Franklin District NewsNotes

Transcription

1 Franklin District NewsNotes Many links are included in this publication. If you have trouble with the blue link.hold the Ctrl key down and click on the link. Peace for Korea Pg 2 John Holland Benefit Dinner - Pg 3 How Should a King Come Contata Pg 3 Advent Meditations Pg 4 Free Community Dinner Pg 4 The Longest Night Service Pg 4 Kane District Lay Servant School Pg 5 Spark! Pg 5 Butler District Lay Servant School Pg 6 Franklin District Lay Servant School Pg 6 New & Updated items in this issue of NewsNotes: 2018 NEJ UMVIM Academy Pg 7 Poverty Summit Date Pg 7 6 th Annual Pirates Faith Night Pg 7 Advent & Diversity Pg 9 Fellows Program - Pg 9 Take Church to the Community Pg 9 Funding Education Pg 10 Elder Abuse Pg 10 Cyber Liability Insurance Pg 10 National Fellowship of AM & LP Pg 10 November Birthdays this week: 23 Rev. Jeff Foor 24 Rev. John Uhrin 24 Mrs. Carol Evans 25 Kathy Hampson 26 Rev. Nelson Thayer 27 Mrs. Jana Stump 28 Mrs. Donna Boocks 29 Rev. Denise Mains December Birthdays this week: 2 Rev. Ken Duffee 3 Rev. Giles Bailey 3 Mrs. Tish Russell 4 Pastor Cynthia Weber 7 Rev. Larry Corner November Anniversaries this week: 23 Rev. & Mrs. Ed Clark 28 Rev. & Mrs. John Kees 30 Rev. & Mrs. Ralph Solida December Anniversaries this week: None this week Prayer Concerns: -Rev. Sam Wagner s family at the passing of his father on November 30. Arrangements to be announced. -Mitchell, son of Rev. Denise Mains, recovering from heart surgery -Rev. Wilbur Larsen (retired) - health -Rev. Joel Garrett s family at the sudden passing of his daughter, Elizabeth, on Obituary -Judi Hodges-recovering from a knee replacement -Rob Noble recovering from surgery (Amy Noble-Old Salem) -Christine Fetter, wife of Rev. Dennis Fetter health concerns -Cathy Dykes, wife of Rev. Earl Dykes health concerns -Rev. Keith Diehl-health issues -Rev. Dan Grimes-health issues -Rev. Walt and Barb Hehman Walt s declining health -Rev. Fay Barca - hospice care -Nathan Storms, son of Rev. Tim & Eileen Storms (retired) has pancreatic cancer 1

