Western Reserve District Newsletter              Dec 2005/Jan 2006

District Superintendent                                    Larry L Marshall

 Dear Friends,

This past September, Bishop Hopkins wrote a letter to all churches in East Ohio confirming that new local church Compass Groups would begin this Fall.  Myself, a District Coordinator, and eight (8) Cluster Group leaders received training in October.  Now it is time to begin.  We have included in this mailing a list of all the cluster groups and their leader.  I have asked Rev Dale Turner to be the District Coordinator.  Dale is a former District Superintendent, who has spent over 40 years as a local church pastor and is a trained church consultant.  I have known Dale for over 20 years and know that he will be a helpful resource to pastors and local churches.

 In Bishop Hopkin’s letter he shared the purpose of these Compass Groups.  “The focus in these groups will be on growing healthy congregations rather than the work of pastors as individuals.  We want to learn how churches can encourage and support other churches to effectively make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ.”

I am excited about the possibilities for new ministry that can emerge from the information and inspiration shared at the Compass Groups.  As I have said at the charge conferences, “there is power in shared ministry.” 

I ask you to pray for the District Coordinator, the Group leaders, and all the local churches.  May we be renewed and refreshed by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

                                                                                            Larry

November 28-Dec 2 - Marie will be on vacation

December 8 - CABINET

                 9 - CABINET

               12 - Marie @ Area Center attending workshop

December 26-30 - Office will be closed

   January 8 - Clergy Christmas @ Middlefield UMC, 2-6

                9 - CABINET

              10 - CABINET

              11 - CABINET

              12 - District Finance @ 7 PM @ Dist Office

              13-21 - Larry will be on vacation

               23 - CABINET

               24 - CABINET

               29 - Preaching @ Orwell UMC

               29 - 4:30 PM, Superintendency Committee @ Southington UMC

               29 - 6 PM, DCOM @ Southington UMC

    March 4 & 11 - Lay Speakers Training, TBA

    April 30, 2-5 PM, Spring District Conference @Ashtabula First UMC

    June 19-22 - Annual Conference @ Lakeside

New Office Hours

Beginning Jan 1, the District Office will be open Monday thru Thursday

 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

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The District Office has NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES and also a website.

                        Larry’s email is larry@wrdistrict.org

                        Marie’s email is marie@wrdistrict.org

                        Webmaster is webmaster@wrdistrict.org

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Pastors:

            We are in the process of building a district web site and with your help we will be able to list our churches.  Would you please email a picture of yourself, your church and also the worship hours to webmaster@wrdistrict.org ASAP.

Pictures must be no larger than 480 x 600.

Sympathy to Rev Dean Roush and his family on the death of his wife Bobbi.  Rev Dean is a retired pastor and living in Ashtabula.

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UM Loans & Scholarships Program has various grants available to ACTIVE UM members.  These grants have eligibility requirements and precise application procedures and deadlines.  For more information and instructions, please contact the Office of Loans & Scholarship in Nashville or go to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry website www.gbhem.org.

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All day sessions will be from 9 AM to Noon and 2-5 PM. Sessions will be limited to 140.  Registration and information will be mailed to everyone shortly after the first of the year.

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The UM churches of EOC continue to respond in amazing ways to the Hurricanes.  As of September 30, EOC churches had contributed over $525,000.  Through the conference treasurer’s office along with donations sent directly to UMCOR.

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Hillcrest-Asbury Campership

 The former Hillcrest UMC has endowed one full (maximum $165.) campership each year for a camper from the Western Reserve District to attend Camp Asbury.  Applicants should send name, address, age, church event and a 50 word or less statement of “Why I want to go to Camp Asbury” to the District Office by May 15th.

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2006 UMW District Dates:

         April 8 - Spring District Meeting @ Aurora UMC

                23 –  UMW Sunday

    July 20-23 - School of Christian Mission

    August 10 – Golf Outing

    August 24 – Retreat @ Swine Creek in Middelfield

September 8-10 – School of Christian Mission

   October 7 – EOC UMW Annual Meeting

   October 21 – District Meeting

10/ 05

I have appreciated all the cards, prayers and calls during my recovery from my automobile accident.  I am in a Skilled Care Center and will be here for a few months for therapy.  I’m getting better but still not able to walk on my left leg yet hope to start to be walking soon.

