GP Connect for Wednesday, 19 February 2014 from The Great Plain Conference of the United Methodist Church

GP Connect for Wednesday, 19 February 2014 from The Great Plain Conference of the United Methodist Church
In this edition of GPconnect: 
EQUIP DISCIPLES 
Submit resolutions for Great Plains Annual Conference now
Register today for Bishop's confirmation rallies
Interfaith Peacemaking Workshop plans finalized
Lenten studies at the resource center
"Making the Sermon POP!" seminar Feb. 28 in Wichita
Interest in ABIDE needs to be known now
Feb. 28 Dawn of the unDead: Return of the Living Church
Save the date: Nebraska Disaster Response Summit
Kansas churches participate in a “Souper Bowl” blowout
Epworth Village Mission Interpreters meet
MERCY AND JUSTICE 
Bible in one hand, newspaper in the other — exploring the death penalty
No more deportations — not one more
A simple white wooden cross speaks for thousands of immigrants
CLASSIFIEDS 
Great Plains United Methodist Conference in need of administrative assistant
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Submit resolutions for the Great Plains Annual Conference Session now Plans are being finalized for the first Great Plains Annual Conference Session, June 11-14 at the Lied Center in downtown Lincoln, Neb. Registration will be available on the Great Plains website beginning March 1. You may begin submitting your resolutions for Annual Conference Session now. Instructions can be found at greatplainsumc.org/resolutionspetitions. They need to be submitted to Diane Jensen by March 14. They can be submitted to gpsecretary@greatplainsumc.orgor Diane Jensen, Box 526, Fort Calhoun, NE 68023. 
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Register today for Bishop's confirmation rallies 
Bishop Jones invites all confirmation classes to join him for one of three confirmation rallies. Confirmation students will have a chance to meet Bishop Jones as well as student leaders from the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM). 
   • Saturday, March 29 in Lincoln, Neb., at Nebraska Wesleyan University 
   • Saturday, April 12 in El Dorado, Kan., at First UMC 
   • Saturday, April 26 in McCook, Neb., at Memorial UMC 
All events will be held from Noon - 5 pm CDT. 
This will be a fast-moving, interactive event complete with food, music, and games. The opening session will focus on "What does it mean to be a Christian" and the closing session will focus on "What does it mean to be a United Methodist." Mini sessions in-between include "Scripture and Tradition", "Reason and Experience", "Being a Leader", and a Q & A time with Bishop Jones. 
The cost for each event is $10 per person and includes lunch. Online registration has begun. Registration deadline for each event is two weeks before the date of the event. 
Questions? Contact Shane Hinderliter at shane@greatplainsumc.org. 
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Interfaith Peacemaking Workshop plans finalized Final Interfaith Peacemaking Workshopplans are in place for the March 29-30, with the Rev. Dr. John Phillip Newell from Edinburgh, Scotland. Guest speakers include those from the Jewish, Christian and Islamic communities in Lincoln and Omaha, Neb. 
On March 29, The Rev. Dr. Newell will lead two events. A Celtic Spirituality Workshop at First UMC, 2723 N. 50th St. Lincoln Neb, will be from 10 a.m. to noon. The other event, a citywide interfaith prayer event at Union College Don Love Atrium will be from 7-8:30 p.m. The prayer event will be in multiple languages, using elements of the three faith traditions. All events are free and no registration is required. There will be book signing and sales at all events. 
On March 30, the workshop will focus on peacemaking among the three Abrahamic Faiths at First UMC in Lincoln, from 1:30-5:15 p.m. There will be a keynote by Dr. Newell, a panel on the three faiths and four concurrent workshops. Details are on this downloadable flierand at www.firstumclincoln.org. 
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Lenten studies at the resource center Lent is a time of reflection, a time of focusing on the deeper needs of our lives  of finding a deeper faith. The Deeper Connections DVD study series seeks to help Christians find a deeper understanding of many of the events of Jesus life  his parables, his miracles, his prayers and during the Lenten season, a greater understanding of his life and the events of Holy Week. The Deeper Connection series has a unique format. First, each lesson is introduced from the Holy Land to give us a historical and cultural background. The second segment takes a closer look at the biblical text and the concluding third segment is taught from different locations throughout the United States and reflects upon Jesus’ life and its effect upon our modern day lives. 
