WI Conference Weekly ENews - May 17, 2023

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Working Shop At Annual Conference 2023
Growing Together: Cultivating Inclusive Life In The Church

On Monday, June 12, 2023, 9:00am - noon, we are hosting a workshop open to everyone in our Conference, particularly those attending Annual Conference. The intent of this workshop is to provide practical, ready-to-implement ideas for guiding our congregations toward greater inclusion and belonging. This workshop continues our Conference commitment to becoming Beloved Community in our Conference and churches. There is no cost for the workshop. If you have registered for lunch, we can continue discussion around the lunch tables. Workshop description

To sign up for the session, please contact Lori Denoyer at ldenoyer@wisconsinumc.org.

Farewell Celebration For Superintendent Barbara Certa-Werner
Saturday, May 20th, 10AM-Noon, First UMC-Rice Lake

Come and celebrate your gratitude and memories of Superintendent Barbara Certa-Werner with us! In lieu of gifts, please feel free to make a donation to Harbor House. Self-care gifts are also welcome!

Harmony Choir Rehearsals Continue

There is still time to join the Harmony Choir! Any pastor, including retired and/or Pastor’s spouses who are interested, are welcome to join the choir. The choir will be performing two special music pieces for the Ordination Service at Annual Conference and a fall concert in November.

The next practice is Monday, May 22, 2023, at 11:00 am at Columbus UMC.  For more information click here.

Volunteer Performers Needed For The Anti-Racism Task Force's Theater Performance At Annual Conference 2023

You are invited to participate in an experience of participatory theater (forum theater) offered by the Wisconsin Conference Anti-Racism Task Force. Dr. Amy Sarno, director of theater at Beloit College will conduct the performance and training sessions. No prior acting or performance experience is needed. Rehearsals will be on June 8th and 9th with the performance taking place Saturday, June 10th during plenary at Annual Conference. Contact Rev. Lamarr V Gibson for more information at (608) 509-6832 or lvgibson48@gmail.com.
More Information

Protecting Our Youth In A Digital World
Anti-human Trafficking Event, May 21, Elkhorn Area High School

An anti-human trafficking event, Protecting Our Youth in a Digital World, will be held on May 21, 2023 at 2:30pm at the Elkhorn Area High School Auditorium, 482 E. Geneva Street, Elkhorn, WI. Contact Pastor Heather Brewer, 715-933-1926, or Mary Pekul, 262-374-8507, for more information. This is a FREE public event and all are invited to attend. View flyer

Sponsored by: Elkhorn First UMC; Spring Prairie UMC; Delavan: Vida Abundante; Lake Geneva UMC; Darien: Comm. of Christ UMC; Lake Geneva: La Resurrrecion; Delavan UMC

2023 Stewardship Conference At Pine Lake
Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation

The Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation is excited to offer its 15^th Annual Stewardship Conference at Pine Lake on August 11 and 12. The landscape of ministry and stewardship sure has changed since the first Stewardship Retreat in 2008. That’s why our staff and Board have made several improvements this year, as we consider what it looks like to build our churches’ stewardship ministries from the ground up to meet the challenges and opportunities in today’s world. Learn more and register

Affected by Disaffiliation? Find Out How You Can Move Forward With The WI Conference

The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  This is our mandate regardless of what circumstances come our way and pull us off track. This is a difficult time for many in The United Methodist Church. Some of our congregations in the Conference have voted to disaffiliate from the denomination. 

In any congregation that leaves, there are people who want to remain faithful to The United Methodist Church and remain a part of our denomination. We most certainly welcome you to remain United Methodist and carry on the legacy we have had as a denomination that is rooted in the historic faith in Jesus Christ, committed to social justice and welcoming all people.

If your church has decided to disaffiliate and you would like to remain United Methodist, please visit our website at https://www.wisconsinumc.org/moving-forward-with-beloved-community   

Women's Retreat At Lake Lucerne
Oak Creek Community UMC

27 women from around the WI Conference spent a wonderful weekend at Lake Lucerne Camp & Retreat Center. We renewed friendships and made new friends as we gathered together for 3 days and 2 nights filled with activities. There was gratitude in the abundant blessings God has lavished on us, comfort in the blessing of His presence in times of trial, and joy in the sharing of our blessings with others. We enjoyed walks in the rain in awe of God's creation and others baked delicious treats. We made colorful garments, learned the Lord's Prayer in American Sign Language, and heard about the healing power of plants. We shared prayer, song, worship and devotions throughout the weekend. Our UMC camps are a wonderful blessing. -Submitted by Bonnie Clement

United Methodist Children's Services Tour
Oak Creek Community UMC

Elk Mound Trinity UMC Hosts Community Baccalaureate
Trinity and Iron Creek United Methodist Charge

Trinity United Methodist Church of Elk Mound hosted a baccalaureate service on Sunday, May 14, for the Elk Mound graduating class of 2023. The church was completely packed with graduates, the Elk Mound high school choir, and parents. Both the school superintendent and high school principal were present. Rev. Joel Certa-Werner gave the message, "Made for Mission." Clergy and leaders of other congregations shared the leadership of the service. The school choir (Derrick Tilus, director) sang, "May the Road Rise Up." Trinity UMC also gave each graduate a medallion with a ship and the phrase, "Made for Mission." The Gideons passed out New Testaments. One of the most powerful parts of the service was having clergy and parents lay hands on graduates as the pastors prayed over them. Trinity Women hosted a light reception following. -Submitted by Joel Certa-Werner

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 

Peace With Justice Sunday Is June 4th
United Methodist Communications

Peace with Justice Sunday celebration is June 4, 2023. This offering is collected the first Sunday after Pentecost and it supports peace with justice ministries through the General Board of Church and Society and the annual conferences.
Learn more about Peace With Justice Sunday
Peace with Justice Pastor and Leader Kit

Celebrating Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders
United Methodist Religion & Race

WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has created two free, downloadable resources for churches to use during Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Both infographics are available at the agency’s R-Squared resource hub.
View 10 Things to Know About Asian Americans
View 10 Honorable Traits of Pacific Islander Culture

Children Receive Student Kits In Honduras
Midwest Mission Distribution Center

Notebooks, pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, crayons, colored pencils, ruler, and scissors — typical school supplies you’d find in most students’ backpacks or desks during the school year in the United States. But for many families in Honduras, they don’t have the financial means to purchase these educational tools. Honduras is very impoverished, “with the highest level of income inequality in all of Latin America” (Food For the Poor). Over 65 percent of the population lives in poverty, with circumstances worsening for those in rural areas and indigenous people. Read more

Marketing & Communications Must-Haves Webinar
UMC Marketing and Communications Support

Registration Is Open For The Academy Of Church Business Administration

The Academy of Church Business Administration is a two-week educational program for individuals serving in a local church or at a denominational office who provide support in the area of administrative leadership.  The program covers fourteen domains of knowledge that build an individual’s administrative skills, such as Human Resources, Staff Development, Property Management, Communications and Marketing, Strategic Planning, and Financial Management. You can come for as little or as much as you wish – the program is held in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit https://www.gcfa.org/acba for more information.

NCJ Mission Academy- Registration Is Open!
August 9-12, 2023, North Webster, IN

We are delighted that you will attend the Mission Academy! There is much to share as we Celebrate being back in God's mission! Teams and individuals are serving with their neighbors around the corner and around the world. Come discover new relationships and partnerships, be in fellowship, learn, pray, and CELEBRATE!
Academy Schedule
Register here