2 Retiring Pastors: The deadline is Friday, December 1 st to notify the District Superintendent in writing of your plans to retire June 30, Mail requests to the District Office, PO Box 590, Franklin, PA A Season of Gratitude: While every day should be a day of thanksgiving to God, the weeks encompassing the Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas seasons call for a special outpouring of gratitude. Use this calendar to engage in daily acts of gratitude and kindness. Most of them can either be done alone or with family or friends. Some require a bit of planning, so you may want to look ahead a few days, or make arrangements to do the actual activity a few days later. Christmas Party Prayer Partner Ornament Exchange at the Franklin District Clergy Family Christmas Party on Friday, December 1, 2017 at 6 pm at Rocky Grove Grace UMC, 350 Front Street, Franklin, PA We will be exchanging names for prayer partners for the new year. Each family is asked to bring an ornament either wrapped or in a gift bag with their names on it to exchange. The family or individual s gift that you receive will be your prayer partner for the year. Reservations are closed. Victorian Breakfast and Victorian Christmas Bazaar Too on Saturday, December 2 at Grace UMC, 100 Central Avenue, Oil City, PA Breakfast served from 8am 10am. Breakfast Menu: French Toast Bake or Cheese & Egg Casserole, Assorted Sweet Breads, Fruit, Coffee or Tea. Donation $5. Shop an assortment of Vendors at Grace UMC 10am 4pm and next door at the K of C Hall! Proceeds benefit Grace UM Missions. Partnership Offers Advent Devotional in English & German: United Methodists in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Germany have completed their 2017 Advent Devotional which can be downloaded and copied. Advent begins on Sunday, December 3, Global Migration Sunday: Sunday, December 3 is a day of prayer and special offering to support displaced people around the world. Thomas Kemper, top executive of the UMC Global Ministries, said the mission of Global Migration Sunday is threefold: Learn, pray, respond. Read more. Find resources at umcmigration.org. Olmsted Christmas Open House: Sunday, December 3 & 10, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. both evenings. Guests can enjoy homemade cookies and punch next to the fireplace, or take a tour of the freshly decorated manor. We hope you will join us for an evening of celebration and fellowship. Click to Download Flyer New- Peace for Korea: The World Council of Churches invites people across the globe to extend A Light of Peace for the Korean Peninsula and for a world free from nuclear weapons. Churches are being asked to light candles during special prayer and worship services for two Sundays, December 3 and 10. The WCC will issue special prayers, social media photos and news and video releases. Read more about WCC event Franklin District Local Pastors and Associate Members are invited for food and fellowship on Thursday, December 7 at 12 noon at The Plaza Restaurant at the Emlenton Truck Plaza, 6406 Emlenton-Clintonville Road, Emlenton, PA RSVP to the District Office at franklin.office@wpaumc.org or

3 New- With the spirit of the Holiday Season upon us, won't you join us for the John Holland Benefit Dinner on Friday, December 8 th from 4:30-7:00 PM at the Conneaut Valley Middle School, PA State Highway 18, Conneautville, PA Menu: Chicken & Biscuits, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans & Fallowfield UMC Pies. Admission will be "by Donation". John was in an ATV accident on July 23, 2017 resulting in a severe spinal cord injury. After being successfully resuscitated twice, he has had four major surgeries. He is currently receiving skilled nursing and intensive therapy closer to home. Many modifications are needed for his home and on-going financial assistance is needed as John continues this adapting and healing process. Enjoy music and a Silent Auction sponsored by local businesses and individuals. If you have any questions, contact Joyce Moore at COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS BUILDSHOP December 9 th, 2017 at Clarion College (Venango Campus Oil City) 11:00AM 2:00PM MANY AWESOME GIFTS FOR KIDS AGES 3 12 TO BUILD TO GIVE TO THEIR FAMILIES OR FRIENDS! JEWELRY STATION (NECKLACES, BRACELETS, ANKLETS) WOODEN TOYS (CARS, TRUCKS, ETC) CHRISTMAS CARD STATION (CREATE YOUR OWN CARD) HOMEMADE WIND CHIMES & MANY MORE FUN ITEMS TO MAKE! PIZZA & COOKIES PROVIDED DRINKS PROVIDED FUN ALSO PROVIDED Sponsored with love and joy by your local churches and area businesses. New- How Should a King Come? Christ UMC & Friends present a Christmas Cantata for our Community on Saturday, December 9 th at 2:30 pm and on Sunday, December 10 th at 2:30 pm and 7 pm at Christ United Methodist Church, 1135 Buffalo Street, Franklin, PA Sign interpretation. Handicap accessible. Free will offering. Refreshments after each presentation. For more information, call W2 Webinar: The UM Foundation will offer the Top Ten Tips for Completing your Pastor s W2 during a free webinar designed for local church treasurers and others responsible for completing their pastor s Internal Revenue Service Form W-2. It s at 10 am, Wednesday, December 13th. Get details and register. 3

