News and Notes September 13 2023

News and Notes: September 13, 2023

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Bishop Palmer Is Coming to the District!

Save the Date: Thurs Oct 19 at Faith Community

As we turn into Fall, I look forward to what will likely be my last series of district visitations. I have named this series: “Grace Upon Grace” – Fall Tour. These district gatherings will have two key components: Teaching on the Means of Grace and Organizing the work of the new districts. Our time together will include Reaffirmation of Our Baptismal Vows and Celebration of Holy Communion. The gatherings will begin at 6:30 PM and all are welcome. I cannot wait to join you and your District Superintendent for an exciting evening of worshipful work. You will be hearing more as we enter September.

All the best in Christ Jesus,

Bishop Gregory V Palmer

A full list of Grace Upon Grace events can be found at WestOhioUMC.org

Sat Oct 28: Special Session of Annual Conference

Bishop Palmer is calling a Special Session of the West Ohio Annual Conference on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 9:00 AM at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City for the following purposes:

To act on the requests of churches to disaffiliate under the provisions of paragraph 2553 of The Book of Discipline.
To approve the 2024 West Ohio Conference budget.
To act upon a recommendation being brought by the conference trustees around West Ohio Camps.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this Special Annual Conference for all clergy members, lay members, and guests, to ensure we have enough seating, meals, and voting devices available. Registration will close at midnight on October 1, 2023.

The Clergy Session of this Special Annual Conference will convene on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 11:00 am online only via Zoom for the purpose of:

Acting on requests of status changes for clergy since July 1, 2023.

All Clergy will receive an email with the Zoom link for Clergy Session. REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS ONLINE CLERGY SESSION.

Please be sure to read through important details through the registration link above.

Stories from the District:

My Neighbor's Place Painting Classes with Nina at Westwood UMC

Nina Matthews-Hull recently has started to attend My Neighbor's Place and Westwood United Methodist Church. She is a prolific artist who loves to paint about her faith, and has self published a book of her grandmother's poems and her paintings called one God. Recently she led a painting class at My Neighbor's Place in Westwood during the Ladies Lunch, and has started teaching a class during our free clothing closet once a month. Westwood and MNP are so thankful for all of our neighbors who share their gifts and passions with our community and for the generous support through the District's Mission Foundation.

My Neighbor’s Place is a community development organization located in Cincinnati’s Westside, dedicated to creating a community that welcomes and cares for all of our neighbors. Learn more at myneighborsplace.org

Save the Date Oct 2-10

Faith Week To Stop Executions

The District's Racial Justice Task Force is joining with Ohioans To Stop Executions for a Faith Week of prayer, organizing, and action to stop the death penalty.

Our United Methodist social principles are clear:

"We worship a God who received the death penalty....Christ’s resurrection is a rejection of all that the cross represented...The death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore, and transform all human beings...We unequivocally oppose the death penalty and urge its elimination from all criminal codes." Read more here from Church and Society.

Mark your calendars and learn more at nodeathpenaltyoh.com/faithweek2023/

Circuit Ministry:

The “North Butler County Circuit” consists of representatives of First UMC Middletown, Pleasant Ridge UMC Middletown, The Gathering Middletown, Seven Mile UMC, and Jacksonburg UMC.

They will be meeting together in the future to determine what activities and ministry priorities will emerge from this group, beginning with a meeting in October at Pleasant Ridge UMC. Peter Hamm is currently the contact point for this circuit.

Watch this newsletter, GMD's Facebook,

Conference social media ,and WestOhioUMC.org

for the latest news and events right here in the Great Miami River District!

Resources

Annual Charge Conferences

It's not too early to begin thinking about 2024 and the blessings a new year holds. Each church is required to hold a church or charge conference in the fall to prepare for the new year. This annual meeting is where pastor salaries are set, church leaders are elected, membership rosters are aligned, ministry reports are reviewed and plans are made for ministry in the new year.

This year, as in recent years, each church will hold their own church/charge conference and choose their own Elder to preside (preferably clergy not related to the church). These may take place between now and November 19, 2023. Charge conference forms will be available soon on the West Ohio Conference website.

