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.

Friendly Center Giant Garage Sale

The Friendly Center will be holding their Giant Garage Sale at Maumee UMC, 405 Sackett St, Maumee, on Thursday, July 31st - Saturday, August 2nd. The Sale will be held on:

• Thursday from 9:00am-5:00pm
• Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm
• Saturday from 9:00am-Noon.
• Saturday is $5.00 Fill a Bag day.

For those who would like to donate items to the sale, the drop-off days and times are as follows:

• Monday, July 28th from 9:00am-5:00pm
• Tuesday, July 29th from 9:00am-5:00pm
• Wednesday, July 30th from 9:00am-2:00pm
• Items are to be dropped off at the Family Life Center entrance.
• **Please do not deliver items outside of these times.**

SCRAP Festival - Gleaning Ministry

The Annual SCRAP Festival is coming up in Gibsonburg this Labor Day weekend and the Gleaning Ministry Team could use your help! The team is famous for selling fried bologna sandwiches (and Roots products) there. They are looking for people to take a shift grilling bologna or serving sandwiches or ice cream. There are 5 spots available each shift so feel free to sign up your family or group from church to serve together. The shifts are 4 hours but there may be lulls for you to be able to explore for a little while. Check out the flier for more information. Contact Debbie Mills at 419-276-9218 or Michelle at the district office at 419-897-9770 with any questions. If you aren't able to help serve, still come out for a sandwich and ice cream to support the ministries! The Friendly Center will have pie, ice cream and Root Beer Floats there too!

The featured tractors this year are Orphan and OddBall Tractors!

Volunteer Sign-up

Festival of Sharing

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

Kit collection is taking place at First Community Church--North Campus (3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus) again this year on Friday, September 26th from 3-5 pm and Saturday, September 27th from 9-11 am.

We will once again be collecting kits at churches in our district so you don't have to make the drive to Columbus with your donation. Visit the FOS website to find the list of kits needed and the packaging instructions for each one. The item list for the hygiene kits has changed! Please check the site for the current list.

Drop-off locations near our district:

• First United Methodist Church - 1526 E Wooster St, Bowling Green, OH 43402 Sept 2-Sept 19; Mon-Fri; 9am-3pm. Call or email Carol before drop-off. 419-353-0682 or church.office@fumcbg.org
• St. Paul's United Methodist Church - 400 Wayne Ave, Defiance, OH 43512 Sept 15-19; Mon-Fri; 8:30am-4:30pm. Call ahead at 419-782-3751
• Journey at Christ UMC - 225 W Bigelow Ave, Findlay, OH 45840 Sept 15-Sept 19; 9am-12noon. Call Nate at 419-422-6662 before dropping off.
• Sylvania United Church of Christ - 7240 Erie St, Sylvania, OH 43560 Sept 2-Sept 19; Mon-Fri 9am-2pm. Call or email Bridget, 419-882-0048 or church@sylvaniaucc.org
• Northwest Ohio Association UCC - 416 Wenz St, Tiffin, OH 44883 Friday, Sept 19, 8:00am-9:00pm

Year Round Dropoff Location

• First Presbyterian Church – 2330 S Main St, Findlay, OH 45840 Monday-Thursday by appointment only; contact Leslee at info@findlayfpc.org

New Hygeine Kit list

CLM Academy Retreat 

The 2026 Certified Lay Minister Academy Retreat will be held September 5-6 at the West Ohio Conference Center in Worthington.

Beginning on Friday from 6-8:30pm, the retreat will offer an informational session for those not enrolled in the Academy but interested in becoming a Certified Lay Minister. You will learn about the Certified Lay Minister Academy and hear from West Ohio CLMs as they share their ministry journey. Other CLMs currently serving in West Ohio are invited to attend.

On Saturday, from 9am-3:30pm, the Academy kicks off with two courses: Spiritual Disciplines and Cultural Competency. The day will offer opportunities to explore the Academy further, reflect, and enjoy time together. The weekend concludes with worship and communion.

Get more information by clicking here.

Contact Kathy Moore at kathymoore@wocumc.org with any questions.

Need to make a will? The UM Foundation of West Ohio has you covered

It’s estimated that nearly 70% of people don’t have a will, which can cost descendants more in the long run through the probate process. Cost and access to help are typically identified as the primary barriers.

