TableTalk

January 30, 2009
Vol. 15, No. 1 For Church Leaders Gathered at The Table
TABLETALK is a publication of The Rocky Mountain Conference Office of Communications
Information and Concerns of RMC Leadership, for RMC Leadership
Send information to Ben Roe, ben at rmcumc dot com Fax: 303-733-1730 Voice: 303-325-7046
Mail: 6110 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Web address: rmcumc.org/News/table/

Conference News and Resources

[Editors’ note: Due to a server overload problem (since resolved), the following Christmas message from RMC Director of Mission & Ministry Skip Strickland was not received in time for our December issue. We felt its message was one that was important enough to share at any time of the year!]

Greetings from the RMC Conference Office:

While driving to work today, one of the Denver AM mega-stations played from the Peanuts Christmas Special a sound bite of Lines, reciting the Christmas story from Luke. It caught me a little off guard. I thought, "Are they allowed to do that? Because it was great that they did!" The DJs must have read my mind because the question they asked listeners to respond to was, "Should we wish people ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays ’?"

I am sure there were many folks caught off guard during the first Christmas. In fact most of the Christmas narratives in Matthew and Luke are about people getting caught off guard by what God had chosen to do. I remember my seminary professors telling me that God had chosen to break into human history and it caught everyone a little bit off guard. Well, are you ready? I hope not, because maybe Christmas will catch you a little off guard this year. In a time of economic uncertainty, job insecurity, human suffering, and lack of clarity, I hope there is still the element of surprise. Surprise might come through an act of kindness, generosity, good will, compassion, or guidance. Or when the advent words of Hope, Love, Peace and Joy manifest themselves. Or when you realize you are the one who is doing the surprising. In whatever way it happens, I hope the Christmas Story—Glory of God—breaks into your life and catches you a little off guard this Christmas. And when it does, you will know what greeting to use.

On behalf of everyone who works on your behalf at the Rocky Mountain Conference office of the United Methodist Church, may you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Igniting Ministry Training—RETHINKCHURCH—Offered by UMCOM on March 28

What if church were a verb, not a noun? What if church is something we do and not something we go to. What if church wasn’t just a building, but thousands of doors, each of them opening up to a different concept or experience of church, so that whoever knocks might find a journey to call their own? Would you come? RETHINK CHURCH! These are some of the questions the new United Methodist Igniting Ministry Campaign will be inviting members of our communities and us to think about over the next quadrennium. Emphasis will be given on research about how to reach young persons 18-35 years in age.

Churches are invited by United Methodist Communications to join in this training event on Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Trinity UMC, 701 N. 20th St. in Colorado Springs. The cost per church is $40, plus $10 per person for lunch. You should BRING A TEAM from your church to attend this event. Each member of the team will attend one of three modules offered that day: Welcome, Connect, or Identify. Register online at UMCOM.

When registering as a church team, first register one team member for one module. You will be charged $40. Then continue the process by registering additional members, noting that they’ll be charged $0.00. This is how you are guaranteed that you are only charged $40 per church. You will also need to pay $10 for each member’s lunch and you may want to purchase the materials that are offered while you are registering. For additional information or questions, email IMTraining@umcom.org or call 877-281-6535. For more information about the RETHINKCHURCH campaign visit www.rethinkchurch.org or call the Conference office.

There is also a free, online training course available through March 4. Titled “ReThink Church Welcoming Training Online Course,” it is designed to work with the ReThink Church campaign and help churches to become more welcoming places. Through the course church leaders will learn how to use media and other resources to become a more welcoming church and will begin to create a plan for their own congregation. Register at: http://moodle.umcom.org/moodle/index.php and look for the rethink church courses.

Registration Deadline for Youth Leadership Conference is February 13

Friday, Feb. 13 is the deadline to register for Youth Leadership Conference, which is set for Friday-Sunday, Feb. 27-March 1 at YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch. Theme for the event, open to 6th to 12th grade youth, is “Leadership: Is It in You?” Although the housing deadline is past, housing can be obtained through the YMCA at 970-887-2152. Registration and more information at: http://rmcumc.org/MI/Youth/index.htm#ylc, or call Loren Boyce or Nancy Cox at the Conference office, 800-536-3736.

