UMconnect — 08/05/08

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Calendar of events
Elkhorn UMC is hosting an all-church garage sale Aug. 21-23. For information on the garage sale and other events and activities across the conference, visit the events calendar.

Click here for a printable version of this week's UMconnect.
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The Lincoln Saltdogs will take on the St. Paul Saints Sunday, August 10, at 6:05 p.m.

Last chance for buy one, get one free Saltdogs tickets!

Sunday, August 10, the Nebraska United Methodist Conference will sponsor the Lincoln Saltdogs' Faith and Family Night. A pre-game tailgate will kick off the evening's festivities at 4 p.m., featuring free hotdogs and soda while they last.

While tickets last, those purchasing general admission/berm tickets will receive a free general admission ticket for each ticket purchased for $5. In other words, that's two tickets for just $5, four tickets for $10, and so on.

Orders of six tickets or more may be placed online by visiting http://www.umcneb.org and clicking on the online registration tab at the left of the page. These orders will be available for pick up at the "will call" window the day of the game. Online purchases will also receive an e-mail confirmation. Bring this confirmation with you when you pick up your tickets.

Orders of five tickets or less may be purchased and picked up in the United Methodist Conference Office with a check made payable to the "Conference Treasurer." All orders must be received by Friday, Aug. 8.

The Nebraska United Methodist Conference Office is located on 2641 North 49th Street in Lincoln, Neb. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information, call Sara Brockhoft at 402-464-5994, ext. 115.
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Calendars on the Web site

Did you know that there are two calendars on the Nebraska United Methodist Web site? One is the official calendar of the Nebraska United Methodist Conference, with meeting and event information for the staff, boards, commissions and committees of the church.

The other calendar is an events calendar available to post your church's event. This calendar can be accessed at http://www.umcneb.org by clicking on the Events Calendar link on the left of the page. You can submit an event online by using the link found there.

We hope you'll use this great feature of the Web site to inform everyone of the great opportunities for fellowship and ministry in your local church. We also encourage you to travel to different congregations in the conference to take part in their events.
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Foundation awards eight seminary scholarships

The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation Board of Directors named the following applicants as the recipients of the Foundation-administered scholarships for 2008.

- The Alva Clark Seminary Scholarship—Greta Leach
- The Cowles United Methodist Church Memorial Scholarship—Dan Swanson
- The Andrew & Nevabelle Howe Scholarship—William Williams III
- The Alice Kruse Ministerial Scholarship—Zach Anderson and Greta Leach
- The Alice Kruse Seminary Scholarship—Zach Anderson
- The Baldwin F. & Amy L. Kruse Scholarship—Jamie Scott
- The Verl & Sylvia Miller Memorial Scholarship—Trudy Hanke
- The Albert R. Murdoch Ministerial Scholarship—Pat Norris

The scholarship winners range from first-year to final-year seminary students. The Foundation is pleased to be able to provide financial assistance to these current and future Nebraska United Methodist Conference pastors on behalf of the donors and their families.
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Bonnie McCord—summer graduate of Saint Paul School of Theology

Kansas City, MO—On Thursday, July 31, 2008, Bonnie McCord of the Nebraska United Methodist Conference graduated with her Course of Study degree from Saint Paul School of Theology. Congratulations Bonnie!
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State health conference

September 5-6, the Nebraska Health Ministries Association presents "Partners in Health Ministries: Bridging Urban and Rural Health Care 2008." The event will take place at North Platte's First United Methodist Church. For more information, please see the brochure below.
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Lincoln People's City Mission plans leadership conference on Sept. 12, featuring Pastor Bill Hybels and Athletic Director Tom Osborne

In this day and time churches and businesses are facing change at about every turn... and how to lead during those periods of change can be difficult and challenging. The Lincoln People's City Mission is sponsoring a conference featuring Pastor Bill Hybels of Willowcreek Church as our featured speaker, along with Tom Osborne who is currently leading the University of Nebraska's football and sports program through change.

Registration information and promotional tools are available below.
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Omaha First UMC launches new program for cognitively impaired adults

"Jesus' Friends: Ecumenical Hearts and Hands" is the name of the new program Omaha First UMC has set up for cognitively impaired adults.

The group meets on the last Wednesday night of each month for prayer and praise, Bible study and activities, fellowship and refreshments. New friendships will be created and existing ones will be deepened as we participate in spiritual, recreational and social interactions.