Now is the time to submit your application for 2023 Great Miami River District Grants

Local Church Grants Due Next Thurs (Sep 21)

Through the faithful generosity and long-term vision of those who gave toward the Mission Foundation endowment, we have the great blessing of being able to offer grant funds to both local churches and United Methodist related ministry agencies in the Great Miami River District.

Local Church Grants fund ministries and projects that help local churches reach people more effectively with the healing love and grace of Jesus Christ. Grant funding is available for New and Emerging Ministries, Adaptive Ministry, Social Justice Ministry, Ministry with Young People, and Outreach Ministry. These annual grants are distributed quarterly.

Get your application here- due September 21

Youth Mission or Spiritual Development Trip Grants are available to local church for ministry that engages youth in mission, service, and spiritual growth during the summer months. These grants are paid in a lump sum at the beginning of the summer.

Due date TBD- stay tuned for more information.

Bob Edwards Memorial Grants are available to local churches or non-profit agencies for summer programs that provide educational, spiritual, and nutritional support for children. These grants are paid in a lump sum at the beginning of the summer.

Limited Scholarship Grants are available to support clergy and laity who are attending training that will be beneficial to their work in the local church or the district.

Due date TBD- stay tuned for more information.

Contact Wendy Lybarger with any questions

2024 Go! Grant Applications Now Available

Go! Grants are for passionate individuals and churches eager to explore unchartered territory. We encourage everyone, regardless of background or experience, to apply. Diversity is key to inspiring fresh perspectives, and we are excited to help nurture churches in their ministry.

Innovative ideas will be considered in the following seven categories:

Family Ministries [a ministry supporting families, children, youth, or college aged leaders]
Emerging Gen Leaders [a ministry led by children, youth, or college aged leaders]
Inclusion [a ministry focused on hospitality, intentionally including people who are often overlooked]
Social Transformation [a ministry focused on changing/alleviating institutionalized norms]
Community Engagement [a ministry focused on cultivating long-term relationships within your community]
Fresh Expressions/GHX [a new expression of church happening beyond the building]
Building Bridges [a building enhancement to support better accessibility and connection for those outside of the church building, such as signage, handicap accessibility, media enhancements]

Deadline to complete and submit the online application is October 1, 2023. Apply here.

What is GHX? GHX is Greenhouse Expressions.

GHX is West Ohio's new incubator and virtual training open to all clergy and laity teams with new ideas for new ministries to connect with people outside the walls of the church. GHX is a new approach to revitalization, bridging your established church to those in your community. GHX is a 5-month cohort for clergy and laity teams, including:

Quality training with West Ohio’s GHX Practitioners

Opening Virtual Session this Friday September 15, 2023 from 9am - noon

If you are ready to take the next step, outside the walls of the church, into your community, register TODAY!

Contact Terri McClain for questions or more information: [email protected]

Educational Opportunities

PAUMCS Lunch and Learn

Zoom Wednesday, September 23

Ohio Professional Administrators Of The United Methodist Connectional Structure (PAUMCS) recognizes the position of the church administrator as a professional within the church. The Ohio PAUMCS chapter links church administrators, secretaries, administrative assistants and volunteer staff together to support each other in local ministry.

The Ohio Chapter of PAUMCS is thrilled to extend a warm invitation to all our West and East Ohio Administrators - whether you're from the Conference, District, or a Local Church. We've missed connecting since 2020 due to Covid, and its high time we gather again! Join us for a delightful Lunch & Learn via zoom on September 27, 2023 from 11:30am - 12:30pm. It's a fantastic opportunity to eat your lunch over Zoom with fellow church admins, discover more about PAUMCS, and simply reconnect. We're so looking forward to "seeing" you! Learn more and register here

Registration is Now Open for the 2023 Building Bridges Community Experience!

Online Oct 4, In Person Oct 5

Join us for the annual gathering of the Ohio reentry community on October 4-5. The Building Bridges Community Experience is free to attend. The theme this year is A Charge to Keep: Hope, Help, and Healing with Returning Neighbors with a focus on the role of volunteer partners and reentry allies. The October 4 session is all virtual and looks at statewide initiatives, foundational learning, and best practices. October 5 then consists of regional gatherings in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Lima, Toledo, and Youngstown. The goal is for reentry allies, justice professionals, impacted persons, and service providers to become more deeply committed to creating positive reentry experiences by being more deeply connected to each other in community. There are topics, conversations, connections, and collaborative opportunities for everyone who is walking with or serving returning neighbors. You can check out further details about the 2023 Community Experience on the Building Bridges of Opportunity website.

