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. | | Frankly Speaking with Four Friends | | |
Join us on Tuesday, November 3rd from 7:00-8:00 p.m. for an hour of meeting with several of our speakers as they share ways their lives have recently changed, stories of people with whom they are walking with through recent incarceration, and their own hopes for the future. We have several restored citizens who are giving their time and gifts to others struggling through life. What a blessing, and we too will be blessed as they share with us.
Here is the link: https://wocumc.zoom.us/j/86240001092
| | Better Together: District Laity Tailgating | | |
One of the gifts of being United Methodist is that we are connected. And sometimes the best way to strengthen those connections is simply to gather, share some food, hear one another’s stories, and spend time getting to know each other.
You’re invited to a District Laity Tailgate Gathering, a relaxed time created especially for laity to connect with others from churches throughout your district.
Come enjoy: Faith | Fellowship | Food | Fun
There’s no complicated agenda. Just an opportunity to meet other laity, share what’s happening in our churches and communities, build new relationships, and celebrate the ways God is at work among us.
Join us: December 12 | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Christ UMC
1255 Glenwood Avenue
Napoleon, OH 43545
Whether you’ve been serving in lay leadership for years or are simply looking for ways to become more connected, there is a place for you at the tailgate. And bring your friends, there is a place for them too!
Come for the faith, fellowship, food, and fun, and leave with new connections and a reminder that we truly are better together.
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Friendsgiving Retreat at MTSO
Registration is NOW OPEN for the Friendsgiving Retreat at MTSO on Saturday, November 21st from 10am-4pm, presented by the LGBTQ+ Ministry Task Force! The event flyer is attached!
This retreat is open to LGBTQ+, ally United Methodists and ecumenical friends!
For more information, or to RSVP for yourself please use this registration form.
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Bishop Hee-Soo Jung invites you to The Holy Land, the Holy People Trip to Israel scheduled for November 14 – 23, 2026. The tour will be led by The Society for Biblical Studies (SBC), an ecumenical, interfaith and inclusive organization. SBC seeks to renew the mission of the Church by making this experience contextual and grounding it in biblical faith. You are invited to participate in a ministry of reconciliation, to reach out across geographic, religious, ethnic and cultural boundaries to new horizons of mission.
Why go? Why go now?
Christians have long traveled to the Holy Land to walk where Jesus walked. But Jesus also proclaimed, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” This journey invites us not only to walk in the places where Jesus lived and taught, but to walk alongside people pursuing peace in Israel and Palestine today.
At a time of profound conflict, grief, and uncertainty, presence itself can become a form of ministry. Palestinian Christians have asked the wider church to come. Israelis working for peace are also inviting people to listen, learn, and stand alongside them. This journey is an opportunity to hear directly from people whose lives are shaped by this conflict and to strengthen relationships with those working toward a just and lasting peace.
Both the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences have repeatedly called United Methodists to engage questions of justice and peace in Israel and Palestine. This journey provides an opportunity to move from resolutions and statements toward relationships – to listen to people on the ground, learn from their experiences, and discern how we might faithfully support the work of peace when we return home.
More Information
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Older Doesn't Mean Over
Healthy Bodies. Faithful Lives. Vital Churches.
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Our bodies change as we age. So do our churches. But aging isn't the same thing as dying, and health isn't the same thing as youth. What does it mean to age well, both as individuals and as the Body of Christ?
This January, the Office of Discipleship Ministries and the Office of Leadership Wellness & Renewal invite you to a five-week Zoom experience built around a shared conviction: Age alone does not determine our health, our value, our calling, or what's possible for us as individuals or congregations.
This is an intentional effort to explore the connections between the human body and the Body of Christ. As we learn how our physical bodies can remain healthy, adapt, and grow stronger with age, we'll explore how those same lessons might help us grow as disciples and cultivate healthier, more vital congregations.
Too often, we approach aging, particularly in congregational life, primarily through the lens of decline, limitations, and what we can no longer do. We want to challenge that mindset and invite people to consider the possibilities that remain in the season they're actually in.
Using five anchors for healthy living, Eat Real Food, Move Your Body, Get Adequate Sleep, Manage Your Stress, and Stay Relationally Connected, we'll explore practical ways to care for our bodies as we age while considering what these practices can teach us about discipleship and congregational life.
Each week will combine practical health education, conversations about spiritual growth, and fresh perspectives on congregational vitality. You'll leave with practical ideas for caring for your health, new possibilities for discipleship and ministry, and one next faithful step to put into practice during Lent.
