ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nebraska Disaster Response & Recovery Summit, Aug. 15-16
Videos and photos from Annual Conference Session now online
Resources available for Great Plains Public Education Partnerships
EQUIP DISCIPLES
New Church Lawrence seeks partners
Minden UMC to host Kristina Craig Band
United announces second annual women in ministry and leadership conference
General Board of Discipleship to offer leadership webinars
Camp Fontanelle's "Girls Only" camp continues to grow
Newsletter links
MERCY AND JUSTICE
Volunteers in Mission teams needed for continuing disaster recovery efforts
Minden UMC mission team returns from Honduras
Gun violence
Rural Advocates to hold first Great Plains annual gathering
Gretna UMC sends volunteers to Epworth Village
Listo Lima 2014 Mission Trip members to blog about experience
Global Mission Fellow sends update from Tagaytay, Philippines
CLASSIFIED
Fellowship and Faith Ministry, Inc., in Topeka, Kan., looking for school kits
Trinity UMC in Lincoln, Neb., seeks director of ministry to children, youth and their families
Norton UMC looking for director of Christian education program
Basehor UMC, in Basehor, Kan., seeks director of youth ministries
Youth leader needed at Trinity UMC in El Dorado, Kan.
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Nebraska Disaster Response & Recovery Summit, Aug. 15-16
The Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, Faith Coalition of Lancaster County (NE), The Insurance Board, and Red Cross are sponsoring the upcoming Nebraska Disaster Response & Recovery Summit, Aug. 15-16, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event is intended for pastors and spiritual leaders in the faith community and will be held at the Country Inn and Suites, 5353 North 27th Street.
The event highlights the role of faith communities and will cover the basic concepts and types of spiritual care, long-term recovery, collaboration with mental and emotional health personnel, self-care for providers and community resiliency and preparedness training. Faith community leaders have an important part to play in disaster response and recovery. By preparing their congregations and themselves for disaster, they contribute toward building resilient communities.
Early bird registration is $40, due by July 14. After that registration fees are $50. Online registration can be done at www.lancasterfaith.org. Please see the event brochure for registration details and where to mail registrations and checks.
Hotel accommodations at the Country Inn and Suites can be made by calling 402-476-5353.
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Videos and photos from Annual Conference Session now online
New resources for you to share with the first Great Plains Annual Conference Session with your congregations are posted at www.greatplainsumc.org/annualconference, in addition to links to the daily recaps.
News articles posted during the session are aggregated here. Photos are posted here although we do not yet have all of them uploaded yet.
Our videos are now posted online:
•Healthy, Inviting, Abundant Theme Video
•Bishop Scott J. Jones Opening Message
•State of the Conference with Courtney Fowler
•State of the Conference with Bishop Scott J. Jones
•Faithfulness Precedes Fruitfulness with Rev. Acevedo
•Memorial Service
•Ordination Message with Rev. Jorge Acevedo
•Ordination Service
•Fruitfulness for God with Rev. Jorge Acevedo
Videos referenced by the Rev. Acevedo are also available online:
•Special Needs Ministry
•Shoes of Hope
•Hernandez Adult Baptism
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Resources available for Great Plains Public Education Partnerships
In support of the Education Partnership Resolution passed at the 2014 Great Plains Annual Conference Session, resources were compiled for the use of Great Plains United Methodists and others who join the “Great Plains Public Education Partnership” and commit to:
1.Strengthen an existing or establish a “hands-on” partnership with a local public school or schools;
2.Encourage and equip members to contact their state legislators to advocate for public education; and
3.Attend a conference-sponsored regional event supporting public education.
The Big Hairy Audacious Education Caravan will be rolling into three communities this month to heighten awareness for public education in Kansas where the primary season has begun. Register your congregation's group today so appropropriate preparations can be made at each site. Our goal is to have every congregation bring 6-10 people or more to a caravan event.
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New Church Lawrence seeks partners
How do you start a new community of faith that reaches people who have left church; or never experienced church at all? That is the question Pastor Jacob Cloud and the people of New Church Lawrence, in Lawrence, Kan., are asking.
They are on a mission to build a community where people connect with God, grow in faith and change the world.
New Church Lawrence, formerly Wesley Kansas University, is integrating campus ministry and the local community to build a faith community that both KU students and local Lawrence residents want to be a part of.
At their first event, A Visioning Night on July 12, Jacob shared the vision of the new church and the ways by which they planned on building this community.
