Capitol Area South District
Happy Thanksgiving from Capitol Area South District


Weekly Updates, November 25, 2016
A Bias Opinion
 
  
E - ENGAGE in the Community
 
Several years ago a team of people, from a church seeking to connect with the city, sat in the principal's office of an inner city school. The team was seeking to identify a way to serve with children in an area of the city where no one else was serving. There were several possibilities before the team and they were having a difficult time identifying the place to make the connection. As they were seeking to bring focus and engagement in the city, they set up a meeting with the principal, and found an open door in an unexpected place.
 
In the midst of the conversation, the leader of the team asked the principal, "How can we be helpful? What needs do you have that we can help address?"  The principal responded clearly and directly, "My babies need Jesus. If you want to help us, come and love my babies."
 
The invitation offered was greater than anyone had imaged. A beautiful, messy, chaotic, life-giving partnership began to unfold that day. Today, over sixty adults come alongside the children every week. It is not always easy. But, little by little, relationships have led to both the children's lives and the adults lives being changed. When the standard is, "My babies need Jesus," sometimes the only thing left to do is show up, be present, and offer the love we have received from Jesus.
This past week I received the following note from one of the persons who responded to the principal's invitation:
 
Tim,
 
I would like to thank you for asking me to start a basketball program at Rothenberg.  I am now in my 6th year of coaching and it continues to be a life changer.  Just as The principle promised:  "my babies will come into your hearts".  I am still involved with the players I started with (now 11th & 12th graders).  They are now reaching for higher goals in going on to college.  God bless you Tim and your goals for us.
 
Sincerely,
 
Coach Bill
 
The above story is a model of Engagement.
 
Engagement is where 
     1. we give and receive hospitality, 
     2. we offer Christ in and through loving relationships, 
     3. we grow in our faith in relationship with other Christians in small groups, and 
     4. we live out our faith in the community.  
Engagement is the weaving together of Wesley's "personal piety and social holiness." Wesley modeled care and compassion for the hungry and hurting. He knew at the center of life-transformation were relationships with people in a variety of life circumstances. 
 
Many local churches offer meals, serve at local shelters, and give of their time. Relationships are at the center of engagement. What would happen if your congregation began to develop relationships in the community with local schools, with people living in poverty, with health care facilities? What would happen if you began to pray with people of your congregation, "What do we need to do that no one else is doing?"
 
"Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world" is about living as Christ followers who by acting in faith change the communities and the world in which they live.  Our purpose is to raise up disciples, grace-filled Christ followers, who actively live out their faith in risk-taking and world-changing ways.  
 
To be Christ-followers who make a difference in our neighborhoods and communities will take prayer, planning, and implementation. I am convinced God will honor our obedience of loving one another as God in Christ has loved us. We can and will change the world by learning about Christ, by following Christ into the world, and by living Christ in relationship with everyone we meet.  
 
Why not begin with this simple prayer, "O God, where do you want us in ministry in this community?" "What do we need to do that no else is doing?"


Rev. Robert S. Iddings who died on Friday, November 18, 2016. He was a retired pastor from The West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC) having served the following churches: Scott Trinity UMC, Columbus Westgate UMC, and Riverside Community UMC.
Rev. Iddings is survived by his wife, Rev. Patricia Iddings who is also a retired pastor from the West Ohio Conference. Also surviving are: daughter, Jodi (Adnan) Alkhatib; son, Jonathan (Michelle) Iddings; grandchildren, Omar, Jenan, Abdul, Layan, and Olivia; and sister, Elizabeth Bristow (Lynn). He was preceded in death by parents, Robert and Glorice Iddings.  To sign and view Rev. Idding's online guest book please visit www.graumlichfuneralhome.com.  Donations may be given of your choice to Hospice Services at Methodist Eldercare , Alzheimer's Association , or any church that he had previously served in his memory. 
Immediate Job Opportunities In Our District

Director of Music
Maple Street UMC in Lancaster OH is seeking a Director of Music.  This part-time paid 
Lancaster OH 43130..... more

Director of Music
Alexandria UMC in Alexandria OH is seeking a Director of Music.  This part-time paid position inc
ludes directing the Chancel Choir and Bell Choir (currently inactive), more

Church Accompanist
Alexandria UMC in Alexandria OH is seeking a Church Accompanist.  This part-time paid position includes playing both piano and organ during Sunday worship and other special music for a variety of special services...more

Director of Children's Ministries
Hilliard UMC has an immediate opening for a Director of Children's Ministry. We are looking for a strong leader that has a passion for children and their families... more

Worship Tech Coordinator
Provide computer/sound/audio technology assistance for enhancing the worship and other activities in the ministries of Lithopolis UMC...more

Church Conference Forms

N ow that Church Conferences have concluded please make sure all of your forms have been saved and submitted on-line.

