foothills district umc foothills · 2020. 1. 1. · page page 3 footnotes from the...
TRANSCRIPT
Footnotes from the
Foothills December 2015
Inside this issue:
IMPPORTANT
Changes!!!
Office Holiday
Schedule
2
DS Available to
Share Arctic Circle
Adventure
Important Upcom-
ing Events
3
Holy Spirit Seminar
at Ginghamsburg
UMC
4
Parish Health Min-
istry Conference—
Alzheimer’s & De-
mentia Care
5
West Ohio Histo-
rian of the Year
Nominations
6
Winter Camping
Events
7
Prayer Concerns 8
Foothills District UMC
From the Desk of the DS
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Last month, CNBC, CNN, Fox News and other media outlets have reported that Star-bucks' new holiday coffee cups have set off complaints that the chain is making “War on Christmas.” It seems that some Christian coffee lovers are a bit perturbed at the lack of yuletide flavor. Previous Starbuck cup designs have included all sorts of holi-day accessories from scarves to ornaments to snowflakes. Even one presidential contender weighed in on the Christmas Cup controversy during a November rally in Illinois.
While I appreciate what these individuals are trying to do, the focus seems to be mis-placed. The Children’s Defense Fund of Ohio reports that southeast Ohio continues to lead the state in poverty. With over 30% of our children living in poverty and over 35% receiving food stamps (47.1% in Vinton County), how could we conclude that the absence of yuletide decorations on coffee cups deserve our outrage? The real ques-tion isn’t whether there’s a war on Christmas. It’s which war we ought to be waging in the name of Christmas. With a black tar heroin epidemic destroying our rural commu-nities, the absence of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from a $4.95 Venti Pepper-mint Mocha seems insignificant.
Let us never forget that Jesus Christ can't be excluded from Christmas! Christmas is Jesus’ day - as is every day of every week. I agree that Jesus is often eclipsed by our cultural Christmas practices, but absent? Not a chance. The question is not about how we can keep Christ in Christmas? Rather, the question is this: how can we take what is central to the season and place it on open display for the world to see? How can we help others see the reality of Jesus standing firmly at the center of Christmas?
I would like to suggest that since Christmas is the story of God coming to us in flesh - a story of incarnation - we might want to ponder what it means for us to live out the incarnation. What would it mean for you to be present in a place of need, a place that isn’t tidy and glittery, a place where people are broken and feeling the weight of a broken world? How can we embody the story of Christmas by being the very presence of Jesus to our neighbors? Here are five suggestions:
Page 2 Footnotes from the Foothills
1. Do some volunteer work at one of our district missions such as: Belpre Area Ministries, C.A.R.E. UM Outreach of Vinton County, Harvest of Hope in Marietta, Lifewell Mission in Zanesville or Meigs County Cooperative Parish.
2. Listen to a nursing home resident recall memories of Christmas past.
3. Consider spending less this year on your own family and instead sponsor a poverty-stricken child in an underdeveloped country or a United Methodist missionary through UMCOR.
4. Make and deliver a meal to a neighbor who needs it. 5. Serve with your small group or knock on some neighborhood doors with Christmas cookies in
hand. 6. Ask your pastor how you can you can help the church prepare for guests on Christmas Eve. Christ holds his place at the center of this season. We need not worry about that. But our world will never know this truth unless we make it real. Let’s push the envelope beyond familiar religious sym-bols, songs and decorations on yuletide coffee cups. Let’s embody the story of Christmas. Let’s prac-tice incarnation. Merry Christmas!
Dennis Miller
FOOTHILLS E-MAIL IS CHANGING!!! We are currently in the process of switching out our current e-mail addresses at the Foothills District Office. The current addresses will continue to work through December, but will be phased out com-pletely by year’s end. Please place the following NEW e-mail addresses for the Foothills District Staff in your e-mail ad-dress book: The Foothills District Office: [email protected] District Superintendent, Dennis Miller: [email protected] Asst. to the DS, Steve McGuire: [email protected] Office Administrator, Sherri Rogers: [email protected]
The district office will be closed for the Christmas-New Year holiday from December 24-January 1.
