WI Conference Weekly ENews - August 24, 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 “How Long, O Lord, ‘til the New Wine Burst the Wineskin?” – Theological Hermeneutics of Diversity toward Effective Multicultural Discipleship
September 24, 2022, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Sun Prairie UMC
October 22, 2022, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Watertown: Christ UMC

This training, led by Rev. Dr. Don Kim, will address the issues of intersectionality of the Christian faith and diversity in multiculturalism and effective church leadership through critical theological interpretations of assessing the culture and navigating the so-called “discipleship,” to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world in today’s stigma of racial crisis and multicultural challenges. Our congregational life tends to keep us separate from those who are different in race, class, or life experiences. We need to do some serious thinking about ecclesiology and public theology. There is a $20.00 non-refundable registration fee to cover participation, a meal and printed materials.

Registration Deadlines: September 14, 2022, at noon / October 14, 2022, at noon

Register Here

Breakthrough Prayer Initiative
September 24 / 10:00am- 3:00pm / St. Paul's UMC, Stevens Point

Every church recognizes prayer as important. But what happens when a congregation unites to pray collectively and consistently for God to break through in new and miraculous ways? You can launch your congregation into the kind of churchwide breakthrough prayer initiative that fuels the atmosphere of possibility, and the entire focus begins to shift from inward to up-and-outward. It's easier than you think--and the results will make spiritual history right in your own community and beyond.

On September 24, 2022, from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, at St. Paul’s UMC, 600 Wilshire Blvd., Stevens Point, WI the next  Breakthrough Prayer Initiative Training Event will take place. The cost will be $10/person with a max of $60 per church. Registration deadline is September 17, 2022. If you are bringing more than six people, please contact Lori Denoyer via email ldenoyer@wisconsinumc.org. Registration is now open!

In order to attend, each church must bring a team consisting of the pastor plus at least five church members (or as many as you like), in order that implementation of the training is effective.
Read more / Register

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. 

Final Summer Social at Coloma: Calvary UMC A Success

The Coloma Calvary United Methodist Church held its third and final pie and ice cream social of the summer on Aug. 18 at the Coloma Community Center. The socials were extremely successful, raising funds for repairs needed on the outside carpeting of the church steps and other future repair projects. The small church appreciates the dedication and conviction of its congregation to work so hard to keep the doors open. The church also appreciates the local and area community members that support its efforts. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of love.

The church also owns the Coloma White Rummage Church, 403 Westfield Road, Coloma. Church members work daily to sort and box donated items. Members of other parishes are assisting in this worthy community and area-wide service. Most items are 50 cents. A 50-cent BOGO sale (Buy One, Get One Free) for children's clothes runs from 9-11 a.m. Saturdays,
through Labor Day, after which the rummage church will be closed for the winter. It's a lot of work but a lot of fun too! -Submitted by Hyunmin Lee

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 Council of Bishops
Bishops Meet to Discuss Church Future

WASHINGTON — In the midst of ongoing challenges related to COVID-19 and church disaffiliations, the Council of Bishops will meet Aug. 22-26 to discuss the future of The United Methodist Church, prepare for new bishops to be elected later this year and address other timely topics related to its ongoing work. The bishops' meeting will be livestreamed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Aug. 22 and Aug. 26 on the Council of Bishops Facebook page.
Read Press Release
View Facebook Page

UMC Bishops Welcome Judicial Council's Clarification Of Church Disaffiliation Process

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  The Council of Bishops expresses gratitude for the Judicial Council’s ruling that clarified that Paragraph 2548.2 of The Book of Discipline is not a process of church disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church but is rather a supplementary procedure for the purpose of deeding church property as permitted by other paragraphs of the Discipline in limited situations.

 In May this year, the bishops requested a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on the meaning and application of Paragraph 2548.2.
Read press release

United Women in Faith
UWF: Inflation Reduction Act Not Enough

NEW YORK — The Inflation Reduction Act is a good thing, but more needs to be done, said Elizabeth Chun Hye Lee, director of mobilization and advocacy for United Women in Faith. "The allocated budget for environmental justice fails to meet the Justice40 goal of delivering at least 40% of climate and clean energy funds to benefit disadvantaged communities," Lee said in an Aug. 18 statement. United Women in Faith will continue to lobby for the prioritization of climate and environmental justice, she said.
Read press release

Midwest Mission Distribution Center
Grenada Is The Newest Country Added To Midwest Mission's Outreach

Collaboration is integral to what Midwest Mission does. “When we work together much can be accomplished. Our partners help provide humanitarian relief and work with us in domestic, international and local efforts,” said Chantel Corrie, executive director of Midwest Mission. 
 
Last Friday, Aug. 12 was a prime example of how well-defined partnerships allow for expanded blessings. Midwest Mission staff loaded and shipped a first-time container to Grenada. Food For The Poor is one of Midwest Mission’s long-time international partners. They serve 17 Latin and Caribbean countries and many of the countries have received shipments from us of supplies to aid in provision of disaster relief supplies, health, education, and micro business resources. Operations Manager, Brad Walton said he sent Food For The Poor an offer and one of their two in-country partners in Grenada accepted it due to the variety of items.
Read more

United Methodist Commuincations
#BeUMC: Bringing Our Mission To Life

As people of God, we are called to follow Jesus in making the world a better place. As United Methodists, we embrace our Wesleyan heritage and live into the mission to #BeUMC and become the church our communities need us to be. Discover digital resources, graphics, discussion topics and more to help you share this inspiring message of hope with your congregation.
Learn more

Resource UMC
Tips For Connecting With TikTok

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With the ever-changing landscape of ministering in a digital age, United Methodists may wonder if TikTok is appropriate for their congregation. Aaron Crisler shares some hard-won tips on using the platform to reach potential new disciples.
Read story

UM Religion & Race
Resources For Bishop Elections Available

WASHINGTON — This November, the church in the United States and the Philippines will participate in the election process for new episcopal leadership. Delegations will have the opportunity to engage candidates in conversation about their vision, leadership, spirituality and more. The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has developed resources to help delegations and others in their discernment process.
View resources