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A weekly newsletter to keep you connected.
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Virtual Office Calendar Now Online
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On the West District website www.inumc.org/westdistrict, you will notice the VIRTUAL OFFICE CALENDAR Button. Click on it. This will lead you to a screen that displays John Groves, John Davis and Katie Swisher's Calendars for a week or two in advance.
It is our hope that when you notice where we are planning our "office for the day" you will join us for conversation and share what exciting events are taking place in your places of worship and ministry.
This office time is open to the laity and clergy.
Blessings and Prayers,
The West District Staff
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Charge Conference Schedule Published
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 The 2013 West District charge conference schedule is now published on the West District Center website. Please click here to view the schedule. Make sure to mark your church and personal calendars for your particular charge conference date! Information about the charge conference forms will be released very soon. Please begin planning for your charge conference by setting meetings now to have the proper information gathered at that time. There are many changes coming to the charge conference forms this year.
One way your church needs to begin preparing for these changes is to have ALL PASTORS begin using the INUMC.ORG e-mail account provided by the Conference. Access to the new charge conference forms will be granted using this e-mail account, so it is vital that these accounts are set up now. If you have questions about setting up your INUMC.ORG account, please contact the Indiana Conference Center at 317-924-1321. |
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West District Mission Fund
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 The West District has created a new account specifically for missions. This account will be funded both by the West District budget and by generous donations by individuals and churches. Clusters and churches in the West District are welcome to apply for Mission Grants to help offset costs for ministry and mission in the district. Click the links below for the Grant Application and for the Guidelines for Grant Distribution. Questions about this fund can be directed to Bob Kumpf, West District Missions Coordinator. WEST DISTRICT MISSION FUND GRANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES FOR DISTRIBUTING WEST DISTRICT MISSION FUNDS If you or your church or your cluster wish to donate to this account, please mail your donations to: West District Center INUMC
Department 6089 Carol Stream, IL 60122 Please make sure you include a note indicating this donation is for the West District Mission Fund. |
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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Africa University Rally & District Conference
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Sunday, September 29, 2013
2:30 PM at Linden UMC
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 Mark your calendars now! Everyone in the West District is invited to attend this exciting Africa University Rally with Bishop Coyner. Join us as we learn more about the exciting things happening at Africa University!
We will also hold our District Conference at this event. Please make every effort to attend.
More information will be coming soon, so watch this newsletter and your mail!
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Lion & Lamb Festival - Registration Now Open
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August 31 - September 1, 2013
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An exciting new ministry event, and you are invited! The Lion and Lamb Festival is a community of hope gathering to share gifts, inspire authentic conversation, and passionately follow God in the world. It will gather August 31-September 1, 2013, at Praise Park, a property of Saint Joseph UMC in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Through art, music, and word, the festival will encourage attendees to reflect on issues of spirituality, faith, and justice in their everyday lives. 2013 festival keynote speakers include Rachel Held Evans and Bruce Reyes-Chow, and currently booked musicians include Andrew Peterson, Heatherlyn, John Tibbs, Amy Cox, and Elle/the Remnant. A joint effort of the INUMC Young Adult Ministry Team, the Social Advocacy Team, and Saint Joseph UMC, the festival is open to everyone of all ages. More information at www.lionandlambfestival.org.
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September 20-22, 2013 Holiday Inn Indianapolis North
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 All clergy spouses of every age and gender and in every stage of ministry are invited to attend this weekend retreat. Churches, please consider sponsoring your clergy spouse's registration fee. This is a wonderful time of worship and fellowship with clergy spouses from all over the state.
Online registration is open now - click here to register!
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Disciple Bible Study Being Offered in Terre Haute
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Offered by the Crossroads Cluster
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Beginning in September, the Crossroads Cluster (Maple Avenue, Seelyville, Memorial and Centenary) will be offering two options for DISCIPLE Bible Study. We extend an invitation to any from the West District who would like to participate.
DISCIPLE I - For anyone new to DISCIPLE. We are offering the 34 week course over two years, scheduled to accommodate those who are gone through the winter months. This "Snow Bird" schedule will run mid-September through mid-November, and continue mid-March through mid-May covering the 17 Old Testament sessions in 2013-14, and the 17 New Testament sessions in 2014-15.
