WI Conference Weekly ENews - September 13, 2023

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Fall Harmony Choir Rehearsals To Begin Sept. 18th

Harmony Choir is starting again on Mon., Sept. 18 at Columbus UMC (222 S Dickason Blvd, Columbus). Through our practices and a great performance during the Ordination Service, we have become more united and shared our love for our hidden God, which has been wonderful.

Now, we want to prepare for the upcoming Fall Concert (Harmony Choir Blessing Service). We hope to love each other more, draw closer to the Lord spiritually, and give glory to God through this concert. I wish for all of us to be deeply moved and bear abundant fruits in our hearts.

A great lunch(Sushi and Korean BBQ) follows the rehearsal this time. And, a group vocal lesson will follow for whoever registers. They are all free! We hope to see you next Monday at 11am at Columbus UMC! 
Click here to view more rehearsal information

Inquiring Candidates Retreat
October 6-8, 2023

Do you know someone who is feeling called into ministry? Maybe you are feeling called, but don’t know where to begin.

The Inquiring Candidates Retreat is the starting place to exploring ministry in the United Methodist Church in Wisconsin. Participants will be offered time in community conversation, prayer and individual discernment about the call to ministry God is prompting in their lives. At the end of the retreat participants will know the next steps to pursue ministry in the UMC in WI. The retreat will be at Pine Lake from Friday, October 6 (evening) through Sunday, October 8 (morning).

Cost of this retreat is $75.00. Scholarships are available.

To register, please contact Rev. Ty Hines, Coordinator of Clergy Credentialing and Vocational Discernment at bordmin@wisconsinumc.org. When registering, please indicate if you will need special accommodations or translation.

School For Ministry 2023
October 4 - 6, 2023, Green Lake Conference Center

All clergy in the Wisconsin conference are invited and expected to attend School For Ministry 2023 for learning and sharing. We welcome and encourage retired clergy to join us. Our guest will be Dr. Ron Bell who serves as Director of Healing and Resilience for Discipleship Ministries and The Upper Room. He is passionate about emotional formation and the intersection of faith and mental health. This year's theme is Journey in the Spirit – Re-membering, Re-connecting, Re-newing: A theological and spiritual perspective for finding emotional stability amid shifting and unequitable terrain. Finding and creating healing and hope in the midst of challenging times.

Participants are eligible for 1 CEU for attending and participating in School for Ministry.
Learn more and register

A Training In Participatory Theater
WI Conference Anti-Racism Task Force

Participatory theater is a model of Spiritual, social and emotional transformation as the actors learn to play out dialogue addressing difficult conversations, with the invitation to others to also participate in the process of justice making.  seeking willing actors to train according to this model for the goal of realizing the beloved community.

Training Dates:  Thursday, October 19 from 3:00 to 8:00 pm
                            Friday, October 20 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location:  Wisconsin Annual Conference
                  750 Windsor Street, Suite 202, Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Meals will be provided; Overnight accommodations at the Quality Inn: 608-834-9889.

To sign up, please contact Jill Nowlen, Provisional Deacon, at (608) 354-4860 or nowlenjill@gmail.com by October 15.

Join Bishop Jung & Rev. Scott Carlson For A Journey To The Holy Land
January 11-20, 2024

Rev. Scott writes, "I am so excited about the opportunity to be helping to lead a pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan in January 2024. I invite you to pray and consider joining me on this adventure of faith.
 
Traveling to the lands of the bible has opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of the scriptures we read and hold as sacred. It has been described that the land of the Holy Land is the fifth Gospel. That has certainly been my experience. Just being in the place that is talked about in the Holy Scriptures, opens up how I hear the stories anew. 

When in Nazareth, I had a chance to see how a first century home may have looked. The home consisted of just a few rooms. One was a living area, where the food was prepared. Where, at night, the bed mats were laid out and where, during bad weather, the animals were brought in and placed (The stable). Seeing this house helped me hear the birth stories very different."
View Trip Brochure

Updated Lay Servant Ministries Webpage
WI Conference Board of Laity

The Conference Board of Laity has been hard at work on revitalizing Lay Servant Ministries in our Conference. There have been some major changes in the past few years, such as redefining the Certified Lay Speaker program in 2012. If you would like to learn more about lay equipping through Lay Servant Ministries or get up-to-date with the current requirements, we encourage you to check out https://www.wisconsinumc.org/lay-servant-ministries to find more information. Share this website with anyone in your church who is or is interested in becoming a Certified Lay Servant or Speaker, and please reach out to your district director of Lay Servant Ministries if you have any questions.

