SMALL HEADER
February 25, 2014
WEST DISTRICT NEWS
A weekly newsletter to keep you connected.

Virtual Office Calendar Now Online

VO Calendar  

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

 

 

Are you working on your Year End Reports???
Year End Reporting





The deadline for submitting Year End Reports is FRIDAY! After Friday churches will be unable to submit these reports. At the writing of this newsletter, only 45% of West District churches have completed their reports. Please see that these reports are submitted as soon as possible.

The GCFA website for 2013 Year End Reports will be open January 15 - February 28, 2014. You are able to print a blank form from the GCFA website to use in preparing to submit your data online. (Google Chrome users need to use a different web browser when accessing these) We are recommending that you print and prepare the blank form before logging into the website to submit since the system times out after 30-45 
minutes.

Your login is your 6-digit GCFA church identification number, and your initial password is "password". Once someone has logged into the system this password no longer works. To access the GCFA website and Year End Reports you can go to www.inumc.org and you will be redirected or go directly to http://ezra.gcfa.org/. 

To request a paper copy of the forms please contact Carla Johnson at the Conference Center at 1-877-781-6706.
Indiana Conference Laity Manuscript Contest
The Indiana Conference's Lay Leadership Team is again offering the opportunity to express thanks and praise God by submitting an original sermon manuscript for judging. This contest is open to all lay people in the Conference. The winning manuscript will be presented at the laity session or lunch on Thursday, May 29. 

Following the theme of Indiana's 2014 Annual Conference, the theme for this year's manuscript contest is, "The Outwardly Focused Church"

Manuscripts should be no more than 15 minutes in length. Entries will be judged based on
creative and original development of the theme, but may be eliminated due to length. 
Manuscripts should be mailed to Ike Williams, Indiana Conference Co-Lay Leader, at 1515
Cool Creek Drive, Carmel, IN 46033 or sent via email to [email protected]. The manuscript must be accompanied by a cover sheet or letter that includes the writer's name, address, phone number, email address, local church name and district. Please do not include any personally identifying information in the manuscript since it will be assigned a number and judged anonymously. All entries must be received by April 29, and the winner will be notified by May 12.

For additional information about the contest, please contact Anthony Swinger, Central District Co-Lay Leader, at [email protected] or 317-372-4991.
EVENTS
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 [email protected].

Crossroads Cluster Trip to Midwest Mission Distribution Center - All Welcome to Attend!
March 17-19, 2014

Mark your calendars for the spring mission trip to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham IL (near Springfield.) scheduled for Monday - Wednesday, March 17 - 19. The MMDC is one of the UMCOR staging areas for disaster supplies collection, preparation, packing, and storage. The work varies from construction to flood bucket packing to health kit preparation to cutting and sewing of cloth book bags and more as the opportunity arises. Private rooms, a kitchen, showers, etc are all contained in the missioners lodge. A fee of $100/missioner will be used to defray the cost of our housing and supplies at MMDC. Group transportation will be arranged. Missioners from the Crossroad Cluster and other Wabash Valley churches are invited to join us. Contact the Memorial UMC Church office (234-0776) or Dave Voltmer (877-1626) to sign up or for more information. Don't delay as time for planning is growing short. 

The Why Conference
Saturday, April 5, 2014
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (CDT) 

Why Are We Doing What We're Doing?

In order to accomplish the great mission of the Church, your church's vision has to connect with God's passion.  Church growth and revitalization begin when you ask "Why are we doing what we're doing?"

A Conference Designed for ALL of Your Ministry Teams
We invite you to bring your whole team to share in breakout discussions about: deliberate hospitality, heartfelt worship, engaging children's ministry, thriving small group ministry, and cutting edge technology - all centered around a core of mission and vision. Sessions will be led by Blue Grass Staff. 

Why Attend "The Why"?
In 1997, attendance at Blue Grass UMC had plateaued at 120.  Today, Blue Grass is a turnaround church averaging 550 in weekly attendance.  The WHY conference will share the work God has been doing at Blue Grass with the desire that you and your church will be empowered to make a real impact in your mission field. 

Registration is only $20 per person ( 3 or more $15 per person) and includes lunch. For more info and to register online, go to http://www.bluegrassumc.org/conference/. Registration deadline is March 31st.  

 

The Why Conference

Sponsored by:

Blue Grass UMC

14200 Petersburg Rd.

Evansville, IN

812-867-3997

Pathways Through The Bible Trip
November 24 - December 3, 2014

Dave Marty and his wife will be hosting a tour of Israel/Palestine through the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies (a branch of Educational Opportunities), and you are invited to join them! An electronic brochure is available for viewing here. If you would like more information about the trip, Dave is glad to talk with you.  You may contact him at Rockville First UMC (765-569-5356).

 

 

NEW Groves
NEW Davis
NEW Swisher
Rev. John Groves
Superintendent
765-51-UMCDS
(765-518-6237)
Rev. John Davis
Associate Superintendent
(office) 765-276-4797 
Katie Swisher
District Assistant
(office) 765-276-4797
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