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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 mission of the Canal Distr ict UMC is to make and mature disciples of Jesus Chris t for the t ransformation of the wor ld.

Somet imes What Seems Easy, Comes With Unforeseen Consequences!

Greetings Friends!

It’s finally beginning to feel like summer!

Although, after the mild winter we had, we should-

n’t complain. It was nice to get a break on our

heating bills, to have clear roads, and to hardly run

our snow blowers. For the most part, it was an

easy winter.

I’ve heard that it’s going to be a bad summer for bugs; tics, mos-

quitoes, stink bugs, etc. It’s going to be a bad summer for bugs, be-

cause we had such an easy winter. Because we did not have deep and

sustained temperatures below freezing, very little bug larva was

killed off. Sometimes what seems easy, comes with unforeseen con-

sequences.

This is even true in the life of the church. Sometimes pastors take

the easy way in sermon preparation, and do everyone a disservice.

Sometimes SPR Committees take the easy way in dealing with staff-

ing, and end up dealing with a bigger problem later. Sometimes trus-

tees take the easy way in fixing something; and it looks like it. All of

us have a tendency to take the easy way.

When we look back at the successes we’ve had in church, at the

legacies that have lasted, at the things that have transformed our lives,

they are most often the result of doing things the hard way. Sermons

that change our lives are the result of the pas-

tor’s agonizing work. Healthy, effective staff

are the result of courageous decisions. Church

facilities and parsonages that are well kept and

attractive are the result of trustees who see the

value in doing things right the first time.

God help us to take the difficult path, to do

things the hard way, and to do what is right,

simply for the sake of doing what is right and

Godly. Love ya’ - Ed

During the coming weeks, please lift the following churches and clergy in prayer:

June 4: Copley UMC, Rev. Erik Marshall

June 11: Cuyahoga Falls: First UMC,

Rev. David Baker, and Pastor Anna Magill

June 18: Dalton UMC, Rev. Paul Farren

(retiring June 30) and Rev. David N. Martin,

beginning July 1

June 25: Doylestown UMC, Rev. Dale

Warrick

July 2: East Greenville UMC, Pastor Harry

and Pastor Mary Lou Merryman

July 9: Easton UMC, Pastor Joyce Williams

July 16: Family of Faith UMC, Rev. Ron

Shultz

July 23: Firestone Park UMC, Rev. Randy

May

July 30: Grandview UMC, Rev. David Hull-

Frye

JUNE/JULY 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

R e s i d e n t B i s h o p E a s t O h i o C o n f e r e n c e :

T r a c y S . M a l o n e C o n f e r e n c e w e b s i t e :

w w w . e o c u m c . c o m

District Campership Financial Aid Applications

Financial aid is available to any camper from

a Canal District United Methodist Church at-

tending any East Ohio Conference coordinat-

ed program camping event. Maximum district

financial aid per camper is $75. An applica-

tion can be found on our website:

www.eocumc.com/canal/ under ‘Grants and

Scholarships.’ Or you can call Debbie at the

district office, 330-252-0299 and she can send

you a form.

Additional July 2017 Appointments - Canal District

Joyce Fast retir ed elder to Redeemer North Hill UMC (Canal

District)

Jon Hutchison from Wooster UMC, associate (Canal Distr ict) to

Mt. Tabor UMC (Tuscarawas District)

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Wednesday, May 31 - Thursday, June 1 - Cabinet Thursday, June 1 - Mt. Union - Meet with licensing school and local pastors and associate members Saturday, June 10, 9:00 am - John Knight Center - Bring greetings to Lutheran Synod at Knight Center Saturday, June 10 - Thursday, June 15 - Annual Conference, Lakeside Thursday, June 22, 9:00 - Post conference review meeting Sunday, June 25 - Living Hope UMC - Last worship service at Living Hope UMC Sunday, July 9 - Preach at Cuyahoga Falls First Wednesday, July 12, 9 - 10:30 am - New Clergy Welcome Breakfast at Open-M

► July 21-23 - Mission U at Mt. Union. Topics: A Covenantal Community, The Missionary Conferences, and Climate Justice.

► Sept. 23 - Fall Gathering at Kent UMC ► Oct. 27, 28 - Annual Celebration at Bucyrus UMC ► May 17-20, 2018 - National Assembly, Columbus Ohio

Canal Distr ic t and East Ohio Conference

June 12, 7 am - FAMLP Annual Meeting and Breakfast - Register online @ http://tinyurl.com/EOAC Events17

August 20 - 23 - East Ohio Local Pastor Retreat, Lakeside, OH, Share time with pastors from West OH and Michigan.

July 10-20 - Wesley Pilgrimage - https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/wesley-pilgrimage-registration-information.

July 21-23 - Living as a Covenant Community - Mount Union University, contact Betty Spencer :330-686-0245

August 6-9 - Generosity and Stewardship Conference - Lakeside, Ohio. Lakeside Chautauqua, along with the East Ohio United Methodist Foundation will present this conference. www.lakesideohio.com/generosity.

