Announcements
Pastors’ meeting set for Nov. 8
An All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting will take place Nov. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Upper Sandusky Library in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Everyone attending should bring a packed lunch. Coffee is not available on site, so those desiring coffee should bring their own coffee thermos. For the first all-pastors’ meeting of the year, pastors will focus on…
Four cluster meetings scheduled
Ohio Conference will hold four fall cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last about one and a half hours. The following meetings are scheduled: Oct. 2 — South Union Mennonite Church in West Liberty Oct. 4 — Toledo Mennonite Church Oct. 16 — Wooster Mennonite Church Nov. 6 — Summit…
Workshop will focus on healthy conversations
Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron will host a Healthy Conversations Workshop Nov. 9-10. Jes Stoltzfus Buller, the peace education coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee, will be the facilitator for this workshop. This hands-on workshop will give participants practice in active listening, centered speaking and healthy process in talking about difficult issues. There is no charge for the workshop, but…
Maple Grove in Hartville seeks lead pastor
Maple Grove Mennonite Church, a congregation of about 116 members in Hartville, Ohio, seeks a full-time lead pastor with a strong commitment to Anabaptist values and theology with skills in preaching, leadership, teaching, and congregational care. M.Div. degree (or equivalent) and pastoral experience preferred. For more information, contact searchcommittee@maplegrovemennonite.org.
Spread the Peace Grants available
To encourage congregations and conferences to “spread the peace” in and beyond Mennonite Church USA, the Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA has small start-up grants available. Grants of $1,000 are given as Peace and Justice Support Network (PJSN) funding allows. These grants are intended to support congregational and conference peace initiatives. The goal is to distribute…
Mennonite Disaster Service seeks volunteers for fall and winter
Mennonite Disaster Service is seeking weekly volunteers for October, November and December 2018. Join us as individuals or groups to help those affected by disasters. We are working in the following locations: Lake County, California; Pine Ridge, South Dakota; Victoria County, Texas; La Grange, Texas; Fort Myers, Florida; West Virginia; Williams Lake, British Columbia; and Puerto Rico. Serve with a…
Sept. 17 is registration deadline for ‘Reviving Hope’
Sept. 17 is the deadline to register for “Reviving Hope,” a suicide prevention training event sponsored by Camp Luz. The workshop will be held at Central Christian School in Kidron on Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The registration fee, which also covers the cost of lunch, is $15 per person. For more information or to register, go…
Register for ‘Enhancing and Equipping for Worship’
Enhancing and Equipping for Worship” is coming to Central Mennonite Church Oct. 5-6. This event featuring speaker Rachel Miller Jacobs from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, will include a variety of workshops. Register by Sept. 15 to receive the regular registration price, $20 per person. The registration fee is waived for participants ages 20 and under. For more…
The Mennonite seeks submissions on theme of health care
The Mennonite Inc. invites your original submissions for the November 2018 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on health care. Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than Oct. 1. For more details, please see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteNovember2018.
MC USA Executive Director coming to Ohio
Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, is coming to Ohio. He will visit Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City on Sunday, Sept. 23. The day’s events will include worship with Glen Guyton preaching, a question-and-answer session with Glen Guyton, a cornhole tournament with lunch provided, and an evening meeting, “Talk Back and Conversation with Glen.” If you plan to…
The Wheelhouse to hold Blessing Event
The Wheelhouse — A Christian Bicycle Cooperative will hold a Blessing Event for its new building on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 1:30 p.m. The event will take place at Elm Street Church of the Brethren, 619 E. Elm St., Lima, Ohio. There will be a time of blessing and thanksgiving for the new building. Afterward participants are invited to enjoy a…
MC USA encourages focus on immigration justice
Mennonite Church USA encourages people and congregations to “Learn, Pray, Join” together for immigration justice in August and September. Please visit the MC USA website to learn more about this initiative.
Putting ‘love your enemies’ into action
The Mennonite, Inc., invites your original submissions for the October 2018 print magazine issue and corresponding online content. The theme of this issue: What does it look like to put “love your enemies” into action today? Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than Aug. 26. For more details, see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteOctober2018.
MWC prepares worship planning materials for Peace Sunday
Mennonite World Conference (MWC) invites all Mennonite congregations to observe World Peace Sunday on Sept. 23. The theme for the 2018 World Peace Sunday is “A Renewed Peace Church Welcomes the Stranger.” MWC has developed worship planning materials for this special Sunday. To download these materials, go to www.mwc-cmm.org/peacesunday.
