FORMER PHOTOS OF THE WEEK


 

PETS IN VIETNAM

A recipient of a PET in Vietnam is enabled to get around to earn an income selling children's toys.

 

Christianson Native Craft Festival - First Week of August Each Year

 

Thirty-one years ago, Frances Christianson (member of First United Methodist Church, Rolla), some other United Methodists, and the Office of Creative Ministries created a unique opportunity for Christian fellowship that is still going strong today. 

The Christianson Native Craft Workshop is held the first week of August each year at Shannondale Community Center, 24 miles south of Salem, Missouri, on Highway 19.  Around 200 persons gather each to learn how to make split oak baskets, spin wool into yarn, quilt, tat, knot, crochet, make wooden spoons, construct water-tight oak buckets, cane chairs, make old-time music, and/or participate in classes in many, many more other crafts.  Some attendees float, tube and swim in the nearby Current River.  In the evenings they enjoy events like a talent show, a sheep shearing and pie auction, and an art auction.  Each day begins and ends with Morning Watch and Evening Vespers. 

Participants rave about the experience. Comments like "the best week of my year," "just like a family reunion for us," and "some of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet" are common. 

This event is sponsored by the Office of Creative Ministries. (Office of Creative Ministries, 3009 David Drive, Columbia, MO 65202, 573-474-7155.)

(The above pictures were taken by Max Marble, on Thursday, August 7, 2008)
     

FIRST FEMALE BISHOP APPOINTED IN MOZAMBIQUE

 

Rev. Joaquina Nhanala, pastor of Matola United Methodist Church in Mozambique, has just been elected the first female United Methodist Bishop in Africa.  She is pictured above visiting the Webster Hills UMC in Missouri.  Persons in the picture, from left to right, include Marny Meserve, Carol Kreamer (Mozambique Initiative), Bishop Joaquina Nhanala, Sharon Kichline (now at Lafayette Park) and  Jennifer March (Kingdom House).  Joaquina is a Bishop of firsts as she was also the first United Methodist female clergy to earn a masters degree in Mozambique.  To learn more about how you can take part in the missions of Mozambique contact your Mozambique Initiative Coordinator, Carol Kreamer, at cpkreamer@hughes.net, or your Volunteers in Mission Coordinator, Audrey Phelps, at phelps@umocm.com.

 

FESTIVAL OF SHARING QUILT TO BE AUCTIONED

  

A Missouri Puzzle quilt will be raffled at 2:00 pm on October 18th at the Festival of Sharing.  Hand made quilts from around the state are made and given to the Festival of Sharing to be auctioned.  All the proceeds from the sale of the auctioned quilts are sent to Church World Service (CWS) for the Tools and Blankets project.  Every year the quilt auction provides another way for people to be come involved in helping others around the world. The right tool at the right time can make a world of difference in the lives of children and families faced with an emergency or struggling to keep food on the table. Through the CWS Tools & Blankets Program, you and your congregation or group can make a world of difference for people in need in some 80 countries and the U.S.  You can help provide the right tool at the right time!  This year the quilters have quilted the Missouri Puzzle to be raffled off at the festival of Sharing.  You can see the quilt and purchase your ticket ($1 each or six for $5) at a quilt show near you.  Quilt show dates and locations can be found on the Festival of sharing website at www.umocm.com/festival.htm.  For more information on the Festival of Sharing contact Terri Williams at festival@socket.net or 573-474-7155.

 

VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION / HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GROUP TO MASSACA, MOZAMBIQUE

 

Steve Solomon with Nelson Memorial UMC in Boonville, Missouri led a group of college students from Florida State University to Massaca, Mozambique.  While there, this team worked on building Habitat homes to complete our VIM/Habitat goal of building 75 houses in three years.  These houses are built for children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS.  Our goal will be met on time this year by Rev. Mark Dumas' team from First UMC in Jefferson City.  For more information on this opportunity and others please contact your Missouri VIM Coordinator, Audrey Phelps, at 573-474-7155 or phelps@umocm.com.

 

HEIFER RANCH IN PERRYVILLE, ARKANSAS

Retired pastor Rev. Sharon Colbert-Garretson from Mountain View United Methodist Church traveled with a group of conference youth from Willow Springs and Cabool United Methodist Churches to Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas.  The Ranch provides hands-on experiences to teach people about hunger and poverty and Heifer’s principals.  Here you see several of the youth participating in the Global Village experience.  Each group is given a certain amount of "local" currency to buy firewood and food and must prepare a meal.  For more information on Heifer International and trips to Heifer Ranch contact your Missouri Representative, Carol Oliver, at oliver@umocm.com or 573-474-7155.

AERIAL FLOOD PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
The clean-up operations are starting in some areas.  Some areas are waiting for the waters to subside before clean-up can begin.  Recovery and rebuilding operations will be organized and will continue all year long.  To volunteer a team from your church to help with the clean-up and recovery contact Jeff Baker, at the Office of Creative Ministries.  Email baker@umocm.com.  Phone 573-474-7155.

 

Flooding in downtown La Grange, Missouri

Missouri is experiencing flooding all up and down the Mississippi River.  Hundreds of United Methodists have joined literally thousands who have been sand bagging, feeding and helping in other ways.  Many churches have called in order to be a part of clean-up and rebuilding crews once the flood waters have gone down.  Many thousands more are helping by offering money during their Sunday morning special offerings for the floods. (Midwest Flooding, UMCOR Advance #901670).  On behalf the the Missouri Conference we want to thank everyone serving in so many ways to bring hope to the families who have had their homes, businesses and fields destroyed or damage.  To volunteer for the clean-up operations call Jeff Baker at the Office of Creative Ministries (573-474-7155 & Email: baker@umocm.com)
                                                                                                                                     (Photo by Fred Koenig)


 

Thousands of volunteers work to save Clarksville, MO, and other towns up and down the Mississippi.
The pictures were taken by Max Marble, Friday, June 20, in Clarksville, Missouri.  The upper right hand picture shows the Clarksville United Methodist Church on Main Street.  The other pictures are of downtown Clarksville.

