Great Plains Conference Communications of The United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, United States "GPconnect" for Wednesday, 10 August 2016Download the printable version of the Aug. 10 issue of GPconnect.In this edition:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Help sustain Camp Comeca by assisting in meeting challenge
- Small Wonders conference to focus on young-adult ministries
- Grant available to help nurture a Culture of Call
- Receive help discerning your call
- Saint Paul seminary congratulates course of study graduate
- Pray, show support for young adults heading back to campus
- Learn about some recent changes to Lay Servant Ministries
- Great Plains to help establish refugee nonprofit
- Register now for Early Response Team training opportunities
- Churches conduct summer camp in Omaha for 25 immigrant children
Help sustain Camp Comeca by assisting in meeting challenge
Camp Comeca, a Great Plains Conference facility near Cozad, Nebraska, has enjoyed a successful summer, including more than tripling the number of campers it had last year.
In addition, the camp distributed 25 Call to Ministry cards and had a dozen campers make the decision to become followers of Christ, said Sara Shaw, conference coordinator of camping ministries and interim director of Comeca. A nationwide search is underway for a new camp director.
The camp has also increased its number of worship opportunities in a day with two chapel services, a Bible study and devotion time.
At the Great Plains Annual Conference session in June, delegates were told of a matching grant from the Nebraska United Methodist Challenge Fund that could raise $111,632.61 for Comeca. As of July 31, $21,601.57 has been raised – leaving $90,031.14 yet to be raised for improvements to the camp.
“We’d love to be able to meet our goal by the annual barbecue on Sept. 25,” said the Rev. Evelyn Fisher, director of congregational excellence for the conference.
Contributions can be made through a secure site atwww.greatplainsumc.org/campcomecacapitalcampaign.
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Small Wonders conference to focus on young-adult ministries
Registration is open for the annual Small Wonders conference, which aims to help churches with fewer than 100 people in average worship attendance better live out the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
This year’s event will focus on presentations and conversations about young-adult ministry. Join us Oct. 7-8 at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas. The two days will be filled with worship, workshops and brainstorming about how to best participate in ministry to young adults in small churches in rural, urban and suburban settings. Young adults will be among our leadership for the conference.
The Peterson Brothers – from Assaria, Kansas – will perform their farm parodies of pop songs and talk about their faith. Learn more about thePeterson Brothers. And check out some of their parodies.
For more information on workshops, hotel options and registration, please go to www.greatplainsumc.org/smallwonders.
Contact the Rev. Micki McCorkle, coordinator of small-membership church ministries, at mmcorckle@greatplainsumc.org.
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Grant available to help nurture a Culture of Call
Grants will be awarded in the range of $500-$2,000 for churches, campus ministries, and United Methodist organizations in the Great Plains UMC to fuel their imaginations in creating opportunities to cultivate a Culture of Call.
Creating a Culture of Call means that the behaviors, beliefs and attitudes of your congregation/community readily supports the members of the community to identify and explore a call by God to serve God as a lay, licensed, or ordained person. Not everyone who feels a call will work “in ministry” for a church, but as everyone seeks to live out his or her faith more deeply, we pray that everyone will consider their work in the world, and even their interactions with other people will be an opportunity to live out God’s call.
The second deadline to apply is Sept. 15, 2016 (the early deadline wasApril 15). Learn more including FAQs and information on applying at greatplainsumc.org/cocgrant.
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Receive help discerning your call
Those considering a call to ministry should visit greatplainsumc.org/exploringcall. Here you will find information on how to discern, nurture, equip and live your call.
Some of the many tools offered for discerning your call includes other’s call stories, podcasts and this month’s featured article, “Called to both ministry and motherhood,” from Ministry Matters. Great resources found for those nurturing a call is 50 Ways to Cultivate a Culture of Call and 5 Cups of Coffee along with other’s stories on how they have nurtured their call. For those ready to equip for call, several videos are offered explaining Candidacy Summit and what it means to be an elder, deacon, licensed local pastor and SPRC member. Resources for living your call including the TiM program, Elisha Grant and more are also offered.Check out the greatplainsumc.org/exploringcall, or contact the Rev. Ashlee Alley at aalley@greatplainsumc.org, for more information on all of these resources.
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Saint Paul seminary congratulates course of study graduate
Saint Paul School of Theology in Leawood, Kasnas, congratulates Pastor Becky Saddler for graduating from the Saint Paul Course of Study program Aug. 4, 2016.
The ceremony was held in the Wesley Chapel at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. Saddler is a member of the Great Plains Conference and is currently serving as pastor of Arapahoe First UMC and Beaver City First UMC in Nebraska.
