JESUS CHRIST January 24, 2018

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1 THE MISSION of the West Ohio Conference IS 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 January 24, 2018 IN THIS ISSUE Leadership Training Day Weekly Prayer Please Remember in Prayer Note to Pastors & Treasurers Spring Conference Ministry by Strengths Updates Lay Servant Ministry Opportunities Emmaus Local Church & Community Events WOConnection and Beyond Resources Classifieds ARE YOU CONNECTED WITH YOUR DISTRICT? Visit our website! Contact us! Like us on Facebook! District Leadership Training Day Saturday, February 17, 2018 Northwest Plains District Leadership Training Day will be held on February 17, 2018 at the Immanuel UMC in Elida. This will be an important time for clergy and lay persons to gather in one place for various relevant training opportunities that will benefit our churches and their ministries. There is no charge for this training day. Training Day Schedule: Northwest Plains District Website West Ohio UMC Website West Ohio You Tube Lay Ministry The United Methodist Church United Methodist VIM United Methodist Women 8:30am - Gathering 9:00 - Welcome and Keynote Presentation Leading Change by Rev. Brad Aycock, Director of New Church Development 10:00 - Break (refreshments provided) 10:15 - Break-Out Sessions 12:30pm- End Break out sessions and those leading include: Church World Service Rethink Church Find A Church MissionInsite UMCom Tech Shop UMCOR S YouTube Friendly Center, Toledo Bread for the World Society of St. Andrew Stop Hunger Now Upper Room Dailey Devotional Door to Core led by Rev. Brad Aycock, West Ohio Conference Director of New Church Development Pastor/Staff Parish Relations Committee s Role and Healthy Boundaries in the Church led by Rev. Barry Burns, NWP District Superintendent Stewardship 101: Growing Generous Givers led by Rev. George Cooper, West Ohio Conference Director of Council on Development Congregational Care Ministry, led by Rev. Lynne Pease, Chaplain of Nationwide Children's Hospital, Dayton Heroin/Opiate Epidemic led by Rev. Melissa Steinecker, Pastor Kansas and Rising Sun United Methodist Churches Visit leadership-development-day-2018 for details and online registration. Please share this information with your Lay Leadership and plan now to take advantage of attending this free of charge valuable training opportunity!

2 Dear God, Thank You for filling Your creation with awe-inspiring mysteries. Help us to savor Your glory today. Help us to see the work of Your hands all around us. Your goodness is greater than we can fathom. May Your Holy Spirit give us eyes to see each person as an example of Your masterful creation. Help us to be mindful that You have made all people in Your image. May Your redemptive will reign in our lives. Please train our hearts to seek Your face. You have searched us and You know us. We pray that Your Holy Spirit will work in our hearts to quiet all that distracts us from hearing You speak into our lives. Thank You for loving us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. West Ohio Conference - A Call to Prayer Let us remember in prayer those grieving the loss of their loved one, and remember in thanksgiving the life and ministry of: Rev. James Stevenson who died Tuesday, January 16, He was a retired pastor from The West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church having served Whitehall, Wesley and Lagonda churches. Prior to that he served churches in the Virginia Annual Conference and was a missionary in the Central Congo Annual Conference. Surviving him in death is his wife, Martha Stevenson. Rev. Stevenson's memorial service will be held Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 11:00 am at the Bethel Presbyterian Church, 1735 Bethel Road, Columbus, Ohio You can view his obituary and leave condolences online by clicking here Apportionment Statements Northwest Plains would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your payments toward your 2018 District Apportionment. FYI for pastors and treasurers: We are in the midst of an accounting software conversion and there is a minor glitch with the apportionment deposit/statement transaction. Please note that you will not receive an statement in January. You can, however, still send in your payments. All 2018 payments will be reflected on the February statement you receive. We thank you for your patience, your understanding, and most of all for your faithfulness in giving. Blessings, Kim Tumblin Financial Secretary, Northwest Plains District Ktumblin@wocumc.org Sunday, May 20, :30 Gathering Time 3:00 Business of the Conference St. Paul s United Methodist Church 218 E. Sandusky St., Findlay, OH Everyone is welcome to attend!

