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News for West Ohio Conference Congregations
August 19, 2014 - Vol 7, Issue 32

  

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Honoring the sacredness of work this Labor Day
Read Protestant denominational statements on worker justice issues
Labor Day weekend provides a unique opportunity for faith communities, workers, worker advocates and the labor movement to rediscover their common bonds: social justice, equality, the Common Good, dignity and respect of all persons, economic justice, and fair treatment in the workplace. Below are some Labor Day Resources for congregations:
Church leaders strive to be peacemakers in Ferguson
Photo courtesy of the Rev. Matt Miofsky

The Rev. F. Willis Johnson (left), pastor of Wellspring Church, a United Methodist congregation in Ferguson, Missouri, and the Rev. Matt Miofsky, lead pastor of The Gathering, a multi-site United Methodist congregation in the St. Louis area, stand together near the site where Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri. Since Aug. 9, the Rev. F. Willis Johnson has devoted his entire ministry to fostering peaceful - and meaningful - responses to the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager and the violent tumult that followed. The shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown led to four days of clashes between police in military-grade riot gear and angry crowds. The United Methodist pastor led prayer vigils, helped with cleanup, met with community leaders and comforted protesters. Other United Methodist leaders answered his call to help a community in pain. Learn more
Summer camp transforms lives!
Our 2014 summer camp program is ended for this year, but for many of our campers, their faith walk is just beginning. Celebrate with us these new commitments to Christ and keep our campers in your prayers as they return to school. We are so appreciative of our camps staff, paid and unpaid servant leaders from our churches who made this season at each of our camps such a success for our youth! 
  • 139 new commitments to Jesus Christ.
  • 319 new commitments to read their bible more regularly.
  • 141 new commitments to love and serve others.
  • 151 new commitments to attend worship/youth group at home.
Workshops for church office personnel

PAUMCS LogoThe Ohio Chapter of PAUMCS offers an opportunity to enjoy a "day apart" this September to worship, learn and grow together. This workshop offers opportunities to ALL, paid and volunteer, current or former United Methodist Church office personnel, to learn techniques to share our spiritual gifts as we minister to those we serve. This year's workshops:

  • Nurturing Your Life in God: Finding ways to feed your soul in the midst of today's busy-ness... - Rev. Barbara Sholis, Executive Assistant to Bishop Gregory V. Palmer
  • So She/He Wants to Be A Pastor-Now What? What is the process for credentialed ministry in the United Methodist Church?And how can church secretaries be supportive? - Rev. Amy Haines, Assistant to the Superintendent of the Northwest Plains District, Vice-Chair of West Ohio Board of Ministry
  • Imagine - No Malaria! Sharing the story of how faithfulness and generosity are making a difference - Mr. David Boling, West Ohio Conference Field Coordinator-Imagine No Malaria
Update from Missionaries Brian and Tara Vinson
"After two full days of travel, we finally arrived in Lusaka! We have spent the last week adjusting, getting Jonathan and Andrew enrolled in school, finding a house to rent, finding a vehicle to buy, back and forth to the school and store and everywhere else you could possibly think of... Thank you for your prayers! God is good! We have already secured a home and a vehicle, two definite answers to prayer."  Read newsletter

Back-to-school shopping? Consider UMCMarket

UMCMarket.org allows online shoppers to donate a percentage of what they spend back to their church or the United Methodist ministry of their choice. United Methodists are invited to shop online at their favorite stores and a percentage will be donated to your local ministry. You Shop. We Give. This is a great time of year to use the site while preparing for the school year or for the change in the seasons.

Fighting malaria means fighting Ebola

United Methodist health workers equipped by Imagine No Malaria to fight malaria are now also fighting Ebola. The same trained and skilled health professionals are on the front lines. "It is a blessing and a gift that a strengthened infrastructure is in place, thanks to the ministry of Imagine No Malaria," said the Rev. Gary Henderson, executive director of Imagine No Malaria.  "No one dreamed that the church would be called upon in this way."  Read more

Calling all Wesley "enthusiasts." Read 'Revival' with us! 

Beginning Monday Aug. 25, we'll be reading through Adam Hamilton's "Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It" on Ministry Matters. Along with other features, Clifton Stringer, a United Methodist pastor and Ph.D. student in Historical Theology, will blog about topics from the book. If you'd like to read it along, pick up a copy and join the discussion!  Find out more

Ukrainian United Methodists feel strain of war
Rev. Vasil Vuksta, pastor of Uzhgorod United Methodist Church. (Photo courtesy of Ullas Tankler)
Members of two United Methodist churches in Eastern Ukraine continue to feel the impact of fighting between rebels and Ukrainian military forces. In an Aug. 14 letter, Bishop Eduard Khegay of the United Methodist Eurasia Episcopal Area wrote that the congregation in Lugansk has been particularly hard hit. The other church is in Krasnoarmeisk, near Donetsk. 

"The bombing of Lugansk was felt by many of our United Methodist people," reported Khegay, who is based in Moscow. "One bomb fell in the garden of the neighboring house next to our church building. The neighbor suffered and the windows of our church were broken." Read more 

"From Jails to Jobs: Community Re-Entry and the Criminal Justice System" 

Fr. Greg Boyle is a Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy/Homegirl Industries in downtown Los Angeles. Since 1988 Fr. Greg (or "G-Dog") has ministered to gang members in the gang capital of the world. His book Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion has made the NY Times Bestseller List. Fr. Greg Boyle will speak in Cincinnati this October on criminal justice reform and desperately needed re-entry opportunities for local returning citizens coming out of the criminal justice system. Free and open to public. Flyer

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