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UM Student Day support: ‘a favor of indescribable magnitude’ United Methodist Communications “I work as a birth mother counselor/caseworker at a private adoption agency in San Antonio,” said 2008 Trinity University graduate Erin Shanti Smith. “I did undergraduate research on adoptions while in school and was able to use the contacts to get the job. “I enjoy the work, though sometimes it is emotionally trying. I never know what to expect. I love working with people. Getting to be a part of the adoption experience for families has touched my heart. I was adopted from India and never had the opportunity to know my birth parents. Counseling birth parents has given me insight into what a difficult decision placing me for adoption must have been for my birth mother. Although my adoptive parents are white and I am brown, people say my adoptive mother and I look and laugh alike.” Scholarships were essential to Smith’s college experience. “Because my parents are missionaries in Mexico and do not bring in any disposable income,” she explained, “I attended Trinity entirely on financial aid and scholarships. Scholarships paid for my tuition, room and board, books and health insurance for my entire four years of undergraduate study.” Supporting the United Methodist Student Day offering, Smith said, means, “doing someone a favor of indescribable magnitude.” Her triple major intertwined anthropology, Spanish and international studies. “They all, in some way, revolve around what I most enjoy: people and culture. Learning Spanish allowed me to communicate with people in other cultures. International studies helped me to understand their situation and circumstances, and anthropology helped me to understand their culture.” Eventually Smith hopes to work “in international adoptions, either as a liaison abroad or as a domestic facilitator, perhaps aided by the study of immigration law.” Please give generously to this Special Sunday offering Nov. 29. Local churches invited to support Zimbabwe partnership WICHITA—The United Methodist Church has identified four areas of focus to revitalize churches across the denomination. One of those areas is eradicating poverty worldwide. United Methodists in the Kansas West Conference are invited to take that challenge seriously by establishing a partnership with the people and churches of the Zimbabwe East Conference of the United Methodist Church. The people of Zimbabwe need help building churches and skill centers and combating killer diseases, another of the denomination’s focus areas. The Kansas West Conference Focus Team made the decision at its October meeting to explore a risk-taking mission by sending a delegation of 15 people to Zimbabwe to meet the people, explore the possibilities for ministry and discover ways that the conferences can be mutually supportive of God’s work. Local church members can participate in this mission by:
West and East combine prayers with quilt By Linda Cunningham CLAY CENTER—When Rev. Mike Graber was assigned to the Fact, Green and Morganville United Methodist churches in July 1997, his wife, Sharlan, was a pastor-in-training at the Ebenezer and Hayes UMCs. I was a member at Hayes and came to know and appreciate Sharlan. When Bishop Fritz Mutti ordained Sharlan at the 2002 Kansas West Annual Conference, we rejoiced with her. It also was announced that Mike and Sharlan would begin their new appointments in the Kansas East Conference. We sent them off with tears and hugs. This past June, Hayes UMC held its final service, and most of the members joined Clay Center UMC. That is where I came to know Frances Benson. Frances and several other nimble-fingered Clay Center UMC women make up Chapter #736 of Prayers and Squares, a ministry that “provides personal quilts for people in special need of prayer, primarily due to serious illness or injury, or challenging life circumstances.” Recently the Prayers and Squares women made a quilt for Sharlan, who is taking treatments for cancer. On Sept. 20, the Clay Center UMC members tied knots on the quilt as they said prayers for Sharlan. The Grabers are appointed to serve Randolph, Leonardville, Fancy Creek and Swede United Methodist churches in the Kansas East Conference. Frances brought the quilt to the Randolph and Leonardville UMCs Sept. 27. Frances told the congregations about the prayer quilt ministry and gave them the opportunity to tie knots and pray. I joined Frances Oct. 3 as she again went to the Kansas East Conference, this time worshipping with Swede Creek UMC, then Fancy Creek UMC, with both congregations tying knots in the quilt and praying. After the final knot was tied, Frances presented Sharlan with that very special Prayers and Squares quilt, a combined effort by members of the Kansas East and West conferences that will be a physical reminder to Sharlan of all the love and prayers that have been bestowed upon her. For more information about the Prayers and Squares quilt ministry, visit www.prayerquilt.org. Linda Cunningham is a member of Clay Center UMC. Peabody UMC hosts ‘Celebration Sunday’ By Rev. David Ragland and Judy Mellott PEABODY—Peabody United Methodist Church hosted a “Celebration Sunday” Sept. 13, beginning with a “Second