Registration deadline is September 27th. Register here.

Community Development Launch Gathering -

Sept 21-23

The United Methodist Community Development Collaborative is an initiative for East and West Ohio churches and leaders. This collaborative empowers leaders to engage and transform communities with the gospel of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the command to love our neighbors.

At the Launch Gathering, explore the intersection of community and congregational development while connecting with others engaged in this work. You don’t have to do this alone! Join the Collaborative and Join the Movement! Learn more at OhioUMCDC.org

Bishop's Retreat With Black Clergy 2023

Weds Oct 4-Fri Oct 6 in Lewis Center OH

Registration is open for a joint retreat for the Black clergy of the East Ohio Conference and the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church hosted by Bishop Tracy S. Malone and Bishop Gregory V. Palmer.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Melanie Thomas, EOCUMC Connectional Ministries office administrative assistant, via e-mail at [email protected] or via phone at (330) 499-3972 ext. 102. Click here to register

Bible Land Exploration with Bishop Gregory Palmer

Feb. 12- 21, 2024 -10 days

Join Bishop Gregory & Cynthia Palmer as they set off on a Bible Land Exploration in the Holy Land. Learn more here

"Experiencing the Holy Land with fellow pilgrims in community adds immeasurably to the learning. Knowledge and devotion are so much more when we do it together."

- Bishop Palmer

Service Opportunities

Save the Date for an UMCOR Kit Collection

Midwest Mission Distribution Center is in need of UMCOR Hygiene and Menstrual Hygiene Kits. After sending kits to Maui and other locations hit by disasters, Midwest Mission is in need of more supplies.

You are encouraged to get your church, mission team, United Women in Faith circle, or youth group together and make some kits. Hygiene and Menstrual Hygiene Kits will be collected in four locations across the West Ohio Conference from October 16-November 10. Cleaning kits will also be accepted. More information on locations will be provided at a later date.

Instructions for how to assemble kits can be found by clicking here.

Festival of Sharing

Saturday Sept 30

The Festival of Sharing is a yearly service opportunity for United Methodists to prepare kits for hygeine, school, and cleanup to be delivered to those in need.

The Festival of Sharing will be taking place this year on Saturday, September 30 but at a new location - Gender Road Christian Church in Canal Winchester.

We will once again be collecting kits and will have several drop off sites around our new district to make it easy to participate. Visit the FOS website to find the list of kits needed and the packaging instructions for each one.

Great Miami River District drop off sites:

Hamilton First United Methodist Church, 225 Ludlow St, Hamilton, OH 45011. Phone 513-896-5683. Contact Diane Hinrichs. Open for drop-offs Tues, Sept 12 & Thurs, Sept 14 9am-12:30pm

Hartzell United Methodist Church, 8999 Applewood Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45236. Phone 513-891-8527. Contact Linda Ross. Open for drop-offs Tues—Wed, Sept 19-20, Fri, Sept 22, Tues-Wed Sept 26-27 9am-1pm. Contact the church office to arrange a drop-off time.

Lebanon United Methodist Church, 122 East Silver St, Lebanon, OH 45036. Phone 513-932-4834. Contact Kris Blosser. Open for drop-offs Mon-Tues, Sept 25-26. Call ahead to arrange drop-off time.

Normandy United Methodist Church, 450 W Alex Bell Rd, Dayton 45459. Phone 937.433.1636. Contact Tara Keller. Open for drop-offs Fri, Sept 29 9-11am.

Westwood United Methodist Church, 3460 Epworth Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45211, Phone: 513-661-3139, contact: Julie Fletcher. Open for drop-offs Wed-Fri, Sept 20-22 and Mon Sept 25, 9am-4pm

GMD District Office, 7388 E Kemper Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249. Phone 513.421.2057. Contact Nancy Newton to arrange a drop off.