OCTOBER 22, 2018

EOC News

Multicultural Vitality

Rev. Dr. Joseph Daniels, Jr. speaks to partipanst seated at tables

Teaching from a Different Cultural Perspective
Faith in Action: Beginning a Good Work was the theme of this year’s Black Theologian Day, the first offered by the East Ohio Conference office of Multicultural Vitality under the Perspectives event focus that will assist participants in learning from another perspective.

Guest theologian the Rev. Dr. Joseph Daniels, Jr., lead pastor at Emory UMC in Washington, D.C., offered that we begin good works and make a difference in the lives of others when we better understand and connect with our mission fields, and when we listen to the cry of our own hearts.

“This work requires divine anointment, appointment, and assignment.  We must understand as the people of God, whether lay or clergy, that we are on assignment to build the Kingdom of God.”

Read the article in its entirety and view the Rev. Dr. Joseph Daniels’ presentation.

Advocacy

East Ohio OCUIR Receives Grant
The East Ohio Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relations (OCUIR) is the recipient of a local initiative grant from the Council of Bishops.  The grant will fund development of Faith and Fact Cards so that local congregations have an easy-to-use resource for sharing information about the ecumenical and interreligious ministries of The United Methodist Church.  For example, one card may be about interreligious training available from the general church, when it is held every year, and how to learn more information about it.  Another might be The Do’s and Don’ts of Dialogue. These cards will then be shared with other annual conferences to be used as a general church resource.

Tenns in line to help with packing dayYoung People’s Ministries

Daring to Empower Teens with Compassionate Leadership Skills
The biggest impact we can have on young people in our communities is through teaching those in our fold leadership development skills.  If we spend our time teaching our young Christian friends how to influence others, our efforts to spread the Gospel will multiply.  As our country slowly lowers the expectations of our leaders, it is up to us to teach teens the importance of character and compassion in leadership.

Read entire article, find curriculum resources and listen to the latest Practically Honest podcast here.

Holy Land Pilgrimage: August 4-14, 2019
Applications are still being accepted for next August’s young adult pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  One applicant from each jurisdiction or central conference will be accepted.

Applicants must be current members of The United Methodist Church who are age 18-35, are leaders in their jurisdiction/central conference, are capable of significant hiking and other physical activity, and are open to vocational, spiritual and ministry discernment. Learn more. Applications accepted until November 8.

Health Benefits

Benefits Enrollment begins Oct. 31
Active clergy, lay employees, and retirees younger than 65 years of age covered by HealthFlex are required to elect their health benefits for 2019 during annual enrollment, October 31 through November 15.

For 2019, participants choose from six available medical plans, tax advantage accounts to help manage health care costs, and optional dental and vision plans.

Visit the health benefits page of this website to:

  • view the participant workshop video,
  • access the Alex benefits counselor,
  • compare the six benefit plans, and
  • more.

Spiritual Formation

Group Children’s Ministry Local Training
Plan now to bring your children’s ministry team to Group’s Cultivating Courage ministry training.   This is a half-day of practical training focused on creating ministry environments that naturally produce courage in children while equipping them to live boldly in Christ.

Join us Saturday, November 10 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Willoughby Hills UMC.  Cost is as low as $29.95/person.  Learn more and register.

Missions

Workshop on Evangelism, Small Groups & Discipleship
Participate in a workshop facilitated by trained lay leaders from the Zimbabwe Conference of The United Methodist Church.  Discover how the connection of our denomination strengthens us for ministry.

The workshop and lunch are hosted by East Ohio Zimbabwe partners and will be held at Ashland First UMC from 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27. Learn more and register.

UMVIM Early Response Team (ERT) Basic Training
November 6 & 13 at Fredericktown UMC
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission training to become a United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) certified ERT volunteer. The class will teach the skills needed to help survivors of natural disasters.  You must attend both days and complete a background check to receive your credentials as an ERT volunteer from UMCOR.  Cost is $30. Learn more and register.

Clergy

Lakeside Chautauqua Offers Renewal Scholarship
The Bible instructs all of God’s children to build Sabbath time into their lives.  For clergy to truly have a Sabbath, it is oftentimes necessary to get away from home!  Lakeside Chautauqua is making that possible.  Lakeside invites United Methodist clergy to apply for a renewal scholarship that will provide hotel lodging, up to 2 or 3 nights, in the Fountain Inn at Lakeside Chautauqua.

Take time with God along the shores of Lake Erie for rest and renewal.  You can use this unstructured time for prayer, planning and meditation.  The time is yours.  Lakeside provides the hotel room free of charge.  Learn more.  The deadline for submission is November 9, 2018.  Download the scholarship application form.

Discipleship Ministries

New Organizational Design
The General Board of Discipleship, announced a new organizational design that will maximize the agency’s ability to successfully reach its three organizational priorities: an intentional disciple-making process in every church; engagement with people currently outside the church; and cultivation of local (contextual) resources around the globe.

The current Leadership Ministries, New Church Starts/Path 1, and Young People’s Ministries units will be combined into a single Strategic Programming area that will be led by one associate general secretary who will also serve as the chief staff officer for the Division on Ministries with Young People.

Leadership expects the new design to be implemented over the next six to nine months.  Learn more.

Pastoral Care and Counseling

Bi-weekly Resources
In the October 22 issue:  We focus on justice ministry.

  • A Way Forward: Knowledge of Good and Evil
  • The Resurgence of Patriarchy
  • Together at the Table
  • Persecuted for My Sake
  • Oscar Romero’s Prayer
  • Self-Care Strategies for Survival: Sustaining Oneself in Social Justice Movements
  • Spiritual Enrichment Groups
  • Listings of our Spiritual Directors

Media Center

The Media Center has the many resources available for Advent. Get’em while they last!

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

Message in the Movies banner (colorful film strip


First Man: Neil Armstrong (Gosling), born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, is considered a local hero. Damien Chazelle’s version of space travel. Since Chazelle was the wunderkind behind 2016’s tuneful La La Land, I was ready to be dazzled. Imagine my dismay when First Man turned out to be 138 minutes of headache-inducing, grief-ridden, anxiety-driven drama. To its credit, the film shows the emotional sacrifice of Janet Armstrong.

Entire review and movie trailer

Credit Union

Christmas Clubs
If you are taking advantage of our Christmas Club accounts, funds will be disbursed the first week of November. Interested in opening a Christmas Club? Contact us today!

Events: October 9-21

Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar.

To submit your event to the East Ohio calendar use this form.
(The East Ohio Conference only accepts East Ohio United Methodist local church, conference and general UM events for listing on the Conference calendar.)

Classifieds

Details of listings may be found here. 

Positions Available

  • Part-time Music and Worship Director – United Methodist Church of Macedonia
  • Part-time Office Manager – Salem First UMC
  • Part-time Special Needs Assistant – Rocky River UMC
  • Part-time Financial Accountant – Willoughby UMC
  • Graphic/Web Designer – East Ohio Conference Communications Office
  • Youth Director – First United Methodist Church of Salem
  • Part-time Custodian – Grace UMC
  • Part-time Church Secretary – Rittman UMC
  • Communications Specialist – East Ohio Conference Communications Office

To submit a classified ad please email sue@eocumc.com

Obituary

Please pray for the family of Nancy Lee Greenawalt, spouse of N. James Greenawalt, who died October 15.

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The next scheduled edition of the E-News is Monday, November 5, 2018.  Deadline for submission is Wednesday, October 31. Send articles to sue@eocumc.com