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You can contact the North Indiana Conference office at
P.O. Box 869, Marion, IN 46952
765.664.5138 or 800.783.5138
www.nicumc.org
or
You can contact the South Indiana Conference office at
P.O. Box 5008, Bloomington, IN 47407
812.336.0186 or 800.919.8160
www.sicumc.org 

Notices of conference-wide events may be sent to dgangler@inareaumc.org.

INDY CHURCH READY FOR ANOTHER GREAT MARKET SEASON

Summertime means ripe red strawberries, crisp green beans, fresh sweet corn, juicy peaches and fragrant cantaloupe. This year is no exception. North UMC will open its 38th & Meridian Farmers’ Market, NOW and running each Thursday through October 30 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

With 17 unique vendors represented, one not only can get fresh produce, but also find everything one needs for 3 meals a day 7 days a week. The best part is buying it directly from the farmer that planted, tended, picked and delivered it. Products one can find at the market include: honey, lamb, beef, jams, salsa, baked goods, cheese and syrup.

All of the regular vendors are back as well as some special events like Mosey the clown for weekly entertainment; Kids activities scheduled for the last Thursday of the month; live entertainment and new will be 30-minute cooking demonstrations offered each month by one of the market vendors. She can teach participants some of those lost arts like canning and baking from scratch. Each one that attends the four classes will receive a free crock-pot at the final class in September. Find out more details at the market on opening day Thursday, May 29. The first class is scheduled for June 26.

Shopping at the 38th & Meridian Farmers’ Market, helps fellow members of the Indianapolis community, local farmers and reduce carbon footprints by purchasing items that came from only a few miles away.

For more information, contact Joel O’Neil, Market Manager, at 317-926-6623 or online at joelo@forumcu.com.

ATTEND FREE NORTH INDIANA WORKSHOPS AT OFFICE OR HOME IN AUGUST

Save on gas and attend free workshops in the comfort of your home or office. All you need is a telephone and a computer that’s connected to the internet. Ed Fenstermacher will be offering two different workshops during the month of August – one on the new demographic tool that is now available to all North Indiana Conference churches and one for churches just starting their Sending of the Saints outreach effort.

Each one-hour workshop will be offered a variety of times at no charge. Choose the one which best fits your schedule. (Times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time.) Each is limited to 15 people, so contact Ed Fenstermacher to reserve a spot.

  • Introduction to Demographic Tool -Aug. 7 at 10am; Aug. 8 at 2pm; Aug. 18 at  10am; Aug. 28 at 7pm
  • Introduction to Sending of the Saints - Aug. 11 at 10am; Aug. 12 at 7pm; Aug. 13 at 2pm; Aug. 27 at 2pm

Read more…

COVINGTON CHURCH TO HOLD OUTDOOR WORSHIP BAPTISM SERVICE

The Covington UMC will worship outdoors at the Covington Park on Sunday, Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. Baptism Service. Kenny Knowles singing. Potluck to follow Service at 11:30 a.m. Swimmers will be welcomed in the pool from 11 to 1 p.m. A lifeguard will be on duty. The hospitality committee will provide drinks and table settings. United Methodist Men will provide main dish. No 8 a.m. service or Sunday school.

FRIENDS OF AFRICA UNIVERSITY INVITED TO PITCH-IN DINNER AUG. 15

All friends of Africa University are invited to participate in the annual pitch-in dinner at the Dewart Lake home of Dan and Ruth Ellen Stone, 4121 Woodview Dr. between North Webster and Syracuse, Ind. on Friday, Aug. 15. For directions, call 574-834-1359. Larry Kies, faculty member in the school of agriculture at AU, and his wife will be attending the dinner and the AU Committee meeting the following day. If you are planning to attend the dinner, please RSVP Ruth Ellen as soon as possible, but at least a few days before the event so they can be sure they’re set up for the right number of people. Ruth Ellen’s e-mail is: ruthellen1@juno.com. Please e-mail vneie@purdue.edu if you need directions.

COVENANT COMMUNITY TO BEGIN AUG. 22 HAS BEEN CANCELLED

The new “Three Year Covenant Community for Spiritual Formation” scheduled to begin on Aug. 22, at Waycross Retreat Center in Morgantown, Indiana, just south of Indianapolis, has been cancelled.