Sunday” breakfast hosted by the Truth Seekers Sunday school class. Following the breakfast, Sunday school promotion was held for all children going into the fourth grade and seventh grade. Third graders are presented with Bibles. All members then went to their new classes. A collection of school supplies for USD 398 that had been donated by the congregation were blessed during morning worship. Students were also asked to bring their backpacks, which also were blessed. Superintendent Rex Watson and Principal Ken Parry attended the service to accept the gift of school supplies for the school district. The community was invited to attend a picnic in the church parking lot following morning worship. The event had been advertised in the newspaper and by community posters. Rev. David Ragland is pastor at Peabody UMC; Judy Mellott is a member of Peabody UMC. East Heights UMC dedicates new communion table WICHITA—East Heights United Methodist Church’s senior pastor, Rev. J.C. Kelley, dedicated a new Holy Communion table on World Communion Sunday, Oct. 4. The table was the culmination of a project begun nearly a year earlier. The result, rendered in oak to match the color and texture of the sanctuary chancel paneling, is a 7-foot-long table with Christian symbols, traditional architectural motifs and hand-carved lettering on the front. Though weighing nearly 350 pounds, the new table can be moved about easily, resting on hidden casters. The table also features generous storage space inside, accessed by cabinet doors on the back side. The table’s design was a collaboration between Pastor Brenda Heard, Wichita artist Paula Amos and Daniel Miller, the master cabinetmaker for Combs Organ Specialists in Newton. The new table was purchased by gifts in memory of Bob Smith along with a gift from the Smith family. Buhler UMC hosts cook-off fundraiser By Rebecca Stark BUHLER—Buhler United Methodist Church hosted their third annual chili cook-off Oct. 3, in conjunction with Buhler’s “Fall Frolic” event. The proceeds of the competition go toward various Mission and Ministry projects, such as paying Mission and Ministry apportionments, adopting a local family for Thanksgiving, adopting another family for Christmas and assisting the Buhler Grade School children with clothing and school supplies as needed. This year, there were eight entries for the cook-off. Five church members and three non-members entered with different chili recipes to be tasted. The general public donated $3 per person for an armband that allowed them to taste the different chili as many times as needed to decide which one would get their vote. Jason Haltom won first place, Jim Vollmer took second place and C. L. Carpenter got third place. The cook-off raised $173 for Mission and Ministry. During the Frolic event, the church is literally a place of open doors, somewhere for people to come inside, rest and get a free cup of coffee or hot chocolate to warm up. Rebecca Stark is the pastor at Buhler UMC. Argonia UMC celebrates 125 years ARGONIA--On Sept. 13, Argonia United Methodist Church celebrated its 125th anniversary. Bishop Scott Jones delivered the sermon at the morning worship service. Also in attendance was the Wichita West District Superintendent, Rev. Janet Hernandez. Four of the former ministers were able to be present for the day's celebration. Following the morning worship service a covered dish dinner was held in the fellowship hall. The afternoon program was an informal celebration with the puppets making a presentation, a time for the former pastors to share memories either in person or by way of written communication for those not able to be present, a PowerPoint presentation of historical events and people, and a poem written just for the day. A reception was enjoyed after the afternoon program. Several former church members, as well as other guests were in attendance. The members are now worshipping in the fourth building with many activities taking place and the promise of a good future. Church of the Cross block party brings fun to Salina neighborhood By Rev. Greg Lindenberger Special contributor SALINA—Church of the Cross United Methodist Church in Salina hosted a block party Sept. 13 for the neighborhood that surrounds the church and the families of the children who attend the church’s preschool. This was the church’s second annual celebration coinciding with Open House Month. The youth Sunday school class delivered door hangers in the neighborhood a week prior to the event. The door hangers had information about worship times, the block party and the youth and children programs on Sundays and Wednesdays. The door hangers also included the message, “We recognize that times are hard for just about everybody. So we thought it was time for no stress, no worries, just plain fun.” They also stressed that every thing was free of charge. “We didn’t want to have any pressure to come and join our church or support our church. There is enough stress in people’s lives as it is,” said Therese Davis, Youth Ministry coordinator. “This was just to have some fun and get to know the people who make up our church community. The church includes money in their annual budget for a block party, and members made cash contributions and donated food and candy