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News for West Ohio Conference Congregations

September 23, 2014 - Vol 7, Issue 37

Publications

Classifieds

Recent clergy appointments

Retreat offers learning, worship, and renewal

Time to retreat is essential to everyone, but it is a need felt most keenly, and least indulged, by those who have accepted God's calling to pastor. Gathering with those who share your particular struggles and burdens can be even better, as it helps alleviate pressure and the feeling of being alone. On September 14-16, more than 60 clergy stepped aside to gather and be renewed at the East and West Ohio Black Pastor's retreat, hosted by Bishops John L. Hopkins and Gregory V. Palmer respectively. The speakers that offered their wisdom were Bishop James King from the South Georgia Conference, Dr. Albert Mosley, President-Dean of Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta. The three day retreat was packed with worship, learning, questioning and yes, retreating. Read more

Fifth Crucible class begins two-year journey

With the "personal development retreat", Class Five of clergy leaders began their two-year Crucible journey last week, a learning experience which exists to strengthen and revitalize the community of spiritual leaders within the West Ohio Conference. As part of the pathway for Clergy Leadership Formation, Crucible provides training in necessary skills for personal and ministry growth and prosperity. Its name alone reflects Crucible's purpose as a tool for searching, testing and refining every aspect of its participants. Photo gallery

Appalachian Ministry to focus on children, hunger

The United Methodist Appalachian Ministry Network (UMAMN) held its fall meeting at the Holston Conference Center in Tennessee on September 11 - 12. Twenty UMAMN members came together from across the Appalachian region, which extends from New York to Mississippi. West Ohio was well represented at the meeting by Rev. Joy French, Ms. Carlene Triplett, Rev. Roger Grace, and Rev. Charles Jack. Network members adopted a new action plan that will guide the work of UMAMN over the next year with children's issues and water quality as the two primary focus areas. Read more

United Methodist Seminary Expo

Embrace your call by visiting with 11 United Methodist Seminaries in one evening this October. Representatives from seminaries from across the U.S. will gather in Ohio at the West Ohio Conference Center in Worthington to meet with potential ministry students and share information about each of their schools. In addition, a panel discussion will be held during the evening with Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, Rev. Amy Aspey and Rev. Joseph Graves as panelists. Please share this information with potential ministry students you know - application fees to each seminary will be waived by attending this event. Details

iKids: Parenting in the Digital Age

Join Craig Kennet Miller in a six part series based on his book iKids: Parenting in the Digital Age. Each hour session will focus on how our digital culture is influencing the live of iKids and their families. The sessions are based on iKids: Parenting in the Digital Age and Six Values for the Digital Age Group Study. These webinars are offered at no cost by Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church and will be recorded and archived for later viewing. iKids Webinars Start Thursday, September 25th....Learn more

A new front in the Ebola crisis

Photo by Phileas Jusu, UMNS.

With the killing of a delegation of health officials, journalists and a pastor by a mob of rural villagers in Guinea, an even more tragic page has turned in the Ebola crisis. The mission of the group was to dispel rumors about the outbreak, but the villagers thought they had come to spread the virus. Eight bodies were later found, bearing signs of having been attacked with machetes and clubs. The event is a severe example of the irrational fears that are rife across the region. Commentaries on television, radio and in print by trusted leaders such as Bishop John Yambasu, the United Methodist leader in Sierra Leone, are helping to correct misinformation and encourage cooperation with health programs to halt the spread of the disease. Read more

Daring to hope in an unstable world

Women are experts when it comes to worry, fear, and doubt. Unsettled times in our world-our neighborhoods-certainly don't help matters. Jeremiah also lived in an unstable time when he was called to share God's message of mercy and love. His words are just as relevant to us as they were to the wayward people of his time. This six-week Bible study is designed specifically to address the challenges and circumstances of today's woman. Learn more

Invitation to events with Ohioans to Stop Executions

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer serves on the board of directors of Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE),and he extends an invitation to everyone in our conference to learn more about the death penalty in Ohio through OTSE's Voices of Experience program. Events will be held next week in Columbus (9/30), Wilmington (10/1), and Springfield (10/2). Each day features a different member of the Joint Task Force on the Administration of Ohio's Death Penalty:

Terry Collins, who, as Director of the Ohio Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, oversaw more than 30 executions;
Joe D'Ambrosio, the most recently released of six persons exonerated from Ohio's death row; and
Charles Keith, whose brother was on Ohio's death row before his sentence was commuted by Governor Strickland, and who has also suffered the loss of a family member to murder.

