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. . .The Canal District United Methodist Church Newsletter. . . R e v . E d P e t e r s o n , D i s t r i c t S u p e r i n t e n d e n t , C a n a l D i s t r i c t

The miss ion of the Canal District UMC is to make and mature discip les o f Jesus Christ for the t ransformation of the world .

Keeping Out of the Ruts and on New Paths!

Greetings Friends!

I find comfort in routine; in things that are familiar and

predictable. I love watching the same movie or TV show over

and over again. I enjoy going to familiar places. Even when

doing something new, I plan it all out. Cindy says that I can

plan the fun out of anything. I am most comfortable when in a

groove.

Many years ago, as early settlers from Connecticut were making their way

to the Western Reserve in Ohio to claim their plot of land, there were no road

signs, and maps were very primitive. Over time, as more settlers continued to

move west, trails began to develop. When the settlers found a trail, they were

elated, because the trails contained grooves carved into the earth by all of the

wagon wheels that had gone on before them. All they had to do was put their

wheels in the groove, and hang on until they arrived in the Western Reserve.

There was no worrying about if they were going in the right direction. The ride

also got a lot smoother in a groove. So, life was good when they got in a

groove.

In church life, we love getting in to a groove. When we are in a groove, we

can take our hands off the reigns and just hold on. When we are in a groove,

there is no worrying about if we are going in the right direction. Things are a lot

smoother, when we are in a groove.

When we are in a groove, we ask things like, “How did we do it last year?”

When we are in a groove, we don’t look for other ways of doing things. When

we are in a groove, we keep doing what we’ve been doing.

As the years went on, and more wagons travelled west

in the same grooves, the grooves got deeper, until they

became ruts. And then, what those early travelers once

sought out, they then avoided. Getting a wagon wheel

caught in a rut was dangerous. Once you got your wheel

in a rut, you couldn’t go in a different direction. Once

you were in a rut, you couldn’t get out.

And so it is for us in the church. It is very easy for a groove to become a rut.

When we get in a rut, we don’t think we can do things any other way. When

we are in a rut, there is only one way. When we are in a rut, we begin to believe

that we are betraying tradition if we dare to consider going in a different

direction.

Sometimes, there is wisdom in doing things differently, simply for the sake

of doing them differently. This enables us to carve out new paths in new direc-

tions, to discover new things, and to look ahead in joyful anticipation for what

lies ahead. God help us to keep out of the ruts and on new paths!

Love ya’ - Ed

During

the

coming

weeks,

please

lift the following churches

and their pastors in prayer:

February 5: Wedgewood UMC,

Rev. Joe Burkhardt

February 12: West Lebanon,

Pastor Ruthann Bosley

February 19: Wooster UMC,

Rev. Charlie Tobias and

Pastor Jon Hutchison

February 26: York UMC,

Rev. Lisa Kropinak

FEBRUARY 2017

www.eocumc.com/canal - C a n a l D i s t r i c t - U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h - E a s t O h i o C o n f e r e n c e

- Save the Date - Canal Spring District

Conference Sunday, April 30, 2017,

3:00 - 4:30 pm at Lockwood UMC, 3680 Manchester Rd., Akron

Resident Bishop East Ohio Conference:

Tracy S. Malone Conference website:

www.eocumc.com

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Wednesday, February 8 - Friday, February 10 - Cabinet

Tuesday, January 3 - Thursday, January 5 - Cabinet

Wednesday, February 15 - Regional Meeting with CCOM Tuesday, February 21, 9 to 10 am - TAP Grant Review Meeting at Canal District Office

► May 18-20, 2018 - National Assembly, Columbus Ohio

► Web Page: http://www.eocumc.com/canal/umw.html

► Elizabeth Feldman, Communications, Canal District

UMW, 330-465-5782, or email: eflogil@gmail .com

Canal Dist r ic t and East Ohio Conference

3Cs Mission—Put Your Love in Act ion

Every mission site always cares for the whole person — body, mind and spirit — with a church, a medical

clinic and a school. The 3Cs Mission Project — Churches, Clinics and Classrooms — has been partnering with

UMC folks in Russia, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Zimbabwe.

You are invited to put your love in action and form relationships that will strengthen the fabric of your faith.

