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Foothills District UMC
Footnotes from the
Foothills
January 2015
Inside this issue:


From the DS’ Desk
2
Safe Sanctuary
Training
UM Motorcycle
Association Organizational Meeting

Smaller Church
Ideas

Vietnam Trip Information Meeting

Lay Servant
Classes 2015

At-Large Lay
Members

Pastoral Appointments

“Listening, for
Heaven’s Sake”

Camp Asbury
Dates for 2015

TARRP Training

Confirmation
Camp

Prayer Concerns

Special Giving
Sundays
3
4
5
6
7
Dear Friends in Christ,
Happy New Year to each of you! We've had a terrific year in the Foothills District
with many things to celebrate and we're looking ahead to a great and exciting year in
2015.
Is there anything you hope to change in 2015? I have one thing: I want to find a way
to, in the words of John Ortberg, ruthlessly eliminate hurry from my life. It seems
these days we are distracted by so many things. We hold soundbyte conversations
and never know if we are coming or going!
Kirk Jones in his book, Addicted to Hurry, notes that our rushed and hurried lives
keep us from seeing clearly, from listening carefully, from thinking deeply and from
savoring life. Without our realizing it, our hurried lives are making us sick emotionally, relationally, physically and spiritually. I have personally fought this demon of
hurry for several years. After completing our Easter worship services several years
ago, I checked myself into the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack! After two
days of testing, the doctor concluded my condition was stress related.
It is my hope this year to change the pace a bit and to learn how to really live as God
intended. I hope to help you think about this as well. The truth is that for all our talk
about spirituality, “spirituality rarely involves rushing.” There is no short cut to the
spiritual life. There are not 10 simple answers or 12 easy steps to break the addictions that rob us of the fullness of life. It takes some doing and some being.
Perhaps there is a false dichotomy between being and doing anyway. After all,
sometimes the only thing you can really do for someone is to just be with them.
Please don’t settle for just being busy when you can be peace. In the middle of all
the details that seem to demand your attention, take a few moments today to …
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Dennis Miller
Page 2
Footnotes from the Foothills
Dear Foothills District Church Leaders,
Jesus said "Let the children come to me".
It is our desire to make our churches and ministries places of invitation, welcome and safety. Places where children and youth experience the profound love of God and the Christian witness of adults who
work with them. Yet all of us are well aware of the abuses that go on
in our culture and society where adults harm the lives of children and
youth. None of us are naive enough to think that it can't happen where we live. But we can do everything in our power to try and reduce the risk of it happening in the churches and ministries we participate in and lead.
Over the next few months, we will be making an intentional effort to make sure that every one of our
churches - larger and smaller - have a Safe Sanctuary Policy in place and abide by it. We want to
protect both the young people in our care as well as the adults that work with them.
So... we are asking that the pastor and several persons from every church in our District come to the
following training. It is the right thing for us to do and should be a priority for all of us that love children and youth. (I will be attending the training event.) If you already have a policy in place then
please bring it with you so you can refer to it throughout the training. There is always room for improvement! If your church does not have a policy then you will be given the tools to create one that
is right for your context and congregation. Please don't assume that because you have no children
or youth currently in your church that you do not need to come. This is one way to plan for the future
and anticipate the day when they will come and you can be ready!
We look forward to seeing you at the training!
Sunday, January 11, 1:30-4:00 p.m. at The Plains UMC
You must register your team for one of the above events. To do so, please go to the WOC website,
www.westohioumc.org and click on “Register for Events”. Scroll through the list of events until you
find the date of the one you wish to register for. If you have questions about how to register, please
contact Sherri at the District Office.
In Christ’s love,
Dennis Miller
The Ohio chapter of The United Methodist Motorcycle Association will be meeting at
the West Ohio Conference office in Worthington, Ohio on February 12, 2015 at 10 a.m. This will be
an informational and organizational meeting. The Association has the mission of taking the Word of
Jesus Christ to the world, beyond the walls of the congregational buildings. Any professing Christian
who enjoys riding motorcycles in ministry, or who does not
ride but still desires to support the ministry is welcome to
attend this first meeting. Ideally, there will be at least one
representative from each district in attendance at this meeting. For questions or further information, contact:
Rev. Becky Ploughe
[email protected]
419-906-7964
Page 3
Footnotes from the Foothills
Smaller Church Ideas…Connecting with your Community
Winter can be hard on the body and the soul. A survival kit is a great encouragement to everyone
