Dear Friends, Peace! Volume 11 April 2019 Issue 4 DISTRICT STAFF. Rev. Barry Burns Northwest Plains District Superintendent

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1 Volume 11 April 2019 Issue 4 DISTRICT STAFF District Superintendent Barry Burns bburns@wocumc.org Ass t to the Dist. Supt. Lynda Lockwood llockwood@wocumc.org Financial Secretary Kim Tumblin ktumblin@wocumc.org Office Administrator Lesley Moore lmoore@wocumc.org Rev. Barry Burns Northwest Plains District Superintendent Dear Friends, Now that we are beyond the special General Conference that was held in St Louis this past February, we can begin to see more clearly what the effects will be. For those who are not aware of the decisions made there, the General Conference approved what has come to be known as the Traditional Plan. This means that the Book of Discipline is not changed a lot, but there are some changes. Most of these center around the stance of the UMC around the ordination and weddings of those in the LGBTQIA community. There are also changes around the accountability of clergy performing same gender weddings. What is not changed is that we still see that all persons are of sacred value. The petitions that were passed are now going to go to the Judicial Council, who will make a ruling on the constitutionality of these actions. So, while we know what the General Conference has approved, we don t yet have a final answer on what the final plan will end up being. The Judicial Council will meet in April In the midst of all of this happening, we find ourselves in the season of Lent. I hope you will take this opportunity to reflect on your relationship with God, and on what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. While the scriptures for this time of year focus on Jesus journey to the cross, we can t ignore that we know that beyond the cross is the empty tomb. So, in the midst of death, there is still hope. Northwest Plains District United Methodist Church 910 E. Third Street Ottawa, OH Telephone: FAX nwplains@wocumc.org This simple promise gives me hope. Even in the midst of brokenness, sin, anxiety, and separation from God, there is hope. With all of the talk, arguing, opining, blogging, etc around the General Conference, we see clearly that the church we love is still sharply divided. But, this message of Lent and Easter promises that out of all of the messiness we are experiencing, something new can arise. We all need to experience this resurrection once again. So, my prayer for you and your church is that we will see life in the midst of death, hope in the midst of hopelessness, healing in the midst of brokenness and light in the midst of darkness. Peace! Website:

2 Page 2 Northwest Plains Compass April 2019 Bishop Palmer Announces Bible Study Bishop Palmer has invited us to come together as The West Ohio Conference in the study of Galatians: Gospel of Grace over the weeks of the Easter season. While we are not united in our thinking on all matters, we can all be united in our commitment to turn to the scripture for guidance. As we read, study, and discuss scripture together, we trust the Holy Spirit to move in our midst and to speak to us through the living word of God. We hope you will join churches across the annual conference in a conference-wide all-church series on Galatians. Small group discussion guides, worship resources, social media options, and communication templates will be available to you for this series by early April. As you make plans to participate, you are encouraged to read Galatians and begin preparing around these weekly themes: April 22nd-28th: Grace that Transforms - Chapter 1 with key verse Galatians 1:23 April 29th-May 5th: Grace that Embraces - Chapter 2 with key verses Galatians 2:9-10 May 6th-May 12th: Grace that Clothes Us - Chapter 3 with key verses Galatians 3:26-28 May 13th-May 19th: Grace that Forms - Chapter 4 with key verse Galatians 4:19 May 20th-26th: Grace that Bears Fruit - Chapter 5 with key verse Galatians 5:22 May 27th-June 2nd: Grace that Sustains - Chapter 6 with key verse Galatians 6:9 Log onto the Conference website to watch a video message regarding this Bible Study from Bishop Palmer. Clergy Gatherings (April Schedule) County Time April Location Allen Luncheon 11:30am 2 Old Barn Out Back, Lima Auglaize Breakfast 8:30am 8 RJ s Coffey Cup, Wapakoneta Defiance Luncheon 11:30am 11 Sherwood UMC, Sherwood Hancock Breakfast 8:30am 2 Scrambler Marie s, Findlay Hardin Breakfast 9:00am 16 Table One, Kenton Mercer Luncheon 11:30am 8 Orchard Tree, Celina Paulding Luncheon 11:30am 4 Fiesta Habaneros, Paulding Putnam Breakfast 8:30am 18 Henry s Restaurant, Ottawa Van Wert Breakfast 8:30am 4 Van Wert Hospital Cafeteria Williams Breakfast 8:30am 11 Four Seasons, Bryan Wyandot Luncheon 11:30 am 16 East of Chicago Pizza, Upper Sandusky Note: Retired pastors are welcome to attend!

