News & Stories
Everence is accepting college scholarship applications
Everence is now accepting applications for college scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year. A college scholarship is one of the potential benefits of doing business with Everence. The Everence scholarship program encourages young people to explore the integration of faith and finances while helping them on their educational journeys. The program is open to Everence members and their children. Eligible…
Everence members help with Affordable Christmas Project
KIDRON, Ohio – Members of Everence Financial in Northeast Ohio recently purchased and donated children’s gifts to support the Affordable Christmas Project at Lighthouse Ministries in Canton. Gifts were collected throughout November at Everence Financial offices in Kidron and Hartville, and Everence staff delivered the presents to Lighthouse Ministries. The Affordable Christmas project is an annual event that makes it…
Prayer session is planned for Dec. 17
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team is committed to focusing on prayer for the Conference. (See the Leadership Team’s statement for additional information.) As part of this emphasis on prayer, the Leadership Team has planned a “GoToMeeting Prayer Session” for Thursday, Dec. 17, from 12 noon to 1p.m. EST. Everyone is invited to join the Leadership Team in prayer at that…
People or Paper
December 2015 How do we decide whether to honor the contracts we have? In our daily lives, we decide whether to honor our contracts with the ambitions we have for work, our expectations to provide for our children, a commitment to serve on a committee, planning for our education or for our retirement, etc. Time and funds are limited, and we have to make choices. As a Leadership…
Leadership Team reflects on year so far, commits to focus on prayer
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team met on Tuesday, Nov. 17. As a conference we are about three quarters of the way through our calendar year, and Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) begins to appear closer on the horizon. In the months since the last ACA, LT has attempted to work faithfully to lead and to listen to Ohio Conference. At the Nov. 17 meeting…
Register for pastor-elder retreat by Dec. 18
Dec. 18 is the deadline to register for the Ohio Conference Pastor-Elder Retreat. The retreat, which will be offered twice during February 2016, will focus on the theme “Practicing Right Relationship.” Lonnie Yoder, professor of pastoral care at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Va., will be the input speaker. The cost for this retreat is only $50 per person. The…
Excuse Me
My wife and I sometimes reply to one another when some oversight or discourtesy on our part is expressed with “Sorry!” At times the phrase comes back, “You don’t sound sorry to me!” Apparently at times our tone seems to mean more than our words and to negate their natural meaning. I was pondering the word excuse and noticed the…
Joy and Reflection at Pastor/Spouse Retreat
Pastors and their spouses experienced times of fun and personal reflection at the 2015 Pastor Spouse Retreat which was held at Mohican State Park.
Salem receives National Clergy Renewal Grant
Salem Mennonite Church in Elida has received a grant of $50,000 to enable its pastor, Paula Snyder Belousek, to participate in the 2015 National Clergy Renewal Program. Salem Mennonite is one of 144 congregations across the country selected to participate in this competitive grant program, which is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis,…
Child protection: Dove’s Nest offers speakers’ bureau
When you read headlines about child abuse or neglect, you may feel powerless to help. None of us can protect every child, all the time, but we can take steps to protect the children in our homes, churches, and communities. Do you have the tools you need to save a child from abuse or neglect? What is your faith community…
Everence members help organizations help others
KIDRON, Ohio — Everence members from Northeast Ohio recently spent a day landscaping an area outside the SpringHaven Counseling Center’s new equine assisted counseling arena near Mount Eaton. The volunteers planted evergreens that will help protect the confidentiality of clients receiving counseling services. They also created a waiting area for clients outside the arena with pea gravel and pavers. “It’s…
Wooster Mennonite to host worship event
Wooster Mennonite Church, 1563 Beall Ave., Wooster, will host a worship event Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The WHY Worship Event will focus on the theme “Worship How-Tos for You.” The day will include time for participants to worship together as well as take part in workshops. Four workshops are planned: Worship through Prayer led by…
“Spiritual Physics” of God’s Creation
“Spiritual Physics” of God’s Creation — “For every Spiritual action, there is an opposite and equal Spiritual reaction.” In quite a number of passages in the Scriptures, the above “Spiritual Law of Creation Physics” is either implied or directly stated. For example, Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT) — “Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you…
Eric and An Raber receive Regional Journey Award from Everence
KIDRON, Ohio — Eric and An Raber are the recipients of the Regional Journey Award from the Everence offices in Northeast Ohio. This award recognizes the Rabers, who live in Millersburg, as models of Christian stewardship through their use of time, talents and lifestyle choices. Created in 2001, the Journey Award highlights what people of faith are doing as stewards…
A day in the life
By Erin Dye Adriel Chaplain It is difficult to describe residential life at Adriel and our youth to who have never spent significant time in such a program. Often we get questions of “where do youth come from?” “Why are they there?” “Do they not have family?” These inquiries certainly play a role in our youth’s identity, but these details…
Wayne County churches work together
By Raul Tadeo Crown Hill, Chestnut Ridge, Salem of Wooster, Orrville and Martins Mennonite churches, all located in Wayne County, have been cooperating on special programs for more than a year now. These churches are moving forward in their evangelistic programs by working together and supporting one another in various projects. This year the five congregations united to have a…
Why do we think that we shouldn’t be having these problems?