 

Pitching and Cranking for Mobility for Many
Bishop Schnase, threw in the first pitch at the Cardinals game, in Springfield, Sunday night, to kick off "PET Night at the Ballpark."  The previous Sunday David Bennett, pastor of Kirkwood UMC, and Kylie Madden, daughter of Kirkwood's associate pastor cranked PETs to bring the precious Gift of Mobility to 40 people as the congregation collected $10,000 to the Annual Conference offering for PETs.
 

Disaster Response in Southwest Missouri


 

Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed in the recent tornados in Southwest Missouri.  The Office of Creative Ministries skid-loader was unloaded in the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church in Neosho.  A team from Schweitzer UMC has been using it to clean up debris in the area.  UMCOR sent in consultant, Mary Gaudreau who is pictured with Karen Benson, Missouri Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Joe Bartelsmeyer, Office of Creative Ministries Volunteers in Mission and Katie Rooney, with AmeriCorps.  Churches wishing to help with debris removal and rebuilding homes may call Joe Bartelsmeyer at the Office of Creative Ministries (573-474-7155) or email him at bartelsmeyer@umocm.com

 

 

Millers UMC Receives Helping Hand From Volunteers in Mission from Cornerstone UMC

A Volunteers in Mission Team from Cornerstone UMC in O’Fallon spent 10 days in Miller Mo. to help a fellow church install a new 200 amp circuit breaker panel and handicap accessible rest rooms. The ten members of the team brought their own sleeping quarters, cooks, cookware and tools to complete the work. With the help of church members they first had to replace an old 50 amp circuit breaker panel with a new 200 amp panel with 30 breakers to support the existing electrical circuits and the new circuits needed for the new rest rooms. The new rest rooms were built in a vacant church room and required new sewer and water connections to city services. The rooms were provided with 36” doors and handicap stools. Electric heaters, washbasins, mirrors and lighting were installed in each restroom.

On Wednesday evening the members of the Miller and Patton Chapel churches provided a delicious meal for the Mission team. The members of this team were; Bernard and Nadine Groharing, Joe Rolen, Gene and Yvonne Beasley, Dale and Lou Broeker, Bob and Mary Scherer and Dennis Murary.  Cornerstone UMC in O’Fallon has a very active VIM program. In Feburary, 30 members traveled to Pharr Texas to build two bedrooms on a home.

 

PETs PARADE AT GENERAL CONFERENCE

David Westerfield of the Kentucky Annual Conference drives a PET onto the General Conference assembly floor during an April 26 celebration of rural ministries at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Paul Jeffrey - UMCom)

PET will be the main offering at the Missouri Annual Conference, in Springfield, in June.  Every church is encouraged to raise $250 to give the Gift of Mobility to someone who does not have it.  The offering will be received at the Friday evening banquet during conference.  On Sunday a semi-truck load of PETs will be dedicated and head out to give this precious gift to several hundred people.

 

Missouri Conference Delegation Seated at the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, TX
1. The 16 member Missouri Conference delegation. 2.  Bishop Schnase serves one of the 6,000 persons attending the opening worship. 3. The elements for communion are consecrated in the middle of the convention hall. 4. All bishops are seated up on the platform. 5. & 7. The General Board of Global Ministries has an amazing display to celebrate the Advance giving program of the UMC.  Two of the exhibit areas are shown here featuring Nothing But Nets and the PET.  6.  The Cokesbury display area is larger than most Cokesbury stores and prominently features Bishops Schnase's book, The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

 

THE GIFT OF MOBILITY BECOME A REALITY FOR MANY AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE THIS YEAR
The 10,000th PET which was built a couple of years ago is shown here.  But the real story is that of giving people like Thong in Vietnam the Gift of Mobility.  Thong is a shoe repair man.  His former means of transportation was that of moving one stool in front of the other and then shifting his weight to rest on it while he moved the other stool forward.  Imagine his joy at receiving the Gift of Mobility.  Congregations across the state are preparing to give this gift to hundreds more at Annual Conference this year during the offering to be received at the Friday night dinner gathering.  Our thanks to KOMU-TV in Columbia for the pictures they took in Vietnam.
 

 

Government of Taiwan Donates $15,000 for Missouri Flood Recovery
Governor Blunt presented a check for $15,000 to MIDRO from the Government of Taiwan.  He received the check as a donation from Mr. Henry Fan, from the Taiwan Consular General's Office.  Max Marble, who serves as the treasurer of the Missouri Interfaith Disaster Response Organization was on hand, in Jefferson City, on Friday to receive the donation.  Pictured from left to right are:  Max Marble, Governor Blunt, Jim Eckrich, MIDRO president (Lutheran Church), Henry Fan and Ronald Reynolds, Director of the Missouri Emergency Management Agency.

 


 

Tornado Hits Buffalo, Missouri Hard
Rev. Kenneth Johnson, pastor of the Grace Community United Methodist Church in Buffalo, sent us these pictures that show some of the destruction that the tornado left behind.  He was not able to get into the hardest hit area because it was still blocked to the public.  The American Red Cross has set up its processing center in Grace Community UMC.  Many Missouri communities are still suffering from the flooding of two weeks ago.  If anyone has pictures please send them to photosoftheweek@aol.com.


 

Neosho United Methodist Men Sponsor a Potato Soup Benefit for the Hungry of Missouri
For 35 years the Neosho United Methodist Men (with the help of the entire church) have been serving potato soup with the proceeds going to feed hungry people through the Society of St. Andrew. They have calculated that they are able to provide 150 servings of food for every $3.50 bowl of soup they sell. Through the years their efforts have expanded from an in-church benefit to one where they deliver soup to businesses all over the town of Neosho. The men of the church have produced a CD with complete detailed instructions for planning a potato soup benefit. To receive the CD phone the Office of Creative Ministries at 573-474-7155 or email marble@umocm.com

To view a three minute video of the potato soup benefit click here.

 

Office of Creative Ministries Studies Plan B, by Lester Brown
Pictured from top left to right are:  Terri Williams, Carol Oliver, Isaac Johnson, Ann Moreton, Max Marble and Audrey Phelps.  Joe Bartelsmeyer was on a VIM scouting trip in Brazil for this picture.  They study a chapter a week and take turns leading the study.

