WI Conference Weekly ENews - June 1, 2022

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Ingathering At Annual Conference 2022

Each year at our Annual Conference, gathering churches are asked to donate items for people in need or people suffering from disasters. This year the conference Mission Motivation committee is working with Midwest Distribution Center to collect items for the Personal Dignity Kits and Home Care Kits. Midwest Distribution Center distributes the kits locally, nationally and internationally to those in need during times of crisis. All supplies are given free of charge regardless of gender, race or religion. 

Midwest Mission is one of eight cooperating depots in the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Supply Network. Midwest Mission distributes UMCOR supplies in response to disasters within the United States.

The Ingathering for 2022 is underway.  Annual Conference, June 10 – 13, 2022 will be In-Person at the KI Convention Center, 333 Main Street, Green Bay, WI.  There is the option of attending via Online Webinar.  We ask those of you attending In-Person to bring your kits to the Ingathering truck at WI Annual Conference 2022 which will be located on Elm Street behind the KI Convention Center. 

Volunteers will be on hand to load supplies: Friday, June 10th (10am-4pm) & Saturday, June 11th (8am-2pm).

For those of you NOT headed to Green Bay for Annual Conference, several churches have agreed to be drop-off sites. Gathered supplies should be dropped off by June 8^th at a drop site so they can get this to Green Bay for Annual Conference. Please contact the drop-off site in advance to arrange a time to deliver your supplies.

Drop off Sites
Ingathering Bulletin Insert 
2022 Ingathering Information

The Rainbow Covenant Recognizes 17 Congregations For Their Support Of Missions

The Rainbow Covenant, a program sponsored by the Wisconsin Conference Board of Global Ministries, encourages local congregations to support and participate in missions on local, conference, national and international levels through financial giving as well as personal involvement. 

Seventeen congregations submitted Rainbow Covenant Reports outlining their mission work in 2021. Those seventeen congregations are receiving Certificates of Recognition congratulating them for their efforts in meeting the requirements. Those churches include seven from the South East District (Asbury in Janesville, Bristol, Community in Cedarburg, Fifth Avenue in West Bend, First in Whitewater, Whitefish Bay and Yorkville), four in the South West District (Cobb, Columbus, Liberty Pole and Viroqua), four in North West (New Centerville, Salem Iron Creek, Spooner and Trinity in Elk Mound), and two in North East (First in Neenah/ Menasha and Wesley of Oshkosh). Read more

**Information about the 2022 requirements for Rainbow Covenant are now posted on the Conference website on the Board of Global Ministries page.  Go to wisconsinumc.org/global-ministries, then click on either of the Rainbow Covenant forms!  Information about Conference, National and International Advances as well as Missionaries currently supported by churches in the Wisconsin Conference are also listed on that page.

You Are Invited To An "Open House Reception" For District Superintendent Scott Carlson

Date: Saturday, June 25th from 10:00AM-12:00PM at Verona: Sugar River UMC, 415 W Verona Ave, Verona, WI 53593

Scott has completed seven years of service as District Superintendent. He will be leaving superintendency to resume serving as the new Congregational Development Director, effective July 1, 2022.  What a joyful opportunity to come celebrate and honor DS Scott’s leadership, talents, gifts, and services to our South West District for the past seven years!
Read District Superintendent Scott Carlson's Bio

You Are Invited To A Celebration of Leadership Ministry For District Superintendent Kate Jones

You are invited to a celebration of the leadership ministry of our District Superintendent Kate Jones, on Saturday, June 4, 10:00 am at Manitowoc: Lakeshore UMC.

The North East District farewell to DS Kate Jones will begin with a worship service at 10 a.m., followed by a light brunch. Kate has completed seven years of service as District Superintendent, beginning in the North West District in 2015 and moving to the North East District in 2019.  She will be leaving superintendency to resume serving as pastor of a local church at Wauwatosa Avenue UMC, on July 1, 2022, in Wauwatosa. Gifts given in honor of Kate's ministry can be directed to Wisconsin Camping Ministries. Watch a livestream of Kate's Celebration here: https://livestream.com/accounts/16259850/events/10450492