Who Should Attend?
Clergy and laity of all ages are welcome. Whether you're interested in aging well, deepening your discipleship, or helping an aging congregation discover new possibilities, this experience is for you.
Come on your own or bring others from your church.
When: Thursdays, January 7 through February 4, 2027, 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Register Here
| | Elections Begin for General & Jurisdictional Conferences | | |
Delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences will be elected at the upcoming West Ohio Annual Conference, June 2-5, 2027, at Capital University in Bexley, Ohio. Four clergy and lay members will be elected from our conference.
The 2028 General Conference will be held May 8-18, 2028, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the North Central Jurisdictional Conference will be held July 12-15, 2028, in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, a special Jurisdictional Conference may be held August 28, 2027, if the East and West Ohio Conferences both support unification earlier that summer.
Continue to check the West Ohio Conference website, social media platforms, and email communication for more information as it becomes available.
Click HERE to Learn More
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Celebrating 50 Years of UMVIM!
To celebrate 50 years of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM), the North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ) is hosting a special $50-for-50 campaign! The goal is for 50 churches in each NCJ conference to contribute $50 to support ongoing mission and service work. Would your church consider being one of the 50? A $50 gift is a simple way to celebrate this milestone and support UMVIM’s continued ministry across our jurisdiction and beyond.
Donate here: https://umvim.org/ncj-donate
| | Maumee River District Grants - Due Nov. 5th! | | |
Is your church trying to do its part to care for God’s creation? We can help! West Ohio’s Green Church Mini Grants provide limited funding for a church's "green" projects such as recycling or composting programs; native plants for a pollinator garden; an Earth Day event; or installing energy efficient light bulbs. To receive funding, churches must sign the Green Church Pledge and complete a sustainability audit (both will be provided). Each grant will supply $100 to $750 for a green project in 2027, and recipients will be asked to submit a grant report. As part of the new Ignite Ohio Grants, applications must be received by October 31. Please use the Ignite Ohio Grant application found here:
2027 Ignite Ohio Grants | West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church
| | Ignite Ohio Grants - Due October 31st | | |
Ready. Set. Ignite. - District Challenge!
"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24
Does your church have a new idea or reimagined ministry? In that spirit, all districts in the West Ohio Conference are encouraging churches to take advantage of this opportunity to dream new dreams and take a risk-free shot by applying for an Ignite Ohio Grant.
The district with the highest percentage of churches receiving grants will receive the inaugural “Ignite Ohio” traveling trophy. Grants are determined by the respective committees within each category. Using a percentage of total churches gives every district a fair shot, regardless of size.
This will be fun, but the real victory isn't the trophy. It's seeing more churches dream boldly, engage their communities, and take their next faithful step toward offering the hope, love, and grace of Jesus to their mission field.
To make the most of this opportunity, zoom whiteboard sessions along with a dream guide can be found at the link below. Gather your team, dream boldly, submit your application, and help the district earn both the trophy and the joy of seeing new ministry come to life.
2027 Ignite Ohio Grants | West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church
| | We're Coming Your Way. Can We Talk? | | |
This fall, Ohio Episcopal Area Executive Directors Beth Ortiz, Karen Cook, Ed Fashbaugh, and Donnetta Peaks are traveling around Ohio to sit down with clergy and laity and hear what you’re experiencing.
These aren’t presentations or trainings. They’re conversations about where you’re seeing hope and possibility, what’s challenging, what you’re trying to figure out, and how we might come alongside you. Each conversation will be 90 minutes or less.
You can attend any location that works for you. Some options that may be convenient for Maumee River are:
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November 2, 9:30-11:00 a.m. — St. Paul’s UMC, Toledo
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November 2, 1:30-3:00 p.m. — Tiffin Faith UMC, Tiffin
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November 3, 9:30-11:00 a.m. — Westside UMC, Lima
Zoom Option
- November 11, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
There is no cost to attend, and the first 25 people registered at each in-person location will receive a $15 gas card.
Please register at least three days in advance.
Click HERE to Learn More & Register
| | Please send any Celebrations or Special Ministry stories that you would like to share with the District to Michelle at mrobinson@wocumc.org. | | Foundation Offering Educational Conference
for Nonprofits - Registration ends October 30th! | | |
The United Methodist Foundation of West Ohio will sponsor its fifth Nonprofit Partner Summit this November, featuring speakers on topics related to best practices in nonprofit fundraising, administration, and leadership. This year’s conference will include sessions on navigating the nonprofit sector as a faith-based organization.
