November 18, 2019

EOC News

Clergy

Training Offered to Support Veterans – November 20
Recognizing the Challenges of Reintegration and Building a Pathway to Care and Resources is the title of a training session geared toward any pastors who have veterans in their congregations.

Two of the topics to be addressed during the training are: Identifying actions community clergy can take to assist military personnel and their families with healthy adjustments to civilian culture; and identifying pastoral responses and resources for clergy and their congregations.

The free, interactive training is Wednesday, November 20 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Massillon American Legion Post 221, 427 Lincoln Way East in Massillon, OH 44646. Learn more and register to attend.

Special Sunday Offering

UM Student Day: Sunday, November 24
United Methodist Student Day invests in our students by raising money for scholarships that will offer young people greater financial freedom and equip them to follow their dreams.

By supporting United Methodist Student Day through a special offering on November 24, your congregation will provide resources for students to reach the next level of their life by uniting faith with knowledge.

The scholarships provided because of United Methodist Student Day are the only chance that some young people will have to be able to attend school. Be generous in your giving because when we educate students, we make a difference in the world.

Download the pastor and leader’s kit.

Resources

Advent Resources
The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “visit,” begins on December 1 and ends on Christmas Eve.

During Advent, which is the beginning of the liturgical year, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for, and need of, forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming.

Learn about and download the UM Discipleship Ministries Advent devotion Are We There Yet? and the 2019 Advent candle lighting liturgy.

View and download additional Advent resources.

Advance Specials

Christmas Wish Lists
This holiday season give a gift and support the clients and friends who benefit from the ministries of our East Ohio Conference mission sites.

View the wish lists or make a financial donation online or by mail.

Support #GiveUMC on #GivingTuesday
On #GivingTuesday, December 3, join United Methodists across the denomination in supporting #GiveUMC by generously donating to Conference and global UM-related mission projects and missionaries of The Advance.

View East Ohio Conference Advance projects.

Each project/missionary is researched and approved by the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), and 100% of all gifts made through The Advance are given directly to the designated project.

When donating make checks payable to East Ohio Conference UMC, write the fund # of the project on the check, and mail it to: East Ohio Conference, P.O. Box 76019, Cleveland, Ohio 44101-4755.

Disaster Response

Early Response Training – December 6
The next United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Early Response Training (ERT) is December 6 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Newcomerstown Christ UMC. The class teaches best practices for responding in disaster situations, including practical skills like tarping a roof. Upon successful completion of the training and a UMCOR background check, participants can be certified as a UMCOR ERT volunteer. The $30 course fee includes materials, lunch, background check, badge, and an East Ohio Conference ERT t-shirt. Learn more and register here by December 2.

Thanks for your support!
The Disaster Response Committee thanks everyone who supported the Midwest Mission Distribution Center’s (MMDC) Hurricane recovery collection in October. Items dropped off at the five East Ohio Conference collection sites filled the MMDC truck, which also received over $10,000 worth of in-kind donations. Your generosity also provided over $8,000 in financial donations through EOC Advance 9944. The East Ohio Conference donations were prayed over with the rest of the items shipped in a container that left for the Bahamas on October 30. Thank you, East Ohio Conference for your love and suport!

Financial and Administrative Services

Pension Billing for Moving Expenses
Please note that if you are a church that received a new pastor this year and the church paid for the pastor’s moving expenses, the total moving expenses will be added to their 2019 total plan compensation (per 2018 IRS ruling). In addition, these moving expenses have been recorded in the EOC billing system and the church will have a supplementary line on its December 2019 H&P statement showing an additional billing for the pastor’s CPP, CRSP DB and CRSP DC premiums.

If you are a church that has its H&P premiums automatically withdrawn each month, please look for an increase in the December 2019 deduction. If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please call Robin Whitacre at (800) 831-3972, Ext. 151.

Credit Union

Thanksgiving Day Closings
On Thursday, November 28 all offices of The United Methodist Financial Credit Union will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving Day. On Friday, November 29 our North Canton office will be closed for business while our Cincinnati and Indiana offices will be open normal business hours to serve our members that day.

Fall Enterprise Promotion
The United Methodist Financial Credit Union is partnering with Enterprise Car Sales to give our members a better vehicle buying experience! Now through December 31, receive $500* when you purchase a vehicle from Enterprise and finance it through United Methodist Financial Credit Union. Contact one of our loan officers to discuss getting pre-approved today!

*Terms and Conditions: To receive the $500, you must purchase a vehicle from Enterprise Car Sales from October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019, finance the vehicle with United Methodist Financial Credit Union, and make your first four payments on time. $300 will be placed in your credit union savings account within 30 days from the date of your purchase and an additional $200 if you make your first four payments on time. Borrowers who set up their loan payment by ACH will receive the $500 within 30 days of purchase. Offer void if the 7-Day Buyback is activated.

Chris Smith Retiring
Our Cincinnati loan officer, Christine Smith, will retire at the end of November. We wish her nothing but the best as she starts a new chapter in her life!

Media Center

The Media Center recently acquired the following resources:

  • I Give Up; The Secret Joy of a Surrendered Life demonstrates the ironic joy found when we surrender it all to God and simply give up. Surrendering expectations and power is not a step-by-step process but a willful, daily decision worth every single ounce of effort.
  • So the Next Generation Will Know brings hope and clarity for youth influencers to train this new generation of students to articulate and defend the truth.
  • Defined, Who God Says You Are; Teen Girls’ Bible Study shows what it means to be created in God’s image and recreated in Christ’s image as His masterpiece so you can walk in your true identity as a daughter of the most high King.
  • I’m Waiting God, Finding Blessing in God’s Delays teaches that there is goodness and blessing to be found in times of waiting, including a closer relationship with God than we’ve ever dared to dream.

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


Harriet
Most films about slavery are R rated and by nature upsetting since there is no way to understand this time of brutality and human subjugation without dealing with stuff we would rather not show to children. Harriet is a film that not only highlights a significant figure in Black History but does so in a family-friendly fashion. This movie could serve as a good starting point for an intergenerational discussion about slavery, bravery and dedication to a higher purpose.

While Cynthia Erivo creates a nuanced depiction of Harriet Tubman, the script is not particularly subtle or persuasive. The film is filled with details about Harriet’s life that I did not know (“Harriet Tubman” was the name she assumed for herself; her slave name was Araminta “Minty” Ross; she did not invent the Underground Railroad, but became a leader in the movement; etc.). I was also unaware of the spiritual visions that guided her life and the identity of “Moses” that she was given when she chose to move undercover in her forays to free other slaves.

Read entire review.

Events: November 18 – December 1

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:

  • Nancy Johnson, surviving spouse of the Rev. Hobert Johnson, died October 31.
  • Edna Mae “Polly” Waggamon, surviving spouse of the Rev. Glenn Waggamon, died October 10.

View obituaries

Classifieds

Details of listings may be found here.

Positions Available

  • Custodian – First UMC of Massillon
  • Worship Leader – Heart 4 the City Mission
  • Youth and Family Ministry Director – Strongsville UMC
  • Administrative Assistant/Web Manager – Dueber UMC
  • Finance Secretary – The UMC of Berea
  • Worship Arts Coordinator – Faith UMC in North Canton
  • Director of Adult Choirs – Faith UMC in North Canton
  • Administrative Assistant – Faith UMC in North Canton
  • Communications Outreach and Marketing (C.O.M.) Assistant – Faith UMC in North Canton
  • Choir Accompanist – The UMC of Uniontown
  • Director of Music – Church of the Lakes
  • Custodian – St. Paul UMC

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

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Deadline for submission is Wednesday, November 27. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.