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Volume 6
April 2015
Dear Friends,
DISTRICT STAFF
District Superintendent
Barry Burns
[email protected]
One thing I think we can all agree on is that we are ready for Spring
and the change of weather that comes with it. The longer days,
warmer weather, more sunshine, all give us hope that the long winter
is done. It reinforces the message of Easter!
Asst. to the Dist. Supt.
Amy Haines
[email protected]
Office Administrator
Debra Lee
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant
Sandy Pergram
[email protected]
IN THIS ISSUE:
A word from our DS…………1
Message from Amy….……...2
County Gatherings………….3
Thank You Notes...………....3
Retirees Gathering………….4
Mission News…………….....4
Spring Conference……….....5
This ‘n That…………………..6
Connectional Giving………...7
Denman Award……………...8
This is the day the
Lord has made;
We will rejoice and
be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 NKJV
Northwest Plains District
United Methodist Church
910 E. Third Street
Ottawa, OH 45875
Telephone:
419.523.9901
800.589.7828
FAX 419.523.3479
E-mail:
[email protected]
Website:
www.nwpumc.org
Like us on Facebook!
Issue 4
Rev. Barry Burns
Northwest Plains
District Superinten-
Isn’t this what we all need to hear, and even more, need to experience? We need to be reminded of the message of Easter – There is
hope!
With all the signs of brokenness and darkness surrounding us, we long for the hope
of resurrection. In the midst of the terrorism, racism, violence, and abuse that is so
prevalent in our world, we as the Body of Christ need to live out our commitment to
be Easter people. With illness, grief, depression, and anxiety touching so many of our
families or even us personally, we need to be reminded of that resurrection message
that there is light in the midst of darkness! With so many of our congregations experiencing conflict, brokenness, decline, and a loss of hope, we need to live out that
promise of the empty tomb that there is life even in the midst of death!
So as we gather in our congregations and families to celebrate the Easter season,
may we experience the joy of the resurrection once again. But even more, may we
commit ourselves anew to living out the resurrection in our communities, in our congregations, and even in our own families and relationships. Where there is brokenness, may we bring healing. Where there is injustice, may we strive for justice.
Where there is anger, may we be peacemakers. Where there is death, may we bring
life. And where there is darkness, may we shine the light of Christ. In other words,
may we truly be the Body of Christ!
It is my prayer that we will be able to move beyond empty traditions and just simply
going through the motions in our celebrations this year. I pray that we can each experience a deep renewal of hope and new life as we reflect on the message of the
resurrection!
As the ancient liturgy states so simply:
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Blessings!
Page 2
Northwest Plains Compass
April 2015
Songs That Tell Our Story
Rev. Amy Haines
Assistant to the
District Superintendent
As I write this we are heading
into Holy Week. Soon our
churches will be filled with songs
that once again tell the story
that is central to our faith, the
story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
“Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang.”
“Go to dark Gethsemane, ye that feel the tempter’s
power.”
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
“In Christ alone my hope is found, he is my light, my
strength, my song.”
“You came from heaven to earth to show the way;
from the earth to the cross my debt to pay; from the
cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky; Lord I
lift your name on high.”
“Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!”
“Easter people raise your voices…Easter people let
us sing.”
Every Sunday we sing songs that proclaim our
faith or offer our prayers to God.
“Blessed assurance Jesus is mine.”
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and
griefs to bear.”
“Bless the Lord, o my soul, worship his holy name.”
“Savior he can move the mountains, my God is
mighty to save, he is mighty to save.”
Do you ever pay attention to the words that you
sing?
Sometimes the words may be ancient texts written in a way that is hard for us to understand today. Sometimes the words may undergird a theology that is not where we find ourselves at the moment. Sometimes the words convey a message
that our lives are really not ready to live.
“O sacred head now wounded, with grief and shame
weighed down, now scornfully surrounded with
thorns, thine only crown: how pale thou are with anguish with sore abuse and scorn! How does that visage languish which once was bright as morn?”
“Crucified, laid behind a stone, you lived to die, rejected
and alone, like a rose trampled on the ground, you
took the fall and thought of me above all.”
“Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders, let
me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me;
take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and
my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my
Savior.”
“Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me… melt me,
mold me, fill me, use me.”
Do you ever pay attention to the words that you
sing?
I don’t want to scare you away from singing. I firmly
believe that the one who sings prays twice, as the
old saying goes. And we are ALL called to make a
joyful noise unto the Lord. Some of us call that
noise music, and others call it, well, noise.
Yet this Holy Week, and every Sunday, and whenever you sing along to praise and worship on CD or
on the radio, pay attention to the words you sing.
May they become for you a time of devotion rather
than rote, a time of praise rather than background
noise.
I have been at more than one bedside of a dying
parishioner who suddenly finds comfort in the reassuring words of the hymns of faith that convey the
promises of God. The songs may change over the
years, yet the power of these songs of faith does
not.
May we recognize the power of the words of faith
we sing! May we sing them in the shower and in the
car, hum them at work or around the house. May
they undergird our faith, and be a foundation for
our lives. May we sing them together with the
saints before us and those yet to come, offering
praise to God, our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, now and forevermore!
“Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens and earth reply, Alleluia!”
April 2015
Northwest Plains Compass
Page 3
County Gatherings for Clergy
April 7
1st Tuesday
8:30 am
11:30 am
Hancock County
Allen County
April 8*
1st Wednesday
8:30 am
11:30 am
Auglaize County
Mercer County
April 9*
1st Thursday
8:30 am
11:30 am
Williams County
Defiance County
April 21
3rd Tuesday
8:30 am
Putnam County
April 15
3rd Wednesday
8:30 am
11:30 am
Van Wert County
Paulding County
April 16
3rd Thursday
8:30 am
11:30 am
Hardin County
Wyandot County
Scrambler Marie's, 516 S. Main St., Findlay
Old Barn Out Back, 3175 W. Elm St., Lima
R J’s Coffey Cup, 901 Defiance St., Wapakoneta
Orchard Tree, 501 Grand Lake Rd., Celina
Rita’s Family Dining, 103 N. Michigan Ave., Edgerton
Sherwood UMC, 512 Harrison St., Sherwood
Henry’s, 810 N. Locust St., Ottawa
VW Hospital Cafeteria, 1250 S. Washington St., Van Wert
Fiesta Habaneros Mexican Grill, 209 N. Williams St., Paulding
Henry's, 995 N. Detroit St., Kenton
Meet at Trinity Evangelical UMC, 108 Malabar Dr., Upper Sandusky
*denotes date change
With thanks and appreciation to…
...Pastor Lynda and the staff at Trinity UMC, Ottawa for the outstanding hospitality extended to our Lay Servant workshop leaders and participants on March
7. Thank you for the use of your facility and also for Noon meal.
...Pastor Justin and the staff at Trinity UMC, Defiance for hosting the District
Committee on Ministry Interviews on March 17. Lunch was delicious and the hospitality outstanding.
...Pastor Jennifer and the staff at Howard UMC for hosting the Certified Lay Ministry Breakfast on
March 21. Thank you for the delicious breakfast and the use of your facility.
...Pastor Andy and the folks at Alger First UMC for hosting the United Methodist Women’s Spiritual
Half-Day. We appreciate your hospitality!
Page 4
Northwest Plains Compass
April 2015
NORTHWEST PLAINS RETIREES SPRING LUNCHEON
Retired Pastors, Spouses and Surviving Spouses
APRIL 20
Monday, April 20, 12:00 Noon
Otterbein St. Marys Senior Lifestyle Community
11230 State Route 364, St. Marys
Cost: $5.70 per person
(Otterbein St. Marys residents are not required to pay for lunch but a reservation is necessary.)
If you did not receive an invitation/reservation form and would like to attend the luncheon, please
call the district office—800.589.7828.
SIERRA LINDA MISSION TRIP A LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Article submitted by Rosalie and Bob Lora
The first week in March my husband and I went to Mexico on our first mission trip together. I was a little apprehensive at first as this was my first trip out of the states. But once I got there the blessings began to overflow.
Our trip was delayed one day because of ice at the Dallas airport. We were then picked up Sunday evening from
the airport in Monterey and taken directly to Camp Sierra Linda.
On Monday morning after breakfast we began to work. Bob’s first job was helping to build three bunk beds for the
children’s cabins. Brooke Sauer and I even used electric saws to cut the boards for
the beds.
I was very humbled when I saw the dining area and the chapel. Most of the windows
were broken or no windows at all. We started to repair
them when Pastor Neal said maybe we should just replace all of the chapel with new windows. So we then
proceeded to replace nearly 300 windows with plexiglass for safety for the children. I had the easy job of taking a hammer and breaking
out the old windows and Pastor Neal, Bob and Brooke were placing in the new ones.
It was a blessing to see the finished job with all the windows replaced or repaired.
There was a lot of laughter mixed in with the work.
On Friday we took a walking tour of Monterey. Ate at Carl Jrs., (American hamburgers) went to a museum, took a
boat ride through the city, went shopping and ended our day with ice cream.
Bob and I were extremely blessed and humbled at the same time. It helps us to appreciate even more how much
we are blessed by God. Bob is looking forward to going back again next year. If you ever get the opportunity to go
on the Mexico Mission trip, don’t pass it up. You will be greatly blessed.
I would like to thank Victor for his hospitality, those who prepared our meals, and all those who worked with us.
Many thanks also for the Northwest Plains District for helping to coordinate this trip.
During our time at Camp Sierra Linda, we may have spoken to each other in different languages, but that was soon
overcome by the outpouring of God’s love for each other.
God Bless.
April 2015
Northwest Plains Compass
Page 5
Spring District Gathering
Sunday, May 17, 3 PM
Wesley UMC
551 Center Street, Van Wert, OH
All pastors, lay members, district at large members, and lay persons are invited to participate in this
year’s Spring District Conference.
Gathering time begins at 2:30 pm, allowing participants to meet one another and build relationships
with others across the Northwest Plains. The District Conference will begin at 3:00 pm. There will also
be an “Orientation to Annual Conference for first-time Lay Members” at 2:30 pm. The Book of Reports for Annual Conference will be available for pick-up.
During the Conference, we will worship together and recognize graduates, those being commissioned,
first-time licenses for local pastors, newly certified candidates, transitions and retirements.
Conference business should conclude by 4:30 pm.
A time for fellowship and light refreshments will follow giving everyone the opportunity to bid farewell
to those who are retiring and transitioning to new appointments.
The following people will represent the Northwest Plains District as
At-Large Members to Annual Conference
Betty Alder, Community
Wayne Arnold, Wapakoneta Salem
Betty Augsburger, Kenton First
Debra Bame, Arcadia
Suzanne Bandy, Oakdale
Scott Barrett, Kenton First
Tyler Bowers, Bryan Wesley
Jacqi Bradley, LaFayette First
Jane Brown, Delphos Trinity
Larry Brown, Delphos Trinity
Luke Burkhart, Delphos Trinity
Julie Burns, Findlay St. Paul’s
Nila Clementson, Twin Oaks
Tamara Coleman, Cairo
Brenda Delong, North Union
Candy Dicke, St. Marys Wayne St.
Tim Dicke, St. Marys Wayne St.
Joan Dinnen, Ayersville
Carol Doseck, Sherwood
Marjorie Dresbach, Leipsic
Mark Dresbach, Leipsic
Virginia Fadley, Wharton Big Oak
Ron Fanning, Celina St. Paul’s
Phyllis Fell, Kossuth Zion
Linda Flesher, Pulaski
dj Fuerstenau, Delphos Trinity
Donna Gallaway, Leipsic
Crystal Goodnight, Edgerton
Keira Grandey, Evansport
Rebecca Graves, Leipsic
Michael Greer, Cridersville
Katelyn Harrington, Lima Trinity
Janet Harshman, Cairo
Beverly Hasselswerth, Defiance Trinity
Joe Hochstettler, Forest
Linda Holman, Elida St. Paul
Mary Honecker, Arlington
Bill Huber, Celina Bethany
Connie Iler, Evansport
Marian Kauffman, Defiance St. Paul’s
Ronald Kaufman, Gilboa
Valerie Strohl-Kramer, Celina St. Paul’s
Rick Lamb, Cairo
Paul Ledyard, Montpelier St. Paul’s
Daniel Lee, Wapakoneta First
Jonah Lee, Wapakoneta First
Rebekah Lee, Wapakoneta First
Vanessa Lee, Wapakoneta First
James Mallory, Celina St. Paul’s
Tesia Mallory, Celina St. Paul’s
Justin McCall, Bluffton First
Myrna McCurdy, Ada First
Dominic Mejia, Bryan Wesley
Dean Metzger, Arcadia
Owen Moore, Lima Trinity
Carolyn Musser, Ottawa Trinity
Genevieve Noggle, Melrose
Matt Overman, Celina St. Paul’s
John Peters, West Independence
Gabrielle Phelps, Kenton Epworth