We will resume normal business hours beginning Monday, January 4.
Office Holiday Schedule
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This past August, District Superintendent Dennis Miller rode his motorcycle from Ohio to the Arctic Cir-cle in northern Alaska and back - 9,500 miles in 20 days, in which 16 of those nights were spent in a tent. The ride raised $12,000 for Imagine No Malaria and generated nationwide awareness of our United Methodist mission initiative. Dennis has put together a 60 minute inspirational presentation on his adventure based on the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. He is available to speak to church groups of any size on the following dates:
Saturday mornings: January 23, February 13; March 5 Sunday evenings: January 24; February 7, 14, 21; March 6 Tuesdays: January 19, 26; February 2, 23; March 8 If you desire for Dennis to speak at your church event, please email him at [email protected] with your desired date. Dates are scheduled on a “first-come, first-serve” basis.
Looking For A Special Speaker
For Your Next Church Event?
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Leadership Training Day—March 12 at the Rolling Plains UM Church in Zanesville, Ohio.
Clergy Retreat Weekend—April 22-23 at Burr Oak Lodge in Glouster, Ohio.
2016 Spring District Conference—May 1, 6:00 p.m. at Grace UMC in Zanesville, Ohio
More information about these upcoming events will be shared at a later time as the details are completed. We wanted you to be aware now so that you could save these dates so that you will not miss out on these awesome opportunities.
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DATE: December 4, 2015 SPEAKERS: Dr. James W. Goll, Dr. Mark Virkler Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Place: Ginghamsburg UM Church, 6759 S. County Rd. 25A, Tipp City, Ohio CEU’s: 0.6 (add $10 fee for CEU Certificate) Registration Information: www.united.edu under “Events” or www.holyspiritseminar.org Contact: Laura Weber at 937-529-2201 or [email protected]
Dr. James W. Goll is the President of Encounters Network, the Interna-tional Director of Prayer Storm, and the Founder of God Encounters Training—an eSchool of the Heart. He is a member of the Harvest Inter-national Ministries apostolic team and an instructor in the Wagner Lead-ership Institute. With great joy James has shared Jesus in more than 50 nations teaching and imparting the power of intercession, prophetic min-istry, and life in the Spirit. James is the prolific author of numerous books including The Seer, The Lost Art of Intercession, The Coming Israel Awak-
ening, Deliverance from Darkness, A Radical Faith and many others.
Dr. Mark Virkler is the founder of Communion With God Ministries (www.CWGMinistries.org) and Christian Leadership University (www.CLUOnline.com), an online university where the voice of God is at the center of every learning experience. Dr. Virkler has written more than 50 books in the areas of spiritual intimacy and growth. His writings are designed to draw the learner into revelation-based learning. Dr. Virkler has received a Master of Theology from Miami Christian Univer-sity and a Ph.D. from Carolina Christian University. Dr. Virkler has also been included in “Who’s Who in the World” many years since 2000, and “Who’s Who in American Education” in 2006.
