WI Conference Weekly ENews - August 17, 2022

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You are Invited to the Iowa/Wisconsin United Women in Faith Legacy FunDay via Zoom
Sunday, August 28, 2 PM

The United Women in Faith Legacy Fun Day will be taking place on Sunday afternoon, August 28, 2022 at 2 PM online via zoom. You will have the opportunity to connect with other United Women in Faith from Iowa and Wisconsin, play trivia about United Women in Faith and The Legacy Fund, and hear and learn from local and national Legacy Fund givers and leaders. Please preregister using this link: click here to register. Read More

For questions, please contact:
Iowa Conference: Rita Carter, Iowa PAG member – ritaac@mchsi.com
Wisconsin Conference: Heidi Careaga, UWFaith Board member – hjc77care@msn.com  
Gloria Carter – carter53597@tds.net

Anti-Racism Task Force Cultural Competency Forum Presents Zoom Webinar: A Time for Sharing
Saturday, August 27, 10:00am – 12:00pm on Zoom

A Time for Sharing will provide an opportunity to share experiences, ask questions, and offer mutual support in regard to issues of multiculturalism and cross-cultural relationships. Feel free to share observations, comments and bits of wisdom or critique. The aim of the “Time for Sharing” is to assist clergy and laity in their preparation to receive cross-cultural appoints and to welcome diverse persons into membership. You are invited to continue your journey to cultural competency by attending A Time for Sharing.

Participation is free of charge to Wisconsin Conference clergy and laity.
Register Here

Fall Relaxation Retreat at Pine Lake Camp, Sept. 8-11, 2022
Finding Harmony – How music helps us to find peace, and bring us closer to God.

Join Pine Lake Camp's 2nd Annual Fall Relaxation Retreat! Enjoy a time away with as much or as little activity as you need. This year’s activities include: Yoga, Drums, Tea, Forest Bathing, Hiking, Swim, Fish, Boat, Crafts, Chocolate Meditation, Gratitude, Prayer Labyrinth, Scavenger Hunt, Sound Immersion, Christian Music, and more!

What to bring: Journal or Notebook and Pen, Yoga Mat, and or blanket (Sound Immersion is 90 minutes and worth every second. We will be lying down). Percussion instrument if you have one, (we are bringing lots). Favorite Christian song to share. A favorite tea if you’d like to share (a variety will be provided). Rain activity or craft. Christian Video if you have one you’d love to share on a rainy day. IF you want to fish, you’ll need to purchase a license prior to camp. We will have experienced anglers on hand to help you, and provide gear and bait, and even help you clean the fish so you can bring a meal home! Led by Joni Shavlik and Candy Ruffolo

To register, click here: http://wiumcamps.campbrainregistration.com

The Inaugural Gathering of the Unplugged Needlework Society for Stitchers of the Cloth
Green Lake Conference Center / October 5, 2022, 9 - 11:30 AM

The mission of the Unplugged Needlework Society is to provide an open forum for fellowship and conversation among those who are both clergy and needleworkers. We will gather in a clean, well-lit space with our unplugged needlework (knitting, crocheting, embroidery, hand sewing, and mending) between 9am and 11:30am for fellowship and midday prayer. We do not have the capacity for electric tools of any kind. Arriving after 9am is fine; our agenda is very loose since ours is a gathering in the tradition of church needlework circles since Pentecost. Show And tell will begin at 10:30am. We will conclude with midday prayer at 11:15pm. Printed liturgies will be provided, and we will sing a capella unless a volunteer guitarist raises a hand and contacts the convener, Dawn Jeffers Ramstad. Participants should bring their own beverage of choice (water, coffee, tea, soda) in lidded containers. To have lunch in the Green Lake dining room, a personal lunch reservation will need to be made with your room reservation at Green Lake Conference Center. Contact Dawn for further information at dawn.jeffers.ramstad@gmail.com. 

Harbor House Women's Empowerment Art Gala
October 14, 2022 / 5-7:30 PM / Billings Park Civic Center

Harbor House is hosting a Women's Empowerment Art Gala in October to raise funds for community arts provided in Douglas County. (Specifically for underprivileged women and youth) The goal is to raise $3,000.00 which till go towards space, supplies, and other accrued expenses such as transportation assistance for artists and connections with other community artists.

Please consider helping Harbor House reach their goal so they are able to continue to give back to the community! Cash/Check/Facebook fundraiser (found on Harbor House's Facebook page) accepted. View flyer

Join Rev. Scott Carlson For A Journey To The Holy Land
February 8-17, 2023

Rev. Scott writes, "I am so excited about the opportunity to be helping to lead a pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan in February of 2023.  I invite you to pray and consider joining me on this adventure of faith.

Traveling to the lands of the bible has opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of the scriptures we read and hold as sacred.  It has been described that the land of the Holy Land is the fifth Gospel.  That has certainly been my experience.  Just being in the place that is talked about in the Holy Scriptures, opens up how I hear the stories anew. 

When in Nazareth, I had a chance to see how a first century home may have looked.  The home consisted of just a few rooms.  One was a living area, where the food was prepared.  Where, at night, the bed mats were laid out and where, during bad weather, the animals were brought in and placed (The stable).  Seeing this house helped me hear the birth stories very different." Read more
View Trip Brochure

Join Rev. Forrest Wells for The Exodus Experience
April 11-21, 2023

Egypt is popularly known for the ancient civilization of the Pharaohs, Pyramids, and the Sphinx. The Judeo-Christian and Moslem Communities all consider Egypt to be part of the Holy Land because of scriptural references to Egypt, the Exodus and the giving of the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai. Less remembered is the important role of Egypt in the New Testament. Jesus, Mary and Joseph’s escape to Egypt play a significant historical role in the narrative. After Pentecost, some of the earliest Christian Communities arose in Egypt and are vibrant to this day. Join Peter Miano from the Society for Biblical Studies as we take this pilgrimage to Egypt after Easter in April 2023. You will even have the option to complete the exodus experience by entering the Promised Land with an extension to the Galilee and Jerusalem. All the Egypt Pilgrimage Information can be found here: The Exodus Experience. Please contact Forrest Wells with any questions at frwells@wisconsinumc.org.