UPCOMING SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE CONTINUING EDUCATION EVENTS

Worship Alive! Roots and Wings for Transformational Worship

  • With Ms. Elise Eslinger on Monday, Aug. 25 at Castleton UMC from 9-3 Registration fee is: $45 for Indiana Area clergy and lay ($65 all others). Fee includes Upper Room Worshipbook: Music and Liturgies for Spiritual Formation and lunch. There will be additional opportunity for Conversations and dinner with Eslinger the evening before (August 24). This event is for clergy and lay.

Managing our Financial Resources

  • Monday, Sept. 15, at the South Indiana Conference Center in Bloomington from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • This seminar is about how we manage the financial resources we’re given, and topics include our priorities, stewardship, cash flow and credit/debt management and retirement concerns.
  • Led by Mr. Peter Hang from the General Board of Pensions and Mr. John Charles from Social Security,
  • Registration fee is $25. Sign up by contacting Lourdes Gonzalez or go to www.sicumc.org and click on events.

First Mondays

  • “Kickoff” is in September from 9-4 the first Monday of each month (except September which will be on the 2nd Monday). The First Monday training program is an opportunity for persons to grow in both knowledge and training towards certification in the area of pastoral care and counseling. Registration fee is $25 for each session or $125 for all 10 sessions for clergy or lay of either UM Conferences ($75 per session all others).

Convocation for Pastors

  • Discerning God’s Will: Individually, Congregationally and Connectionally
  • Oct. 13-15 at the Holiday Inn, Columbus, IN. with Bishop Judy Craig– guest preacher, Marcia McFee– music and worship, Dr. Dan Dick from General Board of Discipleship and other guest presenters.

Urban Ministry

  • With retired Bishop Joseph Sprague, Jan. 26 from 9-4. Indianapolis location to be announced.

For more information, log on to www.sicumc.org.

PATH & PEN ANNOUNCE 3RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE SEPT. 5-7 IN NASHVILLE

Join award-winning facilitators for an inspiring weekend as we explore writing as a spiritual practice in the serene gardens and gothic halls of Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, Tenn. The conference is a hands-on encounter with various forms of spiritually oriented writing, including poetry, liturgy, inspirational writing and journaling.

A partial list of workshops includes:

To Blog Or Not To Blog? Is that even in question?; Writing Abundance: Set the Words Free; Sacred Space and the Holy - Writing the Soul; Self Illuminated: Writing Your Heart Out!; So You Think You're Ready to Publish?; Writing and Storytelling Down a Spiritual Path; Finding Grace & Growth Through Your Fingertips: Practices for Communication & Contemplation; Dreamwriting; Worshipful Writing; Finding Your Voice.

Facilitators: Constance J. Bovier, Rita Collett, Charlotte Rains Dixon, Safiyah Fosua, Kent Ira Groff, Dianne Isaacs, Rev. Dr. Kwasi Kena, Starshield Lortie, Robbie Clifton Pinter, Rami Shapiro & Sheri Swanson

Rooms and meals are available onsite. To download a brochure, view facilitator bios or for additional information visit www.scarrittbennett.org or contact Kim Johnson at 615.340.7450 or kjohnson@scarrittbennett.org

CENTER FOR CONGREGATIONS PRESENTS INDIANA AUTUMN EVENTS

Praying in Color with Sybil MacBeth

Flourishing Congregations: Moving from Dreams to Reality

Better Preaching & Better Listening with Ron Allen, Mary Alice Mulligan

Technology and Its Possibilities with Daryl Cripe, Steve Clark of Grace Community Church

Small Church Spirituality with Anthony Pappas

Creating a 501(c)(3) with Robert Katz

Praying with Purpose: Connecting Your Faith to the Wider World with Claire Wolfteich

Sustainable Youth Ministry with Mark DeVries

SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE PLANS YOUTH CONFERENCE IN SEPTEMBER

Jr. High YAC “Connect 4 Christ” will be held Sept. 6-7 at Camp Rivervale near Mitchell, Ind. Planners have created four registration packages for participants’ convenience.

Participants can choose to check-in on Friday, Sept. 5, for an extra evening of fun or they can check-in on Saturday, Sept. 6. YAC will have cabin lodging or the more adventurous teams can bring tents and set up. Check out the brochure for more information by logging on to www.sicumc.org/PDF/revisedJrHighYAc2008brochure.pdf.