Healer of diseases. Master of nature. Conqueror of demons and death. Jesus not only taught about God’s Kingdom, but demonstrated the power and love of God through his miracles. Deeper Connections: The Miracles of Jesus looks at six of Jesus miracles in depth to reveal to us the heart of God and how they not only impacted the lives of those healed but still can heal our lives in the modern world. The six lessons are 
   1.  The Clean Daughter: A Bleeding Woman 
   2.  The Heartbeat of God: Water to Wine 
   3.  Knowing the King: Feeding the 5,000/Walking on the Water 
   4.  A Faith-full Outsider: A Canaanite Woman 
   5.  Fruitless Lives: The Cursing of the Fig Tree 
   6.  Grateful Outcasts: Ten Lepers 
Deeper Connections: The Life of Jesus explores the main events of Jesus life and helps us learn how we can draw on his transforming power to have a greater vitality in our own daily lives. The six lessons, taught by six different professors are 
   1.  Birthday Surprises: Birth of Jesus 
   2.  John Prepares the Way: Baptism of Jesus 
   3.  The Victorious Son of God: Temptation of Jesus 
   4.  Fishing With the Master: Jesus Calls Disciples 
   5.  Disease Conquered: Jesus Heals the Sick 
   6.  Defeating the Enemy: Jesus Casts Out Demons. 
In Deeper Connections: The Last Days of Jesus we will walk with Jesus as he prepares his disciples for his crucifixion, death and victorious resurrection. Learn how his power over death turned a tragic ending into a triumphant new beginning for all people. The lessons are 
   1.  From Warrior to Servant: Jesus the Messiah 
   2.  A Glimpse of Glory: The Transfiguration 
   3.  The Rejected King: The Triumphal Entry 
   4.  Love to the Full: The Last Supper 
   5.  The Ultimate Victory: The Trial and Death of Jesus 
   6.  The Death of Death: The Resurrection of Jesus. 
All the Deeper Connections studies come with a leader guide and participant guide to accompany the DVD. 
To reserve your Lenten study call Diane Dunkerson at 800-435-6107 or email your request to ddunkerson@greatplainsumc.orgTo see a complete list of all the Deeper Connections  studies as well as other Lenten studies please visit our website at www.gpresourcecenter.orgto search our online catalog. 
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"Making the Sermon POP!" seminar Feb. 28 in Wichita Dr. John Holbert, Professor Emeritus, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, will be in Wichita, Kan. to speak at East Heights UMC. On Friday, February 28, Dr. Holbert will lead a seminar from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. for clergy (and any interested laity) called “Making the Sermon POP!” Participants will have the opportunity to review real sermons and experience Dr. Holbert’s coaching input. 
On Saturday morning, March 1, Dr. Holbert will share his teachings on the Book of Job, one the most challenging books of the Bible. This Saturday event is highlighted as a wonderful laity experience. Bishop Scott Jones calls Dr. Holbert one of the most interesting biblical scholars for lay persons in the church today. This event begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. 
Dr. Holbert also will preach at East Heights worship services on Sunday, March 2, at 8:45, 9:45 and 11 a.m. 
For more details and registration information, download this flieror click herefor the event page on the conference calendar. 
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Interest in ABIDE needs to be known now If you are part of a small membership congregation that desires to go deeper with God and revitalize your ministry, ABIDE is for you. Contact the Rev. Micki McCorkle to sign up today. McCorkle can be reached at 316-978-9768 or mmcorkle@greatplainsumc.org. 
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Feb. 28-March 1 Dawn of the unDead: Return of the Living Church Dawn of the unDead: Return of the Living Church is the name for the Elkhorn Valley District fall leadership event. 
What makes a congregation irresistible to adults under 40? How do we build relationships and engage the Latino residents in our communities with Christ? 
These questions are being asked by congregations across the Great Plains Conference. Join Pastor Rob Schmutz and Corey Godbey, our Hispanic ministries director, as they give us a vision of what it might mean for us to be alive, engaging congregations for those we are not currently reaching. 
The invitation is open to everyone to attend.  Online registration is still available. See the brochure and spread the word. 
   • Brochure front (color)
   • Brochure front (B&W)
   • Brochure back (color)
   • Brochure back (B&W)
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Save the date: Nebraska Disaster Response Summit How can your church best prepare for and respond to a disaster? What are the best practices for congregational mission trips? What basic beliefs motivate our response when a disaster occurs? These topics and many more will be addressed at the August 2014 Summitbeing held in Lincoln. 