They will focus on three areas of ministry as they continue to grow. The first is life altering mission. Through bimonthly mission projects New Church Lawrence participants seek to make a difference in their local community, and in their own spiritual lives as they reach out to people in need, who live in Lawrence.
The second focus is connection groups. In connection groups, participants interact and ask the hard faith questions in the safety of a group which cares for them.
The third focus is multifaceted worship, which will include modern music, sermon series which focus on life application and different methods of prayer. Jacob anticipates worship beginning in November.
So who are the people that Jacob and New Church Lawrence are trying to reach?
Their hope is to build a community that resembles the demographic spread of Lawrence. With more than half of Lawrence residents (51 percent to be exact) being between the ages of 18 and 35, the majority of the community is young adults.
However Jacob believes that one of the greatest tragedies in the past 50 years is the loss of intergenerational dialogue on issues of faith and life. He expressed his intentionality to create a place where conversations can happen from the millennial generation (up to 32) to the builder generation (65 and above).
New Church Lawrence and Pastor Jacob need your help as well. There are three things that you can do to help this church to continue to reach people in Lawrence.
First off, they need your prayer support. Lawrence has more than 75,000 people who don’t have a faith community so the mission field is ripe.
Secondly, Jacob needs to know if you have any Kansas University students who are coming to Lawrence this fall — both freshman and returning students. You can reach him by email at Jacob@newchurchlawrence.org or by phone/text at 785-813-1303.
Finally, you can partner with them financially. They are in the midst right now of raising funds for mobile church equipment, which can cost well over $100,000.
If you know of a student or someone in the Lawrence, Kan., area that might be interested in attending one of their upcoming events, please send Jacob their e-mail address or have them call him.
Upcoming events for New Church Lawrence
July 19th 11am:
Just Food, Douglas County Food Bank, 1000 E 11th St.
We will be helping with incoming donations from the Lawrence Farmers Market and organizing the warehouse. For more info about Just Food go to www.justfoodks.org.
July 26th 10am:
Lawrence Family Promise, 905 Tennessee
We will be painting the day center, and helping repair one of the residences. For more information about Family Promise go to www.lawrencefamilypromise.org.
August 2nd 11am:
Barbecue at Centennial Park, East Shelter, 9th St. between Iowa and Rockledge
Join us for food and fun! Bring your discs to play a round of disc golf, or just hang out and eat some great food!
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Minden UMC to host Kristina Craig Band
The Kristina Craig Band will be in concert at Minden UMC in Minden, Nebraska, on Saturday, July 19, at 7 p.m. There is no charge for admission. A free will offering will be received for the band's expenses.
A top 10 nominee for "Female Vocalist of the Year", Country/Christian, Singer/Songwriter Kristina Craig weaves together the best of Country and Christian music. Kristina and her band have garnered several honors that prove their appeal across both genres. Most recently their "Angel with Tattoos" release climbed to number four on the Inspirational Music Charts, with radio play nationwide.
Originally from a small town in the Sandhills of Western Nebraska, becoming a finalist on the 2007 ABC Primetime Special "Six Degrees of Martina McBride" and winning the "People's Choice" for her performance at the Wild Horse Saloon, led Kristina to music mecca, Nashville, Tenn.
In 2010, Kristina formed The Kristina Craig Band, comprised of some of Nashville's elite musicians. In November 2012, The Kristina Craig Band released their all-original album, entitled "Angel with Tattoos", a 12-song CD that combines wholesome country music with a positive message. The sounds of this album vary from soothing country, with a hint of blues, to fun up-tempo beats with a touch of rock.
The Band crosses generational lines as well, with a show that delivers traditional country music and contemporary radio hits. They are filling venues ranging from churches to rodeo arenas, fairs and festivals on their 2014 "Small Town America Tour." The hallmark of the Kristina Craig Band is their ability to create an energetic and fun filled experience and simultaneously a personal and intimate one.
The Band is purposeful, being endorsed by Last Call 4 Grace Ministries as well as being involved with the local women and children's shelter. Their desire for every show is for people to walk away changed, set free from sickness and iniquities, as well as broken hearts restored through the power of Jesus Christ. Their goal for the 2014 tour is to emphasize breaking the cycles of abuse and addiction. The Kristina Craig Band is a band with a mission beyond sharing and selling uplifting songs, but even more, uplifting souls.
Download a poster for the event.
