MonValley District Newsletter...MonValley District Superintendents’ Calendar Richard K DeQuasie...

Inside this issue:

DS Calendar

C.O.M.E.

Lay Academy Info.

2

Birthdays & Anniversaries

COME Distribution 2014

3

Conference FS Update

District FS Update

Looking/Planning Ahead

4

5

Ministry & Mission News

Cooperative Parish News

UMEIT

Westover Story Time

CE Opportunities

EDRT Information

EDRT Registration

Growing Church Leaders

6

7

8

9

10

11

FEBRUARY

2015

MonValley District Office

309 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 100, Fairmont, WV 26554

Phone: 304-366-6811 ~ Fax: 304-333-0224

“COMMUNITY”

MonValley District Newsletter

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

As we review the Liturgical calendar for February we will celebrate the

season of Lent, beginning February 18. This holy celebration is initiated by Ash

Wednesday. The imposition of ashes in the form of a cross on the forehead

signifies “from dust we came to dust we will return”. Fasting during Lent is a

spiritual practice of repentance and reconciliation with Christ.

It is no secret we live in a faced-paced “me-me” world. It is easy to fall

prey to the calls of society to have things when success is often measured in

dollars and cents. It is a challenge to develop self-discipline, delayed

satisfaction, and self-denial in the face of bombarded senses from the world that

say buy-buy-buy.

However, when we reflect on Biblical teachings we are called to deny

self (fast) in order to be closer to God. In the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 6:16),

we see Jesus began His teaching by “And when you fast, don’t make it

obvious…” Notice, there is no “if” in this teaching. Jesus himself instructs us to

fast. He goes on to give us more instructions (V.17-18), “But when you fast,

comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are

fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your

Father, who sees everything will reward you.”

So what shall we fast from? Shall we fast from our obsessions with a

certain television show? Shall we fast from goods and products? Shall we fast

from the noise of the world and instead set aside that time to be in close

proximity to Jesus and hear his still small voice?

Instead of working to fatten our bank account we are to fatten our

spiritual lives by denying self and strengthening our relationship with Christ. As

in Matthew 6:19 our equity lies in “treasures stored up in heaven; where moths

and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”

Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole

world, and lose his own soul”?

Grace & Peace,

Rick

District Website

Monvalleyumc.org

MonValley District Superintendents’ Calendar

Richard K DeQuasie February, 2015

1 Super Bowl & Souper Bowl Sunday

2-3 Cabinet, Charleston

8 Preaching at Cheat Lake/Calvary Charge, Morgantown

10 Heart and Hand, 11:45 am, Crim Memorial UMC, Philippi

15 Pruntytown/Fetterman

16 Wesley Foundation @ FSU & PTCT, 4:00 pm, Fairmont

17 Clergy Meeting, 9:30 am Fellowship, 10:00 am Meeting,

Suncrest UMC, Morgantown (Lunch Provided)

18 Ash Wednesday Service, 6:00 pm, Central UMC, Fairmont

21 Lead Team, 1:00 pm, District Office, Fairmont

23-25 Cabinet, Charleston

Celebration of Mission Event 2015

The Celebration of Mission Event for the United Methodist Churches in MonValley will be held April 25 at

the Middletown Mall. Now that the Christmas season is past us, we can think about what we will donate for

the LIVE AUCTION or any other area of the COME event. If you received any new appliances, but your old

ones are useable, pack your older ones ready to donate. Men, go through your tools and donate some that you

have in duplicate. I hope those who sew or quilt will take these snowy days to make quilts, baby quilts, or

some other craft that you can donate. Would you like to give any small pieces of furniture such as small

tables? How about framed pictures, extra dishes or pottery? We need at least 100 things for the auctioneer to

attend to. Those who are in charge of planning the various activities for the day ask that your church or any

organization in the church not schedule any other activity for April 25, so the church as a whole can

participate in this event. Please be in prayer for the COME event that God's will may be fulfilled through this

great day of fellowship, fun, and mission.

