Author: Shaquez Dickens
Initiative focuses on mass incarceration
Elkhart, Indiana — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has launched “Learn, Pray, Join: Mass Incarceration,” an initiative to raise awareness about the injustices in our criminal legal system that cause pain and suffering, especially for poor people and people of color. For more information, see https://bit.ly/LPJMassIncarceration.
Stewardship event planned at Sharon Mennonite Church
More than a dozen Mennonite churches in central Ohio will join Everence Financial® to host a special stewardship event: Weaving a Legacy – Finances God’s Way. The event will take place at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City. The afternoon will include workshops on topics such as teaching children about money, how investments can…
Anabaptism at 500 seeks 500 study groups
HARRISONBURG, VA — The Anabaptism at 500 project is looking for 500 study groups from a broad spectrum of Anabaptist communities to participate in creating the first-ever Anabaptist Bible. People from all Anabaptist traditions, including Mennonites, Amish, the Church of the Brethren, Brethren in Christ, Hutterites, and the Bruderhof, are invited to form study groups and submit their insights for…
MDS assesses damage from Hurricane Ian
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is currently assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. To donate toward relief efforts or to join a volunteer waitlist, see the MDS website: https://bit.ly/MDSHurricaneIan.
Songs & Salsa fundraiser planned
Open Arms Hispanic Ministries invites you to Songs & Salsa at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16, at Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron. This event will feature music by Honeytown. Tortilla chips will be served with a variety of salsas and dips. A freewill offering will be taken.
Missed the delegate gatherings? You can still participate in our online meeting
Thanks to all who have participated in fall delegate gatherings over the past two weeks. We thank you for taking the time to share your ideas and you vision for Ohio Conference. If you were unable to attend one of the four in-person delegate gatherings, you still can share your ideas. Next Tuesday, Oct. 4, Ohio Conference will hold an…
Foundations for Justice webinar series planned
As part of Ohio Conference’s continuing education regarding anti-racism and intercultural competency, we are offering a three-part “Foundations for Justice Series,” to be held virtually from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on three Thursdays — Oct. 20, Nov. 3, and Nov. 17. This training series will be led by Nekeisha Alayna Alexis, Intercultural Competence and Undoing Racism Coordinator at Anabaptist Mennonite…
Deficit increases slightly in August
Ohio Conference’s financial deficit increased slightly during the month of August, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts during August totaled $26,449, including $16,439 in giving from congregations. Expenses during August totaled $27,350, resulting in a deficit of $901 for the month. As of Sept. 30, the Conference’s operating balance for the 2022-23 fiscal year was -$38,885.…
Please join us in prayer on Wednesdays
As a spiritual practice during this time of discernment for the Ohio Conference, we are committing to pray together as a Conference. Please join us each Wednesday at noon for a time of communal prayer on Zoom. We will be using Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book as the resource for our time together. To participate…
Donations sought for van purchase
Grant funds have been approved toward the purchase of a van for the Akron Swahili Mennonite Church, but more funding is still needed. Please see the Akron Swahili Mennonite Van Project Flier for details on how you can contribute.
Holy Land tour planned for April 2023
In partnership with Friendship Tours (friendshiptours.com), Pastor Ryan Harker (West Clinton Mennonite) will be leading a group on a 10-day tour of Israel on April 18-27, 2023. If you are interested in taking the trip, please sign up as soon as possible. The deadline for signing up is Oct. 1. For more information, email pastor.ryan@westclinton.church, or call West Clinton at…
Lee Heights pastor to speak at ‘Women of Faith
Vikki Pruitte-Sorrells, pastor of Lee Heights Community Church in Cleveland, will be one of the featured speakers at “Leaders Inspiring Leaders: Women of Faith Conference,” Friday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 2. This conference, hosted at the Mennonite Church USA offices and the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary campus in Elkhart, Indiana, is sponsored by Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Women…
Delegate News – Fall 2022 #2
Please join us in prayer As a spiritual practice during this time of discernment for the Ohio Conference, we are committing to pray together as a Conference. Please join us each Wednesday at noon for a time of communal prayer on Zoom. We will be using Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book as the resource for…
Delegate News – Fall 2022
Delegate gatherings begin Sept. 20 Delegates: Have you registered to attend one of the fall delegate gatherings? Ohio Conference is planning five fall gatherings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Meeting dates and locations are as follows: Tuesday, Sept. 20 ─ Oak Grove Mennonite Church, Smithville Thursday, Sept. 22 ─…
Youth ministry webinar recordings available
This spring Ohio Conference hosted a series of webinars for youth workers. If you missed them, don’t worry: Video recordings of four of these webinars are now posted on the “Youth Ministry” page of the Ohio Conference website. To view them, go to https://bit.ly/OCYouthMinistry.