Bethel UMC Celebrates 150th Anniversary August 21, 2022

On August 21, 2022, during the 10AM Sunday service, Bethel United Methodist Church, located on the corner of Highway A and Highway 12/67, will celebrate its 150th anniversary. All are welcome to attend the service and the reception following the service. Through its 150 years of existence, Bethel has welcomed 46 pastors, seven of whom were women and two of whom were cross-cultural pastors, one originally from Mexico City and the other from South Korea. 

Above: Sunday School Class 1900. As one of the oldest and longest continuously serving churches in Wisconsin, Bethel UMC and its members look forward to the next generations to come as they celebrate this historic moment, as they serve the community in which they live, and as they honor the mission begun 150 years ago: to humbly stand on the shoulders of their ancestors and do the important work God has called them to do. Submitted by Kristine Weir-Martell. Read more

Midland  UMC's Praisefest to Take Place on September 17th
Mazomanie, WI, begins at 10AM

Midland UMC of Mazomanie, WI is preparing for its fourth season of a wonderful musical venue, Midland PraiseFest. PraiseFest is a day of music, fellowship, food and fun. Six bands come from all over the state and neighboring states to entertain and spread the good news of God.

This year, on Saturday, September 17th you can sit back on the beautiful lawns of Midland UMC and truly relax. You will hear the great sounds of Myles Talbott Dyad at 10 am, Spare Parts Quartet at 11:30, Stars Entertainment at 1 pm, George Nicholson at 2:30, Reflect Worship at 4, and Brendan Brooks closes the show at 5:30. Members will welcome you and will be grilling up great brats and burgers for your enjoyment. Tickets are only $15 for ages 16 and up. Proceeds go to UMCOR and other local missions. We look forward to seeing you here! Submitted by John Oliver

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 

United Methodist General Commission on Religion & Race
Virtual Racial Justice Prayer Service

Join UM Religion & Race for a virtual prayer service, featuring prayers from our recently completed Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge! The service will take place on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 8 AM CDT.
Learn more

United Methodist General Commission on Race & Religion
Register Now! "Facing the Future" Virtual Conference
November 16th, 2022

Registration is now open for this one-day virtual event for clergy serving in cross-racial/cross-cultural ministry settings. The conference takes place on Wednesday, November 16th but the price increases September 1st, so register today!
Read more

Church & Society Now Accepting Applications For 2022 Grant Funding

The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) awards grants to United Methodist congregations and groups related to The United Methodist Church through the Ethnic Local Church, Human Relations Day, and Peace with Justice programs.

To apply for grants, applicants must complete forms on the new GBCS online system. All those who previously submitted applications must re-apply using the revised online form. 

Only complete online applications with all required documents submitted by the September 16, 2022 deadline, will be considered for funding. Click here to apply online.

Midwest Mission Distribution Center
Ukraine Shipment No. 5 Filled with Medical Supplies, Rice Meals, and Hygiene Supplies

As a result of your generous spirits and open hearts, the fifth container for Ukraine was filled, prayed over and shipped early Friday, July 29, 2022. Midwest Mission is committed to continuing to send hope and empowerment to the people of Ukraine, through your financial and in-kind gifts. Medical and hygiene supplies and rice meals remain among the top of needs. 

This latest request came from our partner, North Star Foundation. Midwest Mission’s Operations Manager, Brad Walton coordinated the efforts to fill the needs. The shipment that left Midwest Mission on July 29 included 923 pairs of socks, seven boxes of men’s underwear and 58 ponchos. In addition, Midwest Mission sent another 240 boxes of rice meals with 40 bags per box for a total of 9600 rice meal bags. Each $2 bag feeds six people, which means 57,600 people will have a nutritious meal. Each bag contains rice, soy, dried vegetables, and a vitamin pack. 

We are always happy to share what our trusted partners donated. Their commitment to helping us serve others around the corner and around the world is a blessing beyond words. 

Total Value: $125,772.00

Thank you volunteers, donors, partners, and prayer warriors for caring for those who need help in their times of crisis. Information from Midwest Mission Newsletter

United Methodist Religion & Race
Jurisdictional Resources From GCORR

GCORR has put together two documents to aid jurisdictional conferences in their selection of episcopal candidates.
Read more

General Council on Finance and Administration
Clergy Housing Allowance Explained 

Amplify Media: The Big Picture
Connect the Dots and Discover the Presence of God in Your Life

Life can often seem like a series of disconnected events, and we can struggle to find any meaning within them. But when we trust in God and pay attention to God’s work in our lives, we come to see that God is with us in moments of triumph and trauma.

In their new study, Jevon and Nicole Caldwell-Gross use Joseph’s experiences to help us discover the big picture of our lives and God’s dreams for us. You will learn how to:

• Take notice and make sense of seemingly disjointed moments.
• Recover the dream that has been buried.
• Discover what God is trying to show you.
• Move from a place of blame and revenge to a place of healing and faith.

Join Jevon and Nicole, and host Josh Scott, for this live conversation as they share how God weaves together events that seem random into a beautiful image of joy, survival, purpose, and meaning. Register here