Latest News from Capitol Area South District

The mission team is in need of doctors, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, nurses, pharmacists, translators, cooks, drivers and helping hands. Our mission is coordinated through Manos Juntas, the licensed healthcare ministry of the Methodist Church in Mexico. This mission is open to persons of all races and religions.

Each short-term mission lasts four days - two days of travel and set up, and two days of mission service. This mission affords us the opportunity to foster Christian understanding, give medical care, and witness firsthand the living conditions

of the Mexican people.

Here are dates for

scheduled trips:

-2011-

NOVEMBER 10-13

-2012-

JANUARY 12-15

Click HERE to download a brochure to register or for more information.

Positions Available

Community Development for All People

Senior Transportation Driver

Community Development for All People (CD4AP) is seeking a mature, experienced senior transportation driver for its new initiative in the community formerly served by South Side Settlement House. CD4AP recently assumed responsibility fro some services previously administered by the South Side Settlement House, including the Senior Transportation Program.

Click HERE for the full job description.

Part-time Director of Child and Family Ministries

Maple Grove United Methodist Church, Columbus, is seeking a leader who will love children and foster their spiritual growth. The successful applicant will manage programs, facilitate a move towards ministry with entire families, and recruit/train/inspire other leaders for ministry. Approx. 20 hours/week. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. For more information and a job description, contact Rev. Glenn Schwerdtfeger (pastorglenn@maplegroveumc.org) or Amy Kargiotis (akarg@columbus.rr.com).

New Director of Discipleship Resources for the West Ohio Conference

The West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church has designed a new position that will be added to the Connectional Ministries staff team. The "Director of Discipleship Resources" will partner with the conference staff, the cabinet, and leaders across the conference to resource our congregations and clergy with effective strategies to make disciples for the transformation of the world.

The right candidate will have a deeply committed Christian faith consistent with the standards of The United Methodist Church-as well as vision, experience and outstanding expertise in training and in creating discipleship curriculum and resources of all types for all ages. Please see the full job description and application instructions by clicking here: Position Information (PDF)

This position will remain open until filled. For specific questions, contact Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey, Director of Connectional and Missional Church Initiatives, at snkibbey@wocumc.org or at the West Ohio Conference Center office, 614.844.6200.

Mark Your Calendar

October 21-22:

Leading Beyond the Walls Seminar with Debi Nixon @ Scioto Ridge UMC

November 11-12:

Lay Speaker Training (basic and advanced class)

Look for more information later on the Bishop's Day on the District. The date will be rescheduled later.

Clergy Cluster Leaders Gather
to Reshape Cluster Groups in CAS

Barb Sholis leading cluster planning mtg

On Monday, September 26, seventeen clergy cluster leaders along with Assistant to the Bishop Randy Stearn, District Superintendent Barb Sholis, and Asst. to the Superintendent Jim Waugh met at the Cedar Ridge Lodge at the Battelle Darby Metro Park. The group met to conference around the shape and focus of cluster clergy groups in the district. Several cluster leader along with Barb and Jim attended a conference wide cluster leader training at Mohican State Park this summer.

The meeting served as an opportunity for the cluster leaders to covenant anew with District Superintendent Barb Sholis on the focus of these groups as we move forward. Randy Stearns carries the shape and focus of the cluster groups across the annual conference as a part of his job description laid out a vision for these groups. He stated that one of the primary goals for clergy clusters as, "Healthy pastors, leading healthy congregations that are making healthy disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

Barb Sholis led the cluster leaders into a process of discerning what that means for the cluster groups in the CAS District. The leaders covenanted to meet together regularly with Barb and to read the book Strengthening the Soul of Leadership . The cluster leaders agreed that each of the clusters would develop or renew their group covenant. In addition, participants in the cluster groups will be expected to share their personal development plans and ministry plans with the group. Several formats are now available for developing those plans. Pastors are also expected to identify areas in their life and ministry where they want the group to hold them accountable.

Cluster group resources including ministry and personal plan models and the listing of cluster groups can be found by clicking HERE.

Jim's Tool Box

Getting Ready for Christmas

What do you do to get ready for Christmas? I'm sure each of us has his/her ways of preparing for the holidays, but what about your church?

How does your church prepare for Christmas and for the guests/visitors who will attend services (especially Christmas Eve) at your church.

Church consutlant Bill Tenney-Brittian and his spouse Kris (a regional minister with the Disciples of Christ/Christian Church) have put together an "ABCs Holiday Checklist" with everything from A to Z that you needs to do to get ready to welcome guests at Christmas time.

The good thing is that this checklist is not just applicable at Christmas, it is good all year long (in the same way that our celebration of Christmas needs to be all year long!).

Click HERE to read Jim's article that includes a link to the Tenneys' checklist and a link to a webcast video on they have done on the same topic.

News from United Methodist Community Ministries

Community Ministry Festival Draws Large Gathering

The Community Ministry Festival (Community Ministries Annual Meeting) drew a large crowd of laity and clergy from across the Capitol Area North and Capitol Area South Districts. A large number of congregations shared displays of ministries projects that are being carried out in local neighborhoods and communities.

During an afternoon session, Eric Smith, Rusty Eshelman, and David Hood led a workshop entitled, "Building Community from the Inside Out."

