GREAT news from the Presbyterian Church USA!
This is a GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE with our brothers and sisters in NE and around the world! They have voted to remove all barriers to full membership, leadership and service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons!
See the full Celebration story below on Flashnet through RMN!
You can Request Flashnets weekly at the website: www.RMNetwork.org
Take Action to "End UMC Laws That Discriminate" : http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/pocforlgbtq/
Actions: See Links and actions in this email and on our new blog : to sign onto the African American Scholars letter that builds on the 36 Retired bishops in the UMC who first wrote a letter -
Now this newer letter / statement of African American Scholars is open to signatures from persons of ALL races, all colors, all laity and clergy - please sign on - the original letter of the 36 bishops can be signed onto as well thru the RMN website.. let's raise the number of signatures on both statements!
"End UMC Laws That Discriminate" http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/pocforlgbtq/
We want to raise our VOICES with more signatures on both statements/ letters! To sign the two statements : www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, NE contacts for NE Statewide Reconciling Network, PRN contacts, email contacts, local contacts and friends
Group Facebook: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
Register for the MFSA dinner may 31: www.umcneb.org and go to the lastest UM connect for the article about Don Messer coming as speaker on Stigma and HIV AIDS, Jimmy Creech Scholarship, other awards and info - tickets!
See the Church Within in a Church for more info on the African American Scholars Letter and other info : www.cwac.us
Showing posts with label spring news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring news. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2011
NE Statewide Reconciling Network: THX Margaret, Lunch /Kickoff May 11 -D Messer, MFSA dinner May 31, Rainbows- UMconnect 05/04/11
NE Statewide RUM's (Reconciling United Methodists) - Friends far and wide:
Another Year of Great Spiritual Awakenings!
Write up a Spiritual Awakening this summer to share in the fall (one page front and back for a booklet of Sacred stories: Spiritual Awakenings) -- Believe out loud - Reconciling goes on the road!
We took Reconciling on the Road this week with dinner in North platte to Thank Margaret Engle for sending out the EMAIL in the West for our NE Statewide Reconciling Network! ( You might have gone on the road recently for an inclusive event or to lend support for more fully inclusive faith groups, creating safe places for all God's children. )
We THANK MARGARET for her volunteer time and energy as she moves our EAST with her husband! If you know Margaret Engle, send her a note of thanks or give $ in her honor for the Summer Email Offering -- and we hope we hear from YOU MARGARET with reports on Reconciling / inclusive church in New Jersey from time to time as our OUR EAST Coast Reporter in the field and our Pacific NW Reporter.
New Volunteer Contacts in the west are working to transition from Margaret's email list. THANK the volunteer who sends you email when you get a chance! We have no budget per se and all of our work is done with volunteers and volunteer time, energy!
Take Reconciling on the Road in your area and attend a Reconciling program or event, worship at a Reconciling congregation, travel to meet reconciling friends or new friends to lend support, plan or organize, drive to a birthday party fundraiser for RMN or drive to SING A NEW SONG - already over 400 people are signed up nationally! www.RMNetwork.og
Sign up today as a Reconciling United Methodist online or as an AIDS ambassador by writing: andrewb@nap.org or mvetter@charter.net
See info on Dr Don Messer coming to speak at the MFSA dinner, how to get tickets, cost and you do not have to be an MFSA member to attend! See the UM Connect below! Other info on giving to the storm relief and more!
DATES & EVENTS:
Special Offering for UM Global AIDS Fund -June 3, 8:30 am in the Sanctuary at St marks umc.
May 23: noon, Thank You Scott Taylor Lunch, 313 Cafe and Cream, 3rd street, Grand Island (former Blue moon) - Come thank scott taylor for organizing this ongoing HIV AIDS benefit Concert and give some pocket money, gifts to the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS Fund to honor Scott! Thanks to PHIVE- O (peer education for HIV AIDS) students at Hastings College for giving a $500 Service award to the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund this week!
May 27: Rainbows of HOPE Art show will be going up at Christ UMC, Lincoln! Visit this new Art Show at Annual Conference in Lincoln. Do a Rainbows of hope project, banner, stole, table etc. Thanks to all the artists who have made Rainbow Art this spring!
May 31: 6 PM NE MFSA Dinner with Dr Don Messer speaking! See info below in UM connect! You will also see a schedule of Annual conference and storm response info!
June 1 - 4 NE UMC Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln (84th street south) Two tables this year needing Volunteers: Reconciling Table (contact betty : bobcdorr@cox.net Bring rainbows, stoles or ribbons to give away!
HIV AIDS table for UM Global AIDS fund, contact Maureen Mvetter@charter.net or bill biobb@bellsouth.net Bring AIDS Ribbons for the giveaway basket if you want! HIV AIDS Toolkit DVD's will be given to AIDS Ambassadors who sign up at Annual Conference!
We have 50 AIDS Ambassadors in NE now and we would love to reach 100 AIDS Ambassadors this next year -- one or more in each church and $1 per member is our commitment from 2006 Annual Conference -- learn more on the 20/20 campaign at:
www.umglobalaidsfund.org See our new URL : www.umcneb.org/AIDS Sign up at the UM Global AIDS fund table and receive a FREE HIV AIDS Toolkit DVD!
Pride events this summer and more on the blog: www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Go to Facebook page to sign up! Groups : Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
SEE tons of info below (tenth story down) and an article about the MFSA dinner info! Another Great year of Spiritual Awakenings!
www.nebraskarum.blogspot.org & Group Facebook: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
Maureen and Wendy ------- ps SING A NEW SONG Convo is coming this summer! www.RMNetwork.org Are you going? Let us know! mvetter@charter.net
Check out www.soulforce.org for info on young activists for GLBT rights and Church within a Church for moving stories : www.cwac.us Find the Book ADAM'S gift : a memoir by Jimmy Creech or other books with spiritual awakenings this summer! THE RMN website has books and resources as well! www.RMNetwork.org
----- Original Message -----
From: Kathryn Witte
To: Maureen Vetter -
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 5:05 PM
Subject: UMconnect 05/04/11
In this edition of UMconnect:
- Register for AC, YAC, MAC, CAC by May 17
- Where to find AC 2011 schedule of events, other important AC-related info
- Pre-conference briefings coming up May 15 and 16
- How to help storm victims
- Update from the Council of Bishops’ meeting being held in Georgia
- Take one of two special offerings this Mother's Day Sunday
- Church and Community Worker Lisa Maupin to be featured in 10-Fold webcast
- Help change the world on Celebrate Community Day, sign up now
- Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies will begin Nebraska retreat series in August
- Chair of UM Global AIDS Fund Committee Dr. Don Messer to speak in Lincoln
- Spaces still available to join VIM team going to Panama this summer
- New Micah Corps intern selected
- GBGM missionary pays visit to Norfolk First UMC
- News from UMCOR: Haiti update, new relief-supply network newsletter
- Zach Anderson attends Peace with Justice coordinators gathering in Washington, D.C.
- NWU campus minister Mara Bailey featured in UMNS story
- UNL campus ministry teams up with women’s gymnastics team for clinic
- Cheney UMW assembles, donates more than 50 Easter baskets to kids in need
- Employment opportunities — Omaha St. Andrews UMC seeking director of youth ministries
- UM Camps need your help promoting their ministry
- May is National Youth Safety month
- Spotlight on women’s resources at the Resource Center
- Worship resources from GBOD
- Subscription tools
Click on the link below to read this edition of UMconnect online:
http://www.umcneb.org/enewsletterarchives/detail/20
Another Year of Great Spiritual Awakenings!
Write up a Spiritual Awakening this summer to share in the fall (one page front and back for a booklet of Sacred stories: Spiritual Awakenings) -- Believe out loud - Reconciling goes on the road!
We took Reconciling on the Road this week with dinner in North platte to Thank Margaret Engle for sending out the EMAIL in the West for our NE Statewide Reconciling Network! ( You might have gone on the road recently for an inclusive event or to lend support for more fully inclusive faith groups, creating safe places for all God's children. )
We THANK MARGARET for her volunteer time and energy as she moves our EAST with her husband! If you know Margaret Engle, send her a note of thanks or give $ in her honor for the Summer Email Offering -- and we hope we hear from YOU MARGARET with reports on Reconciling / inclusive church in New Jersey from time to time as our OUR EAST Coast Reporter in the field and our Pacific NW Reporter.
New Volunteer Contacts in the west are working to transition from Margaret's email list. THANK the volunteer who sends you email when you get a chance! We have no budget per se and all of our work is done with volunteers and volunteer time, energy!
Take Reconciling on the Road in your area and attend a Reconciling program or event, worship at a Reconciling congregation, travel to meet reconciling friends or new friends to lend support, plan or organize, drive to a birthday party fundraiser for RMN or drive to SING A NEW SONG - already over 400 people are signed up nationally! www.RMNetwork.og
Sign up today as a Reconciling United Methodist online or as an AIDS ambassador by writing: andrewb@nap.org or mvetter@charter.net
See info on Dr Don Messer coming to speak at the MFSA dinner, how to get tickets, cost and you do not have to be an MFSA member to attend! See the UM Connect below! Other info on giving to the storm relief and more!
DATES & EVENTS:
Special Offering for UM Global AIDS Fund -June 3, 8:30 am in the Sanctuary at St marks umc.
May 23: noon, Thank You Scott Taylor Lunch, 313 Cafe and Cream, 3rd street, Grand Island (former Blue moon) - Come thank scott taylor for organizing this ongoing HIV AIDS benefit Concert and give some pocket money, gifts to the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS Fund to honor Scott! Thanks to PHIVE- O (peer education for HIV AIDS) students at Hastings College for giving a $500 Service award to the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund this week!
May 27: Rainbows of HOPE Art show will be going up at Christ UMC, Lincoln! Visit this new Art Show at Annual Conference in Lincoln. Do a Rainbows of hope project, banner, stole, table etc. Thanks to all the artists who have made Rainbow Art this spring!
May 31: 6 PM NE MFSA Dinner with Dr Don Messer speaking! See info below in UM connect! You will also see a schedule of Annual conference and storm response info!
June 1 - 4 NE UMC Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln (84th street south) Two tables this year needing Volunteers: Reconciling Table (contact betty : bobcdorr@cox.net Bring rainbows, stoles or ribbons to give away!
HIV AIDS table for UM Global AIDS fund, contact Maureen Mvetter@charter.net or bill biobb@bellsouth.net Bring AIDS Ribbons for the giveaway basket if you want! HIV AIDS Toolkit DVD's will be given to AIDS Ambassadors who sign up at Annual Conference!
We have 50 AIDS Ambassadors in NE now and we would love to reach 100 AIDS Ambassadors this next year -- one or more in each church and $1 per member is our commitment from 2006 Annual Conference -- learn more on the 20/20 campaign at:
www.umglobalaidsfund.org See our new URL : www.umcneb.org/AIDS Sign up at the UM Global AIDS fund table and receive a FREE HIV AIDS Toolkit DVD!
Pride events this summer and more on the blog: www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Go to Facebook page to sign up! Groups : Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
SEE tons of info below (tenth story down) and an article about the MFSA dinner info! Another Great year of Spiritual Awakenings!
www.nebraskarum.blogspot.org & Group Facebook: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
Maureen and Wendy ------- ps SING A NEW SONG Convo is coming this summer! www.RMNetwork.org Are you going? Let us know! mvetter@charter.net
Check out www.soulforce.org for info on young activists for GLBT rights and Church within a Church for moving stories : www.cwac.us Find the Book ADAM'S gift : a memoir by Jimmy Creech or other books with spiritual awakenings this summer! THE RMN website has books and resources as well! www.RMNetwork.org
----- Original Message -----
From: Kathryn Witte
To: Maureen Vetter -
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 5:05 PM
Subject: UMconnect 05/04/11
In this edition of UMconnect:
- Register for AC, YAC, MAC, CAC by May 17
- Where to find AC 2011 schedule of events, other important AC-related info
- Pre-conference briefings coming up May 15 and 16
- How to help storm victims
- Update from the Council of Bishops’ meeting being held in Georgia
- Take one of two special offerings this Mother's Day Sunday
- Church and Community Worker Lisa Maupin to be featured in 10-Fold webcast
- Help change the world on Celebrate Community Day, sign up now
- Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies will begin Nebraska retreat series in August
- Chair of UM Global AIDS Fund Committee Dr. Don Messer to speak in Lincoln
- Spaces still available to join VIM team going to Panama this summer
- New Micah Corps intern selected
- GBGM missionary pays visit to Norfolk First UMC
- News from UMCOR: Haiti update, new relief-supply network newsletter
- Zach Anderson attends Peace with Justice coordinators gathering in Washington, D.C.