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Pray, show support for young adults heading back to campus
Let the Great Plains Conference know names of college students who are going back to school this month so the conference can help connect them with the United Methodist campus ministry in their area and help them connect with faith and leadership during these formative years! The form is: gp-reg.brtapp.com/studentcontact, or email the campus ministers directly with information at www.greatplainsumc.org/campusministries.
After you send information or if you do not know of any college students, you are invited to pray for the campus ministries for the next six weeks during this time of acclimation and moving back to school. Here's a sample prayer:
“O God, Guide the students in our Great Plains with your passion, vision and hope. Connect them with others and give them purpose. Send forth campus ministers, student leaders, churches and communities to proclaim your grace in a real and powerful way so that lives can be transformed and, by following You, they can transform the world. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Will you send and pray for our students and young adults?
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Learn about some recent changes to Lay Servant Ministries
The term “local” is out and “certified” is back in. That was the decision made by delegates to the General Conference related to Lay Servant Ministries.
Mary Feit, the Great Plains Conference director for Lay Servant Ministries, explains in the latest edition of the LSM blog.
Read the blog.
Changes made to Lay Servant Ministries program
Lay Servant Ministries
Trying to keep up with the many changes happening in our conference can be a huge challenge. Two of the newest changes affecting Lay Servant Ministries comes from General Conference.
As we expected, the Local Church Lay Servant position is no longer included in the ministry, however, individual districts can continue to use the designation if they wish. The Refresher Basic Course will be phased out. So for an individual to remain “Local Church” only, he or she can either take the Basic course again or take an Advanced Course.
Another change is the return of the word “Certified” to the “Lay Speaker” title. At one time, removing this term from the title was considered.
At General Conference, the “Certified Lay Speaker” title was restored. Because the abbreviations would be similar, we will use CLS (Certified Lay Servant) and CLSp (Certified Lay Speaker) In our communications. You will note this also in the Journal when it is published.
Learn more about Lay Servant Ministries in the Great Plains Conference.
Mary Feit, CLSp, is Lay Servant Ministries director for the Great Plains Conference.
Trying to keep up with the many changes happening in our conference can be a huge challenge. Two of the newest changes affecting Lay Servant Ministries comes from General Conference.
As we expected, the Local Church Lay Servant position is no longer included in the ministry, however, individual districts can continue to use the designation if they wish. The Refresher Basic Course will be phased out. So for an individual to remain “Local Church” only, he or she can either take the Basic course again or take an Advanced Course.
Another change is the return of the word “Certified” to the “Lay Speaker” title. At one time, removing this term from the title was considered.
At General Conference, the “Certified Lay Speaker” title was restored. Because the abbreviations would be similar, we will use CLS (Certified Lay Servant) and CLSp (Certified Lay Speaker) In our communications. You will note this also in the Journal when it is published.
Learn more about Lay Servant Ministries in the Great Plains Conference.
Mary Feit, CLSp, is Lay Servant Ministries director for the Great Plains Conference.
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Learn more about Lay Servant Ministries, including information about upcoming training.
-------
Great Plains to help establish refugee nonprofit
It is amazing to see the ministry being done through Musa Rashid!
Musa has a heart of love and compassion for our “New American” brothers and sisters coming from so many places around the world. Musa explained to us that they would really like to get away from the refugee language and use "new American."
Following a meeting last week, it was decided that the conference would help Musa establish his group as a 501(c)3. He and his other two workers are trusted with the 175 individuals who call Wichita home.
In the meantime, we are in need of the following items for our families being cared for by the Refugees Support Center: rent money ($350, $450 and $700), silverware, chairs, sofa, bed frames (all sizes), sheets, towels, cookware, all school supplies, diapers and a whole lot more. If you can help or you are interested in what other items have been requested, please contact the Rev. Hollie Tapley athtapley@greatplainsumc.org.
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Register now for Early Response Team training opportunities
The next Early Response Team, or ERT, training will be Saturday, Aug. 13 at Calvary UMC in Iola, Kansas. The deadline for registration is Thursday.
Upcoming ERT classes are Saturday, Sept. 17, at Stillwell, Kansas, UMC; and Saturday, Nov. 19, at Haysville, Kansas, UMC.
We are looking for churches to host any of the trainings we provide. Please contact the Rev. Hollie Tapley at htapley@greatplainsumc.org to schedule one.
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Churches conduct summer camp in Omaha for 25 immigrant children
Members from several churches came together to offer a special summer camp for children who had to flee their home countries because of violence and extreme poverty and who entered the United States in the past two years.