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United announces second annual women in ministry and leadership conference
United Theological Seminary announces the second annual Deborah’s Daughters Women in Ministry and Leadership Conference, to be held Oct. 22-24, 2014, at the seminary’s main campus at 4501 Denlinger Road, Dayton, OH and at the Hilton Garden Inn in Beavercreek, Ohio.
Recent research tells us that women are overworked in many areas of their lives — work, home and the church. Many women, especially church women — both clergy and lay, have been taught that it is more godly to put others first and in so doing so, often deny themselves the very self-care that would make them more effective.
This year’s conference, Take Back Your Temple — Emotional, Spiritual and Physical Wellbeing, is designed to provide women (and men) with the tools they need for emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing and to develop the skills that can help their ministries become the fruit of being with Jesus. Foundational to this conference is the understanding that in order to love and serve others with the love of Christ we must love and take care of ourselves — emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Conference keynote speakers include international church conference speaker, bestselling author and speaker Geri Scazzero, who with her husband co-founded Emotionally Healthy Spirituality; and international women’s conference leader and church planter Beverly Martin.
For more details, a complete list of speakers and to register, please visit www.deborahsdaughters.com or www.united.edu/deborahs-daughters-take-back-your-temple/. Course credit, CEUs and a one-day streaming option are also available.
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General Board of Discipleship to offer leadership webinars
Leadership Ministries 2014 Webinar Series, from the General Board of Discipleship, will be held July through September. View the list of webinars. Go to www.gbod.org/webinars to register. All webinars are free.
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Camp Fontanelle's "Girls Only" camp continues to grow
The Camp Fontanelle Girls Only Camp has been growing in popularity each year. With a 20 percent increase from the 2013 camp, the dean, Pastor Lyn Seiser must be doing something right.
Girls Only is just what it states, a camp for only females. It is a camp to learn about God, building lasting friendships and learning to be girl strong. It is laughter and tears and growing in faith.
For the last couple of years, the male staffers have been feeling left out. To feel a part of the Girls Only Camp and to give the female campers a laugh, they have “dressed” when serving one of the camp meals. This year, all of the male summer camp staff dressed for the occasion. Some of the dresses are borrowed show choir dresses while others were found at the local Goodwill. Either way, it was a fun and uplifting time for campers and camp staff.
Camp is many things; it is spiritual at the evening worship and campfires, it is adventurous with swimming or ziplining. It is many things, but mostly, it is memorable. It is not too late to register for camp. Go to greatplainsumc.org/camps and find the perfect camp for you or your family member.
Photo: Front row: John Douglas, Jono Kubicka, Jonathan Porch. Back row: Adam Neely, Ethan Porter, Sebastian Sorensen
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Newsletter links
•Christian Copyright Solutions: Q&A
•United Methodist Communications: Register for United Methodist 101
•Krusing the Capitol: July 2014
•Christian Copyright Solutions: July 2014
•DNA Update: Mid-July 2014
•Ministry Matters: July 15, 2014
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Volunteers in Mission teams needed for continuing disaster recovery efforts
The Baxter Springs and Beaver Crossing tornado recovery sites are now ready for and welcoming VIM Teams to help with repairs and rebuilding in those communities. So many of you have conveyed your willingness to assist and we thank you!
Baxter Springs, Kansas
Pastor Max Raney recently came onboard as the Construction Coordinator and has literally hit the ground running. Max is a former Building Trades Instructor at Franklin Technical School and you will appreciate his abilities, amiable personality and his "all for the glory of the Kingdom" attitude.
In this small community it is safe to say most everyone was directly or indirectly impacted by the April 27th storm. However, only a small percentage of owner-occupied homes sustained some extent of damage and we anticipate the repairs and rebuilding should go fairly quickly. The work starts next week as Holton UMC comes in, followed by Tisdale UMC so please respond now because yes, your help is most certainly needed.
The majority of the exterior work will include roof tear-off and replacement, window replacement, siding repairs, partial replacement and facia and soffit repair and replacement. There will also be siding to scrape and paint, yard work and tree trimming.
Beaver Crossing, Nebraska
VIM teams are needed beginning in the end of July to help with repairs. Every house in this small town was affected by the May 11th tornado and case management is in process to line up jobs for volunteers. There will be both exterior and interior jobs to be done.
