News.NET: For West Ohio United Methodist Church Leaders

As Labor Day in the United States approached I reflected on the 90th Psalm once again. To be sure it was not written at any conscious level to be suitable for a Labor Day reflection. But a part of its timelessness and timeliness is that it speaks to a variety of situations that we as human beings face and struggle with. In it is praise and acclamation about God's greatness, lament, reflection on the relationship of God, mortals and time and there is supplication. (continued)

Mission team expresses thanks to North Katanga

A team from the West Ohio Conference was in mission with the North Katanga Conference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo August 15-25. Members of the team were Nancy Byrd, Kenya Cummings, Rev. Roger Grace, Jeff Jewell, Rev. Wendy Lybarger, Rev. Bill Patterson, Rev. Dee Stickley-Miner, Alison Walther, Doug Walther, Rev. Don Wilson. (read more about their experience)

Relief supplies needed

Natural disasters seem to be ever-increasing in our world, as indicated in the Prayer section of this newsletter. The availability of relief-supply items, which provide for the most basic needs when there is no ready access, is more critical now than ever before. Help UMCOR meet the growing demands of crisis-driven requests for material resource

s. Visit the UMCOR Relief-Supplies webpage to learn how you can support the vital work that brings hope and relief to those affected by natural or human-made disasters.

RevitUp for a lifetime in ministry!

The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits invites you to an energizing event for young clergy this October in Atlanta. If you're under age 40, that's you! This is a unique opportunity to strengthen personal, financial and leadership skills which can improve your life and sustain your ministry. Visit the General Board of Pension website for additional information.

The West Ohio Conference Board of Pension will contribute $200 toward the cost of your attendance and an additional $100 for spouses. Contact Beth Gibbs, at the Conference Office for more information. (614-844-6200 or bgibbs@wocumc.org)

Save money, save energy, save creation

Attend the Green Building Workshop this October for Houses of Worship. Sponsored by the West Ohio CREATIONCARE Task Force and the Miami Valley District Building Committee and others, this workshop will provide practical information on how to make your building more energy efficient and save on utility bills. Get a handle on building efficiency and learn what other churches have done. (details)

Get involved with Freedom Schools

Learn more about Freedom Schools! Attend an informational event this September and find out how to host a Freedom School at your church next summer. Freedom Schools aim to help children fall in love with reading, increase their self-esteem, and generate more positive attitudes toward learning. (details and registration)

(Give to the Peace with Justice Special Offering! Half of this yearly offering stays here in West Ohio to support our Freedom Schools!)

Walk for hunger

The CROP Hunger Walk is the oldest charity walk in the United States and takes place in some 2,000 communities around the country. Throughout the years neighbors of different faiths, cultures and ages have walked together as people of faith in the fight to end hunger.

Find an Ohio Crop Walk

The changing face of town and country ministry

There has been a change in rural ministry in our lifetime. What worked previously, no longer works today. This workshop will equip us with tools to understand where we are and where we need to go. Learn how to make a disciple and how to connect to those with no church affiliation. Speaker, Rev. Ed Kail, is an outstanding pastor, teacher, trainer, and advocate for small town and rural churches. He was the sitting chair of Town & Country Ministries at St. Paul School of Theology, teaching with an emphasis on rural and small churches. Sponsored by Town and Rural Resource Program (TARRP) of East and West Ohio. (event details)

Prayer needed: Disaster Survivors

Across the world, tens of thousands of people have been affected by devastating floods brought on by severe storms. Areas hardest hit include the Philippines, Afghanistan, Pakistan, northeastern China, eastern Russia, and Myanmar (Burma).

In the United States, communities also have been experiencing devastating flooding in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; San Antonio, Texas; Iowa City, Waterloo, and Coralville, Iowa; Paducah, Kentucky; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Waynesville and West Alton, Missouri, to name just a few. In the western United States, dozens of wildfires continue to rage across Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The Beaver Creek Fire in Camas County, Oregon, has burned more than 100,000 acres, according to Church World Service, an UMCOR partner.

Please pray for strength and grace for those in the midst of fires and storms, as well as those aiding survivors.

Upcoming Events

September 7, Stewardship 201: Growing Generous Givers, St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Findlay
September 23-25, Deborah's Daughters, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dayton
September 24, Capitol Area North/Capitol Area South Annual Community Ministry Festival, Christ United Methodist, Baltimore
September 30, Freedom Schools Information Event, Grace United Methodist Church, Dayton
October 4-5, Creative Worship Seminar, The Point, Trotwood
October 5, Green Building Workshop, Christ United Methodist Church, Kettering
October 8, Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries Fall Workshop, Epworth Center, Bethesda
October 12, Capitol Area North/Capitol Area South Annual Community Ministry Festival, First United Methodist, Marysville
October 12, TARRP Developing Effective Leadership Workshop, Belle Center United Methodist Church, Belle Center
October 16, J. Arthur Heck Lecture with Dr. Kendra Dean, United Theological Seminary, Dayton
October 26, A Faithful Response - Facing Domestic Violence, North Broadway United Methodist Church, Columbus
October 26-28, Embracing Diversity: Congregational & Community Development in a Multicultural World, United Methodist Church For All People, Columbus
October 28-30, RevitUp - An event for young clergy, Atlanta, Ga
November 1, 17th Annual Legal Forum, Ohio Wesleyan University, Ada
November 9, Early Response Training, Sulphur Grove United Methodist Church, Dayton
December 27-29, Winter Camp, Camp Otterbein, Logan
April 25-27, 2014 United Methodist Women Assembly 2014, Louisville, Ky

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