The summit will be at Country Inn and Suites in Lincoln, Neb., on August 15-16. Download this file  for more information, including workshop details. 
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Kansas churches participate in a “Souper Bowl” blowout 
McLouth UMC and Tonganoxie UMC did it again. A new record was set with 7,038 cans collected leading to the McLouth Pantry Raiders being named the 2014 Souper Bowl Champion. 
It was a cold, but beautiful day at the Methodist Dome on Souper Bowl Sunday when the McLouth Pantry Raiders (McLouth UMC, McLouth, Kan.) and Team Tongie (Tonganoxie UMC, Tonganoxie, Kan.) combined to fight hunger. However, it didn’t take long before things started to heat up as thousands and thousands of cans made their way down the field toward each church’s goal line. Early on it became evident that hunger was going to be taken down hard. Through the determination of both teams an unbelievable amount of 10,763 cans of soup were collected. 
Because of the generous response this year, McLouth UMC was able to donate cans to two more food pantries than last year, plus a children’s home, making a total of 10 locations receiving 10-42 cases of soup. Tonganoxie UMC donated their thousands of cans of soup collected to various pantries and agencies in their immediate area of service. 
Regardless of the outcome, the real winners were the hundreds of households that will receive food from the many service locations surrounding the two churches. 
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Epworth Village Mission Interpreters meet for updates and training 
On Feb. 15 and 18, 18 dedicated lay persons and retired clergy met to continue preparing to share the life-saving story of Epworth Village with United Methodist churches and other groups. Epworth Partners is a 100 percent volunteer group of persons that are prepared to go out and raise awareness about the ministry of Epworth Village. 2014 marks the 125th year of Epworth Village’s work to reach out and offer Hope and Healing to children, youth and families with the healing love and care of Christ. 
Every local church is invited and encouraged to designate a lay Epworth Partners coordinator to assure the story reaches as many individuals and families as possible. If your church wants to learn more, please contact Harrietta Reynolds, Epworth Partner coordinator at hrepartner@ymail.comor call 308-940-0147. You can also contact Harrietta to schedule a speaker or to report the name and contact information for your local lay coordinator. 
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The Bible in one hand, the newspaper in the other — exploring the death penalty Karl Barth said theology is done properly with the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other. He said this to remind folks that faith is not something divorced from the earthly realm but is rather something meant to speak directly to it. These days it’s almost impossible to pick up a newspaper in Kansas without reading an article or editorial concerning the ongoing debate about capital punishment laws. Currently the Kansas Legislature has two bills before it concerning the death penalty — one would repeal it and the other would limit appeals, essentially fast tracking executions. 
Over these next several weeks, on Wednesday evenings from 6:45-8 p.m., the Lyndon UMC in Lydon, Kan., will be facilitating forums that will allow people to dig in and explore for themselves some of the issues around these proposed bills. 
As we participate in these events we’ll be utilizing an approach based on what Albert Outler called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. We’ll be exploring the many dimensions of capital punishment by hearing what scripture, tradition, experience and reason have to say about it. Along the way participants will hear from witnesses and experts, view videos and read literature so everyone can each make reasoned and faithful consideration of this highly charged lived-faith issue. 
The forums will be held 6:45-8 p.m. on the following dates and will include the following topics: 
   • Feb.19 – Faith perspective 
A discussion of various denominational positions pro/con regarding death penalty) 
   • Feb. 26 – Legislative focus 
Brandon Jones, Osage County Attorney; Steven Becker, Kansas State Representative District 104 and retired Reno County District Court judge; and Peggy Mast, Kansas State Representative 76th District 
   • March 12 – Testimony 
Curtis Edward McCarty who was exonerated in 2007 after serving 21 years in Oklahoma State Penitentiaries — including 19 years on death row — for a 1982 Oklahoma City murder he didn’t commit. McCarty was convicted twice and sentenced to death three times before being exonerated. Read Curtis’ story here. 
Lyndon United Methodist Church is located at 126 W 8th St, in Lyndon, Kan., 30 miles south of Topeka, KS on highway 75. For more information on efforts to abolish the death penalty in Kansas, visit www.ksabolition.org. 
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No more deportations – not one more Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Andrea Paret, Great Plains Conference peace with justice coordinator. 
On President’s Day, Feb. 17, 2014, 32 people, including United Methodist Bishop Trimble, Bishop Carcaño, Carol Barton and Harriet Jane Olson from United Methodist Women, as well as other faith leaders, were arrested as they prayed in the shadow of the White House to hold President Obama accountable for the nearly 2 million immigrants deported during his administration. 
