WI Conference Weekly ENews - July 27, 2022

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Join Us In Welcoming Wisconsin Conference's Newest Ministry Leaders!

This year, 13 new clergy are starting their first appointment or are entering a new clergy role in the Wisconsin Conference—some newly credentialed and some experienced. The new clergy in the WI Annual Conference gathered at Pine Lake United Methodist Camp, July 20-21, for the New Ministry Orientation. At this orientation they learned about:

• Board of Ordained Ministry from Rev. Krysta Deede and Rev. Ty Hines
• WI UMC Camps from Nick Coenen
• Finances and Apportionments from Sarah Sneider
• Conference Benefits from Rev. Jean Nicholas and Rev. Cheryl Weaver
• Stewardship through the WI UMC Foundation from Rev. Krystal Goodger
• Statistical Reports from Don Cramer
• WI UMC website and the Communications Department from Lisa Wink.

Pictured Above Back Row: Dogyun (David) Kim, Jeremiah Cottrell-Duebner, Ron Bupp, Zach Bloom, Han Yoon Lee, Front Row: Mike Zahn, Mary Messmer, Jill Nowlen, Patricia Tristan, Hae Jin Bahng, Hyuntae Kim, Sangrok (Rok) Lee. Not Pictured: Luis Velasquez

Rev. Dan Schwerin, the Assistant to the Bishop, gave the welcome from the Bishop’s office and the address from the Cabinet. The new clergy to WI also heard from the three Chairs of the Orders (Elder: Rev. Steve Scott/Rev. Cathy Weigand, Deacon: Rev. Susan Haller and Licensed Local Pastor/Associate Members: Rev. Mike Weaver).
 
*Thank you to Rev. Mary Anne Conklin and Jessica Gobel, both members of the Board of Ordained Ministry, who planned and organized the 2022 New Ministry Orientation.*

Boy Scouts of America Update: Save the Date

For those congregations seeking updates regarding ministry relationships with the Boy Scouts, we invite you to participate in a Zoom meeting Wednesday, August 10th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Any representatives from boards of trustees, scouting ministry, or clergy would find this information helpful. We ask that you please register for the meeting. Once you register you will receive the Zoom link for the meeting. Materials for the meeting will be sent out as we get closer to the date. Thank you for your ministry with young persons. Registration link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcu-urToiHNYS3XmGGz48spooF8TRgANe

Lay Servant Course, Leading Worship, Online via Zoom

Leading Worship, a Lay Servant Course, will be offered ONLINE via zoom from Friday, Sept. 30, 6-9pm to Saturday, Oct. 1, 9am- 3pm. Each person will need to purchase a book on-line. The class book is “Worshiping with United Methodists” by Hoyt L Hickman and can be ordered for $15 at Cokesbury.com.

Each participant will need good internet access and access to a computer equipped with web camera and microphone sound.  There is no need to purchase a Zoom subscription.  A class link will be sent to you via email prior to class. 

The deadline to register is September 21, 2022.  To register or to contact with questions, email powellmama@gmail.com, or call 608-220-5873.  Seating is limited so register early!

10th Annual Oak Creek Sikh Memorial Anniversary
August 4-7, 2022

On behalf of the Oak Creek Sikh community, we invite you to attend the 10^th Annual Oak Creek Sikh Memorial Anniversary events from August 4-7, 2022. The theme of the series of events is Heal, Unite, Act. The goal of the remembrance events is to empower people of all backgrounds to stand up against hate. 

Ten years ago, on August 5th, the Sikh community of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, suffered the deadliest mass-casualty attack on a house of worship that the United States had seen in almost 50 years. A white supremacist gunman entered the temple with the intent of killing those inside. Seven Sikh worshippers lost their lives due to that hateful violence. His rampage left a community shocked and a nation in disbelief. Together, we will honor the memory of Paramjit Kaur, Prakash Singh, Ranjit Singh, Satwant Singh Kaleka, Sita Singh, Suveg Singh Khattra, and Punjab Singh.
View Schedule of Events
View Flyer

Accessing the People Portal Within The Conference Database

Clergy under appointment and lay persons who hold leadership positions within the conference have been access to the People Portal within the Conference Database.

The People Portal is accessed by a link on the bottom of any page of the conference website by using a username and password unique to each person. If you are unsure of your login information, please contact the District Office for assistance. If you know your username but have forgotten your password, please click the “Need help logging in” link and enter the email address on file with the Conference.

The People Portal is a way to securely access individual information we have about, and for, persons in relationship with our annual conferences. Most of us are familiar with this kind of online access through our doctor’s offices, where we have an individual log-in to see chart information and appointments.

Portage UMC 2022 Annual Yard Sale A Success!

On July 16, 2022, Portage United Methodist Church had its 2022 Annual Yard Sale. The yard sale was organized by a group of PUMC's United Women in Faith. Considering the current economic situation, PUMC decided to price items lower than Goodwill. As soon as the yard sale began, it once again reminded us of the old saying: "The early bird catches the worm."

During the yard sale, PUMC's narthex was full of energetic laughs. One boy, who is moving to 6th grade this fall,  came in and tasted a piece of home-made cookie. He came back three times with money from his own pocket to buy a loaf of bread, more cookies, and brownies. Next year, if you pass by Portage around this time, please check out PUMC's annual Yard Sale.

