Western Reserve District Newsletter              Feb/March 2006

District Superintendent                                    Larry L Marshall

Dear Friends,

As I write, I am preparing for our Annual Cabinet Retreat.  This retreat officially kicks off the appointment season, even though we understand that for various reasons appointments can happen anytime during the year.  But from January through Annual Conference, clergy and laity go through a time of anxiety wondering whether or not a change in pastoral appointment might happen.  Obviously, this change can make a huge difference in the life of pastors as well as churches.

So as we begin this new year together I pray that this anxiety does not get the best of us. I do hope that the church has more to talk about than ongoing debate about a possible change.

In 2006, I want pastors and churches to focus on spiritual vitality.  Spiritual vitality begins with our relationship with the God of Jesus Christ.  It is nurtured as we practice individual spiritual discipline and faithful service to our brothers and sisters in the church and beyond.  Spiritual vitality overcomes feelings of anxiety, doubt and fear and helps us to focus on the good news that we are asked to proclaim.

So, let us be of one mind and heart as we enter into this new year.  Let our common goal be this spiritual vitality which can build up the body of Christ.

                                                                                           Yours in Christ,

                                                                                            Larry

         February      6 – CABINET

                             7 – CABINET

                             8 – Conflict Transformation Training

                             9 – Congregational Development

                     10-11 – Retreat at Mayfield UMC

                           18 – Lay Speakers meeting @ Middlefield UMC

                           19 – Preaching @ Mentor Plains UMC

                           20 – CABINET

                           21 – CABINET

                           26 – Preaching @ Champion Otterbein UMC

            March       1 – CABINET

                             2 – CABINET

                             4 – Lay Speakers Training @ Wildare UMC

                             9 – CABINET

                           10 – CABINET

                           11 – CCOM & CABINET

                           15 – Clergy Sexual Ethics Seminar

                           19 – Preaching @ Madison Chapel

                           20 – CABINET

                           21 – CABINET

Spring District Conference 

@ The Ashtabula First UMC on April 30, 2-5 PM.

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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 15^th. 

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Dear Friends,

            Thank you so much for the generous love offering we received at the Open House!  We appreciate you and pray for everyone to have a blessed 2006.  We hope you all enjoyed the Open House as much as we did, and special thanks to Marie Scarlett and Paula Marbury for helping with the planning and preparing, and The Middlefield UMC, UMW and church secretary Marcia!  It was definitely a group effort!  Thanks again!

                                                In Christ,

                                                Larry and Rosemary Marshall

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Marriage Takes Three Retreat

Led by

Larry and Rosemary Marshall

Friday, February 10, 7 PM to Saturday, February 11, 4:30 PM

This weekend will provide a time of relationship building and renewal for couples who want to raise their relationship to the next level of happiness and fulfillment.  Held at the Bertram Inn at Aurora.  The cost will be $180 per couple, which includes room, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and all materials.  Please contact Katharine Keller at 440/729-4006, ext 105 at The Mayfield UMC or email her at kkeller@mayfieldchurch.org with questions or to reserve a spot.  Some scholarship money is available.

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On November 21^st. Kt McDermott and Bob Paige shared with the Western Reserve District Missions Committee the mission and vision of the Geauga County Habitat for Humanity.  The District Missions Committee was moved by their presentation and voted to award Habitat for Humanity $500 toward the goal of getting UMC’s involved in this ongoing ministry.  We pray that God will continue to bless the faithful service of all that make this vision a reality. 

February  2 - Barry Holub
                4 - Gale Graham
                5 - Chuck Peal
                6 - Debbie Mostad
                7 - Richard Smith
              14 - Jeff Coggins
              16 - Darcy Coggins
              20 - Erv Urschitz
              26 - Kristen Patt

March      1 - John Gross
              12 - Kathy Dickriede
              13 - Tadd Butler
              16 - Jody Baker
              24 - Katherine Campbell-Gaston
              28 - Warren Campbell-Gaston

            As of Jan 1, the District Office will be open 

            Monday thru Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

New Email Addresses:

            Larry's  email  is larry@wrdistrict.org

2006 Members-at-Large
The following is the order of election
determined at our District Conference that
was held on April 24, 2005.  We are likely
to be entitled to 39 delegates and the
remaining will serve as alternates according
to the number of votes received.

