Visit our website at ohio May/June 2017 The DS Goodbye/Hello ... · 2018. 12. 7. · The DS Goodbye/Hello Celebration Be sure to take some time to show your appreciation and say good-bye

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Visit our website at www.eocumc.com/mid-ohio May/June 2017

Sunday, June 4, 2017 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. @ Faith UMC

(1574 St. Rt. 96 E. * Ashland, 44805)

The DS Goodbye/Hello Celebration

Be sure to take some time to show your appreciation and say good-bye to Rev. Karen Oehl and welcome our new District Superintendent, Nestor Nazario at our district gathering on June 4. There will be plenty of family-fun and fellowship opportunities with the following… Hog-Roast * Fishing * Corn Hole * Kite Flying * Sand Volleyball * Face Painting Be sure to bring your favorite summertime complimentaries (lawn chair, fishing gear, frisbee, kites, sun-block, sun-glasses, etc. etc.) and enjoy being in connection within our district.

Local Memorabilia

as a parting gift for

Karen is welcomed!

RSVP to your Pastor by

May 29 so adequate

preparations can be made!

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The Power of CO

My husband’s name is Chris. When he was little, ap-parently his older sisters (there were five of them), found that they could really drive him crazy by calling him “C-O” in a taunting way. He thought they were calling him a ter-rible name, and only later figured out that those were his initials.

There is power in the prefix “co”. It is from Latin, and means together, mutually, in common. This is the founda-tion of who we are as a church.

This is my last column for the Mid-Ohio District. I sus-pect that if you were to review my articles over the last six years, you would find two recurring themes: change, and connection. These two things encompass our blessings,

curses, challenges, triumphs, hopes, despairs, walls, and doors. People are often mad at me because I bring change to their church and make them stay within the connection. People often thank me because I bring change to their church and help them stay with-in the connection. Sigh.

CO. We are in this together. We work mutually. We have a faith in common.

There are many wonderful “co” words that describe the way we live: cooperation, communication, coordination, collaboration.

Now consider these precious “co” words: covenant, community, commission.

The core meaning of covenant, both legally and biblically, is agreement. It is from a Latin word meaning coming together, as in convening. It is relationship. God’s covenant with us is about rela-tionship. “I will be your God and you will be my people.” Jesus said, “If you live in me I will live in you.”

Covenant creates community. That is the church. God’s people. We are the church because Jesus lived, died, and rose again. We cannot make, opt out of, or limit community. Because God is, we are.

Commission describes our actions. We work together, mutually, in common to do God’s will. More importantly, our co-missionary is Jesus. Y ou are a chosen race, a royal priesthood. . . .

I love the church. I love the United Methodist Church. Being a DS has not changed that, but my heart hurts because of the things I have seen and heard: bullies, fighting, gossip, power plays, judg-ment, meanness, grudges, ego, lies. There is no “they” or “the world” to blame. We in the church are our own worst enemies. And yet. . . .you are not my enemy. I am not your enemy. This is crazy! We are a covenant community with a commission from God!!

In this my final column I will say again, we have to change our ways, and stay connected. We will change, and yet still be the church. Your church may close, and yet no one is lost from the community. We are on a mis-sion to be and make disciples. We are in Christ, who is the new covenant.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” and let the one who is thirsty come! Let the one who wishes receive life-giving water as a gift. Revelation 22:17

Comments by Rev. Karen Oehl

covenant

community

commission

co operation Col laboration

come

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Conference Sponsored

Health Benefits

If you have not yet at-

tended an informational

meeting regarding the

upcoming changes to

your health benefit

plan, the last of the

eight meetings is listed

above and it is very im-

portant that you attend!

May 25

9:30a & 1:30p

@ EOC Area Center

8800 Cleveland Ave. NW

North Canton, 44720

Annual East Ohio Local Pastors & Associate Members Reunion

Who: All East Ohio Conference Licensed Local Pastors and Associate Members

What: Reunion dur ing Thursday evening and Fr iday of the 2017 Licensing School

When: Thursday evening, June 1, and Fr iday, June 2, 2017

Where: Mt. Union University in Alliance, OH.