for the event. At the 10:45 a.m. worship service, approximately 350 to 400 adults, youth and children gathered, nearly quadruple the normal attendance. The children who attend the church’s Angel Academy Preschool sang at the service. Most of these children do not normally attend the church. After worship, guests and members shared a hot-dog lunch. Then, everyone was invited to join in several games around the grounds, including a golf-putting challenge, a fishing pond, a spinning wheel and a candy-bar walk. Other activities included a bounce house, and bingo games were held inside the church building. Every child went home with a sack full of prizes. The feature event was a classic-car show with 20 cars from a local car club. Votes were cast for the “Best of Show” car. During the event, music was performed by Cornerstone, one of the praise bands of the church. Other members also provided music, with several of the youth adding their musical touch. It was a great day to celebrate and visit and just enjoy the wonderful day that the Lord had made. The congregation just wanted the people in the neighborhood to know that they are here and like to have fun together. The people of Church of the Cross look forward to next year’s block party and another opportunity to share radical hospitality with good neighbors. Rev. Greg Lindenberger is the pastor at Church of the Cross UMC in Salina. Benton UMC offers radical hospitality By Lorna Geist Special contributor BENTON—In today’s weak economy, many people in our communities find themselves in danger of disconnected utilities and, even worse, facing eviction. The Benton United Methodist Church believes that when families face tough financial difficulties money helps, but the real need of people is Jesus Christ. Recently a member, “Sam,” who has just come through some struggles himself, brought a friend to the church in need of assistance. Her husband recently walked out on her, leaving her with a 2-year-old and a 2-month-old. She was facing eviction, and her power was about to be disconnected. She was in need of a “new beginning.” The Benton UMC tagline is “A great place for a new beginning.” The members don’t just read it in the bulletin. They believe it and live it out. Sam had just been through a lengthy, intense Bible study. He knows the transforming power of Jesus Christ—that was his prayer for his friend. Monetary assistance for her was his opportunity to introduce her to the radical hospitality of the church. As the Benton UMC staff helped the young mother negotiate through the debt owed to the apartment complex she lives in, they encountered a fellow believer behind the housing manager’s door. “Susan” helped explain how the housing authorities applied monies received and how best the church could assist financially. In working alongside each other, Susan asked about the church, how Benton UMC handles community relief and its programs. United, Benton UMC and the apartment manager assisted compassionately. The church also helped Sam’s friend with gasoline to drive to job interviews and utility expenses to avoid being disconnected. Benton UMC is offering radical hospitality and new beginnings in Jesus Christ by stepping out in faith and compassion. Lorna Geist is a member of Benton UMC. Tisdale UMC invites neighbors to ‘National Night Out’ party By Wilma Anglemyer Special contributor TISDALE—Tisdale United Methodist Church hosted a “National Night Out” party Aug. 4 for the small, rural community seven and a half miles east of Winfield. “National Night Out” is a community-strengthening, crime and drug prevention event. The church sent invitations to every mailing address in the township and advertised the event in the local news-paper, inviting people in the surrounding area. The evening consisted of a cook-out supper, games and contests with prizes, a tour of the church’s new gymnasium that is being built, displays by various groups and committees, and children playing on the new playground equipment that had been erected just one week before the event. When the new gymnasium is finished, it will be available for community use for dinners, sports, 4-H and other area meetings. During the supper, music was provided by Circle of Friends, a group composed of Ida Finney and Barbara and Steve Madorin, with autoharp, guitar and vocals. The highlight of the evening was the attendance of Cowley County sheriff’s officers and Emergency Medical Service personnel. They presented safety information and allowed people to look inside a sheriff’s patrol car, an ambulance and the Crime Scene Investigation vehicle. A handcuff demonstration and a tazer demonstration also were presented. Booths were set up by various groups in the church to inform visitors about some of the church’s programs. The event was an opportunity to show people in the neighborhood what the church has to offer and be aware that the new gymnasium will be available for community use as well as church functions. The congregation wanted to extend the hand of friendship and share a free meal with the community, along with the National Night Out agenda of informing the community of safety and emergency programs that are available to them. Wilma Anglemyer is a member of Tisdale UMC. Help feed the hungry Nov. 