Videos have tips for leading adult Bible studies
Central Plains Mennonite Conference has produced a series of short videos with tips for leading adult Bible study groups. The series, titled “Open the Book,” features presenter Keith Slater, who has worked for SIL International and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He is a member of West Union Mennonite Church in Parnell, Iowa. The title of each video in the series refers…
Marriage Encounter coming in September
Open Arms Hispanic Ministry and several Wayne County congregations are planning a Mennonite and Brethren Marriage Encounter on Sept. 28-30 at the Comfort Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Berlin. Please see the Marriage Encounter flier for more information. You may also contact Raul Tadeo at 330-828-0040 or Haroldo Nunes at 330-933-9376 for more information and a registration form. Registration…
Stronger giving is needed to meet budget
A reminder from the Stewardship Ministry Team: At our Annual Conference Assembly in March delegates strongly affirmed the 2018-2019 budget. This budget allows us to hire a full-time conference minister. Currently, our congregational support is not adequate to support our budget for 2018-2019. Please consider increased support of our Conference needs, both as a congregation and as individuals. Your prayer…
Please pray for conference minister interview process
The Conference Minister Search Committee has scheduled its first round of interviews for Monday and Tuesday, July 30 and 31. Please pray for the candidates and the search committee as they seek God’s guidance in this process. — Bob Sauder, Ohio Conference moderator
Retreat to focus on responses to climate change
Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Michigan, is hosting a retreat Sept. 17-19 with the theme “Who Cares about Climate Change? Pastoral Responses to Denial and Despair.” This retreat will explore the effects of climate change on our brothers and sisters worldwide, our own locales, and ourselves. The retreat is free to Mennonite pastors. Meals and lodging are included. Others pay $225.…
‘Reviving Hope’ to focus on suicide prevention
Camp Luz is sponsoring “Reviving Hope,” a suicide prevention training event on Saturday, Sept. 22. The event will be held at Central Christian School in Kidron from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jay Trainer, a member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and founder of Infuzion, will be the presenter. The registration fee for this event is $15 per…
Conference deficit continues during June
Ohio Conference’s expenses were greater than receipts during June, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Expenses for the month were $24,784, while receipts totaled just $19,460, resulting in an operating balance of -$5,324 for the month. For the first three months of the fiscal year, the Conference’s operating balance stands at -$23,435.
Lockport Mennonite to host MDS fundraiser
Ted & Co. is bringing its newest event, “Boots, Buckets & Barrows,” to Lockport Mennonite Church in Stryker on Sunday, July 29, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. This event is part theater/part auction, to raise awareness, funds, and volunteers for Mennonite Disaster Service. The event will feature the show The Jesus Stories: Faith, Forks & Fettuccine, written by and starring Ted Swartz,…
Grant application deadline is Aug. 6
Do you have more ideas for ministries than funds to make those ideas happen? Consider applying for an Ohio Conference Ministry Grant. Aug. 6 is the deadline to submit a grant proposal to the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT). The MDT is accepting proposals from Conference congregations and related organizations for projects and mission initiatives. This year the MDT…
Register now for Pastor-Leadership Team Retreat
Ohio Conference invites all pastors and their leadership teams to an overnight retreat Oct. 26-27 in Bellville, Ohio. Duane Beck will provide input on the topic “Leadership Matters: Finding God in the Changes.” Please note that for lodging purposes, the registration deadline for this retreat is somewhat early, Aug. 27. For details or to register, go to http://bit.ly/OCLeadershipRetreat2018.
The Mennonite seeks submissions on the theme of pilgrimage
The Mennonite, Inc., invites your original submissions for the September 2018 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on the theme of pilgrimage. Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than July 27. For more details, see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteSeptember2018.
Central Mennonite to host worship workshop
Save the date: Oct. 5-6, 2018, Central Mennonite Church in Archbold is hosting Rachel Miller Jacobs for a one-and-a-half-day workshop titled “Enhancing and Equipping for Worship.” Break-out workshops, worship, food, and fellowship are planned for this educational and inspirational experience for worship leaders and planners, lay persons and pastors. Brochures will be available in August. The Worship Ministry Team at…
Prayer requested for conference minister search
On Monday, July 9, the Conference Minister Search Committee met to review candidates who have applied for the position. The Committee plans to set up a first round of interviews for late July and early August. Please be in prayer for the candidates and the search committee during this process.
Ohio Conference seeks vehicle
There comes a time in any non-profit organization when a need arises outside of budgeted expenses. That time has come for the Ohio Conference. We have found that it is less expensive to provide a vehicle for staff persons who are expected to travel many miles to perform their duties than it is to pay them mileage to drive their…
Stewardship Ministry seeks volunteers
The Ohio Conference Stewardship Ministry has been considering ways to save money for the Conference. One area of focus is expenses of the Conference office located in Kidron. The Stewardship Ministry is seeking volunteers to conduct a feasibility study. This group will review the current Conference office structure to see if/where costs can be trimmed. If you would be willing…
Learn about the Missional Discipleship Initiative
Are you interested in nurturing discipleship in your congregation? Marvin Lorenzana, director of the Missional Discipleship Initiative (MDI) of Mennonite Mission Network, is offering three information sessions for Ohio Conference people about MDI. Each session is 30 minutes long and will take place online. The MDI is one of the main initiatives of the Missional Planning Team. The online sessions…