This newsletter was sent on: 3/11/2009

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Communique 276 – March 11, 2009

Confirmation Retreat at Camp Chippewa a success
There was a great turnout for the Confirmation Retreat at Camp Chippewa, “Christ is our True North,” March 7-8. Over 100 people participated, coming from churches throughout the Conference and all five districts. The event started with games for participants to meet and greet each other. Then using “Claim the Name” curriculum, modules grew from orienteering to a treasure hunt that lead participants throughout the camp grounds searching for direction. At the end they found “Christ is our True North.”

The Chippewa Camping Ministry Area Team, who hosted the event, would like to thank all the churches for participating in this event and the adult sponsors that made the event possible for the youth attending.


News

2009 Annual Conference Submission Deadline – March 15
The submission deadline for items to be included in the conference workbook and/or the Session News registration packet is fast approaching. If you are interested in participating in these or other ways or would like more information, please visit the 2009 Annual Conference page at www.kansaseast.org/page.asp?PKValue=32.

If you have questions about participating in annual conference, contact Libby Oberdorf, Conference Secretary, at 785-776-7730 or ConferenceSecretary@kansaseast.org or Kay Scarbrough, Sessions Chair, at 785-776-8821 or kscarbrough@fumcmanhattan.com.

Survey for churches using Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
The United Methodist Publishing House is interested in finding out how Bishop Schnase's Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations and its church-wide initiative resource materials is being used and how it is impacting individual churches.

If your church is using the Five Practices book or resources, please take a moment to participate in an online survey to help UMPH determine how they create and provide upcoming church-wide materials. The survey must be taken by March 18.

Take the survey at www.surveymk.com/s.aspx?sm=03QCXGUesMeiwUMLX53gnA_3d_3d


Call for hope, outreach in economic crisis
The global financial crisis underscores the importance of a renewed focus on mission and ministry for the church and reminds Christians to maintain hope during fearful times, say three key United Methodist leaders.

In an open letter to the people of the United Methodist Church, denomination leaders acknowledge that the global financial crisis is bringing hardship and suffering to people in every part of the world as well as generating increasing global unrest and violence. They point out that all levels of the church are also facing economic constraints that require them to assess how they carry out ministry to a world in need.

Read the letter at www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5005115&ct=6797403&tr=y&auid=4567335.


Agency offers prayer resource during financial crisis
Upper Room Ministries, a ministry of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, has published “Prayers for Hard Times: Words of Faith in a Financial Crisis” for individuals, churches and communities trying to keep centered in God while reaching out to all who are suffering during this economic crisis.

The booklet features 32 pages of meditations from the Upper Room daily devotional guide, pertinent scripture passages, prayers and a guide that serves as an index to find additional help for times of fear, distress and worry.

The booklets are sold in packages of 20 for $10. For more information and to order, go to www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=626762 or call 800-972-0433 and refer to order number 9998.


Revised baptismal ritual now available
The General Board of Discipleship has the full revised baptismal ritual revised to align with all of the changes that have occurred up to and including the 2008 Book of Discipline available through their website.

The new resource is available in pdf format at www.gbod.org/worship/baptismal-ritual-revised.pdf and an HTML version is online at www.gbod.org/worship/baptism-ritual/default.html.


Julie Pohl elected chair of jurisdiction-wide disaster response coordinators group
The South Central Jurisdiction’s Conference Disaster Response Coordinators met at Mount Sequoyah on February 26, 2009. Nine of the 15 conferences in the jurisdiction were able to send representatives of their disaster response programs, including Julie Pohl and Steve Burnett from the Kansas East Conference.

Representatives from each of the conferences spoke about their disaster response programs and equipment as well as their current projects, needs and future plans. The meeting created the opportunity for sharing information and experience between response coordinators who had many years experience working in the disaster response area and those who were fairly new and had many questions. The group discussed common concerns and ideas and information were shared between participants.

Read more at http://kesite.brickriver.com/news_detail.asp?PKValue=500.


Distinguished evangelist nominations open
The Foundation for Evangelism is seeking nominations for the 2009 Distinguished Evangelist of The United Methodist Church Award. This award recognizes a United Methodist clergy or lay person for extraordinary accomplishments in helping people experience God's transforming love through Jesus Christ.