The seeds for this ministry were sown at an immigration advocacy training in March. The Great Plains Immigration Rapid Response Team had invited Kristin Kumpf, director of organizing from the General Board of Church and Society, to facilitate several trainings in our conference and the Immigration Ministry Team of First United Methodist Church in Omaha hosted one of them.
During a brainstorming time, the idea of offering a summer camp for children who came to Nebraska fleeing from Central American countries developed. In July, this idea came to fruition through the work and passion of Pastor Juan Carlos Veloso and others committed to this ministry.
“We wanted to provide an environment of positivism, hope and faith, to contrast all the traumas the children had faced coming to this,” explained Pastor Veloso.
Activities throughout the week and collaboration included: Kevin Mayle from First UMC in Omaha provided "the coolest bus ever" for the trip to the zoo; Linda Hankins from Aldersgate UMC was one of the teachers; Grace UMC provided the location and support in different areas, Saint James in Bellevue through Comunidad Cristiana, their Hispanic ministry, provided the lunch for the field trip; and a variety of community organizations participated in different ways.
Dr. Conrado Rodriguez, a bilingual psychologist, presented a session focused on emotional support and motivation, and teachers from Spring Lake Magnet School in Omaha donated their time for this great cause.
“It was a tremendous success, to God be the Glory!” Veloso said. The plan is to continue supporting these children and their families.
For more information, contact Juan Carlos Veloso atpastorjuancarlos@me.com or Andrea Paret at amparet08@yahoo.com.
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Newton UMC member elected as West Point's new first captain
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Cadet Hugh McConnell, a member of Trinity Heights United Methodist Church in Newton, Kansas, has been selected first captain of the U.S. Military Academy's Corps of Cadets for the 2016-2017 academic year, achieving the highest position in the cadet chain of command. He will assume his duties Aug. 15.
As first captain, McConnell, an environmental science major, is responsible for the overall performance of the approximately 4,400-member Corps of Cadets. He follows in the footsteps of other notable first captains such as Douglas MacArthur, William Westmoreland, Pete Dawkins and Kristin Baker.
The first captain, a senior who is also called the brigade commander, is similar to a student body president. His duties include implementing a class agenda and acting as a liaison between the corps and the administration. In addition, McConnell is at the top of a pyramid of cadet commanders who make up the chain of command for the Corps of Cadets at West Point.
McConnell graduated from Newton High School in 2013. He was confirmed at Trinity Heights UMC in 2006.
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Alma UMC helps stock food pantry
Many churches help their local food pantries, and so did the Alma, Nebraska, United Methodist Church congregation this summer with a unique theme, “Sack it to Them!”
Each week, members of the congregation brought items to the church or directly to the Harlan County Caring Cupboard in Alma. Food brought on Sunday was blessed during worship by the Rev. Jim Bendorf. Jim and Pam Miller took it the food pantry each Monday.
“With children at home in the summer, families need more food,” Bendorf said. “This is a way we as the church can come together with the Caring Cupboard to reach out to those in need throughout the community.”
This very successful drive was promoted in bulletins and on Facebook. Other denominations in the area also included information about the drive on their Facebook pages.
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Newsletters
Ministry Matters: Aug. 3, 2016
General Board of Global Ministries: connectNmission
General Board of Church and Society: Faith in Action
United Methodist Communications: Interpreter
David Upp: Mission Link
General Board of Global Ministries: Global Health
UMC Development Center: Spiritual Giving
United Methodist Communications: MyCom
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas
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Opinion
Death Penalty resources: The Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede of South Gate United Methodist Church in Lincoln shares her blog that includes resources on where you can learn more about the death penalty.
In Layman's Terms: Todd Seifert, conference communications director, shares some thoughts about sharing Jesus with the world the way we share our pride for Olympians.
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Letter to the Editor: Thank you to Great Plains
for gracious memorial, loving send-off
Dear Great Plains UMC and Great Plains UMW friends,
Words cannot express my appreciation for the incredible outpouring of love and support that you have showered me with during this really difficult time of losing my mother, hosting jurisdictional conference, preparing to move and saying good-byes to people we love.
Every card, every memorial, every expression of love has been so important to me. Thank you!
Scott and I have held the people of Kansas in our hearts for 12 years and then held even tighter to the Nebraskans for 4 years, knowing our time would be short. We love you and care for you, and you have in return loved and cared for us in ways beyond measure. Thank you for everything. The Great Plains donation to Mother’s memorial was extremely gracious. Thank you so much for all of your kindnesses. And the UMW donation to missions is always a lovely gift. Thank you for that also.
