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East Ohio District Church of the Nazarene
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December 18, 2015
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| OUR DISTRICT PASTOR | 
It's a week until Christmas! At the Lutz home, we have our tree up, lights on the house, presents bought and decorations up. At times, I understand that I tend to take the things of Christmas a little too far. I admit this can make me a little obnoxious. Okay, at times, maybe more than just a little obnoxious. But I can't help it, I love Christmas!
For instance when it comes to decorating, I wanted to buy some greenery that we could wrap around the railing of our staircase. Janet and I were at Wal-Mart and the greenery was only 1.92 so I picked up a couple of rolls. I was so excited to be able to add to the festive look of our home for less than four bucks. Janet didn't see it that way. She called it clutter. "We have enough stuff up already, we don't need any more. Put it back." So, like a seven year old that's told he can't have a new toy, I slumped back to the holiday section and put the greenery back on the shelf. Now every time I look at the staircase I can only think of what could have been. I can't help it, I love Christmas!
One of the ways I know I'm obnoxious is that I love to give things holiday names. I stopped into Dunkin Donuts to see if they had any holiday themed donuts, because during the season of Advent, I refuse to eat plain old donuts. They need to be festive! They need to be joyful! So I ask, "Do you have any holiday-themed donuts this morning?" The young lady scrunched her eyebrows together like she was confused and said, "Well....we have these regular donuts but they have green icing with red dots on them." "Do they have a holiday name?" I asked. She looked more confused. "Regular donut with green icing and red dots?..." she half stated, half asked. I said, "We can do better than that. How about 'I'm dreaming of a donut Christmas' or 'Feliz Navidonut'? I stood there smiling and oozing festivity. She just stared at me for a count of three. Then she said, "It's 99 cents sir." I wanted to turn around and just walk away as a protest against her scrooginess. But I really wanted a donut so I gave her a dollar and said "I'll take one Rudolph, the donut-nosed reindeer." I don't care if she thought I was obnoxious, I love Christmas!
The other night I was out of town visiting a church and I stopped at Arby's for supper. I had much better luck there. They had a huge sign advertising a new steak flatbread thing. It looked good and the young girl was telling me how much she liked it. Of course I asked, "Can we give it a holiday name since it's Christmas?" She answered, "That's a great idea! "Why didn't I think of that? How about the Holly Jolly Fajita Flatbread?" I said, "If we can call it that, then ring me up!" She smiled ear to ear and said, "I'm going to make everyone call it that until it's Christmas." Then she said, "Would you like curly fries with that?" I couldn't contain myself with my new friend. I answered, "No, but I would like some Kris Kringle Curly fries." "This is so much fun," she said. Then she yelled to the back, "Hey everyone, from now on, we call curly fries, Kris Kringle curly fries!" Smiling at me she said, "I love Christmas!" I've made a new friend at Arby's in Youngstown.
The way I look at things, I don't think we should take great things and bland them down. Let's celebrate them! Let's elevate them! And this week we get to tell the greatest story that has ever been told...Christmas! God loved us enough to send His Son into this world to do for us what we couldn't do for ourselves. Jesus was the perfect, once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins. We didn't deserve this gift, but out of love, God did this. It's an amazing story!
At our Christmas banquet last week, Pastor Randolph and his wife, Darla, came to the front and read the Nativity story. I'm not sure what it was, but it seemed like I was hearing it for the first time and it moved me to tears. It was amazing! But it's an amazing story. Tell this amazing story this week and tell it with passion. Let it sing and let it lift hearts with hope.
I'm praying for you this Christmas season. I'm praying for your church and your family. I believe in you and so does God!
Merry Christmas,
Dave Lutz
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| EZINE SCHEDULE |
Due to the Christmas Holiday vacation schedule, the Ezine will not be published for the next two weeks. It will resume publication the first week of January 2016.
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| MINISTERS' AND MATES' RETREAT |
February 2-4, 2016 at the Carlisle Inn, Sugarcreek, OH
We are looking forward to this year's retreat with our special guest speaker,
Dr. Eddie Estep.
Dr. Eddie Estep is the District Superintendent of the South Carolina District Church of the Nazarene. In addition, he is an author, and gifted speaker. His wife, Diane, will be attending also.
