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Capitol Area South District
Weekly Updates April 28, 2017
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A Bias Opinion
BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
There was a girl about seven years old who came to church regularly for Sunday school. Sometimes her parents let her stay for the worship service. They didn't come. They would drop her off at the door and drive on, faithfully every Sunday.
The family had moved from New Jersey because of the new chemical plant. He was upwardly mobile. They were ambitious. And, they were not really in need of the church or what the church offered.
The whole town knew of their parties on Saturday nights. They gave parties, not for entertainment, but as part of being upwardly mobile. Their upwardly mobile social status determined who they invited to their parties. They focused on "the right people." Usually, they invited the person just above and finally on up to the boss. The parties were an excess of eating and drinking. There was music and whatever anyone wanted at the moment. Everyone in town knew of their parties.
And in the midst of it was their beautiful little girl. Every Sunday they would drop her off at the church.
One Sunday morning the pastor looked out, and the girl was there. But she was sitting with someone. The pastor thought she was with her friends, but it was her mom and dad. After the sermon, as was the custom of that church, there was an invitation to discipleship. Mom and Dad came to the front in response to the invitation. They confessed faith in Christ.
After the service, the pastor asked, "What prompted this?"
They said, "Well, do you know about our parties?"
The pastor replied, "Yes, I have heard about your parties."
They said, "Well, we had one last night. It must have gotten a little loud and we woke our daughter. She came to the stairs, saw that we were eating, and said,
'Can I say the blessing? God is great, God is good, and we thank him for our food. Good-night, everybody. See you in the morning when you take me to church.' She went back upstairs."
"Everyone looked at their watches. 'It's time to go. We've got to be going. We've stayed way too long.' Within two minutes the room was empty."
"We began cleaning up, picking up crumpled napkins, spilled peanuts, half eaten sandwiches, and empty glasses. At one point, we met by the sink in the kitchen.
Our eyes met and we asked each other the same question, "What do we think we're doing? Where are we going? It was a moment of truth. From that moment we decided to come with Suzy this morning." *
Now what happened? What did that little girl do? In the midst the noise and activity, she said the blessing! It was the blessing that made the difference.
The Lord said to Moses,
"Say to Aaron and his sons, thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
'The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.'
So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."
The people of Israel are in exile. They are preparing to journey toward the Promised Land. It is a journey of perhaps a few weeks if they took a direct route. They proceed toward the border of the Promised Land to a place called Kadesh where spies are sent in, one person from each tribe.
The majority report of the spies is against going forward in spite of the known will of God for them to go in and possess the land. Also, in spite of the protest of Caleb and Joshua, two of the spies who see beyond the difficulties and hazards they would have to face, to the opportunities set before them by a faithful and enabling God.
The pessimistic report won the day.
Yet, in the midst of the murmuring of the people, God blessed them. In the midst of their misunderstanding, their fears, their rebellion, God instructed Moses to equip Aaron and his descendants to bless the people of Israel. In the midst of their fears, of their inaction, God's blessed them.
The good news is that in the midst of our rebellion and misunderstanding God has blessed us. In the midst of our sin and failure God has blessed us. In the midst of our fears and inaction God has blessed us. God has blessed us in the person of Jesus.
God is with us, for us, and working for our good. Now that you know that you have been blessed by God, will you be a blessing to someone, somewhere today? Now that you have been blessed, will you be a blessing today? (Check 50 Days of Love for some ideas)
"The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."
May you be as blessed as you are a blessing!
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Rev. Donald E. Ricard
died on Monday, April 17, 2017. He was a retired pastor from The West Ohio Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He served the following churches: Broadway; Ft. Recovery; Van Wert North Circuit; Rawson Findlay; Celina Mt. Zion; Walnut Grove-Kossuth Zion; and Kossuth Zion.
Don is survived by his wife, Charlotte Smalley and children: Andrew (Lynne) Ricard; Jonathan (Nan) Ricard; Rachel (Doug) Hertenstein; Sarah (Scot) Hunter as well as 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings: Ronald (Marvalene) Ricard; Thomas (Jeanne) Ricard; and David (Elizabeth) Ricard.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Zilpha Ricard; son, Joseph Ricard; brother, Emerson Ricard; and sisters, Angelene Smith and Shirley Vigh.
Obituary. A family remembrance celebration will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to Don's family via the Millers Funeral Home webpage by clicking here. Memorial may be directed to the Otterbein St. Mary's Benevolent Fund by clicking here.
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DISTRICT APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
The Capitol Area South District Office wishes to announce the intention of Bishop Gregory V. Palmer to appoint the Reverend Dr. Sara B. Thomas to the position of Assistant to the District Superintendent on July 1, 2017. Sara comes to the position from serving several congregations within West Ohio Conference and from serving as the Chief Strategist for Vital Congregations at Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church.
As Assistant to the District Superintendent, Sara will assist
the Superintendent with the ongoing mission and ministry of the District to identify, develop and strengthen congregational leaders to fulfill the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Sara will work on developing materials that assist leaders in creating congregational systems for making Christian disciples. She will facilitate training, workshops, and coaching to assist local churches in increasing missional effectiveness; and, lead, teach, and coach individuals and/or groups in the area of leader development for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ
District Superintendent, Timothy Bias said, "I look forward to Sara joining the district staff to assist our congregational leaders in focusing upon our mission of 'making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world' and upon developing disciple-making systems that make a difference in our congregations and our communities."
Ordained as an elder in 2008, Sara has served local churches in the West Ohio Conference and at the General Board of Discipleship for the United Methodist Church (Discipleship Ministries).She is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and ICF Trained Professional Coach. Sara has demonstrated skills in
developing disciple-making systems and in coaching congregational leaders of local churches in increasing missional effectiveness.
