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                                                                                                           NewsNET December 16, 2014 - Vol 7, Issue 49

  

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December 27-29, Camp Otterbein. Come for fun!

Five great sermon 
ideas for the new year. 
 
Last minute gift ideas from Lakeside Chautauqua

Circles of Grace

 

Beloved in Christ Jesus:

 

Bishop Palmer Greetings again in these Advent days of watching and waiting.


 
I want to pick up where I left off in my December 1st love note to you. About halfway through this note I am going to ask you for a very specific action. You may recall my commendation of you for the remarkable ways that you are being church by opening your hearts and lives and reaching into your local communities in response to gun violence. You are doing this in myriad ways from all I hear. Prayer vigils, peaceful protests, relationship building with neighbors old and new are but a few means that United Methodists are responding. Thank you for engaging as the raw nerves of our tortured history around race in America lay bare once again.

 

There are all sorts of venues and an unending list of means to claim a future with hope. The key question to which United Methodist Christians must respond with our lives and witness is: Does the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the faith of the church have anything meaningful to contribute to personal and communal transformation? If the answer is no, we should get out of the business quickly if not sooner. If the answer is no, we have been misled and therefore are misleading others. But if the answer is yes, we need to stay engaged, if already engaged. If the answer is yes, we need to step up now if we have yet to find meaningful ways to engage. If our answer is yes, we need in these Advent days to embody the incarnate, beloved Community in ways that cannot be missed by anyone. (continued)

Advent and vital conversations: a season of hope
As part of the General Commission on Religion and Race's (GCORR) December Vital Conversations on Advent, United Methodists have been asked to share their personal reflections on what it means to be part of a global church in the celebration of Christmas, including how they keep the Advent season holy and what cultural traditions they maintain to make this season even more special. GCORR's General Secretary Erin Hawkins offers her reflections on Advent and links to the personal reflections submitted from others. Read more
Prayer for the people of Peshawar, Pakistan

Our thoughts and prayers are again with the people of Peshawar, Pakistan, in the wake of a December 16 terrorist attack on a school, which has left more than 145 school children and teachers dead and many others injured. We join with the Church of Pakistan, our mission partner, in praying for all those who have been affected by this latest attack and for a future of peace and security in the region. (continued)

Election information for potential candidates for West Ohio's 2016 delegation
Qualified clergy and lay members of the West Ohio Annual Conference are invited to become candidates for election to the West Ohio Delegation to the 2016 General Conference and the 2016 North Central Jurisdiction Conference in The United Methodist  Church. The election of delegates will take place during the 2015 West Ohio Annual Conference Session, June 7-11, 2015. For information on the election, how to become a candidate and important deadlines, go to westohioumc.org/election. 
Save the date: young clergy retreat

If you or someone you know is a clergy person, age 35 and under, serving in an appointment in either the East or West Ohio Conferences, please share with them this invitation to the Young Clergy Retreat this April. Coming Together for Rest, Body and Soul, we will worship, commune, laugh, converse, and nourish our souls. Spouses welcome. Details and registration coming soon. Save the date. 

Health ministry visible inside and outside of OhioHealth's walls     by Rev. Keith Vesper

Our health ministry is built on OhioHealth's long-standing affiliation with the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church and our identity as a values-driven, faith-based organization. The priorities of our faith tradition are increasingly part of the way we make decisions at OhioHealth. Our Faith and Diversity Rondel, which is displayed on the walls of our care sites, reflects this value, as well. (continued)

Health care reform update

There are new restrictions on tax-favored health coverage for HRAs, FSAs, Premium Payment or Reimbursement Plans, and Cafeteria Plans. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance (DOL technical release 2013-03 and IRS Notice 2013-54) that may impact how your church funds medical coverage for some employees.


If you are funding medical coverage to your pastor or employees under on a tax exempt basis, please read this communication carefully:  Health Care Reform Update

  • The above Health Care Reform Update information does not apply to tax benefits provided in accordance with the West Ohio Conference Section 125 Plan that your church may have adopted (or if your church as adopted its own Section 125 plan)
  • All other arrangements beyond what's covered in a Section 125 plan that provide for medical care or insurance based on direct payment by your church or reimbursement to your pastor or lay employees may be prohibited.
  • Payments such as these are generally considered taxable income and should be reported as such on the benefiting person's IRS Form W2.
  • Penalties for violations are stiff - as much as $36,000/employee/year
  • Please read the Health Care Reform Update closely and the attendant links to other documents and take action as appropriate.
2014 world malaria report update - great, but fragile progress!

Between 2000 and 2013 the malaria mortality rate overall has dropped by 47% worldwide and by 54% in Africa. For children under age 5 in Africa the mortality rate dropped a remarkable 58% in the same time frame. During the past 10 years the percentage of at risk population sleeping under a bed net has risen from 3% in 2004 to 49%. And the percentage will continue to improve with a record number of nets to be delivered in 2014. 90% of the households with access to bed nets were using them effectively. The need is still great, in sub-Saharan Africa a third of all households (278 million people) do not have access to a bed net. Read more

The Sudan project: war on malaria
The Sudan Project: War on MalariaThe grand experiment is under way. Will we, with the help of the global community, eliminate 
malaria from Africa? What we decide will determine the course of human history. 

Watch this amazing video from Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, a West Ohio Conference key partner of The United Methodist Church's Imagine No Malaria campaign
Reclaiming the offering as worship

Asking for money can be touchy, and doing so in church is no exception. Some seem to think the offering distracts from the worshipful atmosphere of the rest of the service. However, it's time to reclaim the offering as a vital part of worship. Giving in response to God's word or the needs of the world helps us grow spiritually. Here are some ideas 

12 ways to stay connected with college students

leaning-student.jpgGoing to college brings significant change to a young person's life. Students often leave the communities where they have grown up, breaking the bonds with their local church. Finding a new church home that is a good fit can be difficult. It is often easier simply to drop out of church. Local churches can help young people maintain their connection to God and a faith community. Home church members can encourage them to maintain and grow in their relationship with God, as well as succeed in college.Staying connected with college students and offering the encouragement they need can make a world of difference as they face the challenges of college. Tips for staying connected.

Holiday wishes from United Methodist affiliated Otterbein University
Happy Holiday from Otterbein 2014

To read some Christmas stories from Otterbein students and alumni, or to submit your own story, click here

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Last minute shopping? Cokesbury has the perfect gift.

 
 
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