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Capitol Area South District
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Weekly Updates, March 24, 2017
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A Bias Opinion
Keeping The Main Thing The Main Thing
There is a gospel hymn that says, "Like the woman at the well I was seeking for things that could not satisfy..."
Have you ever had an inward emptiness? I have. My life was filled with activity and busyness. Most all of it good, but I was not satisfied. Like empty calories that filled my stomach but failed to nourish my body; my heart, mind, and spirit were not being nourished by the good activity of my life.
It seems to me that, in our culture, there is no shortage of things, many of them good things, clamoring to take up residence in our hearts. If we open our hearts to them, we will be pushed and pulled by forces that quickly take control.
To live as children of God, and most specifically as Christ followers, our hearts need to be nourished with the presence of God. Against the attractions and anxieties that swirl about us, Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom and righteousness of God (Matthew 6:33). This means to allow God to inform our lives through the witness of the scriptures, through Jesus Christ, and the witness of the saints through the ages. In this way, God becomes the center of everything.
James W. Skillen writes, "The wisdom of Ecclesiastes teaches us that making ourselves the fixed point from which to view reality is a recipe for despair."¹
His words challenge us in the midst of a culture that is convinced that each individual is the source of what is right, wrong, and true. The result is often a do-it-yourself spirituality that tends to focus on personal fulfillment. How different from Jesus. Jesus assumes that the fixed point is God, who reveals wisdom to those who are as receptive as children rather than to those regarded as wise and learned (Matthew 11:25).
Our hearts will be filled with someone or something. That is why Jesus asks us to hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God. Doing so does not come naturally to us. In fact, it is natural for us to follow our own desires. So we begin always by inviting God to enter a heart that is instinctively non-receptive.
"It should not surprise us," writes Arthur Simon, "that prayer and time alone with God seem strange and out of place in a life that is occupied with many interests and responsibilities that make little allowance for anything so impractical. However, if the heart is to be properly filled, it must be emptied of things that leave no space for God, and give God access. Doing so means setting aside time for prayer and reflection. An empty prayer life reflects an emptiness in life, which is to say a cluttered and distracted heart."²
I hope you are allowing God access to your heart. It is my hope that you and I become so connected to God and to God's desire for us, that all the people around us become the focus of our care and hospitality. Those people may be our family, friends, neighbors or people experiencing grief or pain. It is my hope that those known or unknown to us, who may be hungry, homeless, imprisoned, victims of violence will be held close to God as we offer ourselves in risk-taking mission and service.
"If we genuinely love people," writes Richard Foster, "we desire for them far more than it is within our power to give, and that will cause us to pray."³
When our prayers are in order, everything else follows. When we pray, God helps us put our hearts and minds on things that matter. The action follows. Our hearts will be filled. I want my heart to be filled with a deep and abiding love for God and for you.
I pray that your heart will be filled with God's love as well.
How do you keep the main thing the main thing in your life?
¹James W. Skillen, A Covenant to Keep: Meditations on the Biblical Theme of Justice
²Authur Simon, How Much is Enough?
³Richard Foster, Celebrations of Discipline
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Let us remember in prayer those grieving the loss of their loved one, and remember in thanksgiving the life and ministry of:
Rev. Karen Shepler passed on Friday, March 10, 2017. Surviving are her sister, Marilyn Simpson, and brother, Harry Shepler.
Karen retired in 2013 from The West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC) having served the following churches: Victory; St. Paul; Monroe Street; and Unity. She also served as: the Director of Church and Community Workers; the Director of Urban Ministries; and Pastor/Chaplain at Refugio del Rio in Texas.
Obituary: A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the Monroe Street UMC located at
3613 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio 43206. Friends and guests will be received beginning at 1:30 pm and the service will begin at 3:00 pm. A reception will follow the service. Clergy colleagues will not be robing or processing. Those attending can enter Monroe Street UMC either at the door with the green awning or by the front steps. An elevator is next to the green awning door.
Memorial donations can be made to: MWD Monroe Street Freedom School and can be sent to Monroe Street UMC at 3613 Monroe St., Toledo, OH 43606.
Ernest Haynes,father of Kathy Moore passed away this week. Kathy is the wife of Rev. Roland Moore. The celebration for Mr Earnest Haynes will be held at Myricks Funeral Home, 514 Tipton Street, Kosciusko, Ms 39090, on Saturday, March 18, 2017, 11:00 am
Visitation is Friday from 5-6 pm.
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Sunday, June 4 - Thursday, June 7
Each year all clergy members and lay members selected from local churches within The West Ohio Conference attend this event to meet together to worship, fellowship, and conduct the business of the conference. During these sessions, members of the conference hear reports of past and ongoing work; adopt future goals, programs and budgets; and ordain clergy members as deacons and elders. Bishop Gregory V. Palmer presides over these meetings and will convene the annual conference on Sunday at 7:30 pm prior to the start of opening worship.
Mark your calendars!
- Wednesday, March 1: Online registration (to include housing requests) is open and requests for event space can be made.
- Wednesday, March 15: Deadline to submit recommendations (legislation)
- Childcare & VBS registration are both open. For more information click here.
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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
March 31 and April 1, 2017 at Marysville First UMC
April 1, 2017 at Marysville First UMC
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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NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIP MINISTRY INTERN
It is with great pleasure that we announce the opening of the
Next Generations Leadership Ministry Intern Application process. Since its inception, the Next Generations Leadership Ministry Interns have been able to discern calls to Ministry and Service in a variety of ways.
