News

2009 Annual Conference registration is open
You can now register for the 2009 Kansas East Annual Conference at www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://umcdata.com%2FdataHome.cfm%3Fconfpass%3DKSE%26webCatPass%3D7 or by visiting the registration page and downloading the forms for registration at http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.kansaseast.org%2Facregistration.

Two Baldwin First youth provide ‘Time Out’ for community
Shannon Roberts and Meagan Young, seniors at Baldwin High School who attend First United Methodist Church is Baldwin City, worked together since last July in planning, preparing, organizing and producing their dream—a Christian outreach event for the Baldwin community, featuring “bands, speakers, and God.”

On April 10, “TimeOut 4 Revelation” became a reality at Liston Stadium in Baldwin City where a break in the rainy weather started the day off right. Christian bands from across the country, an inspirational speaker from down south and youth from all over the area came to get a glimpse of God’s beauty revealed. Caleb Green and friends, from San Diego, Calif., opened the evening with a folk/alternative sound.

Read more at www.kansaseast.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=507.

‘Poverty: A Time for Sharing’ special to air April 26
An interfaith religion special, “Poverty: A Time for Sharing,” will be broadcast Sunday, April 26, on the CBS Television Network. Check local stations for the time.

Poverty in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and how American religions serve the poor is the subject of the show, which will cite the work of Protestant, Catholic and Mennonite Christians, Jews and Muslims—all sharing a common thread of responding to immediate need and empowering indigenous peoples so they can control their own lives.

Find out more at www.ncccusa.org/news/090401povertyoncbs.html.

Bridges funds are making a difference
Pledge dollars that are being sent to fulfill “Bridges to the Future” pledges made during the 2007-08 campaign are being used toward the ministries of the campaign.

The Bridges campaign received $5.25 million in pledges from individuals, churches and foundations to be fulfilled over the next five years. As of March 1, $881,430 has been received. According to notations on pledges of when pledges would be paid, this amount is 90 percent of what was expected in pledge payments to this point.

Find out more at www.kansaseast.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=506.

Camp Chippewa gets renovations from Bridges funds
Campers and visitors will find changes happening at Camp Chippewa because of the “Bridges to the Future” capital campaign. A new shelter house has been put up next to the pool and another at Swan Creek/North Cabin while it is being renovated.

“This is an exciting time for Camp Chippewa, as staff and C.M.A.T anxiously await the completion of Swan Creek/North Cabin and visioning the next area for renewal.” said Becky Moore, camp office manager.

Read more at www.kansaseast.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=505.

Adult leaders needed for Institute 2009
Adult leaders can make an everlasting, life-changing difference in the lives of young people at Institute this summer. Institute strongly depends upon the caring adults who step up, help out and get in there.

Institute is a unique week of spiritual growth for senior high youth held at Baker University in Baldwin City.

There are two sessions of Institute: June 15-20 and July 20-25. Each session is an has small groups, excellent worship and fellowship activities with youth and adults from around the Kansas East Conference.

Go to www.kansaseast.org/institute to download an application to be an adult leader.

Mission and Ministry brochures available
Mission and Ministry brochures are still available from the conference treasurer’s office in Topeka. To order copies, contact Sherrie Antholz at santholz@kansaseast.org or 877-972-9111.

‘Way of Pilgrimage’ wins Telly Award
The “Way of Pilgrimage – An Adventure in Spiritual Formation” video series won a Telly Award for videography/cinematography in the non-broadcast category, winning the Bronze award.

The videos accompany the “Companions in Christ” print resource for high school youth and early college students. Video clips may be viewed on the wayofpilgrimage.org.

The videos feature the music of the popular and award-winning Christian group Tenth Avenue North. Developed and produced as a product of Upper Room Books, the videos may be used as a stand-alone resource.

The “Way of Pilgrimage” DVDs may be purchased for $25 and are available online at www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=587748.

Worship resources for May
The General Board of Discipleship has resources for several observances in the month of May.

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month (May)
www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=7909&loc_id=9,32,53

Mother’s Day (May 10)
www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=47623

Graduation and Baccalaureate resources
www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=4774&loc_id=9,612,32,54

Pentecost (May 31)
www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?loc_id=733,32,51&act=nav_loc

Mission update
Tony Ikenberry, long-term Volunteer In Mission serving in Bangladesh, sent an updates about his work there. Read his latest newsletter from the e-newsletter archives at www.kansaseast.org/newsletter_find.asp.

Featured events

Bernard Franklin to speak at Baker worship, April 23
Bernard Franklin, vice chancellor of Advancement and Entrepreneurship and president of Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley, will speak at Baker University’s weekly worship service at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 23, at Osborne Chapel on the Baldwin City campus. The title of his sermon will be “I Was Created To Do Good Work” based on Ephesians 2:10.

Find out more at www.kansaseast.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=503.

World Malaria Day, April 25
World Malaria Day, April 25, is an opportunity to support Nothing But Nets, a grassroots anti-malaria effort that allows anyone, for $10, to send a life-saving bed net to a family in Africa. Bed nets protect children and their families from the bites of malaria-infected mosquitoes.

Downloadable resources and a link for donations are available at http://www.umcnothingbutnets.org/.

Camping scholarships benefit, April 29
A dinner to raise money for scholarships to Camp Chippewa and Forest Park Retreat Center will be April 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Silver Lake UMC, 204 Madore in Silver Lake. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a great meal and fellowship and donate to a life-changing cause.

‘Rethink Church,’ May 2
What if we rethink church? What would it look like? What would it feel like? What would it live like? What if we rethink church, not in terms of what it is, but what it could be?

“Rethink Church” training for the Kansas Area will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 2 at Pleasant Valley UMC in Wichita. The training will offer three ways to help congregations become more actively engaged with spiritual seekers through welcoming, connecting and identifying techniques.
Registration is $40 per church plus $10 per person for lunch.

The registration deadline is April 24.

Find out more at www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2608.

Tallgrass Retreat Center offerings, May and June
The following retreats will be offered during May and June at the Tallgrass Retreat Center near Matfield Green.

• Connecting with God, Family and Friends, May 1-2, $70
• Harmonious Home, May 8-9, $80
• Discovering and Living Your Passions, May 15-17, $120
• Wildflower Walk, June 19-20

More information is available at http://www.tallgrassretreats.com/, or contact the center at 620-753-3465.

Bishop’s Week: Connecting Health and Faith, June 24-27
Insurance, health costs, rural health and parish nursing programs, strategies for effective health ministries, healthcare issues and connecting local congregations with global health initiatives will be addressed at the annual bishops’ conference June 24-27 at Mount Sequoyah Conference Center in Fayetteville, Ark.

The District Superintendents’ Seminar on Wednesday June 24 will be conducted by Embra Jackson from the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church. Two of his topics will focus on motivating local clergy and congregations “when anything fried is a food group” and where to start when leading a district to health and healing ministries.

The Laity Seminar on June 24 and 25 will deal with practical approaches to successful health and wellness ministries with the underserved, those working without insurance coverage, and explore best practices for healthy ministry on nutrition. It will include a trip to the local award winning farmers’ market on Thursday morning.

For more information and registration, go to http://www.mountsequoyah.org/ and click on events, or call 800-760-8126.

Visit the conference calendar at www.kansaseast.org/calendar.asp for additional events.