monvalley district newsletter · church or charge would like to explore a relocation to this...
TRANSCRIPT
Dear MonValley Clergy and Laity –
It’s been my joy to join you in the area and begin learning about the
mission and ministry that our congregations are doing. Certainly there are many
miles to be traveled and new names to learn!
I appreciate the time that I’ve had to work alongside Rick Sale and wish
he and Carol all the best as they begin the next phase of their lives together in
Arizona. Rick has been a wise and competent teacher. Karla has been a kind and
gracious teacher as I’ve settled in the office on Cleveland Avenue.
I’m looking so forward to hearing more about what your church is doing
to make disciples of Jesus Christ in the days and weeks to come. I plan to travel
about in the parishes, meeting clergy and seeing our 168 churches.
These hills and valleys are precious to me. I know that God is richly
blessing the ministries carried out by our churches. When I meet you, I want to
know what you want to celebrate about your church. We are on this journey of
disciple making together. I want to learn from you and help share what we learn
in the District.
I also know that there are many who do not yet know Christ and others
who would find life and hope in the body of Christ if we found ways to include
them in our community. Who are the people in your neighborhood looking for
hope? Where could you offer Christ outside the walls of your church building
that someone might come to understand that God loves them? Is there a coffee
shop down the street? Or maybe there is a teacher who could use a hand in the
classroom? Or maybe there is a Girl Scout or Boy Scout troop just looking for a
place that would welcome their energy and excitement?
Please feel free to be in touch with me in the days and weeks to come.
I’d like to know what’s going on in your community and church so that I can
learn as much as I can about the District. I’d love to dream together. Give me a
call some time. You can contact me at [email protected] or by phone at
the District Office at 304.366.3611.
Blessings -
Amy
Inside this issue:
DS Calendar
Prayer Concerns
New DS Installation Service
Property for Sale
2
Farewell & Welcome
District Clergy Picnic
3
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Conference Fair Share
District Fair Share
Mission & Ministry News
4
5
UM Men’s Picnic
Parish Coordinators News
Parish Coordinators News
District Parsonage Report
New Beginnings
Jr. District Youth Camp
Sr. District Youth Camp
6
7
8
9
JULY & AUGUST
2018
“COMMUNITY”
MonValley District Newsletter
MonValley District Superintendents’ Calendar Amy Shanholtzer
July and August, 2018
JULY
4 District Office Closed for Independence Day Holiday
21 District Lead Team Meeting, 1:00 pm, District Office, Fairmont
22 DS Preaching at Wesley UMC, Morgantown
22-25 District Junior Youth Camp, Camp Muffly
25-28 District Senior Youth Camp, Camp Muffly
29 New District Superintendent Installation, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm, Spruce Street UMC, Morgantown
AUGUST
4 District Clergy Picnic, Suncrest UMC Pavilion, Morgantown, 12 Noon
15-23 DS Out
25 District Lead Team Meeting, 1:00 pm, District Office, Fairmont
Prayer Concerns Around the District
The family of Darroll Courtney, who passed away June 28, 2018
Aldene and Pam Davidson, health concerns
John Flynn’s mother who recently underwent stent and pacemaker implant
surgery
Harold Langevin’s grandson, William, health concerns
Becky Stewart, health concerns
The Family of Reverend Elizabeth “Betty” Smith Wycoff, who passed on
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
District Superintendent Installation Service and Welcome Reception
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Spruce Street United Methodist Church
386 Spruce Street, Morgantown
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Please come and join in the celebration as we welcome the new MonValley District Superintendent,
Amy Shanholtzer and her family.