4 True Meaning of Christmas Tour: Ebensburg will be a stop on the denomination s 16-state True Meaning of Christmas Tour, an effort to help people capture the real spirit of Christmas. The gift-wrapped van will be at the Cambria County Courthouse the afternoon of Thursday, December 14. Read press release New- O Holy Light Advent Meditations- Come and unwrap the Greatest Gift: Thursday, December 14 th and Friday, December 15 th from 6 9 pm. Also, Saturday, December 16 th from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. Visit our peaceful, candlelit Christmas chapel. Walk through our Advent stations and take a few moments out of your busy schedule to reflect and refocus on the true meaning of Christmas at White Chapel United Methodist Church, 415 New Castle-Mercer Rd, New Wilmington, PA For more information, call ACA Enrollment Open: The Affordable Care Act, despite efforts to repeal it earlier this year, remains the law. Open enrollment for those who need to buy health insurance through state and federal exchanges began November 1 and is open until December 15. Let those who need to buy insurance on the exchanges know that now is the time to enroll. Consider hosting an enrollment event at your church. HealthCare.gov New- Free Community Dinner on Wednesday, December 20 th from 5 6:30 pm at First United Methodist Church, 1102 Liberty Street, Franklin, PA Free monthly dinner is held the third Wednesday of every month. Information: New- Longest Night Service A service of remembrance and hope on Thursday, December 21 st at 7 pm at First United Methodist Church, 1102 Liberty Street, Franklin, PA Christmas can be painful for some. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member or friend who has recently passed; it may be a time that has always been difficult. We can feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending but we need to know that we are not alone. For these reasons, First United Methodist Church offers a special Longest Night service. Come out and join us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture and music that acknowledge that God s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone is welcome, regardless of church background (or lack of it). The short service will be followed by a brief time for light refreshments and fellowship. Information: & 2019 Saving Labels for Education? The program ends as of January 2, Ruth M. Smith needs to receive any labels saved for it by December 15 to submit before the program ends. Learn more at labelsforeducation.com. Orientation to Ministry, sponsored by the Conference Board of Ministry will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Christ UMC, 1135 Buffalo Street, Franklin from 9:30 am noon. The Orientation is a requirement for anyone pursuing licensed or ordained ministry. However, this initial gathering is open to anyone who would like to learn more about the various types of set-apart ministry that exist within the United Methodist Church. Information will be presented about the broad range of opportunities including Certified Lay Minister (CLM), professional certification, local pastor, and ordained ministry. Registration is required. Register There is no registration fee. Send questions to Rev. Janet Lord, Coordinator of Ministerial Services jflrd425@aol.com. 4

5 New- Kane District Lay Servant Classes- Sunday, January 7 th from 2:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 14 th from 2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. at Shinglehouse UMC, 209 N Lincoln Street, Shinglehouse, PA The cost $20.00 payable to: The Kane District, PO Box 8, Ludlow, PA Lunch will be provided. Deadline to register December 20, It is your responsibility to send a copy of your certificate of completion to the Franklin District Office if you take one of these classes. The Basic Course with Bob & Sandy Howles Advanced Course Living Our United Methodist Beliefs by George Hovanes Donigan with Jay Tennies Vital Worship Grants Program at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship seeks to foster vital worship in congregations, parishes and other worshiping communities in North America. This grants program is especially focused on projects that connect public worship to intergenerational faith formation and Christian discipleship. The deadline is January 10, Learn more Final Day to Submit 2017 Connectional Apportionment is Tuesday, January 16, Any money received after this date will be applied to your 2018 Connectional Apportionment, even if you mail it prior to January 16th. Money received that is not clearly marked for 2018 will be applied to your 2017 Connectional Apportionment if it has not been paid in full. Do not combine 2017 and 2018 money in one check. Go here to check the most current 2017 apportionment report Remittance forms can be found here. What to Expect at Creativity: Orlando? Download our Brochure for the schedule, hotel information and more Invite your friends, colleagues and fellow creatives! Scholarships available. sarah.rogoish@leadershipnexus.org Updated: SPARK, the annual weekend gathering at Pittsburgh s Sheraton Station Square, is set for January for youth in grades 6-12 and 2018 is our tenth year! See the leaders, breakout sessions and the guide for newcomers at wpaumc.org/spark. New breakout sessions have been listed for SPARK. Check them out. Apply to be a Global Mission Fellow! Young adults can apply now to be a Global Mission Fellow and serve two years in mission through the United Methodist Church. Deadline: January 21, Learn more. questions to Stephanie.Gottschalk@wpaumc.org. 5

