WI Conference News & Ministry Opportunities

v Soulfood by Bishop Linda Lee

v Soul Sharing Blog by Bishop Linda Lee

v Shared Offering by Steve Polster

v New! Reflections

v Parish Paper for August

v Wisconsin UMC Facebook

 

Visit the Conference Calendar on the Wisconsin Conference website to stay updated on state and local events. The calendar provides information on camps, retreats, seminars, workshops and other Conference-related events. It is formatted like a regular calendar, and allows users to click on the events to read more details, including contact and registration instructions, a summary of the event, location, cost, and other pertinent information. Don’t miss out on important Wisconsin UMC events!

 

Safe Sanctuary Training is being offered at Concordia United Methodist Church in Prairie du Sac at 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 11th. This training is designed to teach local congregations how to develop and implement a Safe Sanctuary Policy for their church. It will be helpful if each congregation has a copy of the book Safe Sanctuaries by Joy Thornburg Melton. The book is available from Cokesbury. This training is especially good for Sunday school teachers, Christian education leaders, and youth leaders. Register by September 7th at secr@concordiaumc.org or call 608-643-6356. Click here for poster.

 

The 20th World Methodist Conference will be held August 4 - 8, 2011 at the International Convention Center in Durban, South Africa. The theme for the conference will be Jesus Christ – for the Healing of the Nations. The Methodist/Wesleyan family from throughout the African continent will host this quinquennial gathering in the port city of Durban. The World Methodist Council is currently accepting nominations for delegates to attend the conference. For more information or to make a nomination, contact Cindy Churan at cchuran@wisconsinumc.org.

 

Taking the War Out of Our Words: Speaking the Truth in Love, a two-day workshop for clergy and lay leaders, will take place October 1st - 2nd at Columbus UMC. The keynote speaker will be Sharon Ellison, speaker, author, and creator of the Powerful Non-Defensive (PNDC) process. Cost, which includes lunch and materials, is $75 per person for Friday or $150 per person for Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 920-623-3625.

 

Leaders of United Methodist churches located in downtown metropolitan areas, who face unique challenges as they typically serve aging congregations and diverse communities, find needed support each year by gathering to learn from each other. The Downtown Church Network 2010, a peer-learning event sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship for pastors and staff of downtown churches in cities of at least 100,000 people, is scheduled for September 29th - October 1st at First United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas. Read more.

  

Red Bird Mission has been providing ministries in the Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern Kentucky since 1921. Today, the need remains critical in this isolated, rural distressed area. Chronic poverty, lack of jobs, poor housing, and rugged mountainous terrain provide obstacles to a fuller life for residents. Red Bird strives to meet these needs through ministry in five areas: Education, Health and Wellness, Community Outreach, Economic Opportunity, and Community Housing Improvement. Support comes from churches and individuals across the nation. However, in recent years, support has declined. Redbird Mission is currently facing a financial crisis that is making it difficult to continue all the areas of ministries. For more information on how to support Red Bird Mission and Clinic, visit the Red Bird website. 

 

Two Special Sundays are coming up soon. Please observe these Sundays with your churches and help support two worthy causes. 

v United Methodist Women’s Sunday is September 19th: In the tradition of the connectional church, our Wisconsin Annual Conference has designated the third Sunday of September 2010, or another Sunday chosen by each local congregation, as United Methodist Women’s Sunday. This is a date set aside to specifically celebrate the accomplishments performed by the United Methodist Women and their predecessors, as well as share their purpose, and how they support the global missions of the church. Read more here and here.

v World Communion Sunday is October 3rd:  Your gifts on World Communion Sunday help to provide scholarships and student loans to racial and ethnic-minority students in the United States and international students. In today’s economy, your contributions are needed more than ever. If you have ever received a World Communion scholarship or student loan, we need your help right now. Please post this as your Facebook status: “If you can give, they will achieve - Help United Methodist scholars by donating today.” Read more. 

 

v UMCOR and GBGM Promise Support in Chile: During a Holy Week tour of areas hardest hit by the February 27th earthquake, UMCOR and General Board of Global Ministries executives promised support for the emergency relief efforts of the Methodist Church of Chile. The Reverend Tom Hazelwood, UMCOR disaster response executive, and Dakin Cook, GBGM executive for Mission Relationships, were guided on their tour by IMECH Bishop Mario Martínez Tapia and Methodist Emergency Response Coordinator Juan Salazar. Hazelwood and Cook brought the same message of solidarity to communities in Santiago, Talca, Linares, Chillán, Los Angeles, Concepción, Talcahuano, Penco, Angol, Hequén and Temuco, and to EMAH and the Inter-Church Emergency Response Committee, an ecumenical body formed after the earthquake. If you wish to provide support for the people of Chile, you can send a check to the Wisconsin Conference UMC Treasurer and reference fund number #6015.

