NewsNET February 11, 2015 - Vol 8, Issue 6 |
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| The Gospel is not a sales pitch | |
 It felt like church in there," my friend said as we rushed outside.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean, all that attention, those testimonies, the lifestyle they were pushing ... it felt like church!" She sighed as she fiddled with her keys to open the car door.
The thing is, we hadn't been at a church or religious event. We were quickly driving away from the business district hotel which had housed the "red carpet event,"-aka, the pyramid scheme-we had just attended. And in that moment, I had a bit of a "before-and-after" realization myself: but this "before-and-after" had nothing to do with some wonder-product. Instead, it was about how I share Christ. We need to stop presenting the Good News like a pyramid scheme. Read more
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| Bishop Palmer delivers message of hope |  In celebration of Back History Month, Bishop Gregory V. Palmer spoke last week at Marion Correctional Institution, at an event sponsored by the institution's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Horizon Prison Initiative. He focused his comments on the redemptive theme of "Hope" as referenced in verse two of the song by James Weldon Johnson, Lift Every Voice and Sing. "Bishop Palmer reminded all present that their current situation or circumstances do not necessarily limit potential or define indefinitely their future," writes Dr. Henry Stringer. "There is always hope, even at times when it seems that hope unborn has died." Read more |
| Be a part of the Imagine No Malaria video |  This year at the 2015 Annual Conference session we plan to celebrate reaching our $3.5 million goal for Imagine No Malaria. We want to tell the story of how you and your church saved lives by being a part of the campaign.
We're looking for stories, photos or videos from events you've held or participated in for Imagine No Malaria. Send us those stories and visuals and they will be entered into the mix for the Annual Conference Imagine No Malaria video to be shown in June at Lakeside. Contact Dave Boling (dboling@wocumc.org) by Ash Wednesday (February 18) so he can get your story to our videographer in time to be in the video.
Because of your generosity we anticipate exceeding our $3.5 million goal in either gifts or commitments by conference time. Help us share your part in saving people from the suffering and death caused by malaria.
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| Young adult is missionary to Mexico |  The United Methodist Church offers young adults several unique opportunities to be in mission around the world, for various lengths of time. The Individual Volunteer program offers individuals and couples the flexibility to volunteer at placement sites all around the world, including the United States. Laurel LaFrance is an Individual Volunteer who will be serving at Casa de Misericordia, an orphanage in Piedra Negras, Mexico, and one of West Ohio's Mission Partnerships. A member of First United Methodist Church in Marysville, Laurel taught high school Spanish and has helped lead a home exchange program between her high school and a school in Spain. She also traveled to Mexico five times to do short-term mission work. While at the Casa, Laurel will act as an "orphanage mother" to help ensure that the needs of the children are being met, helping with homework and tutoring. She will also teach English lessons to the children and some of the adults that work at the orphanage. Learn more about the Individual Volunteer Program Learn more about our partnership with Mexico |
| Could you be a faith health promoter for your church? |  OhioHealth, a United Methodist organization affiliated with the West Ohio Conference, invites congregational volunteers and staff to a training on coordinating health ministries in their congregations. As a "faith health promoter", you will become a resource person, organizer and coordinator of a health focus in your congregation. Topics covered in this training include the importance of faith in health, setting up a congregational health ministry, diet and exercise, advanced care planning for medical care, and working with the hospital for discharge and follow up by your congregation.The training will be held at Marion General Hospital (Marion Room) and Mansfield MedCentral Hospital (Gayle Rife Room) on Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm February 17-April 7. For more information please contact Rev. Kristin Langstraat, OhioHealth System Director for Faith Community Relations. |
| UMCOR is there because of One Great Hour of Sharing | |
 Tornadoes in Mississippi. Ebola outbreaks in West Africa. Syrian refugees flooding Turkish border towns. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) was there every time because of your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing. To empower your congregation to give generously this March, UMCOR has prepared a One Great Hour of Sharing Pastor and Leader's Kit. The kit is complete with images, videos, eBooks and other great resources. Access your Pastor and Leader's Kit now!
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Upcoming Events
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- February 1-28 Black History Month
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February 12, Church Communications Twitter Chat
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February 18-April 5, The Miracles of Jesus: A Lenten eRetreat
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February 20-22, Confirmation Retreat, Camp Widewater
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February 21, Safe Sanctuaries Training, Fostoria
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February 21, Lay Servant Ministries Training, Piqua
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February 22, Safe Sanctuaries Training, Liberty Center
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February 23-24, Schooler Institute on Preaching, MTSO-Delaware
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February 28, VIM Team Leader Training, Worthington
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March 4-16, Ubuntu Journey to Cambodia
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March 6, Children & Youth Ministry Leader Retreat, Camp Wesley
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March 7, Practicing Financial Wellness in Church Finance, Englewood
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March 12, Safe Sanctuaries Training, Cridersville
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March 14, Reclaiming our United Methodist Heritage, Butler
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March 15, One Great Hour of Sharing Special Sunday
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March 20-22, Confirmation Retreat, Camp Wesley
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March 21, Certified Lay Ministry Informational Session, Findlay
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March 21, Early Response Team Training, Newark
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March 28, Certified Lay Ministry Informational Session, Franklin
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April 17, Wholy Grounding 2, Ludlow Falls
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April 19, Native American Ministries Special Sunday
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April 20, United Methodist Ecumenical & Interreligious Training, Charlotte, NC
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April 20, Funding Urban Ministry: Beyond the Collection Plate, Toledo
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April 20-23, National Workshop on Christian Unity, Charlotte, NC
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May 2, Change Your Hue of Blue, Columbus
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May 18-20, A New Awakening! 2015: Spirit Led into God’s Future, UTS-Dayton
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May 28-30, United Methodist Women's History: Voices Lost and Found, MTSO-Delaware
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May 31, Peace with Justice Special Sunday
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June 7-10, West Ohio Annual Conference Session, Lakeside Chautauqua
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June 21-29, Mission trip to Brisas del Mar, Colombia
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June 24-28, Youth 2015, Orlando, FL
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July 27, Wholy Grounding 3, TBA
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| Passages | |
Let us remember in prayer those grieving the loss of their loved one, and remember in thanksgiving the life and ministry of:
Rev. Robert D. Rider, Sr., 84, who died on February 6. His wife, Dorothy Wolfe Rider, preceded him in death in 2007. Rev. Rider is survived by a son, Randy (Sharon) Rider; two daughters, Barbara Haggard and Elizabeth (Jim) Cox; a sister, JoAnn Loper; 11 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren as many nieces, nephews, and friends. During his time as an Associate Pastor in West Ohio, Rev. Rider was appointed to the South Webster Charge (1962) and Cheshire Charge (1964), as well as the Pine Street (1967), New Vienna (1974), Oakley (1976), Sciotoville (1978), Fostoria (1986), Piketon (1989) and Connett (1995) United Methodist Churches. Obituary. Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Wednesday, February 11 at New Vienna United Methodist Church, 11576 West Street, New Vienna, Ohio with Rev. Jim Weible officiating. Clergy are asked to robe and process at the funeral service. Condolences will reach the family in care of son Randy (Sharon) Rider, 7680 Farmers Road, New Vienna, Ohio 45159. |
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