- NWU campus minister Mara Bailey featured in UMNS story
- UNL campus ministry teams up with women’s gymnastics team for clinic
- Cheney UMW assembles, donates more than 50 Easter baskets to kids in need
- Employment opportunities — Omaha St. Andrews UMC seeking director of youth ministries
- UM Camps need your help promoting their ministry
- May is National Youth Safety month
- Spotlight on women’s resources at the Resource Center
- Worship resources from GBOD
- Subscription tools
Click on the link below to read this edition of UMconnect online:
http://www.umcneb.org/enewsletterarchives/detail/20
Sunday, May 1, 2011
NE Statewide Reconciling Network : Adam's Gift, memoir by Jimmy Creech, hear interiview on NE NPR today, Great DATES
Dear Reconciling Friends in NE and beyond:
Another Year of Great Spiritual Awakening!
Here is the LINK for the NPR Radio interview with Jimmy Creech this morning! .. His new book ADAM'S Gift is out now through Duke U Press through amazon and other online sources. The NE MFSA Scholarship in Jimmy's name will be given at the NE MFSA Dinner May 31 in Lincoln .. you do not have to be a member of NE MFSA to attend (see below)
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/netradio/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1793114
Read about Jimmy's spiritual and justice journey in this book or find other inclusive and awakening books for a book group with friends this summer -- Telling our stories! Remember to : 1) Give to RMN for the many ministries and 2) become a Reconciling United Methodist in a group by signing the card and plegde -- or by going online : www.RMNetwork.org
Support for Resolutions, Petitions : Be watching for the Annual Conference Workbook that will be coming out in May that will have Petitions for General Conference on Inclusiveness -- and Resolutions for our Annual Conference on UM Global AIDS fund, being fully inclusive as a UMC!
Note for Support: Rev Dave McCreary has gathered signatures on a Resolution to have all of our churches study the retired bishops' statement of counsel to the church regarding eliminating references to homosexuality in the Discipline. I hope you can get the word out to support it at the AC. Thanks Dave!
SUMMER EMAIL OFFERING IS COMING IN MAY! Support our NEBRASKA STATEWIDE RECONCILING NETWORK and our yearly commitment to RMN for their many ministries! We are an Email group and an official Reconciling community or an EMAIL CHURCH of sorts! All the persons who send out email are volunteers and doing this on their own time and their own computers! Be sure to thank them for keeping our email lists up to date, sending out email and info as a faith commitment! To give to Summer Email offering : send checks made to RMN and then mail them to Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake Lane, Grand Island, NE 68801 .. i will record the gifts and send them in entirety to RMN.. we have no bank account and we do all of our statewide email work with no budget or memberships per se.. just folks who care! thanks! Our May 11 Birthday fundraiser lunches will be our kickoff for SUMMER Email offering!
May 5 : Mayors Prayer Breakfast Lincoln : Celebrate Diversity: contact Donna Lightbody or Christ UMC Lincoln for info
May 11, Wed, 12:15 PM noon: BIRTHDAY PARTY FUNDRAISER LUNCH : The Egg and I, Clocktower Plaza, corner of 70th and A Street, Lincoln : TWO MISSION causes this year: rather than giving cards and gifts to friends during the year for birthdays -- bring a calendar to record birthdays of friends and your gifts for causes! You can do this too - support your local group, NE Statewide Reconciling Network Summer Email Offering by giving to RMN through our NE group -- and UM Global AIDS fund! *
May 14, 15: CHANGE THE WORLD Sunday and Weekend in the UMC! Do Actions to Change the world! Purchase the book by Mike Slaughter : Change the World -- through Cokesbury Publishing, go online for info! Do a book study!
May 31 : Tuesday, NE MFSA Dinner at the new Trinity UMC, Lincoln, 6 PM :
Dr Don Messer Speaking: "Stigma, Human Rights and the Battle Against AIDS" - also Learn more about General Conference 2012, resolutions, petitions, and candidates, other social justice issues, Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Scholarship will be given for the 12th year
Come be inspired to do more social justice and missions outreach! Tell your friends.. you do not have to be an MFSA member to attend!
For tickets contact Susan Davies Omaha, Steve Griffith Lincoln or request the E news from MFSA by writing Stephanie Ahlschwede: revsteph@bigmuddyumc.org or revsteph@cox.net More info coming after Easter!
MFSA is over 100 years old doing social justice as a caucus group in the UMC! Go online to read about Methodist Federation for Social Action: MFSA and RMN are working together for the CONVO SING A NEW SONG this summer! Go to: www.RMNetwork.org for the latest FLASHNET on the upcoming trial in June of Amy DeLong!
Send prayers!
June 1 - 4, 2011 : NE UM Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln, 84th street south: www.umcneb.org
We will have 2 INFO tables, VOLUNTEERS needed at TWO tables :
1) Reconciling table contact Betty @ bobcdorr@cox.net &
2) UM global AIDS fund table June 1 - 3 noon : mvetter@charter.net
June 3, 8:30 AM Worship, Special Offering for UM Global AIDS fund, St Marks UMC, Lincoln
Make checks for the Special offering June 3: to Conf Treas - in the memo put :
NE Advance # 578, Global AIDS so that 25% stay in NE for local AIDS projects!
* TWO MISSION and JUSTICE Causes for the Birthday Lunch Fundraiser May 11 in Lincoln at the Egg and I, 12:15 PM:
1) Summer Email offering for RMN as our yearly commitment for NE Statewide Reconciling Network (we are an official reconciling community through RMN) www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com or our facebook for groups!
2) UM Global AIDS fund: the new 20/20 Campaign to give $20 as often as you can to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020! Info about Don Messer coming May 31 for MFSA dinner in Lincoln too! Our other challenge is $1 per member each year (2006) go to our new URL: www.umcneb.org/AIDS or www.umglobalaidsfund.org
(Checks to: RMN -- for Summer Email offering for NE Statewide - for UM Global AIDS: give to your local church in the check with NE Advance #578 Global AIDS in the memo area, make sure your local churches sends it to the Conf Treas in Lincoln so that 25 % stays in NE for local aids projects in NE or write the check to Conf Treas and we can send directly )
***************************************************************************************************************************
Pride events this summer: Omaha Pride or Heartland Pride: June 25 is the parade, deadline to register June 15. Events scheduled for about a week around the June 25 date:
http://www.heartlandpride.org/ for details. The festival to 10th and Pacific for this year's event, halfway between Soul Desires and the Blue Flamingo, and just a few blocks from Dietz Memorial UMC.
*******************************************************************
The Lincoln pride (Star City PRIDE) is always in July. This year here is the schedule:
Saturday, July 9 @ 9 pm Mr & Ms Star City PRIDE 2011 Pageant
Thursday, July 14 Comedy Kick-off @ Club Blue featureing Lyp Schtick (a comedy improve troop - depends are recommended)
Friday, July 15 Street Dance @ 18th & N (outside The Panic) with Alexandra St. James as the guest MC, Kristie Stremel doing an accoustic set and Boss Philly rocking the block down. Food vendors and beer garden will be open from 6 - midnight.
Saturday, July 16 Pride Festival @ 18th & N (outside The Panic) speakers/vendors/ performers starting at 2 pm and going through mid-night. Evening headliners = Alexandra St. James as the guest MC, Kristie Stremel and the 159ers, DJ Spence Love
Sunday, July 17 Post Pride Party @ The Q
**************************************
Do Rainbows of HOPE in your local churches with art shows, children's rainbows, make ribbons, stoles, find pins and leis to wear or take to the Reconciling table at Annual Conference! God's promise of HOPE came through the Rainbow in the sky after the rain!
Perhaps the rain is God's tears and God is crying with us -- and then come the Rainbows of hope and the flowers -- God is crying with us as a country comes from : the book, "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series, Morality for Beautiful girls, by Alexander McCall Smith p 209.
www.RMNetwork.org for Reconciling news and info, sign up today for Flashnet, etc SING A NEW SONG is coming!
www.cwac.us for info on Church Within a Church Movement in the UMC!
www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com for our new NE blog for NE statewide! we are an official Reconciling community as a statewide network.. support this work with our SUMMER Email offering starting in May!
Facebook groups: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Maureen and Wendy, NE RMN contacts
Another Year of Great Spiritual Awakening!
Here is the LINK for the NPR Radio interview with Jimmy Creech this morning! .. His new book ADAM'S Gift is out now through Duke U Press through amazon and other online sources. The NE MFSA Scholarship in Jimmy's name will be given at the NE MFSA Dinner May 31 in Lincoln .. you do not have to be a member of NE MFSA to attend (see below)
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/netradio/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1793114
Read about Jimmy's spiritual and justice journey in this book or find other inclusive and awakening books for a book group with friends this summer -- Telling our stories! Remember to : 1) Give to RMN for the many ministries and 2) become a Reconciling United Methodist in a group by signing the card and plegde -- or by going online : www.RMNetwork.org
Support for Resolutions, Petitions : Be watching for the Annual Conference Workbook that will be coming out in May that will have Petitions for General Conference on Inclusiveness -- and Resolutions for our Annual Conference on UM Global AIDS fund, being fully inclusive as a UMC!
Note for Support: Rev Dave McCreary has gathered signatures on a Resolution to have all of our churches study the retired bishops' statement of counsel to the church regarding eliminating references to homosexuality in the Discipline. I hope you can get the word out to support it at the AC. Thanks Dave!
SUMMER EMAIL OFFERING IS COMING IN MAY! Support our NEBRASKA STATEWIDE RECONCILING NETWORK and our yearly commitment to RMN for their many ministries! We are an Email group and an official Reconciling community or an EMAIL CHURCH of sorts! All the persons who send out email are volunteers and doing this on their own time and their own computers! Be sure to thank them for keeping our email lists up to date, sending out email and info as a faith commitment! To give to Summer Email offering : send checks made to RMN and then mail them to Maureen Vetter, 4422 Drake Lane, Grand Island, NE 68801 .. i will record the gifts and send them in entirety to RMN.. we have no bank account and we do all of our statewide email work with no budget or memberships per se.. just folks who care! thanks! Our May 11 Birthday fundraiser lunches will be our kickoff for SUMMER Email offering!
May 5 : Mayors Prayer Breakfast Lincoln : Celebrate Diversity: contact Donna Lightbody or Christ UMC Lincoln for info
May 11, Wed, 12:15 PM noon: BIRTHDAY PARTY FUNDRAISER LUNCH : The Egg and I, Clocktower Plaza, corner of 70th and A Street, Lincoln : TWO MISSION causes this year: rather than giving cards and gifts to friends during the year for birthdays -- bring a calendar to record birthdays of friends and your gifts for causes! You can do this too - support your local group, NE Statewide Reconciling Network Summer Email Offering by giving to RMN through our NE group -- and UM Global AIDS fund! *
May 14, 15: CHANGE THE WORLD Sunday and Weekend in the UMC! Do Actions to Change the world! Purchase the book by Mike Slaughter : Change the World -- through Cokesbury Publishing, go online for info! Do a book study!
