Tornado clean up in Moscow, OH

Here is the latest about the storm recovery efforts in the Moscow, OH area from the Rev. Jocelyn Roper, Asst. to the Superintendent in the Ohio River Valley District:

A meeting was held at the Red Cross Friday. The Clermont County EMA attended the meeting. During that meeting, the director indicated that Moscow town leaders were reluctant to allowing outside volunteers in to assist until homeowners had an opportunity to go through all of their belongings.  This has taken some additional time, but has also allowed the survivors to direct their own recovery. This is a reminder to all of us that there is a great deal of patience to be practiced in when responding to a disaster.  Below is an update of what is happening.

1. The Clermont County EMA opened a call center. 
2. They have been overwhelmed with local volunteers and the call center is an attempt to coordinate volunteers and the needs of residents.
3. Debris Removal will be the greatest need over the next week to two weeks.  If you are interested in assisting with debris removal, please call 513-735-8521.  Please know that rain delays and hinders response.
4. The West Ohio Conference, through a grant from UMCOR, will be providing case management services for survivors. Bev Hurlburt will start this week. Please keep Bev in your prayers.  She will work with survivors to identify available resources for recovery.
5. In Moscow alone, there are 50-60 homes that have been destroyed or have received major damage. Because Moscow is also located in a flood plain, there are additional flood mitigation steps that must be followed when rebuilding. These requirements will add costs for families.
6. Local United Methodist churches have been very active in the response.  Grant Memorial UMC has been providing hot meals 3 times a day and has been providing non-perishable foods, diapers and other items requested by survivors. Felicity UMC, Goshen UMC and Bethel UMC have all be present with people affected by the tornados. In Adams County, Pastor Dan Johnson has been coordinating volunteer response and working with affected families.  The United Methodist Church has been present from the beginning offering a ministry of presence and caring.
7. Please continue to encourage people to give to the Bishop's Appeal.  100% of gifts will be used to assist survivors in Clermont County, Adams County and other affected counties.  We do have the capacity for on-line giving.  Go to www.westohioumc.org/disasterresponse

If you have any questions, please contact the following people:

Clermont County

Jocelyn Roper

jroper@wocumc.org

Adams County

Dan Johnson

wupastordan@cinci.rr.com

Use of Conference Resources

Dee Stickley-Miner

dstickley@wocumc.org

DONATE NOW!!!

100% of your gift will help survivors recover from disaster.

In this Tool Box article, Jim reviews a book that is a great resource for any group considering a new church start or for a group seeking to find some handles on "restarting" a congregation that is stuck in the 1960's.  This book provides a lot of good information about how we are called to be the church in the Post-Postmodern Age of the 21st century.

United Methodist Community Ministries Prayer Calendar

A new edition of the UM Community Ministries Prayer Calendar for March and April is now available.  Click HERE to download a copy of the prayer calendar).

More than 2,438 United Methodist clergy and laity have received the prestigious Harry Denman Evangelism Award presented in recognition of personal evangelism and ministry. The Foundation for Evangelism is pleased to announce the release of the 2012 Harry Denman Evangelism Award Nomination Packet for Annual Conferences. The Nomination forms for Clergy, Lay, the newly established Youth awards and supporting information is available by clicking HERE or by calling (800)737-8333.  Recipients of these awards, nominated by individuals, churches, or districts, and selected by the Annual Conference, live their call to "Offer Them Christ" daily as modeled by Dr. Harry Denman, founder of The Foundation for Evangelism that sponsors these awards. 

Good Works in Athens

Looking for Summer Interns

Greetings from your friends at Good Works!  Do you know a college-age person seeking a summer (9 week) internship this summer working with people struggling with poverty?

At Good Works we are seeking SUMMER INTERNS who are interested in growing deeper in their relationship with Christ while serving the people of rural Appalachia.  Visit our website www.good-works.net and click on "internships."  Then, select "Summer Service" for a complete description and a short video.  This summer (our 12th year of summer service), in addition to our on-going work with widows, children in the risks of poverty, and people who are experiencing homelessness, we will also be working with local teens through agriculture and discipleship training initiatives.

