Footnotes from the Foothills · The revival flames led the MEC out of its spiritual doldrums and...
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Footnotes from the Foothills June-July 2016 Inside this issue: Foothills Spouse Gathering at Lake- side 2 Coffee with Cyn- thia: If Only! Annual Conference Offering 3 Annual Conference Special Events 4 Devotional for Parents of New- borns by our own Joe & Alyssa Graves 5 2016 Foothills Ap- pointment Changes Lay Servant Classes for Fall Announced 6 Missionary Visits West Ohio 7 Mission U 2016 Multi Generational Camping at Wide- water Festival of Sharing Dates Set 8 Prayer Concerns Good Works Sum- mer Internships for Teens 9 Foothills District UMC From the Desk of the DS Dear Friends in Christ, I am a lifetime United Methodist. I love our Wesleyan heritage. Since General Confer- ence last month, I have been praying for a spontaneous movement of the Holy Spirit throughout our denomination, particularly in the America church. Recently, I read this reminder of history from Dr. Bill Payne, PhD., Professor of Evangelism and World Missions at Ashland Theological Seminary: "During the 1790s, a spiritual languor de- scended upon the Methodist Episcopal Church. During that decade, the church lost a full one-third of its membership. Bishop Asbury and his preachers became desperate. They called for prayer and urged the circuit riders to do those things that make for revival. Previous revivals grew early American Methodism so that it became the most spiritually powerful church in America. Coming out of the 1789 revival, people thought that the MEC was unstoppable. However, they were wrong. The missionary system that the MEC perfected and the dedicated work of passionate preachers did not make Methodism great. The Spirit of God did. After 10 years of steep membership decline, revival hit the MEC. It started at the General Conference held in Baltimore from 6-20 May, 1800. This is how Jesse Lee described the beginnings of it: "The revival of religion which took place in Baltimore during confer- ence, began particularly in Old Town, where the people held meeting in a private house. . . . The work then began to spread, and souls were converted in the different meeting-houses, and in different pri- vate houses, both by day and by night. The old Christians were won- derfully stirred up to cry to God more earnestly, and the preachers that tarried in town for a few days were all on fire of love. Such a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord had not been felt in that town for some years." Asbury said, "Our Pentecost has fully come." He saw it as an answer to prayer and believed that it would be the means by which the sagging cause of God would be re- vived in America. Of course, history tells us that he was right. The revival flames led the MEC out of its spiritual doldrums and into the Second Great Awakening. Some of our earliest Foothills Churches were established during this time as Asbury and other circuit riders held services throughout our region. For example, I recently read a story of Asbury leading a camp meeting just west of Zanesville around 1809. As the revival became more intense, the membership and the social influence of American Metho- dism surged all over the connection. Such is the power of spiritual renewal. I am looking forward to being with you next week at Lakeside for Annual Conference. My prayer for this season is this: “Do it again, God! Do it again!”
Transcript of Footnotes from the Foothills · The revival flames led the MEC out of its spiritual doldrums and...
Footnotes from the
Foothills June-July 2016 Inside this issue:
Foothills Spouse
Gathering at Lake-
side
2
Coffee with Cyn-
thia: If Only!
Annual Conference
Offering
3
Annual Conference
Special Events
4
Devotional for
Parents of New-
borns by our own
Joe & Alyssa
Graves
5
2016 Foothills Ap-
pointment Changes
Lay Servant Classes
for Fall Announced
6
Missionary Visits
West Ohio
7
Mission U 2016
Multi Generational
Camping at Wide-
water
Festival of Sharing
Dates Set
8
Prayer Concerns
Good Works Sum-
mer Internships for
Teens
9
Foothills District UMC
From the Desk of the DS
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am a lifetime United Methodist. I love our Wesleyan heritage. Since General Confer-ence last month, I have been praying for a spontaneous movement of the Holy Spirit throughout our denomination, particularly in the America church. Recently, I read this reminder of history from Dr. Bill Payne, PhD., Professor of Evangelism and World Missions at Ashland Theological Seminary: "During the 1790s, a spiritual languor de-scended upon the Methodist Episcopal Church. During that decade, the church lost a full one-third of its membership. Bishop Asbury and his preachers became desperate. They called for prayer and urged the circuit riders to do those things that make for revival. Previous revivals grew early American Methodism so that it became the most spiritually powerful church in America. Coming out of the 1789 revival, people thought that the MEC was unstoppable. However, they were wrong. The missionary system that the MEC perfected and the dedicated work of passionate preachers did not make Methodism great. The Spirit of God did. After 10 years of steep membership decline, revival hit the MEC. It started at the General Conference held in Baltimore from 6-20 May, 1800.