“We are willing to be arrested in front of the White House to tell the president that compassion on immigration starts with the stroke of his pen,” said Bishop Carcaño on her decision to be arrested. “We know that the consequences will be minor for us compared to the grave reality undocumented people live with on a constant basis.” 
Bill Mefford from the General Board of Church and Society was also arrested. He said it was his prayer that the action would bring an end to deportation. But Mefford is also hoping the action will “pierce the hearts of those in the church who have chosen to sit idly by, to watch from a distance rather than to act.” His prayer included these words: “I pray for a church alive to the hopes and dreams of our immigrant neighbors, determined not to rest until those hopes and dreams are realities. And let it start by deportations coming to an end. Not one more. Amen.” 
Click here to read more. 
More information about the plans leading up to the action can be found from United Methodist Women  and from the General Board of Church and Society. You can also read Bishop Carcaño’s statement. 
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A simple white wooden cross speaks for thousands of immigrants 
Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Nancy Brown, member of the Great Plains Mercy and Justice Team. 
In my office is a simple white wooden cross. In black paint is the name Araceli Estrada Lopez. At the top of the cross are three sets of numbers, 07-01-76, on the bottom 12-11-04. Araceli was 28 when his body was found in Arizona’s Sonora Desert, just one of more than 2,000 bodies of men, women and children found trying to cross into the United States for a better life. 
Participants at the Legislative Event for Advocacy in Faith (LEAF) in Topeka, Kans., honored the lives of those lost at a moving vigil led by the Rev. Jack Knox, a retired Mennonite Church USA pastor living in Douglas, Arizona/Aqua Prieta, Sonora. The Rev. Knox also presented a workshop titled “The Undocumented,” based on a documentary that tells the story of the migrants who die while trying to cross the desert and the people who demonstrate a commitment to treating human beings with dignity no matter what their immigration status. 
Click here to read more. 
If you are interested in learning more about or joining the Great Plains Immigration Rapid Response Team, please contact Sandy Sypherd at ssypherd@windstream.netor Andrea Paret at amparet08@yahoo.com. 
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Great Plains United Methodist Conference in need of administrative assistant in Wichita Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church is looking for an administrative assistant in the congregational excellence department. This position facilitates support services for the department alongside the office receptionist and the part-time secretary in Wichita, Kan. 
Qualifications All staff of the Great Plains Conference shall have at a minimum the following: 
   1.  Be sympathetic with the Christian faith and the purposes of The United Methodist Church 
   2.  Exhibit a strong faith commitment to making disciples of Jesus Christ 
   3.  Possess the special aptitudes, skills, and capacities that are required in their respective fields of work. In this position that includes: 
      • Capacity and commitment to function as a member of the congregational excellence team 
      • Superior organizational skills 
      • Excellent word processing, Excel and PowerPoint and Windows skills 
      • Pleasant and professional telephone voice 
      • Positive personality 
      • Proficient written and oral communications skills 
      • Skilled in handling multiple telephone lines 
      • Knowledge of or willingness to learn basic United Methodist polity 
      • Accuracy with details 
      • Punctual and reliable 
      • Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines 
   4.  Complete Safe Gathering certification 
Duties and Responsibilities 
   1.  Receive work requests from the lead administrative assistance — including but not limited to, preparation of correspondence, reports, PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets and other administrative tasks as requested by the lead administrative assistant for department staff. 
   2.  Prepare and process vouchers for submission to the treasurer’s office. 
   3.  Respond to requests from committees, churches and pastors as needed. 
   4.  Maintain communication with department staff members when they are traveling. 
   5.  Assist in coordinating registration and event planning for congregational excellence events. 
   6.  Assist departmental staff in preparing materials for mailings, meetings, workshops and events. 
   7.  Assist receptionist in answering incoming phone calls as needed. 
Credentials and Experience 
   1.  Minimum of associate or technical degree. Bachelor’s degree preferred. 
   2.  At least three years experience in an office environment. 
The coordinator is supervised by the lead administrative assistant. 
If you would are interested in this full-time position, please send your resume to TruDee Little, lead administrative assistant for the congregational excellence team, at tlittle@greatplainsumc.org. 
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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. 
Want to submit a letter to the editor? Email Kathryn Witte at kwitte@greatplainsumc.org
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