Please share this information with your youth teams and youth leaders/pastors.

For more information and answer to questions, contact Lourdes Gonzalez, South Indiana Conference Youth Coordinator, at 800-919-8160, ext.226, FAX 812-336-0216 or log on to www.sicumc.org/YouthMinistries.

CONFERENCE ON EUB HISTORY PLANNED AT UTS FOR SEPT. 12-13

In honor of the fortieth anniversary of the creation of the United Methodist Church, the Center for the Evangelical United Brethren Heritage at United Theological Seminary is planning an academic conference designed to recall the EUB story, explore its meaning and values, and bring them into the service of today’s church. “Forty Years After Dallas: Retrieving the EUB Heritage for United Methodism,” an international gathering of historians, theologians, students, pastors, and other church leaders, will take place Sept. 12-13 at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Details and registration forms are posted at Web site www.united.edu.

Immediately following the conference, the General Commission on Archives and History (UMC) will hold its fall meeting at United. This gathering will begin with a special dinner on Sept. 13 honoring Dr. K. James Stein and end on Tuesday, Sept.16. Guests are welcome to attend the GCAH banquet (cost: $20) and meeting. Please indicate your interest in attending these post-conference events by contacting Timothy Binkley at 937-529-2201 or tbinkley@united.edu

NORTH IND. SPONSORS GLOBAL WARMING WORKSHOP AT WARSAW SEPT. 13

The North Indian Conference United Methodist Women and the NIC Church and Society Committee are co-sponsors of the Social Action Day set for Saturday, Sept. 13, at Warsaw First United Methodist Church, 179 S. Indiana Street in Warsaw, Ind. Karen Hewitson will lead the Global Warming Workshop. Hewitson is a Green Team Advocate for the Environment, a project of the Women’s Division.

Other Focus Groups include, but not limited to: Unfair Labor Practices, Multi-cultural Churches, Building “Green” and Immigration. Focus Leaders are: Doreen Grayless, Rev. Jim McDonald, North Conf. Board of Church and Society and Al Bohnstedt of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society based in Washington, D.C. ( www.umc-gbcs.org )

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the event ends at 3 p.m. $10 covers registration, morning coffee and lunch. Registration deadline is Sept.6. Child care provided. Complete information and registration forms are available online at: www.gbgm-umc.org/nicumw/social-action.pdf. 

SOUTH INVITES NORTH CONFERENCE SPOUSES TO RETREAT SEPT. 21-23

The South Indiana Conference graciously invites all North Indiana Conference clergy spouses to attend its annual Clergy Spouse Refresher, “Fishing for Answers.” A copy of the brochure is available at: www.indymetroumc.org and click on “2008 Clergy Spouse Refresher Brochure”

The retreat will be held at Brown County Inn in Nashville, Ind., Sept.21-23

Postmarked Registration Deadline – Friday, Aug. 15

Each North Indiana Conference member should have received a brochure in the annual conference session packet as well.

CONFERENCE TO BUILD CONNECTIONS FOR HEALTH MINISTRIES SEPT. 21-24

“Empowering Ministries of Health: Connecting Around the World” will be the focus of the fourth annual National Congregational Health Ministries Conference Sept. 21-24 at Lake Junaluska, N.C. The conference is designed for health and welfare chairpersons, clergy, parish/faith community nurses and others with a passion for health ministries. Sponsors are the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits.

Two scholarships for tuition, lodging and meals will be offered to designated representatives from each annual conference.

More than 35 speakers will make presentations in plenary sessions, workshops and daily worship services. Topics include strengthening clergy and laity health, funding, planning strategies, collaborating with other faith and business communities, advocating for health care and connecting with global health ministries.

Workshops will be offered in four tracks:

  • Congregational health ministry will provide tools for planning, assessing and developing a health ministry team.
  • Conference health ministry is designed for those who want to mobilize lay leadership, evaluate health ministry programs and develop faith collaborations.
  • Parish Nurse & Health Advocate will provide a broad overview of topics including working with clergy, care for the caregiver, holistic health and networking.
  • Servant Leadership: A Model for Self-Care will guide participants in assessing own health and in making self-care covenants for improvement.

For more details and registration, see www.gbophb.org and click on events and education, or contact Anne Green at AGreen@gbophb.org or 847-866-4560. For questions about scholarships, contact Patricia Magyar at pmagyar@gbgm-umc.org or 212-870-3683.