The Office of Creative Ministries and the Global Connection Team are urging congregations to study Lester Brown's book, Plan B.  The book is about caring for creation. Terri Williams and Carol Oliver from the Office of Creative Ministries Staff just returned from a Caring for Creation Conference held at the United Methodist Mount Sequoyah Camp, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  They have formed a committee to plan a Caring for Creation Conference for the Missouri Conference for next Spring.  If you would like to serve on the committee contact Terri Williams, at the Office of Creative Ministries.  (Phone 573-474-7155 or Email williams@umocm.com.  Plan B is available from Cokesbury and most any bookstore.


 

Disaster Response Chainsaw Training Continues to Draw
Wilderness Retreat and Development Center, Lawson, Missouri
Members from Church of the Resurrection UMC, Liberty UMC, Waverly UMC and Warrensburg UMC received the kind of disaster response chainsaw training that is required of early responders.  Future chainsaw trainings will be held on March 17 at Camp Gallilee and on April 11 at Blue Mountain.  For more information and to register call Joe Bartelsmeyer at the Office of Creative Ministries 573-474-7155.


 

The Charles Chesnutt Black Heritage postal stamp was unveiled during worship at St. James United Methodist Church on Sunday.  This was just one of many ways that the congregation celebrated Black History month during February.  On behalf of the congregation Rev. Emanuel Cleaver received the framed picture of the stamp from Ms. Deborah Anderson, manager of the North Kansas City Branch Post Office.

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Atlanta UMC Youth Experience the Global Village

The Youth from Atlanta UMC, in the Mark Twain District, traveled to the Heifer International Ranch, in Perryville, Arkansas where they learned about world hunger and stayed in the Global Village.  For information about sharing this experience with your youth group contact Carol Oliver, at the Office of Creative Ministries.  (Email:  oliver@umocm.com / Phone:  573-474-7155)

To hear them tell about their experience click here.

Palmyra UMC Completes Second ARK

Carol Oliver, from the Office of Creative Ministries, presented the second Heifer International ARK award plaque to the Palmyra United Methodist Church.  Pastor Rebecca Peak received the plaque on behalf of the congregation during the children's time.  The church set out with the goal of providing one ARK in 2007 and ended up providing two ARKs during 2007 with a start on a third.  An ARK is a gift of $5,000 which provides at least two each of the animals provided by Heifer International to impoverished families.  Each family passes on the first offspring of the animals they receive to other families during a ceremony called "The Passing on of the Gift."  Such gifts are gifts that keep on giving.


 

Values Diversity Award to Office of Creative Ministries

Audrey Phelps, VIM Coordinator, and Isaac Johnson, Office Manager, hold the Values Diversity Award given to the Office of Creative Ministries.  Over a thousand persons attended the awards breakfast held at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia on January 17th.  Each year a teach, an individual and an organization are recognized.  The annual breakfast seeks to honor the values that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for.  The text on the award reads:

"The Columbia Values Diversity Award is presented to the Office of Creative Ministries, an organization which promotes new ways for congregations in Columbia and around the state to reach those in need.  In achieving the organizational mission of: “Appropriate response to identifiable human need”, the Office of Creative Ministries’ diverse efforts include: caring for the earth; a prison ministry; working for peace, racial justice and gender inclusiveness; and outreach to persons with disabilities.  The organization has also maintained a strong intentionality toward inclusiveness in its governing board, the projects chosen and people participating.  The message and work of the Office of Creative Ministries have consistently been an example of Dr. King’s values."

This picture and information was received from Carol Kremer

It continues to rain in Mozambique and your partner churches are affected - especially Chemba, Buzi, Save, and Nova Mambone.

The photo, taken by Rev. Jacob Jenhuro, just arrived from Mozambique. As you can see, the Zambezi (at Caia and Chemba) and Pungue (on the way to Buzi) rivers have inundated homes even miles from their shores.

The Buzi River is also over its shores due to rain in and west of Mozambique. According to AIM, the official news service, the forecast is for continued rain in the region.

The Save River has forced the people of Mambone to be evacuated as well as the people from the churches of Chemba (Caia and Goba local churches) have been evacuated by the government also and it is said that there is not enough food or safe water.

Visit the website: http://allafrica.com/mozambique/newswire/ to keep informed of the flood situation. One complication is that voter registration is happening from January 15 - March 15. There are difficulties in registering displaced persons. Click on the articles to read the full story.

Please pray for our sisters and brothers in Mozambique as they continue to live with the realities of their country, through which the great rivers of sub-Saharan Africa flow.

Flooding in Mozambique

 

 

"Jaws" From The Office of Creative Ministries Responds in Lamar

Jay Thomason, a member of Liberty United Methodist Church, and a certified Office of Creative Ministries skid loader operator, sat at the controls of Jaws during debris removal in Lamar, Missouri after the December ice storm.  Crew members included members of the Liberty United Methodist Church and Joe Bartelsmeyer from the Office of Creative Ministries. 

For persons interested in serving as early responders there will be two opportunities to be trained and certified as chain saw operators for disaster response.  The first training will be at Camp Jo-Ota on February 1 and the second one will be at Camp Wilderness on February 6.  Call the Office of Creative Ministries (573-474-7155) or email (bartelsmeyer@umocm.com) in order to receive registration information and materials.

 

 

Oregon United Methodist Church Provides Shelter From The Storm

The Oregon United Methodist Church was one of many churches that opened its doors and fired up its stoves to shelter people who had lost power in their homes.  Pictured on the left are some of the persons taking shelter.  Several rooms at the church provided sleeping arrangements as well.  Rev. James Shrieves reports:  "Since Tuesday our church has served as a SHelter site for the American Red Cross. We have had 36 persons living in our church fellowship hall, and around 60 meals served per meal time. Many of our members have assisted in meal service, and custodial work. We have been without electricity and water during this time. Members also went house to house bringing in the elderly to the shelter or delivering meals to those who decide to stay in their homes."