We encourage volunteers to bring whatever tools you can comfortably pack. Once you're scheduled, site leads will be in touch to outline your scope of work. There are a couple of nearby churches that have offered to house volunteer teams and more information on scheduling your team, contact the site managers at:
•Baxter Springs, Kansas: Lin Harris, 918-607-5125, umc.dr.baxter@greatplainsumc.org
•Beaver Crossing, Nebraska: Dorothy Aspegren, 402-641-9698, umc.dr.beaver@greatplainsumc.org
Insurance
Information on insurance for your team is available here: www.greatplainsumc.org/tripinsurance
God bless you for expressing an interest in making these sites your mission field!
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Minden UMC mission team returns from Honduras
Minden UMC, in Minden, Nebraska, sent a mission team of 19 to the island of Roatan, Honduras in May. Nine members from the Minden church were joined by members of several other churches for the trip, including Central City UMC and Kearney First UMC, all in Nebraska. Ages ran from 15 to 63. Paul Blanchard, pastor at Minden and Upland UMC, organized and led the team.
Project Honduras, based in Roatan, serves as coordinator for all mission teams working with The Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas on the north coast and bay islands of Honduras. Methodist churches have been present there for hundreds of years. The director of Project Honduras, Joe Summers, is a lay pastor from the Oklahoma Annual Conference. Joe has been working as a full-time missionary on Roatan for nine years, and Paul met him several times on previous mission trips to Central America. Joe has preached in the Central City and Minden UMCs.
The team primarily worked in the poor community of Flowers Bay. Vacation Bible school was held twice a day at Bethesda Methodist Church at Flowers Bay. Some of the children do not go to school, as poverty and limited space in schools leave some without.
Another part of the team worked on a house renovation project. It was for an older woman who adopts young children without families of their own. Annie currently has three children living with her - all share one bed.
Flowers Bay has many poor widows in the church who have inadequate housing but no means to upgrade their homes. Project Honduras matches work teams with construction projects for such persons or churches.
The other aspect of the team was a full music band who hauled their own equipment down in order to provide two hour concerts in three different churches. Most of the equipment was left and donated for use in the Methodist churches and Methodist School on the island.
A return trip is scheduled for May 23-30, 2015.
•Most recent enewsletter from Project Honduras
•Archive of all the Project Honduras newsletters
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Gun violence
The following articles were submitted by the Mercy and Justice Team.
Conference Secretary sends resolution "Christians Respond to Gun Violence" to congressional delegations
This resolution was one among several and was passed on Saturday morning of the Annual Conference Session after strong voices were heard to support and oppose it. To inform our senators and representatives in Kansas and Nebraska was one of the actions listed in the resolution. One way to engage with this difficult issue in your local church is to utilize a new bible study just released from the General Board of Church and Society, called “Kingdom Dreams, Violent Realities.” See below.
•Read the resolution.
Resolution: Christians Respond to Gun Violence
Rationale: United Methodists across the Great Plains Conference are deeply concerned about the suffering and human loss caused by the reliance on violence to solve conflicts and the unrestricted availability of fire arms. As faithful Christians we take action.
Whereas: “Violence and, more particularly, violence to children and youths is a primary concern for United Methodists. We recognize and deplore violence which kills and injures children and youths. In the name of Christ, who came "and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near" (Ephesians 2:17) and challenged all his disciples to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), we call upon the church to affirm its faith through vigorous efforts to curb and eliminate gun violence.” (Resolution #3426 Gun Violence, Adopted 2000, Revised and Readopted in 2008)
Whereas: One in three people in the U.S. know someone who has been shot. On average, 32 Americans are murdered with guns every day and 140 are treated for a gun assault in an emergency room. Every day on average, 51 people kill themselves with a firearm, and 45 people are shot or killed in an accident with a gun.
The U.S. firearm homicide rate is 20 times higher
than the combined rates of 22 countries that are our peers in wealth and population. A gun in the home is 22 times more likely to be used to kill or injure in a domestic homicide, suicide, or unintentional shooting than to be used in self-defense.
(Source: Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence); Whereas: In the fourteen months since the mass shooting in Newtown, CT (2012), there have been at least 44 school shootings including fatal and nonfatal assaults, suicides, and unintentional shootings — an average of more than three a month. In the first six weeks of 2014 alone, there were 13 school shootings including one eight-day period in which there were four shootings in K-12 schools. (Source: Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Mayors Against Illegal Guns); Whereas: Americans Support Universal Background Checks: Nine out of 10 Americans agree that we should have universal background checks, including three out of four NRA members; Since the Brady Law was initially passed, about 2 million attempts to purchase firearms have been blocked due to a background check. About half of these blocked attempts were by felons; Our current background check system only applies to about 60% of gun sales, leaving 40% (online sales, purchases at gun shows, etc.) without a background check. (Source: Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence); Whereas: 2013 was an unprecedented year for gun safety in America.
