July 2008

General News

Thank You

The Browning Family wants to express our thanks for all the kindnesses shown to us during Bob's illness and his death. We are so very grateful for all the cards and letters, for the wonderful food and most of all for the prayers. The Bereavement Committee and so many others helped us so much. You helped us make the greeting time and the Memorial Service a real celebration of Bob's life. The dinner for all the people was so nice and gave us a time to visit with friends and our wonderful family. Thank you for the tapes and CDs of the service. God's love coming through so many was a real blessing for us.
– Jackie Browning

 

Thank You

Thanks so much for all the prayers, cards and kind words after the death of my husband in April.
– Maxine Shaffer

Thank You, Green Thumbs

I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the youth and adult volunteers who weeded, roto-tilled, spread over 200 bags of topsoil, mulched and planted flowers to enhance the church grounds. Demanding task = beautiful result! Member donations and financial support by the board of trustees made it possible and the office and facilities staffs were of great assistance with communication and coordination.
My sincere appreciation to all, Wally Life.

Thank You

To the WUMC Members, Church Staff and CPC Staff,
We would like to take a minute to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and cards during Bobbie's surgery and healing time. It means a lot to us. We have been truly blessed with a good medical report.
-- Bobbie & Eddie Jarrell (WUMC Facilities Manager)

Next Blood Drive July 30

Our next Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Wednesday, July 30th. Please mark your calendars now. The May 29th drive was a big success! Our quota from the American Red Cross was 35 units, and the total collected was 41. Many thanks to all who donated and volunteered to help. – Pat Zimmerman

An Evening Out for Ladies

Join us on Tuesday, July 22, at 6:30 PM, for an evening of fun and fellowship at BJ's Restaurant (1414 Polaris Parkway). We'll have babysitting at the church for those who need it. Please email Amy Wingerter (wingertera@insight.rr.com) if you're interested. Hope to see you then!

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministers are willing to walk, listen and minister to those who are experiencing loneliness, grief, life changes, chemical dependence, unemployment, anxiety and depression, hospitalization, separation and divorce, financial setbacks, spiritual struggles, and much more. If you need someone who supports, listens, and cares, Stephen Ministers are available to help. Contact Patti Mills, at 740-881-4940 or Patti@rrohio.com, or Mary Holm, at 885-5365, in the difficult times of your life.

Notes on Our 200th Anniversary

More growth in the second church

The fourth in a series --- --- (previous series entries)
It was a century that saw a raw frontier become a stable town in an increasingly urban area. From an area that had only one-room, log cabin schools, Worthington developed a school system and got access to colleges and universities: Ohio Wesleyan with its Methodist roots before 1850 and Ohio State in 1870 among many others. The Worthington Methodists increased in influence as their numbers slowly grew. In 1833, the church became the head church of its circuit. By 1864 a second church building was completed and two years later a major milestone was passed. A full time minister was assigned here for the first time, although he continued to serve other local churches on a small circuit as well. In the report to the Annual Conference for that year, the new church building was valued at $5000, the parsonage (yes, they had one) at $700, and benevolences were reported at $145.50. If these sound small, remember that, in that time, one dollar would hire a skilled workman for a day or more. Other prices were in line. In the 1870s, the Worthington Methodist Episcopal Church was noted for its fine choir and soloists. Fortunately, some things do continue through the years. Outstanding preaching from a number of the ministers brought in overflow crowds. With increased attendance "modern" conveniences arrived: oil lamps were replaced with brighter gas lights and the piano was supplemented by a reed organ like the one now in the Chapel Lounge. The large wood-burning stove was replaced by a coal-fired furnace which must have made winters more pleasant. This progress is all the more remarkable when the slow growth of Worthington as a village is remembered. In the thirty years between 1850 and 1880, the town population stalled at 450, but the Methodists had slightly over 100 of them as members. Just think what we would need for buildings and staff if one out of four Worthington residents were members here!!

Next time - - - Wars, growth and a third church building.
-- Howard Longfellow

Anniversary Kickoff Service Recording Available

You liked the "Old Time Religion Sunday". You really liked it. Now you can relive that inspiring day. Listen again to the spirited singing of the choir, the stirring Celtic music played by The Ladies of Longford and the memorable words of our circuit rider, the Rev. Mr. Martin. A 60 minute CD is available for $10.00. It's guaranteed to lift your spirits. Donations will be used to help defray the costs of the bicentennial banquet on Sept. 28th. Contact Cindy Wentz, at 846-7045 or cwentz@sprynet.com, to reserve your copy.

Participate in 200th Anniversary Memory Book

Inquiring minds are asking about the Memory Book. What is it and how do I contribute? At the end of our 200th anniversary year, this single book will be displayed in the Dixon Lounge. It will contain your name as well as the memories and thoughts you have shared. Your memory book entry may announce an anniversary, celebrate a graduation, honor a special person or activity sponsored by the Church, commemorate an event, recognize a special blessing or share a memory of WUMC or an important event in your life. Donations towards an anniversary project are gratefully accepted. Make checks payable to WUMC, with the memo line "Memory Book". Everyone has an opportunity to be a part of this historic document. We welcome your memories.

Heritage Sunday a Great Success!

On May 18, we continued our celebration of our church's 200th Anniversary with "Heritage Sunday". Bishop Ough preached at both services, bringing official greetings and congratulations from the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. Historical photographs, artifacts and documents were on display outside of the sanctuary, coordinated by Vivian Schweb. The displays were organized around each of the 4 historical church buildings. Hosting the display of the first church were the Honorable Mayor Harvey Minton and his wife, Jane; hosting the displays of the other church buildings were Diane Meadows, Steve and Barbara Potter, Wally Life and Sue Callendine.