3 Saturday, February 3, :30am-4:30pm Trinity United Methodist Church 137 N. Pratt St., Ottawa, OH Sponsored by: Northwest Plains District UMC Presenter: Rev. Terry McHugh Ministry By Strengths is a unique approach to leadership development and unleashing leaders into powerful personalized ministry. If you struggle with motivating and exciting your church family for mission, using your own strengths for greater personal ministry effectiveness, and identifying and deploying the right people for the right roles, Ministry By Strengths will bring you a whole new paradigm. Create quantum leaps across your leadership team and congregation as they are motivated and unleashed to serve! A key component in personal transformation is discovering unique strengths and learning to apply them to fulfill a God- sized vision. In Ministry By Strengths you will gain handholds to connect with God's specific and unique ministry dreams for you. The approach is simple, inspiring and exciting-and the results are life changing. Discover your next "calling" - based upon your spiritual growth, life experiences, and top five strengths from the online Gallup StrengthsFinder Survey. Prior to attending Ministry By Strengths, every attendee should take the StrengthsFinder 2.0 Survey online and bring the results along to this session. A one use valid access code is included in copies of the book StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath, available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and bookstores nationwide. Cost for attending this event: $30 You will need to order your own book in order to take the StrengthsFinder Survey prior to attending this course. Please bring your survey results with you the day of the event. Expected Outcomes: As a result of participating in this session, students will be able to: Describe their own God-given talents and strengths Develop strategies for maximizing their current ministry setting Identify their unique 'sweet spot' for serving Generate ideas for using the Ministry By Strengths approach in their local church Rev. McHugh serves as the Executive Pastor at Garfield Memorial Church ( a multi-ethnic, economically diverse church with campuses in Pepper Pike & South Euclid, Ohio and Liberia, Africa. She is passionate about helping people grow spiritually as they discover and live into their calling as followers of Jesus. Discovery: Ministry by Strengths is one of the core discipleship tools offered at Garfield Memorial, with more than 600 people experiencing the 7 week small group over the past 7 years. She has served as a coach for several churches in implementing the strengths-based model in their settings as well as a prescription coach for several churches through the Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI) under the leadership of Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey. Terry was a freelance editor before going into full time ministry in 2002 after completing her master s at Ashland Theological Seminary with concentration in Spiritual Formation. She was ordained in 2006 in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. (Her undergrad degree is from Tufts University in English Literature.) She and her husband Joe have three adult sons. You can reach her at terry@garfieldchurch.org Registration Form Registration deadline for Ministry by Strengths is January 26, 2018 Name Address: City State Zip Telephone District Church Please send check in the amount of $30 payable to: Northwest Plains District United Methodist Church Mail to: Northwest Plains District UMC, 910 E. Third St., Ottawa, OH Please Note: Lay Servants will receive Advanced Course credit for attending this event.

4 Updates Changes to your health insurance? If you are enrolled in the conference health insurance program and need to add someone new or remove someone, please notify Sandi George at Appointment to Extension Ministry forms due January 31, 2018 Appointment to Extension Ministry forms can be downloaded from the Conference website at These forms are due January 31, Year-end Reports Year-end reports are due no later than February 9, Instructional materials can be found on the Conference website here. If you have any questions contact Jack Frost at (614) , Ext 219 or at 2017 Fund Balance Report The annual Fund Balance Report form was mailed mid-december along with the 2018 district apportionment statement (to pastors and local church treasurers) Mileage Rates The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued the 2018 optional standard mileage rates and beginning on January 1, 2018, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be: 54.5 cents per mile for business miles driven (up from 53.5 cents in 2017) 18 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes (up from 17 cents in 2017) 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations (currently fixed by Congress) Lay Servant Training Events "Ministry by Strengths" led by Rev. Terry McHugh, will be offered on Saturday, February 3, 8:30am-4:30pm, at Trinity UMC, 137 N. Pratt St., Ottawa. The FIRM deadline for registration is January 26, If we do not receive 10 registrations, the class will not be held. Details and registration available at "Introduction to Lay Servant Ministry: Basic" led by Rev. Vernagaye Sullivan, will be offered on Friday, March 2, 69pm, continuing on Saturday, March 3, 8:30am-4:30pm, at Trinity UMC, 137 N. Pratt St., Ottawa, Ohio. The FIRM deadline for registration is February 23, If we do not receive 10 registrations, the class will not be held. Details and registration available at Heritage led by Rev. Brian Arnold, will be offered Saturday, March 3, 8:30am-4:30pm, at Trinity UMC, 137 N. Pratt St., Ottawa. The FIRM deadline for registration is February 23, If we do not receive 10 registrations, the class will not be held. Details and registration available at Accountable Discipleship led by Rev. Barry Burns, will be offered on Saturday, March 3, 8:30am-4:30pm, at Trinity UMC, 137 N. Pratt St., Ottawa. The FIRM deadline for registration is February 23, If we do not receive 10 registrations, the class will not be held. Details and registration available at

