UM Community Ministries Liaison Training

• A Round Table Luncheon for churches that have participated in "Be the Church Day")
• A women's day apart called "Healthy Serving."
• Liaison Training  attended by 17 new liaisons as well as those continuing in the liaison role.
• The Bridges Out of Poverty Training with over 70 persons in attendance

Maple Street UMC, 438 Wheeling St, Lancaster, is pleased to announce The Remarkable Women of Faith Conference on Saturday, March 19, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. Continental breakfast and lunch are provided.  

The theme for the conference is "The Gift of Self Discovery."  The Rev. Desiree Carter, pastor of the church and a co-author of the books Remarkable Women of Faith, Speaking of Faith, and Success is a State of Mind is one of the leaders for the event. Insight Publishing calls her "one of America's premier Christian Speakers." She will make you laugh until you cry, and share her breakthrough strategies for overcoming obstacles and reaching your full potential.

Another presenter is Rebecca Alspaugh, a remarkable woman of faith, a caregiver, author, and workshop presenter. Her recent book is Who, Who, Said the Wise Old Owl, is full of the humor, insights, and coping mechanisms she learned through caring for her parents and her in-laws through their final illnesses. Becky will share what it means to journey down a road called Self Care!

Click HERE to download registration information for the event. 

The Capitol Area South District will offer three lay speaker opportunities during the weekend of April 29-30.  The training sessions will be held at Pickerington Trinity UMC, Pickerington.  

The following classes will be offered:

Basic Lay Speaker Training: This introductory class is a required class for all persons who want to enter the ministry of lay speaking.

Advance Lay Speaking Class:  Those who are Local Church or Certified Lay Speakers may take the Advanced Class.  The class this spring is entitled "Lay Speakers Lead Small Groups."  

Basic Lay Speaker Recertification Class (a new option!): This class will meet on Saturday only.  It is aimed Local Church Lay Speakers who need to take a class to continue their certification.

Click HERE to download an information/registration sheet.  

Registrations are due by April 4. 

The final total for the One Day to End Homelessness Phone Bank on Monday, January 31 was $101,544.39 -- 1000+ donors!  Thank you for your help in getting the word out across Columbus and in UM congregations.

Coordinator the Rev. David Meredith reports:  

Now is the time for the faith community offerings!  I really hope we can double the total through UM congregations. I will keep you posted throughout the month of February as the Faith Community donations come in. I understand you are receiving phone calls wondering where to send checks for One Day to End Homelessness.  They should be sent to the Community Shelter Board, 111 Liberty Street, Suite 150, Columbus, OH  43215.  The Shelter Board is keeping a spread sheet of United Methodist contributions, therefore, please make sure church identify their offering for One Day to End Homelessness/UMC in the memo. I am hopeful to be able to give each district a report of congregational gifts to the effort.

For those who want to connect more deliberately with the Community Shelter Board, they can go to the website for the event and fill out the data information as a participating faith organization.

Congregations, United Methodist Women units, Sunday school classes, youth groups and individuals from your annual conference helped Jackson Area Ministries provided vegetable seeds, tomato plants, seed potatoes and even flowers for 2559 garden plots in 2010.  Jackson Area Ministries (JAM) is a mission project of The United Methodist Church serving the Appalachian counties of Ohio.  Since the early 1970's Jackson Area Ministries has been assisting families and individuals improve their food supply by enabling them to "Grow" their own vegetable gardens through the Green Thumb ministry

Jackson Area Ministries Green Thumb garden project (JAM Gardening) expresses its gratitude to all who contributed this past summer and we are beginning to plan for the 2011growing season.  If you are interested in participating this year, send your inquiry to:  JAM Gardening, PO Box 603, Jackson, Ohio 45640.  Phone:  1-888-237-3141 or e-mail at:  jamjar@midohio.twcbc.com.  A brochure, complete report, bulletin inserts, and other information is available from our office. 

Thank you for all your years of support.