The next meeting is Aug. 27, at 6:30 p.m., in room 112. If you know persons who would benefit from such a ministry, please have them or their parent/guardian call Sue Rood at 402-556-6262 for a registration form.

For more information contact Sue Rood, director of educational ministries, First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132, 402-556-6262.

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Weight Watchers testimonial, "Now I look forward to a much longer and healthier life."—by the Rev. Daniel E. Spearow

My name is Dan Spearow. Many of you know me through my work as local pastor registrar for the Board of Ordained Ministry. For a number of years I have struggled with some of the health issues many pastors face. I enjoyed all of the potluck dinners and life events that we celebrate in the church, such as weddings, anniversaries, confirmation dinners and holiday meals.

For the past several years I have participated in the Health Quotient provided by the General Board of Pension and Health. Last year at the Annual Conference Session, I had my blood tested as did many of you. This time it showed a number of issues that I considered to be potentially life-threatening.

I took the information to my physician, and he prescribed medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. I knew my weight had something to do with these issues as well, so my wife, Nancy, and I joined Weight Watchers that August after receiving information about the plan provided to HealthFlex participants.

With the information from the blood screening, and regular checks on my blood pressure to guide my doctor, I have been successfully treated for both my blood pressure and high cholesterol. After nearly eight months on Weight Watchers, I achieved my weight loss goal of 27 pounds and became a lifetime member.

The process of harming my health didn't happen overnight, so I knew it wouldn't change for the better overnight. I now get more regular exercise. I have changed to much healthier eating habits. With medication, I have lowered my blood pressure to the normal range and dropped my cholesterol by 30 points. I feel better, and many members of my congregations have noticed the change in my appearance and energy level. Now I look forward to a much longer and healthier life.

If you have not started to participate in the programs our conference and denomination offer to help you lead a healthier lifestyle, do it now. Do it for your family and your ministry.
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2008 Camp Fontanelle events

Free movie nights!
Saturdays, Aug. 9 and 23 as well as Sept. 6 and 20, come watch some family favorites on our 12' x 12' 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 for an outdoor movie experience!

Camp Fontanelle Work Day, Sept. 13
Saturday, Sept.13, at 9 a.m., help tidy up the camp for the annual barbecue. Mow, weed whip, trim trees, rake acorns, saw trees, etc. Please bring the appropriate tools for the above jobs if you have them. Lunch will be served.

Camp Fonantanelle annual barbecue
Sunday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., join Camp Fontanelle in worship at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. with activities in between.

Food will be served following the worship service until 3 p.m. Activities for the family will include hiking, bouncy moon walks for kids, archery, hay rack rides, carnival games, a puppet show, drum band performances, a petting zoo, basketball, sand volleyball, horseshoes, tree climbing, a boutique and a quilt auction, auction of turkey/deer hunts, and an opportunity to pick your own pumpkins.

Camp Fontanelle Corn Maze is... amazing!
Sept. 6-Nov. 2, 2008, on Saturdays and Sundays from 1-7 p.m., come enjoy the challenge of trying to solve the 10-acre biblically themed corn maze at Camp Fontanelle! Also enjoy animals in the petting barn, pick a pumpkin in the two-acre patch, or roast marshmallows over a campfire.

For more details on the above events and information on other upcoming events at Camp Fontanelle, please see the flyer below.
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Interim minister training seminar

Mid-year appointment openings are a fact of life.
Consider using a trained Intentional Interim Pastor.

The South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops, in conjunction with The Intentional Growth Center, is pleased to offer an Interim Ministry Training Seminar. It is a three-phase training program. Phase I and Phase II will be held at Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center. Phase II is a five-month period of work in one's home parish under a mentor's guidance. Dr. Jan Hill, coordinator for intentional interim ministry training at the Intentional Growth Center, will be conducting the training.

Phase I of the seminar will be held at Mount Sequoyah Tuesday, Sept 30 - Friday, Oct. 4, 2008. For more information and registration materials, please contact Dr. Jan Hill at the Intentional Growth Center at 800-482-1442, extension 723, janhill@intentionalgrowthcenter.org. Reservations for meals and lodging are made directly with Mount Sequoyah. Forms are available at http://www.mountsequoyah.org or by contacting Marilyn at 800-760-8126, programs@mountsequoyah.org.

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