Page 5 Footnotes from the Foothills
Parish Health Ministry - Refresh Your Soul
Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Caring & Communication that Works
Friday, March 4, 2016 at 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Tri County Assembly Church in Fairfield, Ohio (northern Cincinnati)
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
Still Alice: Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease Understanding what it feels like to have Alzheimer’s gives us a chance at empathy, compassion, and real connection. Keynote presenter, Dr. Lisa Genova, will share her passion, motivation, and insights gained in writing the bestseller, Still Alice, about a college professor diagnosed with early-onset Alz-heimer’s disease. She will inspire attendees in ways to connect with those with dementia when com-munication and real connection are difficult. Meeting the Needs of the Whole Person: Spiritual Wellbeing is a Critical Part of Care Teepa Snow will challenge you to consider the whole person when caring for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementia. You will gain a better understanding of the importance of spiritual wellbeing and its relationship to physical, cognitive, emotional and social health. Changes that occur as the disease progresses and how they affect one’s ability to express and meet spiritual needs will be explored. Most importantly, she will share key strategies which are effective in helping a person with dementia gain or maintain their spiritual health. Improving Our Supportive Care and Communication Through her extraordinary and unique presentation style, Teepa Snow will highlight the memory, lan-guage and impulse control problems experienced by one with dementia and how those problems af-fect communication. She will demonstrate some of the typical behaviors of care providers and loved ones in response to these problems and offer more effective techniques to enhance communication through the early, middle and later stages of dementia. Dr. Lisa Genova is the bestselling author of Still Alice and a Harvard-trained neuro-scientist. Still Alice is the story of an accomplished Harvard professor who is diag-nosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and it changes her life — and her rela-tionship with her family and the world — forever. Lisa has appeared on the Today Show, Dr. Oz, the Diane Rehm Show, CNN, Chronicle, Fox News, and Canada AM and was featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary film, To Not Fade Away. The National Alzheimer’s Association awarded her with the Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award in March 2015.
Teepa Snow is one of America’s leading educators on dementia. Working as a Registered Occupational Therapist for over 30 years, her wealth of experience has led her to develop Positive Approach™ to Care techniques and training models used by families and professionals working or living with dementia or other brain changes throughout the world. Currently, she has an independent practice as well as clinical appointments with Duke University’s School of Nursing & University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She is an enlighten-ing, witty, entertaining, and energetic speaker.
LUNCHEON WITH TEEPA SNOW—A limited number of seats are available through online registra-tion only for an additional cost of $25.00.
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CONTACT HOURS:
Nursing 5.2 hours This offering has been approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing through the OBN Approver Unit at Up-per Valley Medical Center OBN-005-92.
Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage & Family Therapist The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage & Family Therapist Board has approved 5.25 clock hours of professional continuing education. Approval #MCST031601.
Nursing Home Administrators The Board of Executives of Long-Term Services and Support has approved 4.75 course hours #001-L-16.
Occupational Therapy Approved by the Ohio OTPTAT Board - OT Section 4.75 Contact Hours Approval #150551.
Physical Therapy Approved by OPTA for 4.75 CEUs Approval #15S2158. REGISTRATION INFORMATION
All registrations include continental breakfast, box lunch and event materials. Registration without contact hours $59 on or after Feb. 8th - $69 Registration with contact hours $85 on or after Feb. 8th - $95 To register, visit http://www.parish-health-ministry/refresh-your-soul-conference
WEST OHIO HISTORIAN OF THE YEAR
Each year the United Methodist Historical Society of Ohio (UMHSO) recognizes the Church Historian of the Year as well as those churches celebrating significant anniversaries (100 years or more, in 25 year increments). The West Ohio Conference Commission on Archives and History is responsible for gathering nominations for the Historian of the Year award and the significant church anniversaries for West Ohio. The Historian of the Year and church anniversaries will be recognized at the Annual Meet-ing and Convocation of the UMHSO on April 23, 2016 at Seville United Methodist Church. All are in-vited to attend. Registration materials will be available in January at www.umhso.org.
The deadline for receiving nominations, including rationale and supporting material, for Historian of the Year is March 6, 2016. Criteria for the award can be found on the UMHSO website. All nominees will receive a certificate with the winner receiving a plaque. The deadline for receiving church anniversary notifications is March 6, 2016. Each church will receive a certificate recognizing its anniversary. Historian of the Year nominations and anniversary notifications may be sent to Sandra Nihiser at 976 Hopewell Heights Drive, Heath, OH 43056 or [email protected]. Questions? Con-tact Sandy at 740-323-4031 or Carol Holliger (Archivist, AOUM) at 740-368-3285, [email protected]
Page 7 Footnotes from the Foothills
Upcoming Events
Winter Camp at Otterbein (15779 Cox Road, Logan, Ohio, 43138)
Enjoy Winter Camp fun with warm campfires, hot chocolate, cold nights, cool games, wagon rides and downhill sledding, snow or no snow at Camp Otterbein during your Christmas break. We will celebrate the season of Jesus’ birth with worship, teachings and a cool blast of fun.