5 Emmaus Events Findlay Emmaus Gathering (on the third Tuesday) Sidney Emmaus Gathering (on the second Tuesday) Tuesday, February 20, 7 pm Tuesday, February 13, 7 pm St Marks UMC First UMC 800 S. Main St., Findlay E. Poplar St., Sidney NW Ohio Emmaus Gathering (on the fourth Saturday) Saturday, January 27, 6:30 pm Delta UMC 101 Northwood Dr., Delta What is the Walk to Emmaus? The walk to Emmaus is an experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation that begins with a three-day short course in Christianity. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as God's grace and love is revealed to you through other believers. Learn more Findlay Emmaus St. Marks UMC, Findlay, OH Women's Walks Dates Women s Walk #103 February 8-11, 2018 Women s Walk #104 June 14-17, 2018 Women s Walk #105 October 4-7, 2018 Men's Walks Dates Men s Walk #78 March 15-18, 2018 Men s Walk #79 November 1-4, 2018 Sidney Emmaus First UMC, Sidney, OH Women s Walks Dates Women s Walk #74 February 22-25, 2018 Women s Walk #75 June 14-17, 2018 Women s Walk #76 October 18-21, 2018 Men s Walks Dates Men s Walk #70 March 22-25, 2018 Men s Walk #71 July 19-22, 2018 Men s Walk #72 November 1-4, 2018 NW Ohio Emmaus Widewater, Liberty Center, OH Chrysalis is a three day experience of spiritual renewal open to members of any Christian denomination, ages 15 to 24. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way. Chrysalis is meant to inspire, challenge, and equip youth for Christian action in their homes, churches, communities and places of work. St. Andrew s UMC, Findlay Girls # 51 - June 28 July 1, 2018 Boys # 49 - February 22-25, 2018 Boys # 50 - July 26-29, Greene Street UMC, Piqua Boys #65 - February 17-19, Delta UMC, Delta Girls -June 22-24, 2018 Boys -March 2-4,

6 Local Church and Community Events The Pandora United Methodist Church is hosting a FREE Community Meal on Wednesday, January 31, 5:30-7:00 pm in the church fellowship hall, 108 E. Washington Street, Pandora. The meal this month is provided by the 7 O clock Flock. The menu is tomato soup, crackers, grilled cheese sandwich, relish tray, cake, beverage. Westside United Methodist Church 604 Gloria Drive, Lima, OH Friday, February 2, 2018, 12:30 pm LeeAnn Shade with Lima Police Department will speak on: Bystander Training: Should You Get Involved? Bring dish to share & table service. Public Welcome! Van Wert First UMC Valentine Meal Choir Fundraiser Sunday, February 11, 2018 First United Methodist Church Choir, located at 113 W Central Avenue in Van Wert, will be hosting a Valentine Fundraiser at 5:00 and 6:30pm. The meal will be held in our church Krout Memorial. The choir prepares, serves and interacts with community guests and First Church members alike. Please consider this an open invitation to come dine with us. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Proceeds from the meal will be used toward the choir s upcoming trip to Chicago. There will be babysitting available, entertainment and a children s menu for those interested. Adults tickets are $17.00, children under 12 $7.00. For more information, please phone Ext West Ohio Connection and Beyond Teams to Puerto Rico As Puerto Rico continues to deal with the devastating aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, an invitation has been received from Bishop Hector Ortiz of the Methodist Church for Specialized Early Response Teams to begin addressing the specific needs unique to Puerto Rico. The working conditions may be difficult, therefore initial teams will require specific skills and physical capabilities. Most areas are still without electricity and clean water and most sites can still only be accessed by foot. If you feel called to be a part of this mission or are interested in leading a team to Puerto Rico, please complete this INTEREST FORM or contact Kris Shoaf at kshoaf@wocumc.org PLEASE NOTE: Puerto Rico is only receiving experienced Specialized Early Response Teams at this time, but we will receive all interested in serving for future missions. Future missions (such as VIM Teams) will not occur until late Spring/early Summer.