Sun Prairie UMC: Serving Our Community

The Sun Prairie United Methodist Church serves our community meal, the Sunshine Supper, once a quarter. Volunteers from the church cook, package and serve the meal. To be Covid-safe, the meal is still being served as a drive-thru and the Supper serves approximately 400 meals each Monday evening.

On July 18, as a special gift to those coming for the meal, SPUMC also handed out $10.00 fuel-only gift cards to each car that came through. We had $2,000 worth of cards to hand out. The cards that were not handed out at the supper will be distributed by the Sunshine Place and the church to community members in need. The funding for the gift cards came from generous gifts to the SPUMC Wesley Fund, which is a fund to help to meet needs in our community.

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 Religion and Race 
Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge
Week 6: Liberation

The sixth week of the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge has begun. This week's theme is liberation and the scripture inspiring this week's prayers is Luke 4:18-19:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

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

• Sign up as a participant on the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge web page. It's not too late!
• Share the prayers posted daily on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
• Use the downloadable prayers and litanies in your church services.
• Join our private Facebook group for participants and swap ideas and encouragement.
• Use our hashtag (#prayforracialjustice) when posting or sharing content related to the challenge.

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

United Methodist Communications
Inaugural UM Podcast-a-thon to Take Place on August 2

Nashville, Tenn.: United Methodist Communications has announced plans for the inaugural United Methodist Podcast-a-thon event to take place on August 2, 2022.

The day-long event will showcase eight podcasts from the United Methodist general agencies delivered via Facebook Live on the ResourceUMC Facebook page.

“One of the wonderful aspects of podcasting relates to the independence of the medium: anybody can start and build a podcast. Because of this independence, we have a diversity of United Methodist-related voices and topics in podcasting that have all sprung up organically,” says the Rev. Ryan Dunn, Minister of Online Engagement, who hosts two of the podcasts. “Our hope with the Podcast-a-thon is to build some awareness around these independent voices and build a sense of connection and community amongst our podcast creators and our audiences.”
Read more

United Methodist Communications
Communications Agency Helps Churches Create Impactful Imagery

Nashville, Tennessee – A new facilitated course from United Methodist Communications aims to equip church leaders to easily create graphic designs and videos for social media, presentations and more. Outreach and Design Using Canva will be held August 15 through September 9, 2022. Designed with busy schedules in mind, the content will be delivered via the agency’s learning portal in an online self-paced format. Optional live web session gatherings on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1pm CT will provide facilitated conversation and topical Q&As. Registration for the course will open on July 26^th and close on August 10^th.
Read more

UMCOR & CWS Launch New Menstrual Hygiene Initiative

UMCOR and CWS (Church World Service) are happy to announce that they have launched a new menstrual hygiene initiative. With the rising costs of menstrual products, this initiative is more important than ever.
 

Learn more and get involved: https://umcmission.org/.../umcor-and-cws-launch-new.../

Midwest Mission Distribution Center
Angels of Hope Shipment En Route to Honduras

Thursday, July 21, volunteers prayed over the second shipment to Honduras this week. The 20-ft. container was filled with supplies to benefit Angels of Hope, a Food For The Poor program serving orphans and seniors. This container included 360 Home Care Kits, 840 Personal Dignity Kits (PDKs) and toothpaste for each of the PDKs. Rockline Industries provided 238 boxes of disinfectant wipes and 171 boxes of 16.9 oz bottles of antibacterial hand wash for this shipment. While we send these tangible items, it is the prayer, encouragement and hope - the intangible items included - that make the deepest impact. Sending the supplies opens those doors to life change. Thank you for partnering with us to shine God's light around the world and around the corner. 
Value: $51,230.00

View Midwest Mission's Current Supply Needs

General Council on Finance and Administration
Updated Ministry Resource Guide Available

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration has released its updated Ministry Resource Guide. The free guide features special offers, discounts and programs from vetted ministry partners and is designed to help local churches and other United Methodist ministries.
Read Press Release
Read Ministry Resource Guide

 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Launched

You are invited to share with your churches and networks about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is a new resource launched last week to provide free and confidential support for anyone experiencing a suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis. People of all ages who need help for themselves or a loved one can access the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by:

• Calling 988 (multiple languages).
• Sending a text message to 988 (English only).
• Using the chat feature at 988lifeline.org (English only).
• The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is the new name for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which has been available since 2005. 

Wisconsinites who use the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will connect with Wisconsin Lifeline, an in-state support center where trained counselors answer calls and texts.Wisconsin Lifeline counselors are trained to reduce stress, provide emotional support, and connect people with local resources. The helpline is available at no cost to Wisconsin residents. Additional care or intervention that may result from contact with the Wisconsin Lifeline may come with a cost. Wisconsin Lifeline is not able to send an in-person response directly. An in-person response requires a transfer to another service and could involve law enforcement.

Calls, texts, and chats with Wisconsin Lifeline are kept confidential between the person and counselor, unless there is imminent danger for the person or others. Click here to learn more. 

Higher Education Foundation
Scholarship Available for Chaplaincy Candidates

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation is accepting applications for its Chaplain Samuel Grover Powell Scholarship, which supports seminary students preparing for chaplaincy in a branch of the U.S. military. Applicants do not have to be members of The United Methodist Church.
Read press release
To apply