May 31 : Tuesday, NE MFSA Dinner at the new Trinity UMC, Lincoln, 6 PM :
Dr Don Messer Speaking: "Stigma, Human Rights and the Battle Against AIDS" - also Learn more about General Conference 2012, resolutions, petitions, and candidates, other social justice issues, Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Scholarship will be given for the 12th year
Come be inspired to do more social justice and missions outreach! Tell your friends.. you do not have to be an MFSA member to attend!
For tickets contact Susan Davies Omaha, Steve Griffith Lincoln or request the E news from MFSA by writing Stephanie Ahlschwede: revsteph@bigmuddyumc.org or revsteph@cox.net More info coming after Easter!
MFSA is over 100 years old doing social justice as a caucus group in the UMC! Go online to read about Methodist Federation for Social Action: MFSA and RMN are working together for the CONVO SING A NEW SONG this summer! Go to: www.RMNetwork.org for the latest FLASHNET on the upcoming trial in June of Amy DeLong!
Send prayers!
June 1 - 4, 2011 : NE UM Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln, 84th street south: www.umcneb.org
We will have 2 INFO tables, VOLUNTEERS needed at TWO tables :
1) Reconciling table contact Betty @ bobcdorr@cox.net &
2) UM global AIDS fund table June 1 - 3 noon : mvetter@charter.net
June 3, 8:30 AM Worship, Special Offering for UM Global AIDS fund, St Marks UMC, Lincoln
Make checks for the Special offering June 3: to Conf Treas - in the memo put :
NE Advance # 578, Global AIDS so that 25% stay in NE for local AIDS projects!
* TWO MISSION and JUSTICE Causes for the Birthday Lunch Fundraiser May 11 in Lincoln at the Egg and I, 12:15 PM:
1) Summer Email offering for RMN as our yearly commitment for NE Statewide Reconciling Network (we are an official reconciling community through RMN) www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com or our facebook for groups!
2) UM Global AIDS fund: the new 20/20 Campaign to give $20 as often as you can to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020! Info about Don Messer coming May 31 for MFSA dinner in Lincoln too! Our other challenge is $1 per member each year (2006) go to our new URL: www.umcneb.org/AIDS or www.umglobalaidsfund.org
(Checks to: RMN -- for Summer Email offering for NE Statewide - for UM Global AIDS: give to your local church in the check with NE Advance #578 Global AIDS in the memo area, make sure your local churches sends it to the Conf Treas in Lincoln so that 25 % stays in NE for local aids projects in NE or write the check to Conf Treas and we can send directly )
***************************************************************************************************************************
Pride events this summer: Omaha Pride or Heartland Pride: June 25 is the parade, deadline to register June 15. Events scheduled for about a week around the June 25 date:
http://www.heartlandpride.org/ for details. The festival to 10th and Pacific for this year's event, halfway between Soul Desires and the Blue Flamingo, and just a few blocks from Dietz Memorial UMC.
*******************************************************************
The Lincoln pride (Star City PRIDE) is always in July. This year here is the schedule:
Saturday, July 9 @ 9 pm Mr & Ms Star City PRIDE 2011 Pageant
Thursday, July 14 Comedy Kick-off @ Club Blue featureing Lyp Schtick (a comedy improve troop - depends are recommended)
Friday, July 15 Street Dance @ 18th & N (outside The Panic) with Alexandra St. James as the guest MC, Kristie Stremel doing an accoustic set and Boss Philly rocking the block down. Food vendors and beer garden will be open from 6 - midnight.
Saturday, July 16 Pride Festival @ 18th & N (outside The Panic) speakers/vendors/ performers starting at 2 pm and going through mid-night. Evening headliners = Alexandra St. James as the guest MC, Kristie Stremel and the 159ers, DJ Spence Love
Sunday, July 17 Post Pride Party @ The Q
**************************************
Do Rainbows of HOPE in your local churches with art shows, children's rainbows, make ribbons, stoles, find pins and leis to wear or take to the Reconciling table at Annual Conference! God's promise of HOPE came through the Rainbow in the sky after the rain!
Perhaps the rain is God's tears and God is crying with us -- and then come the Rainbows of hope and the flowers -- God is crying with us as a country comes from : the book, "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series, Morality for Beautiful girls, by Alexander McCall Smith p 209.
www.RMNetwork.org for Reconciling news and info, sign up today for Flashnet, etc SING A NEW SONG is coming!
www.cwac.us for info on Church Within a Church Movement in the UMC!
www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com for our new NE blog for NE statewide! we are an official Reconciling community as a statewide network.. support this work with our SUMMER Email offering starting in May!
Facebook groups: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Maureen and Wendy, NE RMN contacts
NE Statewide Reconciling Network : Short email : (shock) lots of dates, info! Spiritual Awakenings: roll our stones away!
Reconciling United Methodists of NE and friends --
What an anxious world we live in! In our town -- yesterday youth were shooting at each other on Eddy Street!
It was on the front page of the paper today in Grand Island! We need less guns in our world -- and more compassion!
We need more reaching out to each other to find our commonalties and not our differences --- I guess it starts with ME!
We do need God's calming spirit for Good Friday events today and remembering the Last Supper and Passion story -- so that we can take in the new life that is coming to all of us through the Easter Sunday story and narrative...
We give thanks for the LOVE of the Creator in our lives with the powerful stories and new life resurrection for ALL GOD'S CHILDREN!
Here is the short form of events: Contact folks for more info- seek spiritual awakenings OR they might be in front of you:
April 29 ; STAND UP AGAINST RACISM Day, support YWCA's nationwide and google or call to find events in your city!
Grand Island: Grace Abbott Park, 6 PM, ice cream & events for families, many other sites all day!
April 29 - 30: Cather Conference, Red Cloud NE www.willacather.org Honor GLBTQA writers, authors, artists!
April 30 : 12:30 PM, Open Hearts Reconciling Community, Grand Island, NE : Ken Bassett's place, pulled goat sandwiches by ken -- we bring the rest of the food! RSVP Mvetter@charter.net this week!
May 5 : Mayors Prayer Breakfast Lincoln : Celebrate Diversity: contact Donna Lightbody or Christ UMC Lincoln for info
May 11, Wed, 12:15 PM noon: BIRTHDAY PARTY FUNDRAISER LUNCH :
The Egg and I, Clocktower Plaza, corner of 70th and A Street, Lincoln :
DOUBLE HEADER with TWO MISSION causes this year:
GIVE to 2 causes rather than giving cards and gifts to friends during the year for birthdays --
bring a calendar to record birthdays of friends and your gifts for causes!
Try doing this in your town with friends to support your local group, NE Statewide Reconciling Network Summer Email Offering by giving to RMN through our NE group -- and UM Global AIDS fund!
TWO MISSION and JUSTICE Causes for the Birthday Lunch Fundraiser in Lincoln or do one in your town:
1) Summer Email offering for RMN as our yearly commitment for NE Statewide Reconciling Network (we are an official reconciling community through RMN) and
2) UM Global AIDS fund: the new 20/20 Campaign to give $20 as often as you can to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020! Info about Don Messer coming May 31 for MFSA dinner in Lincoln too! Our other challenge is $1 per member each year (2006)
(Checks to: RMN -- for Summer Email offering for NE Statewide - for UM Global AIDS: give to your local church in the check with NE Advance #578 Global AIDS in the memo area, make sure your local churches sends it to the Conf Treas in Lincoln so that 25 % stays in NE for local aids projects in NE or write the check to Conf Treas and we can send directly )
May 14, 15: CHANGE THE WORLD Sunday and Weekend in the UMC! Do Actions to Change the world! Purchase the book by Mike Slaughter : Change the World -- through Cokesbury Publishing, go online for info! Do a book study!
May 31 : Tuesday, NE MFSA Dinner at the new Trinity UMC, Lincoln, 6 PM, Dr Don Messer Speaking: "Stigma, Human Rights and the Battle Against AIDS" - Learn more about General Conference 2012, resolutions, petitions, and candidates, other social justice issues, Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Scholarship will be given for the 12th year
Come be inspired to do more social justice and missions outreach! Tell your friends.. you do not have to be an MFSA member to attend!
For tickets contact MFSA folks in leadership : Steve Griffith, Lincoln Saint Paul UMC; Stephanie Ahlschwede Omaha - more info coming after Easter!
MFSA is over 100 years old doing social justice as a caucus group in the UMC! Go online to read about Methodist Federation for Social Action: MFSA and RMN are working together for the CONVO SING A NEW SONG this summer! Go to: www.RMNetwork.org for the latest FLASHNET on the upcoming trial in June of Amy DeLong!
Send prayers!
June 1 - 4 : NE UM Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln, 84th street south
June 3, 8:30 AM Worship, Special Offering for UM Global AIDS fund, St Marks UMC, Lincoln
We need help at TWO INFO Tables this year: 1) June 1 - 3 UM Global AIDS Fund : Contact Maureen: mvetter@charter.net or Bill : biobb@bellsouth.net and 2) the Reconciling Table: Betty bobcdorr@cox.net We would love to have 2 people during half day shifts at BOTH INFO tables.. let us know!
June 1 - 4: Reconciling Table for RMN in NE : contact Betty Dorr to help volunteer: bobcdorr@cox.net
Betty has been doing this 20 years with friends and she would love to have help!
Bring AIDS Ribbons to Annual Conference to give out at the HIV AIDS Info Table AND/ OR Rainbow ribbons, stoles, pins for the Reconciling table!
Do Rainbows of HOPE at your local church this SPRING: through banners, art shows, children drawing rainbows and displaying, Rainbow sunday, giving out rainbow ribbons, Rainbow movie night, Rainbow lunch, coffee, tea party, Rainbow bake sale, Info on Reconciling and Sacred Stories, Rainbow stories or Awakening stories in a booklet to give away @ your local church or do book studies, or a Rainbow BBQ! Collaborate with other groups!
Pride Events in Lincoln (June) and Omaha (July) this summer & AIDS Walks at Sept 18 across NE next fall! www.nap.org
Remember that Jimmy Creech's new book is just out! Adam's Gift A memoir.. Find it on Amazon through Duke U press and do a book study this summer.. other great books and resources at www.RMNetwork.org and Church Within a Church:
www.cwac.us
Remember to promote all these events at your church and register for SING A NEW SONG the CONVO organized by MFSA and RMN this summer! Get posters and info at www.RMNetwork.org Sign up to be an RUM today online!
Join our Group Facebook today: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
Our new blog: www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Maureen Vetter & Wendy Smith, NE Statewide Reconciling Network Contacts
What an anxious world we live in! In our town -- yesterday youth were shooting at each other on Eddy Street!
It was on the front page of the paper today in Grand Island! We need less guns in our world -- and more compassion!
We need more reaching out to each other to find our commonalties and not our differences --- I guess it starts with ME!
We do need God's calming spirit for Good Friday events today and remembering the Last Supper and Passion story -- so that we can take in the new life that is coming to all of us through the Easter Sunday story and narrative...
We give thanks for the LOVE of the Creator in our lives with the powerful stories and new life resurrection for ALL GOD'S CHILDREN!
Here is the short form of events: Contact folks for more info- seek spiritual awakenings OR they might be in front of you:
April 29 ; STAND UP AGAINST RACISM Day, support YWCA's nationwide and google or call to find events in your city!
Grand Island: Grace Abbott Park, 6 PM, ice cream & events for families, many other sites all day!
April 29 - 30: Cather Conference, Red Cloud NE www.willacather.org Honor GLBTQA writers, authors, artists!
April 30 : 12:30 PM, Open Hearts Reconciling Community, Grand Island, NE : Ken Bassett's place, pulled goat sandwiches by ken -- we bring the rest of the food! RSVP Mvetter@charter.net this week!
May 5 : Mayors Prayer Breakfast Lincoln : Celebrate Diversity: contact Donna Lightbody or Christ UMC Lincoln for info
May 11, Wed, 12:15 PM noon: BIRTHDAY PARTY FUNDRAISER LUNCH :
The Egg and I, Clocktower Plaza, corner of 70th and A Street, Lincoln :
DOUBLE HEADER with TWO MISSION causes this year:
GIVE to 2 causes rather than giving cards and gifts to friends during the year for birthdays --
bring a calendar to record birthdays of friends and your gifts for causes!