1 By Penney Schwab Special contributor COPELAND—Did you know that Kansas is ranked as the ninth-highest state for household hunger? Or that nearly two-thirds of food-insecure households have at least one family member employed full-time? Or that households with children experience twice the rate of food insecurity as those with only adults? United Methodists are working to alleviate hunger in Kansas and also in Haiti. The Community Food Ministry operated by Open Door in Wichita is the largest food-box program in the area. In 2008, a total of 30,959 households were served, and there has been a 27 percent increase in people seeking food boxes this year. Mexican American Ministries in southwest Kansas assisted nearly 8,000 families with food boxes and/or commodities. The Haiti Hot Lunch Program feeds nearly 17,000 children every year through the Vacation Bible Schools operated by the Methodist Church of Haiti. The children receive three hot meals a day during the summer. Hunger has names and faces. Chico is a 5-year-old boy who lives with his parents and sister in a run-down motel while his family tries to find housing near the job that brought them to Kansas. Keeping the job is his dad’s top priority and means the family car must be kept fueled and running. Without food bank help, Chico’s family would go to bed hungry several nights before payday. Marianne is a single mom. At first glance, her salary would seem sufficient to keep herself and her 12-year-old daughter out of poverty. But she can only afford catastrophic-expense health insurance. That doesn’t cover the cost of doctor visits and medicines for the daughter’s severe asthma. Marianne, too, needs occasional assistance from an agency food bank. You can help alleviate hunger in Kansas and in Haiti by putting a generous gift in the offering plate on Nov. 1. Make your check payable to your local church, and write “Hunger Sunday” on the memo line. Your gift will buy food for hungry children and families served through Open Door in Wichita, Mexican American Ministries in southwest Kansas and the Haiti Hot Lunch Program. Donations not only feed those who are physically hungry, they are a tangible reminder that Christ and the people of the United Methodist Church care about their lives. Penney Schwab is a member of the conference Hunger Committee and of Copeland UMC. ‘Rethink church’ inspires Lyons UMC to community outreach By Susan Cooper Marketing and Communications associate director LYONS—To engage in risk-taking mission, the members of Lyons United Methodist Church hosted a “Rethink Church Sunday” Sept. 13. The vision for the event was to get out of the pews and into the community. “It was intended for us to be not just talkers of the word but doers of the word, to make connections in the community, for them to see us as more than a Sunday morning place we gather for entertainment,” said the church pastor Rev. Quentin Bennett. The mission was to help people in the community with projects they had been unable to do themselves, such as yard clean up and washing windows. The congregation began planning the event in April. To facilitate the mission, the local newspaper was contacted, which published several articles about the event in advance. Later, the congregation placed door hangers on targeted houses with information about the mission and a promise to be contacted about work needing to be done. “We had to be careful about doing this, but we looked for places where it looked like people couldn’t get out and do work themselves. If someone answered the door, we invited them to let us help. If there was no answer, we left a business card,” Bennett said. Team captains were assigned to handle two to three jobs. They scouted what needed to be done and assigned people to their teams. One team captain was assigned to be the worship host, and another was in charge of the community meal, for which people would gather after the work projects. “I think we did a really good job of getting the word out, and we were really intentional of tying it to the ‘Rethink Church’ campaign,” Bennett said. The Lyons UMC members became aware that people in the community were intrigued. They heard people saying that the Methodists were asking for jobs and were not going to charge anything for the work. However, Bennett acknowledged that the event provoked some anxiety for him in the planning stages because it was something they had never done before. The night before the “Rethink Church Sunday,” he was having trouble sleeping. “I would lie on one side worrying that no one would come. Then, I would roll over and worry if too many people would come. I finally let go of it, laid on my back and fell asleep,” he joked. On “Rethink Church Sunday,” the members met at the church at 8:15 a.m., sang a couple of hymns, had a blessing and embarked on their mission. Seventy members signed up to work, with three or four non-members joining the effort. A total of 23 jobs were lined-up. Most of the work was trimming trees, clearing brush, mowing lawns and removing ivy. They picked up rocks from the yard at one place. Adults, youth and children worked on the projects. Many of the members wore red, “Rethink Church” t-shirts to call more attention to the mission. Bennett said some members