paducah, Kentucky, but there are still many residents, like Charles and Sharon, who were under-insured, disabled or elderly, who need assistance.
The volunteers also enjoyed revisiting Joplin, Missouri on the way home where they viewed the progress that has been made there since the 2012 mission trip to that community following the 2011 devastating tornado which hit Joplin.
Striking a clear chord
Epworth Village adds music to curriculum
Crowe, a talented pianist, recalls, “My teacher liked teaching the older more accomplished students; so I taught the beginners.”
As it turns out, Crowe’s experience as a young woman led to a career as a piano teacher and accompanist.
“I gave lessons up until six years ago and played for the first service at First UMC for 20-plus years and sang at late service,” Crowe tells.
Crowe learned of Epworth Village’s dream of creating a music program when CEO Harrietta Reynolds spoke in church one Sunday. Abby Carlson is also serving as a piano instructor after learning about the program.
“Today is the first day (of lessons),” Crowe says excitedly, and it wasn’t long before her first student walked through the door of Mills Dining Hall where the piano is located.
“Music is so important for the kids,” Crowe states, “My mother said when I was young if I learned how to play and instrument and continued my voice lessons I would never be alone … and she was right.”
At Epworth Village firsts are also happening over at the learning center. That’s where John Meister is meeting his first guitar student in the space recently dedicated as the music room. Meister, and Jim Sprague, have also agreed to share their talent and knowledge with youth by giving weekly guitar lessons.
Whether at the piano or with guitar in hand, learning begins as students navigate both keyboard and fret; learning notes, the proper way to hold their hands and read music.
Crowe smiles, and tells her student, “My teacher told me the correct way to hold my hand was to cup it so that a penny would stay on the top of your hand while you are playing.”
Epworth Village youth have embraced the music program, it’s evident by the number of guitar cases traveling to and from school each day … practice makes perfect.
Coordinating the music program is Epworth Village Learning Center teacher Britney Schweitzer.
Schweitzer is more than appreciative of the support the program has received, “We would not have been able to do this without the volunteers and the generous donations to the program. Ron’s Music in Grand Island was wonderful to work with. We were able to purchase eight Ibanez guitars with hard cases, drumsticks to use with drums, a guitar tuner and picks, and some cord posters for the walls of the music room. I thought we would have extra guitars but they have all been checked out,” and there is talk of a concert.
“Last night, John gave them all sheet music for ‘Lord I Lift Your Name on High.’ Their homework was to learn that as their first song. It’s a song for beginners and one that everybody knows and loves. That way they are starting to put all their chords together. In a few weeks, maybe we can have our first informal concert at lunch time to show off their progress. It is in the plans to have a fall or winter concert where we would invite family members, alumni and donors, and team members,” Schweitzer tells.
According to Schweitzer, it is clear the music program really struck a chord with teachers, students and Epworth Village supporters alike.
Epworth Village is a National Mission Institution of the United Methodist Church. Epworth Village, Inc., is non-profit agency based in York, Nebraska. From its beginning as an orphanage in the 1880's, the mission of Epworth Village has been to bring hope and healing to children and families in the name of Christ.
Photos: One afternoon a week Epworth Village youth interested in learning to play the piano are receiving lessons from area pianist Barb Crowe. Crowe is a one of several talented volunteers who make the Epworth Village Music Program possible. Volunteer instructor Ron Meister (at right) is sharing his talent with Epworth Village youth; teaching guitar one evening a week.
Build a Church ... without pounding a nail!
A Certificate of Participation is an investment in building the United Methodist witness through the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation’s loan program for Kansas United Methodist churches and agencies. A Certificate of Participation is a time investment. An individual or church may invest a $1,000.00 minimum for one or two year participation so that you may strengthen the expansion of the United Methodist witness.
Certificate of Participation July rate:
One Year: 1.05%
Two Year: 1.35%
Learn more how you may increase your investments at the same time expanding the United Methodist witness by downloading promotional material for your church such as fliers, postcards, newsletter/bulletin ads, etc. at www.kaumf.org or call 888.453.8405.
Newsletters
Missouri Conference: The Missouri Methodists (July)
Youthville Faith Connections: June
United Methodist Insight: June 26
UMC Development Center: Spiritual Giving - Two By Two
Classifieds
Associate executive director needed at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries
West Virginia Conference seeks director of communication
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.
Want More?
Episcopal Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 160 Wichita, KS 67207 316-686-0600
Topeka Office: 4201 SW 15th Street PO Box 4187 Topeka, KS 66604 785-272-9111
Wichita Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 110 Wichita, KS 67207 316-684-0266
Lincoln Office: 3333 Landmark Circle Lincoln, NE 68504-4760 402-464-5994
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