The Nonprofit Partner Summit is a small, one-day conference intended to benefit nonprofit organizations with ties to the United Methodist Church, specifically UMFWO Nonprofit Partner Program participants, East Ohio Conference Advance Specials, and other faith-based and social service nonprofits throughout Ohio. Space is limited and will be capped at the first 50 registrants.
In addition to outstanding presentations, attendees will have the opportunity for peer networking, as well as small-group and personal interaction with nonprofit experts. Attendees will begin their day with a plenary session and then choose from various sessions throughout the remainder of the day. Lunch is included where networking and discussion is encouraged.
At time of publication, topics include:
Hope, Resilience, and Innovation – Reimagining Service for the Next Generation –by Joel Kessel, CEO of Kessel Strategies
Planning the Work and Working the Plan –by Jodi Bopp, CFRE, VP Advancement at I Am Boundless; and Kari Roll, CFRE, Director of Development & Major Gifts at Goodwill Columbus
NEEMA: A Sustainable Approach > A Sustainable Program –Rev. Peter Matthews, Lead Pastor of New Vision UMC, Founder & CEO of Dayton Equity Center and Rev. Ashton Duper, Lead Pastor of St. Paul UMC (Dayton), Executive Director of Dayton Equity Center
Faithful Conversations: Conviction and Hospitality –Sam Rodriguez, Relationship & Business Developer for Christian Family Credit Union; and Terri Rodriguez, Field and Operations Manager for Office of Fresh Starts and New Beginnings,
Creating Constituencies: A Prospecting Road Trip –Susan Black, CFRE CAP®, Executive Director, UMFWO
From Inclusion to Belonging: Creating Safe and Equitable Faith-Based Workplaces for the LGBTQIA+ Community – this will be a panel discussion
When: Nov. 5th, 2026
Where: West Ohio Conference Center, Worthington, OH from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration: $20.00 Regular Registration Link Registration closes Oct. 30 or when 50 participants have been registered
Contact Maddy DeWitt at mdewitt@wocumc.org with any questions.
| | Bowling Green Trinity Annual Craft Fair | | |
Mark your calendars for the annual Craft Fair at Bowling Green Trinity UMC which will be held on Saturday, November 7th and Sunday, November 8th following the worship service. The event will feature handmade gifts, homemade baked goods, and lunch! More information is available on the flyer below.
If you are a vendor, they would love to have you join them to share your creations! There is more information on the vendor flyer below.
Craft Fair Flyer
Vendor Registration
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Wauseon Christ Annual Bazaar
The Women of Wauseon Christ United Methodist Church invite you to join them on Saturday, November 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for their Bazaar and Soup & Sandwich Luncheon! This event is located in historic downtown Wauseon at 215 N. Fulton Street in the Fellowship Hall. Come and enjoy Coffee Time at 9:00, browse handmade crafts, and treat yourself to delicious baked goods and snacks. Lunch will be served from 11:00–12:30, with carry‑out available. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for fellowship, food, and festive shopping.
Printable Flyer
| | Upcoming Training on Simplified Church Governance | | |
An important training session on the Simplified Governance model will be offered on January 19 (6:00 PM–8:30 PM) or Jan 23 (9:00 AM–11:30 AM). This online workshop is designed to strengthen governance and enhance ministry effectiveness across our conferences and within your local church.
Participants will gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of this model, which emphasizes mission-driven leadership to help your congregation faithfully live out its ministry in today’s world. The training will provide a strong foundation for discerning whether this structure can support your church in becoming the community God is calling you to be.
Click HERE to Learn More
| | Lay Servant Ministry - New Classes Added | | |
Lay Servant Ministries is one of the most significant lay leadership development programs available within the United Methodist connection. Through this equipping and empowering system, lay servants have the opportunity to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ who then go and make other disciples.
Check out the new classes that have been added to the schedule. Most are offered online via Zoom unless indicated. Click each link to learn more and sign up:
| | 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. | | If you'd like to submit an article, event, or classified ad to be featured in the Maumee River District E-Newsletter, please use the submission form found by clicking here or go to the News & Events section of our website. Each submission will run for (up to) 3 weeks. If you require more than 3 weeks, your article will need to be re-submitted. Please make your submissions each week by no later than 12 noon on Wednesday. Thank you! | | Maumee River District | 419.897.9770 | www.westohioumc.org/maumeeriver | | | | |
