News.NET
July 25, 2011- Vol. 4, Issue 63 |
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Join the movement to recover this economy - one family
at a time! |
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New Vital Congregations Website |
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| Child of apartheid to lead World Methodists |
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Bishop Ivan Abrahams |
Bishop Ivan Abrahams was 7 years old when his family was forced to move from a section of Capetown declared a whites-only area. As the choice to fill the post of general secretary of The World Methodist Council, Abrahams will be the voice of the Methodist/ Wesleyan family around the world. [more] |
| 2012 community center grants available | |
 If you are a community center or know of a community center or cooperative parish that may qualify for 2012 Community Center funding from the West Ohio Conference, applications are available on our website: Community Center Grants. Also available are grant writing tips and criteria to be considered for funding. Deadline to submit an application is October 1.
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| The battling bishops...and other UM mascots | |
 In the colorful world of mascots, United Methodist-related schools are at the top of the class with unique and historic "spokespersons."
Among the 121 UM related institutions in the US, the award for the best church-related mascot would have to go to Ohio Wesleyan with the Battling Bishops . [more]
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| Why I became a United Methodist | |
 Some things in the Methodist church scared me, like the appointment system, and it still does. But I can honestly say that I have no regrets for changing denominations. Becoming a United Methodist was absolutely the right decision for me. [full article]
Also read from Martin Thielen:
How a Two-Hundred-Year-Old, Declining, Mainline Church Got Its Groove Back |
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Get "a fresh start" for back to school | |
 "A Fresh Start," the latest sermon starter series and multimedia bundle from United Methodist Communications, encourages congregations to look at the back-to-school season as a chance for all persons to begin anew, and as a time of refocus for the church. Now available as a free download, the four-week sermon starter series features a preaching focus, liturgical content, challenges to live the message in community, and ideas for using social media to engage persons online.
The United Methodist Board of Discipleship also has worship resources and ideas for churches as a new school year approaches. The resources include a back-to-school blessing, prayer of thanksgiving and suggestions for school-supply drives. |
| UMCOR needs school kits | |
 The latest shipment of school kits to Haiti has "seriously depleted" the stockpile kept by the United Methodist Committee on Relief, which is encouraging congregations to use kit-making as a group project or activity.
The kits, which cost about $11 each to assemble, provide children with basic supplies such as paper, pencils and other items. Learn more |
| New church leadership institute - new places for new people | |
 Thinking about creating new places for new people near your community of faith? Jim and Kim Griffith, both veteran church planters, will lead a two-day event designed to give you clarity on your call to consider a new church start. Learn about different types of new church starts, connect with successful new church start pastors. Align your call, vision, and behaviors to starting new things, maybe even a church! [details]
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| Working and worshipping together: next steps in engaging in ministry with the poor | |
 Who are the lay and clergy leaders you know who yearn to engage in ministry with the poor but do not know how to begin? Take another step to in the ability to develop authentic relationships and partnerships and welcome neighbors into a worshiping community. Consider participating in an experience based event that is inspiring and equipping leaders this October in West Ohio. [details]
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| New vitality reflected at annual conferences | |
 Membership and attendance numbers provided during the recent annual conferences did not reverse the declines of past years, but did indicate something different afoot. The trend of decline continues in the three measured categories-membership, worship and Sunday school attendance. However, activity within and aside from those categories shows that conferences are trying new initiatives to connect with unreached communities. [more]
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| New dates of note | |
July 30...Open House Reception for Kirstin Shrom-Rhoads (2-5 p.m.), Albright Lodge, Camp Otterbein; RSVP to Rev. Angie Sherer, adsherer@yahoo.com or 614.235.8796.
Aug. 12-14... "Real Situations/Real Connections/Real Faith at Work", IN; the quadrennial UMVIM-NCJ RoundUP.
Aug. 23-25...Basic Training "Boot Camp" for Church Planters , FL; designed for pastors who are planting new churches in 2011 of for those who have recently planted a new church.
Oct. 8..."Creating a Men's Ministry for Every Man in your Church", Columbus; a West Ohio Conference United Methodist Men's Retreat. |
| Passages | |
Norm Hammitt, husband to Pastor Kathy Hammitt (deceased), has passed away. The vewing will be Thursday, July 28, 2-4 & 6-8pm, at Marsh Funeral Home in Woodville, OH; the funeral will be Friday, July 29, 11:00am at Woodville UMC, 201 W. First Street. Woodville, OH. Pastor Kathy Hammitt passed away June 5, 2010 as a result of injuries sustained during a tornado. |
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