Try doing this in your town with friends to support your local group, NE Statewide Reconciling Network Summer Email Offering by giving to RMN through our NE group -- and UM Global AIDS fund!
TWO MISSION and JUSTICE Causes for the Birthday Lunch Fundraiser in Lincoln or do one in your town:
1) Summer Email offering for RMN as our yearly commitment for NE Statewide Reconciling Network (we are an official reconciling community through RMN) and
2) UM Global AIDS fund: the new 20/20 Campaign to give $20 as often as you can to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020! Info about Don Messer coming May 31 for MFSA dinner in Lincoln too! Our other challenge is $1 per member each year (2006)
(Checks to: RMN -- for Summer Email offering for NE Statewide - for UM Global AIDS: give to your local church in the check with NE Advance #578 Global AIDS in the memo area, make sure your local churches sends it to the Conf Treas in Lincoln so that 25 % stays in NE for local aids projects in NE or write the check to Conf Treas and we can send directly )
May 14, 15: CHANGE THE WORLD Sunday and Weekend in the UMC! Do Actions to Change the world! Purchase the book by Mike Slaughter : Change the World -- through Cokesbury Publishing, go online for info! Do a book study!
May 31 : Tuesday, NE MFSA Dinner at the new Trinity UMC, Lincoln, 6 PM, Dr Don Messer Speaking: "Stigma, Human Rights and the Battle Against AIDS" - Learn more about General Conference 2012, resolutions, petitions, and candidates, other social justice issues, Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Scholarship will be given for the 12th year
Come be inspired to do more social justice and missions outreach! Tell your friends.. you do not have to be an MFSA member to attend!
For tickets contact MFSA folks in leadership : Steve Griffith, Lincoln Saint Paul UMC; Stephanie Ahlschwede Omaha - more info coming after Easter!
MFSA is over 100 years old doing social justice as a caucus group in the UMC! Go online to read about Methodist Federation for Social Action: MFSA and RMN are working together for the CONVO SING A NEW SONG this summer! Go to: www.RMNetwork.org for the latest FLASHNET on the upcoming trial in June of Amy DeLong!
Send prayers!
June 1 - 4 : NE UM Annual Conference, St Marks UMC Lincoln, 84th street south
June 3, 8:30 AM Worship, Special Offering for UM Global AIDS fund, St Marks UMC, Lincoln
We need help at TWO INFO Tables this year: 1) June 1 - 3 UM Global AIDS Fund : Contact Maureen: mvetter@charter.net or Bill : biobb@bellsouth.net and 2) the Reconciling Table: Betty bobcdorr@cox.net We would love to have 2 people during half day shifts at BOTH INFO tables.. let us know!
June 1 - 4: Reconciling Table for RMN in NE : contact Betty Dorr to help volunteer: bobcdorr@cox.net
Betty has been doing this 20 years with friends and she would love to have help!
Bring AIDS Ribbons to Annual Conference to give out at the HIV AIDS Info Table AND/ OR Rainbow ribbons, stoles, pins for the Reconciling table!
Do Rainbows of HOPE at your local church this SPRING: through banners, art shows, children drawing rainbows and displaying, Rainbow sunday, giving out rainbow ribbons, Rainbow movie night, Rainbow lunch, coffee, tea party, Rainbow bake sale, Info on Reconciling and Sacred Stories, Rainbow stories or Awakening stories in a booklet to give away @ your local church or do book studies, or a Rainbow BBQ! Collaborate with other groups!
Pride Events in Lincoln (June) and Omaha (July) this summer & AIDS Walks at Sept 18 across NE next fall! www.nap.org
Remember that Jimmy Creech's new book is just out! Adam's Gift A memoir.. Find it on Amazon through Duke U press and do a book study this summer.. other great books and resources at www.RMNetwork.org and Church Within a Church:
www.cwac.us
Remember to promote all these events at your church and register for SING A NEW SONG the CONVO organized by MFSA and RMN this summer! Get posters and info at www.RMNetwork.org Sign up to be an RUM today online!
Join our Group Facebook today: Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network
Our new blog: www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Maureen Vetter & Wendy Smith, NE Statewide Reconciling Network Contacts
NE Statewide Reconciling Network: Awakenings: Welcome the Stranger Breakfast, Volunteers, Birthday lunches, books, dates!
NE Statewide Reconciling friends: Spiritual Awakenings are all around us! Enjoy the Beauty and Wonder of Spring!
Get together with friends and make new friends.. Reconciling goes on the ROAD: www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
May 5 Mayor's Interfaith Prayer Breakfast Lincoln SEE INFO BELOW ------ Encourage Diversity and story telling!
May 11 : 12:15 PM, Birthday fundraiser Lunch Meetup : The EGG and I Restaurant in Lincoln, Clocktower Mall (70th and A Street) : Birthday Fundraiser Lunch for NE Statewide Reconciling Network, jumpstarting the Summer Email offering at THE EGG AND I with friend over lunch! Instead of giving gifts and cards, give to RMN and go to lunch with friends! Bring your calendar to write down birthdays -- enjoy lunch and friendship!
May 31 : NE MFSA Dinner, Lincoln : info coming - special guest Dr Don Messer, Chair of UM Global AIDS fund and author of 15 books, former President of Iliff Seminary, Denver -- Director of the Center for Church and Global AIDS, Denver too! MFSA : METHODIST FEDERATION FOR SOCIAL ACTION founded over 100 years ago nationwide! Tell friends! www.mfsaweb.org UM Global AIDS fund and task force in NE www.umglobalaidsfund.org in NE: www.umcneb.org/AIDS
Website for the Center for the Church and Global AIDS, Denver co: www.churchandglobalaids.org
June 1 - 4, Lincoln Annual Conference, ST Marks UMC : Volunteers needed for the Reconciling INFO Table, contact betty : bobcdorr@cox.net , bring rainbow things and info to share locally & UM Global AIDS fund INFO table : Contact maureen mvetter@charter.net or Bill biobb@bellsouth.net with Don Messer coming May 31 & Special offerings will be taken for UM Global AIDS fund on Friday morning, june 3 at the morning worship service!
If you want to do a Birthday Fundraiser Lunch during Annual Conference and raise money for NE Statewide Reconciling Network Summer Email offering, just let us know! mvetter@charter.net and wsmith28@gmail.com
Summer : PRIDE Events in Lincoln and Omaha and SING A NEW SONG Event is coming in Aug : early bird special is coming soon for registration : www.RMNetwork.org and www.mfsaweb.org For Progressive and inclusive United Methodists to gather to reach out!
Jimmy Creech's new book : "ADAMS GIFT a memoir.... " is out now through Duke U press.. see Jimmy's FACEBOOK to get more info on his upcoming speaking engagements and events telling his story. Other books and resources are available through www.RMNetwork.org and go to Church Within a church as well for books, new awakenings: www.cwac.us
Create a RAINBOW CRATE with books and movies for your local church or support group, friends, Sunday school class! Do Rainbows of HOPE through art shows, children's art, rainbow tables, bake sales, lunches, meetups, movies, suitcase or basket with pins, stoles, ribbons and more! Do Rainbow service projects -- missions and outreach! Collaborate with PFLAG groups, other faiths and NAP in your area www.nap.org
Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, Lincoln, NE :
“Welcome the Stranger” is the theme of the Thursday, May 5, Mayor’s
Interfaith Prayer Breakfast. The October 10, 2010, Parade section of the Sunday
paper featured several Lincoln Mideast refugee families and referred to Lincoln’s
designation as “refugee friendly” by the U.S. State Department in the 1970’s.
Do our cities, towns, communities and state continue to be "refugee friendly"?
The featured speaker will be Amir Azimi, a native of Iran who received his
college degrees from UNL and has been involved with diversity and crosscultural
communication training since 1982. Mr. Azimi is currently the
Administrator of Support Services for the Nebraska Department of Health and
Human Services. His message is “Everyone Has a Story, and This is Mine.”
Tickets to this event can be purchased in the church office for $20 per person.
The 7:30 a.m. breakfast will be at the Embassy Suites, with doors opening at
7:00 a.m. For more information, please call the office, or Donna Lightbody at
(402) 435-3662.
**********************************************************************
Group FACEBOOK: for Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network - Grow the number of friends!
Become a Reconciling United Methodist Today: go to www.RMNetwork.org and go to SIGN UP!
Tell your stories as you are Called to Witness through stories - Believe out LOUD, Take Reconciling on the Road and do lunches, meetups, plan ways for reaching out to others....
Create SAFE PLACES and SUPPORT Groups for GLBT's and allies as reconciling communities and book groups, coffee groups, mission groups, outreach groups -- as we discover another GREAT YEAR of SPIRITUAL AWAKENINGS! Seek out spiritual partners and persons different from us this Holy Week coming!
Get together with friends and make new friends.. Reconciling goes on the ROAD: www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com
May 5 Mayor's Interfaith Prayer Breakfast Lincoln SEE INFO BELOW ------ Encourage Diversity and story telling!
May 11 : 12:15 PM, Birthday fundraiser Lunch Meetup : The EGG and I Restaurant in Lincoln, Clocktower Mall (70th and A Street) : Birthday Fundraiser Lunch for NE Statewide Reconciling Network, jumpstarting the Summer Email offering at THE EGG AND I with friend over lunch! Instead of giving gifts and cards, give to RMN and go to lunch with friends! Bring your calendar to write down birthdays -- enjoy lunch and friendship!
May 31 : NE MFSA Dinner, Lincoln : info coming - special guest Dr Don Messer, Chair of UM Global AIDS fund and author of 15 books, former President of Iliff Seminary, Denver -- Director of the Center for Church and Global AIDS, Denver too! MFSA : METHODIST FEDERATION FOR SOCIAL ACTION founded over 100 years ago nationwide! Tell friends! www.mfsaweb.org UM Global AIDS fund and task force in NE www.umglobalaidsfund.org in NE: www.umcneb.org/AIDS
Website for the Center for the Church and Global AIDS, Denver co: www.churchandglobalaids.org
June 1 - 4, Lincoln Annual Conference, ST Marks UMC : Volunteers needed for the Reconciling INFO Table, contact betty : bobcdorr@cox.net , bring rainbow things and info to share locally & UM Global AIDS fund INFO table : Contact maureen mvetter@charter.net or Bill biobb@bellsouth.net with Don Messer coming May 31 & Special offerings will be taken for UM Global AIDS fund on Friday morning, june 3 at the morning worship service!
If you want to do a Birthday Fundraiser Lunch during Annual Conference and raise money for NE Statewide Reconciling Network Summer Email offering, just let us know! mvetter@charter.net and wsmith28@gmail.com
Summer : PRIDE Events in Lincoln and Omaha and SING A NEW SONG Event is coming in Aug : early bird special is coming soon for registration : www.RMNetwork.org and www.mfsaweb.org For Progressive and inclusive United Methodists to gather to reach out!
Jimmy Creech's new book : "ADAMS GIFT a memoir.... " is out now through Duke U press.. see Jimmy's FACEBOOK to get more info on his upcoming speaking engagements and events telling his story. Other books and resources are available through www.RMNetwork.org and go to Church Within a church as well for books, new awakenings: www.cwac.us
Create a RAINBOW CRATE with books and movies for your local church or support group, friends, Sunday school class! Do Rainbows of HOPE through art shows, children's art, rainbow tables, bake sales, lunches, meetups, movies, suitcase or basket with pins, stoles, ribbons and more! Do Rainbow service projects -- missions and outreach! Collaborate with PFLAG groups, other faiths and NAP in your area www.nap.org
Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, Lincoln, NE :
“Welcome the Stranger” is the theme of the Thursday, May 5, Mayor’s
Interfaith Prayer Breakfast. The October 10, 2010, Parade section of the Sunday
paper featured several Lincoln Mideast refugee families and referred to Lincoln’s
designation as “refugee friendly” by the U.S. State Department in the 1970’s.
