This newsletter was sent on: 1/30/2008

Kansas East Conference - The United Methodist Church 
The Communique
News of the Kansas East Conference #222 - January 30, 2008
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Dear Friends of the Kansas East Conference,  

 
Building bridges starts with a very strong foundation. While we are "Building Bridges to the Future" with our conference capital campaign, we find ourselves standing on a very strong foundation of pledges from churches and individuals. To date, we have received $1,847,614 from churches, clergy and individuals throughout the Kansas East Conference! 
 
Daily, pledge cards continue to come into the campaign office as the district steering committees make dozens of presentations each week to churches, as the campaign staff formulates grant request, and we meet with individuals about their opportunity to make a conference pledge.
 
The time line for churches in the campaign is to have all church presentations made by March 30 and all pledges into the campaign office by April 30.
 
There will be a celebration of all the pledges on June 5 at Annual Conference. 
 
Your support personally and within your church toward our capital campaign will continue to strengthen our bridges to the future!
 
Read the latest "Bridges to the Future Bulletin."
 
Laura Murphy
Capital campaign director
 
General News

Global mission experience: Global Village
Don't miss the "Global Village" at the Global Mission Experience on Feb. 23 at the Countryside UMC in Topeka. Booths featuring our missions around the world will surround us as we eat in Countryside's "Celebration Center."

To make both the serving of lunch and the Global Village experience less crowded, there will be a split lunch. Half of those attending will have lunch and an opportunity to experience "The Village," while the other half will participate in a workshop. Then everyone will trade places. At some of the villages you may find something to taste that is native to that culture while at other villages you may find arts and crafts for sale made by native people.

Please note the registration deadline is Feb. 8. While morning "walk-ins" will be accepted, the caterer will only prepare food for those registered by Feb. 8.

To register for the Global Mission Experience, go to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQI16cpiiRfzQEy6YMGkMr4eunVtWZY0sgYejHMa_INx6S6EeDl_lVt2lXOFaTB5NJYPRQ_2vd3Wx4FaJ0UP0BnoAfnTW_z2NtWuAlWQKYSBFX2BX3DRsmtJbmfje_nXRbDU1OIjHlIZeXW0pDFtYeQBOIvJ42xilFtil82wdbYi921B9l2J68rA.

Local church energy audits
The 2007 Kansas East Annual Conference voted that each local church and agency of the Kansas East Conference complete an energy audit of their buildings. Read the complete Conference Wide Energy Audit petition online. Our thanks to Church and Society member Marcia Toler of Bristol Hill UMC in Kansas City for her research that discovered these.

The links below lead to audit materials that may be helpful. The EPA to information that may be helpful toward completing your energy audit.

Home Energy Saver: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQIiiJKe69h3HkVpDBErLhGyctXPMHaNooVNusHWvLjG78xTTfQ4ba1aO_LzmETzQdrhb1hWxws2M_Zy8HAew6LRNhG1To07YTQ=

The Environmental Protection Agency of the US government provides good manual with lots of information and checklists at the back: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQI6Z0NjJ47PrDCt1mDduyNVouuu34Skl4bJunnskBnCIskCofE2LipQiz5zzHiR3sw5IJlrN7vtkK3LmaedD2SofvDuDZIpsHAm-f7YWSDv2MvkgOf4aoas9eajgGm3aIOmtWmf7b33DLDmg2QuGN1JFdPds0E916fa9x80kfaFzg==

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (broader than just energy usage) provides a much shorter manual but with a more extensive checklist at the back: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQJdHxU8ADRisZ2XILlxXgA90rs03J1MywWbnhasoimLvo8O9Q_uTDWPph9ffzEARgxAbixQk5Kct1Hpm3JUZV4EWv2MngAlVs2Jym5uePc2ahiE4qbsiTYxfZmVDOkObR4zjh8NOXNFcaGtDhgK5F-t

The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama's audit may be simplest in approach and for some churches may be where they should start: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQIEhE6hjhNh0DyZkXSSjSht6-6e88tdK_ZHp4IR-M89J9Y7B3UnHFRC0G42qXK73RhqXi86knEXoPmdmH1mprumS0tuk3BKj73DKXAz_0wj0cw27KJ9AkRz5eIxjbgo1DY= 

Hunger grants available
The Kansas East Conference Board of Global Ministries announced that a portion of the funds raised at the Bishop's Round-Up for Hunger is now being made available to food pantries within the Kansas East Conference.

Apply for a grant at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQLRGuh7riMKZY6lEKeY8-gKFG4piT8tF_pmIrjOBynyPvGYlf1TP-XtTmJlOME2MBA5EXPMKc8PScRaCwcyKoNBciALMr-TQVCgi1ABVi89kQ==.

Applications are due in the conference office by April 1.
 
Honors and awards
Each year, honors and awards are presented at Annual Conference to people or churches for their work in ministry. Torch Awards are presented for scouting. Denman awards are presented to one lay person and one clergy person who exemplify effectiveness in evangelism. Discipling Church awards are presented to small, medium and large congregations that meet standards of a breadth of ministry, relative to their size, which creates disciples for Jesus Christ.