Register Now For Youth Quest

A positive experience for youth, Youth Quest is a week-end retreat for youth in 6th-8th grades, who are in the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Methodist Church. This event is for youth from around the conference to gather for singing, worship, small groups and having fun together. Cost: For only $165.00 per person you get two night lodging, four meals and a super program. We have 2 classes to register for so make sure that your choices are marked on your registration form. Adults: Groups must bring one paying adult for every five youth attending and they must fill out a completed registration. Adults are encouraged to re-turn registrations as soon as possible. Location: Frontier Ranch is near Buena Vista, Colorado. Brochure here.

December 2008 Church Tithe Report Released

"Every generous act of giving…is from God” -James 1:17

Thank you for your continued giving to the mission and ministry of the Rocky Mountain Conference and the United Methodist Church throughout 2008! Your faithful generosity and stewardship throughout the past year help us all to participate in mission and ministry throughout the whole Church. Working together, we United Methodists provide coordination at a conference and jurisdictional level for Volunteers in Mission to minister to others. Together, we are helping the people of Zimbabwe through UM hospitals, Africa University, and by the diligent work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

Tithing to the RMC provides an opportunity to do together what no one person, church or annual conference could do alone. It is an opportunity to multiply and share God's gifts with the world. When we are generous in our acts of giving we are giving generously from God.

This is a reminder that the "Church Tithe plus Mission Giving" for 2009 is adjusted to 10 percent Tithe plus 3 percent Mission Giving--or a total of 13%. This action by the 2008 Annual Conference Session is effective with your December 2008 church receipts upon which the Tithe plus Mission Giving is calculated and forwarded in January 2009.
You will find a copy of the new 2009 Remittance Form as well as an information and instruction sheet for filling out the Remittance Form on our web site, under Resources -> Church Tithe (http://rmcumc.org/CR/Finance/index.htm#titheform). Please read the sheet and check that you are entering your correct Church Number (found on the instruction sheet you have been mailed).

During these difficult economic times, it is important to keep in mind that stewardship and giving come from the heart--not the economy. You should know that your conference office staff continues to look at various ways to realign the cost of operations to effectively serve you and meet the mission and vision of the Rocky Mountain Conference. Together, with each of us doing our fair share, we can accomplish our mission of “Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Please let us know how we may improve and/or expand our conference services to support your daily ministry. We exist to support your local efforts!

Thanks and Blessings, Wayne Bettendorf - Conference Treasurer

December Tithing income, based on November receipts in local churches, totaled $518,321. This gives the Conference a total Tithing income for 2008 of $4,415,747.23. Thank you to all churches that supported the Conference during 2008! A detailed Tithing report, by church, is available for your information on the Conference Web site (Resources -> Church Tithe/Finances). The graph reflects Conference-wide church giving comparisons to last year 2007.

If you have any questions regarding the Tithing program, please contact Laurie Day, Asst. Treasurer--Donor Services (ext. 162) or Wayne Bettendorf, Conference Treasurer (ext. 151) at 800-536-3736 or 303-733-3736.

New Year, New Tithe Form

The Treasurer's office has provided a new form for submitting the church tithe. The new form is in the same place as the old one was: http://rmcumc.org/CR/Finance/index.htm#titheform. Please do not use the old form!

2008 Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions Plus Training Available

The 2008 Book of Discipline—which contains the revised Social Principles—and the Book of Resolutions are now available through Cokesbury. The Church and Society Network has members who will be glad to provide some training for folks in congregations on how to "teach" the Social Principles or who are available to "teach" themselves. Please contact us to talk about scheduling these presentations. Also, the C&S Network is working on a power point presentation on the Social Principles which will be available to local churches in early February. We hope to hear from many of your as you schedule sessions on the Social Principles. Contact Church and Society Network Advocating for Peace with Justice at: 303-733-3736, ext. 152 or 303-325-7052 or email: peacewithjustice@rmcumc.com.