November 13-15, Fall for All Clergy Retreat - The Worship Architect, The Car lisle Inn at Sugarcreek, questions contact Brian Oglesbee at brianoglesbee55@gmail.com or 330-968-7360

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

Lay Servant Ministr ies News

Basic - September 22, 6:30 - 9:30 pm and September 23, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Advanced - Accountable Discipleship - October 20, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm and

October 21, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm and November 4, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Registration forms for courses are available on the distr ict 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 Facebook page: https//m.facebook.com/LayServantsEOCUMC/

Clergy Spouse Breakfast and Fellowship Wesley Lodge, Lakeside - Wednesday, June 14, 9:00 - 11 am

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

Elizabeth Feldman, President, Canal District UMW, 330-465-5782, or email: umwcanal@gmail.com

Annual Conference 2017 http://www.eocumc.com/eoac17/index.html

2017 Clergy Directory

The East Ohio Conference has partnered with Re: Member Church Directories to produce a 2017 Clergy Directory.

Clergy members will need to sit for individual headshots during Annual Conference. No appointment is neces-

sary. Clergy simply need to stop in to one of the two studios inside Bradley Temple to have their photo taken, during

any of the following times: Monday, June 12, 11 am - 6 pm; Tuesday, June 13, 9 am -6 pm; Wednesday, June 14, 9 am - 6 pm;

Thursday, June 15, 9 am - 2 pm.

These headshots will be the official clergy photos for all EOC publications for the next four years. Please e-mail Director of Com-

munications Rick Wolcott with any questions.

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Canal District Clergy & Families Birthdays

June

4 Orion Aubihl

6 Becky Nicewarner,

Larry Toothman-Shoup

7 Jason Burkhardt,

Joe Burkhardt,

Leonard Budd

9 Debbie Rinehart

14 Nancy Wiebrecht

15 Sue Ward

22 Matthew Wald

24 Julia McGrath, Patti Pfander,

Naomi Williams

25 Ed Peterson

29 Cathy Poremba

Clergy, If you would like your birthday (or birthday of your spouse or children living at home) listed in our district newsletter, or your wed-

ding anniversary please let me know—Debbie Bryant - Canal District Office– cdistumc@gmail.com

July

3 James Nolte

5 Tal Lewis (son)

9 Andrea Hoverstock

11 Andrew Burkhardt,

Rhett Gable

14 Cindy Peterson

16 Vicki Hillman-

Breckner, Pam Gable

20 Jeff Croft

29 James Bradley

June

3 David & Sue Atkinson,

Jeff & Vicki Croft

10 Bob & Carey Mitchell,

Don & Ruthie Trigg

11 Dave & Mavis Palmer

13 Don & Waneta Shilling

22 David & Christine Tennant

22 James & Nancy

Wiebrecht

24 David & Paula Koch

25 Randy & Pam Monteith,

Bill & Becky Nicewarner

27 Hoyte & Terri Wilhelm

30 Jim & Mary Wolf

July

1 Leonard & Karen

Budd

5 Tom & Cathy

Poremba

7 Dale & Lois Turner

12 Eric & Katie Osier

13 Forrest & Marilyn

Waller

24 Tom & Karen Drotar,

David & Karen

McGrath

28 Paul & Lynn Farren

Anniversaries

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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 June/July,

Sept./Oct., and Dec./Jan. (subject to change)

“The Connector” June/July 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 con-tact 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/

JOB OPENINGS in the CANAL DISTRICT and Conference

Job Opening” Keyboard Player - Rootstown UMC, 4065 State Route 44, Rootstown, Ohio 44272. Applications are

in the office, or call to have one sent at 330-325-1426.

Help Wanted: Children’s Ministry Director (part-time) -Trinity UMC in Orrville, OH seeks Children's Ministry Di-

rector (15 hrs./wk.). Strong organizational and people skills required. Some experience and local residence preferred. Position could be ex-

panded to become Family Ministry Director, to also include oversight of Youth Ministry area. Need to be present at church Sunday mornings

and Thursday evenings. Apply by sending resume and 3 references to Rev. David Rittgers at trinitypastordavid@gmail.com. Deadline is 6/15.

Needed: Pianist for Sawyerwood UMC. 956 Mohawk Trail, Akron. Needed for Sunday mornings: 9:45 am Praise Team practice and 10:30

– 11:30 am Worship. Also Wednesday Evenings: 6:30 – 7:30 pm Praise Team practice. Scheduled Services: as needed/scheduled. For infor-

mation call: Brian Cullen, Music director cell: 330-612-8216

For other job openings in the district and conference, check the classified page on the conference website: http://www.eocumc.com/classified/index.html

Canal District and Mahoning Valley District Breakfast a t Lakeside AC Monday, June 12, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. - Lakeside United Methodist Church - 450 Central Ave. Fellowship Hall - Downstairs

Canal/Mahoning Valley district clergy and their families and lay members to annual conference and their families are invited!!