WI Conference Weekly ENews - July 13, 2022

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Conference News

 

Registration is OPEN for August's Stewardship Conference at Pine Lake

Join us at the newly rebranded Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation’s Annual Stewardship Conference at picturesque Pine Lake Camp on August 12-13! The theme is: “Stewardship as the Dust Settles,” with keynote speaker Rev. Dan Dick. Registration is now open! Come for one day or stay overnight. NEW this year – a virtual option through Zoom. Educational materials are available for purchase.

Register at https://wiumcamps.campbrainregistration.com/
Find more information and an agenda at https://www.wumf.org/upcoming-events/ 
If you have a question, email jason@wumf.org or 608-837-9582.


Ways To Welcome A New Pastor

When a congregation welcomes a new pastor, it is an exciting time, a new beginning for both the congregation and the new minister. To maximize this new beginning, it is important to prepare spiritually, cognitively, and emotionally for a new chapter. Here are a few things you can do to prepare personally and congregationally to follow a new spiritual leader:

 - Pray for your new pastor
 - Send your pastor a welcome note or email
 - Embrace the uniqueness of your pastor
 - Be prepared to follow
 - Help the new pastor become familiar with the congregation 

ResourceUMC Ideas to welcome a new pastor
Lewis Center for Church Leadership ideas to welcome a new pastor
(Information pulled from ResourceUMC and Lewis Center for Church Leadership.)


Anti Racism Task Force Cultural Competency Forum
Zoom Webinar: A Time For Sharing

Saturday, July 23, 10:00am-12:00pm, Zoom
Saturday, August 27, 10:00am-12:00pm, 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 appointments 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.

Host: Lamarr V Gibson
Read more
Register Here

Denominational News

 

UM Religion and Race Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge- Week 4: Reconciliation

The fourth week of the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge has begun. This week's theme is Reconciliation and the scripture inspiring this week's prayers is 2 Corinthians 5:16-21:

"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

As a reminder, there are a few things you can do to participate:

Thank you for your support and we hope that you'll continue to join us in this time of prayer and action. Join The Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge


July 17 is Women's Ministry Sunday/ World Service Fund Day

In March 2022, United Methodist Women announced its new name: United Women in Faith. A new logo and new and improved programs were created to nurture current members and welcome new women to join.

Five years of research with more than 24,000 United Methodists and women of other Christian traditions informed the prayerful discernment of staff and elected leaders.

The changes are designed to address the unique needs and life stages of current members and new women and expand options for membership and engagement. The new name also aims to welcome current members whose local churches may choose to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church as well as women of other faith traditions who want to join.
Read press release

Local Church Stories

 

West Allis First United Methodist Church:
God's Parking Lot Hot Dog Mission

West Allis: First United Methodist Church launched a new mission initiative called “God’s Parking Lot Hot Dog Mission” in the summer of 2020 during the Coronavirus crisis. The mission is about serving the community, the church neighbors, and others passing by each Saturday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm with a free bagged lunch containing a hot dog, chips, bottled water, a cookie, and a church promotional flier. The mission continued in the summer of 2021 and again continues this summer because of the fruitful outcome for three years in a row. Generous members of the local church continue to support this mission generously with their time, talent, and treasure to make this mission not only possible but also successful. Volunteers sign up to be part of this mission Saturday after Saturday.



This summer, 250 individuals have been served since the beginning of June. It will continue through the end of August. This is the need of the hour to bless people in need for the sake of the gospel of love, sharing our resources with people of all ages, nations, and races. People who walk their dogs, people who take a walk, people who drive by, young people who ride their bicycles, kids who play on the sidewalks - they all stop by to have a free bagged hot dog lunch.  Many will respond: “Thank you; God bless you.” Others will respond: “Can I have one more hot dog lunch for my mother or my grandmother or my daughter or someone at home?” God’s mission is expressed by God’s churches both contextually and passionately.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” Matthew 25:35


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 

Mission News

 

Midwest Mission Distribution Center
The Deadline is FAST Approaching to Help Ukraine!

