FEBRUARY 20, 2017

Auman, Nazario Appointed to EOC Cabinet

Bishop Tracy S. Malone is appointing the Rev. Abby Auman and the Rev. Néstor Nazario to the East Ohio Conference Cabinet effective July 1.

“Abby has strong leadership skills, is an innovative thinker who brings vision and courage to the development and empowerment of lay leadership, and has a passion for revitalizing the local church,” said Bishop Malone of Auman, who will serve as superintendent of the Mahoning Valley District.

Nazario will be the new superintendent of the Mid-Ohio District.

“Néstor is a capable administrator and brings the experience of serving in a variety of ministry contexts,” said Bishop Malone. “He has successfully merged congregations and has a deep commitment to social justice ministry. He brings a deep faith, a love for people, and a passion for the church.”

2017 Appointments/Changes of Status

Retirements:
Judith Wismar Claycomb | retiring from Church of the Saviour UM, NC | 7/1/17
Christopher Statz | retiring from Oak Chapel UMC, CN | 7/1/17

View the current appointment list

Please keep in your prayers:

the pastors and congregations who are receiving new appointments,
Bishop Malone and the Cabinet as they continue the appointment process, and
Board of Ordained Ministry members and the candidates for Provisional Membership and Full Membership who are in the interview process through the end of the month.

2017 Annual Conference Theme

The June 12-15 session of Annual Conference will return to Lakeside Chautauqua with a new quadrennial theme, Bearing Fruit that Lasts: Called, Committed, Connected.

Using John 15:1-17 (CEB) as our guiding scripture passage, we will explore what it means to be called and equipped as followers of Jesus Christ, highlight the joy of making a commitment to take up residence in God’s love, and to extend that love to others, and underscore the importance of being connected to God and to our neighbors if we are to bear fruit by making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Bishop Tracy S. Malone will give the message during the Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion, and the Service of Commissioning and Ordination. Bishop Michael McKee of the North Texas Conference will be our guest speaker for each of the morning worship services.

More about the 2017-2020 quadrennial ..

Will Jones hired as Director of Multicultural Vitality

Will Jones has joined the East Ohio Conference as director of Multicultural Vitality. In this new full-time position created by action of Annual Conference 2016, Jones will actively engage pastors, congregations, and conference leaders to discern their roles in fully embracing the communizes that our churches serve.

“Will brings passion, inter-cultural leadership skills, and community organizing and development experience that will help resource and equip clergy and local churches in embracing the racial, ethnic, cultural, and generational diversity within their communities,” said Bishop Tracy S. Malone.

” I am humbled and blessed by this opportunity,” Jones said. I look forward to using my gifts and experience to resource and come alongside churches, pastors, and laity in laboring in the work to which God has called each of us.”

Communications

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Treasurer’s Office

March 12 Open House for Jessica Vargo, North Canton Faith UMC
From 2-4 pm, an open house will be held to celebrate Jessica Vargo’s 15 years of service as treasurer & director of administrative services for the EO Conference. A short program will be held beginning at 2:30 pm. Light refreshments will be provided. The open house will be held at North Canton Faith UMC, 300 9th St, NW, North Canton, OH 44720.

Cards for Jessica may be sent to the EOC Treasurer’s Office.

Lent and Easter Resources

Ash Wednesday is March 1 and Easter Sunday is April 16.

As you plan Lenten Bible studies for your church, and your home, consider the new family devotion created by Discipleship Ministries. A complete list of Lent and Easter resources is in the March/April/May issue of The Window.

Missions

Schedule Your Mission Trip to The Epworth Center
The Epworth Center Work Mission, Bethesda, OH has approximately 23 senior citizens, disabled individuals and low-income home owners in need of your help for home repairs. Teach your youth and adults how to answer God’s call!

Schedule your trip by downloading the group application.

You may donate to the Epworth Center by using Advance # EOC 1940 and submitting through your local church offering.

UM Financial Credit Union

Moving or Live in a Rural Area?
Don’t worry. CO-OP ATMs and shared branches have you covered coast to coast. We have 30,000 ATMs and over 5,000 shared branches which means you have more direct, surcharge-free* access to your money than most traditional bank customers do. Use this link locator or call the credit union for assistance.

