Below you'll find upcoming events, helpful information, and mission highlights for the West Ohio Conference and Maumee River District. Please visit our website using the link below for additional resources and info.

Bishop Jung's Day on the District was

a huge success Saturday!

We had a wonderful time with Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and his wife Rev Im-Hyon Jung, in the Maumee River District on Saturday. We also enjoyed having several of the West Ohio Conference staff with us as well. We would like to thank the Maumee United Methodist Church and Rev. Barry Burns for hosting us. We would especially like to thank Cindy, Carol, Dan, Karen, Tom, Jason, Teresa & Bruce for their help in making the day run smoothly and Steve Rath, Bruce Histed & the Journey at Christ praise band for sharing their musical talents with us.

If you were not able to attend in the MRD, you are welcome and encouraged to sign up to attend another district. We have several pastors that are going to the Western Lakes District on February 3rd. The link and information is below.

For more information and registration, CLICK HERE

Statistical Year End Reports

The 2024 Statistical Year End Reports are still being prepared for our churches. Once they are ready, they will be sent to the appropriate people. Thank you for your patience.

Frankly Speaking - February 4th

Join Rev. Rae Lynn Schleif and Ms. Fairrin Moss on Tuesday, February 4th at 7pm. She will be speaking on the importance of relationships during reentry for support and stability. How we can extend our relationship of grace to those incarcerated and those who have returned home.

Copy the link below and paste it in your address bar to join the discussion.

https://wocumc.zoom.us/j/86240001092

Souper Bowl of Caring Chili and Soup Lunch & Annual Ping-Pong Tournament!

Bring your friends and family for an afternoon of fun, food and fellowship...and a great way to support the LIGHT Neighborhood Pantry at Elliston Zion! Sunday, February 9th at 11 AM Join us inside for a selection of homemade soups and sub sandwiches (made by Woodmore Boy Scouts!) All are welcome to play ping pong at Noon!

AND If you are hosting a Super Bowl Watch Party …...You are gonna need some CHILI! 

Some lady Pastor over there (lol) is making chili and cornbread which will be available between 11 AM and 1 PM. (or until sold out). Simply watch for the signs and drive thru!! Suggested donations: Small (16 oz.) $5.00  Large (32 oz) $10.00 with fresh cornbread included!  

Elliston Zion UMC is located off Elliston Trowbridge Rd N of Hellwig Rd. (Ottawa County) 

We will be taking pre-orders…the link is: https://forms.gle/EnpLFcfdTXYESopT7

All proceeds benefit the LIGHT Neighborhood Pantry (a free choice food pantry serving all of Ottawa County) and will help offset the cost of installing a new $12K HVAC unit on the “pantry end” of our building.  

Annual Conference 2025!

The 56th session of the West Ohio Conference will be held May 28 through May 31 at Capital University in Bexley. This will be the first Ohio Episcopal Area annual conference in which Bishop Hee-Soo Jung presides. The theme for this year's session is Rise Up, Beloved: Trust in God’s Promises, inspired by Mark 5:35-43, where Jesus encourages Jairus, a synagogue leader, to have faith that his deceased daughter will be raised from the dead. 



Registration will open on March 1. For more information, click here. 

West Ohio Green Church Training is February 23

The West Ohio Conference is excited to present the first Green Church Training for local churches, coming Sunday, February 23, from 4:00-7:00pm at the Urban Farm Church, 3901 Maize Road, Columbus. Green Church Training provides a solid foundation for moving your church toward green solutions. The training includes Biblical, Wesleyan, and United Methodist teachings on creation care; tips for forming a Green Team at your church; and plenty of ideas and suggestions for creative ways to green your church - plus time to plan and dream with your church team! The training must be attended by at least two people from each church (either two lay or one lay, one clergy). After completing the training, churches will either create a Green Team (if they do not already have one) or complete a green project at their church. Cost of the training is $50 for a church team of two people (additional church members are welcome to attend at $10 per person). Scholarships are available for churches with financial need. Please register all participants from your church at the same time. For more information, contact mgrace@wocumc.org. Register here: Green Church Training - February 23 | West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church

Please send any Celebrations or special ministry stories that you would like to share with the District.

Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Team Leader Training

Are you planning a mission journey in 2025 or beyond? Consider this leader training being held at Aley UMC on March 8, 2025. With an experienced team leader as instructor, you will learn how to plan and lead a mission experience in Ohio, the United States, or around the world. You will also be provided with checklists, timelines, team forms, and practical resources for nurturing the spiritual life of your team. A background check is required. Click here to learn more and register.

Leadership Training 2025

REGISTER HERE!

Plan to join us on Zoom if you’ll be serving on Finance, S/PPRC or Trustees, or to explore the One Board Leadership Model.  

These one-hour training sessions are for new and seasoned leaders. They will help you understand the duties and responsibilities of Finance, S/PPRC, Trustees, and the One Board Leadership Model, respectively. Each session will include time for Q&A so you can serve effectively in your role.

Save the Date for the Live sessions on Zoom:

• Trustees: Friday, Jan 31, 2025
• One Board Leadership Model: Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025

Please Note:

• All sessions will take place on Zoom from 10:30 - 11:30 am on the designated date.
• Please register if you can attend live OR if you’d like to receive access to the recording.
• Each session will last one hour. 
• No in-person Leadership Training Day will take place in early 2025.
• All sessions will be recorded and available on the West Ohio Conference Learning Platform.

Emerging Generations Resources

With a new year, some new and exciting things are happening within the area of Emerging Generations.

