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Capitol Area South District
Weekly Updates April 14,2017
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A Bias Opinion
In the final years of his life, a lifelong Bible teacher found his faith challenged. First, a degenerative nerve disease confined him to bed, impeding him from most of the activities that gave him pleasure. Then his thirty-nineĀ-year-old daughter battled a severe form of diabetes. Along with the illnesses, financial pressures mounted.
In the midst of the crisis, he composed a Christmas letter and mailed it to others in the family. He felt uneasy about many of the things that he had once taught, but he wanted to express what he believed with certainty. So, he came up with these three things: "Life is difficult. God is merciful.
Heaven is sure."
He believed he could count on these three things. When his daughter died of diabetic complications the very next week, he clung to those truths ever more fiercely.
"Life is difficult. God is merciful. Heaven is sure."
I feel the need to mention it as we bring Holy Week to a close and live into Easter.
Holy Week reminds us that life is hard.
Good Friday reminds us that God is merciful.
Easter reminds us heaven is sure.
Like the liturgy my church sang when I was a boy, "As it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be." As it was in the beginning of Genesis, when God walked with us in the Garden, when God made God's home among us and we felt most at home when we were with God, so it is promised now and shall ever be our hope. We will be uninterrupted with our heavenly Father. The only way we get through this life without losing our minds, our heart, and our hope is to hang on to this promise of heaven.
I believe heaven is my heart's home. It is the place where I finally belong. I believe that at the end of my life's journey when I leave behind everything I have known - the good, the bad, the - God will have prepared exactly what I need to calm my worries. When I get there and see what God has in mind, I believe I'll say, "It's good to be home."
Do you know what it's like, to have heaven as your heart's home? Do you know the incredible difference this hope of heaven can make in your life?
Harry Denman, a Methodist layperson, told the story of speaking at a series of meetings at City Temple in London for Dr. Leslie Weatherhead. While in his office one day, a call came from a rundown rooming house. A prostitute, who was dying, had asked for a Methodist minister. The pastor asked Dr. Denman to go with him. When they arrived Weaterhead asked Denman to minister to the dying woman.
Harry Denman entered the room and introduced himself. Then he simply said, "Tell me your story." Her name was Mary. She was alone in the world, no family, no true friends. For too many years and in too many ways, her life had taken wrong turns. In fits of depression, she had turned to alcohol, and then to drugs, and then to prostitution to pay for her addictions. But the true payment was the total collapse of her health. Her body couldn't take the punishment any longer. She said, "I need someone to talk to God for me. I don't believe God will listen to a person like me."
Harry Denman knelt beside her bed, bowed his head, and prayed silently. When he finished he held Mary's hand and said, "Mary, I just talked to Papa. Papa says he loves you and it is all right to come home."
That was God's word for Mary. And that's God's word for you and me. Papa says "It is all right to come home." Our final destination is not a hospital. It is not hopelessness. But our final destination is a home, a heart home. For Mary and for you and for me it does not matter the history we have weathered, we belong. It does not matter the miles we have traveled, we belong. It does not matter the bumps or bruises or burials we have borne, we belong. Why?
John, the writer of The Revelation put it this way:
"The home of God is among mortals (humanity)...and we are God's and God Himself will be with us. And God will wipe every tear from our eyes. And death will be no more; and mourning and crying and pain will be no more."
Isn't that great to know? Heaven is not just a hope, heaven is a home.
Heaven is a heart home where we belong. At the end of the day, whether it has been weary or wonderful, whether we have been victors or victims, at the end of the day, when our bodies can go no further, we can still go home.
It is my prayer, as we prepare for Easter, the Resurrection, that you and I do not miss the chance, here on earth, to begin investing in eternity so that heaven can be our heart's home.
Have a blessed Easter!
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50 Days of Love
Are you willing to practice, experiment, and engage in being an agent of Christ's love?
Dr. Peter J. Gomes, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard writes,
"...the resurrection is a continuing event which involves everyone who dares be involved in it. Easter is not just about Jesus. It's about you. Jesus has already claimed his new life. What about you? Easter is not just about the past, it's about the future. Your best days are ahead of you. The proof of the resurrection is in your hands and in your life."
So how are we "proof" of the resurrection?
For the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost, show God's love as proof of God's presence in our lives. Don't worry the first week is all about preparation. Get started reading 1 John with the
SOAPY Bible Study.
Prepare to experience God's love by sharing God's love. Share the love on social media using #50DaysLove
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*DISTRICT CONFERENCE*
Capitol Area South District Conference And Pre-Annual Conference Briefing!
Brice United Methodist Church will be hosting our Church conference this year, please join us on
Sunday, May 7th - 2:00 PM
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Scioto Ridge Does Stay-at-Home Mission for Spring Break
W
hile some members of Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church in Hilliard, OH, traveled out-of-town for Spring Break, other families joined together to participate in service activities in their local community. Inspired by the book, Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference by Max Lucado, the week offered 10-plus service opportunities in which more than 100 people participated! Service experiences included delivering meals to shut-ins, litter clean-up, putting together hygiene kits and box lunches, visiting residents at a nursing home, doing odd jobs around the church, as well as paying for loads of laundry at a local laundromat. One parent said, "We need to do those much more often, I am so happy to get my children involved in mission work."
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Employment Opportunities In Our District
Director of Children's Ministry
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...
more
Intern for Youth Group and Music/Worship Leadership
Chatham Charge UMC is searching for a dynamic musically inclined individual to assist with their weekly Wednesday afternoon youth group as well as...
more
Church Accompanist
Maple Street United Methodist Church in Lancaster, Ohio is in search of an accompanist for piano (mostly) and organ (occasionally). This paid position could start...
more
Assistant for Children and Student Ministries
The Assistant for the Children and Student Ministries Pastor is responsible for assisting the Children and Student Ministry Pastor and volunteers in the administrative...
