Report
on Annual Conference
Annual Conference was great this
year! The weather was in the 60’s and
70’s, there was only a sprinkling of rain on Wednesday, and the conference
itself was a blessing.
Resolutions
passed:
A
resolution against gambling in Ohio, encouraging members of local churches
to contact the Governor and their state representatives requesting that
gambling/gaming not be used as a source of revenue for the state, to actively
oppose any constitutional amendment that legitimizes gambling/gaming in Ohio,
and local churches to engage their membership in education and discussions
about the potential effect on their local communities.
Support
for Fair Trade, urging all local congregations and agencies to participate
in the UMCOR “100 ton challenge” (increasing the purchase of fair trade coffee
to 100 tons per year).
Youth
resolutions passed:
Youth
Participation, encouraging churches to include youth representatives in
committees, boards, worship and events.
YSF
Sunday,
encouraging local churches to have a special offering for YSF (Youth Service
Fund) every year.
Plastic
Free Week,
encourages recycling in the local churches, and encourages avoiding the
purchase of plastics for a full week,
Cancer
Awareness Event 2009, CCYM to organize a cancer awareness event in conjunction
with Health and Welfare Ministry to take place during Annual Conference 2009,
and
Youth
Support for Education Funding Reform, that the 2008 Annual Conference call
on all members and their youth to be strong advocates for education and
educational funding reform.
Resolution
not passed:
Support
for the Council of Bishops “Resolution on the War in
A
Day Apart
On
Wednesday, Adam Hamilton was our speaker for “A Day Apart”, with his theme
“Leading Beyond the Walls”. Adam started a new church “Church of the
Resurrection” meeting in a Mortuary in
Compass
Groups
One
of Bishop Hopkins initiatives for our conference is to organize the churches
into compass groups, a group composed of similar sized churches in the same
general area, which are to gather regularly for sharing ministry ideas. Initially, pastors only were involved in
these groups, however it was discovered that lay representatives were an
important addition. Wednesday afternoon
started with each compass group gathering to discuss and to share ideas and
contact information.
More
information
If you have
access to the Internet, the East Ohio Conference website has a complete report
of this year’s conference. Go to http://www.eocumc.com/index.html
and click on any of the items listed under 2008 Annual Conference.
Youth News from the desk of Melanie Goodman
What a month this last
June was! We prepared for VBS by collecting materials for crafts, gathering up
supplies, and recruiting helpers and teachers. We also painted five murals that
transformed the sanctuary into a rainforest. What an impression this left on
our young people! The theme this year was to share and love others, give to
others unconditionally, grow not only in body but more importantly in our
faith, and to praise God. Even though our attendance was lower than I would
have liked, God was here and was working in all of our lives. We also prepared
for an open house for the Delaware County Bi-Centennial Celebration and are
preparing for another one in August. Ashley UMC is a hub of activity that is
reaching out in a caring way to our church community.
I thank everyone who provided meals, items for
crafts, and anyone who helped with VBS or the open house. We worked as a
community and we had a fabulous week. The VBS mission project was the Common
Ground Free Store in
The youth are putting
together Health Kits and School Kits and will be taking them to the Festival of
Caring on September 2O at the Ashland Co. Fairgrounds. We are the festival to
see first hand the many different ways that we can help and to have a good
time. L I am reminded of the song "They will know we are Christians by our
Love" in the fact that when we reach out to others in Christian love we
are extending the hand of Christ to others so that they too can have
transformed lives. To me, this is a basic Christian premise.
DeColores!!
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR JULY 2008
People in Need Sunday
Please bring canned goods for collection at next
Sunday’s service, July
6th l
Hog Roast Friday July 25th from 5:30-7:30pm.
Please contribute by contacting Howard Jr. & Cindi Thatcher. Also, please bring a friend(s) to the
dinner.
A Success Story During the last week of June,
Seeking Financial Secretary For
Our Church
Carolyn Quick has served as our financial secretary
for several years. She has announced that she needs to give up this
responsibility. We thank her for her service. If you would be willing to serve
in this capacity, please contact Pastor John, Carol Freshour,
Dedra Hall, or another church
leaders. The responsibilities of this position include collecting the
Sunday morning offering, counting, recording, and depositing the funds into the
bank, sending a weekly report via e-mail or USP to the pastor, treasurer, and
the finance chairperson, sending a financial statement quarterly to
approximately 20 homes, replacing contribution envelopes in the pews, sending
an acknowledgment to all memorial donors, and attending monthly financial
meetings.
Parsonage Sold.
The Trustees closed on the Parsonage in June. Net
proceeds are in the $71 to 72,000 range. At the July
meeting, the Trustees will make a low risk investment decision.
Dr. Mary Scholarship Fund
Dr. Mary provided a scholarship fund for Ashley-UMC
college students. Several persons have already contributed to the initial
investment. If you are led to do the same, please send your contribution to the
Ashley UMC with a notation for the Dr. Mary Scholarship Fund. The rules governing
this fund will be developed by the church leadership in compliance with Dr.
Mary’s wishes and through consultation with the Kuhn family.
Thank you
Bob Henry is doing very well and extends his thanks
to all for their prayers and concerns.
Remember Our Homebound Members
Doris Graham, Sara Moore Home 26
Sylvia Gray,
Mary Kay Piatt, Ashley Manor,
Jeanette Meyers, 16 Northrup
Street,
Lucille Carroll,