·      We have an Emerging Generations tab on the West Ohio Conference website! This is where you can find information about ministries connected to children, youth, and young adults. Check back often as this page will grow as the year goes on.

·      Looking for a Family Ministry based Lenten Devotional? We’ve got that on the Emerging Gen website ready for your congregation. If you need this resource in a different language, we are happy to provide you with that as well.

·      Emerging Generations Connections is a new monthly way for those working with children, youth, and young adults to connect with upcoming events, resources, and support one another through stories of celebration. 

If you would like to be added to the distribution list for the Emerging Generations Connection email or would like assistance in any other area that engages children, youth, or young adults contact Rev. Ann Marie Carley, Director of Camps, Retreats, and Next Gen Engagement for the West Ohio Conference (amcarley@wocumc.org or 380-223-9369). 

Foundation for Evangelism Grants

The Foundation for Evangelism Equipping the Local Church grant initiative seeks to empower pastors, laity, and smaller local congregations to dream, take risks, and partner with God in the transformation of lives and communities.

Grants will be "awarded to small and medium church congregations, or clusters of churches working together, in a Wesleyan-tradition denomination. The grant is intended to help launch an experiment or initiative to share the Gospel in word and deed, build relationships, and invite others into a discipleship journey with Jesus."

For the 2025 grant cycle, up to 50 grants of $5,000 or $10,000 will be awarded. Applications are open through February. Click here for more information.

Scholarship Information Available

General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) Scholarships offers financial aid to United Methodist students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Every year, an average of $4.5 million is awarded to help students in the United States and abroad pursue their dreams through higher education. With this financial aid, GBHEM is opening pathways for students of all backgrounds to earn their degrees and serve as the next generation of leaders for the church and the world.

GBHEM scholarship applications open in January each year. You may only submit one application per year, which will be screened for all possible eligible programs. You may indicate on the first page of your application which of the below listed programs you would most like to be considered for. Scholarship programs are divided into three categories:

• General Scholarships
• HBCU Scholarships 
• Ministry as a Career Scholarships

2025 Virtual Laity Discernment Retreats

Do you feel God's call on your life but are uncertain how to discern that call or what to do next? If so, then this is the Retreat for you! At the Laity Discernment Retreats, we will talk about call, discernment and what it means to be "called by our baptism." We will learn ways to intentionally enter into a time of prayer about discernment and we will discover Spiritual Rhythms that can help guide our journey. We will also discuss the variety of ways Laity can serve both in our churches and in our communities.

In 2025, the virtual laity discernment retreat will consist of two, two-hour ZOOM sessions, followed 6 weeks later by a two-hour ZOOM debriefing. In the 6 weeks between sessions, there will be opportunities to read, reflect, and practice Spiritual Rhythms that will lead you to a better understanding of your own call.

"I would recommend a Laity Discernment Retreat to someone who is searching or has questions about how they can serve their community or their church. It can help guide them through the process, provide resources and help provide a sense of peace about what they can be doing right now." -Twila Boyd, 2019 participant

Dates (please plan to attend all 3 sessions):

• Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm
• Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm
• Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm
• Register Now!

For more information, contact Kim LaRue at kimlarue@powellumc.org. 

The New Zenler Platform

The West Ohio Conference provides an on-demand learning platform for local church leaders to engage in training to help them lead successfully. The New Zenler platform includes courses on pastoral transitions and Leadership Labs for justice involved ministries. 

LEARN MORE

New Clergy Financial Wellness Resource Guide

Financial issues can be a serious problem for clergy at all phases of their ministry and can adversely impact their effectiveness, health, and spiritual well-being. The United Methodist Foundation of West Ohio has partnered with the WOC Office of Ministry, the Office of Benefits & HR, Communications and Wespath to create a new resource guide that is meant to be a comprehensive source of information on the many resources available to assist clergy with their financial health. The guide can be accessed online here or can be requested from the Foundation or District offices.

Mrs. Peggy Shimer

Sylvania First UMC: Childcare Worker - Sylvania First is looking for a childcare worker for Sunday mornings from 9am-11am who will tend their nursery and assist with children's church. The candidate must be at least 18 years old, have experience working with young children and able to pass a background check. Occasional opportunities for extended hours outside of Sunday mornings is also a possibility. Direct inquiries and/or resume to Heather Robbins at hrobbins@sylvaniafirst.org or 419-882-2205. Job Description

Toledo Hope UMC: The Children/Youth Director is a new part-time position at Hope. This person should have leadership and decision-making skills, be willing to build a team of servants, and love being around young people. If you are interested in more information about this exciting position, please send your resume to: Hope UMC, 4069 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, OH 43623 or send it via email to SPRC Chairperson Marilyn Waite: m_waite@att.net Questions? Contact Marilyn Waite @ 419-704-3227.

Toledo Hope UMC: Part-Time Treasurer – Seeking an individual who understands the responsibility for the proper receipt, accounting and disbursement of church funds within policies established by the church and conference for adequate financial control. This individual is responsible for the safe and efficient management of the church funds and accounts. If you or someone you know may be interested in this position and want more details, please contact SPRC Chairperson Marilyn Waite at (419-704-3227) or m_waite@att.net or Pastor Diane at (419-475-5036) or pastordmendelson@toledohope.com

The Maumee River District Office is open from 9:00am-4:30pm Monday-Thursday. The office may be closed on Fridays, but Michelle will still be working from home and available by phone and email. Office appointments can be scheduled on Fridays if needed.