who receives one. The kit may contain a packet of facial tissue, lip balm, hand sanitizer/lotion and
throat lozenges. The cost is minimal as you can generally find these items in multi-packs fairly
cheaply at your dollar store. Or if you want to really get your church name in front of people on a continuing basis, you can purchase some of the items in bulk with your church name and information imprinted on them.
You can aim your distribution on campuses, parks, sporting events, shopping malls, commuters,
downtown, etc. Hit sidewalks as people make their way out to lunch or right after work as people
make their way to their car.
Don’t forget to include a connection card with your church’s information and service times and when
people see how nice the kit is, they will likely strike up a conversation giving you the opportunity to
share why you and your church are doing this!
Foothills District Mission Trip to Vietnam
April 27-May 7, 2015.
You are invited to travel with the Foothills District Mission Team
to Vietnam, April 27-May 8, 2015!
Robbie Scott, Brent Watson and Dennis Miller will lead a group from
the Foothills and Shawnee Valley Districts where we will be visiting
the United Methodist Center in Ho Chi Minh City, teaching at the
Wesley College, visiting United Methodist house churches and
orphanages, sharing our testimonies and life stories, experiencing the Vietnamese culture and touring the villages. We will also
remember the sacrifices of American soldiers during the war.
TRIP BROCHURES are available. Please call the district office
or email Dennis at
[email protected] if interested.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING – January 18, 2015
A trip informational meeting will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. for anyone interested in learning more. The meeting will be held at the Foothills District Office, 47 Johnson Rd., The
Plains, Ohio.
Page 4
Footnotes from the Foothills
LAY MINISTRY CLASSES SCHEDULED FOR SPRING-SUMMER
The next round of Lay Servant ministry classes will be held on March 13-14, 2015.
We will be offering the Basic Class for persons new to Lay Servant Ministry who have been recommended by their pastor and Charge Conference or their church’s administrative body. Students must
attend both the Friday and Saturday Sessions to receive credit for the class.
The $25 Fee includes the student book, lunch on Saturday and snacks.
On Saturday, March 14 there will also be two Advanced Courses offered:
Leading in Worship (1 of 6 Core Courses for Lay Speaking)
Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts (1 of 6 Core Courses for Lay Speaking)
These classes are for persons who have been recommended by their Charge Conference to pursue
Certification or Recertification as a Lay Servant or as a Lay Speaker.
The $35 Fee includes student book, lunch on Saturday and snacks.
All of the above classes will be held at Faith UMC in Zanesville, Ohio.
In addition we will offer a third and fourth Advanced Course from the Core Curriculum later in the year.
Leading in Prayer will be held on May 16, 2015 at the Hocking Hills UMC in Logan, Ohio and Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts on August 22, 2015, also at the Hocking Hills UMC.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming events. Registration forms will be sent to our current list of Lay
Servants/Speakers and to those who have been recommended at this year’s Charge Conference.
At-Large Members to Annual Conference Needed
District At-Large Lay Delegates. Each District is allotted a certain number of At-Large Lay Delegates, including youth, to balance the clergy vote at Annual Conference. We want to have good representation this year, as we have many churches in our district who are unable to send persons to conference. There are a few At-Large openings available. If you are interested in serving, contact the district office and your name will be placed on our list of available persons. As the time draws closer we
will finalize our At-Large delegation.
Change in Pastoral Appointment
Bishop Gregory Palmer announces the following Foothills District appointments:
Brian Weber, to Marietta Faith Norwood Charge, effective January 15, 2015
Randy Hardman, to Union Furnace, effective February 1, 2015
Page 5
Footnotes from the Foothills
217 Muskingum Avenue, Zanesville OH 43701
740-297-8121 [email protected]
Listening For Heaven’s Sake
Equip your members and volunteers to build genuine trust and openness with good
listening skills.
You will learn how to:
Build healthier relationships with God, yourself, and others.
Improve your ability to communicate true warmth and acceptance nonverbally.
Listen with deeper understanding, caring, and insight.
Show that every individual has true value and worth as a person.
Help others without getting anxious or overinvolved.
Recognize invisible communication barriers.
Recognize adverse advisors.
Respond with warmth, empathy and respect.
Friday, January 23, 6 to 9 p.m. and
Saturday, January 24, 8 a.m.to 5 p.m.
At Rolling Plains UMC
3350 Moxahala Park Road, Zanesville
Facilitated by Bruce Fulcher, certified EMI trainer, and Kathe King,
LifeBridge Healing Center mentor.
Cost for practitioners $25.00, Others $30.00.
Price includes book and lunch.
Please Register by January 16 at LifeBridge.
Asbury Summer Camp Dates for 2015:
June 7-12
Elementary Camp
June 21-26
Cluster Camp (High/middle school)
June 29- July 1 Intro Camp
July 12-17
Middle School
Page 6