Spring Lay Servant/Speaker Academy

Lay Servant/Speaker Academy in the MonValley District

has been set for

May 1-2, 2015

and will be held at

Church of the Good Shepherd UM in Grafton

Watch your district newsletter for an upcoming registration form

COMMUNITY

Birthdays Anniversaries

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY

2 Pam Bush 1 Nelson and Alice Hocking

Holly Smith 11 Bob and Tammy Phillips

Janice Smith 17 Gary and Connie Helms

Jonathan Smith 22 Steve and Linda Rhodes

Tim Wotring 27 Duane and Becky Bartrug

3 Rick DeQuasie 28 Dee and Maureen Blake

Ladoris “Tee” Roberts

8 Penny Turley

10 Christi Buckland

11 Sherry Rawlings

12 Major Rettig

13 Brenda Hunt 23 Jack Flint

14 Reba Thurmond 24 David Jones Please contact the district office

15 Mary Zinn 26 Clyde Beard with any corrections/additions/

16 Richard Bowyer Nancy Kinty deletions. Thank you.

18 Tim Bleigh 27 Brad Blanchard

21 Alma Jean Beard 29 Jenny Williams

DISTRIBUTION OF 2014 CELEBRATION OF MISSION EVENT FUNDS

RECEIVED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2014

MISSION DESIGNATED UNDESIGNATED TOTAL

PROJECT FUNDS FUNDS DISTRIBUTION

UM Foundation Trust $ 0.00 $7,215.57 $7,215.57

CDOM $1,328.00 $8,086.00 $9,414.00

Ebenezer _______$4,022.52 $5,391.48 $9,414.00

Heart & Hand $1,838.75 $7,575.25 $9,414.00

House of Carpenter _______ $4,201.13 $5,212.87 $9,414.00

Scott’s Run $2,451.12 $6,962.88 $9,414.00

Tyrand $3,192.04 $6,221.96 $9,414.00

Upshur Parish H _______ $ 683.00 $8,731.00 $9,414.00

VIM $ 670.00 $8,744.00 $9,414.00

Clarksburg Parish _____ __ $3,717.O9 $ 989.91 $4,707.00

RCW Parish $1,891.73 $2,815.27 $4,707.00

UM Coalfields Min ________$ 440.00 $4,267.00 $4,707.00

TOTALS $24,435.38 $72,213.19 $96,648.57

Submitted by Belinda Toms and Cliff Schell, WV Conference Celebration of Mission Event Co-Coordinators

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

MonValley District Conference Apportionment Update

Through December 31, 2014

Thank you for your faithfulness!

Churches that paid 100%:

Arnettsville, Asbury (Fairview), Astor, Avery, Bailey Memorial, Ballah Chapel, Bee Gum, Benton Ferry, Berea,

Bethel (Junior Circuit), Bethlehem, Birds Creek, Blackshere, Blacksville, Blueville, Boothsville, Bruceton Mills,

Buckeye, Burns Chapel, Calvary, Camp Chapel, Carolina, Cassville, Catawba, Central Chapel, Cheat Lake,

Chestnut Ridge, Christ, Colfax, Community, Concord, Corley, Crim Memorial, Cross Roads, Denver, Downs,

East High Street, Eldora, Enterprise, Evansville, Fairview (Catawba), Fairview (Morgantown),

Farmington Main Street, Fellowsville, Fetterman, First Monongah, First Shinnston, Flemington, Fort Martin,

Good Shepherd, Grace Chapel, Granville, Harner Chapel, Haught Chapel, Highland Park, Hopewell

(Bruceton Mills Circuit), Hopewell (Catawba), Howesville, Hutchnson, Jakes Run, Janes Memorial, Jerusalem,

Joetown, Johnson Chapel, Jones, Jones Run, Kanes Creek, Kasson, Kingmont, Knottsville, Lamberts Run, Levels,

Logansport, Lumberport, Mansfield, Mariah’s Chapel, Mary’s Chapel, Masontown, McCurdysville,

Meadowdale H&H Chapel, Miracle Run, Monumental, Mt. Israel, Mt. Morris, Mt. Pleasant (Harner Chapel),

Mt. Pleasant (Knottsville), Mt. Tabor, Mt. Union, Mt. Vernon (Kanes Creek), Mt. Vernon (Mansfield), Mt. View,

Mt. Zion (Catawba), Mt. Zion (Evansville), Mt. Zion (North Preston), New Hope Valley, Newburg, Oak Forest,