Laura Plaugher, Rockport
Will Ploughe, Evansport
Douglas Pummell, John Stewart
Nancy Rader, Leipsic
Karen Rank, Kingsley
Roger Rank, Kingsley
Ben Rose, Lima Trinity
Nancy Rose, Lima Trinity
Diane Sheffield, Celina Bethany
Angie Smith, Celina St. Paul’s
Becky Snyder, Marseilles
Lindsay Tissot, Van Wert Wesley
Mike Vollmar, Alger First
Karen Wack, Bethel/North Union
Paul Warren, New Hope Bethel
Dena Weatherly, Leipsic
Jane Wilder, Celina St. Paul’s
Casey Wood, Bryan Wesley
Page 6
Northwest Plains Compass
April 2015
Lay Servant Courses
April 11 Advanced Lay Servant
Training, “Pastoral Care”
Clergy & Laity Spiritual Formation Retreat
Finding Your Spiritual Direction
April 27-28, 2015
April 11 Advanced Lay Servant
Training, “United Methodist Polity”
Information/Registration: http://nwpumc.org/
index.php?page=lay-ministry-training
Retreat Leader: Sister Kathleen Flood
An Illinois native, Kathleen R. Flood,
OP, presently resides in Nashville,
Tennessee. She became a member
of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation (the Order of Preachers)
in 1981, and served as a
campus minister in Illinois and Wisconsin. She
came to Nashville in 1988 to serve as University Catholic Chaplain at Vanderbilt University, a
position she held for seven years. She is presently
Director of Contemplative Programs and Coordinator of the Mentorship in Spiritual Direction
for StillPoint, INC. In addition, Kathleen serves as
an adjunct faculty member for the Doctor of Ministry program at Drew University in New Jersey
and the Spiritual Formation Academy sponsored
by the Upper Room where she teaches in both the
two-year and the five-day academies.
Retreat Rates
REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO 50 ATTENDEES
$100
$180
$150
$200
per person within Northwest Plains
per married couple residing within Northwest
Plains District (sharing a room)
per person residing outside of the Northwest
Plains District.
per married couple residing outside of the
Northwest Plains District (sharing a room)
Registration fee covers 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner,
snacks, and retreat materials.
Information/Registration: http://nwpumc.org/
index.php?page=leadership-training
Interested in serving at the
Conference level?
The West Ohio Conference Nominations Committee
is working hard to deepen the pool of lay and clergy
that are interested in serving on the conference level
on various committees and teams. If you are interested in serving on the conference level please click
on the link below to submit an interest form. http://
www.westohioumc.org/conference/webform/westohio-conference-leadership-interest-form
Imagine No Malaria
“Sunday to Save Lives”
Every sixty seconds, malaria
claims another life.
Help to save lives through participating in Imagine No Malaria,
a life-saving campaign of prevention, education, communication
and treatment of malaria in subSaharan Africa. Bishop Palmer
invites every West Ohio congregation to participate in reaching our goal of raising
$3.5 million dollars to save 350,000 lives. The good
news—we are 90% toward our goal! Would you consider helping to reach that goal by Annual Conference? Every gift, large or small, makes a difference.
Resources are available on the conference website
to host a “Sunday to Save Lives” prior to Pentecost
on May 24. Consider how your church can be creative to raise money and awareness about Imagine
No Malaria in your congregation and community.
Every $10 helps to save the life of a child, a mother,
a grandparent in Africa.
Resources are found at www.inmohio.org/
imaginenomalaria
April 2015
Northwest Plains Compass
Page 7
2015 CONNECTIONAL GIVING MOVING FULL STEAM AHEAD
100% Conference Giving (as of 3/31)
On track with Conference giving (25% or more)
Crawford
Landfair
Mercer
Middle Point
Mt. Zion (Hardin Co.)