This is a very important part of the process!!
" Thanksgiving Blessings"
Parkview UMC

This picture is Daisy Scout Troop 2418 presenting their annual food drive items to the Helping Hands Food Pantry coordinator Carol Adams.  The scouts and the food Pantry are located at Parkview UMC on the westside of Columbus. 

Pastor Roland Moore, (in red) is looking at ceramic bowls as part of the Empty Bowls fundraiser held at Parkview UMC. Our church in partnership with the Columbus Recreation Department has hosted this event for the past 12 years raising $13,000 for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.  The ceramic bowls are produced at area Recreation Centers. For a $10 donation the public is invited to select a bowl and enjoy a meal of homemade soup and bread. For every dollar raised the Mid-Ohio Foodbank can produce $8 worth of food. Parkview operates a food pantry and purchases all its food from Mid-Ohio. So, we are "helping to feed the hungry... one bowl at a time".
Registration for Clergy Day Apart - November 30, 2016

BE NOT AFRAID! PRISONERS OF HOPE! - A HOPE-FILLED CLERGY DAY APART
For West Ohio Conference Elders, Deacons & Local Pastors under appointment
Featuring guest speaker Rev. Dr. James A. Harnish
Rev. Dr. James A. Harnish retired in 2014 after 43 years of pastoral ministry in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was the founding pastor of St. Luke's UMC in Orlando and served for 22 years as the Senior Pastor of Hyde Park UMC in Tampa. He currently serves on the Board of Africa Upper Room Ministries and on the Board of Visitors at Duke Divinity School where he is also a facilitator for the Institute of Preaching. He is the author of numerous books and bible studies including " A Disciple's Path", " A Disciple's Heart" and " Earn. Save. Give. Wesley's Simple Rule on Money." He and his wife, Martha, have two married daughters and five grandchildren. He enjoys walking, reading and cheering for the University of Florida Gators.
  • Date & Time: Wednesday, November 30, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm (includes lunch)
  • Location: Columbia Heights UMC -  775 Galloway Rd., Galloway, OH 43119
  • Price: No charge but registration is required for lunch.
  • Registration: Registration for lunch
  • Deadline to Register: Tuesday, November 22 at 6:00 pm
To Register  - Click  Here 
Open House December 6, 2016, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
       431 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
We have some exciting news to share with you! UMCH Family Services has officially moved into our new location on East Broad Street in downtown Columbus. Here, our Outpatient Mental Health, Psychiatric, Treatment Foster Care and Adoption programs have come under one roof and into one cutting-edge facility. We designed this facility to be conducive to the treatment needs of children who have experience ...See More
Conference Health Plan Costs and Informational Meetings

Please review the  attached guide for single, family 2 and family 3 premium details. 

The Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits has set details for the 2017 Active and Retiree Health Insurance Plans.  There are changes from the 2016 plan that you will need to know about. Plan to attend one of the meetings  listed here  so you can learn how the changes will affect you. The agenda for each meeting is the same, so attend the one that best fits your schedule. The Active portion of the meeting, for those of you enrolled in Aetna, will begin at 10:00 and last about an hour.  Aetna, Credit Union and Conference staff will be available to answer questions specific to your circumstances after each meeting. The Retiree plan meeting, for those of you enrolled in Humana, will begin at 1:00 and conclude about 2:00, depending on questions.  In between, a light lunch will be provided that you'll be able to take with you should you wish. 
Visit our website to find:  
Classifieds, Calendar, Resources and more!

STAY CONNECTED:
Please share these updates with others in your congregation!

If you have anything you would like to have shared or posted in our Newsletter, feel free to email your request to me by Wednesday at Noon.