WI Conference Weekly ENews - September 6, 2023

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N.W. District Youth Kick Off Event
Saturday, Oct. 21st, 12-8:30 PM, Hunt Hill,  Sarona, WI

All youth are invited to the N.W. District Youth Kickoff Event! The event starts at noon so bring your own bagged lunch. D.S. Peace will be at this event to introduce himself to everyone, family and youth!  Pastor Samuel Subramanian will talk briefly on the upcoming trip to India, January 12th - 22nd, 2024. There will be hiking, canoeing, fellowship, scavenger hunt and snacks. From 6 pm - 8:30 pm, Hunt Hill is holding a "Glow Hike". This event will occur rain or shine. The cost is $5/person or $20/family (up to 2 adults and 4 kids).  For more details on the "Glow Hike", please click here.
Click here to sign up
Click here to watch video preview

4^th Annual Chili Fest and Family Housing Resource Fair 
United Methodist Children's Services of Wisconsin
Friday, October 13^th ,4:30-6:30 p.m.

On Friday, Oct. 13th, join United Methodist Children's Services for delicious chili and housing resources from Community Partners. No need to register in advance of the Chili Fest unless you would like to volunteer or enter the chili cookoff competition, in which case please just reach out directly to Bill at william.schmitt@umcs-wi.org.
Click here to view the flyer with full details. 

WUMF Announce Fall Grant Cycle
Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation

WUMF is excited to announce our Fall Grant cycle, with applications due Nov. 1. This grant is for new projects only, with the potential to apply for second and third cycles. Please view the application here and read the qualifying criteria carefully. We kick off each season with background information for you.

When it comes to grants, we receive lots of questions about what we will and will not accept. Here’s a cheat sheet to help. When in doubt, give us a call! Please mail grant applications to WUMF, 750 Windsor Street, #305, Sun Prairie, WI 53590, fax to 608-837-2492, or email to wumf@wumf.org when completed. We are excited to serve you!

Celebrating Unity and Diversity: Recap of the Park Service Event
Sunday, August 27th, 2023

On Sunday, August 27th, the United Methodist Church of Arkansaw, WI held a park service for the second consecutive year. This was a combined service involving the UMC of Pepin and the Hispanic Church, "Fuente de Vida." The event aimed to celebrate the unity of the body of Christ while embracing the diversity among different cultures. This year, we exceeded the number of attendees compared to last year, with 52 participants, including 8 children under the age of 8. We also took the opportunity to pray for the city and its inhabitants. The event was filled with music, led by Pastor Paolo Vasquez and Pastor Romina Vasquez, along with other guest musicians.
Read more

"Faith, Hope, And Love": An Opportunity To Learn About The Conflict Between Israel And Palestine From Adam Manasra
Sunday, Sept. 17th and Monday, Sept. 18th

Welcome Adam Manasra to Wisconsin as he provides an on-the- ground update from the village of Wadi Foquin located in the Bethlehem District of the West Bank of Palestine. Adam will share about his experience growing up under Israel military occupation, and about the loss of land and resulting economic suffering due to the policy decisions and actions of the Government of Israel. Click here to learn more

Free and open to the public! Donations for a new community development project in the village to build a Guest House will be gratefully accepted. This project is a creative use of land as well as an expression of resistance. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church. 

Hope Center Newsletter
Latvia, Sept. 2023

In June 2023, several members of the Hope Center Development Committee traveled to Latvia to attend the Friends of Latvia Gathering in Riga and to visit Hope Center. Those attending included Mark & Julie Croft (Grapevine UMC, Grapevine , TX), Allen Garrett (Pleasant Hill Methodist Church, Friendsville, TN), Mark & Susan Schroeder (Asbury Methodist Church, Madison, WI), Dennis & Jeanie Reimer (FUMC Neenah, WI and Global Ministries). We were graciously welcomed by the mothers and staff of Hope Center!

