WI Conference Weekly ENews - April 26, 2023

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Annual Conference Is 6 Weeks Away- Register Now! 

Registration for Wisconsin Annual Conference 2023 is now open. All information about the event is available on the registration website. The Wisconsin Annual Conference 2023 (in person or online) will be held at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, WI from June 9 – June 12, 2023. If you are unable to attend in-person an online option is available. 

Register here: https://na.eventscloud.com/wac2023  

Absolutely no registrations after the deadline. *Clergy and Laity must register by June 1, 2023, at 12:00pm to vote in the sessions.

If you need assistance accessing the website or registering online, please contact your pastor or call Lori Denoyer at 608-837-7328

Mission u 2023- Living The Good News, Reflecting God's Love
July 13-15, 2023, First UMC Baraboo

Join us at Mission u as we explore the good news and what it means for our lives!

Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels proclaim the good news of the kin-dom or reign (basileia) of God. In fact, Jesus mentions the kin-dom 90 times in the Synoptic
Gospels! What does the Bible tell us about God’s basileia and why do we call it the kin-dom? For Jesus, the kin-dom was not simply something to talk about but something we could live and experience.

In-Person: July 13-15, 2023, First UMC Baraboo, 615 Broadway St., Baraboo, WI 53913

Address questions to Mission u Dean: Mary Lainberger—mlainberger@charter.net
Register Online / Download Registration form
Volunteer registration form

Dynamic Conversations And Meeting Of The Global Mission In Maputo, Mozambique
By Bishop Hee-Soo Jung

In Maputo, Mozambique, there was dynamic conversation and a meeting of the global mission. The historic Conference served as a breakthrough opportunity for the African churches to testify and share the work of the Holy Spirit on the track of missions. We were able to face the mega-discourse on the kin(g)dom of God that God is working in the field of Africa, in every corner of such a big continent. As the president of the Global Ministries, facing and leading the deep and wide fields of world church missions brings indescribable joy and spiritual blessings. 
Read more

Cultural Immersion And Education Learning Experience In India
With Dr. J. Samuel Subramanian, Ph.D., Jan. 12-22, 2024

Dr. J. Samuel Subramanian, Ph.D. is Elder in Full Connection in The United Methodist Church. He currently serves as Lead Pastor for a 4-Charge (Danbury-Grace-Siren-Lewis Memorial) appointment. Dr. Subramanian will lead a 10-Day cultural immersion experience where you will have practical exposure to religions, cultures, and social Interactions with people of India in Tamil Nadu. This trip will count as 2 continuing education credits. Reading materials and full trip details can be found in the link below.
Learn more and view trip brochure

31st Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant Application
Sponsored by Northcott Neighborhood House, Milwaukee, WI

(Milwaukee) April 24, 2023 - The Northcott Neighborhood House sponsors the 31^st Annual Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant for young girls and boys. This is the 31^st year of the Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant, and we need our youth to apply now. The pageant winners will receive cash and prizes totaling $1,500 in value. For contestants, it’s a pageant but also a place to celebrate Black sisterhood and brotherhood and to promote a deeper understanding of a complex holiday; from a historical and cultural perspective.
Scholarship application packet

Moving Forward With The Beloved Community

The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  This is our mandate regardless of what circumstances come our way and pull us off track. This is a difficult time for many in The United Methodist Church. Some of our congregations in the Conference have voted to disaffiliate from the denomination. 

In any congregation that leaves, there are people who want to remain faithful to The United Methodist Church and remain a part of our denomination. We most certainly welcome you to remain United Methodist and carry on the legacy we have had as a denomination that is rooted in the historic faith in Jesus Christ, committed to social justice and welcoming all people.

If your church has decided to disaffiliate and you would like to remain United Methodist, please visit our website at https://www.wisconsinumc.org/moving-forward-with-beloved-community   

2023 Ingathering Updates
New Items Needed & Updated Drop Off Sites List

The conference Mission Motivation Committee is working with Midwest Mission Distribution Center to collect items for Personal Dignity Kits and Home Care Kits. Midwest Mission distributes these items locally, nationally and internationally to those in need during times of crisis. All supplies are given free of charge regardless of gender, race or religion.  Although we are focusing on these two kits, we appreciate any items found at midwestmission.org.  All items should be NEW – and all kits should have only the items requested. View kit details

Urgent needs include the following:

• Shampoo (in bulk), 12-19 oz. 
• 100-150 oz. EMPTY liquid laundry detergent containers. We can use containers of any size up to 150 oz. (we are collecting full or empty liquid laundry detergent containers) 
• Sewing machines, electric and treadles (they don't have to be new; we accept sewing machines that need a little tuning up; we cannot accept the computerized ones. 
• Medical equipment -folding walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, canes, walking boots, slings 
• Blankets- new or gently used for disaster response  
• Non electric tools specifically shovels, brooms, rakes

Kits and items that make up those kits, should be brought to Annual Conference at the KICenter in Green Bay. The Midwest Mission truck will be there for collection on June 9th & 10th. To process donations efficiently and get them where needed quickly, we ask for a list of the items donated. You can help the person who delivers the items -and save everyone some time- by filling out the Donation Form ahead of time.  

Volunteers are needed to check in and load donations at Annual Conference in Green Bay anytime during our drop off hours: Friday, June 9th 10am-4pm and Saturday, June 10th 8am-2pm. Contact bonnieclement05@gmail.com to help.

