WI Conference Weekly ENews - July 26, 2023

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Equitable Compensation Grant Cycle Application Available For Fall 2023

Equitable Compensation Grants are available for churches and charges served by a full-time pastor that are experiencing financial hardship. There will be two rounds of Equitable Compensation Grants this year, each totaling $20,000.  Churches may apply for only one grant per year.  The deadline for this second round of 2023 applications is September 30, 2023. The maximum award to a church/charge for first time recipients is $4,000.
Download Application

Provisional Retreat Gathering At Pine Lake
WI Conference Board of Ordained Ministry

The Provisional Members of the Wisconsin Conference gathered at Pine Lake from July 16-18, 2023 for a two-day retreat that focused on relationship building and the Provisional process. Provisional Members met in mentor groups, had conversations with Rev. Krysta Deede (Chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry), discussed the ordination interview and application process, and enjoyed exploring Pine Lake.

Art Of Hospitality Two-Session Webinar
August 9th and August 16th

Join First United Methodist Church, West Allis, for a webinar on the importance of hospitality. As a vital sign of any church, hospitality is a top priority for the United Methodist Church. This webinar will introduce "The Art of Hospitality," a comprehensive program developed by experts from The Church of the Resurrection. The author of the book "The Art of Hospitality" Yvonne Gentile will lead TWO sessions discussing how to create a culture of Radical Hospitality that will help local congregations thrive. We will learn the principles and best practices of exceptional hospitality. Read more
Zoom Webinar Registration Link

Join Rev. Dr. Samuel Royappa For A Journey To The Holy Land
April 2-11, 2024

Pastor Sam will lead/host a Holy Land Journey 2024 - April 2 - 12, 2024. In this journey, we will explore the Life of Jesus, His times, His land, and His Hebrew Faith. We will see the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes, the Church of the Fish and the Loaves at Tabgha, the Chapel of the Primacy, Magdala, the Wedding Chapel in Cana, Tel Megiddo, Caesarea, Jericho, Qumran, Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity, Shepherds' Field, Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Memorial, the Mount of Olives, the Palm Sunday Road, the Garden of Gethsemane, Mount Zion, House of the High Priest Caiaphas, the Upper Room, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Jerusalem, and much more! If interested, please email to  sroyappa@fumcwa.org for a brochure with further details such as cost, itinerary and registration. 
View brochure

First-Ever Licensing School in Wisconsin
May 5-11, 2024, Onalaska UMC

The purpose of the Licensing School as a Local Pastor is to foster the spiritual growth and skill development of persons called into ministry.  Students will share in collegial fellowship, worship, study and practical experience, which will enable them to qualify for a License as a Local Pastor and service in a congregation. The school emphasizes practical preparation for ministry, and the development of attitudes that will lead to future growth by each participant.  The focus will be on understanding the local congregation and leading the congregation in worship and preaching, sacraments, weddings, funerals, pastoral leadership, Christian education and formation, spiritual formation, evangelism and mission, and pastoral care. 
          Details:       May 5-11, 2024
                             Onalaska UMC
                             Registration fee $750
Watch for more details, or contact Mary Beth Scow (pastormarybeth@hotmail.com), or Cathy Hamblin (aacath@hotmail.com).

Port Edwards UMC Helps Out At Harbor House
By Rev. Caleb McGregor

On Thursday, July 13, 2023, a team of seven volunteers set out from Port Edwards UMC on a short-term service trip to Harbor House in Superior, WI. We spent our first day cleaning two empty apartments at the Tabitha Apartments supportive housing. This included wiping down surfaces, vacuuming floors, and prepping one of them to be painted. By the end of the second day, both were clean, and one had a fresh coat of gray paint. It wouldn’t be long before they were ready to welcome two new families!

In addition to turning over two apartments, we were able to spend some time meeting other residents and folks from the neighborhood. We learned about the ministries of Harbor House and got to tour their other facilities at the emergency shelter and transitional living center. And we even got to enjoy a few of the sights around Duluth-Superior.