To read what other churches are doing and to report what yours is doing click here
 

 

Russian Initiative Consultation - Kansas City

 

 

Mission In MOtion at Branson United Methodist Church
The Branson United Methodist Church is all Mission in Motion.  The two top photos show church members putting together 2,000 prison kits for the Festival of Sharing and the bottom two pictures show them receiving, processing and distributing 46,000 lbs of potatoes to food pantries in the Branson area.

 

 

Glenwood Park United Methodist Church Distributes 42,000 Pounds of Potatoes

Glenwood Park United Methodist Church distributed 45,000 pounds of potatoes to local agencies (Harvesters, Community Service League, Don Bosco Center, Newhouse, City Union Mission, etc.), food pantries, and families on November 3, 2007.  These potatoes were obtained through the Society of St. Andrew.  The potatoes, seconds not acceptable for the grocery stores, would have normally ended up in a Minnesota dump.  Instead they were gleaned from the fields to help feed families.  Members of the Glenwood Park congregation, friends, Longview College students, and members of William Chrisman's ACE club worked together to rebag the 100 pound bags into smaller 5-10 pound bags.  To arrange for a potato drop for your church email Joe Bartelsmeyer at the Office of Creative Ministries. (bartelsmeyer@umocm.com)  Phone:  573-474-7155.

 


 

La Croix UMC Sends Hundreds Into The Community To Serve
On September 29th La Croix UMC sponsored their 40 Days of Community "Mission Blitz Day."  On that day they sent out more than 940 volunteers dressed in yellow t-shirts throughout their community to do all kinds of mission/outreach work.  Pictured on the left are some of those volunteers painting the hallways in the "SEMO Action Agency" located in Cape Girardeau.  Pictured on the right is Rev. Ron Watts, senior pastor at La Croix, serving in Rio Bravo, Mexico.  He was in the medical clinic with some of the patients waiting to be seen.  He co-led the volunteers in mission team which returned from Mexico on October 21st.

 

Residents in Ministry Serve in Caruthersville

Sixty-five ministers in the Residents in Ministry program served in Caruthersville, Missouri, on Monday to help the community to get back on its feet after the devastating tornado that ripped through town over a year ago.  They delivered a stove to a family that did not have one, taped and mudded sheetrock, dug dirt to level a place for a patio, cleaned up in and around a new church construction project and inventoried and organized the equipment in the Office of Creative Ministries disaster response trailer which has been used by over 100 teams since the recovery work started.  The Residents in Ministry program includes all probationary member of the conference who are on the way to becoming full members plus a number of pastors who are full-conference members serving as mentors and leaders in the Residents in Ministry program.  Click here or on the picture above to go to YouTube to see what they actually did in a short two minute video.  Admittedly the music is a bit dramatic; however, it was the only royalty free music available to the video editor at the time.

 

The workshop on video editing drew 19 participants, ages 13 to 58, to First United Methodist Church in St. Charles Tuesday evening.  Standing in the picture above is Jan Dillard, associate pastor at Presbyterian-Methodist Church, in Montgomery City, who demonstrated Windows Movie Maker and showed videos that they had produced and used in church.  Max Marble, Director of the Office of Creative Ministries, led the participants in a step by step process that ended with everyone having produced a video of the recent Dexter Festival of Sharing.  Future workshops will be held in Columbia (Nov. 1st) and Springfield (Nov. 4)  All of the workshops will be held from 6pm to 9pm to make them available to high school and college students and those who have day jobs.  For more information and to register email Max Marble at marble@umocm.com

Information about a MissonCast Video Contest  being sponsored by the Office of Creative Ministries and the Communications Commission may be found below.  Prizes include a digital camcorder, digital still camera and a library of 26 CDs of royalty free music to use in producing videos.
 
 

PET Building Dedication in Columbia
Larry Wilcox, one of the many volunteers making PETs in Columbia, demonstrates the finishing touches on the PET for children.  The picture was taken Sunday afternoon during the dedication of PET-Columbia's new production building.  About a hundred people attended the dedication.  You may see what happened by clicking on the picture above.  It will take you to an extra edition of MissionCast.  The content of the MissionCast was provided by KOMU-TV, in Columbia.


 

Keytesville Parades Nothing But Nets
The Keytesville United Methodist Church Nothing But Nets float took first place in the General Sterling Price Days parade, on September 8th.  The church also set up a "Funnel Cake" stand to raise money for Nothing But Nets.  Pastor McVeigh says the church averages 45 on Sunday morning and that they did their part for Nothing But Nets.   All I can say is that you and I (unless you were actually there) were in the wrong place on September 8th.

 

Walk The Trail
Walk the trail that many homeless in St. Louis walk every day.  CentenaryCARES offers a number of educational opportunities for youth and adults.  One of them is the opportunity to learn about the homeless by walking in their shoes and experiencing what their average day is like.  In the church we so often get hung up with our own cares that were never the cares of Jesus.  Actually Jesus never built or maintained a building...just think of that?  Jesus spoke more about caring for the poor than anything else.  Cententary UMC offers the homeless of St. Louis some extravagant hospitality that you can learn about.  For information about what they do and what you can do call Jo Wight at 314-421-3136. 


 

                   Bike Rehab Ministry, Manchester UMC

 Bill Siden and about 50 other volunteers spent Saturday cleaning and repairing donated bikes as a part of the Bike Rehab Ministry of Manchester United Methodist Church, in St. Louis.  Bike repair stations covered the fellowship hall.  Sixty bikes were made as good as new and were taken to Kingdom House for distribution to children and families unable to afford them.  Bill said he retired 15 years ago and now he, "works for the church." It was easy to see that everyone was having a very meaningful Saturday.               

              Click on the above picture above to see everyone at work.

                                                          * * * * *

               Young Adult Future VIM Team Leaders
Back Row Left to Right:  Barbara and Jeff Moran (Fulton), Isaac Johnson (Columbia), Kayla Schrader (Virginia), Sarah Watson (Ft. Leonard Wood), Nany Cobo (Ecuador), Chris Snyder (Mt. Vernon), Rob Monolo (Virginia).  Front Row Left to Right: Jennifer Williams (Columbia), Audrey Phelps (Boonville), Marcia Himes (Clever), and Josh Langille-Hoppe (Springfield).

