http://www.kswestumc.org/news_home.aspnothing provideden-usSat, 7 Nov 2009 06:00:00 ESTSat, 7 Nov 2009 06:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=688http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=688ARGONIA--On Sept. 13, Argonia United Methodist Church celebrated its 125th anniversary. Bishop Scott Jones delivered the sermon at the morning worship service. Also in attendance was the Wichita West District Superintendent, Rev. Janet Hernandez. Four of the former ministers were able to be present for the days celebration. Following the morning worship service a covered dish dinner was held in the fellowship hall. The afternoon program was an informal celebration with the puppets making a presThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=687http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=687By Rebecca Stark BUHLERmdash;Buhler United Methodist Church hosted their thirdannual chili cook-off Oct. 3, in conjunction with Buhlerrsquo;s ldquo;Fall Frolicrdquo; event. The proceeds of the competition go toward various Mission and Ministry projects, such as paying Mission and Ministry apportionments, adopting a local family for Thanksgiving, adopting another family for Christmas and assisting the Buhler Grade School children with clothing and school supplies as needed. This year, there werThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=686http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=686WICHITAmdash;East Heights United Methodist Churchrsquo;s senior pastor, Rev. J.C. Kelley, dedicated a new Holy Communion table on World Communion Sunday, Oct. 4. The table was the culmination of a project begun nearly a year earlier. The result, rendered in oak to match the color and texture of the sanctuary chancel paneling, is a 7-foot-long table with Christian symbols, traditional architectural motifs and hand-carved lettering on the front. Though weighing nearly 350 pounds, the new table caThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=685http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=685ByRev. David Ragland and Judy Mellott PEABODYmdash;Peabody United Methodist Church hosted a ldquo;Celebration Sundayrdquo; Sept. 13, beginning with a ldquo;Second Sundayrdquo; breakfast hosted by the Truth Seekers Sunday school class. Following the breakfast, Sunday school promotion was held for all children going into the fourth grade and seventh grade. Third graders are presented with Bibles. All members then went to their new classes. A collection of school supplies for USD 398 that had beThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=684http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=684By Linda Cunningham CLAY CENTERmdash;When Rev. Mike Graber was assigned to the Fact, Green and Morganville United Methodist churches in July 1997, his wife, Sharlan, was a pastor-in-training at the Ebenezer and Hayes UMCs. I was a member at Hayes and came to know and appreciate Sharlan. When Bishop Fritz Mutti ordained Sharlan at the 2002 Kansas West Annual Conference, we rejoiced with her. It also was announced that Mike and Sharlan would begin their new appointments in the Kansas East ConfeThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=681http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=681By Lorna Geist Special contributor BENTONmdash;In todayrsquo;s weak economy, many people in our communities find themselves in danger of disconnected utilities and, even worse, facing eviction. The Benton United Methodist Church believes that when families face tough financial difficulties money helps, but the real need of people is Jesus Christ. Recently a member, ldquo;Sam,rdquo; who has just come through some struggles himself, brought a friend to the church in need of assistance. Her husbMon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=680http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=680By Rev. Greg Lindenberger Special contributor SALINAmdash;Church of the Cross United Methodist Church in Salina hosted a block party Sept. 13 for the neighborhood that surrounds the church and the families of the children who attend the churchrsquo;s preschool. This was the churchrsquo;s second annual celebration coinciding with Open House Month. The youth Sunday school class delivered door hangers in the neighborhood a week prior to the event. The door hangers had information about worship tMon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=683http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=683By Penney Schwab Special contributor COPELANDmdash;Did you know that Kansas is ranked as the ninth-highest state for household hunger Or that nearly two-thirds of food-insecure households have at least one family member employed full-time Or that households with children experience twice the rate of food insecurity as those with only adults United Methodists are working to alleviate hunger in Kansas and also in Haiti. The Community Food Ministry operated by Open Door in Wichita is the largesMon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=682http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=682By Wilma Anglemyer Special contributor TISDALEmdash;Tisdale United Methodist Church hosted a ldquo;National Night Outrdquo; party Aug. 4 for the small, rural community seven and a half miles east of Winfield. ldquo;National Night Outrdquo; is a community-strengthening, crime and drug prevention event. The church sent invitations to every mailing address in the township and advertised the event in the local news-paper, inviting people in the surrounding area. The evening consisted of a cook-oMon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=678http://www.kswestumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=678By Susan Cooper Marketing and Communications associate director LYONSmdash;To engage in risk-taking mission, the members of Lyons United Methodist Church hosted a ldquo;Rethink Church Sundayrdquo; Sept. 13. The vision for the event was to get out of the pews and into the community. ldquo;It was intended for us to be not just talkers of the word but doers of the word, to make connections in the community, for them to see us as more than a Sunday morning place we gather for entertainment,rdquo;Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST