A Note from DS Cara Stultz Costello

District Meetings Pause Thursday, November 24 - January 8, 2023

Below is a pastoral note that our resident Bishop, Rev. Dr. Tracy S. Malone shared with the conference on October 12, encouraging a respite; a pause on meetings & conversations on matters regarding disaffiliation. Additionally, we will be honoring this meeting sabbath in regards to all meetings. The Tuscarawas District is encouraging our churches to honor this sabbath, "to allow us all space to breathe and refocus, and to place our attention on where it needs to be during this Holy Season."

Please feel free to send in your meeting requests, but please know those meetings will be scheduled after the new year.

Peace,

Cara

Dear Clergy and Laity of the East Ohio Conference,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

The Fall season is one of the busiest seasons in the life of the local church. Pastors and churches are preparing for their annual church conferences and completing their year-end reports. Pastors are planning for sermons and special worship services for the Advent and Christmas season. And families are making plans to spend quality time together.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I invite us to focus our thoughts on giving praise to God for the joy and blessings in our lives for which we are thankful. As we move towards Advent and Christmas, I encourage us to give our undivided attention to celebrating and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus coming into the world and into our lives to love, to save, to heal, to reconcile and to make all things new.

From November 20, 2022 - January 1, 2023, I am calling for a respite. During this time, all meetings and conversations related to matters of disaffiliation should be paused, not to be resumed until after New Year’s Day.

My prayer is that this sacred time will allow all of us space to breathe and refocus, and to place our attention on where it needs to be during this Holy Season.

Now “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25 (NIV)

Peace and Blessings,

Bishop Tracy S. Malone

The District Office will be closed Thursday & Friday, November 24 & 25 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

We will also be closed Thursday, December 22 through Friday, January 6 for Christmas & New Year. We will reopen on Monday, January 9.

** Your 2023 Budget is due to the district office no later than December 1, 2022**

Cara's Weekly Calendar

November 21: Sabbath

November 22: District Strategizing

November 23: District Strategizing

November 24 - November 26: Thanksgiving with Family

November 27: Worship on the District

District One Board Leadership Team

The newly formed One Board Leadership team for the district met on November 8 to hold our opening meeting and orientation to the Simplified Accountability Structure that was passed at the Spring Conference this past April. Below are some pictures from the meeting, including a new district initiative to hold 6 local mission day trips around our district. Be on the lookout for more information!

Is your church holding any special services during the Holiday season? Send the district your flyer digitally & we will publish them in our weekly newsletter!

Safe Sanctuaries

Join in on this online course that covers the basics of Safe Sanctuaries. Rev Gary Jones walks participants through the what is it, the why we do it, and common elements. This is a great course for churches reviewing or creating their policies, for ministry team leads, and for anyone working with vulnerable persons in your faith community.    

Enroll anytime at https://eocumc.myabsorb.com/#/online-courses/409157e8-86de-49c2-b36a-306010758353

Otterbein (Navarre) UMC is seeking applicants for Youth Director Position (grades 9 - 12) and Assistant Youth Leader Position (grades 6 – 8). If you are interested in either of these or have questions, please contact the church at 330-484-2776.

Otterbein (Navarre) UMC has a variety of Sunday School & Bible Study books available. Click here to access the entire list. If interested, please contact Doris Brown at (330) 704-2055 or by email.