UMconnect — 06/30/09

Thank you for your AC offerings

I wish to thank Annual Conference attendees and congregations for their support of the outreach ministry offerings taken in June 2009. Total collections raised exceeded $27,000. You are to be commended for your gracious generosity to benefit persons in need locally and across the globe. For a detailed listing of these contributions, please visit www.umcneb.org and go to the Annual Conference Session quick-link banner on the left side of the home page.

— Robin R. Kilgore, Conference Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services

United Methodists ride bikes for hunger

The Nebraska United Methodist Bike Ride for Hunger (NUMB) participants hit the road on Sunday, June 27.

Riders rode from Ogallala to Brady on the first day, before continuing on to Stapleton and North Platte in subsequent days. The ride will end when they return to Ogallala on Wednesday, July 1.

NUMB has raised money to combat hunger for 14 years and has raised more than $400,000 for four hunger projects including Heifer Project International, UMCOR Hunger Projects in Nigeria, Nebraska Food Banks and Bread for the World. This year, 125 bikers and 10 support crew members will then travel from Brady to Stapleton to North Platte and back to Ogallala.

NUMB riders like to share a lot about the ride and hear about the area, so members of the community are welcome to stop by and visit.

Volunteers in Mission—a good way to Rethink Church

In 2008, the Nebraska United Methodist Conference Volunteers in Mission (VIM) program sent teams to seven countries and 13 states. These volunteers contributed over 16,000 hours of service and nearly $250,000 in cash, in-kind donations and labor to VIM project sites.

The numbers are impressive, but what really stands out are the efforts of the VIM teams to practice not only hands-on mission work but acts of justice, create forums to pair cultural education with the mission experience and to provide opportunities for all to participate in the practice of mission and justice. You are invited to participate in this worldwide effort that is making an impact on the world through mission and justice.

For a complete listing of VIM projects, visit http://gbgm-umc.org/vim/umvimmap.htm.

• Read more

Aldersgate UMC receives hospitality award

Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Bellevue, Neb., has been recognized by United Methodist Communications (UMCom) as an official "Welcoming Congregation."

"Welcoming Congregations" are a select group of United Methodist congregations nationwide that meets criteria including embracing newcomers and providing opportunities in discipleship. The recognition program is part of a larger effort launched in late 2000 by UMCom, the denomination's communications agency, to use modern technology and the common language of television to spread the Good News of Christ to a world in need.

"Open hearts, open minds, open doors" is the theme of the denominational effort, the centerpiece which is a series of national cable TV advertising, supplemented by regional and local church participation. The overall aim of the effort is to invite people, particularly those between 18 to 34 years old, to enter into connection with the Christian community as they seek meaning and purpose in their lives.

The Aldersgate United Methodist Church is located at 3617 Greene Avenue in Bellevue.

The Rev. Larry Hollon is UMCom's top staff executive. More information is available from the agency's Web site at www.rethinkchurch.org or by calling toll free 877-281-6535.

Deb Keeney returns to Nebraska, shares mission work

Deb Keeney, formerly of First United Methodist Church Omaha and Justice For Our Neighbors, is coming back to Nebraska share her mission work done in Roanoke, Va. Deb is a church and community worker through the General Board of Global Ministries. She is available to speak to churches and groups from June 30 to July 12.

For the past year, Deb has been working with the Community Outreach Program in Roanoke, an inner-city, after-school program serving children living in poverty. They have four programs operating in four downtown United Methodist Churches. The program is generously supported by the Virginia Conference and the Roanoke District. It's 20-year anniversary is this fall.

Don't forget youth groups and Sunday School classes — this would be a great way for young adults to learn about one of the many options for lay ministry in the UMC. Another option would be to host a special event, such as a morning coffee or evening get-together and invite people to come meet Deb and learn more about her work.

If you would like to schedule Deb to speak to your church or group, she can be contacted directly at domaha@cox.net.

