Announcements
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…
Please join us in prayer this Saturday
Unite for the Search: Online Prayer Meeting. Please join us as we unite in prayer for the search for a new conference minister. Using the GoToMeeting Web conferencing program, we’ll connect on Saturday, July 7, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Please use the information below for logging in to the online meeting: Prayer Time – Conference Minister Search Saturday, July…
Time is changed for July 8 training
Please note: The time for the July 8 Missional Network Training at Zion Mennonite Church has been changed to 4-7 p.m. Questions? Contact Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg at jsringenberg@gmail.com. To learn more about the Ohio Conference Missional Network, please see http://bit.ly/OCMissionalNetwork.
AMBS plans fourth Rooted and Grounded Conference
ELKHART, Indiana (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) — Registration is now open for the fourth Rooted and Grounded Conference on Land and Christian Discipleship, which will be held Sept. 27–29, 2018, at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. “Building on the conversations of the Rooted and Grounded conferences in 2014, 2015 and 2017, we are very excited to continue bringing together people from across…
The Mennonite seeks submissions focusing on 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.
Fall retreat planned for pastors’ wives
Ohio Conference will hold a Pastors’ Wives Retreat Nov. 2-4 at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin, Ohio. Cost of this retreat will be $115 per person. The Steiner Family Charitable Fund has made five fully paid scholarships available for those who need financial assistance in order to attend this retreat. Please contact the Ohio Conference at 330-875-5421 or…
New pastor orientation set for Aug. 12-13
Ohio Conference will hold a new pastor orientation Aug. 12-13. Pastors who are new to the Ohio Conference are invited to attend this overnight event free of charge. Spouses are also invited. Lodging will be at the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites in Orrville. Participants will visit the Ohio Conference office in Kidron and other organizations related to the Conference, such…
MennoMedia to publish Voices Together song collection
The new worship and song collection for Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada will be called Voices Together. The new hymnal will be available in fall 2020 in a variety of formats. Read the full news release from MennoMedia at http://bit.ly/MennoMediaVoicesTogether.
MC USA releases ‘Pathways’ study guide
Mennonite Church USA has released a study guide, “Pathways,” to invite churchwide engagement in the denomination’s two-year Journey Forward process. The “Pathways” study guide, available online at http://mennoniteusa.org/resource/pathways-study-guide/, invites congregations and groups across Mennonite Church USA to engage in studying Scripture, singing, praying, storytelling, exploring Anabaptist history and values, and discussing how they see God working in their lives. The “Pathways”…
The Mennonite seeks submissions focusing on church planting
The Mennonite, Inc., invites your original submissions for the August 2018 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on church planting. Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than June 22. For more details, see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteAugust2018.
MMN offers Service Adventure
Thinking about taking a gap year after high school? Serve, learn, and develop your leadership skills through Service Adventure. For more info, visit www.MennoniteMission.net/ServiceAdventure or contact SusanN@MennoniteMission.net.