JESUS IN THE GOSPELS - For anyone who has completed DISCIPLE I. This Second Generation Disciple Study is a 30 week course and will run September - May.
The day, time and location for the group meetings for each course will be determined according to the people who will be participating
Information about each of these courses is available on the Centenary website www.centenaryth.org. An informational meeting at Memorial UMC on Monday, August 26 at 6:30 pm will provide more details and an opportunity for questions, or you may contact Rev. Phyllis Peters directly using the contact information below.
Rev. Phyllis Peters
Director of Education, Centenary UMC
Educ.dir.centenary@hotmail.com
232 2319 (church) or 236 9833 (cell)
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West District Operation Classroom News
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The next Operation Classroom Packing Day is scheduled for Thursday, October 3rd at 8:30 AM at Breden Memorial UMC in Terre Haute.
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After ten years of coordinating Operation Classroom efforts in our region, Bill Green will be stepping down this year. October 3rd will be his last Packing Day. If you are interested in taking over this responsibility, please contact Bill at plgreen49@localnet.com. If a new Operation Classroom coordinator is not found, the West District Operation Classroom program will have to be put on hold. Please be praying about this project.
Operation Classroom gets no financial support for the General Board of Global Ministries - we get no financial support from any other mission agency. Every nickel that we receive has to be raised from local churches and individuals.
In the past, the shipping operation has often operated "in the red" - that is, people who provided materials to be shipped to West Africa DID NOT provide the funds to ship it there. We simply aren't in a position to do that any longer. Please see the policies listed below related to shipping (copied from off of our web-site.) If our churches and individuals in Indiana (and elsewhere) aren't willing to provide the funding, then sooner rather than later the shipping program will cease to be a part of OCI. It costs us about $10,000.00 each time we ship a container to West Africa - and that doesn't include the warehousing and receiving costs here in Indiana.
Shipping Costs
Listed below is the schedule of MANDATORY contributions for shipping. We're sorry, but if material shows up at the warehouse or at in-gatherings without arrangements having been made to cover these costs, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED for shipment.
· Box 12x12x12= $10
· Box up to 12x12x18 -$15
· Box over 12x12x18 up to 18x18x18 =$ 20
· Over 18x18x18 to a computer sized box = $ 30
· Computer sized box = $ 40
The donation for the shipping costs is the responsibility of the local church or individual who donates or secures the items, unless you or your district has made other arrangements. These charges cover:
· The leasing and of the container
· Clearing customs
· Freight forwarding (Truck and Ocean-going vessel)
· Customs clearing in-country
Make checks payable to OPERATION CLASSROOM. Shipping costs are tax deductible.
If shipping costs are sent through the conference to GBGM in New York, use the advance number: Africa Operation Classroom: 12922Y
If you have questions, contact John Barker (765.346.0979) or Bob Coolman at
219-464-8055 (O) 219-464-2702 (H) 219-405-5821 (C).
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Extravagant Generosity Workshop with David Bell
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Bloomington St. Mark's UMC
October 25-26, 2013
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The first Extravagant Generosity workshop this fall will be October 25-26, 2013 at Bloomington St Marks UMC. The Friday workshop is from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm and is for clergy and their spouses. Saturday's workshop is from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm and is for clergy and their Lay Team members.
Anyone interested in attending these workshops please contact Jody Patty by phone at 1.877.391.8811 (toll-free). The registration cost of the workshop is:
- Clergy - $65 (Friday & Saturday), spouse attends at no cost
- Clergy and Lay Team - $100
- Clergy couple (husband and wife are both pastors) - $130
- Clergy couple and Lay Team - $165
- Lay Team only - $35 (Saturday only)
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Rev. John Groves
Superintendent
765-51-UMCDS
(765-518-6237)
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Rev. John Davis
Associate S uperintendent
(office) 765-276-4797
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Katie Swisher
District Assistant
(office) 765-276-4797
(mobile) 765-276-7UMC (mobile) (765-276-7862)
Preferred Telephone Hours:
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
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704 South SR 135, Suite D379, Greenwood, IN 46143 · 765.276.4797
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