Date: Sunday, December 27 1:00 PM through Tuesday, December 29 7:00 PM
How to Register: Visit www.westohiocamps.org
Cost: $95 per student (early discount $79 by December 1) $39 per adult; includes lodging, food and activities
Contact: Scott Seese 740-385-5712, [email protected]
Recommended for:
Children and youth ages 7-17
Sponsored by: West Ohio Conference
Camping & Retreat Ministries
Winter Camp: For First Year Campers at Widewater (4050 Old County Road 24, Liberty Center,
Ohio, 43532)
First year opportunity for campers to experience camp at Camp Widewater in the winter during Christ-mas break. Come feel the chill in the air as we celebrate Jesus’ birth in worship and teaching. Activi-ties include wagon rides, camp fires, winter games and great meals. Individuals or groups welcome! Widewater—
Date: Sunday, December 27 2:00 PM through Tuesday, December 29 5:00 PM
How to Register: Visit www.westohiocamps.org
Cost: $95 per student (early discount $79 by December 1), $39 per adult; includes lodging, food and activities
Contact: Eric Witte 419-533-5900, [email protected]
Recommended for: Children and youth ages 7-17
Sponsored by: West Ohio Conference Camping & Retreat Ministries
Confirmation Retreats
Students starting the confirmation process this fall within their local congregation will want to attend a great retreat designed to supplement the confirmation experience. Confirmation Re-treats are a fun opportunity for youth to connect with other young believers in a camp and re-treat setting. There are three date options and camp locations to choose from. We require that a church group send one adult leader per gen-der for each six youth.
Recommended for: Middle school students in grades
6-9 that are part of a confirmation class at their local
church.
Experience Camping Fun All Year Round!
PO Box 67 47 Johnson Rd.
The Plains, OH 45780-0067
Phone: 888-868-1225 Fax: 740-797-4582
E-mail: [email protected] Rev. Dr. Dennis Miller, D.S.
Rev. Dr. Steve McGuire, Asst. to the D.S. Sherri L. Rogers, Office Administrator
Merv Davis, Treasurer/Bookkeeper
FOOTHILLS DISTRICT
UMC
Check us out on the Web:
www.foothillsdistrict.org
Page 8
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Office Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. Lunch 12:00-1:00 p.m.
E-Mails: Office - [email protected]
Dennis Miller, DS - [email protected]
Steve McGuire, ADS - [email protected]
Merv Davis, Treasurer/Bookkeeper - [email protected]
Sherri Rogers, Office Admin. - [email protected]
Roger Thatcher, Dist. Disaster Response Coordinator-
Registration: westohiocamps.org or email [email protected] for groups
Cost: $95 students (early discount for students $79 by March 1, 2016) $39 adult lead-
ers; includes retreat materials, lodging, meals and activities
Camp Otterbein—15779 Cox Road, Logan, Ohio, 43138
Date: Friday, March 4, 2016 7:00 PM through Sunday, March 6, 2016 11:00 AM
Contact: Scott Seese, 740-385-5712, [email protected]
Camp Wesley—653 Twp Road 37 East, Bellefontaine, Ohio, 43312
Date: Friday, March 11, 2016 7:00 PM to Sunday, March 13, 2016 11:00 AM
Contact: Phil White, 937-592-1571 [email protected]
Camp Widewater—4050 Old County Road 24, Liberty Center, Ohio, 43532
Dates: Friday, April 8, 2016 7:00 PM through Sunday, April10, 2016 11:00 AM
Contact: Eric Witte, 419-533-5900, [email protected]
Prayer Concerns
Prayers for:
Rev. Joyce Smith—Pastor at New Marshfield Charge
Rev. Stephen Bondurant – Pastor at Pennsville & Triadelphia
Rev. Dr. Walt Goble-Pastor at Albany & McArthur
Rev. Dr. Steve McGuire—Assistant to the Dist. Supt., recovering from surgery