|
|
|
|
|
West Ohio is on Facebook! | |
|
| Wesleyan Institute: Explore The United Methodist Way |
 The Wesleyan Institute, to be held in April at Faith Community UMC in Xenia, will be a time of Christian conferencing with people who are seeking to live in the world as disciples of Jesus Christ. In plenary sessions, small group table conversation, prayer and worship we will explore the meaning of The United Methodist Way in the life and mission of the church. Early Bird registration closes April 1 and scholarships are available. [more] |
| Give the Council of Bishops your opinion |
 The Council of Bishops is updating its historic 1986 statement in opposition to nuclear weapons, entitled In Defense of Creation: the Nuclear Crisis and a Just Peace. The Council has identified a trio of current "threats" to God's good Creation and would like your input via a 3-4 minute survey. Your opinions will inform their study and writing so the document is as relevant, timely and as powerful as possible. [more] |
| Slaughter teaching "The Missional Church" |
 Dr. Michael Slaughter, Senior Pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, OH, will be teaching "The Missional Church" at United Theological Seminary in June. This course focuses on the church as missional community and may include pastoral leadership, personal disciplines, social engagement, mission and evangelism, and equipping the laity for effective ministry. [more] |
|
|
|
| Media campaign seeks new ways to draw & keep younger members |
 American Protestants are more loyal to their favorite brand of toothpaste or toilet paper than they are to their Christian denominations, according to a recent survey.
As the United Methodist Church launches "Rethink Church," the latest phase of a multi-million dollar media advertising campaign, the new research raises the question: Is the denomination attempting to build "brand loyalty" in an arena where it's increasingly irrelevant?
Church leaders counter that with the May 6 rollout of the new media campaign Rethink Church, they're trying something much bigger than just creating awareness for the United Methodist name.
The campaign's goal is "to encourage a global spiritual dialogue," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top staff executive for United Methodist Communications. "We will ask, 'What if church were a verb and not a noun?'" [more] |
| Creative worship & media design event offered |
 Get the full seminar treatment with Midnight Oil's 2-day event combining the newest and best thinking for creative worship and media design, including everything from overview and foundational principles to the nitty-gritty of how-to. Register for a single day or for both together. Passionate about worship that authentically communicates to today's digital culture, Midnight Oil's goal is to further the vision of worship for the digital age through ideas, resources and seminars that work for local churches. [more] |
| UMNS plans |
 As the recession deepens across the United States, United Methodist congregations are ministering to church members and their communities while trying to maintain their commitments to mission. United Methodist News Service, working with annual conference communicators in the Midwest, will present a package of stories on how churches are responding to the downturn. [more] |
| Youth raise more than $9.7 million for the hungry |
 United Methodist youth teamed up on Super Bowl Sunday with young people across the United States to raise more than $9.7 million in goods and dollars to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities through the 2009 Souper Bowl of Caring. Nearly 2,357 United Methodist congregations and more than 20,000 United Methodist youth participated in this year's campaign and have raised $971,771 so far, said Caroline Stephens, director of church relations for the nonprofit Souper Bowl organization. In 2008, United Methodists gave more than $830,000 to the Souper Bowl of Caring.Since the campaign's launch in 1990, young people have raised more than $41 million for soup kitchens, food banks and other charities in communities across the world. [more] |
| Volunteers in Mission news |
| Apr 17-18...2009 National Senegal Consultation, Milwaukee, WI; an opportunity for people interested in the mission of the church in Senegal.
|
| New Dates of Note |
|
Marvin Cropsey, editor of Mature Years magazine from the United Methodist Publishing House, will present a series of classes and workshops at Otterbein Lebanon.
- Wednesday, April 15, 3 - 4:30 p.m. - "Baby Moses Grew Up and Got Old" ,
- Thursday, Apr. 16, Morning and afternoon sessions - "Living as a Spiritual Older Adult," an event for pastors and laity
- Friday, Apr. 17, 10-12 p.m.- "The Making of Mature Years and How to Write for Older Adults."
|
| Passages |
Rev. Donald R. Yocum (retired 1993) died on March 10, 2009. Memorial contributions may be made to Otterbein Lebanon Benevolence Fund or the Westville UMC in his name. Messages of condolence may be sent to his son David at 2704 West Rock Drive, Hilliard, OH 43026. |
|
Deadline for NewsNET articles is noon on Tuesdays |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