UM Communications: Spread Peace On June 12

Get your church ready for Peace with Justice Sunday with resources from the pastor and leader kit. This kit has everything you need to empower your congregation to give generously. From promotional to devotional, we have ready-to-use resources for you to download and share today. These core resources are available in multiple languages.
Get Resources

United Women In Faith: Women 'Turn It Up' At Assembly 2022

ORLANDO, Fla. — More than 3,000 gathered at the Orange County Convention Center and online for United Women in Faith’s Assembly 2022, held May 20-22. The event celebrating the work of the church’s women’s organization included speakers, workshops, town halls, worship and the consecration of deaconesses and home missioners. Tara Barnes, Jessica Brodie and Mary Beth Coudal report.
Read story
See more photos
60 consecrated at women’s event

UM Discipleship Ministries: Courageous Conversations For Youth - Gun Violence

With the recent tragedy in the Texas elementary school, we thought it would be appropriate to share a past resource that helps discuss such events. Courageous Conversations for Youth are designed to equip a youth leader with a model to create brave spaces where youth can share their thoughts and feelings on pressing topics.

This resource asks participants to explore gun violence and gun laws by sharing their opinions, doing research, and discussing any local impacts in their communities from violence that includes guns. Learn more

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 

Midwest Mission Distribution Center: Shipment #3 To Ukraine Is On Its Way To Poland

On Wednesday, May 25, the third shipment for Ukraine was loaded with rice meal bags and items from our partner, The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. This shipment came together at the request of a partner organization, Operation Ukraine. Disaster relief blankets were dropped off in the morning and before the driver left, the lot Operations Manager, Brad Walton, received a call from Operation Ukraine asking if we had blankets we could give them to get to Ukraine. When Brad was called to see if Midwest Mission could use the baby supplies, he said yes as they can always be used but again before the day was over he got the request again. "We say 'yes' and know that God takes care of the rest. We are good at logistics, but God is on a whole other level, it never ceases to amaze us," says Brad. The container contents had a value of $97, 310 and contained 12,000 Rice Meal bags, 2459 emergency blankets, 4224 disposable diapers and 468 baby wipes.

Midwest Mission Distribution Center: VBS Supply Drive Opportunities

Midwest Mission wants to be your mission focus for Vacation Bible School. It's a great way to teach your kids how to show God's love in a practical way. Those who receive the one-handled bag of supplies are grateful for the tools they receive to help them have a better learning experience. Your kids can help! There is a video for each day that tells stories and encourages kids to bring one or two items per day and culminates on the fifth day with a video showing how to put the kits together. Sewing the bags can be a great activity for older kids. One-handle bag pattern. Don't have sewers now worries put it in a plastic grocery bag and we will put it in a bag when it arrives and recycle the plastic one. We are excited to have your kids help us "Send Hope and Empowerment Around the World and Around the Corner."

UM Communications: Prepare For Fall Outreach With Free Resources

Fall is the perfect time to invite people back to church and celebrate back-to-school time with customized banners, yard signs, sandwich board signs, postcards, invitation cards and more. Use coupon code UMCFA22 for $300 worth of free resources!
View Resources

UM Discipleship Ministries Webinar: Energize Your Church Through Listening

In these times of stress and uncertainty, it is often difficult for churches to maintain current levels of activity, let alone plan ahead. Join us June 7 at 11AM Central for a free webinar! Led by Joy Skjegstad and Heidi Unruh, they’ll bring together learning and practical action steps that can be put into practice right away. Get ready to discover gifts, encourage connections, and envision possibilities that can release new energy for engagement. Register Today!

UM Advertising Campaign Combats Summer Slump

Nashville, Tenn. – Summer may be vacation time, but the upcoming denominational advertising campaign from United Methodist Communications reminds us that local churches don't take a break from serving and ministering to communities. The ads are expanding to additional outlets while encouraging people to join The United Methodist Church in engaging in a season of togetherness. The ads will run this week through June 19th.

“We want to equip all of the denomination’s local churches to use these ads in their communities through their communications channels and relationships. The resource tools website  ResourceUMC.org/Together provides access to the previously created ads and the new TikTok and Snapchat videos,” said Jennifer Rodia, UMCom’s Chief Communications Officer. “United Methodist Communications also provides content and tools to support individuals no matter where they are in their journey of faith and in their relationship with and role in The United Methodist Church.” Read more