This newsletter was sent on: 3/27/2008

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Contact us:
office@kansaseast.org
or 877-972-9111

Kansas East Conference
4201 SW 15th Street
Topeka KS 66604

In this issue:

Eudora UMC moves into new home

Give Ye Them To Eat featured in mission magazine

Camp Chippewa early bird deadline April 1

Communications award deadline April 1

Summer site staff needed

Thinking about a new hymnal #3

Dear Friends of the Kansas East Conference,

On behalf of your conference Committee on Native American Ministries I want to strongly encourage your congregation to observe, and receive an offering on, Native American Ministries Sunday coming up on April 6 (or on a Sunday of your choosing). Fifty percent of the proceeds remains in our conference for use by the committee to support ministries at the four Native American congregations or fellowships in the bounds of our conference: Lawrence Indian, Topeka Sullivan Chapel, Kabeah Fellowship, and the newest which meets at Overland Park: St. Mark’s. Support has also been provided for campus ministry at the Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence. Of the 50% that goes to the national level of the church these dollars are used to nurture mission with Native Americans and provide scholarships for United Methodist Native American seminarians.

Need resources to help you observe the Sunday? Go to
http://www.umcgiving.org/content/sundays/NAMS_nav/native.asp . Want some local assistance? Contact either of the two co-chairs of the conference committee - the Rev. Julienne Judd at jjudd53@msn.com or the Rev. Don Anderson at revdona@yahoo.com

Rev. Gary Beach
Director of Connectional Ministries


General News

Eudora UMC moves into new home
The Eudora United Methodist Church has been in its new location at 2084 N. 1300 Road, since Feb. 3. However, each week new details are added to the building. Read the full story online.

Give Ye Them to Eat featured in mission magazine
The latest edition of New World Outlook features an article about Give Ye Them To Eat, a ministry supported by the Kansas East Conference and recently featured at Global Mission Experience.

Over the past 30 years, the GYTTE program has trained and equipped tens of thousands of people to take care of their own needs and also serve others. Each year, GYTTE staff and its trainees reach out to thousands more. In 2007, approximately 15,000 people were empowered to move from subsistence living to lives of dignity through training events, learning experiences, and community activities. Since its founding, GYTTE, has been directed by Global Ministries' missionaries Muriel and Terry Henderson.

Read the full article online at: http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=4841

Camp Chippewa early bird deadline April 1
The early bird deadline for summer 2008 Camp Chippewa registrations is April 1. The theme for summer 2008 is “God’s World: Handle with Care.” Registration information and the camp catalog are available on the Camp Chippewa website, http://www.campchippewa.org/. For more information, call 785-242-6797 or e-mail office@campchippewa.org.

Communication awards due April 1
The deadline to submit entries for the new Communications Awards program is April 1. Get the application and entry guidelines online at: http://www.kansaseast.org/page.asp?PKValue=1069.

Summer site staff needed
Camp Chippewa is looking for enthusiastic, devoted Christian leaders to help staff the busy summer season. Open positions include camp nurse, lifeguard, afternoon kitchen assistant, and male core counselor. Volunteer counselors also are needed for short-term on-site help. Give a week or three days. For more information, call 785-242-6797 or e-mail office@campchippewa.org.


Thinking About a New Hymnal #3
Along with a proposal for a new United Methodist hymnal for the USA, General Conference will also consider a proposal for a four-year study into the need for an official hymnal with hymns, songs, liturgy, and worship resources for Africana people in North America. Africana is the term used to name those people of African descent who have come to settle outside of Africa, especially in the USA. There are Africana United Methodists in the USA who have come here from Africa, South America, the Caribbean, and elsewhere, including the many African Americans descended from slaves. This article discusses the proposal for the study and what it intends to accomplish.

Read more at: http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=46132&loc_id=17,823


Upcoming Events

Alban Institute offers webinars
The Alban Institute is offering webinars focusing on grant writing and reaching 20-somethings and 30-somethings. For information, visit the links below.

Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry, April 23: http://www.alban.org/learningdetail.aspx?id=5750

The Tribal Church, April 30: http://www.alban.org/learningdetail.aspx?id=5848

Alban Institute offers workshops
The Alban Institute offers a number of workshops covering topics to strengthen congregational ministries, transform conflict, change, building clergy-lay leadership partnerships, and incorporating Christian practices into all aspects of ministry. To learn more about each title, click the link next to it to visit the Alban Institute site for details.

How to Transform Conflict Through Dialogue, May 13-15, Palisades Retreat Center, Federal Way, Wash.: http://www.alban.org/learningdetail.aspx?id=4694

A Large Congregations Event, June 3-5, The Mountain Retreat and Learning Centers, Highlants, N.C.: http://www.alban.org/learningdetail.aspx?id=4790

A Positive Approach to Purposeful Change, June 10-12, Zephyr Point, Lake Tahoe, Nev.: http://www.alban.org/learningdetail.aspx?id=4706

Partnership Tools for Governing Boards and Clergy, June 17-19, Techny Towers, Techny, Ill.: http://www.alban.org/learningdetail.aspx?id=4698

A Christian Practices Workshop, July 15-17, The Inn on Broadway, Rochester, N.Y.: http://www.alban.org/learningdetail.aspx?id=4710

Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies - July 30-Aug. 1
The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies will begin a fifth series of retreats in Kansas July 30 and Aug. 1 at the Spiritual Life Center in Great Bend.

How do you know you are caring enough? Who of us in the helping profession have not heard or at least considered that if we really cared, we could….could whatever! How does one put a boundary around caring? And you, as pastors or staff, know full well, that many, if not most of the time, the person from whom you are hearing that message is one who seems to have little “self” and it feels that they have glommed onto you like Velcro.
This is one of the issues of leadership that you have an opportunity to work on while attending The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies.

The series includes six three-day retreats scheduled over 18 months. Now in its ninth year, 290 clergy representing five denominations have attended series in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Kansas and Nebraska. To register, email Rev. Bill Selby at integrity4u@comcast.net. For more information, visit http://www.pastoraleffectiveness.org/.

Singer/Songwriter Retreat - August 14-17
Second Annual Mount Sequoyah Unplugged Singer/Songwriter Retreat, August 14-17, is open to artists of all ages and skill levels. Learn from outstanding professionals in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The retreat will open with a Guitar Masters Concert on Thursday night featuring Jack Williams, Shane Adkins & Kelly Mulhollan. The showcase concert on Saturday night features Gretchen Peters. More information will soon be available at http://www.mountsequoyah.org/ or by calling 800-760-8126.

Event Calendar

Visit the Conference Calendar for additional information and events not listed below.

March 2008

Safe and Sacred Spaces Training - Council Grove UMC
March 25
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2190

Christian Educators Family Reunion
March 27-28
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2059

Lay speaking seminar
March 28-29
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=1825

Safe and Sacred Spaces Worker Training - Topeka
March 29
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2146

April 2008

Spiritual Spendover
April 4-5
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=1949

Passing on the Faith: Dwelling Together as Strangers, Hosts and Guests
April 5
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2178

Dinner theater evening
April 5
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2175

Native American Ministries Sunday with offering
April 6
www.umcgiving.org/content/sundays/NAMS_nav/native.asp

The Emergent Church for the Existing Church Conference
April 8-10
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2056

Healthy Congregations Retreat
April 11-12
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2119

Faithfully Fit Forever leader training
April 12
www.kswestumc.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2310

Local church historians' workshop
April 12
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2165

Safe and Sacred Spaces Worker Training - Leawood
April 12
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2066

Sexual Ethics Quadrennial Update
April 12
www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=1808


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