Footnotes from the Foothills
TARRP Event – March 14 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Re-Claiming Our United Methodist Heritage
United Methodists have impacted our world in amazing ways – with hospitals, schools, prison reform,
publishing houses, orphanages, and forwarding thinking in the need for higher education for all people.
UM’s have impacted lives here, and around the world, through its connectional system; implementing
mission wherever it’s needed.
Dr. Paul W. Chilcote, the Academic Dean of Ashland Theological Seminary, and Professor of Historical
Theology & Wesleyan Studies will lead us in the common areas of our EUB & Wesleyan Heritage, remembering our traditions, recovering spirituality, social action, and holiness – all ways to strengthen
our relationship with God and equip us in connecting to the lost and hurting people in our communities.
Bring a team, to discover our impact upon the world and what the UM denomination can continue to be.
We will review many ways we practice our faith, and learn who we are called to be, so churches and
individuals we can keep moving forward in mission and ministry. The UMC makes disciples in Jesus’
name and makes a transformational kingdom difference in their communities and around the world.
The Location 8 miles east of Interstate 71:
Three Crosses: A United Methodist Fellowship
12 Cleveland Street
Butler, OH 44822
How to Register: Contact Rev. Debra Ketcham at [email protected] or 614-5802382
Cost: $25.00 for one; $23.00 each for two;
$20.00 each for three or more from the same church or charge
CEU's Available: .6 (6 hours of class)
2015 CONFIRMATION CAMP
The West Ohio Conference is offering two Conference Camps as an enhancement of your church’s church
confirmation program. Students already involved in the confirmation process at their church may attend a great
winter/spring retreat designed to supplement the confirmation experience. This weekend retreat will provide
students an opportunity to explore their own faith journey through selected topics such as: Personal Relationship with Christ, Discovering and using Spiritual Gifts, and Understanding our Wesleyan Tradition. This is a fun
opportunity for youth to connect with other young believers in a camp and retreat setting. Youth will be able to
meet other confirmands, attend powerful worship, outdoor activity, debrief within small groups, and enjoy great
meals.
There are two options of dates and camp locations to choose from. This retreat is recommended for students
in grades 6-9. Please one church leader per gender per six youth.
Group registrations must be received at the selected camp, 3 weeks before the event.
Option #1: Friday, February 20 - 7 pm to Sunday, February 22, 2015 - 10:30 am. Location: CAMP WIDEWATER - 4050 County Road 424, Liberty Center, OH 43532
Option #2: Friday, March 20 - 7 pm to Sunday, March 22, 2015 - 10:30 am. Location: CAMP WESLEY, 653
Twp. Road 37 E, Bellafontaine OH 43311
Price: $95 students, $39 adult leaders, $79 early bird registration (for students only). The deadline to receive
the early registration cost of $79 is January 30 at Widewater and February 27 at Wesley!
Page 7
FOOTHILLS DISTRICT
UMC
PO Box 67
47 Johnson Rd.
The Plains, OH 45780-0067
Prayer Concerns
Rev. John Williams, pastor at Gibisonville-Rockbridge Charge
Phone: 888-868-1225
Fax: 740-797-4582
E-mail: [email protected]
Rev. Dr. Dennis Miller, D.S.
Rev. Robbie Scott, Asst. to the D.S.
Sherri L. Rogers, Office Administrator
Merv Davis, Treasurer/Bookkeeper
Special Giving Sundays In
January 18—Human Relations Day
March 15—One Great Hour of Sharing
April 19—Native American Ministries Sun.
May 31—Peace With Justice Sunday
October 4—World Communion Sunday
November 30—UM Student Day
For more information on Special Giving Sundays or other ministries
throughout the United Methodist Church, visit
http://www.umcgiving.org
A Weekend with Jerry Lucas
Join us at the Coburn United Methodist Church for a “Weekend To Remember” on Saturday, January 31, through Tuesday, February 2. Over these
dates, former Ohio State and NBA Basketball Great, Jerry Lucas, will be with
us! Beginning with our seventh annual Muskingum Christian Athletic Leadership Breakfast on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and continuing on Sunday at 8:00
a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and climaxing on Monday, February 2, and Tuesday,
February 3, Jerry Lucas will be presenting his world renowned Memory Program. The author of over 60 books, Jerry Lucas is known throughout the world
as “Dr. Memory.”
After speaking at the Muskingum Christian Athletic Leadership Breakfast on
Saturday, Mr. Lucas will continue the weekend with speaking on Sunday in
both the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. worship celebrations about "Improving
Family Relationships". Then on Monday evening, at 7:00 p.m. he will present,
"Learning Made Fun and Easy" and he will conclude on Tuesday evening at
7:00 p.m. with "Names and Faces Made Easy". With the conclusion of this
program on Tuesday, Mr. Lucas will share his testimony of Christ.
Check us out on the Web:
www.foothillsdistrict.org
The family of Coburn United Methodist Church of Zanesville invites all to
come and discover faith in Jesus Christ! The Coburn United Methodist Church
is located at 3618 N. Maple Avenue across from the Colony Square Mall in
Zanesville. Please come and join us! For more information please contact
the church office at 740-454-0186 or [email protected].