Pastor George O’Reilly Transitional Conference Leader “Why do you think you shouldn’t be having this problem?” This question from a marriage counselor to a couple who had come to him complaining, “We shouldn’t be having this problem!” struck me as a good one to ask ourselves when we find ourselves disgruntled about difficulties we are experiencing relating to others within…
Leadership Team works on next steps
On Sept. 23, 2015, the Ohio Conference Leadership Team met with a full agenda. The Leadership Team discussed the Sept. 2 All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting which was held in Bellville, Ohio, and the review of the Five-Year Plan which had been submitted by Myron Weaver, Paula Snyder Belousek, Wes Graber and Doug Zehr. At the Sept. 2 All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting,…
Retreat focuses on spiritual practices
By Roxanne Kauffman Camp Luz hosted the 46th annual Ohio Mennonite Women’s Retreat from September 18-20, 2015, where 69 women were in attendance throughout the weekend. Sisters Michele Rae Rizoli, Willie Stoltzfus and Ginny Hostetler shared their various gifts by leading music, worship and providing input to encourage and challenge the women to slow down and find new ways to…
The Axioms of Creation’s Spiritual Physics
Over time I have been drawn to a notion of “spiritual physics” to convey how the Scriptures teach that certain principles in the spiritual matters of life are just as “built into” creation as are those “physical laws” of nature we learned in science. This principle is seen fairly readily in Galatians 6: “Do not be deceived; God is not…
How We Worship – World Communion Sunday
Beech Mennonite Church in Louisville observed World Communion Sunday on Oct. 4. The children learned about places all over the world that were celebrating communion along with us; different types of bread reminded us of the many different traditions around the world; we circled the sanctuary to receive communion; and we heard the Lord’s Prayer in German and Spanish in…
Trust
Is trust extended or earned? We generally consider this question focusing on others — especially people with whom we have some tension or disagreement. But answering how the balance of “earning” or “extending” trust is best approached should likely be considered first in regard to God. One of my favorite verses speaks to this question: “And without faith it is…
Fall 2015 Delegate News #3
Fall cluster meetings for delegates have been scheduled Fall cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly will take place during October and November. Seven cluster meetings have been scheduled: Columbiana/Pennsylvania – Nov. 19 at Midway Mennonite Church in Columbiana, 7 p.m. Lima – Oct. 27 at Salem Mennonite Church in Elida, 7 p.m. Holmes/Tuscarawas – Nov. 3 at Longenecker…
Delegate News Fall 2015 #2
Leadership Team reports progress in completing action steps On Sept. 23, 2015, the Ohio Conference Leadership Team (LT) met with a full agenda. LT discussed the Sept. 2 All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting and the review of the Five-Year Plan which had been submitted by Myron Weaver, Paula Snyder Belousek, Wes Graber and Doug Zehr. Out of this discussion came the first…
Share stories of how you worship
Ohio Conference wants to hear about how you worship. We are looking for stories, photos, and videos about how your church uses songs, original skits, art, and other forms in your worship services. For more information and an example, visit the How We Worship page. We hope this collaborative collection of worship stories can serve to inspire each other in…
Pastor-elder retreats planned for February
Update: The pastor-elder retreat at Widewater Retreat Center in Liberty Center, Ohio, has been canceled. If your pastor-elder group registered for this retreat, you are encouraged to attend the Feb. 19-20 Pastor-Elder Retreat at Camp Buckeye in Beach City instead. If your congregation’s elder group would like to attend the Feb. 19-20 retreat, please contact Coordinator of Volunteers Alysa Short…
Experiencing God in the summer
By Erin Dye Adriel Chaplain Eleven themed weeks. Ten memory verses. Forty-two youth. More than 275 hours of activities. What do these numbers represent? They are merely an outline of all that occurred during Adriel’s summer program! Many people have shared in these precious summer months at Adriel over the years and know the value of time spent under these…
FAQs regarding Ohio Conference funding
Part of the work of the Ohio Conference Stewardship Ministry is responding to questions about Ohio Conference finances. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions. I heard that the Ohio Conference has a lot of money in the bank but is asking for more. Is this true? In the current fiscal year, the Ohio Conference is experiencing a deficit.…
Randy Keeler reflects on his sabbatical with Ohio Conference
By Randy Keeler During the 2014-2015 academic year I had the privilege of spending my sabbatical year as youth ministry resource person for the Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA. Besides serving as a resource to congregations in specific situations when called upon, I also planned six workshops for youth workers in different locations around the state in an attempt…
Credentialing Ministry announces new procedures
The Ohio Conference Credentialing Ministry Team (CMT) would like to announce several new procedures they will be using: CMT member LaVonne Hartman will be the person who contacts pastoral candidates to set the time of their interview and to make sure they have turned in the needed documents on time. These tasks were formerly done by the regional pastors. The…