Olive, Otterbein, Peora, Philippi, Pine Bluff, Pisgah (Bruceton Mills Circuit), Pisgah (Meadowdale), Pleasant Creek,

Pleasant Valley, Plum Run, Pruntytown, Riverside, Rymer, Sabra, Shays Chapel, Simpson Evans Chapel, Sinclair,

Sniders Temple, Spruce Street, St. John’s, Stringtown, Sturgiss Chapel, Sugar Creek, Sugar Valley, Suncrest,

Teverbaugh Chapel, Thornton, Trinity (Fairmont), Trinity (Grafton), Tunnelton, Valley Chapel (Fairmont),

Valley Chapel (Wadestown), Victor Chapel, Wadestown, Wallace, Walnut Grove, Wana, Warren, Wesley Chapel

(Knottsville), Wesley Chapel (Rivesville Circuit), Wesley (Fairview), Wesley (Morgantown), West Farmington,

Westover, Westside, Winfield, Woodland, Ziesing

MonValley District Office Apportionment (Promotional Fund) Update

The following churches have paid 100% of their 2014 District Apportionment:

Arden, Arnettsville, Asbury (Belington), Astor, Avery, Bailey Memorial, Ballah Chapel, Barrackville, Benton Ferry,

Berea, Bethel (Belington), Bethel (S. Fairview), Bethlehem, Birds Creek, Blackshere, Blacksville, Blueville,

Boothsville, Brookhaven, Bruceton Mills, Buckeye, Burns Chapel, Calvary, Camp Chapel, Carolina, Cassville,

Catawba, Centenary, Central Chapel, Cheat Lake, Chestnut Ridge, Christ, Colfax, Community, Concord, Corley,

Crim Memorial, Cross Roads, East High Street, Eden, Eldora, Elk City, Enterprise, Esler Chapel, Evansville,

Fairview (Catawba), Fairview (Morgantown), Farmington Main Street, Fellowsville, Fetterman, First Mannington,

First Monongah, First Shinnston, Flemington, Fort Martin, Gateway, Good Shepherd, Granville, Green Hill, Gypsy,

H&H Chapel, Harmony Grove, Harner Chapel, Haymond, Highland Avenue, Highland Park, Highlawns, Hopewell

(Bruceton Mills Circuit), Hopewell (Catawba), Hoult, Howesville, Janes Memorial, Jerusalem, Joetown,

Johnson Chapel, Jones, Jones Run, Kanes Creek, Kasson, Kingmont, Knottsville, Levels, LIFE, Logansport,

Lumberport, Lynch Chapel, Mansfield, Mariah’s Chapel, Masontown, Miracle Run, Montana, Monumental,

Mt. Israel, Mt. Moriah, Mt. Morris, Mt. Pleasant (Harner Chapel), Mt. Pleasant (Knottsville), Mt. Tabor, Mt. Union,

Mt. Vernon (Kanes Creek), Mt. Vernon (Mansfield), Mt. Zion (Evansville), Mt. Zion (North Preston), Nestorville,

New Hope Valley, Oak Forest, Olive, Otterbein, Peora, Philippi, Pine Bluff, Pisgah (Meadowdale), Pleasant Creek,

Pleasant Valley, Plum Run, Pruntytown, Reedsville, Riverside, Rivesville, Rymer, Sabra, Shays Chapel,

Simpson Evans Chapel, Sinclair, Spruce Street, Stringtown, Sturgiss Chapel, Sugar Creek, Sugar Valley, Suncrest,

Talbott, Trinity (Fairmont), Trinity (Grafton), Tunnelton, Valley Chapel (Fairmont), Valley Chapel (Wadestown),

Victor Chapel, Wadestown, Wallace, Walnut Grove, Wana, Warren, Wesley (Fairview), Wesley (Morgantown),

Wesley (Rivesville Circuit), Wesley Chapel (Knottsville), West Farmington, Westover, Westside, Winfield,