Sara said, "I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in the Capitol Area South District. The opportunity has never been greater for the local church to focus on our mission of making disciples and transforming the world. I look forward to coming alongside leaders in the district to focus on disciple-making so that we expand our capacity to share the love of Jesus."
Sara received a bachelor's degree in communication arts at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and a master's degree in higher education administration at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She oversaw new student programs at Miami for four years before following God's call to full-time ministry.
She served as the Youth Director and Associate Pastor at Mason UMC in Mason from 2001-2008 while earning a Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary in 2004. She served on staff at Hyde Park Community UMC in Cincinnati, OH and as the pastor of Maize Manor UMC and Asbury South UMC. She earned her Doctor of Ministry degree in Missional Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California in 2015.
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50 Days of Love
Your gift this week is a telephone call, text, email (or snapchat). Identify someone whom you feel you have forgotten due to the demands of everyday life. Its message may be "I appreciate you," "Thank you," or "You are loved." Reassure that person that you really care for them. Continue to use the
SOAPY Bible Study
to explore the scriptures and pray for others. #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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Churches: Some Reminders about Workers' Compensation
Many of you are making plans to say goodbye to your pastor and to welcome a new pastor. Please make sure your new pastor is covered under workers' compensation. For the clergy leaving your church, a U-117 form needs to be completed to remove the clergy person from being listed under your church. To get the new clergy listed under your policy, a U-3s form needs to be filled out. Both forms can be completed on-line at www.ohiobwc.com if you have an on-line account. You can also print and complete the forms and then mail them to the address listed on the form. Reminder: each church with a workers' compensation policy will be receiving a "true-up" form sometime in the month of May. This form MUST be completed by every church, regardless of your payroll. In July, you will receive a bill that covers July 1, 2017 thru June 30, 2018. As always, our Third-Party Administrator, Comp Management (800-825-6755), is available to assist with questions or concerns about work
ers' compensation.
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Employment Opportunities In Our District
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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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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West Ohio Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members
Come join us for lunch!
Hello friends and colleagues!
West Ohio Annual Conference is upon us. We would like to invite you to join us at Wesley Lodge in the North room for lunch during annual conference. Lunch will take place on Tuesday June 6, 12pm. Cost is $12.00. Register and pay online at
www.westohioumc.org under Events. Deadline for lunch reservation is May 5.
We will hear from Ned Dewire who is Director of Religious Life at Lakeside. He will share about an upcoming FLPAM joint retreat with East Ohio and West Ohio scheduled for early August. We will also be discussing the dreams of hosting our own retreat early 2018.
Todd Wallace-West Ohio Fellowship Lead Team Captain
Dave Weaver-West Ohio Fellowship
Board of Ministry Representative
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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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Union County
Union County Coffee with UM Community Ministries
Church pastors and laity are invited for a time of coffee and conversation around visioning for mission and ministry in your area, and how Capitol Area Community Ministries can partner with you!
We welcome everyone from our Union County churches and the surrounding area to join us for this informal time of visioning and dreaming.
Thursday, May 11th at 10:30 am at the Fifth Street Cafe, 117 E. 5th Street Marysville,
Phone - 937-553-9300
For those attending, please consider these questions before the meeting:
What ministry(s) are you actively engaged in now?
How is this ministry creating a pathway to Discipleship?
Think about the ways that this ministry is transforming your community.
How does this ministry sustain itself?
If you're not actively engaged in ministry in your community, what are you dreaming about? What is your vision for ministry in your community that will lead to a pathway to Discipleship, transforming your community and able to sustain itself?
Contact Rev. Karen Cook, Director, Capitol Area Community Ministries, with any questions,
kcook@wocumc.org, 614-222-0602.
Date: 05/11/2017 (Thu.)Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm EDTLocation: Fifth Street Cafe, 117 E. Fifth St., Marysville, OH.
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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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2017 All People Conference:
Rise Up...and Build!
Early bird registration is now open through July 1! Register here
Join us as we delve deep into God's heart for diversity, inclusivity, and justice in our communities. Each of our unique gifts strengthen the Body of Christ, helping us become local agents for community transformation. Explore how multiethnic and multiclass ministry can take your church community deeper in becoming the hands and feet of Christ on earth.
Whether you yearn to take the next step in reaching out to a community that is different from the people who sit in the pews on Sunday, or are already engaged in multicultural ministry and desire for it to grow, this event is right for you!
This conference is experiential. Participants will join members of our diverse community in worship, dialog, shared learning, and fun. Plenaries and workshops are designed to meet you where you are and engage your questions as we explore best practices for inclusive ministry.
You'll learn how to:
- Foster a racially diverse congregation with members across the income spectrum
- Use worship that is diverse and welcoming to strengthen your community
- Launch outreach programs that use local assets to address community concerns
- Engage a base of partners that can support and sustain your ministries
- Maintain your spiritual center through the swirl of ministry
- And so much more!
When:
October
21-23, 2017
Where:
UM Church for All People
(946 Parsons Avenue; Columbus, OH 43206)
Early Bird Registration
(Until July 1): $195
Regular Registration
(Until October 10): $225
Late Registration
(After October 10): $245
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The 2018 Revitalization/Capacity Building Grant has been posted on the WOC website (Stewardship & Finance, Grants & Scholarships). There is a fillable form available, as well as a PDF that can be printed and then completed.
The due date for the Revitalization/Capacity Building Grant applications is
July 1, 2017.
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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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