How is your church being called into relationship building out in the mission field and how can we help to

make God’s dreams a reality?

Speakers are available to be a part of your worship experience, mission meeting, compass group, UMW

gathering or any ministry event to share the mission story. If you would like to learn more about how your congregation can

connect with this ministry please contact Kathy Dickriede, kdickriede@gmail.com

3Cs Mission UMVIM Experiences, teams are being created! It is time to respond to the invitation to join us in

relationship building and risk taking mission. ► Zimbabwe Emsizini School - Young Adult UMVIM Team - Late May/Early June 2017 - Cost $3,500 - Contact John

Parker parkerja89@gmail.com or Bruce Hitchcock bhitchcock@windstream.net

► Camphor Mission Station - July 2017 - Cost $3,000 - Contact Janet Kleckner mckleck@aol.com

► Russia - July 20—August 1, 2017 - Cost $2800 - Contact Bob Myers bmyers@chagrinfallsumc.org. We will fly to Mos-

cow on July 20. We fly from New York. We will spend Friday –Sunday in Moscow. We will tour the subway system,

space museum, Kremlin, Red Square, Arabat Street, Sparrow Hills, a Moscow River Cruise, Vnukovo UMC church, and

many other things. We will travel on an overnight train to Voronezh. We will spend Monday through the following Mon-

day in Voronezh. We will be working at a United Methodist camp with special needs young adults. We will also doing

some repairs on some of their facilities. We will worship with Voronezh UMC and perhaps do some home stays with the

people of Voronezh UMC. We will take an overnight train on Monday evening back to Moscow to fly home on Tuesday,

Aug 1. The cost of the trip is $2800 and it covers all flights, food, lodging, and travel while in Russia. The first payment of

$1400 is due with a copy of the attached registration form. Make checks payable to East Ohio Conference UMC and send

them to me at 20 S Franklin St, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022. Also, you will need a letter of recommendation from your local

pastor stating that you are of sound mind and body for this kind of trip. The first payment is nonrefundable and is im-

portant so that we can book flights.

► Ganta Hospital in Liberia -August 1-15, 2017 - Total cost for air travel and in country expenses $3000. Looking for current

medical professionals or young adults looking to enter the mission field to work in ministry at the Ganta Hospital in Libe-

ria. Current passport and yellow fever shot needed. Meeting on Sunday February 12th at Faith UMC at 300 9th St NW,

North Canton, OH 44720 at 2:00. Contact Kathy Dickriede kdickriede@gmail.com or Ben Lewis

lewisbw@mountunion.edu if you want more information. Please share this information with others.

► Sierra Leone Manjama Health Clinic - October 2017 - Cost $3,000 - Contact: Constance Clark constancemclark

@roadrunner.com or Beth Ferrell beth_ferrell2001@yahoo.com

God is on the move. Thanks for sharing this great opportunity with others. Let me know if you have questions. I would

love to come to your churches to help tell the mission story.

Peace, love, hope and joy - Kathy Dickriede - Partner in Mission with East Ohio Conference -3Cs Mission -

Kdickriede@gmail.com - 330-468-2517

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February 4 - East Ohio Conference UMCOR Program - Connecting Neighbors - CN encourages churches to explore

their capacity for various disaster response ministries and to consider ways to engage community partners - Chardon UMC -

Register Online at http://tinyurl.com/ConnectiongNeighbors. Church phone: 440-285-4581.

February 15 - 16 - 2017 Faith & Life Lecture Series at Baldwin Wallace University - For information and to register, vis-

it: www.bw.edu/faithandlife.

February 18 - Safety & Security in the Church plus The Difficulties of Opiate and Heroin Addiction. Hebron, Ohio,

TARRP (Town and Rural Resource Program) is offering a this very informative workshop to help your church board, mission

team, and others learn and be equipped to help your church to make a difference in the lives of your parishioners and commu-

nity. Brochures have been emailed to each church. For more information email Rev. Debbie Ketcham at

revdsk@frontier.com. Registration deadline is Feb. 10.