Woodland, Ziesing

COMMUNITY

Looking/Planning Ahead for Your Local Church

February, 2015 through April, 2015

February

2 Presentation of the Lord

2-3 Cabinet

8 Boy Scout Sunday (Scouting Ministries Sunday)

10 Heart and Hand, Crim Memorial UMC, Philippi, 11:45 AM

15 Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday

16 Wesley Foundation at FSU/PC&TC, 4 PM

Presidents Day

17 District Clergy Meeting, Suncrest UMC, Morgantown, 9:30 Fellowship, 10 AM Worship & Meeting,

12 Noon Lunch

18 Ash Wednesday—plan a special service of the imposition of ashes and communion

21 District Lead Team, District Office, Fairmont, 1:00 PM

23-25 Cabinet

March

5-6 Cabinet

6 World Day of Prayer

7 Covenant Council

8 Girl Scout Sunday

Daylight Savings Time Begins

Haught Chapel Men’s Breakfast, 8:00 AM

10 Heart and Hand, Crim Memorial UMC, Philippi, 11:45 AM

12 District Clergy Meeting (place to be announced)

13-14 Growing Church Leaders, Dunbar UMC, Dunbar

15 One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday

16-18 Cabinet

21 District Lead Team, District Office, Fairmont, 1:00 PM

28 United Methodist Women’s Spring Meeting, Asbury UMC, Belington

29 Passion/Palm Sunday

29-4/4 Holy Week

30-4/1 Cabinet

April 2 Holy Thursday

3 Good Friday, Office Closed

4 Holy Saturday

5 Easter Day

9-10 & United Methodist Women’s Spiritual Retreat, Cedar Lakes, Ripley

11-12

13-15 Cabinet

19 Native American Ministries Sunday

Festival of God’s Creation

21 Clergy Meeting (place to be announced)

25 Celebration of Mission Event, Middletown Mall, Fairmont

World Malaria Day

27-29 Cabinet

MonValley District Conference

Sunday, May 3, 2015

COMMUNITY

Ministry and Mission News

Wesley Foundation at WVU: Ignite U is continuing in building a family on mission. We are coming into the spring semester with an exciting emphasis on reaching out to our community. This is happening in a few ways. First, we continue to have dinner together each week. These dinners are easy ways for students to bring along others who need food, community, and relationship with God. We continue to see our mealtimes draw people into community. Would you consider gathering up a few friends and preparing a meal for us on a Thursday night? We are also making blankets this semester that will be distributed to people in need of some warmth or comfort. We are tying fleece blankets as fast as our fingers can - but we need your help! If you would be willing to support Ignite U in blanketing our community, consider a $10 donation toward that cause. To help, please contact Beth at [email protected]. - Beth Johnson, Campus Ministries Director

Cooperative Parish News

Morgantown West Cooperative Parish: We are hosting a parish Youth fun night February 13 from 6 to 8:30

at Westover UMC. They will be making pizza to eat, pepperoni rolls to take and share with others and painting/

decorating bowls for Empty Bowls Soup Luncheon on February 28. Granville, Riverside and Westover Churches

are having Ash Wednesday Service at Granville UMC at 7pm on February 18th. Everyone is invited to come and

join us in this service. - Pastor Jo McCartney, Parish Coordinator

Shinnston Cooperative Parish: Greetings for the Shinnston Cooperative Parish!!! We are starting the new year

off right…we have begun to meet and make wonderful plans for the new year. It is a blessing to gather each month

not just with the Pastors of the Parish but with the Laity who are so involved in what goes on throughout our

communities. We have just completed the final distribution of our Baskets of Love Campaign. The Pastors continue

to meet weekly for lectionary studies and will begin to meet a second day of the week for a book study. Our first

study will be Revival by Adam Hamilton. We also continue to meet once a month for a meeting and for our social

time together. It is such a blessing to minister and see God working in this wonderful place. Stay tuned for more

happenings from the Shinnston Cooperative Parish… - Pastor Cindy Murphy, Parish Coordinator

COMMUNITY

Continuing Education Opportunities

in the Pittsburgh Area

We are all aware that sometimes pastors and church leaders struggle with dealing with conflict in their

congregations. Since 1983, Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC) has provided resources for conflicted

churches, in addition to training judicatory leaders and pastors in principles grounded in family systems theory useful

for managing self in the midst of anxious churches, while addressing conflict in transforming ways.