This is how Jesse Lee described the beginnings of it: "The revival of religion which took place in Baltimore during confer-ence, began particularly in Old Town, where the people held meeting in a private house. . . . The work then began to spread, and souls were converted in the different meeting-houses, and in different pri-vate houses, both by day and by night. The old Christians were won-derfully stirred up to cry to God more earnestly, and the preachers that tarried in town for a few days were all on fire of love. Such a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord had not been felt in
that town for some years."
Asbury said, "Our Pentecost has fully come." He saw it as an answer to prayer and believed that it would be the means by which the sagging cause of God would be re-vived in America. Of course, history tells us that he was right. The revival flames led the MEC out of its spiritual doldrums and into the Second Great Awakening. Some of our earliest Foothills Churches were established during this time as Asbury and other circuit riders held services throughout our region. For example, I recently read a story of Asbury leading a camp meeting just west of Zanesville around 1809. As the revival became more intense, the membership and the social influence of American Metho-dism surged all over the connection. Such is the power of spiritual renewal. I am looking forward to being with you next week at Lakeside for Annual Conference. My prayer for this season is this: “Do it again, God! Do it again!”
Page 2 Footnotes from the Foothills
Location: 221 Park Row, Lakeside
Monday, June 6
Noon-1:30
Foothills & Shawnee Valley
Clergy Spouses at Lakeside
2nd house over from Hotel
Lakeside facing the lake.
Join Rachel Miller and
Susie Watson for a light
lunch and time of fel-
lowship. We’ll have a
special gift for you as
well! We hope to see
you there!
Page 3 Footnotes from the Foothills
Clergy spouses are cordially invited to join Mrs. Cynthia Palmer, spouse of Bishop Gregory V.
Palmer, for Coffee with Cynthia: If Only! during the 2016 Annual Conference Session at Lakeside
Chautauqua this June.
Mrs. Palmer will be your hostess for fellowship and light refreshments on
Tuesday, June 7, 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Wesley Lodge North. Her presenta-
tion will inspire and entertain with personal reflections and "if only" stories as
she introduces her new bible study series exclusively for clergy spouses.
The series, based on the book "If" by Mark Batterson, will begin this summer
(all you need is a phone to participate) and conclude at a fall retreat and
celebration for spouses of clergy.
Registration in advance for Coffee with Cynthia: If Only! is required so that
Mrs. Palmer may provide adequate seating, refreshments and materials on
June 7. There is no cost to attend.
Seats are filling quickly so please register right away by visiting the West Ohio website at westo-
hioumc.org and clicking on Register for Events where you'll find the event listed on June 7.
There are 1,784 ifs in the Bible. The most significant? “If God is for us, who can be against us?” It’s
the game changer!
We hope you will be able to join Mrs. Palmer for a delightful, faith-filled time together at Lakeside. We
are grateful for the many and unique ways you walk in service alongside your spouses in the ministry
of making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The Annual Conference Offering will be taken on Tuesday, June 7th
The Annual Conference Special Offering this year will be devoted to seeding a bold leap forward in starting new worshiping communities and revitalizing existing congregations. I am inviting you to join me in raising at least $200,000 in this offering. Your generosity in the past makes me believe this is very doable. You are encouraged to take an offering for this purpose prior to Annual Conference and bring it with you to Lakeside where we will take up this offering on Tues-day June 7 during the morning worship service. Our gifts can make all the difference in our seizing the opportunities at hand to "make (more) disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." Bishop Gregory V. Palmer of the West Ohio Conference
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Other Upcoming
Annual Conference Events
CHECK-IN
Upon arriving at Lakeside, please check in at South Auditorium (Sixth Street between Walnut and Central Avenues) to receive your name badge and voting device. Check-in will be open at South
Auditorium on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning during the following hours: Sunday, June 5: 1:00 to 6:30 pm Monday, June 6: 7:30 am to 12:00 pm
Clergy Session This year Clergy Session will be held on Monday, June 6 from 8:00 - 10:00 am in Hoover Audito-
rium at Lakeside Chautauqua. Clergy Session is a closed session for clergy only. It will not be live streamed. Rev. Dr. David F. Watson will be sharing his wisdom regarding ministry with persons who are dis-abled.
