WI Conference Weekly ENews - April 27, 2022

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You are Invited to a Retirement Celebration and Farewell for District Superintendent Forrest Wells and Congregational Leader Jorge Luis Mayorga

The South East District retirement celebration and farewell for Rev. Forrest and Rev. Jorge will be centered on worship with music from our many ethnic ministries at Community United Methodist Church, 455 S. Jefferson, Waterford, WI on May 21, 2022 at 9:15am, followed by light refreshments at 10:45am. 

Rev. Forrest has completed seven years as District Superintendent and 43 years of ministry since being ordained Deacon in 1979. Rev. Jorge has completed five years as the Director of Congregational Development for the Conference and was previously a District Superintendent for our district. He has served in ministry in Wisconsin since 1993.

Both Rev. Jorge and Rev. Forrest will retire from full time work, but will remain active in the ministry of Jesus Christ. This will be an opportunity to celebrate what God is doing in our congregations as we honor two who have served with us.

Ingathering at Annual Conference 2022

Each year at our Annual Conference, gathering churches are asked to donate items for people in need or people suffering from disasters. This year the conference Mission Motivation committee is working with Midwest Distribution Center to collect items for the Personal Dignity Kits and Home Care Kits. Midwest Distribution Center distributes the kits 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. 

Midwest Mission is one of eight cooperating depots in the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Supply Network. Midwest Mission distributes UMCOR supplies in response to disasters within the United States.

The Ingathering for 2022 is underway.  Annual Conference, June 10 – 13, 2022 will be In-Person at the KI Convention Center, 333 Main Street, Green Bay, WI.  There is the option of attending via Online Webinar.  We ask those of you attending In-Person to bring your kits to the Ingathering truck at WI Annual Conference 2022 which will be located on Elm Street behind the KI Convention Center. 

Volunteers will be on hand to load supplies: Friday, June 10th (10am-4pm) & Saturday, June 11th (8am-2pm).

For those of you NOT headed to Green Bay for Annual Conference, several churches have agreed to be drop-off sites. Gathered supplies should be dropped off by June 8^th at a drop site so they can get this to Green Bay for Annual Conference. Please contact the drop-off site in advance to arrange a time to deliver your supplies.

Drop off Sites
Ingathering Bulletin Insert 
2022 Ingathering Information

#BeUMC Campaign Social Media Tools

The #BeUMC campaign reminds us of who we are at our best. As people of God called The United Methodist Church, we’re faithful followers of Jesus seeking to make the world a better place. #BeUMC honors the core values that connect the people of The United Methodist Church. No matter the challenges we face, God is with us, and we continue to have opportunities to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!

The campaign calls us to embrace our Wesleyan heritage and envision a promising future. Every day offers a chance to live into our mission and to strive to #BeUMC — to be the church our communities so desperately need. Access #BeUMC Toolkit
#BeUMC Social Media and Awareness Tools

WI Annual Conference Volunteers Needed

First Aid Assistance: Volunteers able to provide immediate first aid assistance to attendees. If you can provide that assistance, please check the appropriate box on the registration form.

Greeters and Ushers: Greet attendees and guests coming to Annual Conference. We need volunteers to offer a smiling face, warm welcome, and possibly answer simple questions as folks arrive. If you are interested, please check the appropriate box on the registration form or contact Connie Meyer at 608-837-3382 or constanceemey@gmail.com

Tech Crew: Committed and responsible volunteers to work for the Tech Crew/Stage Crew. Must be 12-years-old or older, by June 1, 2022. In some cases, this time can be approved for community service hours towards graduation (check with school). Download the application here. Applications must be submitted to Angela Ullrich at aullrich@wisconsinumc.org by May 2, 2022.

Registration Booth: Volunteers are needed for two hour shifts to help with checking in registrants. This involves making sure attendees are registered and handing out name tags/lanyards. Help is needed on Friday, June 10th from 9:00am to 5:00pm. On Saturday and Sunday, help is needed from 8:00am to 5:00pm. If you are interested, please check the appropriate box on the registration form or contact Lori Denoyer at (608) 837-7328 or ldenoyer@wisconsinumc.org by May 2, 2022.

GCORR Turns 54 This Week!

This week is the anniversary of GCORR's founding in 1968. Still, in 2022, the work of challenging and deconstructing the systems of oppression in the church is relevant:

• Pastors and congregations are reporting that they are experiencing racial and tribal tensions in their communities.
• More churches are entering into cross-racial/cross-cultural ministry opportunities.
• Congregations are seeking ways to be anti-racist as they recognize how systemic racism continues to perpetuate white supremacy.

GCORR is committed to continue making tools and resources available as broadly as possible. This is possible through your prayers and financial support. Consider helping us celebrate our anniversary by donating $54 for our 54th anniversary for us to continue our work of challenging and equipping the church to complete its unfinished agenda of dismantling racial discrimination.