Accommodations: for those wishing to stay overnight Thursday, you are welcome to stay in the

Licensing School dorm (Bica-Ross) - $38.00 for single occupancy or share cost. ***Bring your own

twin bed linens/pillow/towels*** The dorm is air conditioned.

Meals: on your own at area establishments or at the school’s cafeteria with licensing school stu-

dents. Cafeteria prices for buffet-style meals are very reasonable.

Retreat cost: No registration cost! It would help considerably though if you let Pastor Ev

Stoddard ([email protected]) know your overnight plans by May 21 but not necessary.

Mid-Ohio District Appointment Changes effective 7-1-17

Brian Amstutz - Faith UMC

Sue Antolik - Harmony Chapel & Williamsport

Casey Biederman - Bucyrus

Terry Burkhardt - Caledonia Memorial & Claridon

Jennifer Darling-Mellott - Ashland Trinity & Red Haw

Dennis Delong - Scioto

Ron Dixon - Marengo

Patricia Fruth - Blooming Grove & Ebenezer

Kyle Gould - Oak Chapel (CN)

Shaun Green - Uhrichsville First & Good Shepherd (TW)

Garland Harvey - Shelby First & Tiro

Jake Heskett - Nankin & Polk

Derek Hickman - Ravenna (CN)

Dennis Laferty - Nevada/Liberty/Sixteen

Michael Law - Fairview (Wayne)

Donna Mills - Edison & Iberia

Nestor Nazario - MO District Superintendent

Karen Oehl - Mt. Vernon Gay Street (TR)

Elizabeth Ortiz - Ashley & Kilbourne

Jerry Penrod - Beverly (SH)

Ryan Skelton - Chesterville & Sparta

Jason Snyder - Utica (TR)

Lori Burdette-Steele - Creston Canaan (FL)

Victoria Troutman - Cardington Center & Fairview

Matt Weaver - Galion Christ

Jason Young - Galena

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Contact Us

Articles for the district news-

letter must be submitted by

the 15th of each month and

are subject to editing and

availability. Mid-Ohio Dis-

trict Office

410 Park Ave., W. Suite 2

Mansfield, OH. 44906

(419) 522-3881

(419) 522-5485 fax

[email protected]

Visit us on the web at

www.eocumc.com/mid-ohio

Please help us be better

stewards of our resources

and read the newsletter

via email or on the web-

site and let us know to

remove you from the

postal mailing list.

Thank You!

Mid-Ohio District Office of the UMC

410 Park Ave. West, Suite 2

Mansfield, OH. 44906-3121

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE PAID MANSFIELD, OH

44902 PERMIT NO. 348

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors… The People of the United Methodist Church

At-Large Voting Results

On April 30, 2017 at the Spring District Conference the following nomi-

nees voted on from the floor were selected to attend Annual Conference

2017 (June 11-15)… Beth Gerasimof (Johnsville Grace), Lu Ness

(Iberia), Pat Moore (Bucyrus) and Pat Rinehart (Harmony Chapel).

Annual Conference Schedule (June 11-15)

Sunday - Prayer & Praise Service * 6:30p * Orchestra Hall

Monday - Clergy Executive Session * 9a

Service of Commemoration & Holy Communion * 1:30p

Business Session * 3:45p

Celebration of Retirement * 7:30p

Tuesday - Morning Worship * 8a, Business * 9:15a, Business * 2:00p

Ministry Fair * 6:30p * Wesley Lodge & South Auditorium

Wednesday - 3Cs 5k Run/1-mile Walk * 7a

Morning Worship * 8a, Business * 9:15a, Business * 2p

Service of Commissioning and Ordination * 7:30p

Thursday - Morning Worship * 8a, Business * 9:15a, VBS Singers 11a

Business * 11:15a, Closing Worship & Adjournment 12:30

*Official Clergy Photos for all EOC publications for the next 4 years

will be taken: Mon (11a-6p), Tues (9a-6p), Wed (9a-6p), Thurs (9a-2p)*