1) Nettie Fetters/Cherry Valley                   20) Cathy Comerfor-Nells/Chardon

2) Ron Pumphry/Kinsman                           21) Mary Alice Crandall/Painesville

3) Carrie Baugher/N Bloomfield                  22) Gordon Emerson/Jefferson

4) Ed Pollari/Middlefield                             23) Patricia Dyson/Bristolville

5) Judy Richards/W Farmington                 24) Jerry Lillie/East Conneaut

6) Steve Wrobel/Willoughby                      25) Jonathan Williams/Gageville

7) Juli Stone/Middlefield                             26) Larry Schwed/Thompson

8) Mary Ann Rufener/Vernon                     27) Mary Blank/Willoughby Hills

9) Dick Trigg/Conneaut First                      28) Lois Sauer/Painesville

10) Jim Wheeler/Plymouth                          29) Margaret Brest/Hartford

11) Sue Prime/Conneaut First                     30) Mabel Collen/Thompson

12) Marc Wheeler/Plymouth                       31) Brian Stellmach/Stateline

13) Bev Wrobel/Willoughy                         32) Kathy Fuller/Willoughby

14) Jason Hockran/Andover                       33) Lois Seidle/Hartford

15) Rodney Spencer/Plymouth                   34) Clarence Bowers/Painesville

16) Jared Thomas/Hartford                        35) Eula Lane/Aurora

17) Michael Fiest/Bristolville                      36) Dee Sutton/Johnston

18) Janet Quinn/East Conneaut                  37) Craig Gernentz/Southington

19) Quincy Wheeler/Thompson                 38) Doug Barstow/Thompson

                                                                 39) Dave Chase/Mentor Plains

Hans Pesch/Willoughby Hills
Sandy John/Andover
Roberta Phipps/Amboy
Terry Ellsworth/Mentor

Pastors:

            We are coming close to the final stages of setting up a website  http://www.wrdistrict.org and would appreciate it very much if you would please check it out and let me know if there needs to be some additions/corrections to your church site.  Please call, 440/352-2083; fax, 440/352-1095 or email marie@wrdistrict.org. with the correct information.

Sympathy

            -to the family and friends of Harry Goodenow.  He passed away on Nov 25.  Harry was the District Director of Lay Speaking.

             -to the family and friends of Garth A Bonar.  He passed away on Dec 2.  His daughter, Karen Cico, is pastor at The Lighthouse UMC in Montville.

             -to the family and friends of Rev E Parker West.  He passed away on Dec 2. He was a retired full member of the EOC and father of Rev Meredith Coleman, pastor of The Jefferson UMC.

             -to the family and friends of Rev Eldon Huston.  He passed away on Jan 16.  He was pastor of The Kelloggsville UMC, but, for the past 15 years he was working at The Red Bird Missionary Conference in Kentucky.

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UM Historical Society of Ohio will hold its annual meeting on Saturday, April 22 at The Prairie Chapel UMC in Coshocton.  If your church is celebrating their 100^th, 125^th, 150^th, 175^th and 200^th anniversary please send that information to Dr Allan W Hall, 273 Park Place Drive, Wadsworth, OH  44281 or call him at 330/334-4396.  He would like to invite a representative from these churches to attend the meeting and join in recognition of their church.

Also, at this meeting they will be honoring an EOC Historian of the Year.  If you have someone in your church or you know of someone that you would nominate for this honor, please send that information to Rev Clarke Hougue, UMHistorial Society of Ohio, Clearview UMC, 1733 Massillon Road, Akron, 44312.

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Mission Trip……..

