Announcements
Church planting conversation set for Oct. 15
Individuals from around Ohio Conference are invited to participate in Visible Kingdom Communities, a church planting conversation, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ohio Conference office, 5358 Kidron Road, Kidron. For those who cannot attend in person, a video conferencing option will be available. If you would like to take part in this conversation, please…
Concert to benefit Open Arms
Open Arms Hispanic Ministry is hosting “Songs and Salsa,” an evening concert in the Kidron Park Community Building, 4434 Kidron Road, Kidron, on Sunday, Oct. 13, beginning at 6 p.m. The musical group Honeytown will be performing, as will the worship team from Salem Mennonite Church in Wooster. There will be a variety of chips and salsas available. A freewill offering…
World Communion Sunday to be celebrated at Central
Join in celebrating World Communion Sunday on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. at Central Christian School in Kidron. This worship service is a partnership of several local Mennonite churches and the Swahili Community Church of Akron, a Congolese Mennonite congregation. The event will include prayer, scripture, communion, and worship offerings from the Salem Mennonite dance group, Congolese Swahili choirs, and…
Fundraiser to benefit Wycliffe
Beech Mennonite Church in Louisville is hosting a fundraiser for Wycliffe Ministries on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will include helicopter rides, activities for children, and motorized surrey rides. Lunch will be available. Beech Mennonite Church is located at 10037 Easton St. NE, Louisville. See the event flier for details.
Healthy Boundaries training to be offered in Michigan
All pastors credentialed by the Ohio Conference are required to complete Healthy Boundaries training. Ohio Conference first offered this training in 2017 and 2018. For pastors who have not yet completed this training, Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference is hosting a Healthy Boundaries 101 training course Nov. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Amigo Centre in Sturgis, Michigan. Instructors John…
New president appointed at AMBS
The Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) Board of Directors has appointed David W. Boshart, Ph.D., of Wellman, Iowa, as the seminary’s next president, to begin Jan. 1, 2020. Beverly Lapp, Ed.D., vice president and academic dean, will continue to serve as acting president until then. To learn more, see http://bit.ly/NewAMBSPresident.
AMBS forms partnership with Bethany and Earlham
Bethany Theological Seminary, Earlham School of Religion and AMBS have entered into an open cross-registration agreement — the first collaborative effort of its kind among seminaries of the three Historic Peace Church traditions: Church of the Brethren, Quaker (Society of Friends) and Mennonite. The new agreement allows eligible students at the Indiana-based seminaries to enroll in most courses offered by…
The Mennonite seeks submissions for November issue
The Mennonite Inc., invites your original submissions for the November 2019 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on the theme “Journeys with Church.” Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than Oct. 1. For more information about this theme, see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteNov2019.
Immigrant care kit drive is underway
Open Arms Hispanic Ministries is coordinating a drive to collect immigration detainee care kits, which are being distributed by Mennonite Central Committee Central States and its partner, the South Texas Response Team. These kits, which contain clothing and hygiene products, are given to individuals who are being released from detention centers. On Oct. 2 Orrville Mennonite Church is hosting an…
MC USA shares a call to prayer and action
Mennonite Church USA has shared a call to prayer and action in response to gun violence following the mass shootings in Gilroy, California; El Paso, Texas; and Dayton, Ohio. Along with a prayer of lament for the lives lost, the statement includes a list of suggested action items for churches and links to resources from Mennonite Central Committee and RAWtools.…
Webinar to focus on dealing with politics
Make plans to attend the fall webinar series from Mennonite Church USA for pastors and congregational leaders, “Putting Jesus on the Ballot: Anabaptism and American Politics,” led by Scott Peterson, leadership pastor at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Arizona. This series will include three webinars, with the first on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Learn more and register at thegatheringplace.us.
Blog post shares couple’s experiences
Stan and Sue Short of Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold shared their experiences for April Yamasaki’s recent blog post, “When Your Wife’s the Preacher.” Sue is one of the three members of Zion’s collaborative ministry team. You can read the blog post at http://bit.ly/PreacherWife.
MMN to launch Sent Network for church planters
Interested in church planting? This month Mennonite Mission Network is launching the Sent Network, an online group learning curriculum for Anabaptist church planters. Registration is open until Aug. 19. To learn more, see the enclosed flier and visit www.MennoniteMission.net/SentNetwork.