7 Resilience: Flourishing in Ministry During Anxious Times is our theme for the 2018 West Ohio Clergy Day Apart, offered Thursday, March 8, from 9:30 am-3:30 pm at Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church. Retired Bishop Janice Riggle Huie will be our guest speaker for the day. Bishop Huie currently serves in ministry with the Texas Methodist Foundation in the area of Leadership Formation, following 20 years as a bishop. A noted speaker and experienced leader, Bishop Huie will bring a spirited and spirit-led conversation about what it means to flourish in ministry, especially during these anxious times within our culture and our denomination. Additionally, the Day Apart will offer a time to worship together, visit with colleagues, explore health and wellness options, and enjoy a healthy, delicious lunch prepared by the chef and staff of RUMC. The Clergy Day Apart is for all active clergy serving in ministry in The West Ohio Conference. Ohio PAUMCS Invites Applications and Sets Spring Meeting Celebrating over 26 years of service, Ohio PAUMCS (Professional Association of UM Church Secretaries) is committed to recognizing the position of the church administrator as a professional within the church. By providing leadership and educational opportunities around Ohio, the Ohio PAUMCS chapter is linking secretaries, administrative assistants, and volunteer staff as an effective support group in local ministry. The officers and members invite you to use this membership application to renew or begin your association with a group of men and women who are committed to serving at the local church. Individual membership is $25, and a staff membership is $40. Applications are due by February 15. Join now and plan to attend the Spring Workshop to be held at Reynoldsburg UMC on April 17. For more information, office@cotcumc.com. TARRP Offers Workshop on Safety, Opiate Addiction March 3 The Town and Rural Resource Program (TARRP) of East and West Ohio will present a workshop for small membership church leaders on Saturday, March 3, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Christ Cambridge UMC, 2167 North Ave, Cambridge, OH. The workshop will address safety and security in your church, as well as the difficulties of heroin and opiate addiction. Cost is $18 per person (or $15 per person for three or more from the same church), which includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, and handouts. Registration deadline is February 22. For more information or to register, see the brochure here or Rev. Debbie Ketcham at revdsk@frontier.com.

8 Resources The new tax law has implications for employers, non-profits, churches, and individuals. On Wednesday, January 24, at 11:30 AM, GCFA (General Council on Finance and Administration) will sponsor a one-hour webinar on Tax Reform. There are still spaces available! Feeling Called to Lead A Team? Come and learn how to organize and lead a mission team in Ohio, the United States or around the world. Join experienced team leaders to learn skills and information for planning and leading a mission team. This training will also look at the role of the Spiritual Guide and provide practical resources for nurturing the spiritual life of team members. When engaged in mission, it is important to intentionally use the serving experience as a tool for spiritual formation. This training will equip you to lead others in mission where you will see and experience the abundant miracles of God s love. We look forward to working with you! Saturday, February 17, :00am-4:00pm Marion Epworth UMC, 249 E. Center Street, Marion, Ohio Trainers: Keith Luke & David Hoffman Cost: $35 includes lunch, supplies and background screening visit Please contact: Kris Shoaf, ; kshoaf@wocumc.org. 6 Last Minute Valentine s Ideas for your Community By Outreach Magazine Provide free childcare for parents, affording them a romantic date night. During your service, recognize those whose spouses their valentines are serving in the military overseas (consider a small gift, e.g. coffee gift card). Enlist your children s ministry to make and decorate valentines for people in a nearby senior living facility kids in your older grades can deliver the valentines in person. Set up a table stacked with valentine note cards and pre-stamped envelopes. During your service, invite everyone to stop by the table before leaving to write a brief note to someone in their life who may need encouragement. (Provide stamps and a mail drop.) Provide your small groups with chocolate candy kisses affixed with a brief Happy Valentine s Day note, Scripture verse and church information. Encourage the groups to pass them out at a unique location in your community hospital, homeless shelter, grocery store, etc. and invite people to your services.