Thanks everyone and God Bless you all.

                                    Shalom

                                    Jo Wilson, UMW District President

 Up-date….

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Compass Groups to begin:

 At 2005 Annual Conference Bishop Hopkins spoke about he formation of church groups to help strengthen the ministry of our local churches and pastors.  As Larry mentioned in his article (on the front page) the leaders for these groups have received training and have already begun meeting in their respected groups.  Churches are grouped by average worship attendance and geography within the district.  Below is a listing of leaders and their group.

5A    Paula Marbury, leader                   5D    Jim George, leader

                Cherry Valley/Williamsfield                        Colebrook

                Gageville                                                    Lighthouse

                Kelloggsville/Bulah                                    Madison Park

                Leon/Richmond                                         Mesopotamia

                Rock Creek/Dorset                                   North Bloomfield

                Stateline/Monroe                                       Orwell/Windsor

                Conneaut Lakeview                                   South Harpersfield

                Conneaut East                                           Bristolville

                Ashtabula Harbor                                       West Mecca

                                                                                  Nelson

5B   Erv Urschitz, leader

                Gustavus                                              4A    Chuck Graham, leader

                Hartford                                                            Conneaut Amboy

                Johnston                                                            Geneva

                Kinsman                                                            Madison Chapel

                Orangeville/Vernon                                             Plymouth

                                                                                          Saybrook

5C    Tadd Butler, leader                                                 Conneaut First

                Southington                                                        Andover

                West Farmington                                                 Ashtabula First

    Windham/Freedom

                Champion: Otterbein                           4B    Carolyn Berry, leader

                N Mentor Centenary                                              Thompson

                Aurora                                                                   Perry

                                                                                              Garrettsville

                                                                                              Portage Faith

                                                                                              Wildare

                                                                                              Cortland

WR 3    Clark Stein, leader                         WR 2    Don Cummings, leader

                   Hope Ridge                                                 Chardon

                  Mentor Plains                                                Jefferson

                  Shoregate                                                     Mayfield

                  Middlefield                                                    Painesville

                                                                                       Willoughby                                                     

Exploration ’06 (“Dive In and Make Waves!”) is in Jacksonville, Florida on November 17-19.  This is a gathering for young people (high school seniors through age 24) who are considering ordained ministry – both deacons and elders orders – in the UMC.  More information is available at the website,  www.gbhem.org/exploration.

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2005 Hilbert Berger Stewardship Award

 is to recognize and honor persons whose lives and service to the church model exemplary stewardship.  Each year two awards are given, one to a top layperson and one to a clergy person.

 Who is eligible to receive this award?  A pastor and a layperson who have been and still are, effective in the practice and/or leadership of Christian stewardship.  The size of the local church with which the person is affiliated is not important.  The accomplishments in the area of stewardship are what really count as they establish the person’s lifestyle and provide witness to that person’s ministry.

Nominations must deal with specifics and be limited to 300 words maximum.  Typewritten nominations are greatly preferred. 

Forms are available in the District Office. 

Application for Western Reserve District Campership

 Western Reserve District Campership funds are available to assist persons in need. These camperships are to supplement those given by the EOC.  Conference camperships are for up to one half the camp fee but not to exceed $75. Per camper.  Western Reserve District camperships will be given where a need may still exist after conference camperships have been given.  A person must be registered for camp before applying for a District Campership.

 Camper’s Name:_________________________________

Camper’s Address:_______________________________

 Camper’s Telephone:_____________________________

 Camper’s Church:________________________________

 Camp Event:____________________________________

 Camp Event Number:________Camp Event Cost:_______

 Amount of Camp Event paid by:

                        Camper’s family______________

                        Local church_________________

            Conference campership______________

 Amount of District campership requesterd:_________________

            (maximum of $50 per camper)

 Signature of camper’s parent/guardian______________________

 Signature of camper’s pastor (verifying need)_________________

            Mail to: Western Reserve District Office

                          1314 Mentor Avenue

                          Painesville    OH  44077-1835

The campership money will be sent directly to the EOC Camps Office as payment toward the camper’s fee.

There will be 6 issues of the Western Reserve District News published per year:

February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November, December/January