September 9, 2019

EOC News

Communications

Summer vacations have ended, students are back in school, and congregations have returned to their fall worship schedules. The new church year is upon us!

The resources on the East Ohio Conference website are designed to facilitate the work of EOC congregations and faith communities and aid in reaching out to our mission fields by providing opportunities to:

E-mail eoccommunications@eocumc.com with stories of how God is using your local church to transform the community. The East Ohio Conference Communications team wants to tell your story.

Financial and Administrative Services

Local Church Reports
Friday, September 13 is the deadline for submitting any corrections to 2018 Local Church Reports in order for them to be reflected in the final 2020 apportionment calculations. Corrections need to be submitted in writing to Vera Rebrovich, director of Financial and Administrative Services. E-mail corrections to vera.rebrovich@eocumc.com.

Multicultural Ministries

A Remembrance of Our Shared History – September 21
You are invited to be present in Upper Sandusky at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 21 when The United Methodist Church returns a tract of land to the Wyandot/Wyandotte People.

“This event sits within a recently established continuum of repentance and intentional work by the denomination and Global Ministries, in particular, to build awareness, education, and dialogue around contemporary Native American issues,” said Global Ministries General Secretary Thomas Kemper.

The observance will begin at John Stewart United Methodist Church (130 W. Johnson St.) and continue at the nearby cemetery and old mission church.

Learn more and register to attend.

Clergy

Renewal Scholarship Offered
As people of faith, keeping Sabbath is essential to maintaining one’s relationship with God. For clergy to truly have a Sabbath, it is oftentimes necessary to get away from home! Lakeside Chautauqua provides a place to do just that – and provides hotel lodging for up to three nights through a clergy renewal scholarship. United Methodist clergy from East Ohio and West Ohio may apply for the scholarship. Recipients may take time with God along the beautiful shores of Lake Erie for rest and renewal, and use the unstructured time for prayer, planning and mediation. The time is yours.

Learn more about the scholarship. The deadline to apply is October 10. Apply for the scholarship.

Spiritual Formation and Christian Education

Share Your Story – September 26
Registration deadline is quickly approaching for this training event for church leaders to learn how to equip people to tell their story. The deadline to register is September 19 for clergy, local pastors, staff, lay leaders, teachers, Bible Study leaders, volunteers, and others who wish to attend. Congregations will benefit from their leaders attending this event because when we are able to share our stories, we can build relationships and lead others to Christ.

Share Your Story will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. at North Canton Faith UMC. Cost is $25, which includes resources and a boxed lunch. Learn more and register.

This event will be presented again from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 at Coshocton Grace UMC. Learn more and register.

Share Your Story is sponsored by the Spiritual Formation & Christian Education Committee of the East Ohio Conference and the East Ohio Chapter of CEF (Christians Engaged in Faith Formation).

Congregational Vitality

Learning Cohorts
Registration costs have been permanently reduced for learning cohorts, which include continuous learning, coaching, and accountability. Questions about the cohorts? Call Kelly Brown, (330) 499-3972 ext. 129.

Learn more and register.

Missions

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Journeys
Consider being a part of one of these UMVIM journeys:

Midwest Distribution Center, Illinois • Dec. 8-14, 2019
Team Leader: Stanley Wertz E-Mail | Cost: $300
Work available for almost any age and ability.

Puerto Rico • Jan. 14-21, 2020
Team Leader: Brett Bartels E-mail | Cost: $1,500
Canal District UMVIM Team for long term recovery in partnership with REHACE and the United Methodist Church of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico • Feb. 6-13, 2020
Team Leader: Tom King E-mail | Cost: $1,500
Team of 8-10 members will work under the direction of ReHace, Inc. of The UMC of Puerto Rico to repair houses damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. We will be hosted and housed by a Methodist Church or Retreat Center.

Peru • July 6-17, 2020
Team Leaders: Carmen Kluth and Kathy Dickriede E-mail | Cost: $2,300
Serving in the Cusco region, where Machu Picchu and other wonderful Incan sites are located. Medical focus, specifically nursing, psychology, ophthalmology, OBGYN and pediatrics services.

Please contact the team leaders for more details, sign-ups are going on now for these and other UMIVIM mission journeys. Learn more.

Media Center

The Media Center recently acquired the following resources:

  • The Challenge of Paul Vol. 1 confronts our traditional understanding about Paul that seems to support anti-homosexuality, slavery, patriarchy, and the subjugation of women.
  • The Human Spirit and The Times We Live In show us that quest for spiritual life leads us unavoidably into our deep connection to all life and all people.
  • Spirituality, Self and Society addresses the challenges of living a purposeful life defined by compassion and care for the other with an interfaith panel.
  • Pursuing Holiness equips believers with the tools to put the pursuit of a holy life not only in its proper place but also within reach.
  • Finding God Faithful; the Life of Joseph teaches us to recognize when God is working during periods of waiting, trust God’s plan when life doesn’t make sense, and rest in the sufficiency of His presence in every circumstance.

To reserve these or other resources, call the Media Center at (800) 831-3972 x139 or send an e-mail to sarnold@eocumc.com. Browse the resource catalog at www.rqmweb.com/eocumc.

Message in the MoviesMessage in the Movies banner (colorful film strip


Overcomer
God bless the Kendrick brothers. These hometown boys from Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia keep on making faith-based films that attract a wide audience. Their films often involve sports or family issues. Overcomer manages to work both of these themes into its story of forgiveness and redemption.

My main problem with Overcomer is its individual-centered faith message. Not only do we have a one-woman sports team, but also a family that prays to God for help without even thinking of involving their church or pastor. There is also a conversion moment that happens during a private Bible study of the first two chapters of Ephesians. While I was glad that things worked out well for the characters in Overcomer, I wondered what this film would have to say to the general viewer. But, no worries. The Kendricks and LifeWay Press have developed a DVD Bible Study for you (as they always do) that will overcome that setback!

Read entire review.

Credit Union

Shared Branching
The United Methodist Financial Credit Union is part of the Shared Branching Network. We partner with over 330 different credit unions to give our members more options to utilize your credit union account. Visit the Shared Branching website to find the closest location near you!

Events: September 9 – September 22

Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar

(The East Ohio Conference only accepts East Ohio United Methodist local church, conference and general UM events for listing on the Conference calendar.)

Obituaries

Please pray for the families of:

  • Thelma W. Walton, surviving spouse of the Rev. Donald W. Walton, died September 4.
  • Hugh H. Hubbard Jr., retired Associate Member, died August 26.
  • Donald J. Lockwood, retired Local Pastor, died August 10.
  • Earl Kent Brown, retired Elder, passed away December 5, 2018.

View obituaries

Classifieds

Details of listings may be found here.

Positions Available

  • Secretary/Administrative Assistant – North Industry UMC
  • Teen Ministry Director – Medina UMC
  • Director of Christian Education – The UMC in Stow
  • Spiritual Growth and Formation Specialist – United Methodist Women
  • Ministries Assistant – Twin Falls UMC
  • Church Administrator – Willoughby UMC
  • Youth Ministry Coordinator – Strasburg UMC
  • Administrative Assistant – Strasburg UMC
  • Organist/Accompanist – First UMC of Ravenna
  • Director of Young People’s Ministries – Geneva UMC
  • Pianist – Geneva UMC

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

To Subscribe

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Deadline for submission is Thursday, September 19, 2019. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.