April 14, 2015
WEST DISTRICT NEWS
A weekly newsletter to keep you connected.

 

Please click the button above to see the schedule for West District Missional Office locations. 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 both laity and clergy. 

 

Blessings and Prayers,

The West District Staff

 

 

 

The schedule for 2015 charge conferences has been set! The format for meetings this year will be different than in years before. Instead of having one meeting for each cluster, we will have four regional charge conference meetings. Each church needs to choose which meeting to attend. Reports will be due to the district center no less than two weeks prior to the meeting chosen.

 

Because of limited space at each location, we will be limiting the number of churches that will be able to attend each date. Please contact Katie Swisher at the district office by email or telephone as soon as possible to reserve your church's chosen date and location.

 

Below is the schedule of charge conference meetings in the West District: 

 

DATE
TIME
LOCATION
Sunday, October 25th2:00 PMCrawfordsville First UMC
Sunday, October 25th6:00 PMMemorial UMC
Sunday, November 1st2:00 PMLinton First UMC
Sunday, November 1st6:00 PMBrazil First UMC
West District Lay Servant School
Saturday, June 13, 2015   8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Gobin Memorial UMC
Greencastle, IN

Lay Servant Ministries

Mark your calendars now for the next West District Lay Servant School! More details and a registration form will be released soon. Join us for a great day of learning!

Sermon Contest Opened to Laity

The Indiana Conference's Lay Leadership Team offers an opportunity to express thanks and praise to God by asking laity to submit an original sermon manuscript for judging. This contest is open to all lay people in the Indiana Conference. Following the theme of Indiana's 2015 Annual Conference Session, the theme for this year's manuscript contest is "Share Your Story," based on Joel 1:3.


 

The winning sermon manuscript will be presented during the Laity Session or Laity Luncheon on Thursday, May 29. Manuscripts should be no more than 15 minutes in length. Entries will be judged based on creative and original development of the theme, but could be eliminated due to length.


 

Manuscripts need to be mailed to Doris Clark, 7504 Normandy Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46278 or sent by 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. Entrants are asked not to include any personally identifying information in the manuscript itself since it will be assigned a number and judged anonymously.


 

All entries must be received by April 28 and the winner will be notified by May 12.

For additional information about the contest, please contact Anthony Swinger, Central District Associate Lay Leader, at [email protected] or call 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].

United Methodist Women of Indiana Events
Silent Retreat - Praying in Color
May 15-17, 2015
Sarto Retreat House, Evansville

 

Spend time with God by drawing, doodling, and coloring. Moving our hands allows our bodies to participate in prayer and keeps our minds from being distracted. Use color and shape, prayer time, music and scripture to connect you to God in a creative way. 


 

CLICK HERE FOR THE EVENT FLYER 

 

Limitless: Redefine Tomorrow
An Event for Young Women

This event for young United Methodist Women will be held Friday-Sunday, June 26-28th at the University of Indianapolis. Please download the application for this event here.

Mission U 2015
Learning Together for the Transformation of the World

Mission U will be held at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. The weekday event will be held Tuesday - Friday, July 21-24. The Saturday Sampler will be held Saturday, July 25th. This event is sponsored by the United Methodist Women of Indiana. 

 

For detailed information and a registration form for Mission U, please click here.

West District United Methodist Women News & Events
United Methodist Women Spring Celebration
Saturday, April 25, 2015  at 10:00 a.m.
Fillmore UMC, 221 South Main Street, Fillmore

Please make plans to attend the West District UMW Spring Celebration on Saturday, April 25th at Fillmore UMC. Anne Bunch will be presenting a program entitled "Be Just. Be Green." 

 

Please RSVP by Saturday, April 18th. Child care is available for those who request when they RSVP. 

 

Click here to view the detailed flyer for this event! 

 

March 2015 District UMW Newsletter
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.