IN LAYMAN'S TERMS

The Caring Congregation

One of the most important parts of being the church is caring for one another. But it's not just the pastor's job. Indeed, it's important that laity are heavily involved in providing excellent care for one another. Doing so strengthens the sense of community, shows the love of Christ and helps boost the vitality of local congregations.

The Caring Congregation, an organization founded by retired United Methodist elder Rev. Karen Lampe, aims to teach congregations of all sizes how it can provide better care for one another and the communities they serve. A special online webinar is scheduled for Feb. 23-24 to provide training either for individuals or groups who want to learn more.

You can register for the webinar here.

You can order "The Caring Congregation Ministry: Implementation Guide" at one of these stores:

• The Caring Congregation website
• Cokesbury
• Amazon
• AbeBooks

 

 

Bishop David Wilson Talks about Native American Heritage Month

Bishop David Wilson talks with Todd about Native American Heritage Month, when we celebrate the contributions of Indigenous peoples during the month of November. This conversation covers an immersion experience in Oklahoma, recognition of U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, and more about the bishop's travels across the country.

 

LINKS

Powwow Photo Album — https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjASZbF

Immersion Trip Album — https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjARU6e

Blog about the Oklahoma Trip — https://www.greatplainsumc.org/blogdetail/in-laymans-terms-pondering-culture-after-a-native-american-immersion-experience-17589860

Videos:

• Day 1 — First Americans Museum — https://www.greatplainsumc.org/videodetail/native-american-cultural-immersion-trip-day-1-17557337
• Day 2 — Washita Massacre Site — https://www.greatplainsumc.org/videodetail/native-american-cultural-immersion-trip-day-2-17563970
• Day 3 — Skyline Urban Ministries — https://www.greatplainsumc.org/videodetail/native-american-cultural-immersion-day-3-17566093
• Day 4 — Tulsa Race Massacre and Mary Lee Clark UMC — https://www.greatplainsumc.org/videodetail/native-american-cultural-immersion-trip-day-4-17566883
• Day 5 — Ponca Tribe Powwow — https://www.greatplainsumc.org/videodetail/native-american-cultural-immersion-trip-day-5-17574572

 

Luke, The Sequel: The Acts of Using the Tools We’re Given

Paul makes use of an empty altar to explain to skeptics who Jesus is and about our all-powerful God. We’ve been given all the tools we need to share the good news, even if we sometimes have to improvise. This episode wraps up our short series on the book of Acts.

Luke, The Sequel: The Act of Accepting All People

The study of the book of Acts continues with a lesson about how we sometimes make following Christ more difficult than it needs to be. Love God, love others, and make disciples. A story about a Dallas-area pastor augments the scripture about Peter and Cornelius.

Luke, The Sequel: The Act of Showing Trust in God

After a longer-than-expected hiatus, the podcast returns, and we resume our study of the book of Acts, the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Saying we believe is fine, but actions speak louder than word. Ananias teaches us that lesson.

Luke, the Sequel: The Act of Staying Curious

The story of the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip teaches another lesson from the book of Acts. It's important for us to act on our faith by remaining curious and embracing the questions we ask about our faith.

Luke, the Sequel: The Acts of Speaking Boldly

As we explore what the book of Acts has to teach the church today, we explore what it means to speak boldly for Jesus in the world today. And, yes, we are all capable of speaking up for Christ.

Luke the Sequel: The Acts of the Apostles

We begin a multi-week series on the book of Acts. We'll look at the book as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke and a continuation of Jesus teaching how to lift up the lowly, engage the outcast, and embrace the outlaw. In this first episode we look at 3 lessons Jesus taught during his ascension to Heaven.

Bishop David Wilson – 100 Days

On the 100th day of Bishop David Wilson's tenure as bishop of the Great Plains Conference, he shares in a discussion with Todd what he's been up to so far in Kansas and Nebraska, as well as plans for the weeks and months ahead.

Book Tour: Lessons from Pandemics Past

One of the biggest disruptions in the life of the church in the past few decades was clearly the COVID-19 pandemic. I suppose you could make an argument that it’s still causing disruption.

The Congregational Excellence team of the Great Plains Conference wants to help clergy and laity process what has happened, come to grips with our current reality and, — and this is most important — realize there is hope for the future. So in late April and early May, author Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter will be making a book tour with workshops in five Great Plains cities — North Platte and Columbus in Nebraska, and Ottawa, McPherson and Hays in Kansas. She is chief visionary for Rebekah Simon-Peter Coaching and Consulting Incorporated, which has a flagship program titled “Creating a Culture of Renewal.”

The event she is facilitating with us in the Great Plains is Lessons from Pandemics Past.