Do you know someone who enjoys working with children or seniors (widows or widowers) or people struggling with poverty and aging issues? Or do you know someone who loves teens or kids (K-6) or wants to explore working with people experiencing homelessness?  If so please send them our way to consider our summer internships.  Good Works has 20 different contexts for ministry and our interns experience a wide range of leadership development opportunities.  The internship provides housing, food, and a stipend.  

Love is a verb.

Keith Wasserman (goodworks@good-works.net) 

Community Development for All People Needs Refrigerators and Freezers for

Healthy Eating and Living Initiative

In mid-April, Community Development for All People is launching a new community-based Healthy Eating And Living (HEAL) initiative.  In support of the initiative, they are seeking donations of new and used refrigerators and freezers for use in storing fresh produce and other healthy foods that will be distributed to program participants.  Persons interested in making a donation are asked to contact Dave Cofer, Managing Director via e-mail at dcofer@4allpeople.net or by phone at 614-738-0844.

This Mother's Day Give More Than a Card 

Your compassion in action. That's the definition of the CWS Blankets+ Program.  This Mother's Day take action - give help, give hope!

In 2011, Blankets+ contributions gave hope and resources to people in crisis when:

*Deadly tornadoes devastated communities all across the U.S.

*Refugees displaced by disaster or violence needed food and shelter.

*Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast, causing widespread flooding and power outages.

*Seeds and tools were needed to help Haitian families create community gardens for food security.

*Harsh Midwest winter storms put homeless people in danger of freezing.

Your congregation or group can send a powerful message to people in tragic situations: "You matter to us." 

We know more disasters will occur. Let's work together to put faith and compassion into action -for Mother's Day, Father's Day, any day - so help is there when it's needed most.

Plan your Blankets+ offering now. Order your Blankets+ resources today.  Contact Matt Stevens at the Ohio Regional CWS office, 614-481-4416 or mstevens@churchworldservice.org.  Find out more at blanketsplus.org.

West Ohio Cooperative School of Christian Missions

The West Ohio Cooperative School of Christian Missions (CSCOM) is a mission-focused, educational event with programs for adults, young adults, youth, and children.

Held annually at Ohio Northern University, CSOCM is co-sponsored by United Methodist Women and UM Connectional Ministries, but you do not need to be United Methodist to attend.

 The 4-day Adult, Young Adult, and Youth Schools will be July 9-12, 2012. 

The weekend event with programs for Adults, Young Adults, Youth and Children, as well as the Spanish languages track, will be July 13-15, 2012.  

Click HERE to go to the CSCOM website for registration information.

The deadline for early bird registrations is April 15.

Are You Being Called to Lead a Volunteer in Mission Team?

Come and learn how to organize and lead a mission team in Ohio, the United States or around the world. Join experienced team leaders to learn skills and information for planning and leading a mission team. Learn about the importance of the Spiritual Guide and receive practical resources so that you can nurture the spiritual life of every team member. Mission provides fertile ground for spiritual growth. This training will equip you to lead others in mission where you will see and experience the abundant miracles of God's love. We look forward to working with you! 

Training will be offered on two different dates:  April 28         

and Oct. 6

Mt. Sterling Hires Family/Children's Ministry Director

After much hard work and a long search by the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, we are pleased to welcome Julie Hillenbrand as our new Director of Family/Children's Ministries. Julie has 24 years of teaching experience as an elementary music teacher, as well as working with children's and adult's programs at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grove City. She also directed their children's choir and worked with their children's Christmas program and Vacation Bible school. She moved closer to our area in 2009 and is looking forward to becoming part of our Church family. Julie brings a wealth of experience and creative ideas and she will hit the ground running in helping to serve the needs of our children and families. Her job (which is part-time) is to come along side of and support those who are doing so much in the areas of Christian education and children's worship, as well as bring new ideas to the table. We ask for your prayers as Julie begins her new ministry with the people of Mt. Sterling First UMC.