Do our cities, towns, communities and state continue to be "refugee friendly"?
The featured speaker will be Amir Azimi, a native of Iran who received his
college degrees from UNL and has been involved with diversity and crosscultural
communication training since 1982. Mr. Azimi is currently the
Administrator of Support Services for the Nebraska Department of Health and
Human Services. His message is “Everyone Has a Story, and This is Mine.”
Tickets to this event can be purchased in the church office for $20 per person.
The 7:30 a.m. breakfast will be at the Embassy Suites, with doors opening at
7:00 a.m. For more information, please call the office, or Donna Lightbody at
(402) 435-3662.
**********************************************************************
Group FACEBOOK: for Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network - Grow the number of friends!
Become a Reconciling United Methodist Today: go to www.RMNetwork.org and go to SIGN UP!
Tell your stories as you are Called to Witness through stories - Believe out LOUD, Take Reconciling on the Road and do lunches, meetups, plan ways for reaching out to others....
Create SAFE PLACES and SUPPORT Groups for GLBT's and allies as reconciling communities and book groups, coffee groups, mission groups, outreach groups -- as we discover another GREAT YEAR of SPIRITUAL AWAKENINGS! Seek out spiritual partners and persons different from us this Holy Week coming!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
April New: NE Statewide Reconciling Network: Ap 18 LGBT Health Town Hall at Saint Paul UMC, Lincoln, dates, petitions, info
NE Reconciling U Methodists and friends: Another Great Year of Spiritual Awakenings!
Pass this NEWS on to friends! See our new blog for info: www.Nebraskarum@blogsot.com and Group Facebook : Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network and www.RMNetwork.org
Sorry i have had the blog wrong the last few times! I apologize!
During Lent and Easter : Seek out Spiritual Partners for your faith journey,
renew yourself spiritually each week .. seek out marginalized friends or
persons different from you to enrich your life! Find new ways to be
inclusive in your local church, your faith group and friends!
Challenge: Another year of Spiritual Awakenings and Actions!
We are Taking Reconciling on the Road daily as you meetup with other
reconciling friends in Nebraska and beyond, go to events, advocate for justice, go to events,
lend support - You are Called to Witness and Believe Out loud as you sign up
friends to be Reconciling United Methodists (online at www.RMNetwork.org) as
you give to RMN and GLBT ministries ... and tell stories! Gather Rainbows
of HOPE this spring and summer to share with others!
NEWS: Get involved in Pride events this summer in Lincoln and Omaha : give
out info about your reconciling group!
April 1 is the day that Jimmy Creech's new book is out - published
through the Duke U Press! Go online to find this moving story and journey
in the book :: "ADAM's GIFT" by Jimmy Creech - justice & hope!
It is also our story together as people of faith! "Adam's Gift" has a longer title as a memoir!
Read it as a group or SS class this summer or get a few friends to order it and share about it!
Nominations were due April 1: for the MFSA Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice College Student Award / Scholarship!
Contact person: Zach Anderson : zachan85@gmail.com
Another book out: David Weekly as author: In From the Wilderness, his journey as a UMC transgender pastor -- go to RMN webpage www.RMNetwork.org or Church Within a Church for more info: www.cwac.us
Did you know that there are TWO Reconciling Congregations in Tucson, AZ? St Francis of the Foothills UMC and First UMC, Tucson!
Celebrate Reconciling Communities, Welcoming and affirming congregations and
Reconciling Congregations like Omaha First umc who organize Horizons of
Faith each year and do inclusive work faithfully -- and our four reconciling communities in NE: AWE Christ umc, Lincoln; RUMOLA Lincoln; Open Hearts Grand Island and NE statewide Reconciling community, our group
email network of reconciling friends in NE
Go to RMN Facebook, to www.RMNetwork.org for info on Reconciling Ministries Network!
Go to our Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Group FACEBOOK today.. or our new blog: www.Nebraskarum.blogspot.com Thanks to Wendy Smith of Christ UMC, Lincoln for administering FB and our
new blog!
*************************************
We hope that April showers bring May Flowers --- and June Rainbows of HOPE in your local churches!
Plan to gather Rainbows of HOPE this spring for art shows, Quilts and
Fibers, Children's Rainbow art displayed, Rainbow Photos displayed,
Rainbow Suitcases or baskets with Rainbow things to share with others as a
fundraiser, Rainbow Tables, Rainbow Sunday, Rainbow Bake sales or Rainbow
Movie night, Sign up party, RMN Rainbow Birthday Lunch Fundraiser or a
Rainbow meetup for coffee!
If you want to bring Rainbows things (from origami to stoles, pins, ribbons
to wear) to Annual Conference for the Reconciling table, bring them on June
1 to the RMN table at St marks UMC on 84th street south -- Betty Dorr of
Omaha First UMC will be there at the RMN table of hope and rainbows,
volunteer to help her out or bring info on a group or project, pride event
for the Reconciling Table to affirm all God's children : bobcdorr@cox.net
If you want to donate Rainbow items to the OPEN HEARTS Reconciling
Community Rainbow Suitcase for events contact Mvetter@charter.net
Our Open Hearts group in Grand Island is hoping to start a Rainbow Suitcase
for Gatherings and Reconciling on the Road events along with a Rainbow Crate
of GLBT and allies RESOURCES -- like DVD's, music, books, magazines, book
studies, GLBT studies for the group here -- you might want to do this in your group?
THANKS for ALL THE DONATIONS this past winter! WE are very grateful! Seek
out Resources at the Resource Center in Lincoln at Conference offices too!
www.umcneb.org through Diane .. they have the DVD: Call Me Malcolm and
other GLBT, faith resources! Donate to the Resource Center in Lincoln too!
The DVD: FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO would be a great one to donate to the NE UMC Resource
Center, your church library or share in local groups or start a Rainbow Crate with Resources locally! *
*At Open Hearts we could use a copy of the DVD "INCOMPATIBLE with Christian Teaching" when it goes
on Sale if someone wants to donate it -- and a copy of the movie "The Kids
are All right" or other notable GLBTQA movies, documentaries for faith groups!
***********************************************************************
Petitions and Resolutions:
1) Omaha First UMC and the HIV AIDS task force in NE have sent in Petitions to
NE Annual Conference for 2012 General Conference on GLBT Legislation
2) The UM Global AIDS FUND and HIV AIDS Task force for the NE UMC has
submitted a Resolution to Annual
Conference for the 20 / 20 Campaign of Visioning an AIDS Free World by
2020 -- giving $20 whenever possible to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020 as we
respond in faith to persons battling HIV AIDS in NE and beyond!
Send Gifts for UM Global AIDS Fund to the NE Conf Treas : ADVANCE # 578
Global AIDS - so that 25 % of offerings and gifts stays in Ne for local AIDS
projects! see the new URL: www.umcneb.org/AIDS
See the NE UMC Workbook for Annual conference coming out for Petitions to
General Conf 2012 as legislation -- and the HIV AIDS Resolution -- all to be voted on by our NE UMC Annual Conference.
**************************************
Spring Events:
We have some Spring events coming for Reconciling groups and check for PFLAG
meetings, other Inclusive faith groups in your area ------ Collaboration
is a good way to build alliances and allies:
April 8: Take Reconciling on the Road: 7 PM Friday night is the 3rd Annual
HIV AIDS Benefit Concert at TUMC, G island at 5th and Elm. Four musicians from Central NE will SHARE
their SONGS, time and talents to raise funds for the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund! This fund needs to be replenished each year as it gives assistance for medical emergencies at NAP Kearney in Central NE. There are Waiting lists in 21 states for medical emergencies at AIDS centers! NE is one of
them!
April 8 : Come early at 6:30 PM to get info on HIV AIDS in the Gathering
Place at TUMC and testing sites in the area! We celebrate the new TESTING
Site through Trinity UMC in GI with Central Health Center two times a month!
KNOW YOUR STATUS : come get tested the first thurs of each month (am) and
the third Thurs of the month (afternoon). There are many other testing
sites across NE and through NAP in five sites in NE (NE AIDS Project ..
www.nap.org -- or go to STOP AIDS NE or other online resources!
We will have an Intermission at the HIV AIDS Benefit Concert too and
musicians will bring DVD's to sell .. bring cookies if you want to help that
way with Intermission and if you want to help with washing coffee mugs etc!
We hope that this fund brings hope to those battling HIV AIDS in Central NE! Bring new blankets of love
too or household items, cleaning items, personal items to replenish the
caring cupboard at NAP kearney to serve clients in 30 plus counties!
********************************
April 10 : Open Hearts Reconciling Community and Support Group.. 3 PM
with fellowship time at 2:30 PM in the Gathering Place, TUMC, 5th and Elm,
Grand Island, NE.
Program: Sharing stories, Writing up our Stories: Spiritual Awakenings,
upcoming events for GLBT justice and support! Contact Mvetter@charter.net
for info or Mena ottomine1971@gmail.com Bring a snack to share and meet new
friends!
******************************
June 1 - 4, Reconciling Table at NE UMC Annual Conference: Share Rainbow
things you might have or create at this table! Betty Dorr and folks from
Omaha First UMC will staff the table or volunteer : bobcdorr@cox.net today!
June 1 - 4, Special Offering June 3 at 8:30 Worship for UM Global AIDS fund
and HIV AIDS / UM Global AIDS fund Info at the Risk Taking Mission Table, St Marks UMC, Lincoln, IF YOU CAN HELP at the TABLE signing up AIDS Ambassadors and
with and info contact : maureen: mvetter@charter.net or bob: biobb@bellsouth.net
You receive a FREE UMC HIV AIDS Toolkit if you sign up as an AIDS Ambassador
at the Table at Annual Conference (as long as supplies last) or download the
TOOLKIT today yourself at www.umglobalaids.fund.org IT is designed for YOU!
Support the Resolution for the 20/20 Campaign for UM Global AIDS fund in the
NE UMC Annual Conference along with the challenge of $1 per member yearly
approved in 2006 in NE UMC.
*******************************************
Join us by becoming a Reconciling UM in NE -- join the 300 folks in NE by
signing up today : www.RMNetwork.org
If you want to do a Signup party / MEETUP at Annual Conference, movie night
get together, you can organize an events in your local groups and then let
us know~ Thanks to all Local Contacts and Main Email contacts for keeping
the news flowing in NE as volunteers! We have no budget per se and all our
work is in house and through volunteers like YOU ... all of our fundraising
goes to RMN for ministries (chicago offices) and a more fully Inclusive UMC!
See info about SING A NEW SONG the next CONVO for RMN at the website!
www.RMNetwork.org
****************************************************
Important Gathering: Town Hall in Lincoln APRIL 18.. see below:
LGBT TOWNHALL MEETING in Lincoln, April 18, Saint Paul UMC, downtown
FREE PARKING
Enter parking garage on
11th Street, between M
and N Streets. Also ample
street parking.
LGBT COMMUNITY
Physical, Mental, Social & Sexual Health
TOWNHALL
Monday, April 18, 7–8:30
Saint Paul United Methodist
1144 M St, Room 155, Lincoln
Join Dr. Christopher Fisher and Dr. Jay Irwin for preliminary data
from their current research on health issues in the LGBT community,
and a community discussion about how the information should be
analyzed and reported.
What information do you want to see?
How do you want to see the data presented?
What will be most useful for you, LGBT organizations and allies?
The Midlands LGBT Community Needs Assessment was launched at
Omaha Pride 2010. Over 750 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Midlanders who live, work, and play in Nebraska answered questions
about their physical, mental, social, sexual health and the health of the
LGBT community.
Results will be released at Omaha Pride 2011
Dr. Fisher, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion, Social and
Behavioral Health at UNMCs College of Public Health, is the lead investigator.
