News
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021
Bishop Gregory V. Palmer has named Brad Aycock as director of Fresh Starts and New Beginnings. He has served on the conference staff for the last 5 years as the Director of New Church Development. This new role is intended to add to the training and resourcing needs of new and established churches.
In this new position, Aycock will staff the Missional Church Development Team. He will continue to lead our efforts in New Church Development and Fresh Expressions.... (read more)
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021
Knowing how to navigate the church in a pandemic is a challenge. Adapting and improving the way we lead during this season is a must. Bishop Gregory Palmer’s leadership clinics are live, online opportunities to give you access to leadership insights from local, national, and global leaders. These proven influencers will challenge and inspire you, regardless of your title or position. You’ll have the opportunity not only to hear from these leaders, but also to h... (read more)
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021
West Ohio work teams plan to return to Henderson Settlement in Frakes, KY, in the spring and summer of 2021. The SOWER Home Build Program allows teams to construct an entire house from the foundation up over the course of six weeks. Cost is $250 per volunteer, which covers room and board for one week. Funds and pledges are also needed to cover the cost of materials.
The build schedule is below:
May 2-8: Framing/roof truss/roof deck
May 9-15: Roofing/siding/i... (read more)
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021
When four Canaanville UMC members attended a West Ohio Conference Early Response Team training in 2017, they didn’t know what God had in store for them. Soon after becoming certified, the team was called out to do flood relief cleanup after the February 2018 flood in Marietta, Ohio. Six members helped clean out damaged drywall, appliances, and cabinets from the home of a family who had no flood insurance. Excited by this work, more Canaanville members became ER... (read more)
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021
It would have been easy for the Christ United Methodist Church of Columbus, Ohio to cancel their annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event because of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of an in-person event, the planning committee adjusted the prayer breakfast to a virtual event.
This annual event began seven years ago under the leadership of the Rev. Calvin Alston. One of the coordinators, Linda Wright said, “We wanted create an event for the church and c... (read more)
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021
In autumn 2020, the district superintendent of the Capital Area North District formed creative partnerships to provide flu vaccinations to communities that are high risk but have limited access to resources.
As the COVID-19 virus continued to linger, health officials began showing concern around this virus and the impact of the impending flu season. The Rev. Linda Middleburg, Capital Area North District superintendent and assistant to the bishop, decided this w... (read more)
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2021
Day 2: Maturing internally
“Abide in me as I abide in you”
(Jn 15:4a)
Eph 3:14-21 | May Christ dwell in our hearts
Lk 2:41-52 | Mary treasured all these things
Meditation
The encounter with Jesus gives rise to the desire to stay with him and to abide in him: a time in which fruit matures.
Being fully human, like us Jesus grew and matured. He lived a simple life, rooted in the practices of his Jewish faith. In this hidden life in N... (read more)
Friday, Jan 15, 2021
Day 1: Called by God
“You did not choose me but I chose you”
(Jn 15:16a)
Gen 12:1-4 | The call of Abraham
Jn 1:35-51 | The call of the first disciples
Meditation
The start of the journey is an encounter between a human being and God, between the created and the Creator, between time and eternity.
Abraham heard the call: “Go to the land I will show you”. Like Abraham we are called to leave that which is familiar and go to the place t... (read more)
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021
When four Canaanville UMC members attended a West Ohio Conference Early Response Team training in 2017, they didn’t know what God had in store for them. Soon after becoming certified, the team was called out to do flood relief cleanup after the February 2018 flood in Marietta, Ohio. Six members helped clean out damaged drywall, appliances, and cabinets from the home of a family who had no flood insurance.
Excited by this work, more Canaanville members became ER... (read more)
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I want to point your attention to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which is January 18-25. This ecumenical effort started in 1908 and has grown in scope and scale across more than a century. Christians all over the world observe. By the way, in the Southern Hemisphere it is observed between Ascension Day and Pentecost.
The theme this year is Abiding in Christ. John 15 provides a wonderful background for this theme.... (read more)