UMconnect--07/02/08

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Conference office closed for Independence Day

The conference office will be closed Friday, July 4, in honor of Independence Day. The office will reopen on Monday, July 7.
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Volunteers needed!

Flooded areas of Iowa, from Cedar Rapids east to the river, need volunteers for mucking out, clean-up of debris, etc.

Contact Iowa Volunteers In Mission at IAUMVIM@gmail.com or by telephone at 515-432-1226. Volunteers are needed now. Housing is available in churches.
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Help build a dream playground for an elementary school

The kids dreamed up their playground, and now it is time to build it! Jackson Elementary School in Omaha, Neb., is the recipient of a new playground courtesy of a grant from the Chrysler Foundation. Prior to this grant, the kids attending this school did not have adequate equipment for their outdoor recess time. To make the playground a reality, however, it is going to take 250 volunteers!

This neighborhood is important to the risk-taking mission and justice work of United Methodist Ministries—Missouri River District. United Methodist Ministries is a member of the neighborhood association and three Big Garden sites are located within walking distance of the school, as well as a community yoga class and a health education partnership.

Build day is July 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jackson Elementary School, located on 620 S. 31st Street in Omaha. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. All volunteers must be over the age of 18. Volunteers do not have to be skilled, trained or have any special tools—they just have to be willing to work hard and have fun!

If you or a group from your church is interested in participating in the playground build, please contact Lisa Maupin at 402-898-9862 or lmaupin@bigmuddyumc.org.
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UMCOR Sager Brown in Urgent Need of Flood Buckets

UMCOR Sager Brown Depot has nearly depleted its supply of flood buckets after shipping thousands of buckets in response to recent floods. This low inventory is a serious concern especially when the Atlantic hurricane season is just beginning.

Depot executive, Kathy Kraiza, reports, "Since June 17, we have shipped more than 5,000 flood buckets in response to requests from annual conferences in the mid-west. We are down to only 200 flood buckets in stock and we are only two weeks into the hurricane season." Sager Brown distributed 4,008 buckets in all of 2007. Increasing the supply of flood buckets has become the most urgent need at the Depot, as communities in the Midwest continue the clean-up process.

These five gallon buckets are filled with supplies to enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or hurricane. UMCOR Sager Brown Depot and other United Methodist depots in the connection collect, package and ship buckets to flooded areas all over the United States.

UMCOR needs your help to ensure this kind of support continues to be readily available. The many emergencies over the past months have depleted response supplies with 6,624 flood buckets shipped to emergencies around the country in the past six weeks.

How you can help

Congregations and individuals are urged to send completed buckets, bulk materials or a contribution to purchase supplies. A list of the contents can be found here, or you can give $45 towards the purchase of these items for each bucket.

Your cash gift will enable UMCOR to purchase needed relief supplies. Checks can be mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Write "UMCOR Advance 901440, UMCOR Material Resources" on the memo line of your check. Online gifts can be made at http://www.givetomission.org. One hundred percent of every donation to any appeal, including appeals for flood buckets, goes to support recovery efforts.
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Hispanic ministries training sessions

Hispanic ministries will have two trainings this month. The first one will be in Holdredge, Neb., July 10-12. Entitled "Module III: Pastoral Care," the facilitator for the training will be the Rev. Cesar M. Duran.

The second will be in Grand Island, Neb., July 17-19. Entitled "Module III: Polity and Structure of the United Methodist Church," the facilitator will be the Rev. Juan Osorio.

The registration fee for each of the training sessions is $25.

If you are involved or planning to get involved with Hispanic-Latino ministry, this training is for you!!! For more information, please contact the Rev. Cesar M. Duran at cesarmdg@hotmail.com.
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Helping Hand Scholarship 2008

The Helping Hand Scholarship has been established for local church and foreign communicators with the United Methodist Association of Communicators officers and members funding the scholarship.

The scholarship will aid the recipients in broadening their exposure by allowing them to network and work closely with industry experts. This relationship will foster training and exposure to cutting edge technological advances unique to the field of communications. The recipients will experience an up close and personal look at theological and practical perspectives of convergent communications.

More information on the scholarship as well as the United Methodist Association of Communicators can be found in the attachment below.