Our first Missouri Conference VIM team of young adult future team leaders returned last week from Ecuador where they worked on a construction project and provided a VBS for children.  Each of the young adults will be leading a Missouri Conference VIM team with in the next 18 months.  This was a training team for young adult VIM team leaders.  It was led by Audrey Phelps, a young adult who serves as the Missouri Conference VIM Coordinator through the Office of Creative Ministries.  Another Office of Creative Ministries staff young adult serving on the team was Isaac Johnson. 

          From the United Methodist Interpreter Magazine

                Alexis Miller and Max Marble at the video editing bay.

Our Photo of the Week appears in the current United Methodist Interpreter Magazine's cover article about "Ministry via New Technology".  The article tells about MissionCast episode 20 which features Alexis Miller and the Nothing But Nets campaign and episode 19 which features Ryan Oetting and  the 2007 Summer Youth Workcamp program.  To read the article click on the link below.

http://www.interpretermagazine.org/interior.asp?ptid=43&mid=12322


        Last week's Photo of the Week

    Disaster Response Skid-loader Training

(Left to Right) Kevin Fisher, Joe Bartelsmeyer, Jay Thomason, Chris Mettenburg, Nick Mettenburg, Jim Gleason & Joe Glenn, Instructor/Trainer.

The Office of Creative Ministries continues to train and certify skid-loader operators for clean-up operations after disasters.  If you would like to receive the training please contact Joe Bartelsmeyer (second from the left) at the Office of Creative Ministries.  Phone 573-474-7155 or Email at bartelsmeyer@umocm.com.  This training involved members of Liberty United Methodist Church in, Liberty, MO led by Kevin Fisher (far left)

 

Vacation Bible School in Chingletai, Mongolia
We received this picture from Helen Sheperd who is from Missouri and is the United Methodist Church's first missionary to Mongolia.  VBS doesn't look too different in Mongolia except for coloring on the floor and lifting the flap of the tent like church for the breeze to blow through.  The picture was taken on August 13, 2007.


 

Sea surge from Hurricane Dean in the Dominica

The Picture of the Week, from the BBC News Service, was taken in Dominica by Lee Wilbur.  Lee, son of Reuben and Shirley Wilbur, is serving as a Crisis Corps Volunteer, a part of the Peace Corps.  He has a 6 month assignment (through December 21, 2007) working in Dominica with emergency preparedness.  Hurricane Dean is the first major hurricane to hit the island nation since 1978.  Lee has been working at Dominica's National Emergency Operations Center for Communications.  As a US Amateur Radio operator -- KD0BBR ((KD(zero)BBR)), Lee has been granted amateur radio privileges in Dominica with the call sign J79PCV.  Lee has been operating emergency radio communications with radios and a computer getting electricity from a generator.

 

The United Methodist Men meeting in St. Louis bagged 44,000 lbs potato drop.  The potatoes were provided by the Society of St. Andrew.  The potatoes would have been thrown out.  Instead the perfectly good potatoes were salvaged by the men and made their way to the tables of the poor and hungry of the St. Louis area.  If your United Methodist Men or your congregation would like to sponsor a potato drop contact Joe Bartelsmeyer at the Office of Creative Ministries at phone 573-474-7155 or e-mail bartelsmeyer@umocm.com.


 

From Interpreter Magazine
        

    Disaster Response Skid-loader Training

(Left to Right) Kevin Fisher, Joe Bartelsmeyer, Jay Thomason, Chris Mettenburg, Nick Mettenburg, Jim Gleason & Joe Glenn, Instructor/Trainer.

The Office of Creative Ministries continues to train and certify skid-loader operators for clean-up operations after disasters.  If you would like to receive the training please contact Joe Bartelsmeyer (second from the left) at the Office of Creative Ministries.  Phone 573-474-7155 or Email at bartelsmeyer@umocm.com.  This training involved members of Liberty United Methodist Church in, Liberty, MO led by Kevin Fisher (far left)

 

Vacation Bible School in Chingletai, Mongolia
We received this picture from Helen Sheperd who is from Missouri and is the United Methodist Church's first missionary to Mongolia.  VBS doesn't look too different in Mongolia except for coloring on the floor and lifting the flap of the tent like church for the breeze to blow through.  The picture was taken on August 13, 2007.
Congratulations to Jenny and Isaac Johnson.  They were united in marriage on July 7th and have just returned from their honeymoon in Canada.  Isaac serves as the office manager at the Office of Creative Ministries.  Jenny is from Pensacola, Florida and having just received her Masters Degree in Social Work from MU, works at the Office of Refugee and Immigration Services, in Columbia.  Isaac is from Sikeston and has been working that the Office of Creative Ministries since graduating from MU.  They hope sometime in the near future to serve as missionaries in Africa.  The full Office of Creative Ministries staff and many Office of Creative Ministries volunteers were on hand to worship and celebrate the wedding which took place at First Baptist Church in Columbia. Click on the picture above to see more of the wedding.


 

Palymra United Methodist Church Receives Heifer International Ark Plaque
During Sunday morning worship, the Palmyra United Methodist Church was presented with a Heifer International ark plaque by Carol Oliver, who serves as our Missouri Heifer International representative on the Office of Creative Ministries staff.  The church had planned to take all year to raise the $5,000 for the Ark.  With the needed amount already raised by mid-year the congregation has decided to raise money for an additional Ark.  Here we find another example of Extravagant Generosity.  An Ark is a gift of at least two of each of the animals that Heifer International makes available to needy families.   Pastor Rebecca Dunger Peak feels blessed by wonderful congregational leadership that makes mission come alive at Palmyra UMC.