It is also appropriate for me to thank you for the kind and full ways you said good-bye to us at Annual Conference. From the quilt the spouse group organized to allowing me to have a few last fun pokes at Scott, to Superbish flying in to take his picture with so many, we had a great time, and we felt loved and cherished in really gracious fashion.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. We leave a part of our hearts right here at home in these Great Plains!
Cheers and blessings!
Mary Lou Reece
Letter to the Editor: Forget more studies on human sexuality and get to work serving Christ
In the last issue of the GPconnect magazine, I read where human sexuality (homosexuality) dominated the 2016 General Conference that eventually accepted a motion (425-408) for another study that would again be the topic at the 2020 General Conference.
Since then, I read where the “Methodist elected the first openly gay bishop” in the Western Jurisdiction in Scottsdale, Arizona. The article also pointed out where several annual conferences are openly defying the prohibition by appointing gay clergy and allowing same-sex weddings in churches.
As an ordained member of the Great Plains Annual Conference that served Nebraska churches for thirty years, I personally have known several gay members of these churches that have faithfully served in their respective church. None of them chose to be gay; their sexuality was something they were born with.
Our Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriages are legal. This, along with the fact that being gay is not a chosen desire but a reality of who one is, a gift of God, makes me wonder just how many studies we need to continue having. It seems like we could get on with the work Christ calls us to!
Rev. Robert E. Berlie, Sr., Retired
Ordained member of the Great Plains Annual Conference
Holdrege, NE
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Classifieds
Liberty UMC seeks executive director of spiritual growth
To view this and other classifieds, go to greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
-------
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
-------
Learn more about Lay Servant Ministries, including information about upcoming training.
-------
Great Plains to help establish refugee nonprofit
It is amazing to see the ministry being done through Musa Rashid!
Musa has a heart of love and compassion for our “New American” brothers and sisters coming from so many places around the world. Musa explained to us that they would really like to get away from the refugee language and use "new American."
Following a meeting last week, it was decided that the conference would help Musa establish his group as a 501(c)3. He and his other two workers are trusted with the 175 individuals who call Wichita home.
In the meantime, we are in need of the following items for our families being cared for by the Refugees Support Center: rent money ($350, $450 and $700), silverware, chairs, sofa, bed frames (all sizes), sheets, towels, cookware, all school supplies, diapers and a whole lot more. If you can help or you are interested in what other items have been requested, please contact the Rev. Hollie Tapley athtapley@greatplainsumc.org.
-------
Register now for Early Response Team training opportunities
The next Early Response Team, or ERT, training will be Saturday, Aug. 13 at Calvary UMC in Iola, Kansas. The deadline for registration is Thursday.
Upcoming ERT classes are Saturday, Sept. 17, at Stillwell, Kansas, UMC; and Saturday, Nov. 19, at Haysville, Kansas, UMC.
We are looking for churches to host any of the trainings we provide. Please contact the Rev. Hollie Tapley at htapley@greatplainsumc.org to schedule one.
-------
Churches conduct summer camp in Omaha for 25 immigrant children
Members from several churches came together to offer a special summer camp for children who had to flee their home countries because of violence and extreme poverty and who entered the United States in the past two years.
The seeds for this ministry were sown at an immigration advocacy training in March. The Great Plains Immigration Rapid Response Team had invited Kristin Kumpf, director of organizing from the General Board of Church and Society, to facilitate several trainings in our conference and the Immigration Ministry Team of First United Methodist Church in Omaha hosted one of them.
During a brainstorming time, the idea of offering a summer camp for children who came to Nebraska fleeing from Central American countries developed. In July, this idea came to fruition through the work and passion of Pastor Juan Carlos Veloso and others committed to this ministry.
“We wanted to provide an environment of positivism, hope and faith, to contrast all the traumas the children had faced coming to this,” explained Pastor Veloso.
Activities throughout the week and collaboration included: Kevin Mayle from First UMC in Omaha provided "the coolest bus ever" for the trip to the zoo; Linda Hankins from Aldersgate UMC was one of the teachers; Grace UMC provided the location and support in different areas, Saint James in Bellevue through Comunidad Cristiana, their Hispanic ministry, provided the lunch for the field trip; and a variety of community organizations participated in different ways.
Dr. Conrado Rodriguez, a bilingual psychologist, presented a session focused on emotional support and motivation, and teachers from Spring Lake Magnet School in Omaha donated their time for this great cause.
“It was a tremendous success, to God be the Glory!” Veloso said. The plan is to continue supporting these children and their families.
For more information, contact Juan Carlos Veloso atpastorjuancarlos@me.com or Andrea Paret at amparet08@yahoo.com.