For Lay Members
Laity Session is Sunday, June 5 at 5:30 pm in Hoover Auditorium. Workshops for lay members are scheduled at various locations at Lakeside on Monday, June 6, from 8-10 am. Rev. Dr. David F. Watson will be sharing his wisdom regarding ministry with persons who are dis-abled.
Photos for Clergy Picture Directory
With a new quadrennium comes a new Clergy Picture Directory. Pastors, please remember to stop by and have your picture taken while you’re at Annual Conference. Stop in at the Fountain Inn anytime on Sunday after 1 pm or Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday after 8 am.
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New Devotional and Journal for Parents of Newborns
The first year with a newborn is a year filled with joys, confusion, sleepless nights, doubts, fears, and love. With everything that's happening in your little one, just as much is happening in you.
Joe and Alyssa Graves have created a journal and devotional as a way to not only track your progress through the first year, but as a way to help you remember that your ultimate job as a parent is in the faith development of your child and that while your child is learning to crawl and barely speaking audi-ble words, God's Spirit is at work in their life and in yours. Read more: http://colorcanvasmedia.com/store/our-first-year-together
Name of Event: Shawnee Valley and
Foothills Ice Cream Social Date: Monday, June 6 Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Location: West Pavilion Deck
Name of Event: Evangelical Fellowship of West Ohio Annual Dinner (EFWO) Date: Tuesday, June 7
Time: 6:30 p.m. (following the conclusion of the Ordination Service)
Location: Wesley Lodge North and South
Contact info for Dennis and Rachel Miller while at Lakeside: Stone’s Throw Bed and Breakfast 221 Park Row Dennis cell 740-517-6702 Rachel’s cell 614-551-1365
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Please pray for our clergy and congregations in transition this summer
It is the intention of Bishop Gregory V. Palmer to appoint the following clergy to the Foothills District:
Steven Judson to Zanesville Central Trinity, effective July 1, 2016 Gregory Inboden to New Lexington First & Iliff, effective July 1, 2016 Richard Purvis to Dresden, effective July 1, 2016 David Miller to Stockport/Oakland, effective July 1, 2016 Kandy Nuce to Centenary (Gallia), effective July 1, 2016 Paul Wymer to Bremen Calvary, effective July 1, 2016
Our clergy appointed to a new district:
Larry Steven Fewell from Zanesville Central Trinity to Springfield High Street (MIV), effective July 1, 2016
Doug Widdowson from New Lexington First to Edon (NWP), effective July 1, 2016 Jammie Wilhelm from Hamden to Kingston (SHV), effective July 1, 2016 Angel Crowell from Rock Springs Charge to Westboro (ORV), effective July 1, 2016 Alethea Botts from Pomeroy New Beginnings to Brice (CAS), effective August 1, 2016
Our clergy retiring:
Harold Benson from Centenary (Gallia), effective June 30, 2016 Stephen Bondurant, effective August 1, 2016. Will continue to serve Pennsville & Triadelphia.
Information for Pastors Moving to New Appointments
Here are important dates for 2016-2017 clergy appointments:
June 19, 2016 - Last Sunday at current appointment June 22/23, 2016 – Move-out/Move-in Dates June 26, 2016 - First Sunday with new congregation July 1, 2016 - Effective date for 2016 appointments
2016 FTH Appointment Changes
The Lay Servant Ministry classes have been arranged for the fall. The Foothills District Lay Ministry Team will be offering the following classes:
Basic Lay Servant Ministry Class—September 30 through October 1
Basic Refresher Class for Local Church Lay Servants who need to renew—October 1
Two Advanced Courses: Core Class for Lay Speaking or recertification—Leading In Worship and Leading Bible Study—both October 1
Classes will be held at the Nelsonville First UM Church.
