Relief Supplies: The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has sent a first truckload of relief supplies including bedding packs, blankets, tarps, health kits, school kits and layette kits.to tornado-battered Baxter Springs, Kansas. Assembling and shipping relief-supply kits 

Donations: Three emergency grants from UMCOR have been provided to the North Carolina, North Alabama and Great Plains United Methodist annual (regional) conferences. Donate

The Children's Defense Fund Beat the Odds ® Scholarship Program honors, celebrates, and rewards outstanding high school juniors who have overcome tremendous adversity to achieve academic excellence, demonstrate leadership in their community, and aspire to continue their education. We need your help to locate a deserving high school student. Ohio high school juniors are eligible and must be nominated for the Beat the Odds program by a teacher, counselor, caseworker, or other adult in the student's life who can speak to his or her character, academic success, community service, and the tremendous odds he or she beats every day. Applications are due May 30!  Learn more

This week the focus is on Camp Wesley in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Our NEW second year Camp Director, Heather Brake, has created some new camp themes along with the annual Caving Adventure trip to southern Kentucky. The Explorers Camp and Explorers Wilderness Camp is a shortened version for first-time and younger campers. Discovery Camp, Wacky Water Week and Guys Only or Girls Only, all will feature fun on the NEW Stand Up Paddleboards and NEW water inflatable toys in the beautiful lake of Camp Wesley. There are camps for all ages throughout the summer. Go to our website, westohiocamps.org  for more information.

An article in a church growth magazine asked, "Why are so many churches empty?" The writer answered the question with the typical responses, including the need for good parking, nursery quality, signage, and creative bulletin covers. The article was well written, but I don't believe it answered the deeper question. To practice real faith-not just belonging to a church's membership rolls-requires deepening relationships set within the community of God. Read more

This article is featured in the Wade Deep: Bible Study as a Remedy for Shallow Faith (May/June/July 2014) issue of Circuit Rider.

Sparkhouse lessons for Sunday school follow a four-part sequence: Gather, Open the Bible, Activate Faith, and Send. Each week, kids and their leaders gather together to explore their Bibles, enjoy fun activities, pray, and grow in faith.

The goal of Spark Lectionary is to immerse kids in Bible stories and build biblical literacy. The Bible stories follow the 3-year cycle of lectionary readings, but kids do not spend a lot of time learning about the lectionary. The focus of Spark Lectionary is diving deep into biblical texts. Learn more

The goal of Whirl is to connect kids to the lectionary in a deep and meaningful way. Kids spend time learning from a lectionary biblical text each week and also focus on many broader aspects of the church year seasons and the worship life of the church. Learn more

"Every Praise," written by Hezekiah Walker and John David Bratton, was the song that 10-year-old Willie Myrick sang over and over during his captivity, when a man kidnapped him from his southwest Atlanta driveway. While Willie sang, the man cursed him, told him to shut up and eventually let him go. "I really believe that God spoke through me to save that young man's life," said Hezekiah Walker. "I just wanted to hug him and tell him I love him."  

Read the full story  Get the sheet music from Song Select at CCLI

Rosemary Smith Sageser, 94, who died on April 30. Rosemary was preceded in death on M arch 10 by her husband of nearly 72 years, Rev. David Sageser. She is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Sageser served alongside her husband in the Kentucky Conference and then in the West Ohio Conference at the Wesley Foundation, University of Cincinnati (1950), and at the Clifton (1959); Indianola (1966); Riverside (1968); Wilmington (1976); William Street (1979); and Peachblow (1985) United Methodist Churches. Arrangements are pending. Expressions of condolence will reach the family via Faith United Methodist Church, 15690 MacGregor Blvd., Ft. Myers, Florida 33908

Carolyn C. Smith who died on April 26. Carolyn is survived by her husband, Rev. Harvey Smith (ret. 1997); son, Stephen P. Smith; daughter, Robbyn E. Smith; and grandchildren, Blair, Shelby, and Kendall. Carolyn served alongside her husband in West Ohio at Good Shepherd-Dayton(1958); Fletcher (1960); Normandy (1965); Grace-Dayton (1972); Eastmont (1976); Otterbein (1991) United Methodist Churches. Obituary. The family will greet friends from 10:00-11:00am on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Normandy United Methodist Church, 450 W. Alex-Bell Road, Centerville, Ohio 45459 with a memorial service at 11:00am, a reception and luncheon to follow. Condolences may be sent to Rev. Harvey Smith, 1473 Clovercrest Lane, Centerville Ohio 45458