2023 Ingathering Drop Sites List
2023 Ingathering Bulletin Insert
Ingathering Update 3-6-2023

First Rice Meal Pack At Oak Creek Community UMC

On April 22nd, 35 volunteers ages 10-83, gathered at Oak Creek Community UMC for their first annual Rice Meal Pack for Midwest Mission. Additional volunteers prayed for the people packing and receiving the meals, and donated financially. As we packed 1,200 bags, we heard laughter and cheering and enjoyed time in fellowship and mission. With 4 lines of excited workers, we finished in 1 1/2 hours! Thanks to Jonathan Loomis who grilled hot dogs and hamburgers so we could share a meal together afterwards. It was a great day to be at OCCUMC! -Submitted by Heidi Loomis

Celebrating a Centennial With Ellsworth Kalas
by David Kalas

Ellsworth Kalas was a clergy member of the Wisconsin Annual Conference for twenty years, serving churches in Watertown, Green Bay, and Madison. He died in 2015 at the age of 92, but this year would have been his 100th birthday. In honor of that landmark, his children and grandchildren have been working to create a website to remember Dr. Kalas' life and celebrate his ministry.

Among other things, the site features recordings from radio devotionals that Dr. Kalas broadcasted on WISM in Madison in the late 1960s. Another creative feature is a weekly "blog," rediscovering brief columns that Dr. Kalas wrote for church newsletters in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.

Church served by Dr. Kalas, individuals blessed by him, and preachers trained by him will all enjoy this trip down memory lane and the special resources available at https://ellsworthkalas.com/

Hands Only CPR & AED Training
Oak Creek Community UMC

On April 23rd, 18 members of Oak Creek Community UMC participated in a hands-only CPR and AED training. Every minute that goes by after someone goes into cardiac arrest, the chances of survivability decreases by 10%. Early recognition of cardiac arrest, early compressions and defibrillation saves lives! The Oak Creek Fire Department facilitated the training and taught members how to deliver chest compressions in the event of a cardiac arrest. Members had an opportunity to practice using an AED. They also learned where the two AED’s were located in their own building. Pastor Heidi Loomis said this class was offered at the church because “Being prepared to offer help in the event of an emergency, is one way we care for one another. Whether we’re in the church building or out in the community.” -Submitted by Heidi Loomis

Share Your Story!

We are called to share the good news in all the ways we can. Sharing your stories is way for us to be in community together. Every church has a story to tell and we want to hear about them and what is happening in the life of your church.  We want to hear from churches around our conference so if you have a story that you would like included in an upcoming ENews please use the link below and fill out the form.  We would love to have pictures to accompany the story! Submit story here

Share Your Event!

We're looking for events that celebrate local church communities across the state. Help us spread the word about your upcoming event by sharing it with us here!  Please be sure that your submission provides complete details. Subject to our editorial review, we will add your event to our Events Calendar and share it in the weekly Enews. Submit your event here 

Welcome North Central's New President
North Central College

Dr. Anita Thomas will become the eleventh president of North Central College, effective July 1. A mission-driven leader, researcher, educator, and psychologist, Thomas has over 25 years’ experience in higher education. She is the first woman and first person of color to lead North Central in its 162-year history. In addition to leading the school, she will hold the faculty rank of professor of psychology.
Learn more

United Methodists Help Fuel News Reporting On World Press Freedom Day
United Methodist Communications

2023 marks the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day. UM News, the official newsgathering agency for The United Methodist Church, has been championing trustworthy reporting and freedom of expression for much longer. On the May 3rd benchmark day, United Methodists are invited to celebrate the news service by experiencing specially curated content and supporting UM News’ mission.
Read more

24,880 Rice Meals Packed And Ready To Go To Ukraine
Midwest Mission Distribution Center

This week, April 15-21, we held a Rice Meal Pack at Midwest Mission in order to meet the need for Rice Meals in Ukraine. For over a year, we have had the opportunity to send meals to those affected by the war. In the midst of the chaos and destruction, there is difficulty in meeting even basic needs - food. 

The need is still there, and possibly even greater, as more and more people are displaced from their homes, their country, and their families.
Read more

Honoring Asian Americans And Pacific Islanders
United Methodist Religion & Race

WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has created two free, downloadable resources, “10 Things to Know about Asian Americans” and “10 Honorable Traits of Pacific Islander Culture,” for churches to use during Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Both infographics are available at the agency’s R-Squared resource hub.
View resources

Live From Wespath
Wespath Benefits and Investments

Register today to attend “Live from Wespath” on Wednesday, May 17, at 1:00 p.m. Central time. This no-cost event especially for United Methodist clergy features information and insights from Wespath Benefits and Investments about benefits, well-being and investments to help you better navigate your daily lives and the general Church environment. Through interactive features, you’ll engage with and “meet” Wespath staff, ask questions, and discover additional resources to stay connected with Wespath throughout your career and into your retirement years. Learn more at https://www.wespath.org/events/live-from-wespath

Invite WCC Staff To Your Congregation This Spring And Summer!
Wisconsin Council of Churches

Did you know the WCC has staff all over the state who would love to visit your church? They are available to preach, lead classes, or help support your ministry and can focus on a variety of topics. They can offer support during pastoral vacation Sundays or just bring a new perspective on issues your congregation is passionate about.
Click here to learn more about our staff and the topics they are available to cover.

Northcott Neighborhood House 2023 Annual Meeting
April 30, 10AM-2PM, 2460 N. 6th Street, Milwaukee, WI 

The 2023 Annual Northcott Neighborhood House meeting will take place on Sunday, April 20th from 10AM-2PM at Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 N. 6th Street, Milwaukee, WI 35212. Brunch will be served. To RSVP or for questions, contact Ms. Davis at 414.372.3770 or jdavis@northcotthouse.org.