Sent Network equips church planters
Interested in church planting? The Sent Network is a resource from Mennonite Mission Network designed to explore, equip, and send church-planting leaders where the Spirit leads. The resource’s goal is to assess and educate aspiring church planters, as well as give them information and tools to create new communities of faith. This online resource allows potential church planters to work through 12 modules,…
MCC offers worship resource for Day of Peace
To help your church observe the International Day of Peace, which is Sept. 21, Mennonite Central Committee has created a short worship resource. Congregations can choose to celebrate and pray for peace on Sunday, Sept. 25, or another Sunday. International Day of Peace – Worship Resource
Emergency relief supplies distributed in Ukraine
Partners of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Uman, Kharkiv, Nikopol and other places in Ukraine recently distributed emergency relief supplies to more than 16,000 people. Learn more about this relief effort at https://mcc.org/stories/rockets-rosebushes-relief.
Grounding our healing in grace
Let us begin to heal. Read Proverbs 3:1-7, noting especially verse 5a: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” We are in community with each other. Many of us are hurting. Can we come together and promote healing? Maybe you don’t see it. Maybe you don’t feel it. But when you listen…
Webinar to explain health care plan
Did you know that Mennonite Church USA has a health plan? The Corinthian Plan provides health coverage for eligible pastors, church employees and their families. Learn more about the Corinthian Plan during an upcoming webinar on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. ET. Current participants of the plan are also welcome to ask questions. To register, go to https://bit.ly/Sept20CorinthianPlan.
Women’s Retreat planned for October
“Light of the World,” based on Matthew 5:14-16, will be the theme of the annual Women’s Retreat at Camp Luz in Kidron on Oct. 14-15. Although the final input session will take place Saturday afternoon, retreat participants also will have the option to stay at the camp overnight until Sunday morning, Oct. 16. Speaker for this year’s retreat will be…
Discerning God’s will together
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve…
Check out these curated resource collections
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate I know I have previously recommended CommonWord, which is a collaboration of Mennonite Church Canada and Canadian Mennonite University. This month, I’d like to highlight CommonWord’s collections of resources for a variety of topics. CommonWord has a collection of World Communion Sunday resources available for download. Traditionally, many congregations celebrate World Communion Sunday…
Praying Together as a Conference
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, Assistant Moderator Paula Snyder Belousek and Regional Pastor Sherah-Leigh Gerber introduce listeners to the Conference-wide prayer times planned for this fall. All are invited to take part in these prayer times, which will be held on Zoom on Wednesdays at noon, starting Sept. 14. We will be using Take Our Moments and Our…
Pastors meet for discernment
Photos by Sherah-Leigh Gerber By Dick Barrett Conference Minister On Aug. 23 Ohio Conference hosted a gathering of our active credentialed ministers at the Upper Sandusky Public Library. Forty-four ministers were able to attend the one-day retreat, which was facilitated by our consultant, Jeanne Zimmerly Jantzi, as part of our one-year review process. With the primary focus on discerning…
MDT awards three grants
The Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT) has awarded three grants totaling $15,225. The MDT approved these grants at its meeting on Aug. 18, 2022. Grants will provide funds toward the following projects: Community Garden — Grant funds will be given toward the creation of a community garden in Archbold. The goal of this project is to provide gardening space…
MEDA event to highlight work in Haiti
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites you to learn more about MEDA’s work of economic development in Haiti. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the Northeast Ohio Hub of MEDA will host a gathering from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Venture Heritage Farm, 13777 Arnold Road, Dalton, Ohio. The event will include authentic Haitian hors d’oeuvres and updates from the field with…
Has your congregation appointed ACA delegates?
A reminder for congregations: Please be sure your congregation has delegates appointed prior to the fall delegate gatherings in September and early October. Once your congregation has appointed delegates, please send their names and contact information to Judy King at the conference office at ohmc@zoominternet.net. This year the Ohio Conference Leadership Team is encouraging each congregation to appoint an alternate…
Congregation offers hymnals
Salem Mennonite Church in Elida has used copies of Hymnal: A Worship Book, Sing the Journey and Sing the Story that they would like to pass on to a congregation or ministry that would put them to good use. If you are interested, contact Pastor Paula at pastor@salemmennonite.com.
Retreat will focus on ‘Joy in the Journey’
Ohio Conference will hold a retreat for wives of Ohio Conference pastors on Nov. 4-6, 2022, at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin, Ohio. Miriam Zehr will be the speaker for this retreat, which will explore the theme “Joy in the Journey.” For more details, please see the retreat brochure. Register online by Oct. 7 at https://bit.ly/JoyintheJourneyRetreat.