UMconnect — 02/06/09

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Calendar of events

On Feb. 8, the Missouri River District will host an open house at its new Hispanic Ministries Community Center, located on 1945 Vinton St. in Omaha, from 2-4 p.m. Click here for more information.

For more information about this event and other events going on around the conference, visit the events calendar.

Click here for a printable version of this week's UMconnect.

Dr. Phil Wogaman to speak Feb. 9, at Lincoln Christ UMC

You are invited to an informal conversation with Dr. Phil Wogaman on Monday, Feb. 9, from 1-3 p.m, at Christ UMC, located on 45th and A Streets in Lincoln.

Wogaman is a United Methodist pastor serving this year at Omaha St. Luke UMC. He is former Senior Minister at Foundry UMC, in Washington, D.C., and former Professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary.

He is the author of numerous books, including, "Christian Perspectives on Politics" (1988), "Christian Ethics: Speaking the Truth in Love and Prophetic Preaching to a Broken World."

Dr. Wogaman will be talking about his latest book "Moral Dilemmas: An Introduction to Christian Ethics" which is expected to be out in late February from Westminster John Knox Press. He will also give an update on the revision of In Defense of Creation from the Council of Bishops.

This gathering is sponsored by the Elder Witness group of Peace with Justice Ministries.

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Local church audit reports due Feb. 16

Please be aware that local churches should have an annual audit conducted of financial records according to the 2008 United Methodist Book of Discipline, paragraph 258 4D. The local church audit guide, which provides instructions and further information, can be found below as well as the audit form.
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UM-Tube—How it Works

  • To post a video users must create a free account.
    Once a user account is created, that user can use the same username and password to upload more videos. Video posters must have all legal rights to the video they are posting. This mean the video must be original and cannot use copyrighted music or clips from other videos or movies. The site is intended to be a place local churches can tell their disciple-making stories through video.

  • After videos are posted and approved, visitors can visit the site and watch videos for free. There is no need to create an account to watch the videos.

  • Videos are organized by "channels" to group similar videos together. Visitors can also search by keyword tags to find videos that interest them. Visitors can also send links to any video to their friends and encourage them to watch (online evangelism).

  • Videos can also be enabled to be embedded into local church's Web site or personal blogs. This means even the smallest churches can post online videos and have them featured on the church's website without having to pay for large amounts of server space to host the videos.

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    Share the love of Fair Trade Chocolate

    United Methodist Ministries loves Fair Trade Chocolate! We would like to help you share the love of Fair Trade Chocolate this February. Attached is a flyer listing a few fun ways to share Fair Trade Chocolate with everyone you know.

    For more information, contact the United Methodist Ministries office at 402-898-9862.
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    Make an impact on the world—Global Youth Service Day 2009

    United Methodist Ministries is inviting teams of youth and youth leaders to participate in Global Youth Service Day 2009 on April 25. This day of service will feature work at local agencies in the metro-Omaha area.

    Teams will meet at Dietz United Methodist Church, located on 1423 S. 10th Street in Omaha for check-in at 9 a.m. The day will conclude at 3 p.m. The cost to participate is $15 per youth which includes lunch and a commemorative t-shirt. Pre-registration is required and the deadline for registration is April 1.

    For more information or to register your group, contact Lisa Maupin at 402-898-9862 or lmaupin@bigmuddyumc.org.
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    Join United Methodist Ministries—Missouri River District for the 2009 Youth Leadership Summit

    Youth are invited to take their leadership skills to the next level at the Youth Leadership Summit, March 13-14. Summit participants will learn more about their spiritual journey and role in the local church. The summit will include a combination of workshops and hands-on participation. Upon completion of the Summit, participating youth will have completed the Basic Lay Speaking for Youth course. The cost for participation is $35 per youth, and the deadline for registration is March 1. The summit is for high school youth only.

    The 2009 Youth Leadership Summit is sponsored by the Missouri River District and will be held at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, located at 11810 Burke Street in Omaha. The summit begins at 7 p.m. on March 13, with registration and concludes at 4 p.m. on March 14.

    For more information or to register your youth, please contact Lisa Maupin at 402-898-9862 or lmaupin@bigmuddyumc.org.
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    Grand Island HIV/AIDS Benefit Concert

    You are all invited to participate in the upcoming HIV/AIDS Benefit Concert that has been planned for Feb. 20, to raise funds for the new HIV/AIDS Emergency Fund at Trinity UMC in Grand Island.

    Nebraska AIDS Project caseworkers will be at the concert to help share information about HIV/AIDS and their clients. Other groups will have information there as well. Come enjoy the music and help others at the same time while learning about HIV/AIDS and how we can respond in our communities and faith groups.

    Please see the flyer below for more information.
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    Professional development workshops available from Saint Paul School of Theology—February workshop to feature the Rev. Joseph Lowery

    Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City offers a number of spiritual and educational opportunities in the coming months. Go to their Web site at http://www.spst.edu/site/index.php, and check it out.
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    The Rev. Dan Flanagan to serve as guest blogger

    Beginning Feb. 9, the Rev Dan Flanagan, senior pastor of Saint Paul's United Methodist Church in Papillion, will serve as a guest blogger for the Homiletical Hot Tub at www.GoodPreacher.com. Recent guest bloggers on that site have included Walter Brueggemann, Tom Long, Barbara Brown Taylor and Wil Willomen.
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    What is a United Methodist Marriage Encounter Weekend?

    Marriage Encounter is a not for profit organization, affiliated with the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church under license of Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

    The purpose of the weekend is to provide the opportunity for a married couple to develop deeper knowledge of Christian marriage, a fuller understanding and acceptance of each other and the ability to communicate with each other in a significantly deeper and more fulfilling way.