It was such a blessing being able to work alongside Krystal and her team, and we are looking forward to continuing to support their ministry in the future.

Nearly Century-Old Friendship Quilt To Be Returned To Marshal UMC On Aug. 19th Celebration
By Martina Stanton

A nearly century-old Friendship Quilt that had been sewn and embroidered by women of the Marshall Methodist Church in 1934, is being returned to the congregation and to the Marshall Historical Society during an ecumenical and historical program at the church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 19.

The quilt was created in 1934 by members of the Ladies Ever Ready Class to commemorate the 65^th anniversary of the church’s dedication on August 19, 1869, and to honor the congregation’s pastor in the 1930s. The women’s plan was to create a “Friendship Memory Quilt” with the names of individuals who wished to participate as a small charitable fundraiser. What started small soon became an ecumenical community project with nearly 1,000 names painstakingly embroidered on the quilt by the Methodist women. Read press release

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 

Church Sees Signs Of Renewal Even As Exits Rise
UM News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — At this point, The United Methodist Church has seen about 20% of its U.S. congregations disaffiliate. But that also means about 80% remain, and many United Methodists see opportunities for both existing churches and new ones to grow. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
See chart of disaffiliations approved

Bouncing Forward As African United Methodists
UM News

The writer of 1 Peter 1:17-23 (NIV) focuses on the role of apostles whom God chose to share the gospel. “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God,” the passage reads.

Dr. Reggie Nel of Stellenbosch University in South Africa addressed the Global Ministries Africa mission consultation in Maputo, Mozambique, in April. He challenged us to reflect on how colonialism, racism, grief and trauma continue to impact the church in Africa. Speaking words of hope, he noted that we cannot simply “bounce back” but must also “bounce forward.” 
Read press release

Bishop Devadhar Funeral Set For July 27, 2023
UM Council of Bishops

Cincinnati, OH – A service to celebrate the life of Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio at Hyde Park Community Church, 1345 Grace Avenue on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 11 am. There will be a viewing immediately preceding the service at 9 a.m. at the church. The family will receive condolences and greet guests immediately following the service.

The service will be live streamed to accommodate family and friends who are unable to attend. 
Read press release

Hope In The Midst Of Crisis — Haiti Receives Angels Of Hope Shipment
Midwest Mission Distribution Center

Haiti is experiencing crisis after crisis, with natural disasters and man-made disasters alike wreaking havoc on the country. Almost 60% of the population lives below the poverty line, and many face food shortages, malnutrition, and waterborne diseases. 

Our partner, Food For The Poor, shared with us about the current state of Haiti: “Haiti is a bleak place for children. According to UNICEF, 20% of children under the age of 5 suffer from either severe or moderate malnutrition. Life expectancy is a mere 63.6 years for men and 69 years for women.” Read more

Running For Office As Clergy
Wisconsin Council of Churches featuring Rev. Jason Mahnke

This week Rev. Jason Mahnke joined us to talk about the question, “Can clergy (and people of faith) run for office?” Short answer – yes! Rev. Mahnke was recently elected as a village trustee in Oregon. He shared that he’d been involved in local state government even before running for office. When we think about engaging in politics or being involved in local government, our mind so often jumps to divisive partisan politics.

Rev. Mahnke said, “Most politics on the village level are quite boring. It’s about providing services for the public good and addressing public need.” He shared about how his faith drives his work and one question his faith calls him to ask is “Who is not being served? Who is not being heard?,” and he sees a role in “making sure that everyone has a voice.”
Listen to the conversation here

Revitalize Your Church's Social Media
UM Communications

Are your church’s social media accounts not getting much engagement? Do you want to learn how to transform them into vibrant channels to communicate with your congregation and community? Join us for this four-week learning experience that will start July 31. We will explore social media through a strategic lens, share the tools to build a social media plan and discover fresh ways to engage your audiences through social media. Space is limited, so don’t wait!
Register Today!