-------
Newton UMC member elected as West Point's new first captain
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Cadet Hugh McConnell, a member of Trinity Heights United Methodist Church in Newton, Kansas, has been selected first captain of the U.S. Military Academy's Corps of Cadets for the 2016-2017 academic year, achieving the highest position in the cadet chain of command. He will assume his duties Aug. 15.
As first captain, McConnell, an environmental science major, is responsible for the overall performance of the approximately 4,400-member Corps of Cadets. He follows in the footsteps of other notable first captains such as Douglas MacArthur, William Westmoreland, Pete Dawkins and Kristin Baker.
The first captain, a senior who is also called the brigade commander, is similar to a student body president. His duties include implementing a class agenda and acting as a liaison between the corps and the administration. In addition, McConnell is at the top of a pyramid of cadet commanders who make up the chain of command for the Corps of Cadets at West Point.
McConnell graduated from Newton High School in 2013. He was confirmed at Trinity Heights UMC in 2006.
-------
Alma UMC helps stock food pantry
Many churches help their local food pantries, and so did the Alma, Nebraska, United Methodist Church congregation this summer with a unique theme, “Sack it to Them!”
Each week, members of the congregation brought items to the church or directly to the Harlan County Caring Cupboard in Alma. Food brought on Sunday was blessed during worship by the Rev. Jim Bendorf. Jim and Pam Miller took it the food pantry each Monday.
“With children at home in the summer, families need more food,” Bendorf said. “This is a way we as the church can come together with the Caring Cupboard to reach out to those in need throughout the community.”
This very successful drive was promoted in bulletins and on Facebook. Other denominations in the area also included information about the drive on their Facebook pages.
-------
Newsletters
Ministry Matters: Aug. 3, 2016
General Board of Global Ministries: connectNmission
General Board of Church and Society: Faith in Action
United Methodist Communications: Interpreter
David Upp: Mission Link
General Board of Global Ministries: Global Health
UMC Development Center: Spiritual Giving
United Methodist Communications: MyCom
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas
-------
Opinion
Death Penalty resources: The Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede of South Gate United Methodist Church in Lincoln shares her blog that includes resources on where you can learn more about the death penalty.
In Layman's Terms: Todd Seifert, conference communications director, shares some thoughts about sharing Jesus with the world the way we share our pride for Olympians.
-------
Letter to the Editor: Thank you to Great Plains
for gracious memorial, loving send-off
Dear Great Plains UMC and Great Plains UMW friends,
Words cannot express my appreciation for the incredible outpouring of love and support that you have showered me with during this really difficult time of losing my mother, hosting jurisdictional conference, preparing to move and saying good-byes to people we love.
Every card, every memorial, every expression of love has been so important to me. Thank you!
Scott and I have held the people of Kansas in our hearts for 12 years and then held even tighter to the Nebraskans for 4 years, knowing our time would be short. We love you and care for you, and you have in return loved and cared for us in ways beyond measure. Thank you for everything. The Great Plains donation to Mother’s memorial was extremely gracious. Thank you so much for all of your kindnesses. And the UMW donation to missions is always a lovely gift. Thank you for that also.
It is also appropriate for me to thank you for the kind and full ways you said good-bye to us at Annual Conference. From the quilt the spouse group organized to allowing me to have a few last fun pokes at Scott, to Superbish flying in to take his picture with so many, we had a great time, and we felt loved and cherished in really gracious fashion.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. We leave a part of our hearts right here at home in these Great Plains!
Cheers and blessings!
Mary Lou Reece
Letter to the Editor: Forget more studies on human sexuality and get to work serving Christ
In the last issue of the GPconnect magazine, I read where human sexuality (homosexuality) dominated the 2016 General Conference that eventually accepted a motion (425-408) for another study that would again be the topic at the 2020 General Conference.
Since then, I read where the “Methodist elected the first openly gay bishop” in the Western Jurisdiction in Scottsdale, Arizona. The article also pointed out where several annual conferences are openly defying the prohibition by appointing gay clergy and allowing same-sex weddings in churches.
As an ordained member of the Great Plains Annual Conference that served Nebraska churches for thirty years, I personally have known several gay members of these churches that have faithfully served in their respective church. None of them chose to be gay; their sexuality was something they were born with.
Our Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriages are legal. This, along with the fact that being gay is not a chosen desire but a reality of who one is, a gift of God, makes me wonder just how many studies we need to continue having. It seems like we could get on with the work Christ calls us to!
Rev. Robert E. Berlie, Sr., Retired
Ordained member of the Great Plains Annual Conference
Holdrege, NE
-------
Classifieds
Liberty UMC seeks executive director of spiritual growth
To view this and other classifieds, go to greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
-------
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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