Co-investigators are Dr.Irwin, UNO Assistant Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Jason Coleman, UNO
Assistant Professor of Health Education. All three have conducted previous research with LGBT populations in Indiana, California, Alabama, and South Carolina. Team also includes UNMC and UNO graduate students. Research sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Public Health.
****************************************
Support RMN or Reconciling Ministries Network - become a Reconciling UM today! www.RMNetwork.org
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, Statewide Contacts for Group email and Group Facebook & our new blog www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com and wsmith28@gmail.com, Main Email Contacts, PRN contacts and Local Contacts!
Recruit Youth and Young Adult Contacts in your local groups!
Become a local Reconciling contact or start a reconciling coffee group,
book group, Sunday school class, choir, UMW or UMM or support group today!
Let us know : mvetter@charter.net or wendy at wsmith28@gmail.com
For info on the UM global AIDS fund or being an AIDS ambassador and on a District UM Global AIDS fund team : contact Maureen mvetter@charter.net
and Bill black biobb@bellsouth.net
Co chairs of the NE UMC HIV AIDS Task force going for two years Fall 2011. www.umcneb.org/AIDS
www.umglobalaidsfund.org for general info .. send all giving to NE Conf treas so that 25 % of all offerings and fundraisers stay in NE for local AIDS projects with local churches.. we do grants with the 25 % (see URL above)
TIME FOR EGGS and all kinds of spiritual awakenings this spring! We pray for a more fully inclusive and compassionate world!
Pass this NEWS on to friends! See our new blog for info: www.Nebraskarum@blogsot.com and Group Facebook : Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network and www.RMNetwork.org
Sorry i have had the blog wrong the last few times! I apologize!
During Lent and Easter : Seek out Spiritual Partners for your faith journey,
renew yourself spiritually each week .. seek out marginalized friends or
persons different from you to enrich your life! Find new ways to be
inclusive in your local church, your faith group and friends!
Challenge: Another year of Spiritual Awakenings and Actions!
We are Taking Reconciling on the Road daily as you meetup with other
reconciling friends in Nebraska and beyond, go to events, advocate for justice, go to events,
lend support - You are Called to Witness and Believe Out loud as you sign up
friends to be Reconciling United Methodists (online at www.RMNetwork.org) as
you give to RMN and GLBT ministries ... and tell stories! Gather Rainbows
of HOPE this spring and summer to share with others!
NEWS: Get involved in Pride events this summer in Lincoln and Omaha : give
out info about your reconciling group!
April 1 is the day that Jimmy Creech's new book is out - published
through the Duke U Press! Go online to find this moving story and journey
in the book :: "ADAM's GIFT" by Jimmy Creech - justice & hope!
It is also our story together as people of faith! "Adam's Gift" has a longer title as a memoir!
Read it as a group or SS class this summer or get a few friends to order it and share about it!
Nominations were due April 1: for the MFSA Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice College Student Award / Scholarship!
Contact person: Zach Anderson : zachan85@gmail.com
Another book out: David Weekly as author: In From the Wilderness, his journey as a UMC transgender pastor -- go to RMN webpage www.RMNetwork.org or Church Within a Church for more info: www.cwac.us
Did you know that there are TWO Reconciling Congregations in Tucson, AZ? St Francis of the Foothills UMC and First UMC, Tucson!
Celebrate Reconciling Communities, Welcoming and affirming congregations and
Reconciling Congregations like Omaha First umc who organize Horizons of
Faith each year and do inclusive work faithfully -- and our four reconciling communities in NE: AWE Christ umc, Lincoln; RUMOLA Lincoln; Open Hearts Grand Island and NE statewide Reconciling community, our group
email network of reconciling friends in NE
Go to RMN Facebook, to www.RMNetwork.org for info on Reconciling Ministries Network!
Go to our Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Group FACEBOOK today.. or our new blog: www.Nebraskarum.blogspot.com Thanks to Wendy Smith of Christ UMC, Lincoln for administering FB and our
new blog!
*************************************
We hope that April showers bring May Flowers --- and June Rainbows of HOPE in your local churches!
Plan to gather Rainbows of HOPE this spring for art shows, Quilts and
Fibers, Children's Rainbow art displayed, Rainbow Photos displayed,
Rainbow Suitcases or baskets with Rainbow things to share with others as a
fundraiser, Rainbow Tables, Rainbow Sunday, Rainbow Bake sales or Rainbow
Movie night, Sign up party, RMN Rainbow Birthday Lunch Fundraiser or a
Rainbow meetup for coffee!
If you want to bring Rainbows things (from origami to stoles, pins, ribbons
to wear) to Annual Conference for the Reconciling table, bring them on June
1 to the RMN table at St marks UMC on 84th street south -- Betty Dorr of
Omaha First UMC will be there at the RMN table of hope and rainbows,
volunteer to help her out or bring info on a group or project, pride event
for the Reconciling Table to affirm all God's children : bobcdorr@cox.net
If you want to donate Rainbow items to the OPEN HEARTS Reconciling
Community Rainbow Suitcase for events contact Mvetter@charter.net
Our Open Hearts group in Grand Island is hoping to start a Rainbow Suitcase
for Gatherings and Reconciling on the Road events along with a Rainbow Crate
of GLBT and allies RESOURCES -- like DVD's, music, books, magazines, book
studies, GLBT studies for the group here -- you might want to do this in your group?
THANKS for ALL THE DONATIONS this past winter! WE are very grateful! Seek
out Resources at the Resource Center in Lincoln at Conference offices too!
www.umcneb.org through Diane .. they have the DVD: Call Me Malcolm and
other GLBT, faith resources! Donate to the Resource Center in Lincoln too!
The DVD: FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO would be a great one to donate to the NE UMC Resource
Center, your church library or share in local groups or start a Rainbow Crate with Resources locally! *
*At Open Hearts we could use a copy of the DVD "INCOMPATIBLE with Christian Teaching" when it goes
on Sale if someone wants to donate it -- and a copy of the movie "The Kids
are All right" or other notable GLBTQA movies, documentaries for faith groups!
***********************************************************************
Petitions and Resolutions:
1) Omaha First UMC and the HIV AIDS task force in NE have sent in Petitions to
NE Annual Conference for 2012 General Conference on GLBT Legislation
2) The UM Global AIDS FUND and HIV AIDS Task force for the NE UMC has
submitted a Resolution to Annual
Conference for the 20 / 20 Campaign of Visioning an AIDS Free World by
2020 -- giving $20 whenever possible to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020 as we
respond in faith to persons battling HIV AIDS in NE and beyond!
Send Gifts for UM Global AIDS Fund to the NE Conf Treas : ADVANCE # 578
Global AIDS - so that 25 % of offerings and gifts stays in Ne for local AIDS
projects! see the new URL: www.umcneb.org/AIDS
See the NE UMC Workbook for Annual conference coming out for Petitions to
General Conf 2012 as legislation -- and the HIV AIDS Resolution -- all to be voted on by our NE UMC Annual Conference.
**************************************
Spring Events:
We have some Spring events coming for Reconciling groups and check for PFLAG
meetings, other Inclusive faith groups in your area ------ Collaboration
is a good way to build alliances and allies:
April 8: Take Reconciling on the Road: 7 PM Friday night is the 3rd Annual
HIV AIDS Benefit Concert at TUMC, G island at 5th and Elm. Four musicians from Central NE will SHARE
their SONGS, time and talents to raise funds for the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund! This fund needs to be replenished each year as it gives assistance for medical emergencies at NAP Kearney in Central NE. There are Waiting lists in 21 states for medical emergencies at AIDS centers! NE is one of
them!
April 8 : Come early at 6:30 PM to get info on HIV AIDS in the Gathering
Place at TUMC and testing sites in the area! We celebrate the new TESTING
Site through Trinity UMC in GI with Central Health Center two times a month!
KNOW YOUR STATUS : come get tested the first thurs of each month (am) and
the third Thurs of the month (afternoon). There are many other testing
sites across NE and through NAP in five sites in NE (NE AIDS Project ..
www.nap.org -- or go to STOP AIDS NE or other online resources!
We will have an Intermission at the HIV AIDS Benefit Concert too and
musicians will bring DVD's to sell .. bring cookies if you want to help that
way with Intermission and if you want to help with washing coffee mugs etc!
We hope that this fund brings hope to those battling HIV AIDS in Central NE! Bring new blankets of love
too or household items, cleaning items, personal items to replenish the
caring cupboard at NAP kearney to serve clients in 30 plus counties!
********************************
April 10 : Open Hearts Reconciling Community and Support Group.. 3 PM
with fellowship time at 2:30 PM in the Gathering Place, TUMC, 5th and Elm,
Grand Island, NE.
Program: Sharing stories, Writing up our Stories: Spiritual Awakenings,
upcoming events for GLBT justice and support! Contact Mvetter@charter.net
for info or Mena ottomine1971@gmail.com Bring a snack to share and meet new
friends!
******************************
June 1 - 4, Reconciling Table at NE UMC Annual Conference: Share Rainbow
things you might have or create at this table! Betty Dorr and folks from
Omaha First UMC will staff the table or volunteer : bobcdorr@cox.net today!
June 1 - 4, Special Offering June 3 at 8:30 Worship for UM Global AIDS fund
and HIV AIDS / UM Global AIDS fund Info at the Risk Taking Mission Table, St Marks UMC, Lincoln, IF YOU CAN HELP at the TABLE signing up AIDS Ambassadors and
with and info contact : maureen: mvetter@charter.net or bob: biobb@bellsouth.net
You receive a FREE UMC HIV AIDS Toolkit if you sign up as an AIDS Ambassador
at the Table at Annual Conference (as long as supplies last) or download the
TOOLKIT today yourself at www.umglobalaids.fund.org IT is designed for YOU!
Support the Resolution for the 20/20 Campaign for UM Global AIDS fund in the
NE UMC Annual Conference along with the challenge of $1 per member yearly
approved in 2006 in NE UMC.
*******************************************
Join us by becoming a Reconciling UM in NE -- join the 300 folks in NE by
signing up today : www.RMNetwork.org
If you want to do a Signup party / MEETUP at Annual Conference, movie night
get together, you can organize an events in your local groups and then let
us know~ Thanks to all Local Contacts and Main Email contacts for keeping
the news flowing in NE as volunteers! We have no budget per se and all our
work is in house and through volunteers like YOU ... all of our fundraising
goes to RMN for ministries (chicago offices) and a more fully Inclusive UMC!
See info about SING A NEW SONG the next CONVO for RMN at the website!
www.RMNetwork.org
****************************************************
Important Gathering: Town Hall in Lincoln APRIL 18.. see below:
LGBT TOWNHALL MEETING in Lincoln, April 18, Saint Paul UMC, downtown
FREE PARKING
Enter parking garage on
11th Street, between M
and N Streets. Also ample
street parking.
LGBT COMMUNITY
Physical, Mental, Social & Sexual Health
TOWNHALL
Monday, April 18, 7–8:30
Saint Paul United Methodist
1144 M St, Room 155, Lincoln
Join Dr. Christopher Fisher and Dr. Jay Irwin for preliminary data
from their current research on health issues in the LGBT community,
and a community discussion about how the information should be
analyzed and reported.
What information do you want to see?
How do you want to see the data presented?
What will be most useful for you, LGBT organizations and allies?
The Midlands LGBT Community Needs Assessment was launched at
Omaha Pride 2010. Over 750 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Midlanders who live, work, and play in Nebraska answered questions
about their physical, mental, social, sexual health and the health of the
LGBT community.
Results will be released at Omaha Pride 2011
Dr. Fisher, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion, Social and
Behavioral Health at UNMCs College of Public Health, is the lead investigator.
Co-investigators are Dr.Irwin, UNO Assistant Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Jason Coleman, UNO
Assistant Professor of Health Education. All three have conducted previous research with LGBT populations in Indiana, California, Alabama, and South Carolina. Team also includes UNMC and UNO graduate students. Research sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Public Health.