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
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Spring 2017 Lay Servant Ministries Courses:
Are you ready to answer God's calling for you as a lay servant leader? Look in the West Ohio Conference's recent
EQUIP resource catalog for upcoming courses! You can take courses offered in any District. You may also take courses online
here:
Friday, April 21, 2017 - 6:30pm
to
Saturday, April 22, 2017 - 5:00pm
Saturday, April 22 and 29, 2017 - 8:30am to 5:00pm at Hebron UMC
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Eastview United Methodist Church
Eastview UMC's Community Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday,
April 15 at 10:00 AM
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SELF DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE
Need a grant for your grassroots group?
Free community workshop
Light Lunch provided
Wednesday, April 26
at 12:00 PM (Noon)
United Way of Central Ohio
360 S. Third St., Columbus, OH 43215
T
o register or for more information click here
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PLEASE COME!
The West Ohio Conference United Methodist Women are presenting:
Racial Justice Spiritual Retreat
Key Note Speaker: Reverend Karen Cook
Also featuring L. Cean Wilson and Ethel Johnson
Special guest Vickie Shurelds
Date: April 29, 2017
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM check in 9:30
Where: Warehouse 839 @ Hilliard UMC
3691 Main St, 5445 Scioto Darby Rd,
Hilliard, Ohio
Registration deadline is April 19, 2017. Box lunch provided, contributions accepted to cover cost of lunch. Please send your name, district, email, phone and dietary restrictions to Sylvia Kempton at kemptonss@yahoo.com
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DENMAN AWARD
Denman Award Nominations Due to Conference by May 1
Harry Denman, noted lay evangelist and Christian leader, believed that each person must live their call to make disciples of Jesus Christ through relationship, mission, and preaching. Each year, Annual Conferences join The Foundation for Evangelism (FFE) to recognize outstanding youth, clergy, and laity in their conference with the Harry Denman Evangelism Award. Recipients are committed to introducing others to Jesus Christ and are exceptional in the number of people who credit them with helping start or reignite a personal faith journey. Nomination forms for the 2017 Harry Denman Evangelism Awards can be found
here. Deadline to submit nominees is May 1, 2017.
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The Gathering
A Joint Celebration of Openness and Inclusion
Sunday, May 7, 2017 at the Livingston UMC, 200 E. Livingston Ave, Columbus, OH.
You're invited!
Join us on May 7th for another gathering of West Ohio Reconciling United Methodists and Friends! Laity and clergy alike are invited to hear an update from David Meredith, share fellowship, and hear another testimony about the significance of the reconciling work we do as community.
Details: Sunday, May 7th, 3:00-5:00pm at Livingston United Methodist Church, 200 E. Livingston Ave, Columbus. Childcare is provided. RSVP not necessary.
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Rx Riders
May 20th
Please plan to join us on Saturday, May 20, for the first-ever Rx Riders. All proceeds will go to purchase breathing medication and inhalers for low-income individuals and families in Franklin County. Riders can choose from a 25-mile or 50-mile trek through the bike paths of German Village and downtown Columbus. Registration is $35 and all participants are encouraged to invite support from friends, co-workers and family. We'll give you all the tools you need to meet your own personal fundraising goal. To sign up, email
melanie.charitablepharmacy@gmail.com and put "Bike Ride" in the email subject line to get started now!
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"When Kids Come Out" - A Four-Session Class for
Parents
of LGBT Children
When a child comes out to his/her/their family, it often raises many questions for
both the child and for the family. For example:
* What does it mean for the family when a child comes out to his/her/their
parents?
* What does it mean for the parents' relationship to their church?
* What does it mean for the parents' own faith?
* How do parents navigate their own "coming out" after their children have
come out to them?
These questions are among those that will be addressed in the four-session
class that will be held on Wednesday evenings from May 3 through May 24 at
the Worthington United Methodist Church. The meetings will begin at 7:00 pm
and conclude by 8:30 pm. The church is located at 600 High Street,
Worthington.
Parking is available at the church. Look for signs directing you to
"Kids Coming Out" class.
The Rev. Jim Waugh, retired pastor in the West Ohio Conference...see more
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B
ishop Palmer Invites Us to Join in Light the Way Campaign
At Annual Conference this year, Tuesday morning worship will be of special importance as we launch the LIGHT THE WAY CAMPAIGN to support the bold leap of starting new diverse worshiping communities and collaborating with congregations to extend their vitality for our mission across Ohio. I am inviting you to join me in raising at least $200,000 in this offering. Our mission is clear - to equip local churches to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world...a world of justice, love and peace filled with people growing in the likeness of Jesus Christ. Our strategic plan guides us in reaching more people, more young people, more diverse people with the love of God through Jesus Christ. We have already made significant progress in just one year of identifying, assessing, training and preparing a new band of new church pastors. At the same time, vital congregations are reaching out in new and significant ways to those on the margins. To read more of Bishop Palmer's letter,
click here.
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Dates: June 12-17, 2017
The purpose of the EXPLORE Institute at Ohio Wesleyan University is to provide rising high school juniors and seniors with six days of an academically-solid, spiritually-grounded foundation for discernment of God's calling for their
life journey.
Learn More.
...
LIVE YOUR FAITH
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Visit our website to find:
Classifieds, Calendar, Resources and more!
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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.
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