6 Save the Date for Clergy Ethics Training: Save one of these dates to attend clergy ethics training that will be held around the Conference. The training is valuable and required by the Book of Discipline. All clergy will be expected to attend a full training at any one of the five sites. There will be a small fee to cover a book and lunch. Get details. Saturday, January 27-9:00-4:00, Avery (Washington) Monday, January 29-9:00-4:00, Dutilh Friday, February 9-9:00-4:00, TBA (Erie vicinity) Saturday, February 10-9:00-4:00, Warren: First Saturday, February 24-9:00-4:00, TBA (Indiana area) Summer Internships: Seminary students, undergrads, parents... It's time to think about summer internships! Applications are due January 31, For more information and to apply for College Ministry Discernment or Seminary Ministry internships, visit wpaumc.org/internships. Leading Public Prayer for Lay Leaders: February 5-16, Led by Rev. John Zimmerman. This course follows the required text, Let the Whole Church Say Amen! by Laurence Hull Stookey (Abingdon Press, 2001). Each participant will need a copy of this workbook and should obtain it well before class begins. The book is not included in the course fee. You will be expected to access the online workshop daily and stay current with the assignments. Therefore, obtain, read, and complete the workbook prior to the start of the course for better time management when the course begins. You will also need access to a United Methodist hymnal during the course. This class has been approved by Discipleship Ministries (formerly the General Board of Discipleship) as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries, and is the prayer class required for Lay Speaker certification. One (1) CEU for clergy and staff is also available. This course is eligible for 1.0 CEU. Price: $70.00 Enroll now 2018 Love & Respect Marriage Enrichment Retreat at Jumonville February 9-11, It starts on Friday at 7pm and ends on Sunday at 11am. It is open to all husbands and wives of any Christian faith. The cost is $375 per couple. This includes a two-night stay in either the Inn or Washington Lodge, four meals, snacks, time in the adventure center, and your workbook. We will be using the study by Dr. Emerson and Sarah Eggerichs from their Love & Respect Marriage Conference. Jumonville office: Register Mission Trip to Guatemala: All God s Children Ministries, which fits and distributes wheelchairs to those living with disabilities in developing areas, seeks team members for its international mission trip to Guatemala from Thursday, February 15 to Thursday, February 22, Contact Debbie Hills at deacon.dhills@gmail.com. Learn more about All God s Children s International Missions New- Mark your calendar now! For the BUTLER District Spring Lay Servant Ministry School on February 18, 25, March 4, 11 & 18, Classes: Basic Lay Servant, Preaching and Leading Worship, Discovering Spiritual Gifts, Evangelism and Pastoral Care. Details to be announced. New- Mark your calendar now! For the FRANKLIN District Spring Lay Servant Ministry School on April 8, 15, 22 May 6 & 20, Details to be announced. 6