Property Sale (¶2540 3.d)
LIFE United Methodist Church has relocated to 3000 Technology Drive in Fairmont. Their previous site at
1564 Mary Lou Retton Drive, Fairmont will become available for potential purchase in the future. If your
church or charge would like to explore a relocation to this property, please contact Larry Buckland -
COMMUNITY Page 2
COMMUNITY
Welcome New Clergy and Family
Central-Trinity Brad Bennett
Cheat Lake-Calvary Shawn Weaver and Family
Community-Johnson Chapel Lisa Crone and Family
Good Shepherd Matthew Dotson and Family
Howesville (Birds Creek & Howesville) Rick Bloom and Family Lumberport-Otterbein Sam Cale, IV and Family
Meadowdale Randy Vincent
MonValley District Superintendent Amy Shanholtzer and Family
Nestorville Ron Gamble
Spruce Street Neil Leftwich and Family
Suncrest Michael Estep and Family
Trinity-Warren Ethan Rapking
Valley Chapel-Benton Ferry David Hall and Family
Westover Karen Tate
Goodbye, Best Wishes and Thank You
Timothy Allen and Family (Retired, MonValley District)
Brad Blanchard and Family (Medical Leave, Wesleyan District)
Andrew Burd Harris (Susquehanna Conference)
Tim Halloran and Family (Lewisburg, Greenbrier District)
Hal Hevener (Retired)
Junius Lewis
Kerry Lilly (Retired, MonValley District)
Kelly Martin (Union, Western District)
Rose “Jo” McCartney (Retired, Wesleyan District)
Terry Osborne
Gina Stewart
Andrew Tennant and Family (First, Sistersville & Friendly, Northern District)
Congratulations To
Donna Anderson (Fairview)
On becoming a Locally Licensed Pastor at Annual Conference, 2018
MonValley District Clergy and Family Picnic
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2018
SUNCREST UMC PAVILION, MORGANTOWN
We will eat at 12:00 Noon
Page 3
Please brin
g your
family
and a co
vered
dish to
share
. The
district
will p
rovide
table se
rvice an
d
drinks.
Hope to se
e
you th
ere!
Page 4 COMMUNITY
Birthdays Anniversaries
JULY JULY
2 Gina Stewart 1 Greg and Sue Lewis
5 Jami Edin 2 Shawn and Connie Weaver
6 Martha “Polly” Norton 6 John and Linda Brosky
8 Cindy Boggs 11 Jay and Julia Cline
Mary Meighen 12 John and Donna Allen
10 Alice Hocking 18 Russell and Rosemary Furr
11 Jay Cline 22 Jack and Betty Flint
12 Tammy Phillips 23 Gilbert and Barbara Hart
Florence Wilkins Roger and Lois Sandy
13 Mark Harris 27 Tom and Charlene Strahin
Matthew Johnson 29 Allen and Lisa Crone
15 Charlene Hamrick 30 Gary and Roberta Steele
Lesa Wotring
16 Yvonne Shaver
19 Joyce Thomas
20 Carolyn Kerr
23 Barbara Hart
24 Sam Haught
Ralph Wycoff
26 Neil Leftwich
Gary Steele
30 Minnie “Jo” Moore
Becky Stewart
31 Harry Holbert
Jennifer Sayers
AUGUST AUGUST 4 Nancy Merrifield 1 DD and Mary Meighen
6 Karen Tate 5 Sam and Debra Cale
7 Kerry Lilly 10 Brian and Connie Long
10 Dave Freeman 11 Daryl and Sandy Shue
11 Betty Matheny 13 Martin and Sandra Berisford
Susan Peters 15 Greg and Lynn Cartwright
Jim Steele 16 Scott and Jenny Williams
12 Wanda Brosky 17 John and Wanda Brosky
Bill Kinsey 18 Randy and Janet Flanagan
14 Julie Dotson 19 Ron and Deborah Gamble
16 Greg Lewis Harry and Martha Holbert
17 Martha Holbert 21 David and Alicia Jones
Mary Belle Rowe Clarence and Joyce Thomas
19 Janet Graddy 23 Richard and Faith Bowyer
25 Grace Haught 30 John and Delisa Riley
26 Suszann Haught
28 Gilbert Hart, Jr.
Jim Kerr
29 Sarah Fuqua
30 Rotha “Ruth” Hall
31 John Brosky, Sr.
Page 5 COMMUNITY
MonValley District Conference Apportionment Update
Through June, 2018 ~ THANK YOU for your faithfulness!