3 April 2019 Northwest Plains Compass Page 3 REGISTRATION DEADLINE APRIL 9, 2019

4 Page 4 Northwest Plains Compass April 2019 Lay Servant Training Events Lay Servant Ministries is one of the most significant lay leadership development programs already available within the United Methodist connection. Through this system of equipping and empowering, lay servants have the opportunity to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ who then go and make other disciples Register TODAY Lead in Worship (CORE Course), will be offered Saturday, April 6, Led by Rev. Dwight Bowers. 8:30am-4:30pm, at Trinity UMC, 137 N. Pratt St., Ottawa. The FIRM deadline for registration is March 28. If we do not receive 10 registrations, the class will not be held. Register on the Northwest Plains district website or call the Dealing with Grief (Advanced Course), will be offered Saturday, April 6, Led by: Elaine Sturtz 8:30am-4:30pm, at Trinity UMC, 137 N. Pratt St., Ottawa. The FIRM deadline for registration is March 28. If we do not receive 10 registrations, the class will not be held. Register on the Northwest Plains district website or call the "Introduction to Lay Servant Ministry (Basic) Part 1 & 2" led by Rev. Vernagaye Sullivan/Lay Ministry Teaching Team will be offered on Friday, April 12 (Part 1) beginning at 7:00 am Saturday, April 13 (Part 2), 8:30am-4:00 pm, at Wesley UMC in Bryan, OH (903 Center St., Bryan, OH 43506). The FIRM deadline for registration is April 4. If we do not receive 10 registrations, the class will not be held. Register on the Northwest Plains district website. This offer is response to a request by the northwestern part of the District. You will have a shorter drive time and you can stay overnight making only one trip necessary you are responsible for your own accommodations. Please help get the word out. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in participating, please register when the time is open to do so! NWP Directors of Pulpit Supply Pastors, if you are in need of Sunday morning pulpit supply and would like to arrange for a Lay Speaker to fill in for you, please contact our District Directors of Pulpit Supply. Linda Hoover is responsible for the southern part of NWP District including Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Mercer, Van Wert and Wyandot counties. She can be reached at or by at bhoover1@woh.rr.com. Larry Zuvers is responsible for the northern part of NWP District including Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, and Williams counties. He can be reached at or by at lzuvers@gmail.com.

5 April 2019 Northwest Plains Compass Page 5 Save the date! Northwest Plains District Spring Conference Sunday, May 19, :45 pm Gathering Time 3:30 Business of the Conference Pandora UMC 108 E. Washington, Pandora, OH Everyone is welcome to attend! Nwp DISTRICT OFFICE CLOSED APRIL 19, 2019 IN OBSERVANCE OF GOOD FRIDAY

