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News for West Ohio Conference Congregations
February 18, 2014 - Vol 8, Issue 7

  

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Publications
Resources for Lent
Dennis Miller to lead Foothills District

On Sunday, February 16, Bishop Gregory V. Palmer announced in a news release that Rev. Dr. Dennis Miller will be appointed a conference superintendent and assigned to the Foothills District in the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2014. Rev. Miller will follow Rev. Dr. Dennis Mohler who will receive a new appointment following six years as a superintendent. (read more)

Christian ethics and the crisis in criminal justice

hand of a prisoner grabbed the bars of the prison There is a growing awareness that something is very wrong in criminal justice. The U.S. has dramatically higher per capita imprisonment rates than other developed nations, and those rates are systematically skewed by race, ethnicity, and social class.  

In these matters the church has often defined its role mostly as bringing personal comfort and change to incarcerated individuals, helping them to "lead a new life" and re-enter society successfully after incarceration. While this is commendable, this year's key speakers at the Sprague Lecture Series challenge all of us to rethink:

Professor Michelle Alexander
Professor James Logan
Bishop Joseph Sprague
Bishop Gregory V. Palmer

Learn more about this March event
Lent resources for Imagine No Malaria

The season of Lent can be the ideal time to engage your congregation in saving lives with Imagine No Malaria. We've provided a multitude of downloadable resources to make planning easier for you including:

Blessing Calendar

Weekly Planning Guide

Bulletin Inserts, Graphics & Flyers

Videos & Photos  

In our video gallery, we also have a link to watch last week's  Imagine No Malaria webinar "The Basics"  hosted by Dave Boling.

Resources you won't want to miss from Cokesbury
Mike Slaughter
The Pilgrim Press
Rueben Job
Adam Hamilton
Walter Brueggemann

Has your church returned its Imagine No Malaria goal form? 
Learn how we're saving lives and you can too!

The people of the West Ohio Conference are poised to save lives 350,000 lives over the next several years by preventing needless deaths from malaria. Many churches have already made a commitment to saving lives through the Imagine No Malaria initiative. Thank you for those commitments!  If you're still praying about it, thank you! We're praying with you. We're looking forward to hearing from you soon with your Estimated  Goal forms. If you have questions or need more information contact Dave Boling, read this enewsletter or visit westohioumc.org/imagine.

MTSO faculty author delves into the 'spiritual but not religious' 

Methodist Theological School in Ohio Professor Linda Mercadante will present a faculty lecture, "The Fleeing Nones: Food for Thought from the Spiritual but not Religious," in March. The event is free and open to the public. Mercadante has spent five years researching her new book, "Belief Without Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual but not Religious," which is being published in March by Oxford University Press. In her faculty lecture Mercadante will share insights gleaned from her academic work as well as interviews with hundreds of so-called "nones" or "SBNRs."   (more information)

Special offer to stream church services 

Stream your services over the Internet during Lent and Easter through a special offer from United Methodist Communication's Techshop. The offer enables your church to enjoy a bonus three months at no additional cost when you sign up for 12 months of live-streaming service. Sign up at myUMClive.com. Use discount code, Lent, on the Contact Us form.  (more information) 

Welcome to the new UMC.org

UMC tagline The United Methodist Church debuted its new www.umc.org - the denomination's website and digital home. The redesign is aimed to ease access to the stories and resources of United Methodism. United Methodist Communications manages the website. To share your feedback, email umc@umcom.org. Watch video about the new site

Upcoming EventsUpcomingEvents

Upcoming OhioHealth Events for Clergy
In Hospital Visitation and Congregational Care, April 1 through May 20
This course will teach the basics of congregational care, especially caring for those who are in the hospital. This is meant as a refresher course for religious leaders or as introductory training for congregational volunteers. Please register by March 26 to reserve a place. All trainings will take place on Tuesday evenings 8-10 pm at the Heritage Center for Osteopathic Medicine at Doctors Hospital (5100 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43228). There is no cost for these trainings. Contact Kristin Langstraat at Kristin.Langstraat@ohiohealth.com to register.

Clergy Appreciation Breakfast and Q&A Session, April 29 
Congregational leaders are invited to gather in fellowship during breakfast and take a tour of the Kobacker House, a beautiful inpatient center that combines the comforts of home with the benefits of round-the-clock medical care. We will also discuss how OhioHealth can be a resource to your faith community. Join us on April 29, 2014, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Kobacker House (800 McConnell Dr., Columbus, OH 43214) in the upper level community rooms.Please register at www.surveymonkey.com/s/clergyappreciation. In your registration please include any questions that we could address during our time together. We will include a resource book to give more information about providing care to your congregants when they are at OhioHealth facilities, as well as information about our medical facilities and chaplain services.

Faith Health Promoter Training, September 9 through October 28
Since January 14, 2014, several congregational volunteers have been training to coordinate health ministries in their congregations. These faith health promoters work in the midst of their congregations to be resource people, organizers and coordinators of a health focus in the congregation. Topics covered in this training include the importance of faith in health, setting up a congregational health ministry, diet and exercise, advanced care planning for medical care, and working with the hospital for discharge and follow up by your congregation. Faith health promoter training will be offered again on Tuesday evenings 8-10 pm. Please register before September 4 to reserve a place in this class. This class will be held at an OhioHealth facility, still to be determined.  Details are available when you register. 

 

Passages

Let us remember in prayer those grieving the loss of their loved one, and remember in thanksgiving the life and ministry of:

Mrs. Dwight (Joyce) M. Norris who died on February 9, 2014. Joyce's husband, Rev. Dwight Edward Norris preceded her in death on July 18, 2002. Services were February 13. Obituary and Condolences
 
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