The award supports the development of leaders with a passion for evangelism who will have a multiplying impact on the United Methodist Church. Previous recipients include Rudy and Juanita Rasmus, Adam Hamilton, Billie Fidlin, Kent Millard and Keith Tonkel.

Get more information at http://foundationforevangelism.org/what_we_fund/recognition/
distinguished_evangelist_of_the_united_methodist_church
.


Scholarship offered for The 'Source conference
The 'Source is a networking and training opportunity for all who work with youth (ages 12-18) and young adults (ages 18-30). This year’s theme is Spiritual Formation, and will focus on making time with God, spiritual renewal and learning. It is a time of learning to make each experience count and of making prayer fun, educational, and life-changing. Youth leaders are invited to be a part of this opportunity to meet and network with others who are working in youth ministries across the United States.

Registration includes lunch, snack, handouts, and materials. A scholarship from the General Board of Discipleship is available to reduce the registration cost for this event from $59 to just $30.

For more information and online registration (including application for scholarship), go to www.gbod.org/youngpeople/worker/source/registration09.htm.


Cross-Lines newsletter posted
A new Cross-Lines newsletter has been posted on the conference website. Cross-Lines is an ecumenical ministry but has been strongly supported by United Methodists in the Kansas East Conference and a United Methodist pastor currently serves as the organization’s Executive Director.

View the Cross-Lines newsletter at www.kansaseast.org/newsletter_detail.asp?pkvalue=450.

Events

Upcoming Good $ense training
A Good $ense training for pastors will be available on March 21 in Chanute. Read more about the training and register for the event at www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2678 .


Expand Your Ministry with Social Networking, March 24 & 26
Kansas area pastors are invited to attend a workshop on the use of online social networks such as Facebook as a tool for ministry. The Pew Internet and American Life Project recently reported that the number of adults using online social networks such as Facebook has quadrupled in the past four years and that more than half the adults in the 25-34 age group have a profile on a social network site.

Expand Your Ministry with Social Networking will be offered March 24 at Lawrence First UMC and on March 26 at Emporia First UMC. Dr. Daniel Roland, assistant professor at the School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University and a member of the Kansas East Annual Conference, will lead the workshop. He will address the benefits of utilizing electronic social networks, including Facebook and Twitter.

The workshop is $40 if paid before the event and $50 at the door.

More information and online registration is available at http://standingrockpartners.com/content/expand-your-ministry-social-networking.


Fashion Meets Faith event, April 2 & 3
Fashion expert Shari Braendel is flying in from the east coast to lead workshops on faith and beauty at Fashion Meets Faith. At the two events, women will discover how to identify and dress their body types, use the color palette for their skin tones, enhance their natural assets and honor God with modesty and style.

The 2-day event at Susanna Wesley UMC begins on Friday, April 3 with an event for teen girls called “What Not to Wear: Teen Edition.” Teens will learn “what guys really think” and the five Bs of style. The second day is an event for adult women called “A Girlfriend’s Guide to Glamour.” Women will learn how to accessorize and how to “look like a million” without spending one.

To learn more and buy tickets for the event, visit www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2738.


UMM Spiritual Rally, April 4
The Kansas East Conference United Methodist Men’s annual Spiritual Rally will be April 4 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Worden UMC, 294 E. 900th Rd. in Baldwin City. The church is located on Hwy 56 west of its intersection with Hwy 59. The featured speaker will be Rev. Mitch Reese, pastor of the northwest Johnson County new-church start called LifeBridge UMC.

The event will include workshops, praise bands from Worden UMC and the UM Church of the Resurrection as well as Hands of Glory from Ottawa First UMC and conclude with worship and communion.

Registration is $20 prior to March 28 and $25 after that date.

For more information and a registration form, go to www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2700.


Real Women’s 2009 conference, April 24 & 25
The Real Women’s 2009 conference is open to all women and will focus on personal growth, life transformation and spiritual insight. This conference is for every woman, no matter where you come from or what you have been through.

To learn more about the event, go to www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2736.

For more events, please visit the conference calendar at www.kansaseast.org/calendar.asp.


Communications Staff
   Â

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