SHREVEPORT CHURCH TO HOST LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE SEPT. 23-25

First UMC in Shreveport, La., and Leadership Nexus will host a Leadership and Effective Management Conference Sept. 23-25 for pastors and church leaders. Twelve church leaders will speak about church leadership and management in practical and usable ways. The conference also will include four nationally known Christian lay leaders who will share their expertise on management and more than 40 workshops. For more information, the event brochure, the list of speakers and to register, visit www.leadershipnexus.net.

CHURCH OF RESURRECTION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE COMING OCT. 2-3

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in suburban Kansas City can’t wait to have Hoosiers join church leaders from across the country for the 10th Annual Leadership Institute at the Church of the Resurrection. Registration is now open.

To get additional information or to register, visit the Web site at www.cor.org/li2008

Please let us know how we can best serve your team. You can reach us at catalyst@cor.org.

Joint Session of North and South Indiana Conferences

  • Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds

OCT. 10 MISSION EVENT TO PREFACE NORTH IND. UMW ANNUAL MEETING

A Mission Event is planned for Friday, Oct. 10 as a precursor to the UMW Annual Meeting. Mission Event participants will depart from Trinity UMC, 2715 East Jackson in Elkhart, Ind., at 10:30 a.m. to observe local missions in action at the Riverview Adult Day Care, Faith Mission (where lunch will be served for $5 and Church Community Services and Soup of Success. Each participant is responsible for making overnight lodging accommodations. Suggested hotels and complete event information, with registration form are available by logging onto www.gbgm-umc.org/nicumw/Mission_Exp.pdf. Separate registration forms, with separate fees, are required for both the Annual Meeting and the Mission Experience.

NORTH IND. UMW CELEBRATES 36TH ANNUAL MEETING OCT. 11 AT ELKHART

North Indiana United Methodist Women will celebrate their 36th Annual Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Trinity UMC, 2715 East Jackson in Elkhart, Ind. Immediate past-president of the North Central Jurisdiction Core Planning Group Jeannette Kraus will address the theme, “Living the Sacred.” 2009 NIC UMW officers will be elected. The day begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. The $15 cost includes lunch. For more information, call Alma Sigler at 574-264-3323 or see registration form is available at: http://www.gbgm-umc.org/nicumw/ann-mtg.pdf.

SOUTH INDIANA UMWOMEN’S CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED FOR OCT. 18.

The South Indiana Conference United Methodist Women announce the upcoming UMWomen’s day-long conference “Peace: Growing in Faith, Trust and Commitment,” Saturday, Oct. 18 at 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. registration and 9 a.m. at First UMC, 201 East Third Street in Seymour, Ind. The conference begins with a Celebration of United Methodist Women with Bishop Mike Coyner as guest speaker. Cost with lunch is $15 before Oct. 1 deadline. Late registration with lunch is $18. Childcare will be available. Registration is available online at www.gbgm-umc.org/sicumw/umwomenconf.html. Hotel accommodations, for those who would like to arrive the day before, are reserved at Lee’s Inn, 2075 East Tipton Street in Seymour. Make reservations by calling 812-523-1850 or online by e-mail at Seymour@leesinn.com. Individuals must make and pay their own reservations at Lee’s Inn. For more information about other SIC UMC event, log on to www.gbgm-umc.org/sicumw and click on Calendar.

CEF/PREACHING FROM THE CENTER NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Registration is still open for the Christian Educators Fellowship (CEF) and Preaching from the Center (PFTC) joint national conferences, “Blessed to Be a Blesssing.” The conferences will be held Oct.23-27 in Albuquerque, NM at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Albuquerque Convention Center.

The registration fee will increase very soon on July 15. Individuals also can save $40 by using the code CEFPFTC01 when they register online. Additional discounts are also available for CEF members, students and retirees. Full conference details are available at www.cef2008.org.

“Blessed to Be a Blessing” is a conference open to all Christian educators (professional and volunteer) and preachers (clergy or laity). The featured keynote speaker is well-known environmental writer Bill McKibben. More than 100 workshops will be offered, and individuals can register for workshops from either the CEF or PFTC event.

For more information, contact: Ellen Thompson, Director, Christian Educators Fellowship at 866/629-3113 or director@cefumc.org

NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE OFFERS ACADEMY FOR CHURCH GROWTH

  • Place: St. Joseph Conference Center, Tipton, Ind.