North Platte announces Vacation Bible School

North Platte First United Methodist Church will have their Vacation Bible School, Camp Experience and Discover God Everywhere! (E.D.G.E.) on Aug. 3-7, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

This year, camp counselors will be taking students on daily treks to Biblical places, all focusing on the verse Psalm 118:14a: "The Lord is my strength and my might." The week will end with a special camping adventure.

Registration forms can be picked up at the church office or printed off the Web site, and are requested to be in by July 28. Come and experience and discover God!

Kearney Faith organist needed

Faith UMC in Kearney is seeking a keyboardist/organist/pianist. Applicants should be able to provide accompaniment at two services (8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m.) and rehearse with the choir and praise band on Wednesday nights. For more info or to apply, please e-mail Revsreed@hotmail.com or call 308-237-2550.

Faith UMC is located at 1623 Central Ave in Kearney, Neb.

Warren UMC to host ice cream social

On July 25, Warren UMC will serve ice cream with a variety of toppings, cookies and bars from 3 to 4 p.m. It will be celebrating 100 years of ministry. Warren UMC is located at 1205 N. 45th Street in Lincoln, Neb.

Choir robes from Fremont First

First United Methodist Church in Fremont, Neb., has 42 choir robes available. They are asking for a donation of $15 per robe.

If interested, please contact:
First United Methodist Church
815 North Broad Street
Fremont, NE 68025
(402) 721-0817
first_umc@q.com

• See the robes here

Arcadia UMC sponsored mission trip

Pictured, from left to right: Front Row - Gabriela Ritz, Taylor Ritz, Marilyn Musil, Sara Valentine, Roz Downer, Liz Gibbens, Rebecca Davenport, Hope Downer, Jo Wells, Mary Ann Rickertsen; Second Row - Bob Roth, Suede Frederick, Casey Sheets, Brady Masters, Robbin Masters, Kendra Clark, Megan Davis, Jamie Kirwan, Paula Bennett, Kaitlyn Bennett, Carri Jo Klooz, Kay Gould, Betty Sell, Bill Staab; Third Row - Harry Ritz, Nick Gabriel, Kaitie Halva, Royall Yonkers, Terry Eickelberger, Ashley Kulwicki, Dustin Dye, Hayden Cox, T. J. Oltman, Holly Valentine, Brady Chilewski, Alex Luehm, Lance Hehner, Samantha Pointer, Katie Kusant, John Valentine, Celeste Gould; Back Row - Jerry Hawley, Brad Nagorski, Chris Paider, Taylor Barry, Niklas Zarins, Lorenz Joss, Mike Miller, Shawn Myers

Have you ever thought about hosting an African exchange student?

IRIS — Iowa Resource for International Service — a non-profit organization located in Ames, Iowa, is a pioneer in a new program that hopes to decrease misconceptions about America in parts of the world where Islam is the prominent religion.

The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program is funded by the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Consider this wonderful opportunity as one of your unforgettable life experiences.

If you would like to join in this effort, and would appreciate the chance to open your home to a student and learn more about African culture, please contact:
Christelle Enega
IRIS Center
600 5th St. Suite 301
Ames, IA 50010
Office: 515-292-7103
Email: mailto:cel@iris-center.org
For more information about IRIS and hosting our students, please visit our
Web site.

• Some students in the program
• A brochure with more information

National 'Faith in Action Sunday' set for Oct. 11

The third annual "Faith In Action Sunday" - which challenges churches to literally close their doors on a Sunday morning and go out and serve their communities — will take place on Oct. 11 this year.

The theme for this year's "Faith in Action Sunday" is "Don't go to church. Be the church." More than 800 churches have signed up for "Faith in Action Sunday" to date, although some have chosen alternative dates for the event. Some are joining together to do community-wide and even city-wide events.

Churches have organized food drives and helped the elderly and needy with home repairs. Some groups cleaned and landscaped public areas or private homes. Some maintained women's or homeless shelters. And one church adopted a school and committed to performing regular clean-up and gardening tasks.

"Pastors are raving about the results, saying it really made a difference in their communities. Their members can't wait to do it again," said Abel.