9 Family Ministry Director Ada First United Methodist Church is seeking a Family Ministry Director. The desired applicant will be a mature, passionate leader who can work with our family ministry team to cast a long-term vision for a Christ-centered, family driven, church supported ministry with children, youth and families. Our hope is to find someone with a desire to reach out in our community to build relationships, encourage intergenerational connections, and equip and empower families to be the primary agents of spiritual formation in the lives of their children and teens. This is a part-time position with hopes of moving toward full-time in the next 1-2 years. A full job description can be found on our website at Interested parties much submit a letter of interest, resume and three references by Feb. 23, 2018 to Rev. Brandi Rigsby at Ada First UMC, 301 N. Main St., Ada, OH or to: Rigsby@adaumc.org. Youth Director Delphos Trinity United Methodist Church is seeking a Christ-centered leader to join our ministry team as director of youth ministry. The youth ministry director is primarily responsible for connecting youth in grades 6-12 to Christ and the church. This person will disciple youth to be witnesses for Christ in the community and to connect to the larger Body of Christ through the ministries of the local church. Our youth ministry mission statement is Guiding Youth into a God-centered life, nurturing their relationship with Christ, and inspiring them to share God s love with others. A full job description can be found on our website at This is a part-time position but could be combined with other responsibilities for full-time employment. Interested parties must submit a letter of interest, a resume, and three references by February 19, 2018 to: Delphos Trinity UMC, 211 E. Third Street, Delphos OH or to: ericapimpas@gmail.com. Praise Team Leader Delphos Trinity United Methodist Church is seeking a gifted musician who is passionate about worship and can lead others in praising the Lord. This person is primarily responsible for planning and leading the 10:30am contemporary service in conjunction with the senior pastor. They must be a team builder who can draw upon the skills of others to create a praise team. A full job description can be found on our website at This is a part-time position but could be combined with other responsibilities for full-time employment. Interested parties must submit a letter of interest, a resume, and three references by February 19, 2018 to: Delphos Trinity UMC, 211 E. Third Street, Delphos OH or to: ericapimpas@gmail.com.

10 UPWARDS Sports Director Delphos Trinity United Methodist Church is seeking a godly man or woman to lead our sports ministry. Currently, this means organizing and promoting the Upwards basketball and cheerleading programs from October until March. The church has been blessed to have contact with over 160 children and their families every year in this program. We desire to not only invest in their skill development, but also their spiritual development. A full job description can be found on our website at This is a part-time, seasonal position but could be combined with other responsibilities for full-time employment. Interested parties must submit a letter of interest, a resume, and three references by February 19, 2018 to: Delphos Trinity UMC, 211 E. Third Street, Delphos OH or to: ericapimpas@gmail.com. Single Man-Lift For Sale West Independence United Methodist Church has a used JLG one person man lift with a battery operated electric life available for sale. The man lift is not self-propelled. The lift is 26 in height and has four outriggers. The church has acquired a new lift. The lift for sale is operational, but will require some maintenance/repair. To see the lift or ask other questions, contact Building Superintendent Mike Morris at Van Wert Trinity UMC Seeking Administrative Assistant Trinity United Methodist Church is looking for an Administrative Assistant. Good communication and organizational skills are a must. The ideal candidate should be friendly, have strong computer skills, be willing and able to learn quickly, be a self-starter and diligently follow through until projects are completed. Those with Financial management skills are preferred, but candidates without this experience will be considered. Position is daytime office hours per week; hours and salary is commensurate with experience. Candidates should mail resume and references to: Trinity United Methodist Church, 220 S. Walnut St., Van Wert, Attn: Admin Assistant search. Check out for more information. Do you have news or something interesting to share? Know of anyone who would like to be added to our Weekly Bulletin list? Contact Deb via deblee@wocumc.org or call When ing the district staff, please use the addresses listed below: Rev. Barry Burns, District Superintendent: bburns@wocumc.org Rev. Lynda Lockwood, Assistant to the District Superintendent: llockwood@wocumc.org Debra Lee, Office Administrator: deblee@wocumc.org Kim Tumblin, Financial Secretary: ktumblin@wocumc.org