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East Ohio District Church of the Nazarene
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December 11, 2015
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| OUR DISTRICT PASTOR | 
Janet and I watched a Christmas movie the other night. I forget the title but since every Christmas movie is a variation of one of three themes, it really doesn't matter.
Theme one: Person who has been hurt in the past experiences a Christmas miracle and finds true love. And then it snows.
Theme two: Cranky, negative person who has been hurt in the past experiences a Christmas miracle and becomes good hearted. And then it snows.
Theme three: There is a crisis where something is about to be destroyed...a library, an historical building, someone's home or a large tree. There is a Christmas miracle and people rally together and save the threatened object. (If it's a tree, it always ends up with lights and becomes a Christmas tree). And then it snows.
I watched a good part of this movie but fell asleep with about half an hour to go. I got a few, "Are you sleeping over there?" comments which woke me up and stopped me from snoring, but they didn't keep me awake.
The TV went off, the remote clonked on the coffee table and Janet stood up from the couch. "Well, you slept through the best part of the movie," she said. Blinking my eyes awake, I said, "Let me see if I can guess. The girl who said she would never trust anyone again fell in love with the guy that managed the ice skating rink. They kissed on Christmas Eve and then it snowed."
Janet was quiet for a moment and said, "That was a lucky guess. You need to try harder to stay awake for the whole movie. You always fall asleep before the happy ending."
Personally, I don't see the need to stay awake because we all know what is going to happen within the first 20 minutes. Why doesn't Hallmark just show the first 20 minutes of every movie, let us fill in the rest on our own and simulcast the next 100 minutes with ESPN?! But that's just my opinion.
I'm convinced that the developer of Hallmark Christmas movies is a former preacher. Because they give him one theme and he has to tell it over and over and over in a new way, without changing the main message. As preachers, have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt at Christmas time, "Is there a new way to preach this same story of Jesus being born?" We talk about the shepherds. We talk about the wise men. We talk about Zechariah or the women of the genealogy. We talk about Joseph's perspective and how he felt. But the story is always, "For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son." The manger has to be the center of Christmas. If it's not, we aren't really telling the Christmas story.
In my old office I had a white board where I would write down ideas and plan for sermons. One time I had the dates of the Advent Sundays written there, but nothing else. I was sitting in my chair just staring at that board hoping and praying for some inspiration about what to preach for Christmas. After preaching Christmas to the same congregation for over 20 years I felt completely and totally out of ideas. A good friend came into my office and looked at me just sitting and staring at this white board. I must have looked odd because he started laughing and asked, "What are you doing?" I told him about trying to come up with a new Christmas idea and how my creative bank was empty. He told me this, "Some stories are so good they don't need a new twist. They are perfect the way they are. Those stories ought to be told. They should be retold. They should be told again, and again and again. Christmas is one of the stories." Then he summed it up, "My opinion...just tell the perfect story." And with that he shrugged and walked out of my office.
Hallmark and Luke 2 have something in common. Even though we know the story and how it's going to end, there is something inside us that says, "Tell me that story again."
This Christmas season
Listen to the perfect story.
Tell the perfect story.
Experience the perfect story.
Merry Christmas,
Dave Lutz
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| LOCAL CHURCH NEWS |
Grace 
OPEN HOUSEPlease join us as we celebrate the retirement
of Reverend Robert Donato
Saturday, January 16, 2016
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Grace Church of the Nazarene
5253 W. Webb Road
Youngstown, OH 44515
RSVP 330-652-7008
Click HERE for a copy of the announcement Members of Kenmore Community are collecting sports equipment new or used to take with us to donate to schools, communities, and individual children when we return to Nicaragua! The multi-church group that went in 2014 took "tons" of basketballs, soccer balls, jerseys, etc. and we're looking to take even more when we return in July 2016. Please share this need and pray for God to bless this effort in a mighty way so we can share God's Love with the children of Nicaragua through sports! We also have space on the trip. If you would like more information on being a team member please contact trip coordinator Harley Weidlich at 330-608-6570 with any questions or concerns .....Thank You and God Bless! Terry W. Passmore Pastor Kenmore Community
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TOP TENS FOR NOVEMBER
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Top Numerical Gain Morning Worship: Akron Cottage Grove (27); Akron Kenmore (16);
Hubbard (16); Warren First (12); Lisbon (11); Fishcreek (8); Shadyside (8); Greene (4);
Bethesda (3); and Newton Falls (2).
Top Numerical Gain Sunday School Attendance: Niles First (30); Newcomerstown (14);
Fishcreek (11); Lisbon (11); Tallmadge (6); Akron Cottage Grove (6); Akron Kenmore (6);
Warren First (3); Ravenna (2); and Greene (2).
Top Percentage Gain Sunday School: Akron Cottage Grove (75%); Newcomerstown (35%);
Niles First (27%); Lisbon (26%); Tallmadge (19%); Akron Kenmore (14%); Fishcreek (12%);
Greene (6%); Ravenna (5%); and Shadyside (5%).