Registration is available on the district website at: www.foothillsdistrict.org. Go to “Upcoming Events” at the bottom of the page for more information on each class.
Fall Lay Servant Classes Announced!
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MONDAY, JUNE 27 Sylvania UMC at 7 pm 7000 Erie Street, Sylvania OH [email protected] 419-882-2205 TUESDAY, JUNE 28 Delta UMC at 7 pm 101 Northwood Drive, Delta, OH [email protected] 419-822-4195 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 Worthington UMC at 2 pm (joint event w/Church of the Messiah) 600 E High Street, Worthington, OH [email protected] 614-885-5365
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 Maize Manor UMC at 7 pm 3901 Maize Road, Columbus, OH [email protected] 614-267-4939 THURSDAY, JUNE 30 Milford First UMC at 7 pm 541 Main Street, Milford, OH [email protected] 513-831-5500 FRIDAY, JULY 1 Madisonville Korean UMC at 8 pm 6130 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH [email protected] 513-271-1434
Missionary Esther Gitobu Visits West Ohio June 27 – July 1, 2016
Have you ever wondered what life is like as a missionary? You are invited to come out and hear Esther Gitobu as she visits congregations in West Ohio. Learn how the Methodist Church in Cambodia is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a predominately Buddhist country teaming with young people. Hear how hope and new life continues to unfold in the aftermath of the genocide in which 2 million Cambodians were killed. Be inspired, and re-flect on how God is calling you to make a difference.
Page 8 Footnotes from the Foothills
The 2016 Festival Of Sharing date has been set for Saturday, September 17 at Otterbein University. The Foothills District Office will serve once again as the kit collection site and kits may be dropped off during regular business hours prior to Thursday, September 15, when kits will be picked up to be de-livered to Westerville.
FOS Dates Set
Grand Expectations – Multi Generational Camping
Calling all Grandparents and Grandkids! Camp Wide-water has an awesome camp just for you! Prepare to get wild and catch the spirit that's rampant at camp. Let loose your inner fire for God and see how four days and three nights of Fun, Faith, & Friends will charge up and change you! Grand Expectations runs June 12th-15th for ages 8-108! Register today at www.westohiocamps.org/
PO Box 67 47 Johnson Rd.
The Plains, OH 45780-0067
Phone: 888-868-1225 or
614-396-8478 Fax: 740-797-4582
E-mail: [email protected]
FOOTHILLS DISTRICT
UMC
Check us out on the Web:
www.foothillsdistrict.org
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Office Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. Lunch 12:00-1:00 p.m.
E-Mails: Office - [email protected]
Dennis Miller, DS - [email protected]
Steve McGuire, ADS - [email protected]
Merv Davis, Treasurer/Bookkeeper - [email protected]
Sherri Rogers, Office Admin. - [email protected]
Nancy Amos, Dist. Disaster Response Coordinator-
Prayer Concerns
Condolences:
Rev. Rod Brower on the death of his mother, Anita Brower. Rod serves Belpre Heights UMC.
Roger Thatcher on the death of his mother, Mary Thatcher who was also the spouse of the Rev. Wesley Thatcher who preceded her in death.
To Beverly Hogue, wife of Rev. Garry Hogue on the death of her mother, Fran-ces Zelesky.
Prayers for: Rev. Dan Smith, serving Nashport UMC.
Good Works offers two 7 week paid summer internships for teens ages 14 to 17. The internships take place June 20-August 5 and teens participate 3 days a week from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
ONE is for teens interested in learning about agriculture. To learn more about the Teen Agriculture Internship click: http://good-works.net/…/teen-agricultural-summer-internship/
ONE is for teens interested in growing in their faith. To learn more about the Kingdom Summer Internship click: http://good-works.net/internships/kingdom-summer-internship/ Maybe you know a teen in Athens County or an adjacent county that might be interested in exploring one of these. If so, encourage them to contact us. We have limited spaces so teens are urged to ask for an application soon by emailing us or calling us at 740-594-3339.
Love is a verb, Keith Wasserman