During our time there we spent a wonderful day of fellowship, fun and connection at the Hope Center. Special thanks to the congregation at Asbury UMC, Madison, WI, and to Rev. Wayne Richards for their wonderful generosity in making these projects happen. Click here to read more

Northcott Neighborhood House And Others Partner To Provide Books And Supplies To Students In The Harambee Neighborhood
The Milwaukee Times News

On Friday, August 11, 2023, Northcott Neighborhood House, Bader Philanthropies, United Methodist Church, WestCare Wisconsin, King Advisory, Inc., and Bronzeville Cultural and Arts Festival came together to pass out 2,000 books. These partners from all over the city collaborated to provide youth with book bags and school supplies; their goal was to give out thousands... Click here to read more

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

Temba Nkomozepi, Mujila Falls Agriculture Center Missionary, To Visit Wisconsin

Temba Nkomozepi, who serves as a missionary at Mujila Falls Agriculture Center, will be visiting the Wisconsin Annual Conference from Oct. 17th - Nov. 6th. Mujila Falls Agriculture Center is taking on the role of light and salt in its local community through agricultural mission work in Zambia. It is creating employment opportunities for the youth, contributing to rural development, and currently in the process of constructing and establishing a college that can educate numerous individuals.

Temba will also be visiting the Michigan Annual Conference, and following the Wisconsin, he will also visit Iowa. During his stay in Wisconsin, he will need accommodation. If you would like to have him added to his Wisconsin itineration list, please contact at hkmin20@gmail.com.
Learn more about Temba's Trip to the states
Learn more about Mujila Falls Agriculture Center

2023 Hope Ministries Picnic
Immanuel UMC / Kenosha Korean UMC / Principe de Paz UMC, by David Towle

On Sunday, August 20th, Immanuel, Kenosha Korean, and Principe de Paz United Methodist Churches came together for the annual Hope Ministries picnic at Kenosha County's Petrifying Springs Park. When these three congregations gather for worship or other events, they collectively refer to themselves as "Hope Church" for simplicity.

Many years ago, Immanuel extended an invitation to Kenosha Korean UMC to join Immanuel UMC at 5410 Sheridan Rd, sharing a building to engage in collaborative ministries. Despite having three distinct congregations with diverse languages, cultures, and histories, they unite under one faith in Jesus Christ—the hope for the world. Read 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 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 

COB President Bishop Bickerton Calls On United Methodists To Focus On Love
Council of Bishops 

LUBUMBASHI (Democratic Republic of the Congo) – The Council of Bishops President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton on Sunday called on United Methodists to focus on love because the church’s greatest success depends upon mutual love and meaningful relationships throughout the world.
 
“The quality of our love for one another among Christians makes the church an effective witness for the gospel because it is what the human spirit longs for, dreams of and desired,” Bishop Bickerton said during the worship service in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Click here to read the press release

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

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

#StillInMission Episode 58
Thursday, September 7, 2023, 12:00 PM ET

Are you interested in learning more about United Methodist missionaries? Do you wonder what day-to-day life is like in mission? #STILLINMISSION is a monthly Zoom event where you can hear first-hand experience from missionaries about their call to mission and the communities they serve. Join us to see how missionaries share God’s love in partnership with communities around the world.
Register here

Fall 2023: Introduction To The Old Testament
Madison Learning Community

Madison Learning Community is an initiative of University of Dubuque Theological Seminary offering seminary-level courses to Madison-area pastors, church leaders, and others eager to deepen ministry skills in a diverse Christian community committed to the local Church. Our first class, Introduction To The Old Testament, reflects our hopes for a learning community that embodies the beautiful diversity of God's people in Madison. Click here to learn more about this course

Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants Program
Calvin Institute Of Christian Worship

The Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants Program at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship is designed to foster, strengthen and sustain well-grounded worship in congregations throughout USA and Canada. Two streams of grants are offered--to teacher-scholars and to worshiping communities. 

We welcome grants on a wide range of Christian worship practices, with particular interest in universal design, preaching, cultural engagement, and practices related to baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Learn more about available grants

Webinar Planned On Listening To God's Voice
Amplify Media

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Amplify Media, part of the United Methodist Publishing House, will host a webinar, “Learning to Listen to God’s Voice,” at 1 p.m. U.S. Central time Sept. 7. In their book “On Purpose: Finding God’s Voice in Your Passion,” the Revs. Magrey deVega, Sam McGlothlin, Jevon Caldwell-Gross and Susan Robb give practical ways for Christians to attune themselves to the Holy Spirit. 
Learn more and register