Pastors and other leaders on social justice issues in our communities are also invited to a special luncheon on those days in their respective cities for discussion with the Voices of Experience speakers and to receive a special briefing on OTSE Faith Leader Initiative. Please contact abe@otse.org for details. Additional information is at www.OTSE.org.

Upcoming Events

September 25, iKids Webinar 1 - When Everyday is Disneyland
September 25, PAUMCS Fall Workshop, Worthington
September 27, Festival of Sharing, Otterbein University, Westerville
September 27, Early Response Team Training, Fostoria
October 1, Deadline for Ohio United Methodist Clergy Renewal Scholarship Application, Lakeside Chautauqua
October 2, iKids Webinar 2 - The Digital Child and Digital Brain
October 4, MTSO Fall Open House, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Delaware
October 4, "Going Deeper" Good Works Seminar, Athens
October 5, World Communion Day - United Methodist Special Sunday
October 6-8, Asian American and Pacific Islander United Methodist Clergywomen Association Biennial Meeting, Claremont, CA
October 7, Faith, Health & Abundant Life, Columbus
October 9, iKids Webinar 3 - Digital Culture and Digital Learning
October 14-15, J. Arthur Heck Lectures and Annual Alumni/Reunion Banquet, United Theological Seminary
October 16, iKids Webinar 4 - Digital Creators and Digital Marketing
October 17-20, CEF2014: May the Circle be Unbroken, Nashville
October 19, Laity Sunday
October 22, United Methodist Seminary Expo, Worthington
October 22-24, Deborah's Daughters: "Take Back Your Temple" Conference, Dayton
October 23, iKids Webinar 5 - Digital Identity and Digital Inc.
October 23-25, Wesleyan Leadership Conference, Nashville
October 25, Wesley 5K Trail Trot, Bellefontaine
October 25, Embracing Diversity: Developing Effective Ministries in a Multicultural World, Columbus
October 29, Faith, Awareness and Action - Addressing Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, Dayton
October 30, iKids Webinar 6 - Digital Families and Digital Soul
November 1, 'Go On' Tour, Tipp City
November 7, Legal Forum, Ohio Northern University, Ada
November 7, UMW Mission Exploration, Worthington
November 8, UMW Annual Celebration, Powell
November 15, Early Response Team Basic Training, Beavercreek
November 30, United Methodist Student Day - United Methodist Special Sunday
February 7, ERT recertification, Kettering
March 4-16, 2015, Ubuntu Journey to Cambodia, Volunteers in Mission
June 24-28, 2015, Youth 2015, Orlando, FL

Passages

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

Mrs. Edna Jane Cook, who died on September 15. Jane is survived by her husband, Rev. Thomas A. Cook, retired elder; three children: Sarah Jane Mangan, Elizabeth Thunder-Dove, and Paul Cook (Joe Baer); eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, cousin Florence Foster and many much loved foster children. Mrs. Cook was a registered nurse and EMT who served the church alongside her husband at United Methodist Churches in Wisconsin, and, prior to his retirement, in West Ohio at Eureka (1959); Neil Avenue (1961); Hamden (1964); Frankfort (1967); Morgan Memorial (1970); Somerset (1974); First-Bluffton (1978); Norwood-Marietta (1981); Zion-Luckey (1988) United Methodist Churches. Obituary. Condolences may be sent to Rev. Thomas A. Cook, 10610 Whispering Pines Road, Frederic, Wisconsin 54837.

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