UMconnect--04/30/08

Interested in submitting an item for UMconnect? Click here to send your information including any pictures, flyers, contact information and a short introductory paragraph following the "UMconnect Styleguide."

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

General Conference reminder

Please remember that the conference is offering a variety of resources to keep you updated on General Conference news and happenings.

Follow the links below to view General Conference stories from the United Methodist News Service, blogs from Nebraskans in attendance at General Conference, and continuous updates from the General Conference Web site.
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UMconnect online submission form

When submitting items for UMconnect, please use our new online submission form which can be accessed by clicking here or at the top of the UMconnect Web page which can be accessed through the Quick Links on our Web site at http://www.umcneb.org.

Using the online submission form will help guarantee that we receive information in the most usable manner and that you are able to share your information with the conference.
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Attention Golfers: Martell United Methodist Church Golf Tournament

The Martell United Methodist Church Golf Tournament will be held at College Heights Country Club in Crete on Saturday, May 3, 2008, beginning at 9 a.m. The tournament is a four person scramble with an entry fee of $50 per person. There will be prizes for each hole and the first four places. To enter, or for more information, contact Dick Hollman at 402-787-3575 or hollmanangus@aol.com.
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Don't forget the First Annual Nothing But Nets Ping-Pong Tournament!

Just a reminder that this Saturday, May 3, 2008, will be the First Annual Nothing But Nets Ping-Pong Tournament sponsored by the United Methodist Community Ministries−Blue River District. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity UMC located on 1345 S. 16th St. in Lincoln, with food available onsite! You may register for the event at http://www.trinitylincoln.org/pingpong/; the entrance fee is $10.

Please remember that the entrance fee will be donated directly to the Nothing But Nets campaign against malaria in Africa; each $10 entrance fee will buy one anti-malaria bed net to protect an entire family. Together we can stamp out malaria, one match at a time. For more information, contact andy@umcmneb.org.
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Pre-conference briefing location correction

The May 14 location for the Prairie Rivers pre-conference briefing listed in last week's UMconnect is wrong. The Prairie Rivers District pre-conference briefing is at Trinity UMC in Grand Island at 7 p.m.
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"Bridging the Gap: Aligning Kingdom Resources for Effective Ministry--Purpose Driven Budgeting"

Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska and the Institute for Applied Management invite you to a hands-on training seminar, "Bridging the Gap: Aligning Kingdom Resources for Effective Ministry--Purpose Driven Budgeting."

This is one of a series of workshops that will be held in 2008, 2009 and 2010, focused on different topics, all bridging the gap between a solid foundation of theological education and the practical day-to-day management skills needed to be effective in ministry.

The resources/budgeting workshop will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2008, from 8:30 a.m.-3:30p.m. at Sunset Hills Baptist Church, 9416 Pacific, Omaha.

To register for the workshop or for more information, call or e-mail Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska at 402-476-3391 or im50427@windstream.net. Plan now to attend this informative workshop.
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Missouri River District office closed May 12-16

The Missouri River District office will be closed May 12-16 as they move to their new location.

The new address for the Missouri River district office is:

2665 Farnam St., Suite 102
Omaha, NE 68131
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Nominations for 2008 Denman Awards now being accepted−Deadline Thursday, May 15

The Denman Evangelism Award was established in 1980 by the Foundation for Evangelism to recognize and honor pastors and lay persons who are doing the vital work of responsible evangelism in ways that are keeping with United Methodist history and tradition.

Those eligible for these prestigious awards are persons who are effective in helping persons to experience the transforming love of God through Jesus Christ. Each annual conference is encouraged to honor one lay person and one clergy person from their conference each year.

Nominations for both the clergy and laity Denman Award for the Nebraska Conference are due Thursday, May 15. Nominations should be mailed to: Conference Office-West, 1600 West E, North Platte, NE 69101. The awards will be presented at Annual Conference in June. For more information, contact the Rev. Karl Lent at 402-683-2600 or by e-mail at kandklent@alltel.net.
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Summer 2008 Job Opportunities at Camp Norwesca

Are you enthusiastic about serving others and working with youth in a beautiful camp setting? We are looking for faith-filled people with a willingness to work with flexibility as part of a team, a sound understanding of relational ministry, and an ability to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Physical and emotional stamina, effective communication and organizational skills, and an ability to exercise good judgment are essential. Staff training begins on Saturday, June 7, and the season concludes on Saturday, August 9.

Current Opportunities Include:

Program Assistants−Program assistants are responsible to provide a safe, enriching, Christ-centered experience for campers as they lead various program activities. Assistants will also be assigned various duties around camp as needed.

Cooks−Under the direction of the food service manager and camp director, cooks will participate in the preparation, serving and clean up of meals and assist with other kitchen responsibilities. Cooks will also oversee "Opportunity to Serve" and "Kitchen Party" (meal set up and clean up) with campers. Full-time summer positions (May 26th -- August 9th) available.

Maverick−The maverick will help to maintain the camp facility under the direction of the facilities manager and camp director. This person will also lead work projects and service opportunities with campers and participate in daily program activities as possible.

For more information about all open positions, please visit the Norwesca Web site at http://www.norwesca.org or contact Mollie Ronge at 308-432-3872 or norwesca@bbcwb.net.

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BeFriender Ministry training event—June 20-21 and June 27-28

BeFriender Ministry is a national lay pastoral care program which trains members to offer a listening presence to those in need within our congregations. Faith-Westwood UMC, in partnership with St. Cecelia Cathedral in Omaha, will again offer a BeFriender Ministry Training event on June 20-21 and June 27-28 at Faith-Westwood UMC Serenity House, located on 4892 Oaks Lane in Omaha.