7 Older Adult Ministries Seminar: Will be offered on April 15-16, 2018, so mark your calendars now and plan to attend! Details to be announced. Save the Date: The 2018 NEJ UMVIM Academy, which brings together mission leaders and instructors from UMCOR, Global Ministries, and more will held April 18-21, 2018 in northeast Maryland. Many courses provide lessons you can use immediately and can be submitted for CEUs. Save the date and contact Stephanie Gottschalk or Calvin Cook if interested. Save the Date! Poverty Summit: Several Conference teams are collaborating with the Poverty Team to plan the blockbuster anti-poverty event planned for Saturday, April 21, Save the Date: The Franklin District Conference will be on Sunday, April 29 at 3 pm at Knox UMC. Details TBA. UMW Gears Up for Assembly: The Power of Bold is the theme for the 19 th quadrennial Assembly of United Methodist Women, set for May 18-20, 2018, in Columbus. Regular registration is $330. Includes two healthy lunches. Registration closes April 9, Learn more Watch video Annual Conference: Wednesday, June 6 Saturday, June 9, (Not on Sunday) Mission of Peace is a yearly trip sponsored by the Northeast Jurisdiction of the UMC. It is on or about Dec. 28, 2018-Jan. 15, 2019 to the Philippines. Up to 4 youth can be accepted from each conference. On this trip, youth will get an immersion experience in another culture. Youth will meet other youth in churches and other civic organizations as well as worship with others in that country. Applications are due March 1 to the conference coordinator of young people s ministry, Amanda Gilligan at Amanda.Gilligan@wpaumc.org. For the application and more info, check out: The next national gathering of UM Youth will be July 10-14, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. Plan now for your youth to attend. The national gathering for UM Youth takes place every four years. YOUTH 2019 Media Kit! New- The 6 th Annual Faith Night will be held on Friday, July 27, 2018 following the Pirates-Mets game at 7:05 p.m. Enjoy discounted tickets for the Pirates-Mets game and stay after the game to hear Manager Clint Hurdle and your favorite Pirate players and coaches share their personal experiences with how their faith has impacted both their lives and their careers in baseball specifically. Being that Faith Night is being held on a Friday for the first time, we expect the event to be even more popular than ever! Therefore, it is highly recommended securing seats with a deposit. Groups of 15 or more can secure a block of seats with a deposit, then will have until June 11 to give your final ticket count and pay the balance. Contact Chad Glover at chad.glover@pirates.com or

8 Time to help Santa: The Sunset Auxiliary of Wesbury is collecting monetary donations to buy gifts for their residents. By playing the role of Santa s Helpers, the auxiliary aims to provide Christmas gifts for residents with generous donations from individuals and churches, as well as through memberships. Make checks payable to The Sunset Auxiliary and mail to The Wesbury Foundation, Santa s Helpers, 31 N. Park Avenue, Meadville, PA Direct questions to Sue McCracken at The Foundation at Franklin District Potato Project: FROM FIELD TO TABLE, YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! Through the gleaning and distribution efforts of the Society of St. Andrew, and with your financial help, the Franklin District received 44,000 pounds of potatoes in March, helping 23 area churches, food pantries, and organizations, such as The Salvation Army, provide help to thousands of families! The need was greater than we could provide, however, and many more thousands of pounds could have been used. In an effort to address the need of providing help to the GROWING number of families in need, we are putting forward an extra push again this year in the hopes of securing more potatoes! To do so, we need your help! The potatoes are FREE, but we need your generous donation to the FRANKLIN DISTRICT POTATO PROJECT to care for packaging and trucking costs. Potato Project (PLEASE REMIT ALL FUNDS BY YEAR-END TO THE WPA CONFERENCE FOR THE FRANKLIN DISTRICT POTATO PROJECT ) UPMC Healthcare Update: The Board of Pensions Executive Committee determined that the 2018 blended rate charged to the local church for clergy enrolled in the UPMC plan will be $1511 a month, including medical, vision and dental coverage. This is a reduction of $45 a month from the current 2017 rate of $ a month or a savings of $ a year in Clergy will share costs in 2018 by contributing $70/month for a family; $35 for two people and $20 for a single person. These cost sharing amounts are each $10 less than the amounts quoted at Annual Conference. Truly Free Family Skate: Every Sunday night 4:30 6:30 pm at Skate Capital, 255 Old Salina Road, Seneca, PA. Mission Barn Needs a Vehicle! Director Katie Peterson reports that the Mission Barn s Pathfinder is no longer dependable for transporting UMCOR kits or ramps. They need a 4-wheel-drive pickup, or Expedition or Yukonstyle vehicle with at least 6000 lbs. towing capabilities. They'd prefer a vehicle with less than 50,000 miles on it. If you have leads or ideas, Katie at missionbarn@gmail.com or call Looking for an Advent Study? Cokesbury s Comparison Chart provides at-a-glance info to help you select the Advent studies that are just right for your church. Learn more. Share your Wesbury Memories: In 2018, Wesbury will be celebrating 100 years of providing the full continuum of aging lifestyle services and compassionate care programs to Northwest PA. Share your stories, photos and memories by ing them to wesbury100@wesbury.com or by calling Melissa Porter at Memories may be shared on the website or Facebook but you can choose to remain anonymous. 8 See above!