Avoid Paying ATM Surcharges
ATM owners generally charge a fee to withdraw money from their machine. This surcharge fee ranges from $2 to $4 per withdrawal. To avoid paying a surcharge, use a PNC Bank ATM or an ATM displaying the Alliance One Network. We have made special arrangements with PNC Bank and participant ATM owners of the Alliance One Network. If you use a Fifth Third Bank ATM you will be charged $1 per transaction and not the full surcharge posted on the machine.

Pastoral Care and Counseling

February 20, 2017 Resources
In this edition we feature:

Inspiration Video: All That We Share
How to Get Really Good at Dying
Creating Change through Faith-Rooted Organizing
Preparation for Lent
Mindful Attention Awareness Scale
How to Wake Up Your Body for Morning Meditation
Calming the Rush of Panic in Your Body
Mindfulness Creates Momentum for Healthy Choices
Listings of Spiritual Formation Groups and our Spiritual Directors

Contact Us
If you have any questions or issues you would like for us to address, or would like to get email alerts when new resources have been posted, please contact Howard Humphress at hkhumphress@gmail.com or use our quick contact form.

Media Center

The Media Center recently acquired the following resources:

All Things New; A Study on 2 Corinthians explores the anchoring truths of bearing treasures in jars of clay, meeting Christ through a pressing thorn, opening wide your heart in the midst of hurtful relationships, and what it means to embrace the lost and lonely as ministers of the new covenant.
Can’t Stop the Water tells the story of Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana and the Native American community fighting to save its culture as its land washes away.
The Real God; How He Longs for You to See Him is an in-depth study of seven attributes of God: goodness, sovereignty, holiness, wisdom, justice, love, and faithfulness.
The Question Of God; Sigmund Freud and CS Lewis addresses difficult issues in the eventful lives of two men who held diametrically opposed world views.
Safe Sanctuaries Videos may be used as a series for training, individually to open up conversations in small groups, and as a way to share information with the congregation as a reminder or in the midst of a crisis.

To reserve these or other resources, call the Media Center at (800) 831-3972 x 139 or send an e-mail to sarnold@eocumc.com. Browse the resource catalog at www.rqmweb.com/eocumc

Message in the Movies

Movie review by Rev. Bruce Batchelor-Glader Photo by See-Saw Films — Movie review by Rev. Bruce Batchelor-Glader
Photo by See-Saw Films

Lion “As Christians, we proclaim that every person is adopted into God’s family as heirs of the Kingdom of God. But until that becomes reality, all of us have a longing for connection and a need to be loved. Lion tells the story of family lost, found, and found again. It also reminds us that childhood memories are primal and that we need to be vigilant in creating a safe place for all children..” For full review.

Classifieds/Items Available

Director of Youth Ministries, North Canton Faith UMC
Director of Family Ministries, Hudson UMC
President and CEO, United Methodist Insurance

Details of the above classifieds/items wanted can be found here.

To submit job postings and items available please email lois@eocumc.com

Events – February 20-March 6

February 21
Messy Church, North Canton Faith UMC
February 24-26
Confirmation Retreat, Camp Wanake
February 25
Breakthrough Prayer Initiative, Westlake UMC
February 25
A Town Hall Meeting- Chaos or Community? University Circle UMC
February 27
Flat Rock Benefit Night
March 4
Dinner and Dance, LaPorte UMC

Follow this link to the events calendar.
To submit a calendar event.

Dates to Remember

March 13-14
CEF Spring Retreat, Camp Wanake
March 18
ERT Basic Training Class, East Ohio Conference
March 18
From Membership to Discipleship, Kinsman UMC

Obituaries

Please pray for the families of :

Carrie Juanita (Neatty) Baker, surviving spouse of Rev. Robert A. Baker, who died February 14, 2017 and
Grace E. Boldt, surviving spouse of Rev. David Boldt, who died February 12, 2017.

For full obituary notices.

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The next scheduled edition of the E-News will be March 6, 2017. Deadline to submit an article is March 1.