UM Religion & Race Presents Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge

Our Christian principles charge us to be a community of prayer and action. We are to live in the tension of piety and work. Worldwide, we continue to experience racial, ethnic, and tribal injustices that dehumanize God’s people. We are called to work towards liberation — as a spiritual and actionable practice. For this reason, the General Commission on Religion and Race invites you to participate in the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge. Beginning on Juneteenth (Sunday June 19, 2022) we will post daily prayers on social media for six weeks. We’ll also include weekly challenges to help you put your prayers into action.

Starting Sunday, June 19th, we challenge you and your church to join us by doing each of the following:

1.  Pray with us each day. Share the prayer on your social media and ask your friends to pray too.
2.  Take action. Each week we will suggest anti-racist actions, pick one and do it.
3.  Incorporate the liturgy in worship. We will offer liturgies for each Sunday during the challenge.
4. Host a community prayer service for racial justice. Use the litanies, scriptures, and prayers below and invite other faith communities to participate.

Report Released on Church's Net-Zero Efforts

ATLANTA (UM News) — There’s a delicate balance between meeting the goal of cutting greenhouse-gas emissions and running effective ministries that use energy. A one-year progress report issued by the United Methodist Interagency Just and Equitable Net-Zero Coalition shows progress in measuring emissions, but the search continues for ways to judge how cutting emissions may inadvertently cause damage to people already struggling. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Read press release
Learn more

Ripon Immanuel Church Congregation Comes Together to Present Passion Play

"A passion play: 'As I Have Done for You' was presented by the congregation at Ripon Immanuel Church on Palm Sunday. The event had nearly 275 people attend with performances at 10am and 7pm on Sunday, April 10, 2022. The play, based on a script written and directed by the church’s praise worship leader, Christina Muenchow, featured her husband, electric guitar-playing Al Muenchow, in the role of Jesus Christ and included a cast of nearly 40 from the congregation and community. It included song selections such as “Put Your Hand in the Hand”, “As I Have Done for You”, “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”, and “O Praise the Name (Anastasis)” among others, and told the story of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, his teachings, his arrest, his death, and his resurrection and even included songs from “Jesus Christ Superstar”. 

When Christina Muenchow presented the idea of performing a musical passion play on Palm Sunday, the congregation didn’t hesitate to join in. From performers, to musicians, costume and set designers and sound/video technicians, many were needed to bring Muenchow’s vision to life in just a few short weeks. “It brought people from multiple generations together in one cast and crew and because it’s a passion play, it can help people with their faith — both people who are on the edge of their faith and those who are already more deeply involved in their faith,” Muenchow said. “Those who attended were given an opportunity to recognize their own place in the story and Passion of Jesus this Holy Week”, Muenchow stated. Christina and Al Muenchow lead the praise worship service at Ripon Immanuel Church in Ripon each Sunday morning at 10 am. For those who missed the performance, the recording can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0royzWKV5EM.

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

Bolivia Motorcycle Project Update: Third Motorcycle Presented in Bolivia

The Wisconsin Annual Conference signed a partnership with the Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia. This is one of the greatest gifts of our Conference, to be in mission with other Methodist churches around the world. 

The goal of the Bolivia Motorcycle Project is to raise enough money to purchase four motorcycles for Pastors in Bolivia. So far, three out of four motorcycles have been purchased! The third motorcycle has been presented to the Valle Andino District. This will help the Pastor and District Coordinator navigate difficult roads where cars cannot pass, but still need to travel to in order to bring the words of hope and salvation to God's children. Thank you for providing a much needed instrument to help spread God's word in Bolivia! 
Watch Video Update about third Motorcycle Presentation 
Learn more about Bolivia Motorcycle Project

Midwest Mission Celebrates Its Volunteers

On Thursday, April 21 Midwest Mission hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Staff and volunteers gathered together to celebrate their time volunteering with us and the difference they are making in the world. Executive Director, Chantel Corrie, gave a presentation about Midwest Mission throughout the years including the number of shipments, kits, and volunteer hours last year and over the lifetime of Midwest Mission. One of the highlights: over 580,000 hours have been donated since tracking of volunteer hours began. Amazing! Volunteers were able to enjoy lunch and quality time with other volunteers and staff members. Former volunteers Marilyn "The Bandaid Lady" Markus, Willis Parker, and Mark Yergler were honored for their many hours of service over the years. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers, we are able to send hope and empowerment around the world and around the corner.

Is Your Church Information Up To Date On Your UMC.org Church Page?

When is the last time you reviewed your church’s Find-A-Church profile? If it has been awhile, it may be in need of an update. With people everywhere looking to connect and make new connections, there is no time to waste.
Review Profile

Register for UM Communications Learning Week Training

On the week of May 9-13, church leaders and communicators will gain access to a vast library of on-demand resources, including recorded videos, tutorials, podcast episodes and self-guided work curated by church communication professionals. Opportunities for peer discussion and networking will round out the week's activities.
Register Today