Adding to the festivities, parishioners were invited to come to church dressed in costumes from their favorite historical period. Attire ranged from tri-corner hats to pioneer dresses to Victorian era fashions to Chanel suits & pillbox hats. Another festive touch was the newly-planted flower beds and traffic islands containing colorful marigolds and petunias, a labor of love by a talented team of gardeners in the congregation, headed by Wally Life.


The 200th Anniversary celebration continues with Homecoming Sundays in September. Anniversary News, Photos and Calendar are available online.

CROP - Save the Date!

The 30th Annual Columbus CROP Hunger Walk will be Sunday, October 12, 2008. The walk will start at a new location - Genoa Park in front of COSI, 303 West Broad Street. There will be two new routes - a 1.5 mile and a 2.5 mile walk along the Lower Scioto Trail that will include the Santa Maria and North Bank and Genoa Parks. Our goals for this 30th Anniversary walk are to have 100 groups participating, 1000 people participating and to raise $100,000 (25% of which stays in Franklin County.) There will be more information in the coming months. Check out the Web site - http://columbuscropwalk.blogspot.com or contact me directly, Amy Wingerter - wingertera@insight.rr.com. Please prayerfully consider joining this 30th Anniversary celebration to help CROP stop hunger.

Requesting "Outreach" Stories

The Outreach Committee is asking all members of the congregation to become part of the WUMC 200th Anniversary in a unique way! We would like to collect everyone's stories about how she or he has participated in the outreach of the WUMC over the years. Submissions may be two sentences or two pages, it is up to you, but we will be collecting these stories for a display during our 200th Anniversary celebration. Stories or thoughts about Youth Work Camps, Interfaith Hospitality Network, visiting homebound members, Hurricane Relief, Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross Blood Drive Workers, Missions, New Life, Food Bank, Sandwich mission, well, the list just goes on and on, and any outreach story will be included. It is safe to say that every one of us has been Christ's hands and feet during some time of our membership at this church! Please tell us about it and provide a date if possible. Every type of submission is welcome, with email being preferred. Email Lanie Cuthbert at: lanie.justice@gmail.com or she will collect written entries submitted to the church office. Thank you for sharing your special part of the story of our church's outreach to the world!

Outreach Volunteer Corner

Mann's Mobile Home Estates, located near the airport at 755 Stelzer Road, has a population of nearly 80% Hispanic/Latino residents. A number of volunteers from WUMC have been working 1 or 2 days a week with volunteers from other Methodist churches on the east side since last fall.

Of the nearly 300 trailers the city inspected last year, 155 had violations including 78 with illegal additions. The early phase of the work involved demolishing the additions, many of which were being used as bedrooms because of the large families. The mostly Spanish-speaking residents had been confused about violations and how to correct them because of a lack of explanation and a language barrier.

One trailer has been remodeled into a mission center. English classes are being taught to a number of residents 2 to 3 days a week during the day. They hope to be able to provide classes in the evening for the men who work. The plan is to eventually offer Bible, finance, and other types of classes.

The current construction work involves replacing decks and/or steps for many of the trailers which were later found out to also not meet the building code. The code requires the materials to be out of pressure treated wood. Many of the decks must be torn down and then rebuilt. So far 30 have been replaced, but there are approximately 50 that still need to be repaired.

The volunteers from WUMC usually work on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. If you are interested in helping out please contact Russ Line, at 885-3111 or rjline@aol.com, for more information. Come on out and help. It's a lot of work, but it's enjoyable, it provides a real need, and you get to meet some nice folks. Or, if you are not into construction, but can help out with some of the teaching of the English/Spanish classes, let Russ know and he can put you in touch with someone who can give you more information about the classes.

CPC News

Creative Play Center would like to send a great big thank you to all of the supporters of our 3rd annual pie sale. Your participation helped us raise over $1,100 for our professional development fund! This fund assists teachers in attending college level courses in the field of education, attending state conference, and makes grant monies available for which teachers may apply and use in accomplishing their professional development goals. Thanks again for your support and we hope you enjoyed a sweet reward as well!

We would also like to thank the volunteers who added a touch of color with all of the flowers to the parking lot garden beds. A lot of work went into that project, but it looks wonderful. What a cheerful welcome!

To the Trustees, thank you for allowing CPC to renovate a restroom on the lower level. The parents were able to present a space of true relaxation to the staff for Teacher Appreciation Week. There have been so many positive responses to the change and we are truly grateful for the opportunity! Now it is a space of tranquility. If you have not had a chance to see the restroom, please do!
-- Wendy Colbert, Director of Creative Play Center

Reverend Heather Moyers' Ordination

On Wednesday, June 11, in the Historic Hoover Auditorium at Lakeside, Ohio, Rev. Heather Moyers was ordained a Deacon in Full Connection in The United Methodist Church. For Heather this culminated four years of probationary membership and many hours of study, writing, and serving our youth. In March Heather met with the Conference Board of Ministry and was approved for ordination. A part of the ordination activities includes the procession of those to be ordained and their families. A member of the congregation walks just ahead of the family, carrying a large banner representing the ministry of the new Deacon. Shay Wetterauer carried the banner for Heather, followed by Ashley Gerard who carried her new stole. The banner and stole were made by some of the talented and dedicated women of our congregation, headed up by Mary Scott and Dorba Metzger. heather@worthingtonumc.com, for your commitment to ministry and the youth of Worthington church.

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