            Rev Chuck Peal from The Champion Otterbein UMC is putting together a mission trip to Biloxi, Mississippi on Feb 25 – March 4.  If you are interested in being a part of this trip or just want more info please contact Chuck at 330/847-7072 or 330/847-6481 or email chpeal@simcon.net.

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Planning is underway for the Fall Festival of Caring for 2006.  Mark your calendar now for Sept 16^th.  The District co-chairpersons are Kathryn Caldwell and Nancy Dickerson from the Mayfield UMC.  If you would like to help please contact Kathryn,  klc29klc@aol.com or 440/461-7495, Nancy, 440/449-4639 or ndickerson@mayfieldchurch.org.

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East Ohio Camps Open Houses

   April 30 @ Camp Asbury in Hiram

Speaker Available:

            Millie Dennis, certified lay speaker, from the Perry UMC has written a book and she would like to share it with other church groups.  Her recent book, “It’s Gonna Be OK – A Lease-Child’s Legacy,” was well received at the District UMW Fall meeting in Conneaut.  It is about her twenty year faith journey while growing up on the Oklahoma oil leases in the 30’s & 40’s. 

 Please feel free to email Millie at puttmid@ncweb.com or call 440/259-2078.

Lay Speakers Training….call the office for information.

March 4 & 11. 440/352-2083 or email marie@wrdistrict.org.

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EOC Loans & Scholarships

 1)      Merit Scholarship

2)      Racial Ethnic Merit Scholarship

3)      Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Civil Right Essay Scholarship

4)      Teen Total Abstinence Scholarship

5)      Cox/Otterbein

6)      East Ohio Town & Country Fellowship’s J J Weltmer Scholarship & Loan Fund

7)      John Roseberry Religion & Race Scholarship

8)      New London Grace Scholarship

9)      Board of Ordained Ministry Seminary Student Grant

10)  Board of Ordained Ministry Ethnic Minority Grant

11)  Board of Ordained Ministry Scholarships

12)  Wenner Family Scholarship Fund

13)  Foundation Scholarships

14)  Fosler Minister’s Children Scholarship

15)  Hageman Fund

Please check the Conference website http://www.eocumc.com for scholarship forms and applications.  Others may be found at http://gbhem.org.  The grants and scholarships are administered by different groups in the EOC. 

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Speakers for Annual Conference:

Monday morning        - Bishop John Hopkins

Tuesday morning - Bishop Greg Pal

Service of Ordination - Bishop Sally Dyck

Wednesday morning  - Bishop Judith Craig

Thursday morning    - Rev Dr James Skinner

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.

Feb 17-19, EOC Youth Ski Trip at the Cockaigne Ski Area in NY.    Grades 9-12. Cost is $190.

Feb 25, EOC UM 2006 Men’s Congress at N Canton Grace UMC.  Speaker is Lee Owens, Ashland U Head Football Coach.  Cost is $30.

March 3-5, Clown Ministry Workshop at Camp Wanake. 

March 4, Blessed are the Peacemakers, event at the Uniontown UMC w/Bishop Hopkins as the keynote speaker.  For more info contact Rich Aronson, 440/871-7381.

March 6-7, Introduction to Experiential Worship Seminar will be at the “Our Lady of the Woods Retreat House in Youngstown.  Leader is Lilly Lewin, Cost is $65.

March 15 & 16, Clergy Sexual Ethics Training event will be at The Montrose Zion UMC.A mandatory event from 9AM – 5PM.

April 27, Conf Bd of Ordained Ministry has scheduled a Candidacy Mentor Training event at Christ UMC in Cambridge.  For more info contact Rev Scott Purdum, spurdum1@neo.rr.com or   330/518-5909.

November 17-19, Exploration 2006 is a weekend of worship, study, prayer and discussion for young people (HS seniors through age 24) event in Florida.  Cost is $150. 

For more info on the above events, please email or call Marie, 440/352-2083 or marie@wrdistrict.org.

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