v Providing Clean Water in Chile: After an earthquake, access to a clean water source is comprised, forcing populations to drink contaminated water. UMCOR, through partner GlobalMedic, is setting up two water distribution points in Chile following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake, which struck the country on February 27th. About 150,000 million Aquatab water purification tablets and 13 Trekker water purification units will provide relief to those in need of clean drinking water. The water purification units have the capacity to provide over 13,000 people daily with clean drinking water. Support this work by sending a check to the Wisconsin Conference UMC Treasurer for Fund #6015.

v Relief Supplies for Typhoon Survivors in the Philippines: UMCOR is providing additional relief aid to vulnerable families affected by Typhoon Ketsana and Parma, which slammed the Philippines in September and October 2009. More than 11,000 families will receive basic relief supply packets that include rice, sardines, dried fish, corned beef, oil, sugar, and salt, as well as hygiene supplies for women, and blankets and diapers for infants. UMCOR is working with partners Action by Churches Together and Muslim Aid to assist families still recovering from these devastating storms. Continue to support relief efforts in the Philippines with your gifts to Philippines Emergency, UMCOR Advance #240235.

 

v Volunteers Needed for Flood Recovery in Milwaukee: Thanks to all who continue to provide support for the flood clean-up recovery efforts in the Milwaukee area. Due to the efforts by VOAD and the organizations that work with VOAD, over 80 homes have been cleaned. However, 130 to 140 homes are still in need of assistance. They are looking to continue the volunteer cleanup efforts on August 17th and 18th and August 25th through September 10th. Equipment and training will be provided, but they ask that you bring comfortable clothes and boots. All interested volunteer groups should contact Chad Ostlund at 323-898-8539 or chad_ostlund@yahoo.com. To donate to disaster relief work related to the Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin storms, send a check to the Wisconsin Conference UMC Treasurer for Fund #7702.

v Potential Need for Early Responder Teams in Iowa: The severe flooding of the Skunk River in Iowa has wreaked havoc in the community of Ames and is progressing southward through Colfax and parts of Des Moines. Trish Burkett, Disaster Response Coordinator for Iowa, said that Early Responder Teams may be needed within the next week or two. Interested parties should contact Trish Burkett at 808 King St. Bedford, IA  50833, 712-427-9014 or Disaster.Response@iaumc.org.

 

v Social Media Etiquette Tips from UMCOM: Whether you use Facebook, Twitter, blogs, forums or websites, proper etiquette can set the tone for how people view you and your church. Read more.

v When Christians Get It Wrong: Adam Hamilton’s latest book, When Christians Get It Wrong, tackles the issues that are keeping young adults away from the church and demonstrates what Christianity is supposed to look like. For more information, including book excerpts, book trailer, and videos from Adam discussing the book, visit www.AdamHamilton.AbingdonPress.com or visit the Facebook page.

v Welcoming Ministry Training Manual and Planning Handbook with DVD Available: The newly revised Welcoming Ministry Training Manual and Planning Handbook with DVD is available from United Methodist Communications. Order it here. In the coming weeks, UMCOM will be updating the Welcoming section of their website with portions of the resource available for download and use in the local church in addition to a link to order the full version with DVD.

 

v New United Methodist Radio Station Reaches the Residents of Cote d’Ivoire: The United Methodist Church marked a major communications milestone this spring with the launch of its radio station, The Voice of Hope, in Cote d’Ivoire. The station is broadcasting in an area of 3 million people, reaching people with the good news of Jesus Christ and with important information about health, employment and other life topics. The new station needs the support of the United Methodist connection to succeed. Your help is vital in building awareness of this life-changing, communications ministry in West Africa. This is a great opportunity for us to show the power of communications in the work of the church. To learn more, click here.

v Korean UM Church Reaches Out to International Students: About 85 international students at Ohio State University gather each Tuesday for fellowship and Korean food at a lunch provided by Grace Korean United Methodist Church. The Reverend Miran Lee, pastor of Grace Korean UMC, said there are more than 4,000 international students at Ohio State University in Columbus. More than three years ago, the church began sponsoring the luncheon program at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, which is located on the campus, and allows the Grace United Methodist Women’s group use of the fellowship hall and kitchen to prepare and serve lunch. Many of the students who come are Buddhist or Muslim. Read full article.

 

v Albright UMC in Milwaukee Seeks a Church Musician: Read more.

v Wesley Woods, a United Methodist Camp in Grand Valley, Pennsylvania, Seeks an Executive Director: Read more.

 

If you have a Conference-related event, a hallelujah moment or a newsworthy story that you want included in ENEWS, or if you have a suggestion for ENEWS, please contact: mvirnig@wisconsinumc.org. Note that ENEWS is also posted weekly on the home page under Newsletters at www.wisconsinumc.org

 

Best regards,