This spring LMPC will be in Pittsburgh, leading two training events for church leaders. The first will be on

March 20-21, 2015, at Pittsburgh Mennonite Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This occasion will be for a

Healthy Congregations workshop, which uses family systems theory for teaching healthy functioning in churches in

the face of anxiety and negative, reactive forces. Church Discount Coupons are available on the website,

www.LMPeaceCenter.org, to facilitate groups from the same congregation to attend together.

The second event will be Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders (MSTI), a five-day

institute of hands-on training, providing mediation training for clergy and church leaders. It is ideal for training

members of a judicatory mediation team and other leaders who work with committees, candidates for ministry, and

churches. This MSTI will be during the week of May 11-15, 2015, also at Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, Pittsburgh,

PA.

Also, available is a workshop for Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process, which provides nine days of

training that can be taken as a follow-up to the MSTI, or, taken without prior training.

Clergy, you are encouraged to attend one or more of these events. Please share these dates and information

with your church leaders and committee members. All of the brochures for the above listed workshops can be

downloaded from www.LMPeaceCenter.org. They can also send you hard copies of any of the brochures upon

request and provide electronic announcements to be easily inserted into e-newsletters and emails.

Laura Palomino, LMPC Assistant for Communications

Lombard Mennonite Peace Center

101 W. 22nd Street, Suite 206

Lombard, IL 60148

630-627-0507

“I have completed the weeklong Mediation Skills Training for Church Leaders Training and have experienced the

Healthy Congregations training as well and would be happy to talk with anyone who is interested. I recommend both

highly and the Healthy Congregations weekend is an especially helpful primer on healthy leadership.”

- Bonnie MacDonald, WV Conference Director of Leadership Formation and Ministry Support

Please keep the family of Ruth Robertson lifted in prayer.

Ruth passed away January 21, 2015

COMMUNITY

http://www.lmpeacecenter.org/













COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

Growing Church Leaders is a workshop for pastors and laity seeking to enhance the ministry of local

congregations by developing godly leaders. We will examine the crucial role of the church in developing

leaders as we explore our own strengths and weaknesses as leaders.

We’ll take a peek behind the curtain at The Chapel’s multigenerational leadership development system and

see how they have recently partnered with a 204 year old church to empower more leaders and reach more

people for Christ. Participants will walk away with practical next steps for leading change and developing a

culture of leadership development within their congregations.

About the Leaders:

Jay Hanson, Whit Kirkland, and Anne Bosarge serve at Taylors Chapel Larger Parish in Brunswick, Georgia.

This is a partnership of two churches: The Chapel, a 10 year old church plant led by Jay Hanson, and Taylors

UMC, a 204 year old congregation in need of renewed life and energy. As a part of this larger parish model,

they host three congregations and six services each weekend. Leadership Development is a big part of the

DNA of The Chapel. They intentionally develop leaders in the church starting in the fourth grade! As a part

of this two-day experience, you’ll catch a vision of the importance of leadership, learn about the programs

and systems The Chapel has used to create and empower leaders, and will leave with all the tools you’ll need

to implement your own leadership development system. In addition, you’ll hear about how they’ve led

congregations from The Chapel and Taylors UMC through the transition of becoming a larger parish sup-

porting three unique congregations.

Registration Deadline is March 6

~ Start gathering your church team to attend TODAY ~

When

Friday March 13, 2015 at 3:00 PM

-to-

Saturday March 14, 2015 at 4:00

PM

Where

Dunbar United Methodist

Church

1401 Myers Avenue

Dunbar, WV 25064

Contact

Okey Harless

Dunbar United Methodist Church

304-768-4872

[email protected]

MonValley District

The United Methodist Church

309 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 100

Fairmont WV 26554

Phone: 304-366-6811 Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm M-F Fax: 304-333-0224

District Office Email: [email protected]

Rick DeQuasie’s Email: [email protected]

District Office Website: monvalleyumc.org

Rev. Richard K. DeQuasie Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

District Superintendent Resident & Presiding Bishop

West Virginia Annual Conference

MONVALLEY DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

If you receive this newsletter from a printed source and would like to have it sent to you

electronically please send your email address to the district office at [email protected].

MonValley District Newsletter...MonValley District Superintendents’ Calendar Richard K DeQuasie...

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