Statistical Reporting--2008’s Final Task—is Due February 28

Now that most Church Conferences are behind us, one more task of the “old year” remains: it is time to report each congregation’s successes for 2008. Once again we will use Eagle, a General Council on Finance and Administration web site. Eagle is now open for our use. All data must be entered and saved by February 28, 2009. The deadline has been extended this year. Additional information and instructions are at http://rmcumc.org/CR/stats/. - Bruce Maxwell, Conference Statistician (bruce@rmcumc.com)

Annual Conference Petition Forms Available

The Petition Instructions and Form for the 2009 Annual Conference Session are available on line at http://rmcumc.org/COI/ac/ac2009/ (News or Conference Information -> Annual Conferences -> 2009). Petition submission deadline is Tuesday, March 10 per the Conference Rules. All petitions are to be submitted electronically to Petitions Coordinator Richard A. Vickery, Jr. at ravickeryjr@cs.com by that date for publication and consideration by the Annual Conference Session in June.

Licensing School Information Available

The next Local Pastor Licensing School will be July 27 to August 7 at Saint Andrew UMC in Highlands Ranch. Sponsored by both the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Annual Conferences, the school is for certified candidates seeking to become eligible for appointment as local pastors.

"Enliven the Offering"

At the Stewardship workshop at St. Andrew United Methodist in Highlands Ranch in October, the presenter encouraged churches to use stories before taking the offering about how people are being affected by the ministries of the United Methodist Church. Here are two sources for such stories, if you need something from outside your own faith community: UMCOR updates, news of what our Committee on Relief is doing is here; and Mission Moments, which contain stories, offering prayers and other resources. An example follows:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come. And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” --Isaiah 60:1, NRSV

When Karen Lindberg had cancer, the prayers of others on her behalf had a calming effect. Even when her breathing stopped during treatment, she had no fear. "I could feel the power of prayer," she says. Lindberg wants to pass that peace to others. By crocheting prayer shawls, she has found 125 ways. That is the number of prayer shawls the group she spearheads at the Sergeant Bluff [Iowa] Community UMC has made. That only includes the ones recorded, not those church members make at home and deliver.

Shawls of many colors and shapes, they are prayer gifts for anyone in need. Most comfort those needing prayers, but the group sends others to share a joy or to show appreciation. It is all in the stitching: prayer stitching. For Lindberg, it is also a time of listening and growing spiritually. She single crochets one row and double crochets three rows, representing the Trinity. The group is especially pleased when a good report follows the prayer shawl. The first shawl went through the pews and then to a seriously injured Arizona teenager, who underwent 14 surgeries. He received the shawl in a wheelchair in 2006, and today he can walk.

Shirley Gibbons has made 46 shawls. “It makes me feel good," she admits. "It's the spirit of the prayer, not the pattern. I feel closer to God. It calms my soul," Lindberg adds. More...

Peaks Subdistrict Lay Speaking Learning & Leading Classes Scheduled

Three valuable learning and leading classes will be held Saturday-Sunday, Mar. 7-8, at Long’s Peak UMC, Longmont. The ten-hour courses are open to all laity, and are sponsored by the Peaks Subdistrict Leadership Team and Lay Speaking Ministries. They include:

Reclaiming the ‘E’ Word- Building a Faith-Sharing Congregation. The task of the church is to make disciples, and the role of the congregation is primary. Participants will consider their church’s ‘E’ score, that is, welcoming, including, and making disciples, and consider a strategy for the congregation as evangelist.
Lay Speakers Tell Stories. This course will be a valuable learning tool for all who wish to enhance their own verbal ‘word picture’ skills, especially those who lead worship or occasionally fill the pulpit. Text for the course is Dancing with Words, written by Native American storyteller, Ray Buckley.
Lay Speaking Ministries - Basic Course. The introductory course in lay speaking ministries focuses on leading, caring and communicating, and is designed for those who are called to serve in a speaking role, particularly during worship.

Additional course information and enrollment forms are available from Rae Batch, (970) 224-0400 or by email at rmlbatch@aol.com. Prepayment and advance registration are required. In order to assure adequate preparation time for the advance assignment, closing date for registration is Saturday, February 21.

Walter Brueggemann In Boulder

Walter Brueggemann, retired professor of Old Testament, will deliver Boulder First Congregational Church’s 11th annual MacKenzie Lecture on Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the church’s Sanctuary. A potluck luncheon with Dr. Brueggemann will be held in Plymouth Hall beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb 14. It will be followed by a workshop on the Psalms from 1- 3:30 p.m. The special weekend concludes on Sunday when Dr. Brueggemann leads the adult education class at 9 a.m. and preaches at the 10:15 service.