February 21 - Messy Church Workshop - A way of being church for families involving fun - Faith UMC, N. Canton -

Sponsored by the East Ohio Chapter of Christians Engaged in Faith Formation and the East Ohio Spiritual Formation and

Christian Education Committee - Register on the conference website.

February 25 - Prayer Initiative with Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey - at Westlake UMC. Registration space is limited—check

online at westlakeumc.org/spiritual

March 17-18 - Youth Leaders Network Retreat - Telling Your Story - Hilton Garden Inn, Twinsburg - Register@ http://

tinyurl.com/YLNRetreat17. For more information contact Kaye Wolfinger at KayeW@eocumc.com.

July 10-20 - Wesley Pilgrimage - United Methodist leaders, lay and clergy, are invited to par ticipate in a Wesley Pil-

grimage in England. Immerse yourself in the Christ-centered leadership of John & Charles Wesley, learn, pray, and explore

places where the Wesley brothers lived and served and make connections between the Wesleyan heritage and missional lead-

ership for today. Scholarships https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/wesley-pilgrimage-registration-information.

Upcoming Training Opportunities and Events - check the Conference

website for more info: www.eocumc.com or call Debbie at the Canal District Office. Most of these events etc. have been emailed to your churches.

In Celebration of a Faithful Life - Goodyear Heights United Methodist Church

Writ ten by David Houser , Goodyear Heights UMC

Our last of more than 6,000 worship services occurred on January 8, 2017. We began in 1919 when a group of people met to

worship at a house on Pioneer Street. By 1920 we became Goodyear Heights Methodist Episcopal Church and a pastor was as-

signed to us. The next year we erected a white clapboard building on Hillside Terrace. We were

known as "the little white church on the hill" by the community. This building served us until we

built a brick one adjacent to it beginning in 1941. By that time we were known as Goodyear Heights

Methodist Church. The new building was completed and dedicated in 1944. We experienced another

period of church growth after World War II and added an educational wing to the building, which

was opened in 1958. We became Goodyear Heights United Methodist Church ten years later. In

1978 we entered into shared ministry with Epworth United Methodist Church, which resulted in a

merger in 1979.

For much of our life our membership reflected the makeup of the surrounding community. However, we

could not adapt to changes that have occurred in recent years. We leave a legacy of ministry to numerous chil-

dren, youth and adults over our lifetime. But we go forward with the faith that our influence has changed lives

for the better. We disperse now to Wedgewood United Methodist and other churches in the area where we will

face new challenges in ministry which we will meet with the same faith.

Oak Chapel United Methodist Church will be hosting the Spring Workshop for Ohio PAUMCS

(Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries)

Yes, right here in the Canal District - 4203 W Old Lincoln Way, Wooster

April 18, 2017- Mark your calendars! More information to come.

Page 4

Please keep the following clergy in your prayers: Pam Monteith - for health

concerns, Debbie Gibbons - recovery from a fall and

Jim Nolte - recovery from illness.

Congratulations to J.P. and Jocelyn Snyder - birth of baby girl

- Zoe Marie - on New Year’s Day!

Lay Servant Ministr ies

Basic Course - February 3-4, 2017.

Registration forms for courses are available on the district

website: www.eocumc.com/canal, District Ministries Tab -

Lay Servant Tab or by contacting the registrar Debbie Sloan

at dlsloan1@aol.com, or by phone 330-283-6893.

Lay Servants now have a Facebook page.

Go to: https//m.facebook.com/LayServantsEOCUMC/

2 Ryan Osier

2 Don Ebert

4 Russ Ham,

Maxine Hayes

5 Frank Woodrum

6 Martha Baillis,

David Tennant

Stan Wallace

7 Bethany Lewis

10 Brett Bartels

Kirsten Hoverstock

14 Sue Atkinson

20 Lisa Kropinak

21 Terri Wilhelm

22 Allyson Raynes

26 Kris Patt

29 Paul Farren

East Ohio Conference Loans and Scholarships

Check out the Conference Website at:

http://www.eocumc.com/scholarships/

index.html

Canal District

Clergy & Families

Canal District Clergy

15 Charles & Joyce Fast

21 Paul & Linda Beal

Page 5

H a v e Y o u H e a r d t h e N e w s … . . .