6 Page 6 Northwest Plains Compass April 2019 BY GEORGE! Campaign This spring, we are inviting the congregations of the Northwest Plains District to be a part of a special effort to help Grace Children s Hospital in Haiti. This hospital that has served countless numbers of children and their families over the years has been devastated by the earthquakes and hurricanes and is in desperate need of help. So, we are inviting you to be part of a special campaign. If every one of our congregations would challenge their members to give just $1 per week per member, we could rally to give not only a dramatic amount of financial help, but also hope that they are not alone. The money will be collected at the District Office and sent on to Haiti. There will be much more information coming in the form of videos, pamphlets, etc. But we invite you now to begin praying about your congregation being a part of this effort. In a time where we see so much brokenness and disunity, this is one way we can truly show how we can do more together than we can apart. Watch for more information to come! The Walk to Emmaus is a global ministry of the Upper Room dedicated to supporting the spiritual formation of Christians and the development of Christian servant leaders for the local church. If you would like to experience this spiritual retreat or learn more about it contact Brad Martin. I am also looking for clergy who are interested in serving in the Northwest Ohio Emmaus Community. The clergy listing needs updating. If you took your walk in another community, if you took another three-day retreat, or if your contact information has changed, please send the information to Brad Martin, Emmaus Community Spiritual Director, bmartin4477@gmail.com The district staff will be praying each week for 3 different appointments (church and pastor): Week of April 7 Melrose Rev. Eileen Kochensparger Mendon Charge/Bethel Rev. Robert Glenn Jr. Middle Creek Rev. Eileen Kochensparger Week of April 14 Middle Point Rev. Timothy Owens Montpelier: First Rev. Justin McCall Montpelier: St. Paul s Rev. Richard Blank Week of April 21 Mt. Blanchard Rev. Brett Kelly Mt. Cory/Pleasant View Charge Rev. Mark Fuerstenau Mt. Tabor Phillip Jarrells Week of April 28 Mt. Zion Rev. David Prior New Knoxville Rev. Dennis Gaertner North Creek Rev. Rick Noggle

7 April 2019 Northwest Plains Compass Page CONNECTIONAL GIVING MOVING FULL STEAM AHEAD Conference Giving District 100% On track with District Giving Ada Sugar Grove Arcadia Emmanuel Erastus Farmer Fort Recovery Gilboa Grover Hill Zion Hamilton Bethel Harrod Hepburn Houcktown Kossuth Zion Landfair Maysville Melbern Melrose Mercer Middle Creek Middle Point Mt Blanchard Mt Zion (Hardin) Mt Zion Celina New Knoxville Otterbein Payne St Paul Pleasant View Rhinehart Ridgeway Rockford Roundhead Salem (Wyandot) St Johns St Marks Lima Trinity Evangelical Uniopolis Van Buren Vanlue Christ Wapakoneta Salem Waynesfield Williams Center Asbury Williams Center Calvary Willshire Union Ada First Alger First Allentown Arlington Ayersville Bethel Van Wert Bluffton First Bryan Faith Bryan Wesley Cairo Carey Grace Chattanooga Columbus Grove Saint John Continental Christ Continental United Cridersville Cridersville Perry Defiance St Pauls Delphos Trinity East Mt Zion Elida Immanuel Elida St Paul Evansport First Van Wert Forest Grand Lake Grant Hicksville Grace Hicksville Trinity Howard Journey At Christ Kenton Epworth Kenton First Lafayette Latty Friends Leipsic Mark Center McComb Montpelier First Montpelier St Pauls Mount Cory Ney North Creek Oakdale Ohio City Pandora Paulding Mt Zion Pleasant Chapel Powell Memorial Pulaski Saint Andrews Findlay Saint Marys Grace Shawnee Sherwood Spencerville Trinity St Marks Findlay St Marys Wayne St St Pauls Findlay Trinity Lima Trinity Van Wert Vaughnsville Walnut Grove Auglaize Walnut Grove Hardin Wesley Van Wert West Independence West Unity Westminster Zion Findlay We thank you for your faithful giving and support. If we can be of any assistance or you have questions, please contact Kim Tumblin, Financial Secretary, or the NWP office. The above info was through 3/25/2019. As we prepare to mail/ statements, we are asking for your help to make sure we have the correct and updated information. The apportionment information was mailed to pastors and treasurers last month. If you have corrections, or updated , please send this information to Kim Tumblin at ktumblin@wocumc.org Blessings, Kim Tumblin Financial Secretary, Northwest Plains District

8 The District Office will be closed Monday, September 3 Hoover Auditorium at Lakeside Chautauqua Northwest Plains Compass The Northwest Plains Compass is published monthly. News releases relating to the Compass should be ed to: nwplains@wocumc.org or mailed to: Northwest Plains Compass, Northwest Plains District United Methodist Church, 910 E. Third St., Ottawa, OH Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 16 Ottawa, Ohio NORTHWEST PLAINS DISTRICT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 910 E THIRD ST OTTAWA OH Return Service Requested