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Tips and Tactics for Vital Congregations
IS YOUR NEWS NEWSWORTHY?
Want to get your news covered? Be creative with story angles when trying to get a reporter's attention. Frame your news in a way that is significant for the larger community or tie it to something in the national headlines.
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West District Center
| 118 W. Seminary St.
Greencastle, IN 46135
Visit us on the web!
765-276-4797
1-877-781-6716
Office Hours:
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Parking is available in the lot located at Maple Street and Seminary Street. Please call ahead if you will need to utilize the handicapped access ramp that is available.
Local Church Events
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| West District Staff |  | |
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West District News
February 5 2013
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The West District has a new Pinterest profile! Click the Pinterest button above to follow our boards, and share ideas about ministry!
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Year End Reports Now Open - Due February 15!
 It is time for all churches to report their year-end statistics for 2012. The website is now open and the church/pastor should have received a postcard from the Conference Center with username and password information. The reporting period is open through Feb. 15. All information needs to be entered online in the Tables as in previous years. You may print worksheet copies to gather information and complete before the actual data entry, as the program may "time out" if statistics are not entered all at one time. |
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All Clergy Required to Use INUMC E-Mail
 If you have not activated your INUMC.org email account, now is the time! The Conference and District centers will be using INUMC.org addresses for all serving clergy in 2013. Reasons to activate this account: 1. It moves with you wherever you are appointed and after retirement; no need to change email addresses and send reminder after reminder to your contacts! 2. You can still use any email address you want (your primary account) and forward messages automatically from inumc.org - seamlessly - allowing you to use just one account, if you prefer. 3. GCFA will only use this conference-assigned email for all pastors (this includes Vital Congregations and other important information) 4. The Indiana Conference will only use this conference-assigned email for all correspondence 5. The inumc.org address will allow us to send group emails from the database - saving time and productitivity! 6. The consistency of firstname.lastname@inumc.org is easy to remember for all pastors! 7. The District office will know which of your several email addresses will actually get to you! Updating our records every July 1 will be easier without email changes. If you need assistance, let us know and we are happy to help you set up (and forward, if desired) your account. To activate your account: Go to mail.inumc.org - Your user name is: first name.last name
- Password is: inumc2010 OR inumc2012 (call Carla at 317-924-1321 for correct password)
- (You will be prompted to change your password after you activate.)
To forward your inumc.org email to your "preferred" email account: ˇ Log in to your inumc.org email
ˇ Click on the 'gear' icon on the top right (next to your email address), then on the drop down menu, click mail settings ˇ Select forwarding in the middle of the page that opens.
ˇ Click on 'forward a copy of incoming mail to' and enter the email address you would like to have your emails forwarded to ˇ You have the option of saving a copy of all mail in your INUMC inbox as well as having it forward (this is recommended). ˇ At the bottom of the page, click - save changes. If you have any questions or concerns, send an email to Support or call 317-924-1321. PLEASE make this change so the communication between clergy and the Conference and District centers is not interrupted. Bishop Coyner wants every active clergyperson to have this account active (forwarded or not) so that all GCFA, General Board and Conference communication is getting to all pastors. |
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IRS Issues New Mileage Rates for 2013
 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued the 2013 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating a vehicle for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning Jan. 1, the standard mileage rate for using a car for business will be 56.5 cents per mile. The standard mileage rate for using a car in service of charitable organizations is 14 cents per mile.
Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates. On the charge conference report recently approved, you marked either "The Internal Revenue Service mileage rate in effect" OR "xx cents per mile, not to exceed the IRS rate" on the Accountable Reimbursement Plan. If you marked "The IRS mileage rate in effect" you will, as of January 1, 2013, reimburse valid business-related mileage at the new rate of 56.5 cents per mile. |
Annual Conference 2013
The Fifth Indiana Annual Conference Session will take place June 6-8, 2013 at the Indianapolis Convention Center.
Housing is now available! To make your reservations, please click this link to be taken to the housing site.
Please watch this newsletter, as well as the West District Website and Facebook Page for more details on Annual Conference. We will post as information becomes available. |
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Online Giving Now Available 
The Indiana United Methodist Conference Financial Services announced today a new online electronic giving service provided by Vanco Services, LLC for use by the Indiana Conference. Vanco Services is endorsed by the General Council of Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church as a partner in offering financial services online. Vanco currently works with more than 11,000 churches and nonprofit organizations and offers several web-based electronic giving solutions under the e.serviceŽ brand. This new online giving enables the Indiana Conference to accept donations on the conference website through a secure Vanco-hosted payment page. To access this new online giving, click here. This service is voluntary for local churches as an alternative to the Indiana Conference bank lockbox in Carol Stream, Ill. If you have questions, direct them to Heidi Harding, conference controller, at heidi.harding@inumc.org. To view the Active Advance listing, click here.