To learn more about giving the gift of an Ark contact Carol Oliver at oliver@umocm.com

 

 

Pictured is Karen Benson being interviewed by MissionCast in the Missouri Emergency Operations Center, at the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency in Jefferson City.  Behind her you see some of the 200 persons gathered at the Emergency Operation Center for the drill.  All of these people and thousands more participated in a 3-day, multimillion-dollar drill simulating a response to the projected New Madrid Earthquake.  Go to http://momissioncast.com to hear what Karen has to say.  Participating in the drill in Jefferson City were Karen Benson, Missouri Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and chair of the Governor’s Partnership on Disaster Response, Mark Dumas, chair of the Missouri Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, and Dante Gliniecki (walking behind Karen to her right) with SEMA, who along with Karen is a volunteer staff member of the Office of Creative Ministries.  Marney Meserve, District Disaster Response Coordinator for the Gateway Central District, participated in the drill in St. Louis.

Click here to see how your county might be affected in the projected New Madrid Earthquake.


 

Africa University Graduates At Conference

The Missouri Conference was honored by four guests from Mozambique.  Three of them (see names underlined) are graduates of Africa University.  Both the former Missouri East and West Conferences participated in the capital fund campaign to build Africa University and it is wonderful to see such promising church leaders emerging from those efforts.  Pictured from left to right are:  Carol Kreamer (Mozambique Initiative Coordinator), Delfina Monteiro (Mozambique Area Financial Officer), Ezequiel Nhantumbo (Mozambique Initiative Coordinator in Mozambique) , Ivan James (Samaritan UMC, St. Louis), Jacob Jenhuro (Council Director of the Mozambique North Conference) and Zefanias Chihulume(Council Director of the Mozambique South Conference).                                        Photo by Fred Koenig

 

                 Nothing But Nets
On the first day of Annual Conference the Office of Creative Ministries staff wore "Nothing But Nets" t-shirts.  The whole idea behind the "Nothing But Nets" campaign is to receive donations of $10 to purchase mosquito nets for individuals and families who can not afford them.  The purchase of each net saves at least one life, but in many cases more than one person will sleep under a net.

 For more information about "Nothing But Nets" click here.
 

 

Alexis Miller Visits With Mel West at the PET Place in Columbia

Meet Alexis Miller, the Summer Mission Intern, at the Office of Creative Ministries.  Alexis is a Senior at The University of Central Missouri, in Warrensburg, studying for a degree in Public Relations.  This Summer she will serve as a part of the Office of Creative Ministries team as she learns about the various outreach ministries of our Missouri Conference congregations.  

PET, stands for "Personal Energy Transportation".  A PET is a 3-wheel, hand-cranked, vehicle for those who have lost the use of their legs.  You can arrange a tour of the PET Place and learn how you can become involved in this ministry by calling 573-886-7877.
 

 

 

Week of April 25, 2007

 

Joe Bartelsemyer, from the Office of Creative Ministries, Eric Anderson, Pony Express District Disaster Response Coordinator and James Shrieves, pastor of the Oregon UMC, surveyed the flood waters at Big Lake on Monday.  The three of them gained access to the area because of Joe's disaster response identification badge, otherwise public access to the area is still denied.  When public access is made available persons wishing to help out with the clean up in Big Lake and other flooded areas should contact Eric Anderson or Joe Bartelsmeyer.  Pictured in the upper right hand photo are Rev. Eric Anderson and Rev. James Shrieves.  The Office of Creative Ministries pickup (lower left) made it though the flood waters to bring you these pictures.  (Pictures by Joe Bartelsmeyer)

The bonus picture (lower right) shows Lewis (of Lewis and Clark) in deep water.  There is a new statues of Lewis and Clark on the parking area below the Eads Bridge, in St. Louis.  Normally Lewis is waving his hat to the public in a jovial manner, however when Sally Marble took this picture it looked more like a cry for help.  Poor Clark was completely submerged.

Cornerstone and Liberty UMC Build in Caruthersville

Pictured above are members of Cornerstone UMC (O'Fallon) building in Caruthersville from the ground up.  This week members of Liberty UMC are continuing with the wiring and roofing.  This home in Caruthersville should be completed soon built from the ground up by Missouri United Methodists.


 

COLUMBIA WESLEY FOUNDATION
 IN NEW ORLEANS ON SPRING BREAK

(Click on above picture)  Granted you can not see who the students are in this picture.  They are hard at work gutting a home in New Orleans so it can be restored.  It is not that they don't want you to know who they are.  They just need to wear the safety suits and masks which disguise them.  However, if you click on the picture you will see their smiling faces and their tools of destruction.  Their names and home towns are listed below.

Andrew Ritts, Ellisville, MO; Yutika Sthavornmanee, Thailand; Dan Swindell, Columbia, MO; Zachary Callaway, St. Joseph, MO, Jamey Richards, Macon, MO; Kristen Hower, Denver, CO; Jenny Jackson, Boliver, MO; Sara Halley, Ellisville, MO; Andrea Stone, Mexico, MO; Leah Halley, Ellisville, MO;  Joshua Headley, Boston, MA; E.C. Atchison, Sikeston, MO; Jared Hoft, Columbia, MO

 

OUR NEW MISSIONARIES
Left to Right:  Max Marble, Mary Ward, Carol Clay Mann, Judith Ball

Mary Ward, member of St. James UMC, in Kansas City, and Carol Clay Mann, member of Mt. Olivet UMC, in Taylor, were commissioned Tuesday night, in Stamford, Connecticut, at the General Board of Global Ministries Meeting.  As a Deaconess, Carol's assignment is to Lewis County C-1 schools, in Ewing, Missouri and to the Quincy Area Network Against Domestic Abuse, in Quincy, Illinois.  As a Church and Community Worker, Mary will serve as the Executive Director of the United Methodist Community Outreach Program of Roanoke, Virginia.  Look for details of the evening in the up-coming issues of the Review and MissionCast.  Judith Ball is a Director of the General Board of Global Ministries and along with Max Marble, Director of the Office of Creative Ministries, attended the commissioning representing the Missouri Conference. 

