Committed to social justice in Nebraska since 1966
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| The Rev. Jim Wallasky with the First UMC Waverly mission team, June 2010  |
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Friends,
As this summer winds down we are harvesting our gardens, hosting our final summer mission team, saying farewell to the Big Garden interns, and gearing up for our fall and winter events. Read on to find out how you can help as we work to eradicate hunger, poverty, and racism in Southeast Nebraska.
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Calendar of Events
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September 11th, 1pm
Camp Fontanelle Work Day
September 19th, 11-6
Camp Fontanelle BBQ
Saturdays & Sundays, September 19th-October 31st
Camp Fontanelle Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
September 30th-October 2nd
Come to the Hill event at Camp Comeca
October 15th-17th
Children's Sabbaths Weekend
Sunday
October 17th
UMM's Stand Up Against Poverty Day of Service
Sunday October 31st
Fair Trade Halloween/ Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
January 17th
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
April 16th
Global Youth Service Day
May 14th
Change the World Day of Service
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Mission Team Update
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This has been our biggest summer of mission yet as United Methodist Ministries has hosted over a dozen youth and adult mission teams from Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska. Teams volunteered at our partner agencies including shelters and pantries, churches, the Big Garden, a community meal, Blue Flamingo thrift, and Habitat for Humanity. This past weekend, one group participated in UMM's first ever Farmers Market scavenger hunt and had a great time. In addition to the learning that took place at the work sites, UMM also provided resources and information to enrich their understanding of mission and justice issues in Omaha, with the goal that they will apply what they learn back in their home communities. We really had a great time hosting these groups, and we have received positive feedback from them as well!
 The Rev. Susan Davies teaching the mission team from St. Paul UMC Omaha a lesson in Fair Trade at Soul Desires  The Rev. Mark Richardson with his mission team from Grace UMC Crete.
United Methodist Ministries is an accredited Volunteers in Mission site, and we will tailor a mission experience to your group's needs and interests. All lodging and service sites are arranged for you, full-service. Contact Lisa at 402.898.9862 or lmaupin@bigmuddyumc.org to register your group for this fall or for next summer.
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August is Buy Fresh, Buy Local, Fair Trade Month
| Does it really matter where we do our shopping? We think it does! We hope you'll take a moment in August to reflect on your purchasing habits and how they affect our local communities. There's still time to participate! This is an initiative of the Sowing the Seeds rural group, facilitated by the Nebraska Conference of the United Methodist Church. Click here to find out how you can make a difference. Or donate to the Big Garden through the United Methodist Advance project, #3021107. |
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Big Garden Reaping Harvest
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With 26 community gardens in Omaha as well as the 6 rural garden
projects, the Big Garden is celebrating its biggest growing season yet! Throughout the summer, the Big Garden facilitated several neighborhood
events, educational programming for children, and spa days for senior
women and young girls using garden products. This is in addition to the
obvious benefits of community gardens: fostering neighborhood
camaraderie and access to fresh produce. Also, several mission teams
volunteered in the gardens, giving them the skills and knowledge to
apply in their home settings. Three gardens built new patios or
walkways including Sacred Heart Catholic Church/Heart Ministry Center,
Clair United Methodist Church, and Living Hope/Pearl United Methodist
Church. And, once again, the Big Garden sponsored interns who helped
with programming and physical labor, gaining valuable experience along
the way. We are thankful for the many hands that helped this summer. Let's count this season as a success!
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Stand Up Against Poverty Day of Service
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Join us Sunday October 17th from 2-6pm as we Stand Up Against Poverty by engaging in local mission and justice work. Teams of youth and adult leaders will work at local agencies that are meeting poverty needs in the metro Omaha area. Open to Junior High and Senior High youth. Registration materials are available now. To register your team, or for more information, contact Lisa at 402.898.9862 or lmaupin@bigmuddyumc.org.
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Event Speakers |
Did you know that we can provide your church with speakers on themes of mission and justice? Just give Lisa or Jaimee a call at 402.898.9862 and we'd be happy to set you up.
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UMM to Launch New Website
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We are very excited to announce that Rebel Interactive is
designing a
new and improved website for United Methodist Ministries. This will bring all of our programs, including the Big Garden and Blue Flamingo, under one umbrella. We plan to launch the website by
September, so be sure to check back for it! |
October is Fair Trade Month!
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In Your Church:
Celebrate Fair Trade Sunday at your church during the month of October by highlighting Equal Exchange products. UMCOR has created a complete worship service around Fair Trade coffee issues. This can also be
an opportunity for your church to sell Equal Exchange coffee, tea, cocoa, and
chocolates. The following statement was approved at the 2004 United Methodist General Conference encouraging congregations to use Fair Trade coffee:
Be it resolved that, in seeking an
authentic Christian response to the plight of developing world small
individual coffee farmers, their families, and their communities, the
General Conference of The United Methodist Church urges all agencies of
the church, local congregations and their affiliated organizations that
use coffee to purchase coffee for corporate and personal use through the
fair trade partner, Equal Exchange or through another fair trade
organization.
Will your congregation make the switch this year? Also, Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, providing churches with the
perfect opportunity to promote Fair Trade issues. UMCOR and the General Board of Church and Society have partnered with Equal Exchange to distribute this cool trick-or-treat tote.
