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Capitol Area South Mission and Vision:
Our Mission:
The Mission of the Capitol Area South District is to encourage and equip United Methodist congregations in their mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Our Vision:
The vision of the Capitol Area South District is that all local churches are to be disciple-making centers that mirror the demographic composition of the community in which they are located in terms of age, ethnicity, and cultural background; and that the congregations continually grow and reach new people for Christ and strive to be open and inclusive of all God's children. Read the Revised CAS Strategic Plan by clicking HERE.
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School of Christian Missions Set Theme: Faith - Hope - Love in Action
Ohio Northern University
Four Day School: July 19-22
Weekend School: July 16-18
Day Sampler: July 17
Studies:
For the Love of God: John's Letters, the Spiritual Growth Study, offers an in-depth study of John's Letters.
Joy to the World: Mission in the Age of Global Christianity invites us to look at why we are involved in mission and how we proclaim the Good News in Jesus Christ.
The Beauty and Courage of Sudan: Why a Dream of Peace Is Possible
Click HERE to download a brochure.
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The United Methodist Men of the West Ohio Conference invite all men to participate in a one day program on Saturday, August 7, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at the Methodist Theological School.
The day will feature Todd Braschler of Todd Braschler Ministries.
Click HERE for a registration brochure.
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Two Volunteer in Mission Teams are scheduled to go to Managua, Nicaragua. The dates for the teams are June 26-July 4, and November
5-14, 2010. The November team will
also have a sightseeing extension of 3-4 days yet to be determined. Cost for each of the teams is estimated
to be $1,200 per person. For more information click HERE.
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Mark Your Calendar
Capitol Area North and South Past District Officers of the United Methodist Women will meet at Noon on Monday, April 19, at the United Methodist Children's Home. All formers officers are welcome.
The CAS District Conferencewill be held on Sunday, May 23, at 3:00 pm, at the Livingston UM Church.
West Ohio Annual Conference: June 6-10
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A Message from the District Superintendent
Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord! For this Eastertide season as we journey to Pentecost, we have prepared resources for congregations in the district to use as a prayer and fasting focus in these days. I am calling clergy and laity of the district to an extended time of prayer and fasting leadng up to Pentecost. The emphasis called "Pentecost Power: Prayer and Fasting for Transformation" calls us to pray for the mission and ministry of our congregations that we might live into our vision statement that each congregation in the district would be a disciple-making center. The emphasis also lifts up the Four Areas of Focus of our denomination as well as partnership with the Methodist congregation in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Click HERE to go a page from which you can download the resources for this campaign in pdf, Word, or PowerPoint formats. You can also view my video message for the kick off of this campaign. I encourage you to make use of these resources to invite your congregation(s) to a continued time of prayer and fasting during the Easter season. Pastors and laity alike are encouraged to spend time in prayer and fasting seeking God's will and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the mission and ministry of the congregations of the Capitol Area South District. One suggested pattern for fasting would be to fast from food following Thursday evening dinner through Friday afternoon.
Let us be in prayer that as we continue in prayer and fasting in these days after Easter that the power of the Holy Spirit might indeed fill our congregations and renew us for mission in the world as we seek let God transform our congregations in to disciple making centers.
I look forward to our gathering as the Body of Christ at our District Conference to worship together on Pentecost, May 23, at 3:00 pm, at the Livingston UM Church.
Thank you for your faithfulness. May the Lord bless and keep you in these days. |
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Jim's Tool Box
 Out of Death Comes Resurrection
We are now in the post Easter season. As followers of the Risen Christ, we know the story of Jesus' death on the Friday we call "Good Friday." And three days later, on the first day of the week, God raised Jesus to new life. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to our faith: out of death comes the resurrection. Good Friday is not the end of the story.
So perhaps it is appropriate to think about what new life might mean for dying congregations. I have been writing for the last few months in the Tool Box about the life cycle of congregations. I have discussed both what happens in the decline and in the renewal of congregations. I came across a series of articles in the Associated Baptist Press that describes how the Baptist denominations are addressing these issues. In this Tool Box I discuss ways that dying congregations can experience new life. Click HERE to read the article. |
UM Community Ministries: Signs of New Life
The Rev. Beth Weisbrod shares about a recent visit to the New Life Community Center in Hebron Ohio (Licking County) where she witnessed an old car dealership that has been transformed into a beautiful community gathering place! People have been coming from all around the county to their after school program, Baby Pantry, health fair , video game nights, and recovery support groups.