Week of April 25, 2007

First United Methodist Church, McAllen, Texas

People from 11 states gathered at First United Methodist Church, McAllen, Texas for prayer before crossing the border to dedicate the new PET Affiliate, in Nuevo Progresso, Mexico.   This was Bishop Schnase's last appointment before becoming Bishop.  The facilities are beautiful.  I was interested in the fact that the sanctuary has not yet been built.  It felt like there was a strong mission emphasis.  Worship is still being held in the gym of the Family Life Center.  For more pictures of the church that Bishop Schnase built click here.  The reason we gathered at First United Methodist church for prayer, led by Rev. Jose Torres, Rio Grande Conference District Superintendent, was that the Border Area Mission through which we have sent many VIM teams to serve in Mexico is housed in the church.
                       --Max Marble
     (Watch MissionCast next week for a report on the new PET Affiliate in Mexico.)

April 18, 2007

Wardrobe Expansion Project, Hayti, Missouri

The Picture of the Week shows the expansion project currently underway in Hayti, at the Wardrobe.  Pictured is Stephen Rhodes.  Stephen and Faye Rhodes are members of the First United Methodist Church, in Hayti and been the key persons who have made the expansion program possible through their dedicated service to the Wardrobe Ministry.  Rev. Sue Cubbage and the whole Wardrobe Board have worked hard on this project.  The Wordrobe property is owned by the Office of Creative Ministries Board.  Others working with Steve on the project last week were Rodger McQuate and Gary Springer, Wentzville UMC & Joe Franks, Maryville UMC.  Men from the West Plains UMC will be continuing the work on the building.

April 11, 2007

Tennessee VIM team members serve dinner to the families living in the three homes they helped to rebuild in Caruthersville.
                                   Message from VIM Team
The Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Team from the Columbia District of the Tennessee, United Methodist Conference would like to thank Caruthersville, MO for allowing us to be a part of the rebuilding efforts from the April 2, 2006 tornadoes.  The families from the three homes for whom we worked supported us most graciously, and we especially enjoyed their company for dinner on Thursday, March 22.  It was our pleasure and reward to utilize the skills and talents we have received through Christ to provide this service to your community.  We will continue to pray for Caruthersville’s total recovery and safety in the future.  Our thanks also go to the Eastwood United Methodist Church for the use of their facilities to house us during our stay.
     With the Love of Jesus Christ!
     Columbia District VIM Team

 

March 28, 2007

You are looking at the 10,000th PET.  PET stands for "Personal Energy Transportation" .  PETS are made available to people around the world who have lost the use of their legs.  The first PETs were built in Rev. Mel West's (pictured on the left) garage, in Columbia, about 12 years ago.  Now the PET is being produced in several locations around the United States.  Real production start 10 years ago.  During the celebration of the 10,000th PET held at Community United Methodist Church cards were held up telling the story:  "10,000 PETS, in 60 countries, in 10 years."  You and/or your church can give this gift of mobility with a gift of $250 which pays for the production (all by volunteers) and delivery to some distant place in the world where today the future recipient can do nothing by crawl around on the ground.  The PET, this Gift of Mobility is ours to give.  The gift is life transforming.  You may contact the Office of Creative Ministries for a video which tells about this important ministry. (Photo by Lawrence Garvin)

From the week of March 26, 2007


The Aeroporto UMC in Mozambique

From the week of March 19, 2007

For Your Church Website

The Photo of the Week this week is for you to put on your church website as a link for members of your congregation to click on to go to MissionCast.  Three sizes are offered here.  If you would like to have a higher resolution version for print just let us know.  Let us know if we can send you an 8X11 poster for your church bulletin board.  Contact us at marble@umocm.com
The link for your web pictures is:
http://www.MOMissionCast.com

 

From the week of March 7, 2007

"PHOTO OF THE WEEK"

Rev. David Scott, pastor of the Alton and Thayer United Methodist Churches, let it be known that he would kiss a goat if each congregation had raised their share of a Heifer International Ark by the first of March.  The cost of an Ark is $5,000 and includes at least 2 of each of the animals that Heifer International makes available to impoverished families.  David fulfilled his promise during church by kissing Snowball, pictured at the left.  At Thayer the congregation had raised double the needed amount and so at Thayer David kissed Snowball and her sister Neva.  We understand that the sermon, prayers and hymns were occasionally punctuated by the goats.  It was a joyful Sunday as the members of the Alton United Methodist Church and the Thayer United Methodist Church are well on their way to completing a $5,000 Ark which will put food on the tables of many impoverished families and will bring other families the extra income they need to be able to pay school fees for their children to attend school.  We take our hats off to David for the encouragement he has offered to get the job done.

For information about Heifer International Arks, contact Carol Oliver, at the Office of Creative Ministries.  Her email is oliver@umocm.com.  The office phone number is 573-474-715.  Also see the Heifer International presentation schedule below.


Heifer International Presentations Scheduled
March 2007


The Midwest Regional Director for Heifer International will be speaking in four communities around the state in March. David Boothby will be sharing stories and information about Heifer projects around the world, and about opportunities for becoming involved. Additional speakers will be local folks from each of the meeting sites who have had experience with Heifer and Carol Oliver, Missouri Representative for Heifer International.

The dates, times and locations for these events are as follows:

Wednesday, March 21st, Truman State University in Kirksville, Violette Hall, Room 1010, at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 22nd, Millville United Methodist Church, near Braymer at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, March 23rd, First United Methodist Church, Celebration Center in Sedalia at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 24th, Stephens College in Columbia, Windsor Lounge in Stamper Commons, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Heifer International is in its sixty-third year of helping people around the world move from a life of poverty to one of self-sufficiency by giving them animals that can both improve the families health and nutrition, and provide a source of income. Each family is required to “pass on the gift” by giving the first off-spring from their animal to another family.

Registration and a fee ($10) are required for the Saturday event only. Please send your contact information and fee to Isaac Johnson, Heifer International, 3009 David Drive, Columbia, MO 65202 by Monday, March 19th. For more information please contact Carol Oliver at oliver@umocm.com or Isaac Johnson at Johnson@umocm.com or at 573-474-7155.
 

 

From the week of February 28, 2007


 

It is "seed time" at the Office of Creative Ministries. 

