UMconnect--07/31/08

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"Invite a Friend to Church Sunday" bulletin inserts now available

The bulletin inserts below may be used in the weeks leading up to "Invite a Friend to Church Sunday" to provide members of your congregation with information about this special event as well as to inform them that September is Open House Month within the United Methodist Church.

Please use the bulletin inserts and the other tools provided below to prepare for "Invite a Friend to Church Sunday" on Sept. 14, and all of Open House Month in September.

The recognition of Open House Month this September will provide members of your congregation with an opportunity to truly open their hearts, minds and doors as well as set the tone for carrying out similar welcoming and community-building events throughout the year.

Hosting special events, worship festivals, or making other efforts to welcome those in your community, present perfect opportunities to intentionally recognize Christ in everyone and to remember that guests may look for Christ in us.
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Conference Funding Plan meetings scheduled in all districts

Please mark your calendars for the fall district meetings to discuss the 2009 Conference Funding Plan. Financial stewardship resources and suggestions will be shared as well as the challenges faced by many churches and how congregations may overcome troubling times.

Robin Kilgore, conference treasurer/director of administrative services; Chad Anglemyer, director of connectional ministries; and Bill Hasemeyer, director of stewardship will be available to present and address questions as well as assist local church finance committees, pastors and laypersons. Please plan to send a few people from your congregation.

Meeting Dates:

September 14—Elkhorn Valley District Funding Plan Meeting, 3 p.m., Norfolk Westridge UMC

September 21—Prairie Rivers District Funding Plan Meeting, 4 p.m., Central City UMC

September 22—Great West District Funding Plan Meeting, 7 p.m. CDT, North Platte UMC

September 23—Great West District Funding Plan Meeting, 7 p.m. CDT, Scottsbluff UMC

September 28—Gateway District Funding Plan Meeting, 3 p.m., Kearney First UMC

September 29—Blue River District Funding Plan Meeting, 7 p.m., St. Marks UMC, Lincoln

October 12—Missouri River District Funding Plan Meeting, 3 p.m., Springfield UMC


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Maplewood UMC welcomes Kristen Sandoval as new Chancel Choir Director

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee of Maplewood United Methodist Church is pleased to announce the hiring of Kristen Sandoval as the new chancel choir director.

Kristen is a 2008 graduate of Hastings College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. Her course work included conducting, music history and literature, survey of sacred music and piano pedagogy. Kristen played in the Hastings College band, jazz band, wind ensemble, symphony orchestra and hand-bell choir. She has been a substitute choir director and has been involved in music at Underwood Hills Church and Mount View Presbyterian Church.

As a student, she received the Hastings College Academic Scholarship and both the McClellan and Mountford Music Scholarships. She currently teaches private lessons on both the trumpet and piano and anticipates more education through UNO. Kristen is married to Mike Sandoval, who also has a B.A. in music.

Maplewood UMC looks forward to having Kristen on staff as choir director. Please keep both Kristen and Mike in your prayers as Kristen transitions into the ministry at Maplewood.
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Theology of the Land tour, Sept. 20

The Rural Response Committee of the Nebraska United Methodist Conference invites you to the Theology of the Land farm tour on Sept. 20, 2008. The tour will be located at the Grain Place, located south of Marquette, Neb., on Highway 14. Save the date!
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Marriage Encounter weekends, Sept. 19-21, and Oct. 31-Nov. 2

Mark these dates on your fall calendar before they fill up! The Sept. 19-21, Marriage Encounter weekend will take place in Hastings and the Oct. 31-Nov. 2, event will take place in McCook.

To register, contact Russell and Lanita Evans at 308-535-1833 or 308-520-1491. You may also send e-mail to russellevans@intrnet-usa.net.

Marriage Encounter weekends are designed for married couples who are looking for ways to make their marriages richer, fuller and deeper. Marriage Encounter is the official marriage program of the United Methodist Church and is an affiliate member of the General Board of Discipleship.
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Family Camp at Camp Comeca

Family Camp at Camp Comeca is fast approaching! Bring the whole family and enjoy spending Labor Day weekend at Comeca! You will have the opportunity to grow and share with your family and other families and friends. We will worship, laugh, sing, swim, play, eat and relax together.

Activities include family time as well as sessions for adults, children and youth. Stay together with your family in one of Comeca's comfortable cabins or enjoy the luxury of the Overlook Lodge. Connect with both families who have made this a family tradition and new families. You will be glad you did!

Rates vary depending on family size, accommodations and length of stay. Please contact registrars Davin and Sara Peterson at 308-436-3288 or directors Brandon and Anna Detlefsen at 308-946-3227 for more information.
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Mission Share stories on DVD—feedback please...

DVD resources from the Nebraska United Methodist Communication office distributed this past January and March are full of video material you can use now and into the fall.

If you haven't reviewed them already, there are short pieces with stories of how congregations Mission Share dollars are being used to achieve our mission. There are also longer pieces on some of the key ministries of the conference such as the Nigeria/Nebraska Orphanage Partnership. Camping, the NUMB Ride and the Nothing But Nets videos with Tom and Nancy Osborne, are just a few of the other video segments on the DVDs.