The pay for the Internship is $4600.00 during the summer, starting May 21 and ending August 7. Internship placements are with engaging local churches throughout the West Ohio Conference and include trips to local Ohio Seminaries as well as those on the East Coast and in the Southern part of the United States. Applicants must be college students who are available for the duration of the Internship.
Please encourage students who have expressed a desire to explore a call to ministry and/or service to apply at
www.westohioumc.org. The Application Deadline is March 29, 2017. For questions, please email Rev. Donnetta Peaks (
dpeaks@wocumc.org) or call 614-505-7334, 314.
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RMA SPRING LUNCHEON
The West Ohio United Methodist Ministers' Association will be having the Spring Luncheon on APRIL 4, beginning at 10:00 a.m., at the North Broadway United Methodist Church, 48 E. North Broadway, Columbus, Ohio.
All Retired United Methodist Pastors and Spouses are invited.
Please send your reservations and checks to The Rev. Darrel Loar, 6000 Riverside Drive, Apt. A409, Dublin, Ohio 43017. The cost is $10 per person. You can also send your reservations to Cean Wilson at
catfishlcw@outlook.com
. and pay at the door.
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In our world today, an estimated 925 million people are chronically hungry, though there is enough food in the world for everyone to have adequate nutrition.1 As followers of Christ, we cannot accept this reality. Christ demands us to respond.2
At Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church on March 24 and 25, we all have the opportunity to be doing just that: responding. Through a Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) MobilePackTM, we will produce over 100,000 meals for God's children around the world. FMSC is a Christian nonprofit hunger relief organization working with volunteers to produce MannaPackTM Rice, a scientifically formulated food formula that is culturally acceptable worldwide. Organizations in nearly 70 countries around the world distribute these meals to children in greatest need. To learn more about FMSC, visit fmsc.org.
We invite you to join us in producing these meals. We need to recruit 500 volunteers and raise 22
¢
for each meal-$23,950 total-for this MobilePack.
- Volunteers: Adults and children will measure and scoop ingredients, seal bags, and prepare boxes for shipping. Register at 1feeds1.com
- Donations: To help us meet our $23,950goal, please consider taking a special offering or check with us for creative fundraising ideas. Donations may be submitted online at fmsc.org/mobilepack or mailed to
Feed My Starving Children
ATTN: MobilePack #
1703-173AU
401 93rd Avenue NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Checks should be payable to FMSC, memo line MobilePack #
1703-173AU
We hope to partner with you in this important service for God's hungry children. If you would like to learn more, please contact Beth Marshallat 614-866-5864 or bmarshall@rumc.org.
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Coming
April 4th & 5th 2017
The Capitol Area South District and Christ United Methodist Church
Featuring: Telley Lynnette Gadson
National Preacher of Preachers
Stand Still & Take Your Position in Christ
"
A T
ime
o
f
S
piritual
R
estoration
a
nd
R
evival"
1480 Zettler Road, Columbus
Tuesday, April 4th @ 7:00 pm -
R
estoration and
R
evival
Wednesday, April 5th @ 6:30 pm - Fellowship Meal
(reservation required for the meal)
7:15pm -
R
estoration and
R
evival
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THE LAST SUPPER
A dramatization of Jesus' Final Meal
Free Performance and Communion
April 13, 2017 - 7:00 PM
Holy (Maundy) Thursday
PARKVIEW UMC
344 South Olgonquin, Columbus, Ohio
There will be a free will offering for the Parkview Food Pantry and Westside Free Store
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2017 Ohio PAUMCS Spring Conference
Spring Conference will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Oak Chapel UMC, 4203 W Old Lincoln Way, Wooster, OH.
The Ohio Chapter of PAUMCS (Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries) is very proud to welcome Rev. Stan Ling presenting "Money Is A Ministry". Rev. Ling serves as Associate Director of the West Ohio Conference. He will share with us how effective stewardship is vital to our church members, our pastors and our own office ministry.
"Stories From the Front Lines" Kay Panovec is a name that both conferences will recognize. Kay served as the Director of Communications for the East Ohio Conference for 13 years. Following her years at UMCom in Nashville she has returned to serve now as Director of Communications for the West Ohio Conference.
A storyteller at heart, she offers us helpful information - and fund.
Cost for a the conference for an Ohio PAUMCS member is $25.00, Non-PAUMCS member is $30.00.
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Academy Registration Is Now Open!
NCJ Volunteer Leadership Academy
Camp Warren,
4225 Camp Warren Lane, Decatur, IL
April 27-30, 2017
Mark these dates on your calendar!
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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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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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NEW in 2017!
West Ohio Conference "Traction Tracks"
T
o help your congregation gain traction and begin to move forward towards new vitality!
West Ohio's Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI), a focused training/coaching/resourcing initiative of the Episcopal office and cabinet that has included several dozen congregations and pastors over the last six years, has identified a number of key components that we've seen can provide a congregation of any size and setting
with a dose of traction to begin to move ahead in vitality.
Read more
To find events in Equip and register your team
C
lick here
:
Praying together with you, in Christ's name, for the unleashing of God possibilities beyond imagination in and through all of our congregations--
Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey
Director, Office of Missional Church Development
West Ohio Conference
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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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