Churches that have paid 100%: Astor, Ballah Chapel, Blackshere, Buckeye, Community, Corley,
Downs, Evansville, Hopewell (Catawba), Joetown, Johnson Chapel, Jones Run, Kingmont, Knottsville,
Lamberts Run, Mt.Tabor, Mt. Zion (Evansville), Oak Forest, Olive, Peora, Pisgah (Bruceton Mills Ct.),
Plum Run, Sugar Creek, Valley Chapel (Wadestown), Wadestown, Wesley (Fairview), West Farmington,
Winfield
Churches that are ahead: Arnettsville, Barrackville, Bee Gum, Bethlehem, Boothsville, Burns Chapel,
Colfax, Denver, Eldora, Enterprise, Fellowsville, Fort Martin, Good Shepherd, Harner Chapel,
Highland Park, Janes Memorial, Jones, Laurel Point, LIFE, Mariah’s Chapel, McCurdysville,
Meadowdale H&H Chapel, Mt. Israel, Mt. Moriah, Mt. Pleasant (Harner Chapel), Mt. Vernon
(Kanes Creek), Pine Bluff, Pleasant Valley, Rymer, Sabra, Trinity (Grafton), Tyrone, Victor Chapel,
Warren, Wesley (Morgantown)
Churches that are on target (50.00%): Berea, Brookhaven, Bruceton Mills, Carolina, Central Chapel,
Concord, Fairview (Catawba), Hopewell (Bruceton Mills Ct.), Hutchinson, Jerusalem, Kanes Creek,
Kasson, Levels, Lynch Chapel, Mansfield, Monumental, Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Vernon (Mansfield), Mt. View,
New Hope Valley, Spruce Street, St. John’s, Valley Chapel (Fairmont), Walnut Grove, Wana,
Wesley Chapel (Knottsville), Westover
MonValley District Office Apportionment (Promotional Fund) Update
The following churches have paid 100% of their 2018 District Fair Share
Arnettsville, Asbury (Belington-Junior Ct.), Astor, Bailey Memorial, Barrackville, Bee Gum, Berea,
Birds Creek, Blackshere, Blueville, Boothsville, Brookhaven, Bruceton Mills, Buckeye, Calvary,
Camp Chapel, Carolina, Catawba, Central, Central Chapel, Colfax, Community, Concord, Corley,
Crim Memorial, Downs, Eden, Eldora, Elk City, Esler Chapel, Evansville, Fetterman, Flemington,
Fort Martin, Gateway, Good Shepherd, Granville, Gypsy, Harner Chapel, Highlawns, Hopewell (Catawba),
Hutchinson, Janes Memorial, Joetown, Jones Run, Kanes Creek, Kingmont, Knottsville, Lamberts Run,
Levels, LIFE, Logansport, Mansfield, Mariahs Chapel, Miracle Run, Montana, Monumental, Mt. Morris,
Mt. Pleasant (Harner Chapel), Mt. Pleasant (Knottsville), Mt. Tabor, Mt. Vernon (Kanes Creek),
Mt. Vernon (Mansfield), Mt. View, Mt. Zion (Evansville), Nestorville, Olive, Peora, Pisgah
(Bruceton Mills Ct.), Pisgah (Meadowdale), Pine Bluff, Pleasant Valley, Pruntytown, Sabra, Spruce Street,
Sugar Valley, Talbott, Trinity (Grafton), Tunnelton, Tyrone, Valley Chapel (Fairmont), Wadestown,
Wallace, Wana, Wesley (Morgantown), Wesley Chapel (Knottsville), Wesley Chapel (Rivesville Ct.),
West Farmington, Westover, Westside, Winfield, Ziesing
Mission and Ministry News
Wesley Foundation at WVU: Greetings from Ignite U, the United Methodist campus ministry at WVU. I am
currently enjoying all that Morgantown has to offer in the summer recess, including, and perhaps most importantly,
little traffic! But I look forward to when students will arrive back to Morgantown in a few short weeks, bringing with
them excitement and new beginnings. If you know any students who will be starting their journey at WVU, please
contact me so that I can welcome them. Also, it always helps if you talk with them about sharing their contact
information with me. If you know WVU students who need a place to connect on campus, regardless of whether they
are first year students or seniors, please put them in touch with me. Fall will be here before we know it and it always
