There will be a North Central District Pastors' meeting on Wednesday, September 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Grace UMC, 219 W. Mulberry St., Kokomo. A gathering time of homemade rolls and fellowship will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. This meeting is mandatory for all full time clergy in the North Central District. Part-time pastors are encouraged to attend, if at all possible.

For part-time pastors who are unable to attend the morning session, we are going to have a duplicate meeting Wednesday, September 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Grace UMC, Kokomo. Please let the District office know if you will be coming to the evening meeting.

Installation Service for Rev. Michelle Cobb & Meeting with Clergy Spouses

The Installation Service for Rev. MichelleCobb will be held on Sunday, September 9 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Luke's UMC, 700 E. Southway Blvd., Kokomo. Clergy and lay persons are invited.

Meeting with North Central District Spouses of Clergy

Rev. Michelle Cobb would like to visit with the spouses of the North Central District clergy on Sunday, September 9 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel area at St. Luke's UMC, 700 E. Southway Blvd., Kokomo, before Rev. Cobb's installation service which takes place at 3:00 p.m. This would be an opportunity for Rev. Cobb to meet you and share a word of appreciation. Please let Becky Rees know if you will be planning to attend.

Clergy Spouse Retreat

The 2012 Clergy Spouse Retreat will be held on Friday-Sunday, September 21-23 at the Holiday Inn (formerly Four Points by Sheraton), 251 E. Pennsylvania Parkway, Indianapolis. The theme of the retreat will be "State of the Heart - Servanthood" with Cindy Kanning. Registration deadline is August 31. For more information, download the retreat brochure online by clicking here. For answers to questions about scholarships, the registration procedure or commuter meals, please contact Rhonda Alstott by phone at 812-944-1811 or by email at alstott@joink.com

Operation Classroom Packing Party

Operation Classroom Packing Party will be held on Saturday, August 25 from 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. at Centenary UMC, 910 Fordice Road, Lebanon. School supplies will be sent to the Taiama Secondary School. The next Packing Party will be Sunday, October 14 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Speedway UMC, 5065 W. 16th St., Speedway.

North Central District Cluster Training

There will be a North Central District Cluster Training on Sunday, August 5 at 2:00 p.m. at Emmanuel UMC, 16000 Cumberland Road, Noblesville.

Free IRS Webinar for Religious Groups

How does the IRS define a church? What are the rules for compensating your pastors? And, what happends if your congregation is audited? The IRS promises to answer these questions and more at a free webinar, scheduled for Wednesday, July 25 at 2:00 p.m. To register, please click here.

Diverstiy Training & Professional Boundaries Classes

There will be Diversity Training and Professional Boundaries Classes for pastors at St. Luke's UMC, 700 E. Southway Blvd., Kokomo:

Diversity Training - Friday, September 21, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Register by clicking here. Deadline September 14.
Professional Boundaries - Saturday, September 22, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Register by clicking here. Deadline September 15.

Yearlong Prayer for Each Church

A yearlong prayer emphasis has been announced by Bishop Michael Coyner, who asked each congregation to pray for five other congregations every Monday through Friday in 2012. The object is to lift our sister United Methodist Churches in prayer at least once during the year. Paula Shrock, the North Central District Prayer Coordinator, has made available a bulletin insert which may be used. You may obtain the bulletin insert for July 30-August 3 by clicking here.

Ken & Debbie Vance, Missionaries to Zambia

Ken and Debbie Vance will return to the States in September and will be available for speaking in churches through January 2013. To schedule them for a speaking engagement, please contact Shirley Dominick, 756-413-2966, shirley.dominick@gmail.com. Please send funds for salary support to the Marion Mission Storehouse, P. O. Box 38, Marion, IN 46952.

Ken Vance Golf Tournament - The annual Ken Vance Golf Tournament will be Sunday, August 26 with shotgun start at 2:00 p.m. at Arbor Trace Golf Course. Cost will be $200 per foursome. Please send payment to Lonny Harts 9362 S. 800 E., Amboy, IN 46911. Make checks payable to Richland Chapel with Ken Vance Golf in memo. Registration deadline is August 18.

Job Openings

If you would like to see information about the following job openings, please click here.

