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News for West Ohio Conference Congregations
July 1, 2014 - Vol 7, Issue 25

  

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Publications
United Methodist Church reponds to Ebola outbreak 

 Sierra Leone Video Diary: Ebola Outbreak

 
The United Methodist Church (UMC) is working closely with the Sierra Leone government to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Ebola is highly contagious and kills 90 percent of those infected. There is no cure. United Methodist Mercy Hospital in Bo District, is preparing nurses and doctors for the special steps that must be taken to prevent the virus from spreading. Already in Sierra Leone distributing mosquito nets to stop the spread of malaria, UMC agencies are now also responding to this new public health concern. 
 

Mission volunteers are often at the forefront of mission, again quoting the mission theology statement, waiting for "the leading of the Spirit in ways not yet seen as God continues to work God's purposes out in our own day ... "
Read this tribute to United Methodist volunteer movement from Thomas Kemper, General Secretary for The General Board of Global Ministries 
UMCOR responds to humanitarian crisis
Children and mothers in border detention center

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) responded today to a plea by the Southwest Texas Conference/Rio Grande Conference for emergency assistance to meet urgent needs of a "rising flow" of refugees crossing into the United States from Mexico.

In response to an appeal by Bishop James E. Dorff, who heads the joined conferences, Greg Forrester, UMCOR executive in charge of U.S. Disaster Response, expedited an emergency grant and told Bishop Dorff, "Our prayers are with you and the conference as you respond to this humanitarian crisis."  Read more about UMCOR's response    Watch a video report of how local church groups are finding ways to help with child immigration crises

New handbook is "handy" reference

The new United Methodist Handbook is now available in an easy-to-read and share digital format. The Handbook is an excellent resource for laity providing leadership, people new to The United Methodist Church and clergy who occasionally get stumped by a question. Includes United Methodist teachings, information about church structure and organization, denominational initiatives and connectional givine, and a handy glossary of United Methodist terms.


View online or download.

South African Bishop Lakeside's Chaplain of the Week 

Bishop Peter Storey, retired bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa; pastor, author and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Duke University Divinity School, Cape Town South Africa, will be Chaplain of the Week at Lakeside Chautauqua beginning July 6.  Dr. Storey served Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg during the struggle to end apartheid and was chaplain to prisoner Nelson Mandela. Using his theme "Healings from the Wounds of Africa", Dr. Storey will speak about how the Gospel has a different flavor when "cooked in an African pot" as he talks about Mandela, peacemaking, politics and prayer. His sermon title for Sunday worship is "Letter from a Philippian Jail."  More information

Centerville church team selected for Alaska mission service

Alaska Mission 2014 06Four members of the Centerville United Methodist Church Early Response Team (ERT) were selected to serve in Galena, Alaska, as part of a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Alaska. FEMA and UMVIM handpicked the Centerville church team from applicants all over the country for its vast experience in construction, project and facilities management. Read more

Speakers available 

Looking for a Sunday morning speaker this summer or fall to jump start your church's missional support of Imagine No Malaria? Informative and dynamic speakers are available to tell the inspiring story of how The United Methodist Church is saving lives in sub-Saharan Africa and you can too. Email Dave Boling at the Council on Development or call him at 614-844-6200, ext. 247 and he'll help provide the right speaker for your church. Now is a great time to plan for your church's part in supporting our Bishop's challenge to reach 100% of our West Ohio Conference campaign goal by World Malaria Day 2015.  Learn more

Upcoming EventsUpcomingEvents

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

 

Doris Jessie Perry Stewart, 92, who died on June 27. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. William Stewart, and her son, Mark Stewart. She is survived by son, Jonathan (Kayla); son, Eric (Gayle), daughter-in-law, Sandra Stewart, and seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mrs. Stewart accompanied her husband as he served church appointments in West Ohio including United Methodist churches in the communities of Granville, Bellefontaine, Van Wert and Cincinnati. Obituary. Services were held at Centenary United Methodist Church in Granville, Ohio, with arrangements made by McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home where online condolences may be made.

 

Mrs. Edna Frances Farmer, 91, who died on June 25. Mrs. Farmer was the wife of Rev. Orville (Jack) Farmer, who died in 2002. They had two children who preceded them in death, Frances Ann and Thomas William. Mrs. Farmer served alongside her husband at Shawnee (Perry County), Asbury Circuit (Muskingum County), Brownsville-Gratiot, Alexandria, Amanda, Clarksburg, St. Paul Oak Hill, Malta and Brownsville United Methodist Churches. Obituary. Services were held at the Morgan Funeral HomeExpressions of condolence will reach the family at Alberta Elkins, 5575 Borah Hill Road SE, Lancaster, Ohio 43130.

 
 
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