Summer is typically a slow time for giving, so use these resources to spark renewed interest in the ministries of the conference and of the general church. Or, start making plans now for a major campaign toward your congregation's favorite risk-taking mission and justice project.

A new DVD will be coming in the fall with additional short videos and a few longer length pieces to augment your ministry effort in your local church. Each DVD is accompanied by an evaluation card. If you have used material from the DVD, please use the response card and send your feedback evaluating its usefulness. The goal is to provide the most relevant material possible.

As we work together towards our mission of making disciples to transform the world, the stories on the DVDs remind us of how our Mission Share dollars are really a portion meant for others and just one more way we work together to make our mission a reality.

If your pastor can't find the DVDs or doesn't recall receiving them, a limited number are still available from the conference office.
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Is your group looking for a fun service project?

If so, Camp Fontanelle has a solution that fits the bill. Groups of 10-12 (more are OK) are needed to help run Camp Fontanelle's second annual corn maze. Shifts run from 1-4 p.m. and/or 4-7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 6 to Nov. 2.

Check out the corn maze at http://www.campfontanelle.com under the corn maze link. If your group is interested in volunteering, contact Derek Bergman at derek@huntel.net to get more details on tasks and expectations.
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Camp Fontanelle Annual BBQ—more clergy friendly!

Sunday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., come support Camp Fontanelle and join in the fun at the annual BBQ. A worship service will open the festivities at 11 a.m., with the event closing after the evening worship service at 5 p.m.

Unlike past years, clergy will be able to participate in worship at the newly created 5 p.m. service. Food will be served until 3:30 p.m. Activities will be running throughout the day including pumpkin painting, face painting, inflatable castles for little kids, tree climbing, archery, hay rack rides and the petting barn.

Live entertainment will include puppet shows by the barn and a drum band by the lodge. Quilts will be auctioned at 2 p.m. by the lodge. Food will again feature BBQ pork and grilled chicken. The corn maze will be open from 1-7 p.m., with a small fee to go through the corn maze.

Please join us and support camping! Download half sheet brochures to share in church bulletins, and post full page brochures on bulletin boards.

For more information, contact Trent or Derek at Camp Fontanelle at campfontanelle@huntel.net or 402-478-4296. You may also visit http://www.campfontanelle.com to get directions and more information and pictures of the camp.
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Hanscom Park UMC fall craft show

The Hanscom Park UMC fall craft show and garage sale will take place Saturday, September 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Both parking and admission for the event are free!

Hanscom Park UMC is located one block south of 45th and Center Streets at 4444 Frances Street in Omaha.
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Grant money for Panhandle Community Services

Panhandle Community Services food pantry has received $256.00 from Gering First United Methodist Church as a result of the Alan Feinstein "Million Dollar Giveaway to Fight Hunger" campaign. This is the 11th year that Feinstein has offered grant money to church groups and other organizations throughout the nation to match donations.

Gering First UMC took in a total of 485 pounds of food to donate to the Panhandle Community Services food pantry in April. The church will make this grant available for application for 2009 for the March and April collections.

Gering First UMC is a mission-focused church and invites all who need a church home to join us in worship.
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Marilyn Zehring gives final report as a United Methodist Women director

This will be my final report from this Quadrennium. The four years have gone by fast. I hope you have enjoyed sharing my journey as a director of Women's Division and the General Board of Global Ministries.

Pacific Regional School of Christian Mission

The latter part of June, I participated in the Pacific Regional School of Christian Mission in Phoenix. My travel adventure for this trip was my luggage not arriving until 24 hours after I did.

The school was held at Grand Canyon University—a great campus. The palm trees were wrapped in white Christmas lights and at night it was magical. Yes, it was hot but because there was no humidity, I did not sweat!

The women of the Western Jurisdiction were very warm and welcoming. Dixie Alberry, Dolores Rader and Janice Farrell were also at this school. I participated in the Women's Division Plenary and facilitated a focus group on what UMW think is important.

The facilitator and recorder, Sue C. Johnson, were not to make any comments, which was really hard to do and a few comments did slip out. Additionally, I led the officer update for communication coordinators for the fourth year—what sharp women with great computer skills.

South Central Jurisdictional Meeting

Last week I attended the South Central Jurisdictional Meeting in Dallas. At the 2007 Nebraska Annual Conference I had been elected a reserve delegate, but because Marilyn Moore broke a bone in her foot, I became a voting delegate. Barbara Jo Burns and I traveled together with no flight problems. The meeting itself was at the Anatole Hilton along with hundreds of Mary Kay women.

I had been selected to serve on the Petitions and Resolutions Committee that usually has no business. Not this year, however, as petitions had been submitted in regard to the George W. Bush Library, Museum and Institution at Southern Methodist University (SMU).

I found that the opposition is not to the Library and Museum but to the Institution. The first two hours of deliberations we listened to a representative from SMU, an attorney for the North Texas Conference and Tex Sample, an opposition spokesperson. For the next two and a half hours we worked on a petition to come before the body.