Partnering with the online platform, Crescendo Interactive, the West Ohio Foundation has added a way for you to create a basic will for free. All you have to do to get started is visit their website: www.umfwestohio.org, go to the Plan Your Philanthropy page, create an account and follow the step-by-step instructions. The Foundation also offers an Estate Planning Guide that you can access by clicking here.

For more information contact the West Ohio Foundation at 330.223.9257. 

August Expanding Connection Book Club

The Expanding Connection Book Club has selected five children’s books from the United Women in Faith’s Reading Program for the August book discussion.

Book titles include Sitti's Bird: A Gaza Story, The Tower of Life, Berry Song, Until Someone Listens, and Love is Loud. All titles will engage readers in real-life current topics. There is sure to be a lively discussion!

Join the group on Zoom, Tuesday, August 19 from 7-8:30 pm. Contact Julie Carter (jcarter@wocumc.org) with questions.

Don’t Miss Registration Deadlines for Generosity Summit!

Even if you’re in vacation mode, don’t let these great opportunities slip away! August will be here before you know it!

Generosity Summit 2025, sponsored by the United Methodist Foundation of West Ohio, will be held September 15-16 in Toledo. The event is sponsored by Wespath Institutional Investments and Horizons Stewardship.

The goal of the Summit is to provide excellent teaching on topics related to UMFWO’s educational programs and resources including stewardship, legacy giving, investments, financial literacy, and other related topics relevant to church leaders. MORE INFORMATION HERE

August 1 – If you plan to stay overnight for Generosity Summit Sept. 15-16 at Maumee Bay, please make your reservation no later than August 1 to ensure you have housing. The group rate will expire on August 7 and rates will go up for any available remaining housing. You can register for the event and book your room here.

August 29 – Regular registration will close August 29 if you plan to attend but do not need housing.

Please contact Susan Black at sblack@wocumc.org with questions. Hope to see you there, Maumee River District!

Ohio Laypeople Invited To Statewide Laity Convocation

All laity in the East and West Ohio Conferences of The United Methodist Church are invited to participate in a Laity Convocation hosted by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, scheduled for August 15-16, at Worthington UMC.



This Laity Convocation is for laypeople all over Ohio to come together to celebrate our faith and community! This event is designed for all members of the church who are not ordained clergy - that's you, the laity! It will be a time to connect with fellow church members, participate in workshops, and grow in your faith.

Click Here To Learn More 

United In Impact: Giving To Our Connectional System

Connectional giving is unique to the United Methodist Church. When we give each Sunday, those dollars make an impact on ministries locally, nationally, and globally.

The United in Impact initiative features resources to equip leaders and churches to deepen their members’ understanding of how and why we give through the sharing of stories and conversation.



Resources include infographics, videos, and online impact stories.

Click Here To Learn More CLICK HERE TO LEARN MO

Mission Council Funding Grants

The North Central Jurisdiction Mission Council is accepting grant applications to fund a ministry or program in cross-conference connection, identifying at least three (3) Annual Conferences in the North Central Jurisdiction of the UMC as partners.

The ministry or program must fulfill one or more of the four priorities of The United Methodist Church.

1.      Engaging in ministry with the poor

2.      Improving global health

3.      Developing principled Christian leaders

4.      Creating new and renewed congregations



The Grant Application Process for 2026 is open!

For more information and to apply, click here

Ministry Changes in the Maumee River District

The Appointive Process is still in action! Additional changes in the Maumee River District are as follows:

• Todd Noland is coming to Harpster UMC on August 1st
• Dave Charles is starting at Luckey Faith and Stoney Ridge August 1st
• Jay Whitney is starting at Van Buren UMC on August 1st

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

Celebrating Methodist Missions in Ohio, Korea and Beyond

“Celebrating Methodist Missions in Ohio, Korea, and Beyond: The 140-year Legacy of Mary & William Scranton” is a three-day event to be hosted at Church of the Saviour UMC in Cleveland Heights August 4-6.

The Korean Methodist Church was founded 140 years ago by American Methodist Episcopal missionaries that included Dr. William B. Scranton and his mother, Mary Scranton, the first female missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Both William and Mary were residents of Cleveland, Ohio for two years prior to leaving for the Korean Mission. It is with joy we celebrate this Korea/Ohio connection.

The anniversary is being marked with a three-day celebration, including opening worship on Monday evening featuring President of the Council of Bishops, Bishop Tracy S. Malone. Click here for the event schedule.

