1. Pray for all affected by the violent spring storms. Consider holding a prayer service and invite members of the community to join you.
2. Health Kits are in low supply and great demand across the US. Gather people together to assemble the kits and bring them to Annual Conference where they can be placed on a semi-truck. Go to Annual Conference Offering to find instructions for making health kits. 
3. Give to the Advance. 100% of your gift will go to support relief and recovery efforts across the United States. UMCOR has been working with leaders in each of the affected annual conferences. Give to US Disaster Response or to the Material Resource Ministry (funds are used to purchase needed supplies for kits needed in emergencies)
4. We have received an invitation from the North Alabama Conference to assist by sending UMCOR trained Early Response Teams. West Ohio ERTs will be traveling to Alabama in May to assist with debris removal. Please keep these teams and the communities to which they will go in your prayers.

Rev. Dr. Dale E. Bichsel, 89, retired United Methodist elder, who died May 14. Dale is survived by his wife of 61 years, Josephine "Jo", two daughters, one son, eight grandchildren, a sister, and many nieces and nephews. Rev. Bichsel served in West Ohio at University, Columbus 1956; William Street, Delaware 1959; First, Bowling Green 1965; Grace, Dayton 1973; Hyde Park Community, Cincinnati 1980. In retirement, he served as minister of counseling at Anderson Hills United Methodist Church in Cincinnati. Rev. Bichsel was a life trustee at Ohio Wesleyan University where he received his Honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1965. He was also a trustee of the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, chaired the Conference Board of Ministry and served on the National Board of Higher Education for The United Methodist Church. Obituary. Visitation will be Friday, May 23, from 11 am-1 pm at William Street United Methodist Church, 28 W. William Street, Delaware, Ohio, with funeral services following at 1pm. Online condolences may be left at Snyder Funeral Homes or mailed to Mrs. Josephine Bichsel, 189 Willow Brook Way S, Delaware, Ohio 43015-3860 

Carole (Bock) Dunaway, 76, who died May 19. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dr. James C. Dunaway in 2009. Carole is survived by four sons; a sister; 2 brothers; and 10 grandchildren. Mrs. Dunaway served alongside her husband who was a pastor in the West Ohio Conference for 50 years. Churches served by Rev. Dunaway were Moscow Ohio Charge, Glenwood in Columbus, Somerset, John Wesley in Cincinnati, Christ Church in Kettering, Trinity in Milford, First Church in Van Wert and Centerville United Methodist Church. Obituary. There will be a gathering of friends at Centerville United Methodist Church, 63 East Franklin St., Centerville, Ohio on Friday, May 23, 4-6 pm, followed by a memorial service at 6 pm. Online condolences may be sent to the family at Tobias Funeral Home