Despite the lack of motion in Congress, legislators in state houses across the country introduced a record number of bills to strengthen gun laws. Even states with historically weak gun laws, like Florida, Missouri, and Texas, took action towards sensible gun legislation. In fact, at the end of 2013, twenty-one states enacted new laws to curb gun violence in their communities, with eight of these states passing major reforms. (Source: Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence)
Whereas: By word and example Jesus embraced nonviolence as a way of life. He took up a cross rather than a sword. He embraced the practice of hospitality and a creative love of one’s enemies. In his sermon to disciples and followers he proclaimed “blessed are the peace-makers.” (Matthew 5:9).
Therefore be it resolved that the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church lift up a vision of “a more excellent way” by calling on appropriate bodies within the church to:
Recall and adhere to Resolution #3426 from the Book of Resolutions which states, "reflecting that the traditional role of The United Methodist Church has been one of safety and sanctuary, every United Methodist Church is officially declared a weapon-free zone." (see also Paragraph 162, Social Principles)
Therefore be it further resolved that the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church:
Join United Methodist Women and the General Board of Church &
Society in supporting the efforts of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence (www.faithsagainstgunviolence.org) and share information from Faiths United with congregations for study and action. Faiths United supports legislation to accomplish the following:
Every person who buys a gun should pass a criminal background check; High capacity weapons and ammunition magazines should not be available to civilians; and Gun trafficking should be a federal crime; Therefore be it further resolved that the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church:
Direct the Secretary of the Annual Conference to send this resolution to all members of the Nebraska and Kansas congressional delegations.
Therefore be it further resolved that the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church:
Encourage all Great Plains Congregations to participate in the National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend.
Implemented by: The Great Plains Conference Cabinet, the Mercy and Justice Team, and the Communications Department.
Time Frame: Between July 2014 and June 2015
Date: March 15, 2014
Signatures:
Members of the Great Plains Mercy and Justice Team:
Jamie Snyder
Andrea Paret
Nancy Brown
Rev. Cindy Karges
Rev. Jamie Norwich McLennan
Rev. Sarah Marsh
Rev. Pat Longstroth
Louise Niemann
Rev. Loren Drummond
Rev. Kurt Cooper
Katie Lamb
Rev. Hyun-Jin Cho
Debora Cox
Kent Little
Jerry Feese
Sarah Godbey
Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede
Rev. Bonnie McCord
Signatures from laity and clergy across the Great Plains Conference:
Rev. Michelle Reed
Mary S. Vogt
Susan Perry
Rev. Karen Lamb
Sandy Sypherd
Loyal Park
Mary Alice Park
Rev. Carol Windrum
Dorothy Halvorsen
Melva Kube
Rev. Galen Wray
Rev. Bill Ritter
Rev. Mr. Lauren D. Ekdahl
LaRene Konopasek
Connie Hansen
David Hansen
Richard Snyder
Margery M. Ambrosius
Mary Wakeley
Gerald Wakeley
Karen Warner
Stephen Warner
Sharon Springer
Dottie Deines
Robert Boyce
Anne Kallesen
Doug Kallesen
Rev. David Lux
Noelle Barrick
Ruby Thelander
Deanna Holland
Rev. Norma Jean Andrews
Marilyn J. Fick
Joann J. Krohn
Nina Henry
Kim Whitehouse
Arlyne Weichel
Patsy Stein
Jan Gorman
Beverly Sadler
Connie Loveland
Maxine Citta
Donald Bredthauer
Iris Ebert
Ralph Dagenai
Submitted by:
Andrea Paret, First UMC Norfolk, Great Plains Peace with Justice Coordinator;
402-371-7227; amparet08@yahoo.com
‘Kingdom Dreams, Violent Realities’
3-session Bible study on gun violence
by Wayne Rhodes, editor, Faith in Action on June 25, 2014
The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has developed a three-session Bible study about the use of guns in committing violence. The study, “Kingdom Dreams, Violent Realities,” uses Micah 4:1-4 as its scriptural foundation.