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Local Church Events Calendar
In an effort to keep this newsletter as concise as possible, we are listing local church events only on the district web site. To view these events, simply CLICK HERE, and you will be directed to it. If your church has an event you would like featured on this calendar, please e-mail the details to Katie Swisher at west.district@inumc.org.
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Lent Events Throughout the District
If your cluster has a Lenten Series you would like listed, please send the information to Katie at west.district@inumc.org. Please include dates, locations and times for each event.
 Willing Hands Cluster's Lenten Service Schedule Lenten topic: Seven Last Words. - Father, forgive them / Luke 23,24 - February 17 - First UMC in West Terre Haute
- Today, you will be with me in paradise / Luke 23:43 - February 24 - Bethesda UMC in West Terre Haute
- Woman, behold your son / John 19:26-27 - March 3 - Bethlehem UMC in Universal
- My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? / Matthew 27:46 - March 10 - BAUMC UMC in Terre Haute
- I thirst & It is finished / John 19:28, 19:30 - March 17 - Smith Park UMC in West Terre Haute
- Father, unto Your hands I commend My Spirit / Luke 23:46 - March 24 - Emmanuel UMC in West Terre Haute
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Extravagant Generosity Workshop in Brazil
 Workshops are being held on Friday, February 15 and Saturday, February 16 for clergy and laity. The Extravagant Generosity workshop on Friday is for clergy and spouses. This workshop, let by Rev. David Bell, will focus on clergy taxes, setting up account reimbursable accounts and personal financial literacy. At past workshops clergy have expressed their gratitude for the information they learned that has helped them made better decisions about their personal finances. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop will end at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, February 16 the workshop will focus on congregations and financial ministry. Topics discussed include best practices in financial planning for congregations, narrative budgets, and encouraging generosity. Pastors and a team of lay people are invited to attend. This workshop is a perfect training experience for new members of your finance committee and other church leaders (chair of leadership council, chair of staff parish relations committee, or chair of trustees). Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on the 16th and the workshop will be over by 12:30 p.m. Attendance at both workshops fulfills one of the requirements for clergy who are applying for grants with Rejuvenate. Registration for these events can be found at www.rejuvenateindiana.org. For more information call Jody Patty at 877-391-8811 or 317-788-7879. |
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Dr. Stanley Hauerwas at DePauw University
 Thursday, February 21, 2013 DePauw University, Greencastle As a part of the 175th celebration at DePauw University we are pleased to welcome Theologian, Dr. Stanley Hauerwas for a reading and book signing from his Memoir, "Hannah's Child: A Theologian's Memoir". The lecture will be held in Watson Forum at 7:30pm on Thursday February 21, 2013. It is free and open to the public. Questions about the event may be directed to Kate Smanik, Director of the Center for Spiritual Life, at katherinesmanik@depauw.edu or 765-658-4615. |
MARCH 9, 2013
9:00-10:00 AM - Registration, Photos w/ Bishop Mike, Fun At The Main Stage
10:00AM-5:00PM - Program
Noblesville First UMC - 2051 Monument St, Noblesville, IN 46060
Theme Scripture: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
This year's theme is "Shinin' So Bright.. We Gotta Wear Shades!" With an exciting lineup of presenters and a brand new format, students will be inspired and equipped to live their faith and shine their lights in everyday life.
Click here for more information and to register online! Register before the end of January to take advantage of the early registration discount!
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United Methodist Men National Gathering
 July 12-14, 2013
Belmont University - Nashville, TN Speakers for the event, held once every four years, include: Don Davis, former NFL football player now serving as regional director of the NFL Players Association; David Delk, president of Orlando, Fla.-based Man in the Mirror Ministries; Bishop Swanson, elected to the episcopacy in 2004 and appointed to the Holston Area prior to his recent move to the Mississippi Area; and the Rev. Shane Bishop, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Fairview Heights, Ill., a church that increased the number of members from 200 in 2009 to 1,000 in 2012. There will be 18 workshops for the national gathering. Participants will also engage in bagging 40,000 pounds of produce for Nashville area food banks, building hand carts for people in African nations who have lost the use of their legs; and preparing ingredients for dehydrated food packages for emergency situations. The theme of the event will be "From the Inside Out," words from a song performed on a CD "Into the Light" by Phil Stacey, one of the five finalists on season six of the American Idol television show. The Nashville public will be invited to his concert on Saturday evening. Price for the registration and meals at the three-day event was set at $239 for people who register before March 1 and $299 after that date. Housing costs vary. More details on this event can be found by clicking here. |
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CHUCK KNOWS CHURCH
A fun and informative weekly series about stuff in the church
 | | 14 | Lent -- Chuck Knows Church |
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