helps to connect with students as early as possible. Thank you for your support of campus ministry. I appreciate your
prayers as Ignite U continues to reach out to students at WVU. - Beth Johnson, Campus Ministry Pastor
Page 6 COMMUNITY
Picnic at East Marion Park
July 10, 2018
Sponsored by MonValley District UM Men
On July 10th (Tuesday) between 5:00 and 8:00, men of the MonValley District are invited to bring their
families to the East Marion County Park (Wave Tek) at pavilion #2 (behind the Wave Tec pool). The pic-
nic dinner will be held at 6 pm. Each family should bring a covered dish. The executive board of the
UMM will provide the hot dogs and hamburgers and the cold drinks.
The Wave Tek pool will be available for the going rate. The mini golf course will be available for $1 per
person per round. Tennis courts, horseshoes, and badminton court will be available. The park has under-
gone some renovations, so it will be nicer than usual this year.
If you are going to be attending, please give Ray Richardson a call at 304-366-8457 or email at
[email protected] by July 6th (Friday). We need to know how many hot dogs and burgers to
buy. We will plan to have some music and a devotional after the meal.
Parish Coordinators News
Fairmont Urban Cooperative Parish: The Fairmont Urban Parish is excited to begin a new year together. We
welcome Pastor Brad Bennett to the parish as newly appointed to Central and Trinity United Methodist Churches.
We look forward to seeking new opportunities to do and celebrate ministry together. Our first gathering will be with
our Fairmont East Parish colleagues and our new District Superintendent, Rev. Amy Shanholtzer, Monday, July 16th,
11am at Cracker Barrel in Fairmont. - Larry Buckland, Parish Coordinator
Morgantown West Cooperative Parish: The Morgantown West Parish would like to extend a warm welcome
to our new District Superintendent, Amy Shanholtzer. The Parish is involved in several events for the months of July
and August. The Monongalia Charge has been active and blessed in fundraising efforts to support their ministries and
would like to extend an invitation to join the charge in Bible study. The studies begin at 6:30 pm on Tuesdays at
Cassville UMC and Wednesdays at Pleasant Valley UMC. Wana UMC will host their Annual Homecoming
Celebration on Sunday, July 15, at 12:30 p.m. A covered dish lunch is planned with meat, beverages and rolls
provided by the church. Westover UMC will host VBS on Friday July 27 and Saturday July 28. In addition,
Blacksville UMC will host a special performance by the Sonshine Puppet Ministry from Elkins August 4 at 4 pm.
- John Brosky, Parish Coordinator
North Marion Cooperative Parish: I’m Danny Blake (PTLP) on the Carolina charge and coordinator of the
North Marion Parish. We would like to extend to our new DS, Rev. Amy Shanholtzer, a hearty welcome to the
MonValley District. We look forward to working together in our shared ministries and service to our Lord Jesus.
The North Marion Parish will be holding its annual picnic on July the 17th at 6:00 pm at Mannington Park. We invite
you to come and spend time with people who care, as well as enjoy some good food. The Carolina UMC will be
holding its annual Giveaway event this Saturday on July the 7th at 8:00 am. All items are offered free to anyone who
has a need. There will be many items to choose from. Come out and see if there might be something you need.
Check out our website. - Danny Blake, Parish Coordinator Continued...