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| CLERGY KIDS RETREAT |
Attention: Students, Parents, and District Leaders.
We are less than a month away from the registration deadline for Clergy Kids Retreat. Registrations are coming in consistently, but we don't want anyone to miss out.
The deadline to guarantee a spot is January 7. There may be a few spaces open after that, but each year we come close to maxing out. Here is a bonus, just for fun: Every student who is registered (with at least $25 deposit) by 11:59pm on December 31 will be entered into a drawing. Two students will receive $10 of Kalahari bucks good for snack shops, arcade games, black-light mini-golf, etc. See the necessary retreat details and registration link below.
Can you believe this winter will be our 10th Annual Clergy Kids Retreat? It has been an amazing event God has truly used and a tremendous blessing to so many of the pastoral families across the East Central Region Districts.
The details and registration info is found at http://www.mvnu.edu/churchrelations/ckretreat. Here are the basics:
- Date: Saturday - Monday, February 13-15, 2016
- Who: Teens (grades 7-12) of Nazarene clergy
- Location: Kalahari Resort & Water Park - Sandusky, Ohio
- Cost: $109/person for single-student families; $99/person for multiple-student families (The East Ohio District will give each clergy kid a $50 scholarship toward the registration cost. When registering please subtract the $50 off what you send in and Tom Duncan will notify the district what is owed following the retreat.)
- Sign-up: Registration & $25 deposit is due Jan 7. Balance & Medical Release due Feb 2.
Thank you again for your support of this wonderful event! Tom Duncan ps. I have also attached a sheet of testimonials in case you are interested. Click HERE for the testimonial sheets |
| DISTRICT BLAST |
 January 29-30, 2016 District Blast Registration
1) Go to MVNU.edu/blast to register online.
2) Send waiver/registration form (both forms need to be filled
out completely) and check to:
Molly Davis
44733 Heck rd
Columbiana, Oh 44408
3) Make check for registration fee payable to: "East Ohio NYI"
- Adults/Sponsors FREE!
- Regular Fee (postmarked by 1/13/16): $25
- LATE FEE (postmarked 1/14-1/20-16): $30
- No Money will be accepted on the 29th
- Community Center non-competitor: $15
(Registration fee does not include room/board)
District Blast Schedule
FRIDAY
Salem Community Center
7:00 Athletics & Arts/Crafts Events at Salem Community Center
7:00 - 9:30 Swimming Pool open
12:00 To hotels
SATURDAY
Columbiana Nazarene
9:00 Opening Worship @ Columbiana Nazarene
9:30 Youth Break-out sessions and Youth Leader Training
10:30 Music/Creative Ministries/Academic Events
2:00 President's Report, NYI Elections & Awards
3:30 Depart for home Click HERE for BLAST Registration Leadership Explosion
Leadership Explosion is our District NYI convention. It will take place at the conclusion of Blast on January 30th at 2pm. It will take place at Columbiana Church of the Nazarene. Convention is where we elect our district NYI officers for the upcoming year as well as hear from our District NYI President. You will hear about new and upcoming events for NYI and put faces with names of our leadership team. Pastors and leaders: It is a chance for you to see some of the outstanding talent that has been shared at Blast and support your students during the awards that follow NYI Convention. Below are a couple of resources that will need filled out for convention. One is a form to fill out with your leader's information and names of delegates. The other is a check list with items that we feel are important to youth ministry at the local level. It's a check list just for you to look back at the balance of your youth ministry. Those can be turned into Renee' Avery or Chad Taylor at or before Leadership Explosion. If you choose to come to part of Blast there will be a Youth Leader Training Session that morning at 9:30am. Click HERE for Rating Form Click HERE for Delegate Form |
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL LITERATURE FROM NPH
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Click HERE or on the graphic below to connect to the website.
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| NYI BIBLE QUIZ SCHEDULE 2015-2016 |
East Ohio NYI 2015-16 Bible Quiz Schedule
December 12
| Columbiana | Galatians, Ephesians, thru Philippians 2 | | January 9 | Greentown | Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, thru Colossians 1 | February 13
| Orrville | Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon | | March 11-12 | Akron Arlington | District Finals All 5 Books | April 9
| Massillon
| Top 30 Quiz-off | | May 5-7 | Mt Vernon | Field Quiz |
Bible quizzing is starting up just around the corner. Coaches' meetings will start at 8am, and quizzing will start at 8:15am. Come and Bring your teens! This is a great chance to encourage your teens to study the word of God, promote fellowship with other teens from across the district and disciple your teens in their relationship with Christ.
Costs:- District quiz meets: $3 per quizzer
- Tri-state quiz: $35.00 per team entry fee, $5.00 discount for bringing any blue or computer working jump seats, $5.00 discount per team for multiple team entries from the same church
- District finals: $3 per quizzer, $10 per team
Tim Lee, District Quiz Director
330-324-1988
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2016 CMP REGISTRATION FORM
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To All Certificate of Ministry Preparation Program Participants: Listed here is the registration form for the 2016 CMP classes as well as a link to the MVNU CMP website. Please make note that you can register ahead of time for all classes, or you can register one session at a time. However, the registration deadline for each session is the Monday of the WEEK PRIOR to the start of the session.