****************************************
Support RMN or Reconciling Ministries Network - become a Reconciling UM today! www.RMNetwork.org
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, Statewide Contacts for Group email and Group Facebook & our new blog www.nebraskarum.blogspot.com and wsmith28@gmail.com, Main Email Contacts, PRN contacts and Local Contacts!
Recruit Youth and Young Adult Contacts in your local groups!
Become a local Reconciling contact or start a reconciling coffee group,
book group, Sunday school class, choir, UMW or UMM or support group today!
Let us know : mvetter@charter.net or wendy at wsmith28@gmail.com
For info on the UM global AIDS fund or being an AIDS ambassador and on a District UM Global AIDS fund team : contact Maureen mvetter@charter.net
and Bill black biobb@bellsouth.net
Co chairs of the NE UMC HIV AIDS Task force going for two years Fall 2011. www.umcneb.org/AIDS
www.umglobalaidsfund.org for general info .. send all giving to NE Conf treas so that 25 % of all offerings and fundraisers stay in NE for local AIDS projects with local churches.. we do grants with the 25 % (see URL above)
TIME FOR EGGS and all kinds of spiritual awakenings this spring! We pray for a more fully inclusive and compassionate world!
News from 4/1/11
NE Reconciling U Methodists and friends: Pass this on to friends!
During Lent and Easter : Seek out Spiritual Partners for your faith journey, renew yourself spiritually each week .. seek out marginalized friends or persons different from you to enrich your life! Find new ways to be inclusive in your local church, your faith group and friends!
Challenge: Another year of Spiritual Awakenings and Actions!
We are Taking Reconciling on the Road daily as you meetup with other reconciling friends, go to events, advocate for justice, go to events, lend support - You are Called to Witness and Believe Out loud as you sign up friends to be Reconciling United Methodists (online at www.RMNetwork.org) as you give to RMN and GLBT ministries ... and tell stories! Gather Rainbows of HOPE this spring and summer to share with others!
NEWS: Get involved in Pride events this summer in Lincoln and Omaha : give out info about your reconciling group!
Today - April 1 is the day that Jimmy Creech's new book is out - published through the Duke U Press! Go online to find this moving story and journey in the book :: "ADAM's GIFT" by Jimmy Creech - his story of struggle, pain, justice and hope! It is also our story together as people of faith! Adam's Gift has a longer title as a memoir! Read it as a group or SS class this summer or get a few friends to order it and share about it!
Nominations are due today April 1: for the MFSA Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice College Student Award / Scholarship!
Contact person: Zach Anderson : zachan85@gmail.com
Another book out: David Weekly as author: In From the Wilderness, his journey as a UMC transgender pastor -- go to RMN webpage www.RMNetwork.org or Church Within a Church for more info: www.cwac.us
Did you know that there are TWO Reconciling Congregations in Tucson, AZ? St Francis of the Foothills UMC and First UMC, Tucson!
Celebrate Reconciling Communities, Welcoming and affirming congregations and Reconciling Congregations like Omaha First umc who organize Horizons of Faith each year and do inclusive work faithfully -- and our four reconciling communities in NE: AWE Christ umc, Lincoln; RUMOLA Lincoln; Open Hearts Grand Island and NE statewide Reconciling community, our group email network of reconciling friends in NE
Go to RMN Facebook, to www.RMNetwork.org for info on Reconciling Ministries Network!
Go to our Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Group FACEBOOK today.. or our new blog: www.Nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Thanks to Wendy Smith of Christ UMC, Lincoln for administering FB and our new blog!
*************************************
We hope that April showers bring May Flowers --- and June Rainbows of HOPE in your local churches!
Plan to gather Rainbows of HOPE this spring for art shows, Quilts and Fibers, Children's Rainbow art displayed, Rainbow Photos displayed, Rainbow Suitcases or baskets with Rainbow things to share with others as a fundraiser, Rainbow Tables, Rainbow Sunday, Rainbow Bake sales or Rainbow Movie night, Sign up party, RMN Rainbow Birthday Lunch Fundraiser or a Rainbow meetup for coffee!
If you want to bring Rainbows things (from origami to stoles, pins, ribbons to wear) to Annual Conference for the Reconciling table, bring them on June 1 to the RMN table at St marks UMC on 84th street south -- Betty Dorr of Omaha First UMC will be there at the RMN table of hope and rainbows, volunteer to help her out or bring info on a group or project, pride event for the Reconciling Table to affirm all God's children : bobcdorr@cox.net
If you want to donate Rainbow items to wear with the OPEN HEARTS Reconciling Community Rainbow Suitcase for the MFSA dinner and other Inclusive, GLBT events : you can bring items to Lincoln June 1 -- Rainbow ribbons, pins, stoles, scarves, jewelry, lapel pins, Rainbow leis, and things for people to wear at Annual conference to identify themselves as Rainbow People -- or create your own Rainbow Suitcase or Basket for worship at local churches, events, gatherings, movie showings, concerts for HIV AIDS -- contact maureen at mvetter@charter.net
Our Open Hearts group in Grand Island is hoping to start a Rainbow Suitcase for Gatherings and Reconciling on the Road events along with a Rainbow Crate of GLBT and allies RESOURCES -- like DVD's, music, books, magazines, book studies, GLBT studies for the group here --
THANKS for ALL THE DONATIONS this past winter! WE are very grateful! Seek out Resources at the Resource Center in Lincoln at Conference offices too! www.umcneb.org through Diane .. they have the DVD: Call Me Malcolm and other GLBT, faith resources! Donate to the Resource Center in Lincoln too!
The DVD: FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO is a great one to donate to a Resource Center, your church library or share in local groups or start a Rainbow Crate with Resources locally! *
*At Open Hearts we could use a copy of the DVD "INCOMPATIBLE with Christian Teaching" when it goes
on Sale if someone wants to donate it -- and a copy of the movie "The Kids are All right" or other notable GLBTQA movies, documentaries!
***********************************************************************
Petitions and Resolutions:
1) Omaha First UMC and the HIV AIDS task force in NE have sent in Petitions to
NE Annual Conference for 2012 General Conference on GLBT Legislation
2) The UM Global AIDS FUND and HIV AIDS Task force for the NE UMC has submitted a Resolution to Annual
Conference for the 20 / 20 Campaign of Visioning an AIDS Free World by 2020 -- giving $20 whenever possible to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020 as we respond in faith to persons battling HIV AIDS in NE and beyond!
Send Gifts for UM Global AIDS Fund to the NE Conf Treas : ADVANCE # 578 Global AIDS - so that 25 % of offerings and gifts stays in Ne for local AIDS projects! see the new URL: www.umcneb.org/AIDS
See the NE UMC Workbook for Annual conference coming out for Petitions to General Conf 2012 as legislation -- and the HIV AIDS Resolution -- all to be voted on by our NE UMC Annual conference.
**************************************
Spring Events:
We have some Spring events coming for Reconciling groups and check for PFLAG
meetings, other Inclusive faith groups in your area ------ Collaboration is a good way to build alliances and allies:
April 8: Take Reconciling on the Road: 7 PM Friday night is the 3rd Annual HIV AIDS Benefit Concert at
TUMC, G island at 5th and Elm. Four musicians from Central NE will SHARE their SONGS, time and talents to raise funds for the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund! This fund needs to be replenished each year as it gives assistance for medical emergencies at NAP Kearney in Central NE. There are Waiting lists in 21 states for medical emergencies at AIDS centers! NE is one of them!
April 8 : Come early at 6:30 PM to get info on HIV AIDS in the Gathering Place at TUMC and testing sites in the area! We celebrate the new TESTING Site through Trinity UMC in GI with Central Health Center two times a month! KNOW YOUR STATUS : come get tested the first thurs of each month (am) and the third Thurs of the month (afternoon). There are many other testing sites across NE and through NAP in five sites in NE (NE AIDS Project .. www.nap.org -- or go to STOP AIDS NE or other online resources!
We will have an Intermission at the HIV AIDS Benefit Concert too and musicians will bring DVD's to sell .. bring cookies if you want to help that way with Intermission and if you want to help with washing coffee mugs etc! We brew Equal Exchange coffee at TUMC now.. We hope that this fund brings hope to those battling HIV AIDS in Central NE! Bring new blankets of love too or household items, cleaning items, personal items to replenish the caring cupboard at NAP kearney to serve clients in 36 counties!
********************************
April 10 : Open Hearts Reconciling Community and Support Group.. 3 PM with fellowship time at 2:30 PM in the Gathering Place, TUMC, 5th and Elm, Grand Island, NE.
Program: Sharing stories, Writing up our Stories: Spiritual Awakenings, upcoming events for GLBT justice and support! Contact Mvetter@charter.net for info or Mena ottomine1971@gmail.com Bring a snack to share and meet new friends!
******************************
June 1 - 4, Reconciling Table at NE UMC Annual Conference: Share Rainbow
things you might have or create at this table! Betty Dorr and folks from
Omaha First UMC will staff the table or volunteer : bobcdorr@cox.net today!
June 1 - 4, Special Offering June 3 at 8:30 Worship for UM Global AIDS fund and HIV AIDS / UM Global AIDS fund Info at the Risk Taking Mission Table, St Marks UMC, Lincoln, if you want to help at the table signing up
AIDS ambassadors and info contact : mvetter@charter.net or biobb@bellsouth.net
You receive a FREE UMC HIV AIDS Toolkit if you sign up as an AIDS Ambassador at the Table at Annual Conference (as long as supplies last) or download the TOOLKIT today at www.umglobalaids.fund.org
Support the Resolution for the 20/20 Campaign for UM Global AIDS fund in the NE UMC Annual Conference along with the challenge of $1 per member yearly approved in 2006 in NE UMC.
*******************************************
Join us by becoming a Reconciling UM in NE -- join the 300 folks in NE by signing up today : www.RMNetwork.org
If you want to do a Signup party / MEETUP at Annual Conference, movie night get together, you can organize an events in your local groups and then let us know~ Thanks to all Local Contacts and Main Email contacts for keeping the news flowing in NE as volunteers! We have no budget per se and all our work is in house and through volunteers like YOU ... all of our fundraising goes to RMN for ministries (chicago offices) and a more fully Inclusive UMC!
See info about SING A NEW SONG the next CONVO for RMN at the website! www.RMNetwork.org
****************************************************
Important Gathering: Town Hall in Lincoln APRIL 18.. see below:
LGBT TOWNHALL MEETING in Lincoln, April 18, Saint Paul UMC, downtown
FREE PARKING
Enter parking garage on
11th Street, between M
and N Streets. Also ample
street parking.
LGBT COMMUNITY
Physical, Mental, Social & Sexual Health
TOWNHALL
Monday, April 18, 7–8:30
Saint Paul United Methodist
1144 M St, Room 155, Lincoln
Join Dr. Christopher Fisher and Dr. Jay Irwin for preliminary data
from their current research on health issues in the LGBT community,
and a community discussion about how the information should be
analyzed and reported.
What information do you want to see?
How do you want to see the data presented?
What will be most useful for you, LGBT organizations and allies?
The Midlands LGBT Community Needs Assessment was launched at
Omaha Pride 2010. Over 750 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Midlanders who live, work, and play in Nebraska answered questions
about their physical, mental, social, sexual health and the health of the
LGBT community.
Results will be released at Omaha Pride 2011
Dr. Fisher, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion, Social and
Behavioral Health at UNMCs College of Public Health, is the lead investigator.
Co-investigators are Dr.Irwin, UNO Assistant Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Jason Coleman, UNO
Assistant Professor of Health Education. All three have conducted previous research with LGBT populations in Indiana, California, Alabama, and South Carolina. Team also includes UNMC and UNO graduate students. Research sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Public Health.