Books to read in preparation for Dr. Brueggemann’s visit include: Prophetic Imagination, Mandate to Difference, and The Word that Redescribes the World. He also has a video available entitled Countering Pharaoh's Production-Consumption System Today, available from LivingtheQuestions.com. Read more about Dr. Brueggemann...

United Nations Seminar Set for February 21

An exciting United Nations seminar, “The UN and the USA: Restoring International Credibility” has been set for Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Denver University School of Tourism and Restaurant Management Event Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The keynote speaker is internationally known Sashi Tharoor, originally from India, the former under secretary general of the UN, and on the staff of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees under Kofi Anan. She is author of Tiger, Elephant, Cell Phone. (More about Dr. Tharoor... )

Four workshops are offered. They are: International Law with Claude D'Estree of DU's Josef Korbel School of International Relations; Supporting Human Rights with Peter VanArsdale of DU International Studies; Climate Change Framework with Leslie Glustrom of Clean Energy Action; and Paying our Fair Share with Tom Rowe of DU's Josef Korbel School of International Relations. The UN Seminar is promoting action in each of these workshops from individuals and the group that attends, so it is much more than just education.

Cost: adults $50, students $25, optional $5 parking fee. Seating is limited and registration deadline is February 13. For more information call 303-730-8247 or 303-781-2343 or mail check made out to UNA/USA Colorado with your name, address, phone and email with your choice of two workshops at Jane Barru, 3131 East Alameda Avenue #405, Denver, CO 80209. Some scholarships are available. Brochure here.

Cokesbury Changes Hours

FYI – While not strictly-speaking Conference business, many of you will be interested to know that Cokesbury Englewood has changed its hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10a.m. to 3 p.m.

Iraqi Refugee Family Needs Car

Qaddoori Qaddoori's family--father (Qaddoori Qaddoori), mother (Nadia Ali), three children and a baby boy due January 23, 2009--is one of the Iraqi refugee families Warren UMC has been sponsoring. They arrived in the states three months ago: a great and beautiful family who needs a little bit of help on the way to independence. Qaddoori Qaddoori has gotten a driver’s license just this week. All he needs is a good functioning car, to take kids to school, his expecting wife to medical appointments, himself to vocational school, etc. Does anyone need to get rid of a car or know someone who does? Warren Church will pay for the registration and insurance. Your help will be greatly appreciated. If you want to help with the coming baby boy, go to Target baby registry and find the registry under Nadia (first name) Ali (last name), registry ID 014226100000124. -- Eun-sang Lee, Warren UMC, Denver, 303-388-4186, warrenumc@qwestoffice.net

General/Jurisdictional News

Pastors Inspired To Build Bridges

United Methodist pastors of African-American congregations left a national gathering inspired to turn walls of obstacles sideways and make them bridges for reclaiming God’s promises. Civil rights activist Angela Davis, in a 1988 autobiography, defined a bridge as a wall turned sideways, and that definition helped focus the 2009 Convocation for Pastors of African American Churches. “Building Bridges Into the Future” was the centering point for the nearly 400 participants at the convocation, sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. While worship services breathed new life into their spirits, the daily plenary sessions provided practical tools for ministry. Focused on such topics as mentoring and technology, the plenary sessions offered a 21st century tool-kit for millennium ministers. Read whole story.

Missions News

Boulder United Methodist Mission Programs (BUMMP) Plans Trip to Sager Brown

BUMMP is sponsoring a mission team to UMCOR’s Sager Brown facility April 19-24. Work options include unpacking, sorting, and repacking kits; sewing room, construction, Big Brother & Sister Program. Costs will include room and board at Sager Brown, plus travel expenses, and personal expenses. For more information, contact Merlene Barner mbarner@niwotumc.org or 303-530-0241.