Bill Mefford, GBCS director of Civil and Human Rights, wrote the Bible study that emphasizes, “The desire to stop the impact of gun violence is felt among all people from many nations.” It touches on such topics as weapons in domestic violence and war involving boys conscripted into rebel armies.
Mefford said “Kingdom Dreams, Violent Realities” comes out of many conversations with United Methodists who wanted to find some space in the denomination to discuss this crucial and complex issue “absent the superficial sound bites and sloganeering that happens all too often.”
“When addressing societal issues we must always start with Scripture,” Mefford said. “I found Micah’s vision to resonate with this issue both in terms of it being grounded in God’s sovereignty over all nations, and God’s passion for shalom via individual and corporate salvation. A safer world means we must all be saved.”
Micah’s vision will challenge many, if not all preconceptions, according to Mefford, and lift people to a higher, holier understanding and engagement on gun violence.
Micah 4:1-4 contains the prophet’s vision of beating “their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
•Read the full article.
•Download the bible study.
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Rural Advocates to hold first Great Plains annual gathering
It is time to send in your registration for the Great Plains United Methodist Rural Advocates annual gathering scheduled for Aug. 15-16 at First United Methodist Church, in Kearney, Nebraska.
See the flier for more information and to register. If you have questions, contact Ron Williams at 785-587-4122 or ronaldj7@cox.net
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Gretna UMC sends volunteers to Epworth Village
The Rev. Janice Japp, and members of the Gretna UMC, in Gretna, Neb., devoted two days of volunteer service to Epworth Village. These members helped with painting, landscaping and assisted with cleaning projects around campus. This service is greatly appreciated as it has become difficult to get all of the projects on campus done without the help of volunteers like the hard-working group from Gretna. If other groups are interested in helping with workdays at Epworth Village, please contact 402-362-3353.
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Listo Lima 2014 Mission Trip members to blog about experience
Karen Jeffcoat, Great Plains Conference Board of Ordained Ministry registrar, and Eduardo Bousson, campus minister at Nebraska Wesleyan University, in Lincoln, Neb., will be blogging about their participation in a mission trip to Lima, Peru. The trip, made in conjunction with St. Luke’s UMC, Midland, Texas, will be July 21-Aug 2. Team members will spend their time in Peru working on adding a third story to a church building that will house a food program for neighborhood children and leading vacation Bible school. Your prayers for the members of Listo Lima Mission Trip and those they work with in Lima are appreciated.
You can follow along with Jeffcoat and Bousson at http://listolima2014.blogspot.com/.
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Global Mission Fellow sends update from Tagaytay, Philippines
Maria Niechwiadowicz, Global Mission Fellow, is blogging about her experiences. Be sure to check out her latest blog from the Phillippines.
Follow along with Niechwiadowicz’s experience.
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Fellowship and Faith Ministry, Inc., in Topeka, Kan., looking for school kits
Fellowship and Faith Ministry, Inc. located at 708 SE Lime St., Topeka, Kansas, is in need of school kits for their back to school block party. This event will be held Saturday, Aug. 2, from 6-7:30 p.m. Donations are requested to be received by July 25. For more information call the office at 785-354-7262, weekdays from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Kits needed:
Elementary kits (items should be in a two-gallon plastic bag)
•2 unsharpened pencils with erasers
•2 wide-rule theme books or notebooks (not wire bound)
•Scissors - small, blunt
•1 tube of glue
•1 box 24 crayons
•1 box washable markers (8 colors)
•1 box colored pencils
•Erasers (pink)
High school kits (items should be in a two-gallon plastic bag)
•4 unsharpened pencils with erasers
•2 blue pens
•2 black pens
•3 two-pocket portfolios (folders)
•1 glue stick
•1 highlighter
•1 box colored pencils
•1 eraser (pink)
•2 wide-rule theme books or notebooks (not wire bound)
•1 college-rule theme books or notebooks (not wire bound)
•1 package of college rule loose leaf paper
•1 composition notebook (wide or college rule)
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Trinity UMC in Lincoln, Neb., seeks director of ministry to children, youth and their families
Trinity UMC in Lincoln, Neb., is a vibrant, growing and progressive faith community. Trinity is currently seeking a dynamic and visionary individual to fill a full-time director of ministry to children, youth and their families.