9 Church Security Staying Safe at Church: Safety is becoming more and more of a concern at places of worship. What can church members do to help keep your church safe, yet still welcoming? See some recommendations. Watch video Church Mutual Insurance Company offers several valuable online resources for safety and emergency response. Look under Trending Topics at churchmutual.com. Thanksgiving: Ways to Share Gratitude: These ideas might help to develop a year-round attitude of gratitude. See them Let Us Give Thanks: Enjoy and share this photo prayer video. Sharing Thanksgiving: Christ UMC in Bethel Park is gearing for their second annual First Responders' Thanksgiving Meal delivery this year. See video UMCOR Donation Update: It's important that we celebrate our ministry together. The Franklin District Superintendent received a list from Larry Bridge listing the UMCOR donations during September and October, primarily in response to the hurricanes that hit Texas and Florida. On that list are 43 Franklin district churches that contributed to this great need totaling $48, We applaud these churches for their faithfulness to the work of the church! Rethink Church: Advent resources include both lectionary and non-lectionary based Advent sermon starters and more. Outreach materials are available in both printed and downloadable versions. New- Advent and Diversity: For some resources to encourage diversity in your Advent and Christmas observances, check out the General Commission on Religion and Race s Advent resource page. New- Fellows Program: We re looking for young future pastors who will lead the Church to transform our world. Church of the Resurrection, in partnership with Saint Paul School of Theology, is offering an innovative 3-year Fellows Program to educate future church leaders. Resurrection Fellows receive 3 years of full-tuition, books, and fees for a first class seminary education, coupled with a ministry mentor and a paid fellowship for up to 20 hours per week of hands on, practical experience at one of the country s most dynamic teaching churches. Every Resurrection Fellow works closely with Church of the Resurrection staff to learn about multiple ministry skills in areas such as evangelism, worship, pastoral care and discipleship. Visit for details and application. Share this information with someone you know who might be interested, or include this Press Release in your church bulletin or newsletter. This full-ride scholarship could be the opportunity of a lifetime! New- 50 Ways to Take Church to the Community: Churches can no longer open their doors and expect that people will come in. Effective congregations go into the world to encounter those in need of the gospel. "50 Ways to Take Church to the Community" provides tips on reaching beyond the walls of your church with worship, community events, ministries, and service. Read now and download free. 9

10 New- Funding Education: United Methodist students don t have to worry as much about rising federal student loan interest rates. Through its Office of Loans and Scholarships, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) offers them the lowest interest for student loans in the U.S. Learn more. New- Elder Abuse: One in 20 seniors report being the victim of elder financial abuse, according to the National Association of Adult Protective Services. Recently an organization of accountants addressed the issue, offered common examples and ways to guard against it. Learn more. New- Cyber Liability Insurance: United Methodist Insurance has announced that it added Cyber Liability Protection to its policies on October 1, This shields the insured from liability associated with data and privacy breaches of their systems. The enhanced coverage was added automatically to all UM churches insured through the denominational insurer. Learn more about UM Insurance at uminsure.org. New- Fellowship of Associate Members and Local Pastors: The National Association has a new website with membership forms, proposed legislation, disciplinary changes affecting local pastors, and upcoming events. 10