Otterbein
Roundhead
St. Johns
Willshire Union
Alger First
Allentown
Arlington
Bryan Faith
Bryan Wesley
Carey Grace
Carey Memorial
Celina St. Paul’s
Chattanooga
Columbus Grove St. Johns
Continental United
Defiance St. Paul’s
Delphos St. Paul
Delphos Trinity
Edon
Elida St. Pauls
100% District Giving (as of 3/31)
On track with District Giving (25% or more)
Arcadia
Bryan Faith
Celina Mt. Zion
Coldwater
Country Chapel
Crawford
Erastus
Fort Recovery
Grover Hill Zion
Hamilton Bethel
Harrod
Hepburn
Landfair
Leipsic
Liberty Chapel
Melbern
Melrose
Mercer
Middle Creek
Alger First
Allentown
Antwerp
Ayersville
Bluffton First
Bryan Wesley
Caret Grace
Carey Memorial
Celina Bethany
Celina St. Paul’s
Chattanooga
Col Grove St. John
Continental Christ
Continental United
Convoy
Cridersville
Defiance St. Paul’s
Delphos St. Paul
Delphos Trinity
Edgerton
Elida Immanuel
Elida St. Paul
Evansport
Farmer
Middle Point
Mt. Tabor
Mt. Zion (Hardin Co.)
New Knoxville
Otterbein
Pleasant View
Rhinehart
Riley Creek
Rockport
Roundhead
St. Johns
Trinity Evangelical
Wapakoneta First
Westminster
Wharton Big Oak
Wms Center Asbury
Wms Center Calvary
Willshire Union
Where Your Money Goes
The cost of our Christcentered global ministry is
significant, but it is only a tiny
portion of our local church
budget. Of every $1 given in
offering (see graphic).
Evansport
Farmer
Findlay St. Andrew’s
Fort Recovery
Friends
Harrod
Hepburn
Journey at Christ
Leipsic
Lima Trinity
Lima Westside
Mendon
Montpelier St. Paul’s
Mt. Blanchard
Mt. Tabor
Ney
Oakdale
Findlay Howard
Findlay St. Andrew’s
Findlay St. Paul’s
Friends
Gilboa
Hicksville Trinity
Houcktown
Journey at Christ
Kenton Epworth
Kenton First
Kingsley
Lima Forest Park
Lima St. Marks
Lima Trinity
Lima Westside
Mark Center
Marseilles
McComb
Mendon
Montpelier First
Montpelier St. Paul’s
Mt. Blanchard
Mt. Cory
Mt. Zion (Paulding Co.)
Ohio City
Ottawa Trinity
Ridgeway
Rockford
Rockport
Salem Cass
Spencerville Trinity
St. Marys Grace
St. Marys Wayne Street
Uniopolis
Vanlue Christ
Van Wert Bethel
Walnut Grove (Aug. Co.)
Westminster
Wharton Big Oak
Wms Center Asbury
Wms Center Calvary
New Beginnings
Ney
North Creek
Oakdale
Ohio City
Paulding
Pleasant Chapel
Ridgeway
Rockford
Salem Cass
Sherwood
Spencerville Trinity
St. Marys Grace
St. Marys Wayne Street
Sugar Grove
Uniopolis
Van Wert Bethel
Van Wert First
Van Wert Wesley
Vanlue Christ
Walnut Grove (Aug. Co.)
Walnut Grove (Hardin Co.)
Waynesfield
West Independence
Your church's expense figures will vary. depending
on your support of annual
conference benevolences.
Source: General Council
on Finance and Administration data, 2012 (most
current data available).
http://www.umc.org/how-wes erve/where- your -m one ygoes
Nominations for Denman Awards
Honoring Excellence in Evangelism
Each year at the West Ohio Annual Conference session, the Bishop presents the
prestigious Harry Denman Evangelism Award
http://foundationforevangelism.org/recognition/harry-denman-evangelism-award/
to celebrate the outstanding personal evangelism ministry of clergy, laity and
youth in West Ohio. Pictured at right are Keith and Diane Richardson from New Horizons United Methodist Church receiving the 2014 Denman Award for Lay persons
from Bishop Palmer and Rev. Kathleen Brown. Nominations for the 2015 awards are now being accepted via the
forms below. Deadline for all nominations is April 20.
Denman Award Nomination for Clergy http://files.ctctcdn.com/d20bd20a001/42bf3bc3-cac4-4c64-92ed-396b648a6c54.pdf
Denman Award Nomination for Lay Person http://files.ctctcdn.com/d20bd20a001/42bf3bc3-cac4-4c64-92ed396b648a6c54.pdf
Denman Award Nomination for Young Person http://files.ctctcdn.com/d20bd20a001/bd92872e-0382-4dc2-8f2cb69fce15f8d1.pdf
Northwest Plains Compass
The Northwest Plains Compass is published monthly. News releases relating to the Compass should be emailed to:
[email protected] or mailed to: Northwest Plains Compass, Northwest Plains
District United Methodist Church, 910 E. Third St., Ottawa, OH 45875.
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