The director is responsible for nurturing age-appropriate Christian discipleship, engaging in relational ministry with neighborhood families and schools and providing a ministry of care for children, youth and their families. The director will develop and coordinate programming that includes Sunday school, vacation Bible school, midweek offerings, community outreach events and experiences, partnerships with neighborhood schools and collaboration with community service organizations that serve children, youth and their families. The director is responsible for recruiting, developing and nurturing a volunteer team of leaders that is instrumental in implementation of programming and in connecting others to the ministry. The director will supervise the coordinator of youth ministry in order to facilitate an integrated ministry for children, youth and their families.
View complete job description.
If interested, email the following materials to bette@trinitylincoln.org:
•Cover letter highlighting your qualifications for this position
•Resume
•Names, email addresses and phone numbers of three professional references
POSITION OPENING
Director of Ministry to
Children, Youth, and their Families
Trinity United Methodist Church is a vibrant, growing, and progressive faith community located at 56th
and Pine Lake Road in Lincoln, NE. We are currently seeking a dynamic and visionary individual to fill
a full-time position leading our ministry to children, youth, and their families.
The Director is responsible for nurturing age-appropriate Christian discipleship, engaging in relational
ministry with neighborhood families and schools, and providing a ministry of care for children, youth,
and their families. The Director will develop and coordinate programming that includes Sunday school,
Vacation Bible School, midweek offerings, community outreach events and experiences, partnerships
with neighborhood schools, and collaboration with community service organizations that serve children,
youth, and their families. The Director is responsible for recruiting, developing, and nurturing a volunteer
team of leaders that is instrumental in implementation of programming and in connecting others to the
ministry. The Director will supervise the coordinator of youth ministry in order to facilitate an integrated
ministry for children, youth, and their families.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A passion for ministry—to children, youth, and their families within the congregation and in the broader community
- Strong organizational skills
- Experience in program development: planning, promotion, recruitment/training of volunteers, implementation, and evaluation
- Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
- Highly developed listening skills
- The ability to develop personal connections and resources for referrals
- 3 to 5 years of experience working with elementary age children and their families
- A bachelor’s degree preferred
TO APPLY:
Email the following materials to bette@trinitylincoln.org:
- Cover letter highlighting your qualifications for this position
- Resume
- Names, email addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references
We will begin reviewing application materials in late June and will interview selected candidates in early
July. We anticipate an August 1 start date for this position
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Norton UMC looking for director of Christian education program
Norton UMC, Norton Kan., is currently receiving applications for a part-time director of the Christian education program. Interested parties should contact the church office at 785-877-2196 or nfumc@ruraltel.net for an outline of the job description and an application form. Phone inquiries need to be between 8 a.m. and noon. Application deadline is July 31, 2014.
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Basehor UMC, in Basehor, Kan., seeks director of youth ministries
Basehor UMC, in Basehor, Kan., has an opening for a director of youth ministries. This ministry has grown from a hand full of youth to 65 in the past 4 years, many coming from non-church families. Growing area in a great school district. Very supportive congregation and staff. The church is moderate in its theology, with heavy emphasis on Biblical teaching…but it’s really all about Jesus! In the process of creating a new space for youth to meet.
This 30 hours a week position pays $20,000-plus per year depending on experience and/or training/education. The following is the current job description. However, we will be flexible to work with your passions, gifts, and visions for ministry with youth.
Read the full job description.
Basehor UMC, in Basehor, Kan., seeks director of youth ministries
Basehor UMC, in Basehor, Kan., has an opening for a director of youth ministries. This ministry has grown from a hand full of youth to 65+ in the past 4 years, many coming from non-church families. Growing area in a great school district. Very supportive congregation and staff. The church is moderate in its theology, with heavy emphasis on Biblical teaching…but it’s really all about Jesus! In the process of creating a new space for youth to meet.
This 30 hours a week position pays $20,000-plus per year depending on experience and/or training/education. The following is the current job description. However, we will be flexible to work with your passions, gifts, and visions for ministry with youth.
Weekly planning:
High school youth group, Thursday night 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Middle school youth group, Wednesday night 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Sunday school, middle school and high school combined; Sunday morning 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Each lesson should be prepared to fit the spiritual needs of the group of kids taking into account cultural context and biblical teachings. Teachings should be spiritually deep and have the ability to be fun and connect with the kids. Keep in mind that each kid learns differently and try to incorporate different learning styles into each lesson.
Monthly planning:
Staff meetings with pastor and children’s director
Attending finance and administrative board meetings
Working with council on ministries to plan ministry opportunities within the church walls and outside in the community.
Working with education committee to discuss the education plan for all ages of the church.