Golf scramble to benefit Adriel
Adriel will hold its annual benefit golf scramble Monday, Sept. 9, at Eagle Rock Golf Club in Defiance, Ohio, starting at 12:30 p.m. The entry fee for this fundraising event covers greens fees, golf cart, dinner after the scramble, and chances to win a variety of prizes. All proceeds benefit children and families in need in Ohio through Adriel’s foster…
One room remains for Pastor-Spouse Retreat
Thinking about attending the Ohio Conference Pastor-Spouse Retreat? There is still room for one more couple to attend this event, which will take place Nov. 15-17 at the Mills Park Hotel in Yellow Springs, Ohio. For more information about the retreat, please see the retreat brochure at http://bit.ly/2019RetreatBrochure. To register online, go to http://bit.ly/2019Pastor-SpouseRetreat. If all rooms have been reserved…
Time is running out to apply for grants
Do you have an idea for ministering to your community but aren’t sure how to fund it? There is still time to apply for an Ohio Conference Ministry Grant. Aug. 5 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…
Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale to include online bidding
The 54th Annual Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale and Auction will take place Aug. 2-3 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wooster. New this year is the option to purchase quilts online at www.ohiomccreliefsale.org. Until Aug. 1 a select number of quilts are available for purchase at posted “buy it now” prices. Quilts not purchased by Aug. 1 will be added…
MDS seeks volunteers
Mennonite Disaster Service has an urgent need for volunteers in several locations, including Puerto Rico. Please see https://mds.mennonite.net/volunteer/current-needs/ for details.
Women’s Retreat set for Sept. 13-15
Jeanne Zimmerly Jantzi, superintendent of Central Christian School, will be the featured speaker at the annual Women’s Retreat at Camp Luz Sept. 13-15. She will focus on the theme “Be Strong and Courageous,” based on Joshua 1:9. Registration cost for the full retreat is $95. Reduced prices are available for those not staying overnight at the camp. To learn more,…
MWC Peace Sunday is Sept. 22
Mennonite World Conference (MWC) invites all Mennonite congregations to observe World Peace Sunday on Sept. 22. The theme for the 2019 World Peace Sunday is “A peace that passes all understanding….” MWC has developed worship planning materials for this special Sunday. To download these materials, go to http://bit.ly/MWCPeaceSunday.
Apply now for Ministry Grants
There is still time to apply for an Ohio Conference Ministry Grant. Aug. 5 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 ministry initiatives. This year the Conference has $24,750 available for grants. To submit your proposal, go to…
Online newsletter offers convention news
Curious about what happened at MennoCon19? Take a look at the convention newsletter at http://mennoniteusa.org/kcsauce.
Peace center seeks new executive director
The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC) is searching for a new executive director. The current executive director, Rev. Richard Blackburn, is stepping back from that role at the end of 2019, having filled the role since 1983. He will continue to be available as needed to assist with the transition process, which will include providing leadership for LMPC’s major training events, until…
Early registration deadline nears for Mediation Skills Training Institute
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is holding a five-day Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders Aug. 5-9 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. Participants will acquire 32 contact hours that they can apply towards continuing education credits. To register for this interdenominational training event, fill out and submit the registration form on…
Sermon focuses on SENT, sharing good news
In April Alex Dye, associate pastor at Oak Grove Mennonite Church in West Liberty, attended SENT 2019, a conference sponsored by Mennonite Mission Network. Recently Alex preached about sharing the good news of Christ and about SENT 2019. Curious about what he had to say? Listen here: http://bit.ly/SENTSharingGoodNews.
Special concert planned at MennoCon19
The Mennonite Piano Concerto, written by Victor Davies and performed by the piano duo Redekopp and Edwards, will be a featured evening event on July 4, 2019, starting at 7:15 p.m. at MennoCon19, the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. This one-time performance will feature Karin Redekopp Edwards of Lombard Mennonite Church and her duo-piano partner and husband,…
Sign up to receive daily newsletter from MennoCon19
Can’t be at the Mennonite Church USA convention? Sign up to receive daily news, photos and highlights during MennoCon19 on July 2-6: http://bit.ly/MennoCon19Newsletter.
MDS responds to flooding and tornadoes in western Ohio
The Western Ohio Unit of Mennonite Disaster Service has been responding to damage caused by flooding and tornadoes during May. Read the MDS report for more information: http://bit.ly/2019OhioMDSReport.
The Mennonite seeks submissions on health care
The Mennonite Inc. invites your original submissions for the September 2019 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on the theme “Faith-filled responses to health-care costs.” Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than July 29. For more details, please see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteSept2019.
Looking for newer car for regional pastor
Due to a recent car-deer accident, the Conference is looking for a vehicle to replace a 2012 model with more than 170,000 miles. We are looking for a car that is newer and has approximately 50,000 miles. If you or someone you know might be willing to donate a car to Conference or perhaps have a lease which is soon…