Training facilitators will be: Vikki O'Hara, M.Div., Pastoral Care Director at Faith-Westwood, and Lauren Bopp, BeFriender Ministry Coordinator at St. Cecelia Cathedral.

This training is an excellent introduction for those who are considering a lay pastoral care ministry in their congregation and would like to learn more about the program, as well as an opportunity for congregations with active BeFriender Ministry programs to train additional BeFriender ministers.

For more information, contact Mitzi Willis, Befriender Ministry Coordinator at 402-330-8221 or mitzimary@cox.net or Vikki O'Hara at 402-650-9489 or vikki.ohara@faithwestwood.com.
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Wendy Zook (right) from Cozad and Kasey Farwell (left) from Lincoln have been selected as the Peace with Justice Ministries young adult interns for this summer.

Please observe Peace with Justice Sunday on May 18--Putting faces on the Peace with Justice Sunday Special Offering!

Wendy Zook from Cozad and Kasey Farwell from Lincoln have been selected as the Peace with Justice Ministries young adult interns for this summer! Wendy and Kasey will learn a variety of prayer practices, study scripture for foundations to peacemaking and justice-seeking, and learn to act for God's transforming vision for our world!

Support for the ongoing intern program of Peace with Justice Ministries comes, in part, from the offerings received in Nebraska congregations on Peace with Justice Sunday.

For worship resources, go to http://www.umc-gbcs.org and scroll down to Peace with Justice Sunday.

Peace with Justice Ministries (PJM) is celebrating our 25th year of witness in Nebraska! On behalf of PJM, we thank every congregation and individual who contributes to the witness of PJM through the special offering!
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Central Conference Pension Initiative (CCPI)

The CCPI is an effort by United Methodists to provide a minimal pension to pastors and their spouses who serve in Central Conferences (those outside the United States). These persons have faithfully served our church for years across the world and are now retired with little or no income. The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits, along with the United States conferences and the General Board of Global Ministries are partnering in the Central Conference Pension Initiative to accomplish this purpose.

The Nebraska Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits is enthusiastic in its support of the CCPI and has already taken the following steps to provide a minimum of $100,000 over the next four years toward the goal of $20 million to be raised churchwide to endow this program.

These actions include:

1) Designating the annual check from Cokesbury to the CCPI,

2) Designating some of the proceeds from our invested funds to be used annually, and

3) Asking churches and clergy of the Nebraska Conference to add an additional $25,000 per year to double our support for this vital ministry.

At this year's Annual Conference session, the offering at the Memorial Service has been designated for the CCPI. We invite you to bring offerings received in each local church between now and June to add to this offering as an ingathering. Please bring your offering designated for Conference Fund Number 764 and place it in the offering plate on Wednesday evening, June 11, during the Memorial Service.

On behalf of the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits, and on behalf of pastors who will be able to live with dignity in retirement because of your efforts, we thank you.
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A celebration of the preaching and teaching of Eugene L. Lowry−Tuesday, May 6, 2008

You are invited to join the Saint Paul School of Theology community in honoring Dr. Eugene Lowry, William K. McElvaney Professor Emeritus of Preaching.

The lecture and presentation are free. Lunch is available for $8.00 in the Holter Center. If you plan to have lunch, please RSVP to awilliams@spst.edu.
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United Methodist Men's 19th annual scholarship dinner and auction

Join in the fun and fundraising on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 M Street, Lincoln. Please join us for dinner and recognition of 2008 scholarship recipients as well as a live auction. We hope you can attend. For more information, contact Randy Fleming, executive director of fund development, at auctioneer_32@msn.com.
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Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. is looking for a new Youth Director

Asbury United Methodist Church is looking for a Youth Director to lead and build on an established program. The position is part-time with flexible hours (up to 30+ per week). The church has a weekly attendance of approximately 350 with a membership of 650. Youth ministry currently has 50 active youth.

Send letter of application and resume with references to: Asbury United Methodist Church, Staff Parish Relations, 2425 S. Western Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57105. E-mail same to GRICH@LL.NET or fax to 605-332-1939, Attention: Staff Parish Relations. Contact Bruce Millikan at 605-338-9745 or Greg Richards at 605-334-1906 for more information.
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Free Movie Nights at Camp Fontanelle!

Saturdays—May 3, May 17, June 14, Aug. 9, Aug. 23, Sept. 6 and Sept. 20; come watch some popular movies on our 12 foot by 12 foot outdoor screen either by the lodge or green roofed barn!

At dusk, a movie will be projected using our LCD projector. Bring the family or grandkids and a lawn chair for an outdoor movie experience! The Camp Fontanelle Web site will list movies for the various nights. No movies will be shown if the weather is rainy. The movies are free and open to the public with donations graciously accepted.

On May 3, Ratatouille (2007) will be starting at approximately 8:35 p.m.
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Cluster Four of the Gateway District "American Picnic" fund-raiser

On April 13, 2008, a fund-raiser was held at the Elm Creek United Methodist Church for the Hispanic Ministries of the Gateway District.

The theme for the evening meal was "American Picnic." The meal consisted of different sandwiches, salads, and desserts. Our sister churches of the ECOW parish helped furnish the meal items.

The entertainment "Rough Around the Edges" was exciting and enjoyed by all. All money collected was given to the District Hispanic Fund.

Thank you everyone for your help and attendance, making this event a success.
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