Youth council: Planning fundraisers for mission trips, conferences and camps, discussing mission projects, events and bible studies for the youth of the church. Meetings are held once a month.
Planning monthly activities (some are split middle/high school and some are together) large events such as concerts, conferences, retreats and smaller events such as movie night, game night, family dinners etc.
Planning monthly mission projects: Getting involved in the Basehor community, the community within the church along with the community in Kansas City, Kan.
Other planning:
Coffee meetings with youth to be a sounding board when life goes awry, discussing spiritual life and just being there to listen. Keeping within the bounds of Safe and Sacred training, always meeting in a public place.
Planning summer mission trip. High school youth every year go on a mission trip, we have used ministry partners like, Youth Works and Next Step Ministries.
Holding monthly meetings for the mission team for team building and fundraiser planning
Planning fundraisers to raise the needed money for the trip costs and transportation for each student.
Creating and tracking of the yearly budget
Social media: The youth group has a Facebook page, Twitter account and Instagram account. All should be kept up weekly for youth group, events and outreach.
Volunteer recruiting: This takes quite a bit of time because volunteers are there to build lasting relationships with the youth. It takes over six months for youth to start trusting an adult in their life, volunteers need to be willing to be patient and work hard to build these relationships. This takes thoughtful consideration when talking with volunteers, taking them out for coffee to discuss their job as a volunteer and having a time of training (Safe Gatherings) to know the right boundaries.
Recruiting and scheduling for youth group snack creators.
Recruiting drivers for all mission projects and activities off church site.
Keeping in contact with parents: Weekly newsletter updating parents on upcoming events and lesson plans; hold meetings to discuss the future of the youth group and plans that are currently in motion; and one-on-one email check in with parents when a student has missed youth group.
If interested, please send resume to pastorrobwinger@gmail.com, please direct questions to the same address.
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Youth leader needed at Trinity UMC in El Dorado, Kan.
Trinity UMC in El Dorado, Kansas, is looking for a youth leader to direct and lead programming for the youth of the church. The youth leader will determine the ages and/or groupings of the youth annually. Generally, the beginning age of participants will be students in or of the seventh grade age. The youth leader shall seek to foster Christian community through building relationships with young people that strengthen their commitment to the church and growth in faith in Jesus Christ.
View the full job description. This position has a starting pay of $14/hour, with flexible hours. Anyone interested may contact the church at 316-321-4235 or trinityeld@sbcglobal.net.
YOUTH LEADER
Trinity United Methodist Church
(Job Description)
Major responsibility/purpose:
To direct and lead programming for the youth of the Church. The Youth Leader will determine the ages and/or groupings of the youth annually. Generally, the beginning age of participants will be students in or of the 7th grade age. The Youth Leader shall seek to foster Christian community through building relationships with young people that strengthen their commitment to the church and growth in faith in Jesus Christ.
Requirements of position:
- Must be a Christian and demonstrate personal and emotional maturity.
- Must be able to relate well with children and adults.
- Subject to a law enforcement background check.
- Must take and pass the Methodist Church requirements for this position, which may include the course: Safe Gatherings.
- The Youth Leader will be required to attend training such as the Boundary Awareness
- Training and others as determined by the Methodist Ministries and the Pastor.
General Responsibilities include:
- The Youth Leader will spend time making personal visits with each youth associated with the Church and those that the Pastor refers. This may include visits at school or home and should be done with the knowledge and consent of parents.
- Plan, lead and teach weekly meeting/youth fellowship time for youth groups throughout the year. This may occur during the week or on Sunday. Plan, recruit adult sponsors for summer camps and transportation to camps.
- Teach, plan, and recruit sponsors and lead youth activities in events that are appropriate for the age and interests of the youth. Attend Sunday morning worship regularly and assist the Pastor in worship when appropriate.
- Be a member of the Christian Education committee and assist with the Sunday school activities (teaching or recruiting) to increase and retain attendance.
- Complete required reports for the Finance Committee and reports requested by Pastor Parrish Relations Committee.
- Assist the Pastor in areas as needed.
Accountability:
- The Youth Leader is responsible to the Pastor and to the Staff Pastor Parish Committee
- and the committee will review performance formally at least annually.
Benefits:
- It is expected that Youth Leader will work 80 hours per month.
- Worker’s Compensation and Social Security will be paid in standard fashion.
- Compensation will be defined in the work agreement for this position.
Approved by Pastor Parrish Committee on June 30, 2014
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