UMconnect — 12/03/08

Winter Youth Common Table

What: Winter Youth Common Table

When: Friday, Jan. 2 - Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009

Time: 6 p.m. Friday - 2 p.m. on Saturday

Where: Kearney First UMC

Cost: $15

Who: Anyone!

Registration information: Please go to the Conference Web site (http://www.umcneb.org/Youth/index.htm) and download the health form. The form needs to be sent to:

Rev. Michael Patzloff
4444 Frances Street
Omaha NE 68105

For more information, contact Michael Patzloff at 402-553-3312 or michael@hanscomparkchurch.org.
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Upcoming youth opportunities

sponsored by
United Methodist Ministries—Missouri River District and Missouri River District

January 19, 2009—MLK Day of Service
Honor the work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day "on" not "off." The day will include service work at local agencies in the metro-Omaha area, creation of a permanent "Seat of Justice" art display and education on justice issues of race and poverty in our communities.

March 13-14, 2009—Youth Leadership Summit
This is an opportunity for youth to develop leadership skills as they learn more about their 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.

April 25, 2009—Global Youth Service Day
Invite your youth to take part in an international movement of community change. The day will include service work at local agencies in the metro-Omaha area.

Summer Mission Learning and Leading
Youth groups are invited to take the lead in learning to be agents of community change through a mission experience with United Methodist Ministries—Missouri River District. Mission experiences will include hands-on work at mission sites and reinforcement educational activities. The length of mission experiences varies from 24-hours to 5 days.

For more information, please see the flyer below or contact Lisa Maupin at 402-898-9862 or lmaupin@bigmuddyumc.org. Please note that the activities are not limited to Missouri River District youth. All Nebraska United Methodist Conference youth are invited to participate.
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Shoes for the Navajos Project

The people of Sidney's First UMC would like to send a special thanks to some very generous folks, including the good people of Oshkosh and Llewelyn UMC's. With their help, First UMC recently sent 400 pairs of shoes, boots and other footwear to the United Methodist churches on the Navajo Nation reservation (Four Corners area).

First UMC is planning a second delivery on Dec. 15, so please consider this ministry in your Christmas preparations. It is the goal of First UMC to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes. Footwear can be new or used (in good condition).

Click here to see what 400 pairs of shoes look like.
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The Big Garden Web site is live!

The Big Garden project is a ministry of the United Methodist Ministries of the Missouri River District focusing on the development of community gardens. Check out the brand new Big Garden Web site at http://gardenbig.org.
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Making disciples who make a difference workshop

The Gateway District Office would like to invite everyone to a workshop to learn more about the signs of discipleship. It will be on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, at the Kearney Faith United Methodist Church located at 1623 Central Ave., from 2-5 p.m.

Under the heading, "Gracious Generosity," the Rev. Greg Reed will share information on the Consecration Sunday stewardship program. The Shelton UMC has had success with this program in their church—come and find out how!

The Rev. Evie Gulachi-Johnson will present "Connectional Joy." Planning can't begin too soon for Vacation Bible School. Come to preview materials, set dates for your church's program and begin plans to share materials with other UMC's so that all may have a great week with the kids!

Sharing on "Faith Development," Pastors Valera Heydenberk and Michelle Reed will talk about what happens when persons are feeling called into ministry. What are the steps into ministry in the local church? Each pastor and church should know how to lead persons through the process of becoming a pastor. Information from the Board of Ordained Ministry will be shared.

And covering "Radical Hospitality" are Laura Stubblefield and Neil Stubblefield. They will share how our youth are not the future of the church, they are the present! How can churches encourage, empower and equip youth for ministry and service in the United Methodist tradition? Hear what works best with Laura, United Campus Ministry director, and Neil, Gateway District youth coordinator.

This event offers helpful insights to help you grow as a disciple. Please come free of charge. There will also be a Safe Sanctuary Training held from 2-5 p.m. The cost of Safe Sanctuaries training is $20, which covers the cost of the background check. Great refreshments will also be available. Sponsors of the event include the churches of Gateway Cluster 5, Amherst, Gibbon Bethel, Gibbon Faith, Kearney Faith, Kearney First, Pleasanton-Haven's Chapel, Ravenna-Hazard and Shelton UMC.

Please share this information in your bulletins and newsletters so all may take advantage of these wonderful resources.

For more information, contact the Gateway District Office at 308 -234-3098 or gateway@umcneb.org.
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Consider an alternative to your holiday giving this year with a "Give a Gift of Love" holiday card

This holiday season consider an alternative to your regular gift-giving by making a donation to the AIDS Emergency Fund Project at Trinity UMC in Grand Island and giving your loved ones a "Give a Gift of Love" holiday card.

Below you will find the holiday card, "Give a Gift of Love," that Deanna Holland of Beatrice designed in both color and black and white to help HIV/AIDS clients in central Nebraska who are in need of medical services as you give gifts to friends and family this year.

The holiday cards are four to a page to give gifts all year to your friends and family—all while you give to others in need through the new AIDS Emergency Fund.

To give a holiday gift to friends/family and to the new fund at the same time, make your check to Trinity UMC and specify it is for the AID Emergency FUND. Send it to Trinity UMC, 511 N Elm, Grand island, NE 68801.

For more information, contact Maureen Vetter at mvetter@charter.net. You may also contact Trinity UMC in Grand Island at 308-382-1952 or trinityumc@gionline.net.
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Mission Share support for Nebraska Ministries

As of Nov. 30, 2008, conference Mission Share support from local churches totaled 65.69 percent of the expected total funding plan for 2008. As of Nov. 30, 2007, 69.15 percent had been collected.