If you would like to make a charitable donation to the scholarship fund, please make your check payable to UMAC-Helping Hand Scholarship Fund and forward to:

Mark Rehn, Treasurer
P.O. Box 5002
Cranberry, TWP., PA 16066-0002
Phone: 724-776-2300
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Mount Sequoyah UNplugged--Singer/Songwriter Retreat

The weekend retreat, sponsored by Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center, is scheduled for August 14-17, at the Conference Center in Fayetteville. The retreat will feature a workshop and showcase concert on Saturday by Gretchen Peters. Thursday evening a free Guitar Masters Concert will feature Jack Williams, Shane Adkins, and Kelly Mulhollan. Song Circles in the evenings will give everyone a chance to share their songs with other songwriters in the supportive and peaceful environment of the Mountain.

The event will also include workshops featuring:

Shane Adkins - 2005 International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion
Jack Williams - One of the best guitar players in America
Charles Gaby - Musician, songwriter, and Director of the Center for Creative Transformation at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth.
Effron White - 2006 & 2007 Northwest Arkansas' Best Singer/Songwriter of the year
Emily Kaitz - Northwest Arkansas Music Hall of Fame Inductee
Kelly Mulhollan - Voted "Best Guitarist" in NWA
Donna Stjerna - Prolific songwriter with over 400 songs to her credit
Steve Smith - Award winning songwriter for Hannah Blaylock and Eden's Edge

The retreat is open to artists of all ages and skill levels. This is a great opportunity to learn from outstanding professionals. Details about the retreat and registration information are available online at http://www.mountsequoyah.org or call 800-760-8126.
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"Aging in the 21st Century & Beyond"—Sept. 1-3, at Mount Sequoyah

A senior adult training entitled "Aging in the 21st Century & Beyond," featuring Dr. Richard Gentzler, director of the Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries, will be September 1-3, at Mount Sequoyah Conference Center. The retreat will feature a variety of workshops and a time to network with senior adult leaders from surrounding states.

The training is open to all clergy and laity that minister to adults and senior adults in the community and church. Details are available at http://www.mountsequoyah.org or by calling 800-760-8126.
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Come visit Camp Fontanelle's corn maze, beginning Sept. 6!

Camp Fontanelle's Corn Maze will be open Sept. 6 through Nov. 2, and volunteers are needed to work at the Maze over the weekends! Plus, the Church with the highest number of volunteer hours will earn an overnight stay for a group in their church. This could be used for a youth group, Sunday school class, UMW or UMM group, quilters, etc.

Sign up today for the shift your church or group would like to work. The corn is planted. Now we need you!

Below are two additional events your church is invited take part in:

Sunday, October 26, churches are invited to send representatives with goodies to pass out to corn maze visitors. (You can also bring your candy bag and search for goodies as you try to conquer the maze.) Representatives from area churches will be positioned within the maze. Children 3-11 are FREE, and must be accompanied by adults.

Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, volunteers are needed to help spook the maze (bring a
flashlight!) Experience the sounds and sights of rustling corn and other surprises as you try to solve our maze in the darkness of the country night!

Contact Derek Bergman at Camp Fontanelle for more information and to sign up your group to volunteer this fall at 402-478-4296 or campfontanelle@huntel.net.

This will be the second year for Fontanelle's corn maze with the camping theme of "Handle with Care." The maze will have Noah's Ark incorporated into the design. Last year's maze had over 3,000 visitors.
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November 14-15, save the dates!

The Nebraska Conference Laity Convocation is scheduled for Nov. 14-15, at Horizons Community United Methodist Church in Lincoln. The theme for the event is "United Methodist 101" with the Rev. Cole Fowler.

Please see the flyer below for workshop topics. This will be an outstanding opportunity for leadership development for laity and clergy alike! More information regarding the details of the event will follow in coming weeks.
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United Methodist Leadership Scholars

The United Methodist Leadership Scholars (UMLS) program is sponsored by United Methodist Churches in the southeast and the participating colleges and universities listed on our Web site. UMLS is supported by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) and the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF).

This Scholarship program is designed to encourage active United Methodist students to attend a United Methodist-related college or university by offering up to $3,000 in scholarship funds. These sponsoring colleges and universities intentionally affirm students as God's children through the development of the whole student - intellectually, by developing leadership capability, and growing spiritually through programs that focus on the individual student.
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