wore other red shirts, “so there was a lot of red out there.” “We were a visible sign to the community. At one location, the neighbors came out and cheered,” he said. Afterward, they returned to the church for lunch, which was attended by approximately 100 people, including a couple of visitors from the community. The Mud Bugs, a Zydeco band from Winfield, played traditional Christian songs. Bennett said he thought more visitors would have attended, but the event coincided with the state fair. Members shared their personal witness, photos of the work done were shown, and the group received Holy Communion. “You don’t do ministry without being ministered to yourself. It’s not only the people on the receiving end of this who were blessed,” Bennett said. Hillsboro reaches out to Zimbabwe church with love, prayers, financial aid Click here to find out how local churches can support Zimbabwe partnership
By Rev. Charles Grant It was a revelation given to the children of Abraham—there is only one God. One of the holiest and most important verses in the Old Testament is Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” The Hebrew conviction that there is only one God and that this one God is universal has shaped much of world history and is the foundation for Christianity. Since those times, we have discovered that there are many planets, solar systems and galaxies. Yet, our theological conviction remains unshaken. Wherever you go in the whole universe, the God who revealed himself to us through Christ is the only God of the whole creation. Our understanding of outer space is not the only thing that has changed in recent years, however. Our own planet earth has become a smaller place. We travel effortlessly from our homes to many destinations around the world. We have people born in other countries living in our state. Whereas many of our people came here from northern Europe in the 1800s, now our newest residents are from Central America, Mexico, Southeast Asia and Africa. Our businesses are affected by what happens elsewhere. Kansas was settled in a time when beef raised here was being shipped back to the East on newly built railroads. Now, we are selling our beef worldwide. The price of wheat and corn is dependent, in part, on what kinds of harvests there are in South America and Russia. Oil and gas are commodities traded globally. This process is called globalization—the economic and cultural integration of all the world’s peoples. For us as Christians, we need to ask how this is all related. How is it that a universal God and a Christ who died for the sins of the whole world should be related to all the peoples of the world? I am not sure of all of the answers, but I am deeply grateful that the United Methodist Church is a worldwide church. We have congregations on four continents in more than 50 countries. We are connected by our common doctrine, mission and discipline. The bishops of our church know each other and are actively building trusting relationships among the group. When we give mission money, we know the people who will be putting it to good use in places far away from us. God has positioned us to be used very effectively to accomplish God’s mission in a globalizing world. Yet, we continually need to ask for God’s guidance about how we can best move forward. The Kansas West Conference is exploring the possibility of a covenant relationship with the Zimbabwe East Conference. The Kansas East Conference has a long history of supporting mission work in many countries around the world. I am chairperson of the study committee on the worldwide nature of the United Methodist Church, which is asking how God can best guide us into a future where we are even more fruitful than we have been so far. In this process, all of us can remember to pray for our United Methodist sisters and brothers around the world. We can contribute money to UMCOR for disaster relief, just as people around the world have sent money to Kansas for disaster relief here. And we can continually pray the Covenant Prayer of John Wesley. “I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.” BISHOP'S BLOGFollow the Leader Yesterday, I preached at an Ecumenical Worship Service in Topeka. It included Lowman UMC and several other congregations in their neighborhood and focused on a blessing of the palms. It was a powerful way to begin Holy Week! My message focused on following the leader. Holy Week is a time of recommitting ourselves to the triune God as the leader for our lives. Who you follow does make a difference. Many in modern society are practical atheists—they follow their own desires or thoughts. Others follow false gods of various sorts. Christians are by definition those who acknowledge God the father and seek to be obedient to his will. They are disciples of Jesus who wish to serve others. It is of deep significance that Christ calls us to follow him, and his path was one of sacrificial service for the good of others. We are also empowered by the Holy Spirit whose work of inclusive love and inspirational evangelism leads all of us to change lives and transform communities. May this Holy Week help all of us to recommit to following the leader revealed in the Bible.
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