Click HERE to read about this ministry of New Life Community Community UMC.
Click HERE to download a copy of the UM Community Ministries Quarterly Newsletter. |
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Worship and Service Opportunities with the Council of Bishops
 The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church will hold their semi-annual meeting in the West Ohio Conference in Columbus May 2-7, 2010. For the first time, the Council will offer the hosting conference an opportunity to participate with them in leadership, service, and witness around the theme of the council meeting - Ministry With the Poor. This is a huge and rare opportunity for West Ohio and for the metropolitan community of Columbus where the conference and impact mission weekend will take place. The people of West Ohio are invited to participate in any of the many pre-council meeting weekend opportunities provided by the Bishops Council, West Ohio Conference, Capitol Area North and Capitol Area South District Offices and several of their churches. There will be worship, service projects, learning opportunities, and public witness around the theme of Ministry with the Poor, one of the Four Areas of Focus of the UMC. Click HERE for a schedule of the preaching and service opportunities and the bishops who will be preaching/leading in these opportunities. |
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Charitable Pharmacy Holds Open House
 The Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio welcomed the community to an open house on March 8. While the pharmacy began operation in February, the Open House was an opportunity for the community to tour the facility and to celebrate the opening of this initiative to serve low income persons who cannot afford needed prescriptions. The pharmacy is housed at the Livingston UM Church, and the West Ohio Conference has been a key partner in the launching of this new service to uninsured persons in the Columbus area.
Click HERE to read the article about the Open House.
Click HERE to see more pictures of the Open House activities. |
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2010 Camping Info Available Online  It's almost spring which means that summer is just around the corner! Now is the time to get ready to go to church camp this summer. As usual, the West Ohio Conference camps offer many exciting opportunities for children and youth of all ages.
Click HERE to see the camp schedule and to find out more information about camps for this summer. |
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West Ohio's Response to Haiti: Planning for VIM Trips
 The West Ohio Conference has been very generous in the response to the devestating earthquake in Haiti. Congregations across the conference partnered with their communities to fill a semi-truck with 29,990 health kits. The conference also sent an additional 2,193 kits to the Sager Brown Center. The cash value of the kits is $381,196. In addition the conference treasurer's office has received $817,826 as of March 12 for Haiti relief.
It is now time for Volunteer in Mission Teams to begin planning for trips to Haiti. Training sessions will be held this spring. Click HERE to read more about the relief efforts and and details for VIM Teams to go to Haiti. |
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Lay Speaker Classes Set for May 21-22
 The spring CAS Lay Speaker Trainingwill be held on May 21-22, at the Asbury South UMC, 4760 Winchester Pike, Columbus, OH 43232. The Basic Course will be offered. The Advanced Class will be on preaching.
Click HEREfor more information about the classes.
Click HEREfor a registration sheet. The registration deadline is May 8.
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Happenings and Events in CAS Local Congregations
Hilliard UMC Hosts Rabbi Sandy Sasso on the topic "Discovering the Religious Imagination of Children"
 Hilliard UMC is hosting Rabbi Sandy Sasso on Sunday, April 18, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. Rabbi Sasso will discuss how to nurture religious and spiritual curiosity that is inherent in children.
Click HEREfor a flyer about the event.
Village Chapel UMC Hosts "Walk Thru the New Testament" Event
 Village Chapel is offering a "Walk Thru the New Testament" seminar and a companion "Kids in the Book" event on Saturday, April 24 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Click HEREfor registration information for both events.
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New Appointments in the CAS District
Pastors newly appointed in the Capitol Area South District. All appointments are effective July 1, 2010 unless otherwise noted:
Hilltop The Rev. Michael Johnson
Baltimore Christ The Rev. Alice Wolfe
Asbury South The Rev. Kevin Orr
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Apportionment Update
Click HERE to see the congregations that have paid at least 25% of their conference apportionments as of 4/8/10. Thanks to all for faithfulness in the payment of apportionments.
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Joys and Concerns
 The Rev. Nancy Draves had back surgery and carpel tunnel surgery last month. |
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