News.NET
January 23, 2012- Vol. 5, Issue 75 |
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As Ephesians 4:12 reminds us, our responsibility is "to equip God's people to do God's work and build up the church, the body of Christ."
With that goal in mind it is a pleasure to present the first issue of our new West Ohio EQUIP Resource Catalog. |
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| Bishop Ough Announces 2012 Miracle Offering for Annual Conference | | I am eagerly looking forward to our June 10 - 13, 2012 Annual Conference session at Lakeside.
The theme for the session is Unleashed! Proclaiming the Good News and Healing People Everywhere. We will celebrate the multiple ways the Conference contributes to improving the health of individuals, congregations and communities in West Ohio and in all four corners of the world.
Together, we will explore how we can more fully embrace Jesus' ministry of "proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere." (Luke 9:6 CEB) In keeping with our theme, we will once again receive a Love First Miracle Offering.
Our Love First Miracle Offering goal is $500,000. This is an audacious goal; the kind that is accomplished only when we let the Holy Spirit work through us. Our offering will support the Wings of the Morning aviation ministry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are following the lead of our missional partner in Africa, the North Katanga Conference, to purchase a Cessna Caravan plane. The plane will deliver medical personnel and medicine, provide ambulance services, plant new churches and spread the Gospel. The plane goes where the roads run out.
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| Thurston United Methodist Church Featured in Interpreter Magazine | |
 Thurston United Methodist Church was one of three churches featured in the January-February 2012 issue of Interpreter Magazine. Read their story in "Summer Food Ministries: We had to find a way to feed them." Thurston UMC is located in Thurston, Ohio in the Capitol Area South distirct and is pastored by Rev. Rebeka Maples.
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Zoom in on the Zone |  The Greater Hilltop Shalom Zone is honoring Bishop C. Joseph Sprague, who has been instrumental in organizing a Shalom Zone on the west side of Columbus. A luncheon to honor him and pay tribute to his ministry will be held February 11 at Glenwood United Methodist Church. Special guest Bishop Gregory Palmer is a very inspirational and dynamic speaker and will have much to share about the importance of the Shalom Zone ministry occurring across the world. Details and tickets: Zoom in on the Zone. Invitation Letter |
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J.A.M. gardens in southeast Ohio says "thanks!" | |
Congregations and individuals from the West Ohio Conference helped Jackson Area Ministries Seed Project (Green Thumb Project) assist over 3, 000 individuals/families grow a vegetable garden. Seeds and financial donations along with contributions made this ministry possible. J.A.M. expresses its deep appreciation to all who have contributed this past year. To participate this year contact JAM Gardening at 888.238.3141 or jamjar@midohio.twcbc.com. |
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Early Response Team Training | |
 Have you been thinking about joining the Disaster Early Response outreach? Has your church talked about starting a Disaster Early Response team of your own? Several churches within the West Ohio Conference have created their own team of Early Response members in case of a disaster. Two classes are coming up very quickly in the Columbus area - January 28th at King Avenue UMC, and February 11th at North Broadway UMC. These classes give you the skills and knowledge to help survivors of a disaster to reclaim their lives and begin again, taking steps to prevent further damage to a family's personal property. For a complete list of Early Response Team training classes that are currently scheduled, click here. When should you prepare for a disaster? Before it happens? Why not begin now!
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Connecting with the Soul: Faith Sharing Training for Outreach Ministries | |
 Are you wondering how to create a safe space in your outreach ministry or church so you can listen and share faith with the people you serve? This training will help you build mutual caring, praying and sharing God stories into your radical hospitality and service. You will learn how to recognize God at work in another and become more at ease sharing your own story. The workshop will be led by the Community Ministries Training Team. [more]
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New dates of note | |
January 1-February 29...One Day to End Homelessness, campaign calls on community members to contribute the equivalent of just one day's rent or mortgage payment to the Community Shelter Board of Franklin County. Resources to help churches participate.
Jan. 29...Understanding Mental Illness, Epiphany UMC, Loveland; 1 in 4 Americans suffers with a mental illness. What do we look for? How can we help?
Mar. 9-10...2012 Refresh your Soul Conference: Spiritual Care in Times of Trial & Loss, Cincinnati; presented by Episcopal Retirement Homes' Parish Health Ministry. [more]
June 16-23...VIM Team, Joplin, MO; join with Marion Prospect Street UMC to serve with the rebuilding of the area from the tornado damage. Nearly 7,000 houses were destroyed (most of which were flattened or blown away) and over 850 others were damaged. |
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Passages | |
Rev. Donald E. Davis, (retired), died on January 17, 2012. Messages of condolence may be sent to his wife Virginia at Briarwood Village, 100 Don Desch Drive, Coldwater, OH 45828.
Rev. John J. Shepard (retired 1982), died on January 12, 2012. Messages of condolence may be sent to his son David at 3249 Royal Troon Road, Lexington, KY 40509.
Mrs. Grayce M. Steele, surviving spouse of Rev. Paul W. Steele (deceased 2001), died on January 10, 2012. Memorial gifts may be sent to Mt. Healthy UMC, 7612 Perry Street, Cincinnati, OH 45321. Messages of condolence may be sent to Rev. Wes and Debbie Steele, 9481 Ash Hollow Drive, Dayton, OH 45458.
Rev. Erladean Heffner (retired 1995), died on January 8, 2012. |
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