Upward Director - Emmanuel UMC, Noblesville.
Youth Ministry Director - Grace UMC, Kokomo
Choir Director/Worship Leader, Bethel UMC, Anderson
Church Executive Administrator, First UMC, Noblesville
Youth Ministry Professional, First UMC, Noblesville
Director of Youth Ministries, St. Luke's UMC, Kokomo
Director of Christian Education and Children's Ministries, St. Luke's UMC, Kokomo
Executive Director of Grace Day Care, Grace UMC, Lafayette

United Methodist Women Upcoming Events

District UMW Fall Meeting - Sunday, September 23, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at First UMC, 2051 Monument St., Noblesville

Conference UMW Fall Celebration and Annual Meeting - October 12-13, Avon UMC, 6850 E. U.S. 36, Avon

Youth Events

Click here for more details on these events and other youth events

That Thingregistration. Get more information by clicking here.

Youth Worker invited to Connect - Coffee & Catch-Up

Join us for an informal time of youth ministry discussion at a coffee shop near you! We'll meet at 2:00 p.m. In the North Central District, there are two locations:

August 15 - Eagle Creek Coffee Co. - 10 South Main St., Zionsville
August 29 - Starbucks - 4970 Beaner Blvd., Gas City

Confirmation Workshop

Saturday, September 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Indiana Conference Center, 301 Pennsylvania Parkway, Indianapolis - Workshop participants will receive tips and tools on how to create a meaningful, educational and engaging Confirmation program. Topics will include curriculum, mentoring and relationship building, mission and service project ideas, life after Confirmation and celebrating the day. Cost is $15 and includes lunch and materials. For more information, contact helene.foust@inumc.org. Registration information to come.

Fall Youth Worker Retreat

The Fall Youth Worker Retreat will be held Friday-Saturday, October 19-20 at Epworth Forest Conference and Retreat Center at North Webster. This is a retreat designed just for youth workers to experience a time of spiritual renewal through worship and training opportunities that will send you home refreshed, renewed and full of ideas for your ministry, plus some downtime to relax or play as you desire. This retreat will include workshops with a small church focus led by Stephanie Caro of Youth Ministry Architects and workshops with a youth ministry planning focus led by Aaron Helman of Smarter Youth Ministry and Firehouse Student Ministries and Helene Foust, associate director of Student Ministries, Indiana Conference of the UMC. Cost is $50 for the first youth worker and $40 for each additional youth worker on your team. Cost includes all food, lodging, materials and programming. For more information, contact helene.foust@inumc.org. Registration information to come.

Growing Youth Ministry Workshop

Saturday, October 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - during this one day workshop, these topics will be covered:

Starting Youth Ministry: Forming a Youth Ministry Team; Casting your vision
Reaching Out: Knowing your audience; Reaching youth in & out of your church
Afternoon: Growing More Than Numbers; Programming and ideas to help raise committed followers of Christ

Cost is $15 and includes lunch and materials. Location: Conference Center, 301 Pennsylvania Parkway, Indianapolis. For more information, contact helene.foust@inumc.org. Registration information to come.

