This newsletter was sent on: 4/23/2008

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office@kansaseast.org
or 877-972-9111

Kansas East Conference
4201 SW 15th Street
Topeka KS 66604

Communique #234 April 23, 2008

At the Sexual Ethics training events, we have been informing participants about the "I-Safe" curriculum that educates both adults and children/youth on cyber safety. "I-Learn Online" is a free Internet safety-education program, with age-specific tracks. People can use "I-Learn Online" to train themselves in the use of the curriculum. Once trained, you can download PowerPoint presentations, videos, handouts, etc. that are needed to teach the courses in a local church. You can learn more about the curriculum at http://ilearn.isafe.org.

You can subscribe to their free e-newsletter, "I-Parent Times," at www.isafe.org/channels/sub.php?ch=op&sub_id=4p. The newsletter has valuable information, insight and helpful tips for parents. You can download the latest issue of the newsletter at www.isafe.org/imgs/pdf/newsletter/2008/i-Parent-0304-08.pdf.

Gary Beach
Director of Connectional Ministries

News

Pre-conference briefings
Clergy, lay members and reserve lay members are invited and encouraged to attend a pre-conference briefing. You will have the opportunity to discuss legislative items, ask questions and share different perspectives on issues that affect our conference.

The pre-conference briefings will be:

  • Five Rivers District, May 3, 10 a.m. - noon, Garnett UMC, 124 W. Oak, Garnett
  • Flint Hills District, May 4, 3-5 p.m., Council Grove UMC, 21 N. Mission, Council Grove
  • Kansas City District, May 11, 3-5 p.m., St. Paul's UMC, 7740 Lackman Road, Lenexa
  • Parsons District, May 4, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Faith UMC, 3035 Crawford, Parsons
  • Topeka District, June 1, 2-4 p.m., Horton UMC, 130 E. 10th, Horton
  • Topeka District, June 1, 5-7 p.m., Lowman UMC, 15th and Gage, Topeka

In preparation for the briefing and Annual Conference, please order or download the workbook, and read through it in advance. There is not enough time to digest the information on the spot, especially this year. There will be no legislative committees, due to the limited number of items requiring a vote, and everything will be addressed on the floor of the conference.

Download the 2008 Annual Conference workbook at www.kansaseast.org/page.asp?PKValue=1007.

‘Bridges' update
As of April 22, pledges for the "Bridges to the Future" capital campaign have reached $3.9 million. In the last week, the campaign office has received $485,000 in church pledges as well as several individual and clergy pledges. Presently, 56% of churches have pledged and 67% of clergy! A surge of additional pledges is expected over the next 2 weeks as many churches are holding council meetings to vote on their pledge participation. There is a conference goal of having all church pledges into the campaign office by April 30.

Thank you to all the churches who have prayerfully considered their participation in the Bridges campaign. The stories come into the campaign office weekly of how churches and individuals decided to make their pledges.

Just recently, we have heard of one church that has a member that gave an in-kind gift of grain through their church to help the church pay for their pledge--a $10,000 gift!

Another church has e-mailed the campaign office four times to raise their pledge, as the pledge drive within the church for the campaign ended months ago, but the pledges continue to come in and have nearly doubled their tithe pledge!

The generosity and vision of United Methodists in the Kansas East Conference is strong as we work to build bridges to the future!

Please continue your prayers for churches and individuals that are considering their pledges over the next few weeks.

Featured Events

Forest Park ‘Readiness Day' April 26
The Forest Park Conference & Retreat Center will be hosting its Spring "Readiness Day" April 26. You are invited to bring garden and "fix-up" tools to help the center prepare for retreat guests in a spirit of fun and camaraderie.

Get more information at http://kesite.brickriver.com/event_detail.asp?TableName=oEvent_Calendar_EUXQLB&PrimaryKey=oEvent_Calendar_EUXQLB_ID&PKValue=2272.

Rural Life Sunday April 27
Rural Life Sunday, April 27, is a time to celebrate the richness of congregational life linking with those who produce and whose families have produced the food for America and the world.

This Sunday is to lift up rural communities and small and family farms in the face of the huge mega-farms.

For suggested activities and a litany for this Rural Life Sunday celebration, go to www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2271.

Create a local church disaster-response plan
"How to Create a Local Church Disaster Response Plan" training will be May 5 at Heritage UMC in Overland Park.

Get the details at http://kesite.brickriver.com/event_detail.asp?TableName=oEvent_Calendar_EUXQLB&PrimaryKey=oEvent_Calendar_EUXQLB_ID&PKValue=2274.

Disaster-response training
A basic disaster-response training session will be May 31 at Lawrence First UMC's west campus.

Learn more at http://kesite.brickriver.com/event_detail.asp?TableName=oEvent_Calendar_EUXQLB&PrimaryKey=oEvent_Calendar_EUXQLB_ID&PKValue=2279.

Kansas Conference on Poverty
The 2008 Kansas Conference on Poverty will be May 13-14 in Topeka. The early-bird registration deadline is Friday, April 25.

For more information and registration, go to www.kacap.org/UpcomingEvents/2008%20poverty%20conference.htm.

Food collection at Annual Conference
A food collection will be taken at Annual Conference on Wednesday, June 4, during registration. Each church is invited to collect non-perishable food items throughout the month of May to send to Annual Conference.

Find out more at http://kesite.brickriver.com/event_detail.asp?TableName=oEvent_Calendar_EUXQLB&PrimaryKey=oEvent_Calendar_EUXQLB_ID&PKValue=2273.

Health screenings at Annual Conference
Procheck health screenings will be available at Annual Conference June 5-6 from 6:30 to 10 a.m.

No appointments are necessary. Screenings are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Procheck health screening is a comprehensive panel of tests that screen for risks related to:

  • heart disease and stroke
  • diabetes and thyroid disorders
  • liver and kidney disease
  • anemia or iron overload disease
  • prostate cancer

Get more information at www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2270.

Bishop's Week 2008: Ministry in Hard Places
The theme for Bishop's Week June 18-21 at Mount Sequoyah is "Ministry in Hard Places." Rev. Rudy Rasmus knows ministry in hard places. Pastor Rudy, urban messenger and co-pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church with his wife Juanita in Downtown Houston, began his ministry with nine existing members in 1992.

St. John's has grown to more than 9,000 members. Several thousand in his congregation are either currently or formerly homeless. The church is one of the most culturally diverse congregations in the country. The church is known for its infectious hope that God will change lives.

Pastor Rudy co-founded the St. John's Academy, which serves Houston's neediest children, and Bread of Life, a separate nonprofit. The church provides food, shelter, clothing, medical care, job training, counseling and early education school for those children affected by HIV/AIDS and provides a wide range of services for disadvantaged individuals and families.

Learn more about Bishop's Week and download a registration form from www.mountsequoyah.org/www.mountsequoyah.org/Programs_%26_Events.html.

‘Blessed to be a Blessing'
"Blessed to be a Blessing: Christian Education for the 7th Generation with Preaching from the Center" a Christian educators event, will be Oct. 24-27, in Albuquerque, N.M. There will be workshops, dynamic worship services, top-notch speakers and time for exploring beautiful Albuquerque.

There is a special discount if you register online by the end of April and use the code CEFPFTC01. For full details and registration, go to http://www.cef2008.org/.


Communications Staff

Lisa Elliott Diehl
Area Director

Susan Cooper
Associate Director
Beverly Fanestil
Secretary
Britt Bradley
Electronic Media Specialist

Area Communications Office, 9440 E Boston, Suite 110, Wichita KS 67207
866-915-3638 or 316-684-3638; Fax: 316-684-0044