We invite you to help Ukraine in a tangible way with the specifically-requested items listed below. You can send all - NEW ONLY - items to Midwest Mission at: 1001 Mission Drive Pawnee, IL 62558. Donations must be received at Midwest Mission, NO LATER THAN JULY 22, 2022
 
Midwest Mission asks for your help in supplying:

  • Men's Socks
  • Rain Ponchos
  • Adult Underwear

Or you can make a financial donation by texting UKRAINE to: 855-589-1314 or go online and donate at: UKRAINE Your generosity provides multiple blessings! Thank you!

Upcoming Events


July 23 - Anti Racism Task Force Zoom Webinar: A Time For Sharing 
July 28 - UMW Mission U 2022
July 29 - Inquiring Candidates Retreat at Pine Lake
August 2 - ICD- Multicultural Ministries
August 8 - Sun Prairie United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School
August 12 - WI UM Foundation Stewardship Conference at Pine Lake
August 21 - On a Roll with God
August 27 - Anti Racism Task Force Zoom Webinar: A Time For Sharing
September 22 - ICD- Field Trip #2
September 25 - Volunteers in Mission at Lake Lucerne

Other Resources

 

Discipleship Ministries Webinar:
Making the Annual Campaign Your Own

Tuesday, July 12th  I  6:30pm CT

Will your church be planning an annual campaign this year? If the pandemic has moved your folks out of the routine of the annual campaign, this may be the year to innovate and make the campaign more personal than a pre-packaged experience! A campaign can be an important piece, but it is just a piece of what could (and should) be a larger stewardship strategy for your church.

Join Rev. Ken Sloane, Director, Stewardship & Generosity as we explore the existing annual campaign resources, time-tested tools and how a year-round strategy can make this a meaningful experience for your leaders and your congregation!

Register Now!


BeADisciple.com Christian Online Education:
Online Certification Opportunities to Begin in August

July 6, 2022 — A new cycle of online ministry certification courses is set to begin Aug.22, 2022, at BeADisciple.com. BeADisciple.com is part of the Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College, and has offered quality online educational experiences with roots in Wesleyan theology since 2006. 

Church leaders and interested persons can begin progress toward certification in seven different disciplines— church administration and leadership, children's ministry, women’s ministries, spiritual formation, rural ministry, ministry with people with disabilities, and music ministry.  
Requirements typically include successful completion of four online courses, and each course is six weeks long. (Some programs include a 12-week practicum in place of the fourth course.) The four classes in this certification cycle are set to be held Aug. 22 to Sept. 30, Oct. 10 to Nov. 18, Jan. 16 to Feb. 24, and Mar. 13 – Apr. 28 (no class during Holy Week).  
Full information is available online at www.beadisciple.com/ifd-certifications


UM Religion & Race- Coming Soon
Being the Church with the Oppressed: 4 African Perspectives

UM Religion and Race presents a New Bible Study: Being the Church with the Oppressed Soon we'll be launching a new four-session Bible study - Being the Church with the Oppressed: Four African Perspectives. Keep an eye on our social media and resource website for when it releases. 


UM Religion & Race- Coming Soon
Save the Date: Facing the Future Virtual Conference

November 16th

Save the date for the next (fully virtual) Facing the Future Conference. This one-day virtual event for clergy serving in cross-racial/cross-cultural ministry settings is scheduled for Wednesday, November 16th.
Read more


Free Church Safety & Security Workshop
Crossroads Presbyterian Church, Mequon, WI

Crossroads Presbyterian Church partnered with ACG Security Consultants and will host a free Church Safety & Security Workshop on Saturday, August 20th. ACG Security Consultants Troy Szotkowski and Dave Skinner will be on hand to discuss church safety and behavior recognition followed by a group discussion. Registration for this event begins at 8:30 a.m. at Crossroads on August 20th. More information here.

Classifieds
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