Building Beds For Area Kids
Iron Creek and Trinity United Methodist Charge

Volunteers from Iron Creek and Trinity UMCs gathered on Saturday, September 9, to participate in a "bed build" through the Sleep in Heavenly Peace of Dunn County, in Menomonie. In the four-hour shift, the group was able to help build 25 beds for kids in Dunn County.

"We started with raw lumber, and with different people doing different parts, at the end of the day, we had parts made for 25 beds. The cost of supplies to build each bed runs about $250. So, in four hours, we helped in a $6,250 mission project!" Rev. Joel Certa-Werner commented. Iron Creek UMC earlier held a special offering to help contribute towards the cost of supplies. -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 To Our Calendar!

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 

World Communion Sunday Is October 1st
Resource UMC

On World Communion Sunday, United Methodists join Christians of different traditions to recognize our ecumenical oneness in Christ and to bring Christians together in a spirit of unity and peace. Find Spanish, Korean, French and English resources in the pastor and leader kit to help you prepare for your World Communion Sunday service.
Get resources

September 15 - October 15 Is Hispanic Heritage Month
UM General Commission on Race & Religion

Learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month with our infographic resource and keep an eye out for a new Hispanic Heritage Month resource coming out in the coming weeks! Read more

What Comes After General Conference Deadline?
UM News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A lot has changed since the pandemic postponed The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly from its original May 2020 schedule to now 2024. The coming General Conference will have new legislative proposals to consider. Heather Hahn previews what comes next after the legislative deadline has passed. Read story 

Midwest Mission Serving Sunday Is Sept. 17th
Midwest Mission Distribution Center

September 17th is Midwest Mission Serving Sunday, a day to celebrate the joy of serving. Our goal is 2,023 people serving in one weekend! You can be part of showing God's love in a practical way to make a difference in people's lives around the world and around the corner. 

In the first half of 2023, Midwest Mission has sent out 125 Domestic Shipments and 26 International Shipments, with $3.83 Million in Humanitarian Aid. Over 22,600 hours of service by volunteers make it possible to help those in need with Education, Health, Disaster Relief, and Micro Business. 49,291 lbs of donated supplies came in during Annual Conferences. WI Conference collected 14,720 lbs - you are generous caring people! Read more

Contact Bonnie at bonnieclement05@gmail.com our to see how you can spend a few days or a full week at Midwest Mission in Pawnee, IL or Jefferson, IA

Fill out this Google Form to help us keep track of how many people participated!

Midwest Mission Distribution Center Website About Serving Sunday

You Are Here: Small Group Discussion Guide for White Christians on Race and Racism
UM General Commission on Race & Religion

We recently launched this seven-part curriculum for small groups as a first step in understanding what racism is, how it has and still shows up in the church and society, and how it impacts and impedes the integrity and effectiveness of God’s people gathered as the church. Read more

How Churches Can Celebrate Deaf Awareness Week
Baltimore-Washington Conference

BALTIMORE — As International Deaf Awareness Week approaches on Sept. 25, hearing and Deaf congregations alike can celebrate Deaf culture during that week, and well into the future. The United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries offers several ways to celebrate the community.
View resource

2023 United Methodist Clergy Retreat Guide & Directory Available
UM Camp Retreat Ministries

The Clergy Retreat Directory has been updated this year to include a 13-page retreat guide designed to help clergy get the most out of their intentional retreat. The second section of this publication holds a list of UM sites across the connection that offer free or reduced cost retreat space for United Methodist clergy. The sites listed have opted-in to being a part of the directory. 

Communications Learning Week Returns To Reenergize Church Outreach
UM Communications

Nashville, Tennessee – United Methodist Communication (UMCom) has announced the return of its week-long ecumenical training opportunity launching this fall for anyone in ministry seeking to enhance their communications skills. Communications Learning Week: Communications that Transform will be held October 16-20, 2023 and is designed with busy schedules in mind. All of the learning week content will be recorded and stored in a learning portal that participants will have access to for six months following the event. Registration is open September 12 – October 12, 2023, with an early bird 20% discount available for people signing up by Sept. 30^th. Read more