Rejoicing Spi r i ts Worship Service at Fi rst UMC of Cuyahoga Fal ls

First United Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls began holding Rejoicing Spirits Worship

Services in September of 2014 under the ministry of the Access Ministry of FUMC. Their leader

is Mary Ellen Atwood and their staff advisor is Karol Lewis.

Rejoicing Spirits is a non-denominational worship service that works to enrich the faith lives

of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Families, friends and other supportive

community members are invited to attend. Rejoicing Spirits was founded on the belief that all

people should have the opportunity to explore faith and spirituality.

Unfortunately, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often overlooked

when it comes to inclusion in our faith communities. Most churches have done significant work

in adapting buildings to accommodate physical needs, but unseen barriers often prevent people with disabilities from becoming

active members in a faith community they choose.

This innovative ministry works with congregations to provide a meaningful, inclusive worship service for everyone but it is

tailored for those with intellectual disabilities. People are free to be themselves while actively participating as contributing mem-

bers in an inclusive faith community.

Rejoicing Spirits Worship Services are Shush-Free. Services include lots joyous singing along with a brief, meaningful mes-

sage. The short service is followed by “Fellowship Time” which includes light refreshments. Worshippers are invited to come as

they are and are encouraged to be themselves without fear of being "shushed." There are lots of opportunities for worshippers to

serve, lead, learn and participate.

The Rejoicing Spirits worship service can meet people's needs in various ways:

· Serves as a stepping-stone for those wanting to take the first step into a faith community.

· Offers complementary worship and fellowship opportunities for those who already belong to a faith community.

· Provides an inclusive faith community that may fully meet their current needs and desires.

Website: http://www.rejoicingspirits.org

In 2003 Rejoicing Spirits began at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Exton, Penn. In 2014 it became a part of Mosaic, a national

faith-based service provider of a “life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities." Today there are 30 Rejoicing Spir-

its host sites in 11 states. Two of these congregations are in Ohio: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hudson meets the first Satur-

day of each month at 5:30 pm., and FUMC Cuyahoga Falls meets the third Saturday of each month at 5:30 pm.

JOB OPENINGS IN THE CANAL DISTRICT and Conference

For job openings in the district and conference, check the classified page

on the conference website: http://www.eocumc.com/classified/index.html

Page 6

Canal District of The United Methodist Church 800 E Market St Akron OH 44305

THE NEWSLETTER DEADLINE IS THE 20th OF THE MONTH. There’s

a combined newsletter March/April, June/July, Sept./Oct., and

Dec./Jan. (subject to change)

“The Connector” February 2017

Return Service Requested

CANAL DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF—District Superintendent: Rev. Ed Peterson, Administrative Assistant: Debbie Bryant, Treasurer: Sheryl Reynolds If you would like to receive our newsletter by mail or email, please contact Debbie. Address: 800 East Market St., Akron 44305 - Phone: 330-252-0299 - Fax: 330-252-0297 E-mail: cdistumc@gmail.com - Web Site: www.eocumc.com/canal/

HISTORIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS/CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES REQUESTED

The East Ohio Commission on Archives and History in conjunction with the United Methodist Historical Society

of Ohio is seeking nominations for the 2017 Historian of the Year. This is an opportunity for local congregations to

recognize and celebrate the work of those local church historians who go far

“above and beyond” what is expected to preserve the rich heritage of the local

church.

It is helpful to include samples of the work that has been done. It is also benefi-

cial to say if the work has been done by an individual or a group of people.

The Society also seeks Local Church anniversary information for those church-

es that are celebrating special anniversaries, such as 50, 75, 100, 150 etc. in 2017.

The Society provides an attractive commemorative certificate to these churches.

Local Church Historian nominations and anniversary information should be sent

to Rev. Don Trigg, P.O. Box 32, Seville., OH., and postmarked by March 1, 2017.

Please note, Historian of the Year Awards and Local Church Anniversary certif-

icates will be distributed April 22, 2017 at the United Methodist Historical Society

of Ohio meeting at the Bowling Green Trinity United Methodist Church, 200 N

Summit St., Bowling Green, OH.

If you have questions please contact Rev. Don Trigg at DLT419@aol.com,

or 330-769-2836. - - Thank you! Don Trigg