Boundary Training II - Anti-Racism Training- Color of Fear (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity Training)

•  Saturday, July 11 at Belpre Congregational UCC, Belpre, OH
• Wednesday, October 28 @ DOC Camp Christian, Marysville

Application for Exemption Form 

Grace and peace to you in the name of Christ our Savior!

As you may have heard, the United States Supreme Court is preparing to issue its ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges - the case on Same Sex Marriage laws in the state of Ohio. 

The staff and I have been talking with LGBT leaders in Ohio and other clergy from the interfaith community.  As an Open and Affirming Church of the United Church of Christ and as a leadership congregation of Columbus - having led same sex marriage ceremonies for 23 years - we are readying ourselves for this decision.

On the day of the decision being issued, First Congregational Church, UCC will open our doors to the LGBT community and friends of LGBT persons for a service at 7:00pm.   Hopefully, this will be a service of prayer and celebration.  If the decision comes down on the side of the DOMA laws of Ohio, we will pray, too.  Our prayers will lift up future hope. 

I ask you to pass this word to friends, family, neighbors and coworkers.   We look forward to seeing you at First Church on the evening of the Supreme Court Decision in the case Obergefell v. Hodges. 

If you have questions or would like to be in touch on this or other issues, please reach me at 614-228-1741, ext. 13.

Thank you and God bless you all,

Tim Ahrens

There are still openings for you to participate in the Triple E Program:  Experience.  Ecclessia.  Exchange.  This program is open to persons over the age of 55 who want to do more than just be a tourist!  We have room for a group of 12 to travel to Germany October 19-29, 2015 where we will travel with a similar group of Germans.  Reciprocally, from May 17-26, 2016, those same Germans will come here and experience life in Ohio.  Total cost of both trips is $3,000 for double occupancy or $3,300 for single occupancy.  Please contact Beth Long-Higgins (blong-higgins@uchinc.org) or Sam Buehrer (sam@sylvaniaucc.org) for more information.  June 30, 2015 is the deadline for us to make arrangements for flights and reservations.  This program is sponsored by United Church Homes and the Ohio Conference German Partnership Committee.

St. Michael's UCC at 2495 Bickel Church Rd. NW , Baltimore, Ohio is hosting a Chicken Noodle Social on Thursday, July 16, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00. Rain or Shine. 

Air- Conditioned Building.

The Home Cooked Menu includes: 

Chicken Noodle Soup, Chicken Sandwiches, Sloppy Jo, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Cake, Pie, Ice Cream, Tea, Lemonade, & Coffee

Take Home Orders Welcomed!

      Thursday, November 12, 2015 at Orchard Hill UCC 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM -

Current clergy hospital visitation badges will be honored only until July 1, 2015.  New badges may be purchased for $15. For an updated badge application, contact MACC treasurer, Barbara Backus, email:bjbackus@aol.com

We are working on bringing a remarkable singing duo to our church in Mount Vernon. The duo, Jason and DeMarco, are pop and Christian singers, who are also married, fathers together of two sons and leaders in the LGBTQ Christian movement. They will be in Mt. Vernon in the evening on Sunday, September 27.

We are the first church signed up, but they are looking for other LGBTQ friendly churches in Ohio to perform in, so I thought I'd give you all a heads up in case you want to book them for the evening on September 25, 26, or in the morning on the 27th.   Our contract has not yet arrived but my understanding is that we are covering $250 in costs and then guaranteeing to cover any shortage on a free will offering that does not bring in another $1K. I have had them at my church in Florida, and we recovered the cost in offerings, and they were so well liked the duo was back there again this year.  

You can find out more about Jason and deMarco on their website:

http://www.jasonanddemarco.com/ and Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/jasonanddemarco