During the end of the year, it is a perfect time to reflect on our many blessings. It seems only natural to express our gratitude with a gift to show that we are grateful for our church and the various ministries. Please note that Mission Share funds should be forwarded to the conference office by Dec. 31, 2008. Contributions for 2008 will be accepted through Jan. 7, 2009. We invite congregations to finish the year strong in connectional stewardship.

- Robin Kilgore, Conference Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services
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The Cal-la-way

A mission share story.

The town of Callaway is home to just 600 residents. Although this central Nebraska town is small in size, there is no questioning the large scale of its commitment to helping those in need and its strong sense of pride. In fact, life is so good in Callaway that people are giving away money—at least that is what's happening within the walls of Callaway's United Methodist church.

For the members of Callaway's UMC, it's not a matter of fulfilling mission share goals—that happens every year. Callaway UMC has gone above and beyond mission share goals to start a new "No Limits" ministry.

Through its "No Limits" ministry, Callaway UMC has worked to benefit a variety of projects including purchasing a new sink for a nearby United Methodist Church and working to provide water to people who do not live so close. To date, the people of Callaway UMC have raised enough money to pay for the construction of four deep water wells in Africa.

"As a pastor, I see this as a reflection of a spirit-filled church that really sees that need to give beyond what is normally expected—we give beyond that," said Callaway's pastor the Rev. Gerald Schwarz. "We've been blessed, so therefore we want to bless others."

To view a video of this mission share story as well as more mission share stories, go to http://www.umcneb.org and click on the UM-TUBE link under the Quick Links.
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2008 year-end statistical reports

The electronic data input system provided by the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) is now available for churches in the Nebraska United Methodist Conference. Letters were mailed from the conference office on Dec. 1, to all churches containing the secure logon information for this year's process.

Please do not discard this letter as it will be the only time this information is sent. All correspondence sent to pastors and church treasurers about the 2008 statistical process can be found on the conference Web site at http://www.umcneb.org and selecting the "Administration" quick link at the top of the home page. Churches should report the information as of December 31, 2008. The data may be entered between Jan. 1-Jan. 16. After Jan. 16, data will no longer be accepted. Pastors should make sure that someone from the church is responsible for the data entry prior to the deadline. Additional information is also available from each district office.
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Dell offers UMC additional savings on computer purchases

United Methodist Communications announced today that Dell is offering an additional 7 percent off the already low discounted prices available through the UMC Member Purchase Program, an exclusive discount program available to United Methodist churches, members, employees and volunteers.

The additional discount is available on Dell laptop or desktop computers—including featured systems, as well as those customized to fit your specific needs. It is not necessary that the computers be purchased for a church. They can be for home use or purchased as gifts by anyone who is affiliated with The United Methodist Church.

Through the UMC Member Purchase Program, discounts are also available on electronics, printers, digital cameras, televisions and other items that may be on your Christmas shopping list.

For more details on the 7 percent discount offer, go to http://www.dell.com/umc and follow the link for a home computer purchase.
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Wesleyan Live announces courses for Nebraska clergy, laity and community members

This program offers continuing education courses for clergy, laity and community members. Courses are taught by Nebraska Wesleyan faculty in Lincoln and televised live across the state. The participants and professors are able to interact with each other throughout each telecast.

Course Location
The sessions are televised live from the Nebraska Education Telecommunications Building in Lincoln. The possible transmittal sites, which will be determined according to registrations, include Ainsworth, Beatrice, Grand Island, Kearney, Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha and Scottsbluff. A minimum of six registrants is needed at each location.

Registration and Credit
The enrollment cost is $40 per person or $20 for retired clergy and retired clergy spouses.

Wesleyan Live, Spring 2009
"Renewal the Wesleyan Way: How Our Unique Heritage Can Fuel a Modern-Day Revival"
Tuesdays, 12 - 1 p.m.
Feb. 3, 2009 - March 10, 2009

It's time for a revival! After decades of decline in America, the United Methodist Church stands on the brink of a period of opportunity for revival and renewal. How can we use the best of our heritage as a catalyst for our movement into our faithful, fruitful future? How can John Wesley's insights on servant leadership reignite and inspire the way we grow together? What practical, effective solutions can we implement to contribute to thriving ministry?
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Bishops seek feedback on episcopal area boundaries

The Lewis Center for Church Leadership is assisting the South Central Jurisdiction Council of Bishops as they consider new episcopal area boundaries in 2012 due to a reduction in the number of bishops by one. Clergy and laity of that jurisdiction are invited to participate in an online survey to offer feedback to the bishops on priorities and principles related to this process. To participate in the survey, go to http://www.churchleadership.com/scj.html.
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Upcoming events at Mount Sequoyah—save the dates!

Mount Sequoyah has three great conferences coming in early 2009. Click on the links below for more information about each of these great events.

Addiction Ministry Responders Conference, Feb. 23-25, 2009
A conference for all church leadership, clergy and laity, to help shape the church's response to substance abuse problems within their communities and congregations.

Small Church Leadership Institute, March 9-13, 2009
A conference to equip laity and clergy with the knowledge and skills for leading their small attendance church into the future.

Caring for Creation Conference, March 27-29, 2009
A conference designed to educate, network, and inspire faith communities to initiate, develop, and sustain stewardship programs that will protect and celebrate God's creation.
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December copy of "Connections" newsletter now available

The December copy of the "Connections" has been posted on the South Central Jurisdiction UMVIM Web site. "Connections" is a bi-monthly newsletter published by the jurisdictional UMVIM office to share mission opportunities.
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Editorial Policy: The content, news, events and announcement information distributed in UMconnect is not sponsored or endorsed by the Nebraska United Methodist Conference unless specifically stated.

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