Seeds donated during the Festival of Sharing are sorted and shipped to garden clubs that make garden space available to low income families.  In the Photo of the Week, volunteer Elinor Russell, from Sturgeon UMC, and volunteer Dolores Reddick, from Community UMC, sort thousands of seed packets preparing for this year's distribution in time for planting season.  Some of the organizations that have received seeds are:  Community Garden Coalition - Columbia; Boys and Girls Club of the Columbia Area; Christ’s Kitchen - West Plains; Agape Ministry of Warrenton; The Wardrobe - Hayti; Gateway Greening - St. Louis and Kansas City Community Garden.

If your church group would like to work on this project next Spring contact Isaac Johnson, at the Office of Creative Ministries.  (573) 474-7155 or johnson@umocm.com  Also, please let your congregation know that they can give seeds through the Festival of Sharing to help put healthy, fresh food on the tables of low-income Missourians.


 

From the week of January 22, 2007

The Beauty and the Beast - Ice Storm

Pictures taken by Joe Bartelsmeyer, Office of Creative Ministries, while working in Southwest Missouri.  While the ice on the power lines and tree limbs presented a winter wonderland the sheer weight of the ice cause havoc everywhere. To see more of his pictures and to see these pictures at a higher resolution click on either of the pictures above.

From the week of January 10, 2007

Dr. Shannon Jung, Professor of Town and Country Ministries, at Saint Paul School of Theology, will lead a workshop about food and the part it plays in our personal lives and in our rural and urban communities.  It ties us together in so many ways.  Lent is a good time to think about how important food is not only for our physical lives but also for our social and spiritual lives.

Register by sending a check for $15 to the Office of Creative Ministries, 3009 David Dr., Columbia, MO 65202.  The workshop is sponsored by the Mid-State Council on Ministries and the Office of Creative Ministries.  Please register by March 6.

 

From the week of January 3, 2007

Eden Summit:  Cultivating Creation Awareness Congregations
Community UMC, Columbia, Missouri -- April 21, 2007

(Click on each picture for high resolution viewing)

We are going to ask you to pick the photo of the week from four photos Bishop Schnase has taken since coming to Missouri.  He will be sharing much more of his bird and wildlife photography during the opening worship of the "Creation Awareness Event" to be held at Community United Methodist Church, in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday, April 21.  All of his photos will be photos he has taken here in Missouri. 

"Eden Summit: Cultivating Creation Awareness Congregations" is sponsored by the Spiritual Formation and Social Justice Team, the Global Connections Team and the Office of Creative Ministries.  More information will be forthcoming.  However, for now it will be enough just to put April 21 on your personal and church calendars.

 

 


Click here to animate the photo.

From the week of Dec 27, 2006

"Mission in MOtion"

2006 PHOTOS OF THE WEEK COLLAGE
 

This last Photo of the Week for 2006 is a collage of the 2006 Photos of the Week.
For a better viewing of individual photos click below.
Medium Resolution - 816 kb
High Resolution - 3,759 kb (for High Speed Connections)

From the week of Dec 22, 2006

Kevyn Amos in Quito, Ecuador


Rev. Kevyn Amos, pastor of St. Andrews UMC, in Kansas City and chairperson of the Office of Creative Ministries Board, recently visited a Day Care Center in Quito. Ecuador.  Kevyn and Audrey Phelps, Volunteers in Mission Coordinator, at the Office of Creative Ministries were on a Volunteers in Mission scouting trip to Ecuador.  Both Kevyn and Audrey will be leading VIM teams to Ecuador in the next year.  Contact Kevyn (KJOMinistry@hotmail.com) or Audrey (phelps@umocm.com) for more information.

Click here to view the Mission In MOtion Video
(The video is available on loan from the Conference Office - 573-441-1770)

Back Row (L to R): Renee Purol, Gloria DenHartog and Dorthy Carwell.  Front Row (L to R): Faye Chitwood and Mary Elliott. Not pictured but a part of the group is Sandy Begley.

On Sunday, while preaching at Mt. Vernon UMC (Palmyra), I found a wonderful example of Mission in MOtion.  Most every Tuesday Gloria, Dorthy, Faye, Mary and Renee bake "Glory Rolls" in their church basement.  Sandy who can not be present for the baking is their top salesperson.  The impossible to resist cinnamon rolls are sold for a dollar a piece at various places across the county and all of the money goes to missions.  They sent $1,600 to their adopted church in Bouras, Louisiana.  They support local and international missions.  Shay Blackwell (St. Louis) is one of several missionaries receiving support.  The rolls are given to bereaved families as well as those with special occasions to celebrate.  As guest preacher for the morning I even came home with a bag of them.  (Excuse me for eating while typing...  Ummmm Umm)  Faye dreamed up this new mission ministry in February, 2005.  Since then they have raised $12,952 for missions.  Their pastor, Rebecca Dunger Peak, calls the women her "holy rollers."   

I am told that if you are interested in placing an order for "Glory Rolls" they will do their best to fill them.  Contact Faye Chitwood (573) 439-5254. (fchitwoo@marktwain.net)                  --Max Marble

 


From the week of November 19, 2006


Known as Tweedy Bird because of her color, this truck just showed up one morning on the parking lot of Schweitzer UMC, in Springfield.  The donor was anonymous.  Tweedy Bird has been put to work bringing relief equipment and supplies to those in the path of disasters.  This last week she was in Fredericktown, Missouri along with church members from Wentzville UMC, Schweitzer UMC and a few AmeriCorps Volunteers.  They were fixing roofs and repairing walls and rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed by the September tornado that ripped through town.  The moral of the story is:  If you "just show up" at "A Church That Serves" you don't sit still for long.

Contact Joe Bartelsmeyer, VIM Coordinator for projects in Missouri, at the Office of Creative Ministries, and you won't sit still long either.  Just like Tweedy Bird you will become a blessing to many.


From the week of November 12, 2006

If you use this 3-minute video in a worship service or a church meeting let us know how it worked for you. (marble@umocm.com) To download the video for your use, right click on the link below and click on "save target as."

     &n