Blessings,
Rev. Tracy Ogden Johnson
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| CHURCH PLANTING BASIC TRAINING |
Church Planting Essentials (CPE) is a three-day church planting "basic training." The materials were created by Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI), based upon years of working in mission areas where the church is expanding rapidly. Churches Planting Churches (CPC) is a three-day church sponsorship 101. Certified Trainer Training (CT) equips and certifies participants to re-teach the materials in their local context. It is provided at no extra cost and requires attendance at a session the day before one's other chosen track and the day after (see schedule below). Please note that lay people are encouraged and welcome to participate. Why this training and not something else?- It's Simple: Basic principles to apply to a variety of church plant models in many contexts
- It's Reproducible: Geared toward creating churches that will multiply
- It's Re-Teachable: Contains sessions that certify attendees to reteach the material
- It's Low-Cost: The cost (noted below) covers your registration fee and some meals. Travel, lodging, and any remaining expenses would be on your own.
Where will it be held and how much will it cost?
Wadsworth Church of the Nazarene - 734 High Street - Wadsworth, OH 44281 - Your $39 cost covers your registration fee and three lunches (Tuesday - Thursday). Lodging is recommended at the following hotels: Holiday Inn - 231 Park Center Dr. - Wadsworth, OH 44281 - (330) 334-7666 OR Comfort Inn - 5 Park Center Dr.- Wadsworth, OH 44281 - (330) 336-7692 Breakfast is included at both hotels. Travel & other expenses are on your own.
What does the basic schedule look like for this training?
(CT)
| Monday, April 18 | 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Certified Trainer Training Part 1 |
| Tuesday, April 19 | 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | CPE & CPC Day 1 |
| Wednesday, April 20 | 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | CPE & CPC Day 2 |
| Thursday, April 21 | 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | CPE & CPC Day 3 | (CT)
| Friday, April 22 | 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | Certified Trainer Training Part 2 |
More information, a sample schedule, and video: http://www.usacanadaregion.org/planting-training
Other questions? Contact Special Events Assistant, Joy Wilson at jwilson@nazarene.org
Click HERE for a flyer and more information (pdf)
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TRAVEL TO ISRAEL AND JORDAN WITH MVNU
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Friends,
The School of Theology and Philosophy will be traveling to Israel and Jordan in the Spring of 2016. This is an amazing trip which will offer once in a lifetime opportunities for district leaders, pastors, lay leaders and anyone interested in learning more about the Biblical lands. This is your special invitation to join our MVNU faculty and students!
You can take this trip as a leisurely activity but if you sign up for a class (undergraduate or graduate, audit or for credit, courses) offered with this trip, it can count towards lifelong learning hours and continuing education. Certificate of Ministry Preparation credit in Bible can be earned on this trip as well.
It is our desire to introduce many of our pastors and people to the Holy Land and we hope that you can help us promote this wonderful trip. For more information please visit our website at mvnu.edu/bibletrips.
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Itinerary Includes:
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Tel Aviv
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Sepphoris
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Mount Carmel
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Caesarea
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Petra
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Jordan River
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Nazareth
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Bethlehem
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Sea of Galilee
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Caesarea Philippi
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Jerusalem
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Dead Sea
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Capernaum
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Qumran
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Gethsemane
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We will visit many of the most sacred and significant sites of the Bible including the Mount of Beatitudes, the Church of the Nativity, the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and much more. Check out our full itinerary here.
Contact:
Dr. C. Jeanne Serrao, Dean of the School of Theology and Philosophy
800 Martinsburg Road | Mount Vernon, OH 43050
740-392-6868, ext. 3600 | Email: jeanne.serrao@mvnu.edu
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DISTRICT PASTORAL AND RETIREES BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES FOR DECEMBER
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 DECEMBER
- Jerri Pierpont-12/1 (Barnesville)
- Isabel Clay-12/1/09 (Crossroads Community)
- Dan Anderson-12/3 (Retired)
- Jonah Stevens-12/4/07 (New Hope)
- Rick Swiger-12/8 (Leavittsburg First)
- John & Belinda Powell-12/9 (Caldwell First)
- Dennis & Janice Hancock-12/10 (Shadyside)
- Karma & Ron Burton-2/14 (Mineral City)
- Darrell Frazier-12/15 (Akron Arlington)
- Cheryl & Don Lawson-12/16 (Martins Ferry)
- Micah Stevens-12/21/04 (New Hope)
- John & Nancy Leaf-12/22 (Retired)
- Jim & Terri Smith-12/22 (EOD)
- June Leasure-12/25 (Retired)
- Lydia Stevens-12/28/09 (New Hope)
- Elizabeth Davidson-12/30/02 (Alliance)
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