Click HERE for a flyer / registration form Click HERE for room descriptions and directions
The cost of this year's workshop will be $425* per couple (double room occupancy) and $325* per single (single room occupancy).
Special rates are available for those who cannot stay overnight. 1 to 4 services = $40 per couple and $20 per single; add $18 per person per dinner and $15 per person for lunch.
(First 10 double reservations-able to stay entire retreat-(including payment) received at the district office will get to stay in a Deluxe Executive Room;* next 12 reservations-able to stay entire retreat (including payment) received will get a King Bed Room with Hideaway; all other rooms have 2 queen beds.) There are 3 two-bedroom suites available for couples to share. If interested please, indicate here. ____________
All reservations must be received at the District Office by January 20th.
Please send a check with the reservation form below. Make your checks payable to the East Ohio District Church of the Nazarene and send to 4450 Belden Village St. NW, Suite 600, Canton, OH 44718.
*This price includes dinner Tuesday evening; breakfast, lunch and dinner Wednesday,; and breakfast Thursday. Please indicate on reservation form if you prefer vegetarian meals.
If you would like to arrive early on Monday or stay over on Thursday, you may do so at the same special retreat rate per night. Please call the Carlisle Inn to make the additional reservations separately and let them know you will be attending our retreat at 855-411-2275.
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RESERVATION FORM FOR MINISTERS' AND MATES' RETREAT
February 2-4, 2016
CHURCH ____________________________________________ Total Attending _____________________
# Room/s Needed: Single ______ Double ______ Name/s of those attending:
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| TEAM MEETING |
Click HERE for a copy of this flyer Back To Table of Contents |
| 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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DISTRICT BLAST / LEADERSHIP EXPLOSION
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 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 |
| 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 |
| CHURCH FINANCE WORKSHOP - MVNU | |
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| TRAINING FOR 10 - MVNU |
Training for 10
There is no "I" in Youth Leader:
Developing Student and Adult Leaders in your Church
February 27, 2016 9:30am-3pm
- This training event is priced and planned for you to bring your youth ministry leadership team for a day of interactive training!
- Coming alone? No problem. We will connect you with other youth leaders flying solo to network and brainstorm together about your ministries!
- It doesn't matter if you are full-time, part-time, volunteer or something in between... this day will apply to everyone and any team... we may even ask some of the most experienced youth pastors attending to help lead some of the small group discussions!
- We've added a couple hours to the day based on feedback from past training events, so we have more time to allow you to talk through things with each other!
- Space is limited to first 120 participants.
- Trainer: Chris Riggs is the Associate Pastor to Families with Youth at South Charleston First Church of the Nazarene.
WHAT DO YOU GET? - Over 4 hours of engaging youth ministry training
- Continental breakfast
- A link with all the content from the seminar for you to download, including: Seminar Outlines, Seminar Presentation Slides and other free resources.
This event will be at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and the cost is $10.
Go to gotomvnu.com to register.
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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
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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 |
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 AND JANUARY
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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)
JANUARY
- Jeff & Terri Gilkerson - 1/2 (New Covenant)
- Ed & Karen Spangler-1/4 (Retired)
- Jeff Gilkerson-1/4 (New Covenant)
- Brett & Serenity Warkentine-1/5 (Rush Community)
- Darryl & Tracy Ogden Johnson-1/6 (Ravenna First)
- Rick Chappell-1/7 (EOD)
- Bonnie Burns-1/9 (EOD)
- Axa Whetstone-1/14 (EOD)
- Rhonda Coker-1/14 (Powhatan Point)
- Paul Decker-1/17 (Retired)
- Carolyn Hardy-1/17 (East Liverpool LaCroft)
- Ron Whittenberger-1/18 (Retired)
- Gay Lee-1/21 (Massillon First)
- Arnie Yost-1/21 (Shepherd's Hill)
- Josiah Brown-1/22/04 (Lisbon)
- Don Lawson-1/25 (Martins Ferry)
- Georgia Patton-1/25 (Cuyahoga Falls)
- Terri Smith-1/28 (EOD)
- Olivia Patton-1/31/11 (Cuyahoga Falls)
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