At the Thursday morning session, it was voted to accept the decision to have the Bush complex at SMU, with reporting to the South Central Jurisdiction. I had made a motion at the committee meeting in regard to the rules and it was passed at the session.

We began the meeting by being bussed to First UMC for the opening worship service followed by a reception for the Bishops. Since we hadn't eaten since 9:00 in the morning after returning to the hotel, we finally got a bite to eat with some other Nebraskans in the Rathskellar.

Thursday morning began the business of the meeting which is reports and the election of bishops. Our Bishop Sherer gave the State of the Church in the Jurisdiction speech and naturally did a great job.

Electing a bishop is an interesting, but frustrating procedure. We were given the task of electing three bishops. After each ballot a 20-minute recess was taken for delegations to caucus and talk to other delegations. The first bishop elected was Earl Bledsoe from the Texas Conference, on the 3rd ballot.

It took until the 11th ballot for Michael Lowry from the Southwest Texas Conference to be elected. It then came down to two candidates for the final bishop—Cheryl Jefferson Bell and James Dorff. Most of the Nebraska delegation and myself were in favor of Cheryl. We felt she would best fill a place that is now vacant in the Council of Bishops.

On the 24th ballot late Friday night, however, James Dorff, from the North Texas Conference was elected. The Episcopacy committee then met and returned at 2:00 a.m., with the conference assignments for each Bishop. We celebrated Bishop Sherer's return to Nebraska. Barbara Jo and I stayed up for the whole thing.

Bishop Martinez and two other bishops retired. Other former Nebraska Bishops in attendance included Woody Hearn and Monk Bryan. Barbara Jo and I had the honor of sitting with the widow of Bishop Oliphant—she personifies a southern lady with her grace and elegance and made us feel so important. On one of the bus trips I sat beside Bishop Hicks, who served my home church, Grand Island Trinity, and we talked about his life and Methodism in Nebraska.

Bits and Pieces: At dinner on Thursday, I ate with United Methodist Women I know from the jurisdiction, including the new Women's Division president, Inelda Gonzales from Southwest Texas. That evening Perkins School of Theology at SMU hosted an ice cream social.

Friday evening the North Texas Conference hosted a gala with foods from around the world and a variety of music by churches in the conference.

Each conference had its own breakfast on Saturday morning. There were over 30 persons from Nebraska attending the meeting as delegates and observers. We ended by again being bussed to First UMC for the consecration service for the new bishops—very impressive—even with only four hours of sleep.

The first part of September will be the start of a new quadrennium as Women's Division members will attend orientation at Scarritt-Bennett in Nashville. I will continue to share my journey with you.

Shalom,
Marilyn

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Free digital downloads of choral and worship music

It is summer and many choir directors are busy planning the schedule of choir music for the coming year for adults, youth, children and handbells.

For almost ten years, GBOD has made available on its worship and music Web site an increasing number of choir selections, service music, hymns and songs, instrumental arrangements, Psalms, communion music and more for use in worship—AT NO CHARGE! Many churches could plan their entire year of choir music for free from the GBOD site while others can certainly find selections to supplement their repertoire.
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FOCUS 2009—"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made," Psalm 139:14

FOCUS 2009 is the United Methodist quadrennial conference for all people in ministry for children, and it will take place July 21 - 24, 2009, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Pre-conference activities will take place July 20, 2009.

The conference will feature innovative workshops, unique worship experiences, networking opportunities, inspiring preachers, dynamic speakers, extensive resource center, Cokesbury bookstore and activities for children and youth.

The Workshop Proposal Site will open July 31, 2008, and online registration opens October 6, 2008, with early bird incentives.

We seek to provide attendees with innovative workshops, unique worship experiences, inspiring preachers, dynamic speakers, relevant resources, and networking opportunities that will support them in creating, renewing and revitalizing ministries locally and globally. This is in keeping with one of the four focus areas adopted by the 2008 United Methodist General Conference:

"Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones. If we are to remain faithful to our commitment to transform the world, we will reach out with genuine hospitality to people wherever they are. We will make them feel welcome as we start new faith communities, seek to renew existing ones and inspire faithful discipleship."

The primary audience for FOCUS includes local church staff and laity involved with children's ministries including Sunday school teachers and weekday ministry staff; district and conference staff, coordinators of children's ministries, seminarians, and clergy.

For more information contact:

Melanie Gordon
Director, Younger Children's Ministries
Family, Life-Span, and Latino Ministries Team
Discipleship Ministries Division
GBOD - The United Methodist Church
http://www.gbod.org/ministries/children
877.899.2780 - ext.1762
blog: http://blogs.gbod.org/younger_children/
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"The Most Difficult Hymns"

I recently asked the Methodist Musicians Listserv which hymns in The United Methodist Hymnal they thought were the most difficult for congregations to sing. I made it clear that I was looking for the most difficult hymns to sing and not their least favorite hymns. This article names those most difficult hymns and why they are considered so difficult.
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