****************************************
Support RMN or Reconciling Ministries Network - become a Reconciling UM today! www.RMNetwork.org
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, Statewide Contacts for Group email and Group Facebook & our new blog!mvetter@charter.net and wsmith28@gmail.com, Main Email Contacts, PRN contacts and Local Contacts!
Recruit Youth and Young Adult Contacts in your local groups!
Become a local Reconciling contact or start a reconciling coffee group,
book group, Sunday school class, choir, UMW or UMM or support group today!
Let us know : mvetter@charter.net or wendy at wsmith28@gmail.com
For info on the UM global AIDS fund : contact Maureen mvetter@charter.net and Bill black biobb@bellsouth.net
Co chairs of the NE UMC HIV AIDS Task force going for two years Fall 2011.
During Lent and Easter : Seek out Spiritual Partners for your faith journey, renew yourself spiritually each week .. seek out marginalized friends or persons different from you to enrich your life! Find new ways to be inclusive in your local church, your faith group and friends!
Challenge: Another year of Spiritual Awakenings and Actions!
We are Taking Reconciling on the Road daily as you meetup with other reconciling friends, go to events, advocate for justice, go to events, lend support - You are Called to Witness and Believe Out loud as you sign up friends to be Reconciling United Methodists (online at www.RMNetwork.org) as you give to RMN and GLBT ministries ... and tell stories! Gather Rainbows of HOPE this spring and summer to share with others!
NEWS: Get involved in Pride events this summer in Lincoln and Omaha : give out info about your reconciling group!
Today - April 1 is the day that Jimmy Creech's new book is out - published through the Duke U Press! Go online to find this moving story and journey in the book :: "ADAM's GIFT" by Jimmy Creech - his story of struggle, pain, justice and hope! It is also our story together as people of faith! Adam's Gift has a longer title as a memoir! Read it as a group or SS class this summer or get a few friends to order it and share about it!
Nominations are due today April 1: for the MFSA Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice College Student Award / Scholarship!
Contact person: Zach Anderson : zachan85@gmail.com
Another book out: David Weekly as author: In From the Wilderness, his journey as a UMC transgender pastor -- go to RMN webpage www.RMNetwork.org or Church Within a Church for more info: www.cwac.us
Did you know that there are TWO Reconciling Congregations in Tucson, AZ? St Francis of the Foothills UMC and First UMC, Tucson!
Celebrate Reconciling Communities, Welcoming and affirming congregations and Reconciling Congregations like Omaha First umc who organize Horizons of Faith each year and do inclusive work faithfully -- and our four reconciling communities in NE: AWE Christ umc, Lincoln; RUMOLA Lincoln; Open Hearts Grand Island and NE statewide Reconciling community, our group email network of reconciling friends in NE
Go to RMN Facebook, to www.RMNetwork.org for info on Reconciling Ministries Network!
Go to our Nebraska Statewide Reconciling Network Group FACEBOOK today.. or our new blog: www.Nebraskarum.blogspot.com
Thanks to Wendy Smith of Christ UMC, Lincoln for administering FB and our new blog!
*************************************
We hope that April showers bring May Flowers --- and June Rainbows of HOPE in your local churches!
Plan to gather Rainbows of HOPE this spring for art shows, Quilts and Fibers, Children's Rainbow art displayed, Rainbow Photos displayed, Rainbow Suitcases or baskets with Rainbow things to share with others as a fundraiser, Rainbow Tables, Rainbow Sunday, Rainbow Bake sales or Rainbow Movie night, Sign up party, RMN Rainbow Birthday Lunch Fundraiser or a Rainbow meetup for coffee!
If you want to bring Rainbows things (from origami to stoles, pins, ribbons to wear) to Annual Conference for the Reconciling table, bring them on June 1 to the RMN table at St marks UMC on 84th street south -- Betty Dorr of Omaha First UMC will be there at the RMN table of hope and rainbows, volunteer to help her out or bring info on a group or project, pride event for the Reconciling Table to affirm all God's children : bobcdorr@cox.net
If you want to donate Rainbow items to wear with the OPEN HEARTS Reconciling Community Rainbow Suitcase for the MFSA dinner and other Inclusive, GLBT events : you can bring items to Lincoln June 1 -- Rainbow ribbons, pins, stoles, scarves, jewelry, lapel pins, Rainbow leis, and things for people to wear at Annual conference to identify themselves as Rainbow People -- or create your own Rainbow Suitcase or Basket for worship at local churches, events, gatherings, movie showings, concerts for HIV AIDS -- contact maureen at mvetter@charter.net
Our Open Hearts group in Grand Island is hoping to start a Rainbow Suitcase for Gatherings and Reconciling on the Road events along with a Rainbow Crate of GLBT and allies RESOURCES -- like DVD's, music, books, magazines, book studies, GLBT studies for the group here --
THANKS for ALL THE DONATIONS this past winter! WE are very grateful! Seek out Resources at the Resource Center in Lincoln at Conference offices too! www.umcneb.org through Diane .. they have the DVD: Call Me Malcolm and other GLBT, faith resources! Donate to the Resource Center in Lincoln too!
The DVD: FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO is a great one to donate to a Resource Center, your church library or share in local groups or start a Rainbow Crate with Resources locally! *
*At Open Hearts we could use a copy of the DVD "INCOMPATIBLE with Christian Teaching" when it goes
on Sale if someone wants to donate it -- and a copy of the movie "The Kids are All right" or other notable GLBTQA movies, documentaries!
***********************************************************************
Petitions and Resolutions:
1) Omaha First UMC and the HIV AIDS task force in NE have sent in Petitions to
NE Annual Conference for 2012 General Conference on GLBT Legislation
2) The UM Global AIDS FUND and HIV AIDS Task force for the NE UMC has submitted a Resolution to Annual
Conference for the 20 / 20 Campaign of Visioning an AIDS Free World by 2020 -- giving $20 whenever possible to eliminate HIV AIDS by 2020 as we respond in faith to persons battling HIV AIDS in NE and beyond!
Send Gifts for UM Global AIDS Fund to the NE Conf Treas : ADVANCE # 578 Global AIDS - so that 25 % of offerings and gifts stays in Ne for local AIDS projects! see the new URL: www.umcneb.org/AIDS
See the NE UMC Workbook for Annual conference coming out for Petitions to General Conf 2012 as legislation -- and the HIV AIDS Resolution -- all to be voted on by our NE UMC Annual conference.
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Spring Events:
We have some Spring events coming for Reconciling groups and check for PFLAG
meetings, other Inclusive faith groups in your area ------ Collaboration is a good way to build alliances and allies:
April 8: Take Reconciling on the Road: 7 PM Friday night is the 3rd Annual HIV AIDS Benefit Concert at
TUMC, G island at 5th and Elm. Four musicians from Central NE will SHARE their SONGS, time and talents to raise funds for the TUMC Emergency HIV AIDS fund! This fund needs to be replenished each year as it gives assistance for medical emergencies at NAP Kearney in Central NE. There are Waiting lists in 21 states for medical emergencies at AIDS centers! NE is one of them!
April 8 : Come early at 6:30 PM to get info on HIV AIDS in the Gathering Place at TUMC and testing sites in the area! We celebrate the new TESTING Site through Trinity UMC in GI with Central Health Center two times a month! KNOW YOUR STATUS : come get tested the first thurs of each month (am) and the third Thurs of the month (afternoon). There are many other testing sites across NE and through NAP in five sites in NE (NE AIDS Project .. www.nap.org -- or go to STOP AIDS NE or other online resources!
We will have an Intermission at the HIV AIDS Benefit Concert too and musicians will bring DVD's to sell .. bring cookies if you want to help that way with Intermission and if you want to help with washing coffee mugs etc! We brew Equal Exchange coffee at TUMC now.. We hope that this fund brings hope to those battling HIV AIDS in Central NE! Bring new blankets of love too or household items, cleaning items, personal items to replenish the caring cupboard at NAP kearney to serve clients in 36 counties!
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April 10 : Open Hearts Reconciling Community and Support Group.. 3 PM with fellowship time at 2:30 PM in the Gathering Place, TUMC, 5th and Elm, Grand Island, NE.
Program: Sharing stories, Writing up our Stories: Spiritual Awakenings, upcoming events for GLBT justice and support! Contact Mvetter@charter.net for info or Mena ottomine1971@gmail.com Bring a snack to share and meet new friends!
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June 1 - 4, Reconciling Table at NE UMC Annual Conference: Share Rainbow
things you might have or create at this table! Betty Dorr and folks from
Omaha First UMC will staff the table or volunteer : bobcdorr@cox.net today!
June 1 - 4, Special Offering June 3 at 8:30 Worship for UM Global AIDS fund and HIV AIDS / UM Global AIDS fund Info at the Risk Taking Mission Table, St Marks UMC, Lincoln, if you want to help at the table signing up
AIDS ambassadors and info contact : mvetter@charter.net or biobb@bellsouth.net
You receive a FREE UMC HIV AIDS Toolkit if you sign up as an AIDS Ambassador at the Table at Annual Conference (as long as supplies last) or download the TOOLKIT today at www.umglobalaids.fund.org
Support the Resolution for the 20/20 Campaign for UM Global AIDS fund in the NE UMC Annual Conference along with the challenge of $1 per member yearly approved in 2006 in NE UMC.
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Join us by becoming a Reconciling UM in NE -- join the 300 folks in NE by signing up today : www.RMNetwork.org
If you want to do a Signup party / MEETUP at Annual Conference, movie night get together, you can organize an events in your local groups and then let us know~ Thanks to all Local Contacts and Main Email contacts for keeping the news flowing in NE as volunteers! We have no budget per se and all our work is in house and through volunteers like YOU ... all of our fundraising goes to RMN for ministries (chicago offices) and a more fully Inclusive UMC!
See info about SING A NEW SONG the next CONVO for RMN at the website! www.RMNetwork.org
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Important Gathering: Town Hall in Lincoln APRIL 18.. see below:
LGBT TOWNHALL MEETING in Lincoln, April 18, Saint Paul UMC, downtown
FREE PARKING
Enter parking garage on
11th Street, between M
and N Streets. Also ample
street parking.
LGBT COMMUNITY
Physical, Mental, Social & Sexual Health
TOWNHALL
Monday, April 18, 7–8:30
Saint Paul United Methodist
1144 M St, Room 155, Lincoln
Join Dr. Christopher Fisher and Dr. Jay Irwin for preliminary data
from their current research on health issues in the LGBT community,
and a community discussion about how the information should be
analyzed and reported.
What information do you want to see?
How do you want to see the data presented?
What will be most useful for you, LGBT organizations and allies?
The Midlands LGBT Community Needs Assessment was launched at
Omaha Pride 2010. Over 750 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Midlanders who live, work, and play in Nebraska answered questions
about their physical, mental, social, sexual health and the health of the
LGBT community.
Results will be released at Omaha Pride 2011
Dr. Fisher, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion, Social and
Behavioral Health at UNMCs College of Public Health, is the lead investigator.
Co-investigators are Dr.Irwin, UNO Assistant Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Jason Coleman, UNO
Assistant Professor of Health Education. All three have conducted previous research with LGBT populations in Indiana, California, Alabama, and South Carolina. Team also includes UNMC and UNO graduate students. Research sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Public Health.
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Support RMN or Reconciling Ministries Network - become a Reconciling UM today! www.RMNetwork.org
Maureen Vetter and Wendy Smith, Statewide Contacts for Group email and Group Facebook & our new blog!mvetter@charter.net and wsmith28@gmail.com, Main Email Contacts, PRN contacts and Local Contacts!
Recruit Youth and Young Adult Contacts in your local groups!
Become a local Reconciling contact or start a reconciling coffee group,
book group, Sunday school class, choir, UMW or UMM or support group today!
Let us know : mvetter@charter.net or wendy at wsmith28@gmail.com
For info on the UM global AIDS fund : contact Maureen mvetter@charter.net and Bill black biobb@bellsouth.net
Co chairs of the NE UMC HIV AIDS Task force going for two years Fall 2011.
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