    The format of the Marriage Encounter Weekend is designed specifically to allow a couple time to pause and focus on each other, their commitment and their relationship.

    To register or receive more information and/or brochures, please contact Russell and Lanita Evans, Nebraska State registration couple, at 308-535-1833, 308-520-149 or russellevans@internet-usa.net.

    2009 Weekend Dates:

    February 27-March 1 in Lincoln;
    April 17-19 in Omaha;
    September 18-20 in Hastings;
    October 23-25 in North Platte;
    November 20-22 in South Sioux City
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    Swan Lecture by Philip Wogaman

    The Swan Lecture will take place on March 5 at 1 p.m. in the Callen conference room of Nebraska Wesleyan University. His lecture at Wesleyan is titled, "Facing Moral Dilemmas."

    The Rev. Wogaman is the former senior minister of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. and Professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary. Wogaman was also one of the religious leaders who counseled President Bill Clinton. He is the author of the book, "From the Eye of the Storm: The Pastor to the President Speaks Out."

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    Bishop Charles N. Crutchfield

    Spring 2009 Laity Convocation scheduled for March 27-28, in Lincoln

    Christ United Methodist Church in Lincoln will host the Spring 2009 Laity Convocation, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday.

    Attendees will gain new skills that can be applied to both personal spiritual growth and to leading the local church. Workshops will be offered twice so that all may attend each session. This event is intended for all Nebraska United Methodists who are interesting in bolstering their commitment to ministry and mission work.

    Bishop Crutchfield will be the keynote speaker for the two-day leadership development session. The convocation begins at 6 p.m. on Friday and concludes at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

    Registration is $50 per person, $35 for first-time attendees.

    Other featured presenters include the Rev. Nita Hinds-Park revealing the power of the church demographic tool MissionInsite. MissionInsite is a conference resource available to all United Methodist congregations to use to determine the demographic and psychographic make-up of their church's surrounding area. Hinds-Park will make the presentation during a plenary session.

    Break-out sessions include Lisa Maupin from the Missouri River District presenting ideas for Risk-taking Mission and Justice Work; and the Rev. Sally Ruggia-Haden presenting "Unbinding the Gospel," a learning series on hospitality, growing the church and discipleship. Martha Grace Reece's book, "Unbinding the Gospel, Real Live Evangelism," is part of a three-part series that includes "Unbinding Your Heart" and "Unbinding your Church."

    For more information, please see the flyer and registration form below or contact Deanna Holland at hollandfarms1@gmail.com.
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    Caring for Creation Conference planned for March

    Registrants from at least eight states will gather at the 2nd annual Caring for Creation Conference at Mount Sequoyah Conference Center March 27-29, 2009. This is a time for faith communities to come together and challenge each other to embrace "creation care" as a matter of faith.

    Participants will examine the Biblical and theological foundations for the care of God's creation along with workshops designed to inspire faith communities to initiate, develop and sustain programs that protect and celebrate God's creation. "It's incumbent upon us as faithful Christians to live a life that's just and sustainable and loving of each other and of the earth", states John Hill.

    The early registration deadline is March 7. For more information go to www.mountsequoyah.org and click on events, email: programs@mountsequoyah.org or call 800-760-8126.
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    Summer program assistant opportunities at Camp Fontanelle, Camp Comeca and Camp Norwesca

    Program assistant positions are open at all three United Methodist church camps. Camp Fontanelle near Fremont/Omaha, Camp Comeca near Cozad, and Camp Norwesca near Chadron are hired program assistants who are responsible for providing a safe, enriching, Christ-centered experience for campers as they lead various program activities and attend to various duties around camp as needed.

    Program assistants are required to have certifications in Lifeguarding, CPR and Safe Sanctuary. The employment period varies by camp but generally starts mid May or early June through mid to late August. Housing, meals and compensation are provided. Go to www.campfontanelle.com, www.norwesca.org or www.campcomeca.com for additional details and download the job description and application located under Employment.
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    Are you interested in a ministry internship?

    Once again, the Board of Ordained Ministry Enlistment/Recruitment Committee is offering three internships of $2,500 for the summer to those interested in a career in ordained ministry and between the ages of 18 and 22.
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    Elkhorn Valley District men's rally

    Saturday, Feb. 28, come and share with other men from the churches of the Elkhorn Valley District at Norfolk First United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    Attendees will worship and have Holy Communion together, share what men are doing in their church, learn about some of the possibilities for United Methodist Men, and enjoy lunch together.

    Gathering and registration begins at 9:30 a.m. For more information, contact Earl Reed at eandcreed@conpoint.com, 402-371-1467 or 402-649-2629.
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    New grant available to United Methodist students

    Simpson College is offering a new grant for United Methodist students who have demonstrated outstanding community service efforts or expressed a desire to serve.

    The United Methodist Service to Community Grant ranges from $12,000 to $15,000. In return, students will perform 10-15 hours of service a week and attend a reflective meeting during the Simpson academic year. (First-year students will complete 10-12 hours of service a week while sophomores through seniors will complete 12-15 hours of a service a week.)

    The grant is available to new full-time, first-year or transfer students who are members of the United Methodist Church. Eligibility is also based on financial need, acceptance to Simpson College, a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership and the completed grant application. Due to the generous amount of this grant, it cannot be combined with other Simpson College merit or talent scholarships.

    Simpson College is a four-year liberal arts college, located in Indianola, Iowa, with 1,500 students. Offering 52 academic programs, Simpson emphasizes academic excellence, community engagement, international experiences and success beyond the classroom. Simpson is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

    For more information about Simpson, visit www.simpson.edu. For more information about the scholarship, visit http://www.simpson.edu/financial/umservice.html.
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