Go to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQJnGIGgKMpA2I27PUjzW3UIwtcAlk5XKJlLy6Oj_IAqJ2BHtXK4Mt0ZymovC4CCOzf5on9sY9BBLRXD8gU3T52KM15yXDDYU1VLRlETta4WWYbzDS_-mUNNw3Lxv8V1nmAStbXgPtYiKg== to read more about the awards and to download applications.
 
Healthy Congregation Awards
The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund annually awards congregations that have ministries that span three key dimensions of health: physical, mental/emotional and social health.

Go to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQILcDuAMpn5Qx6IoT5-udGXOk-XmxfVp58ucHRMlkqTnFJ1tDKPJ7B_maQnqF72DcxfB1PtsbgS5fqb2Z_IAIA07ZoclKyyta2ST-2NSuARyeuMaHQaocItzi4zQn-DqIs= to read about the program and obtain application forms.

The application deadline is March 1.
 
Youth Service Fund
In the Kansas East Conference, February is declared Youth Service Fund (YSF) month. Churches are encouraged to help their youth raise money for this fund that is run by youth and supports ministries of youth close at home and around the world.

Go to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQJO5tVTYWPZZcVjhJ_cq7ei4uEFbeStMWzxo-62Du0zE88oWSKZI6MzfqLo4aXnbHgTAcz0no4YXiYorMMA-41aFNlPjlv23w9Ot65FuUoVbUZfC-cbK5q3to7h8aWouDxfGib5elj5fA== to read about the Youth Service Fund and download a brochure that can be duplicated for distribution in your church and an application that youth in your congregation may use to apply for funds from the Youth Service Fund to support a ministry in which they are participating.

 
 

GBOD releases
Classifieds
 
Featured Events
SCJ Caring for Creation Conference
Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center in Fayetteville, Ark., is holding the first annual SCJ Caring for Creation Conference March 7-9 to make people aware of environmental issues and offer creative solutions as a natural part of being a disciple of Christ.
 
The early-discount registration deadline is Feb. 1.
 
 
International Human Rights Day
This Thursday, Jan. 31, Topeka will commemorate International Human Rights Day. Washburn University Law Professor Ali Khan will talk about human rights in Pakistan, which will include a short film.
 
In addition, sociologist Vicky Luttrell, president of the Social Justice League, will make a presentation, "Modern Day Slavery in the Midwest," addressing recent issues of human trafficking, including an interactive segment for web-based research.
 
The commemoration will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Washburn University in Topeka. The public is invited.
 
 
Legislative Event for Advocacy in Faith 
The annual United Methodist Women's Legislative Event will be 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 12.
 
People who are interested in justice-related issues facing the Kansas Legislature, including immigration, homelessness, economic justice and health reform, are invited to attend the event at First United Methodist Church, Sixth and Topeka Boulevard in Topeka.
 
Download the schedule and registration form at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013YrjtuwyDQJ6mxAjA7NUSussE5E0hJrhIO8ZiwzB-yx4CVxoqfdlx7DhMbV6kAtAeyNQY5vz_jp8OznihIfBwaTcxcNj9PKM3nMkHiviOku9yvCn7P7tK8WsQVsTSlGx--ByR5-1XXR2tn9os5wRhIdygBKAon2i.
 
'Turn Aside and See'
"Turn Aside and See" is an event sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church that will help participants hear God's call through a one-day study and discussion of Exodus 3 and 4.
 
The event will be offered simultaneously in five different locations March 8, including Dallas, Texas, and Indianapolis, Ind.
 

Event Calendar
Visit the Conference Calendar for additional information and events not listed below.
 
February 2008
 
Safe and Sacred Spaces Worker Training in Topeka

Feb. 4

 
Ash Wednesday
Feb. 6
 
Global Mission Experience registration deadline
 
Flint Hills District Leadership Event
Feb. 9
 
Parsons District Event
Feb. 10
 
Topeka District Leadership Event
Feb. 11
First of five conversations on The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
 
Legislative Faith Event
Feb. 12
 
Safe and Sacred Spaces Worker Training in Leawood
 
Comedy murder mystery fund-raiser
Feb. 15
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2169
 
Faithfully Fit Forever Leader Training
Feb. 16
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2128
 
Signs of Life Retreat
Feb. 22-23
 
Global Mission Experience
Feb. 23
 
Safe and Sacred Spaces Worker Training in Wellsville
Feb. 23
 
Safe and Sacred Spaces Worker Training in Caney
Feb. 23
http://www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2167
 
 
 
Reminder
 Month Year
Communique submissions
Send Communique submissions by 5 p.m. the Monday prior to publication to Susan Cooper at
scooper@kswestumc.org.

Meet the Kansas Area Marketing and Communications staff
        St. Paul grads

Lisa Elliott Diehl
Area Director

 Susan Cooper
Associate Director		 Beverly Fanestil
Secretary 		Britt Bradley
Electronic Media Specialist
This email was sent to bfanestil@kswestumc.org, by scooper@kswestumc.org
Kansas East Conference - The United Methodist Church | PO Box 4187 | Topeka | KS | 66604-0187