Future District/Conference Events

North Central District Pastors' Meeting, Wednesday, September 5, 9:30 a.m. at Grace UMC, 219 W. Mulberry St., Kokomo
Clergy Spouse Meeting with Rev. Michelle Cobb, Sunday, September 9, 2:00 p.m. at St. Luke's UMC, 700 E. Southway Blvd., Kokomo
Installation Service for Rev. Michelle Cobb, Sunday, September 9, 3:00 p.m. at St. Luke's UMC, 700 E. Southway Blvd., Kokomo
Diversity Training, September 21, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., St. Luke's UMC, 700 E. Southway Blvd., Kokomo
Clergy Spouse Retreat, Friday-Saturday, September 21-23 at the Holiday Inn (formerly Four Points by Sheraton), Carmel North
Professional Boundaries, September 22, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., St. Luke's UMC, 700 E. Southway Blvd., Kokomo
District UMW Annual Meeting, Sunday, September 23, First UMC, 2051 Monument St., Noblesville
Kokomo 6 Cluster Charge Conference, Sunday, October 7 at 4:00 p.m., St. Luke's UMC, 700 E. Southway Blvd., Kokomo
Howard/Miami Cluster Charge Conference, Tuesday, October 9, 6:00 p.m.
Conference UMW Annual Meeting, October 12-13, Avon UMC, 6850 E. U.S. 36, Avon
Pray First Cluster Charge Conference, Sunday, October 14 at 4:00 p.m.
Eastbrook Cluster Charge Conference, Sunday, October 21 at 4:00 p.m., Center Chapel UMC, 8733 E. 200 S., Marion
Argylls Cluster Charge Conference, Tuesday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m., Fairmount UMC, 301 S Walnut St., Fairmount
Oak Hill Cluster Charge Conference, Sunday, October 28 at 4:00 p.m., Swayzee UMC, 306 S. Washington St., Swayzee
Anderson Cluster Charge Conference, Tuesday, October 30 at 6:00 p.m.
Small Town Cluster Charge Conference, Sunday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m.
Grant 7 Cluster Charge Conference, Wednesday, November 7 at 6:00 p.m.
South Madison Cluster Charge Conference, Sunday, November 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Hope United Cluster Charge Conference, Tuesday, November 13 at 6:00 p.m.
Hamilton County Cluster Charge Conference, Sunday, November 18 at 4:00 p.m.
Boone County Cluster Charge Conference, Tuesday, November 20 at 6:00 p.m.
Clinton & Frankfort Clusters Charge Conference, Tuesday, November 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Clinton Central Cluster Charge Conference, Sunday, December 2 at 4:00 p.m.

Area Events - Click here for complete details.

Intergenerational Outdoor Work, Connecting Residents with Youth, Friday, July 27; Friday, August 3; and Friday, August 10, 9:00 a.m. at Wesley Manor, Frankfort
Dan's Fish and Tenderloin Fry, Wednesday, August 1, 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Russiaville UMC
New Book Study - The Seed, Pack 2: Armor Five & Glory by Pricilla Shirer, Wednesday, August 1, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at St. Mark's UMC, Carmel
AgapeFest IV, Saturday, August 4 from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m., Trinity UMC, Arcadia
Annual Chicken and Noodle Dinner, Saturday, August 4, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Colfax UMC
Purdue Solar Home Presentation, Sunday, August 5, 3:00 p.m., Wesley Manor Social Center, Frankfort
Tenderloin Fry, Saturday, August 18, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Mt. Olive UMC, Marino
Fish Fry, Saturday, October 6, Hillsdale UMC, Kokomo
Piano Music by Dottie Pilley, Monday, August 13, 2:00 p.m., Wesley Manor Otterbein Parlor, Frankfort
Wesley Village Garage Sale, Saturday, August 18, 8:00 a.m. to noon, Wesley Manor Village, Frankfort
Road Show host by Friends of the Manor, Saturday, August 18, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Wesley Manor Village, 9 Carlyle and 32 Westwood.
Wesley Village Open House, Saturday, August 18, 8:00 a.m. to noon, Wesley Village, Frankfort
Fall Disciple Bible Study series, starting Sunday, August 19, 5:00-7:30 p.m., St. Mark's UMC, Carmel
Wesley Manor Hosts Informational Healthcare Finance Lunch and Learn, Thursday, August 23 at 11:30 a.m., Wesley Manor Harmony Hall, Frankfort
Ken Vance Golf Tournament, Sunday, August 26 with shotgun start at 2:00 p.m. at Arbor Trace Golf Course, Marion
Funtime Band at Wesley Manor, Sunday, August 26, 3:00 p.m., Wesley Manor Social Center, Frankfort
Candy Making, Sunday, August 26, 2:00 p.m., Wesley Manor Craft Room, Frankfort
Bible Study Weekend, August 31-September 2, Sharpsville UMCSaturday, September 8, 9:00 a.m., Zion UMC, Kokomo
Mission Auction,
Annual Chicken Noodle Dinner and UMW Bake Sale, Saturday, October 20, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Salem UMC, Zionsville
"Suicide - Is There a Spiritual Response?," Friday, October 26, Zionsville UMC