WI Conference Weekly ENews - February 15, 2023

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Bishop's Convocation Of Laity Leadership 2023
Saturday, March 4, 2023, 9:00am - 4:00pm

Come one and all to this years Bishop’s Convocation of Laity Leadership 2023. If you belong to a United Methodist church you are a leader and disciple for Jesus Christ. Worship and study God's word on this inspiration filled day. Bishop Jung and others will share how their faith journey brought them to the United Methodist Church. Register now, no cost, free food, spirit lifting, and future benefitting event! Guest speaker Roland Fernandez, General Secretary of Global Missions, will help us gain knowledge of the connection of our local church to the rest of the world. 

Stevens Point: St. Paul's - The Springs UMC
600 Wilshire Blvd, Stevens Point, WI 54481

Registration deadline is February 17, 2023 at noon.
Register here 

Register Now For Wisconsin Annual Conference 2023
June 9-12, 2023, KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI

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  
Early Bird Deadline is April 3, 2023

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

All confirmed registrations will receive a confirmation email. Please search for your name on the Registered Attendees tab. If it is not located, no registration has been confirmed.
If you need assistance accessing the website or registering online, please contact your pastor or call Lori Denoyer at 608-837-7328

UMCS Hosts Media Announcement for Hunger Task Force & Kohl's- United Methodist Children’s Services of WI, Inc. (UMCS)

The staff at United Methodist Children's Services wants to share some exciting news – our agency was the site for an important media announcement regarding a significant contribution from Kohl’s to Hunger Task Force. The announcement also focused on the significant decrease in Food Share benefits starting in March here in Wisconsin – with the average loss being $132 per month for an individual receiving benefits. This will greatly increase the food needs for families in our service area, increasing the number of items we need to keep in stock. Please share the news of the Food Share benefits decrease far and wide so we can pull together as a community to help fill the needs gap.

The media coverage is below, as well as an impact video that Hunger Task Force created for the announcement.
https://www.fox6now.com/news/kohls-donates-hunger-task-force-healthy-food-families 
https://www.cbs58.com/news/thousands-of-milwaukee-families-will-soon-see-cuts-to-extra-foodshare-benefits 
https://www.facebook.com/hungertaskforce.mke/videos/590517262512545

REMINDER: Statistical Reports Are Due 2/28/23

The 2022 Statistics Reports for local churches are due Tuesday, February 28th. If you have yet to start, please find instructions through the conference website: CLICK HERE. We have a new reporting system this year. There are only two weeks left. Start today!

Contact our Conference Statistician at statistics.wisconsinumc@gmail.org or call Sarah Sneider 608-478-4603 with any questions. Many thanks to those who have already started and to those who have submitted their data.

Northeast District To Offer An Assortment Of Lay Servant Courses

Pastor Laura Riemer from Peace UMC in Green Bay, WI is offering a range of Lay Servant Courses in the Northeast District with the first course beginning this month. All Classes are taught IN PERSON. Participants must purchase their own books. There is a $10 per class registration fee which covers handouts, snacks, and refreshments. Course offerings include basic lay servant course, discovering spiritual gifts, leading public prayer, United Methodist heritage, leading worship, United Methodist Polity, and preaching.

CLICK HERE to view courses, dates, and register. 

North Central United Women In Faith Spring Retreat
Saturday, May 6, 2023, Pine Lake Camp

Come and join the conversations on May 6th! Presenter Julie Miehe will speak at this UWF (United Women in Faith) Spring Retreat. Julie has a solid background in all things UWF. She has taken on leadership roles at the District and Conference levels, serving as President, Secretary of Program Resources and on nominations committees. Julie currently serves as our North Central District Secretary. She also brings education experience, having served as Mission u Dean, Assistant Dean and study leader. Look for her at Mission u in Mauston leading one of the studies this summer! Our mission focus gifts will support United Methodist Children's Services in Milwaukee.

Registration deadline:  April 21, 2023. 
Registration Cost: $20.00 (includes lunch)//after April 21st, $25.00
Learn more and register

Mission u 2023: Living The Good News, Reflecting God's Love
United Women In Faith

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.