Event Registration - includes all workshops and speaker presentations Monday - Wednesday, dinner Monday night, lunch and dinner on Tuesday, and lunch on Wednesday. Registration fee is $150; click here to sign up.

Registration is open through July 19. Please contact Jill Philipp at jphilipp@wocumc.org with questions.

National Historic Camp Meeting Celebration

The Historic Camp Meeting Network [HCMN] announces a national celebration of the camp meeting movement on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 7:30 EDT. This collaborative worship service – the first of its kind – will be live-streamed to Camp Meetings across the country and feature the dynamic preaching of Bishop Gregory V. Palmer of the United Methodist Church. 

“Our goal is not only to reflect on our rich legacy as camp meetings, but to use this heritage as a catalyst to inform and inspire all people to maximize their potential as children of God,” states Rev. Dr. Charlie Yoost of Lakeside Chautauqua in Ohio, who is coordinating the program. “We envision this event as a springboard to further collaboration among Camp Meetings across the United States, as we wrestle with common challenges and confidently look toward a future filled with hope and promise.”

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FLYER

All-Ohio School of Ministry on Beloved Community: Reimagining Connection

The East and West Ohio Annual Conferences are coming together to co-host a transformative School of Ministry September 18-20, 2025.

This inaugural collaboration invites all active East Ohio and West Ohio Conference clergy to gather for a time of bold imagination, meaningful dialogue, and renewed connection. Together, we will envision the future of the United Methodist witness in Ohio, rooted in beloved community, shared purpose, and deep spiritual formation.

The event will feature Rev. Dr. Javier A. Viera, President of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, as the keynote speaker. There will also be time for fellowship, cross-conference networking, and more.

Click here to learn more

Green Church Training 

Greening your church property doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Green Church Training can help set your church on the path toward better stewardship of God’s creation.

A three-hour training is being held at Ashland UMC on Wednesday, August 20 from 4-7pm. It will cover the basics, like where to find biblical and United Methodist support for creation care; how to form a Green Team at your church; and project ideas for how to get started. Most importantly, the training gives time and space for your church to dream about what might be possible! Click here to register.

Annual Committee Reports were due June 1

If you have not submitted these forms to the district office or uploaded them to the conference website, please do so as soon as possible.

All report forms can be found and completed online by logging on to the West Ohio Conference website and navigating to MyChurch / Annual Reports / 2025, or if you would prefer a printed copy you can click HERE.

STAFF/PASTOR PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE

• Local Church Pastor Assessment Form
• Pastoral SPRC Assessment form
• SMART Goal Formation Plan Guide
•  

TRUSTEE REPORTS

• Trustee Legal and Property Report
• Parsonage Inspection (if applicable) -
• Accessibility Audit
• Green Church Audit 

CHURCH HISTORIAN

• Local Church History Survey Form

FINANCE COMMITTEE

• Annual Fund Balance Report (Audit).

Watkins Memorial Mission Trip Scholarships & Travel Scholarships are Available

Is your church/youth group hosting a mission trip this year? The Watkins family had created a scholarship to bless first-time mission trip goers around 2005. Now the scholarship continues as a memorial to those Watkins parents. The scholarship is available for anyone going on their first mission trip or first international mission trip. Please complete the application below and submit it to the district office. We will also need a W-9 for the person or organization that will be receiving the check. Don't forget the signature!

Because the district no longer has a van for your use, we are offering scholarships to help cover the cost of van rentals. We will reimburse you for 50% of the one-time cost to rent a van for your mission/event.

If you or your church would like more information, please reach out to Michelle at the district office by calling 419-897-9770 or emailing mrobinson@wocumc.org.

Application

W-9

LSM Classes are up & running for 2025

Check out the new offerings!

Western Lakes District - Soul Reset (July 9, 16, 23, 30, August 6, 2025)

Hocking River District – Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries: The BASIC course (September 12 and 13, 2025)

Olentangy River District - Leading Worship (September 12 and 13, 2025)

Great Miami River – Social Justice in Everyday Life: A Look at the Social Principles of the UMC (September 21, 23, 25, 28, 30, 2025

Hocking River District – Loving People and Planet in God’s Name (October 31 and November 1, 2025)

Olentangy River District – Called to Preach (November 8 and November 15, 2025)

Emerging Generations Resources

The New Zenler Platform

Immigration Resources

Clergy Financial Wellness Resource Guide

Mrs. Donna Chambers

Rev. Gary Wood

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.