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/.