We have learned that the immediate past president of the Kansas East Conference United Methodist Women Barbara “Barb” Scott and her husband, Bill, were killed in a car accident Friday, Aug. 8.

The couple were traveling to Colorado for a vacation, and the accident occurred in north central Kansas.

The obituary may be viewed online at http://legacy.com/cjonline/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=115358231.

Please keep the family in prayer during this difficult time.

Susan Cooper
Kansas Area Marketing and Communications associate director

News

Open House door hangers available
September is “Open House Month” for United Methodist churches. This year’s theme is "Share Your Gifts."

Free downloads for new door hangers are available at http://mediawarehouse.ignitingministry.org/search.aspx?act=start&searchtxt=twine. The door hangers may be produced on a regular printer, or the files may be sent to a professional printing service.

Welcoming handbook
A handbook, "Basic Welcoming," provides tools to help assess where your welcoming efforts are today and where you may want to make changes. The handbook gives helpful exercises, such as the "Comfort Checklist," which looks at welcoming through a visitor's eyes.

Download the free handbook at www.ignitingministry.org/pdfs/handbook4_welc.pdf.

Coordinate your “Open House Month” worship with UM advertising
Starting the week of Sept. 1, the "Share Your Gifts" message will begin airing on television during “Open House Month.”

Free downloads for the matching worship graphics and bulletin covers are available at http://mediawarehouse.ignitingministry.org/search.aspx?act=start&searchtxt=gift1. The bulletin covers may be produced on a regular printer, or the files may be sent to a professional printing service.

Focus on China: New United Methodist website
On the eve of the Beijing Olympic Games, the mission agency of The United Methodist Church launched a new website on the work of the denomination in China.

"Churches in China are among the fastest growing in the world today," the introduction to the site states, citing statistics indicating that three new Protestant churches or meeting places open every two days.

Find out more at http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/pr.cfm?articleid=5097.

UM program calendars
The official calendar of the United Methodist Church, which lists denominational observances events and activities, is now available for 2009.

The calendar is produced by United Methodist Communications and can be purchased through their website at http://secure.umcom.org/store/catalog/2009-Calendars,81.aspx.

Classified ads online
New classifieds have been posted on the conference website:

Part-time children’s minister, FirstLight in Gardner

See all the current classifieds in the News & Events section at www.kansaseast.org/classifieds_find.asp.

Featured events

Journey of Hope
“Journey of Hope,” Oct. 11 at Countryside UMC in Topeka, will provide training to minister to cancer patients and their families. Today almost everyone knows someone with cancer—a family member, friend, coworker or neighbor.

This training is relevant to anyone who knows someone with cancer but is especially important for parish nurses, Stephen’s ministers, or anyone who does visitation.

Learn more at http://kesite.brickriver.com/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2380.

Cat-Hawk Challenge
The second annual Cat-Hawk Challenge fund-raiser for K-State Wesley and Wesley KU campus ministries will be Oct. 18 at the Overland Park Marriott at 10800 Metcalf Ave.

Mary Lou Reece will coach the Jayhawks team, and Rev. Jim Reed will coach the Wildcats team. Bring friends and sponsor a table for your favorite team.

More information is available at www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2127.

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