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Taylor County Cooperative Parish: Greetings from the Taylor County Cooperative Parish. Our last meeting
saw a flurry of activity since we have been gearing up for the Back-to-School Bash to be held July 22nd from 2-4p in
conjunction with the Calvary Baptist Church and Family Resource Network. Assembling the back packs will occur
on July 18 at 7p at the Calvary Church on Rt. 119. Food and prizes were divided between churches as well as school
supplies. "Foot lockers" for the teachers at each school will also be packed. One of our newest ministers, Rev. Matt
Dotson and his son Ethan were present for the meeting and welcomed by all present. It was wonderful to hear that
the scholarship fund is doing so well at $10,553.55, remembering that the $2,000.00 from the recent scholarship
awards has not gone out yet. Business was approved for a donation to help Aldene Davison get a ramp into her home
since her last fall broke a bone above the hip and her left elbow. Stairs are a problem. Keep her and Pam in your
prayers. Our next meeting will be September 25 at Mt. Pleasant UMC. Have a wonderful summer and God bless
until the next time! Respectfully submitted, - Judy Flynn, Parish Coordinator
MonValley District Parsonage Report
For many years, the Committee on District Superintendency and District Trustees have explored the
possibilities for bringing the District parsonage into compliance with WV Conference Parsonage Standards.
The current parsonage at 938 Pine Hill Drive in Fairmont was purchased 54 years ago. After considering
renovation, it was decided that a new parsonage was a better option.
District trustees considered many available homes in several communities in the district, most of
which were not in compliance with conference parsonage standards and could not affordably be brought
into compliance. In May, the Trustees and Superintendency committee viewed a property at 6 Cherrybrooke
Lane in Fairmont. With minor modifications, at an estimated cost of $6,500, this property fulfills all of the
disciplinary and conference standards.
A District Conference was held on May 31, 2018 to approve the plan to obtain a new parsonage.
The District Conference approved the purchase of the new parsonage, the sale of the old parsonage and the
establishment of a loan for the purchase with Fairmont Federal Credit Union. The District Trustees are still
in the process of completing the purchase and sale. We will continue to report on progress. Special thanks
to Harry Holbert, District Trustees chairperson, and Vicki Sheppard, Committee on District
Superintendency chairperson, for their commitment to this work.
New Beginnings
After 29 years of dedicated, faithful service, Karla Bragg will be leaving the administrative
assistant’s position of the MonValley District Office. Karla has been a consistent encourager, a deep well
of faith and information and a great gift to the district. She will be missed in our lives and churches very
much. We wish her well in her new career in medical coding/billing. Her last day in
the office will be August 31, 2018 so you’ll want to be sure to offer your thanks and
good wishes before she sets off on a new course.
On July 16, you may begin hearing a new voice on the phone, as we
welcome Kate Rhodes to begin training alongside Karla as the new administrative
assistant. Kate graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a Bachelor of
Arts in Christian Education in 2011. She has held several youth ministry positions,
the most recent being at the House of the Carpenter in Wheeling, WV. Kate enjoys
cooking, singing, and playing guitar. She also has a passion for photography and
web design. Please Welcome Kate!
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COMMUNITY Page 9
MonValley District
The United Methodist Church
309 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 100
Fairmont WV 26554
District Office hours are 8:30 am—4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday
Want more news from around the conference? Check out wvumc.org and communications
to subscribe to The Short Circuit, The Mountain Circuit and/or The Monthly Circuit
Phone: 304-366-6811 Hours: 8:30 am—4:30 pm M-F Fax: 304-333-0224
District Office Email: [email protected]
Amy’s Email: [email protected]
District Office Website: monvalleyumc.org
Rev. Amy Shanholtzer Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball District Superintendent Resident & Presiding Bishop
West Virginia Annual Conference
MONVALLEY DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you receive this newsletter from a printed source and would like to have it sent to you
electronically please send your email address to the district office at [email protected].