In Your Home:Are you planning to have a Fair Trade Halloween? Here are some ways to have a Fair Trade Halloween at home: - Help your child or grandchild to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. Trick-or-treaters receive small boxes to collect money for children around the world. Click here for more information and downloadable curriculum kits.
- Distribute Fair Trade chocolate to your trick-or-treaters. These are available through Blue Flamingo thrift, Soul Desires Bookstore, Ten Thousand Villages, and other Fair Trade sellers.
- Host a Halloween fundraising party or create your own customized "Trick-or-Treat Online" page to collect donations for UNICEF over the Internet. Click here for more info.
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New Big Garden Video
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The Big Garden has a new video, thanks to Missouri River District Superintendent, The Rev. Dan Flanagan! He visited several gardens including those in Fremont and Auburn, and created a great video based on his experiences. We are excited to share this with you. Thanks, Dr. Dan! Click here to view the short version. Click here to view the long version. |
Calling Volunteers!
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Is your church group looking for an opportunity to ReThink church? Let UMM help your church "Leave the Building" by volunteering with the Big Garden. As harvest wraps up, we will need volunteers to put our
gardens to bed for the season. This is a great volunteer activity for families or church groups. If your group is interested in
volunteering on a Saturday during September or October, we will make it work for you! We will provide audio access to Husker Football, and we will arrange lodging if your group would like to stay overnight and worship at another United Methodist church. Please contact
Lisa or Jaimee at 402.898.9862 or e-mail info@bigmuddyumc.org to find a time that works for you.
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| Featured September Events: Fall Festivities at Camp Fontanelle
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Have fun while supporting Camp Fontanelle at their annual BBQ
festivities from 11am-6pm September 19th. Activities include hayrack
rides, the petting barn, inflatable moonwalks, puppet shows,
11am & 5pm worship services led by District Superintendent Nan
Kaye-Skinner, fabulous food, face painting, 2 acre pumpkin patch,
pumpkin painting, archery, tree climbing on ropes, pony rides, hiking,
Sheltered Reality drum band, live and silent auctions, a buck skinner's
encampment and demonstrations, and the 10 acre corn maze. Be a hero in
the lives of kids by supporting camping through your presence and gifts. September
19th also marks the opening of the annual corn maze, which will be open through October 31st. This is a great
activity for youth groups. Plan on at least an hour in the 10 acre
maze, then stay a little longer to enjoy the petting barn, bounce in the
bouncer, ride a pony, play in the sand, play lawn games, or play Laser
tag (check website for details). Campfires, concessions and weekday
group events are available, and coupons are online. Pumpkins are
available by free will donation, and concessions are available during
regular weekend hours. Check website for specific details or to make
your group reservation. The corn maze is open to the public
Saturdays & Sundays from 1-7pm, September 19th-October 31, with
special Halloween scaring hours from 7-10pm October 23, 29, & 30. Click
here for more
information about events at Camp Fontanelle. |
Featured October Event: Green Workshop at Camp Comeca
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Come to the Hill II:
A Call to Hope and Action
Join the Risk-Taking Mission and Justice team at Camp Comeca September 30-October 2 to engage with God's Renewed Creation, the Council of Bishops' statement on the environment. Special guest will be Jim Winkler, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society. Below you will find the application for this event as well as a brochure to share with people in your local church. |
Blue Flamingo Thrift Store Update
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 Blue Flamingo continues to offer free yoga classes every Wednesday in the basement of Dietz United Methodist Church 1423 S 10th St. from 10:30 to 11:30 (get there a little early, class starts right at 10:30). Basic yoga, meditation, lavender oil, and hot tea await you! Blue Flamingo has many fun events in the works for this fall, so be sure to follow them on Facebook for updates. Potential events include backyard concerts, a game night, a paper making workshop, and skill shares. Blue Flamingo is looking for donations of children's clothing and shoes, plastic storage tubs, dishes, summer clothing (especially men's), and anything weird and kooky taking up space in your home. On-Going Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers
are needed Fridays from 12-5 at the thrift store, 1716 South 10th
Street in Omaha. Schedule your time for one Friday a month or
every Friday. Or, do
you
need a more flexible volunteer schedule and like to spread the message
about Fair Trade? Blue Flamingo is developing a list of people who
are willing to assist with off-site Fair Trade sales. For all Blue Flamingo volunteer opportunities, contact Jaimee or Lisa at 402.898.9862 or
info@bigmuddyumc.org. |
Spread the Word!
| Did you know that we send out three separate e-newsletters: one covering United Methodist Ministries as a whole, one for friends of the Big Garden, and one for friends of the Blue Flamingo thrift store? If you would like to receive any or all these newsletters, just e-mail jtrobough@bigmuddyumc.org, specifying which newsletter you would like to receive. Feel free to unsubscribe if you do not wish to receive e-news. We are currently updating our database, so please forward our e-newsletters on to friends who might be interested in learning more about mission and justice opportunities in Nebraska. Also, encourage the writers of your church newsletter to include items from our e-news. Let's get the word out together!
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We hope you'll join us this fall and winter as we work to eradicate hunger, poverty, and racism. Let us know how we can help you or your church to engage in mission and justice!
Blessings,
Jaimee Trobough
United Methodist Ministries
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