The Conference Community

Prayer Concerns and Caring for the Conference Community

Prayer Concerns are offered for the clergy and lay members and leadership of the Annual Conference and their immediate families, as a way to nurture the community of the Annual Conference. Prayer concerns are listed on the Prayer Concerns page on the Conference web site: RMCUMC.org/Community. More information about each of these named may be on those pages. Please keep in your prayers:

Skip Strickland, our Conference Director of Mission and Ministry, whose mother Betty Strickland, died January 26 after a long illness. She lived in Coupeville, on Whidbey Island in Washington State. The family is planning a memorial service for later this spring in Spokane, Washington. Expressions of care may be sent to Skip at skip@rmcumc.com or to the Conference Office, 6110 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village, CO 80111.
Mary Ann York, mother of Dave York and mother-in-law of Rhonda York (elder and deacon serving at SonRise UMC in Pueblo West), died January 23 as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident several months ago. Services were held January 27 at the United Methodist Church in Seneca, Kansas. Expressions of care can be sent to Dave at yorkyorkdave@comcast.net or Rhonda at ryork4him@comcast.net or 573 S. Watermelon Drive, Pueblo West, CO 81007.
Maggie Roe, RMC extension minister and Chaplain Resident at the University of Colorado Hospital, wants you all to know that her shoulder replacement surgery January 21 went well and that her recuperation is moving along with steady gains each day. Expressions of care may be sent to her at mroe@ix.netcom.com or 219 Delaware St., Denver, CO 80223.
Jodie Boyce, spouse of Loren Boyce, RMC clergy and Assistant Director of Mission and Ministry for the RMC. Jodie's mother, Margie Palmer, has died after a long illness (COPD-- emphysema) in Waverly Hall, Georgia. Expressions of care may be sent through Loren, loren@rmcumc.com, at the Conference Office.
Jean McPherson, pastor at Olney Springs UMC, who is recovering from being thrown from a horse January 5 and landing on her head and shoulder. She had no broken bones or spinal damage but had two small hemorrhages on her brain. She was taken by ambulance to Parkview Hospital in Pueblo for testing, treatment, and recovery. She recently sent this note as a followup: "I wish to thank everyone for their care and concern for me. It has been totally amazing. I have good news in that surgery for crises problems in both pelvis and neck is not going to be required at this time. I am healing well, although still quite impaired in mobility and stamina." Expressions of care for Jean and Charles may be given to their daughter Sharon McPherson at (719) 287-3262 or sent to 17541 County Road GG, Rocky Ford, CO 81067 or rjmagic@secom.net.
Olympia Tukutau, spouse of Sione Tukutau, pastor of First UMC, Rock Springs, needs your prayers. She is home in Tonga now to join in celebration the life of her beloved grandmother, Falekakala Haukinima. Her grandmother, 86, died last Sunday morning at her residence in Haveluloto. She will be at home for couple of weeks before returing to Rock Springs, Wyoming. Expressions of care may be sent to her c/o her hustand, pastor Sione, First UMC, 1515 Edgar St, Rock Springs, WY 82901, pastorsione@hotmail.com.
Kathy Kreps, spouse of retired RMC clergy Burl Kreps, had hip replacement surgery on Monday, January 26th, at Penrose/St Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs. Expressions of care may be sent to them at kbkreps@msn.com.
Lavada Redding expresses thanks: "Thank you to all of you who responded with prayers and notes to me following my knee replacement and subsequent infection (which is now under control). It is always good to have the support of friends of faith." -- Lavada Redding, Chair, Town and Country Ministries and Small Membership Church Committee, ilsr308@aol.com

TableTalk Publication and Subscription Information

TableTalk is a selection or edited summary of some of the most important e-mailed information sent to the Rocky Mountain Conference e-lists since the last issue. If you wish to receive all information sent by e-mail to the Conference, please send us your e-mail address and say what kinds of information you wish to receive. If official Conference News is the only information you wish to receive, you can sign up yourself at rmcumc.org/subscribe. Help your Conference budget by receiving this publication via e-mail!

TableTalk is edited by Stuart Davis, communications intern, and Ben Roe, information administrator. The next TableTalk will be published via e-mail near the end of February and sent a few days later by US Postal Service. It will contain items sent prior to the date of publication. To subscribe to TableTalk, send an e mail (or a postcard) with your name, church, and e mail address to ben@rmcumc.com or the address above.