  • Leader: The Rev. Dr. Douglas T. Anderson, D. Min., Executive Director, Bishop Rueben Job Center for Leadership Development,

  • Fee: $60 per session. (Appointed North Indiana ministers, full or part-time) all others $75 per session.

The Academy for Church Growth is a two-and-a-half-year training process for developing clergy and lay leadership in the area of church growth. The Academy understands church growth as developing disciples for Jesus Christ through spiritual growth, outreach, and fellowship that results in growing churches. The Academy offers sound theological and practical principles for disciple-making that enables churches to grow.

Each of the five sessions covers a different aspect of this system’s understanding of church growth, with workshops and seminars. Key issues to reach new populations are highlighted – vital, indigenous worship; volunteerism through spiritual gifts; discipling through small groups; and visionary leadership for changed transition. Between sessions, support/accountability groups comprised of churches of similar size meet twice to help each other implement the principles and strategies of the Academy appropriate to his or her own unique church, ministry, and context. The Academy for Church Growth has a proven track record for over several years of helping churches make disciples for Jesus Christ and, therefore, grow. Please Note: Each participant will be expected to attend all five sessions and be involved in an Accountability/Support Group, which will meet twice during the six-month intervals between sessions.

NIC Pastor David Arnold previously attended these 5 sessions and shares: “After 25 years of pastoral ministry, the Academy’s fresh insights helped me to connect the dots and fill in the gaps of my personal ministry style. I’ve even used the Academy’s resources to develop a leadership training series for laity in our congregation. I regard the Academy as an essential learning experience that will lay the groundwork for new pastors and reinvigorate those of us who possess a ‘touch of gray’.”

  1. January 19-21, 2009, Monday 10 a.m. to Wednesday 11:30 a.m. (Growth as Spiritual Maturing)

  2. June 23-25, 2009, Monday 10 a.m. to Wednesday 11:30 a.m. (Leadership with Gifts, Power, and Working Style)

  3. January 18-20, 2010, Monday 10 a.m. to Wednesday 11:30 a.m. (Growing Systemically and Through Barriers)

TO REGISTER: Call Diane Kelley at 800-783-5138 or e-mail: diane@nicumc.org

JOIN BISHOP COYNER ON A HOLY LAND TRIP IN FEBRUARY 2009

The trip is called Holy Land Classic 2009. It is a 10-day trip beginning Feb. 3, 2009. Price for departure from New York is $1,898; Chicago add $198; Indy add $248; Louisville add $298; and Fort Wayne add $348. The tour will visit Jerusalem, Galilee, Bethlehem and Jericho. The theme of the tour is Jesus: His Life, His Time, His Land, His Hebrew Faith. There is more information at: www.eo.travelwithus.com/Default.aspx?tabid=55&tourid=383&load=yes

SOUTH INDIANA UMW ANNOUNCES WOMEN’S RETREATS COMING IN 2009

The South Indiana Conference United Methodist Women announces two upcoming Women’s Retreats. Coming March 6-8, 2009, Sarto House in Evansville and April 17-19, 2009, at McCormick’s Creek State Park with the Rev. May Kathryn Pearce author of Concerning Prayer.

Registration information will be published in the November issue of the South Indiana Conference UMW publication South Wind.

BISHOP’S CONFIRMATION RALLY SET FOR MARCH 7 AT NOBLESVILLE

Bishop Mike's Confirmation Rally is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Noblesville First UMC. Place this date on your calendars now. More information to come.

EO OFFERS DISCOUNT TO OBERAMMERGAU 2010 TRIP WITH BISHOP

Educational Opportunities is offering an early registration discount beginning in October. When you register and pay the $100 deposit you receive a $90 discount at time of billing. This discount will decline by $10 a month through April of 2008. Remember that all who register now have the option of a full refund once pricing is announced in the first part of 2008. Join Bishop Coyner, Indiana United Methodists and others on a unique trip to see The Passion Play. Pastors and hosts can earn a trip by recruiting others to travel with them. For those unable to travel on this date there will be a group going out of Chicago on August 11. For brochures, information, or questions please feel free to contact Pastor Norm Nellis at normgumc@aim.com or 765-447-4152.

Last updated 01 Aug 2008

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