The guest speaker for the evening worship service was the Rev. David Hood. David is the Campus Pastor at Fort McKinley UMC, Dayton, OH. Ft. McKinley is a "restart" that was on the verge of closing three years ago. In that time the congregation has grown from 40 in attendance to 400 in three Sunday morning services. More importantly, the congregation has moved out into the neighborhood around the church that is plagued with poverty. It is in the community that the church is truly making a difference. In his message, David Hood challenged those present in three areas:
1. Rebuild relationships -- ask people in the community, "What are the greatest needs?"
2. Restore the community -- ask neighbors, "What are the assets of this community?
3. Renew courage -- Ask the question, "What needs to change?"

Check out some pictures of the Community Ministries Festival by clicking HERE.

Fruitful Ministries Make a Difference in Communities

In her article this month, the Rev. Beth Weisbrod cites examples of fruitful ministries in Bexley, at Waters Edge at Buckeye Lake, and in Marysville. Click HERE to read Beth's article.

Beth is now on Twitter, and you can follow her tweets at twitter/umcommin.

Lay Speaking Classes Set for November 11-12

The Capitol Area South District will offer three lay speaker opportunities during the weekend of November 11-12. The training sessions will be held at Asbury South UMC, 4760 Winchester Pike, Columbus.

The following sessions will be offered:

Basic Lay Speaker Training

This introductory class is the required class for all persons who want to enter the ministry of lay speaking. Upon completion of the class, the participant is eligible to become a Local Church Lay Speaker. Approval of the pastor of the participant's church and the charge conference or church council of the local church is also required for one to become a Local Church Lay Speaker.

Advanced Lay Speaking Class

Those who are Local Church or Certified Lay Speakers may take the Advanced Class that will be offered. The advanced class is entitled "You Can Preach." This course is the advanced course in preaching. It is designed to help the lay speaker learn about the basics of preparing and delivering a sermon.

Basic Lay Speaker Recertification Class (A new option!)

This class will meet on Saturday only. Registration will begin at 8:00 am (along with continental breakfast). The class will conclude with the closing service for the entire lay speaking school at 5:00 pm. The recertification class is "Opening Ourselves to Grace." It is a four-session group study on the Means of Grace in the Wesleyan tradition. This class is intended for current local church lay speaker who need to take a class to continue their certification as local church lay speakers. Local church lay speakers may still take the Advanced Certified Class ("Lay Speakers Lead Small Groups') if they choose to do so to meet their requirement.

Click HERE to download a registration flyer for this event.

Local Church Happenings

Baltimore Christ UMC Holds Craft and Antique Show on October 22

Christ UMC, 700 Main Street, Baltimore will hold a Craft and Antique Show on Saturday, October 22, from 9:00 to 3:00 pm. Click HERE for a flyer with more information about the event.

Hilltop UMC Homecoming Scheduled for October 29-30

Hilltop UMC located at 99 S Highland Ave, Columbus OH will hold their annual Homecoming on October 29-30. A luncheon is planned for October 29, at Glenwood UMC. The Homecoming Worship service will be held on Sunday, October 30, at 11:00 am. The guest preacher for the service is Dr. Fred A. Allen is the guest speaker at our Annual Homecoming Luncheon. He is the National Director of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century and is a clergy member for the New York Annual Conference.

A special Black Methodists for Church Renewal Rally will be held at 4:00 pm. The Homecoming Choir will be featured.

Click HERE do download a flyer with more information.

Wesley Church of Hope Offers Free Medical Screening Camp on Saturday, November 5

Wesley Church of Hope, 2935 Bulen Ave, Columbus is offering a free medical screening camp on Saturday, November 5. Several specialties will be represented among the doctors who will be at the clinic. For more information, click HERE for a flyer about the screening.

Update from SOWER VIM Project

The SOWER VIM Team (a ministry that builds homes in the mountains of southeast Kentucky) is in the planning stages for constructing the 11th home for a family in 2012. The cost of materials to build one of the 28' x 28' or 28' x 32' houses from the ground up is approximately $36,000 to $40,000. The SOWER VIM Project is in need of both funding to cover material costs and volunteers for the build.

The SOWER VIM Leadership Team is requesting that the churches of West Ohio prayerfully consider supporting this worthwhile project in Southeastern Kentucky financially with a pledge of support as well as providing volunteers to do the actual construction. Those that have served on SOWER work teams comment that, while they have helped a family by serving, they gained much from the interaction and relationships with the family and fellow team members. West Ohio Conference churches are invited to participate in this rewarding project with your prayers, your volunteer labor, and your financial support.

Click HERE to download a copy of the letter about the SOWER project and ways that you and your congregation can participate in this ministry.

Click HERE to a video of the six weeks build of the tenth home that the SOWER project has completed.

Apportionment Update

Click HERE to see the congregations that have paid at least 75% of their conference apportionments as of 10/1/11. Thanks to all for faithfulness in the payment of apportionments.

Prayer Concerns

The Rev. Brenda Buckwell is celebrating the birth of a new granddaughter Hannah Elizabeth Mills born on 10/6/11.

Our prayers are with the Rev. Greg Swann and his spouse Kim in the death of Kim's mother recently.