Live by Zoom: June 20, 22, 27 & 29, 2023
In-Person: July 13-15, 2023, Location TBD

Address questions to Mission u Dean: Mary Lainberger—mlainberger@charter.net
Learn more

2023 Instituto De Desarrollo Congregacional

Registration for for the 2023 Instituto De Desarrollo Congregacional is now open! The Instituto De Desarrollo Congregacional is a comprehensive, ten months leadership development opportunity for those leaders ready to take their ministry to the next level. For more information or to register, contact Rev. Scott Carlson / scottcarlson@wisconsinumc.org or Pastor Carlos Sandoval / csandovalw11@yahoo.com 

Bishop's Day Apart For Clergy

All Clergy members of the Annual Conference are invited to the Bishop’s Day Apart. These gatherings will occur in each district, providing clergy with a worship experience, Bible study, conversation about moving forward as a denomination and fellowship. We pray that you will join in this special time with Bishop Jung. All clergy will receive an email with an invitation to register for the event. If you do not receive the invitation, please contact Lisa Wink at lwink@wisconsinumc.org. 

Volunteer For Tech Crew At Wisconsin Annual Conference 2023

Looking for a chance to help Annual Conference and to meet new people? Being a part of Tech Crew gives you the opportunity to do these things and also gives you an inside view on how the behind the scenes works.   

No experience is necessary, we will teach you how to set up and use the equipment. As a team we will also have time to play games and do other fun thing to get to know each other. We are looking for 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 Sue Snellenberger at Snellenbergersue@gmail.com by May 2, 2023.

Rainbow Covenant Brochure Update

The call of the church is to look beyond our walls and listen for the ways God invites us to share our faith with others. That faith- sharing must include our actions as well as our words. A key core value is to move outside our walls as we witness Christ in the world. The United Methodist Church emphasizes this core focus for all of our congregations. 

This brochure is offered to you as a resource and aid in your mission giving discernment. As your church, missions committee, Sunday school class, small group or youth group looks for ways to engage others, this resource can help. Here you will find opportunities among the eight bands of the rainbow that will pull you into places of need, both near and far.
View updated brochure
Board of Global Ministries- Wisconsin Conference of the UMC

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 

UMCOR Continues Earthquake Response

ATLANTA — The United Methodist Committee on Relief continues to work with its humanitarian partners to aid earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria. UMCOR has released initial solidarity grants to International Blue Crescent and Forum for Development Culture and Dialogue to help provide shelter, food and first aid kits to those who have been displaced. Winter weather and a cholera outbreak are complicating the response. Susan Clark reports.
Read story and watch video
To donate

UMCOR Resources For UMCOR Sunday On March 19
Resource UMC

The 2023 Special Sunday Kit provides a full package of ready to use resources to help your church celebrate the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Special Sunday. UMCOR Sunday is a denomination wide celebration designed to raise awareness and support for UMCOR. Use these resources to explore how we give, why we give and the impact we make through connectional efforts.
Access pastor and leader kit

Shipment #7 Is Headed To Grenada
Midwest Mission Distribution Center

Grenada, located in the southeastern Caribbean, is one of our newer recipient countries. 38% of Grenadians live under the poverty line, many suffering because of droughts and inaccessible supplies. Food For The Poor works with in-country parters to get needed supplies to families who are suffering. They also have three children's homes, part of their Angels of Hope program, that receives items for 51 children. *

Being able to ship to Grenada means that we can help make a difference and impact the lives of those who are in need of basic resources. Our mission, although to send tangible resources, is also to send the intangibles - hope and empowerment to build a better life. We do this by praying over every item, every pallet, and every shipment that leaves the Midwest Mission building. Read more

FREE Webinar: Update Your Computer For Safety's Sake
UMC Support

Join UMC Support February 28 at 11 CST as our tech experts guide us through important security updates for 2023 – and learn how the power to safeguard your computer may already be in your control. If you can't make it - sign up and we'll send you the recording.
Register Today!