The "Faith in Action" movement is quickly becoming a viral online community of service-minded churches, collecting photos, videos and testimonies via RSS feeds from other popular sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. A new web site — www.putyourfaithinaction.org — has been developed to support this growing movement.

Diana Butler Bass's A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story Reviewed

Diana Butler Bass has given mainline churches three valuable tools for understanding and shaping congregational life in the 21st century. In The Practicing Congregation (Alban Institute, 2004), she offers a preliminary report on her ground-breaking study of 50 thriving, mainline congregations funded by Lilly Endowment There she distinguishes establishment churches from practicing congregations: the former marked by membership in a church that looks like a religious club; the latter by participation in practices that shape and express the faith of the people.

In Christianity for the Rest of Us, Bass examines more closely ten of these practices, relating numerous examples from mainline congregations that are thriving where conventional church growth thinking would not have predicted. Bass' latest book, A People's History of Christianity, is offered as a resource for the churches she described in the first two works -- churches that are learning from the faithfulness of generations past, applying these learnings to Christian life and practice today.

In a conscious allusion to Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States, Bass sets out to tell the church's story not by presenting the "big C" events of the church -- "Christ, Constantine, Christendom, Calvin, Christian America." Rather she recounts the stories from the lives of people and movements as they strove to love God and neighbor faithfully. Some of these are well-known heroes of the faith; others are largely overlooked except by scholars.

Looking not to the Great Commission but to the Great Commandment, Bass looks at five eras of Christian history through twin lenses of devotion and ethics, setting people, events and movements within the context of the unfolding story of the times. Along the way she suggests parallels with our time and offers examples of what contemporary Christians are learning from them. For each historical period she describes the central question of the time and tells how individual Christians struggled with Jesus' Great Command to love God (devotion) and love neighbor (ethics).

A warning: Bass' history is not a collection of museum exhibits. These stories will suck readers in and engage them in deep reflection. If you don't want to think about your own faith and practice, if you don't want to risk being changed by God's Spirit through these stories of faith, stay away. This book may be hazardous to your complacency.

A People's History is an invaluable resource for classes, leadership teams and all who are curious about the journey(s) we have traveled as the church.

Review by Stephen Griffith

• Click here to listen to an interview with Diana Butler Bass

Marriage Encounter weekends quickly approaching

Have you been desiring a closer, more intimate relationship with your spouse? Attending a Marriage Encounter weekend is an excellent way to make that happen.

Right now — before your fall calendars fill up — please take a moment to put the following dates on your calendar for Marriage Encounter weekends. And then spend time in prayer to decide which one you will attend!

The 2009 fall weekends for Marriage Encounter United Methodist are: September 18-20 in Grand Island
October 23-25 in North Platte
November 20-22 in South Sioux City

To register contact Russell and Lanita Evans, Nebraska State Registration Couple, 2002 Cedarberry Road, North Platte, NE 69101, 308-535-1833, 520-1491 or russellevans@internet-usa.net.

Marriage Encounter is designed for married couples who want to live out their wedding vows to the best of their ability. Marriage Encounter is the official marriage program of the United Methodist Church and is an affiliate of the General Board of Discipleship.

Great resources for children's ministry

Check out this web site for great children's sermons, object lessons, activity pages, games and more that go with the Common Lectionary Scriptures.

Look for this great free material for youth from the National Council of Churches USA, called Sacred Food. Other downloadable resources for youth groups or youth Sunday school are available at www.nccecojustice.org . Also included are free materials for adult groups.

Focus 2009 event registration closes soon!

If you work with children in your church, then the destination of choice is Focus 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 21-24, 2009. Online registration closes on July 9.

Sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD), Focus 2009 is the largest event for people who work with children.

Focus is the training event for 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 and clergy.

The event is designed to help early childhood educators stay current by bringing together the people who are doing the research in a variety of areas with people who are working with children.

Participants have less than two weeks to register online (on-site registration will be available at an additional charge). For more information or registration details, please visit the Focus 2009 Web site or contact Melanie Gordon at mgordon@gbod.org.