With Deep Appreciation to Our Pastors

Dear Friends in Christ,

  You may be well aware that October is Pastor Appreciation month.  I am not sure who determines these things, but I am glad that somebody has.  It is important to pause and name out loud what too often may be the silent sentiment of many of us.

So, this month I want to lift up you who are pastors, whether your context is the congregation, or chaplaincy or some other form of pastoring in our health and human service ministries or in some other setting.  By this short epistle I want to say thank-you.

Commuting and the Spiritual Life

From my home in Wadsworth, I have a 30-minute commute to Tallmadge. As a devotee of music, I often search for different radio stations to listen to on my commute (what is it they say, “music soothes the savage beast”?) While I try to time these commuting trips to avoid traffic (e.g. try to come on off peak times when other folks have already arrived at their offices or haven’t yet gotten on the road because it’s too early to leave for work) it never seems to work out quite as I want it to. (I mean will the construction work on I-76 ever end?)

Rev. Dan Doty

Conference Moderator

Jill Frey

Executive Director of Outdoor Ministries

Are you ready for SUMMER?

As we enjoy fall and prepare for Winter, we can mark our calendars for Summer 2024! 

The Summer Camp Schedule for Heartland UCC Conference’s Outdoor Ministries at Templed Hills Camp and Retreat Center is now set.  

Next month we will announce when registration opens and other details.

COMING HOME, MINISTRY THAT MATTERS WITH

VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES

Might God be calling your congregation to develop a ministry with veterans? The Veteran Ministry Network of the Heartland Conference invites you to consider what the possibilities of such a ministry might look like.  On October 17th at 7:00 pm, retired army chaplain, Rev. Mark Roeder, pastor of Grace United Church of Christ in Fort Wright Kentucky, will lead a discussion based on Zachary Moon's book Coming Home, Ministry that Matters with Veterans and Military Families.  You don't have to read the book ahead of time. Mark will lead participants through the key points to consider as a congregation discerns the possibility of a ministry with veterans. Twenty-two veterans complete suicide on average every day in the United States. There is a great need in our country for congregations to consider and engage ministry in this important area. This Zoom opportunity provides a way to learn more about what this ministry could look like in your congregation.

Did you miss our Annual Gathering?

No problem -- you can catch videos of Day 1 or Day 2 on our Youtube and/or listen to the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins' Conference Minister Address on our podcast! Make sure you also check out the recap video created by Rev. Jonathan Brander!

Click on the button below to listen to the Heartbeat of the Conference,

Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins' Conference Minister Address.

Click on the button below to Subscribe to the Prayers and Pondering Podcast!

Check out this 2023 Annual Gathering Recap video

from our very own Rev. Jonathan Bradner!

THANK YOU for your support of the CWS Kits program and the Festival of Sharing!

Because of the generosity of the congregations in the Heartland Conference, the Festival of Sharing completely filled the semi-truck. Thanks be to God!

Hurricanes, floods, and other disasters are happening everyday. When our neighbors experience these unforeseen circumstances, YOUR CONGREGATIONS are making the road to recovery a little easier because of your support of the CWS Kits program.

Our Heartland Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Kevin Gehres, reports that as of the day of the Festival of Sharing we have collected 2,515 Buckets and Kits!!

We started Annual Gathering weekend with 2,111 Buckets and Kits at the Templed Hills depot and collected 400 more at the Festival of Sharing!

Thank you!!

Does your congregation have a special ministry it would like to engage to make a difference in the world? A MAD grant may be just the thing to help that get launched. 

The application can be found by clicking on the link below. For further questions, contact Becca Hoskins at [email protected].

Do you know a highschool Sophomore, Junior, or Senior? Are they interested in finding a way to connect their faith with concerns and issues of our country and culture? We are partnering with the Christian Church in Ohio (Disciples of Christ) to offer an experience in New York City and Washington, DC in March of 2024 that will do just that. Focusing on issues of immigration, immigrants, and refugees, this opportunity offers a chance to tour the UN, visit the World Trade Center, meet with Congressional leaders from the House and Senate and much more - all planned to provide moments of connection between our faith and some important issues of today. Here's what you need to know:

When: March 8, 2024-March 16, 2024

Who: High school sophomores, juniors or seniors. 

Cost: $1,200-Covers bus, lodging, most meals, tour fees, 2 theater plays and more. Assistance is available. 

DISCOUNT: If a completed application, a short essay from the applicant that explains why they would like to participate, and the deposit check of $300 is received by October 30, there is a $100 discount on the registration cost. 

How to register: Click here to download an application and information sheet

Contact: For more information, including registration requirements, please reach out to Rev. Jonathan Bradner at [email protected] or Rev. Joyce Wealand at [email protected]. 

Share this information with the youth of your church! Reach out to Jonathan or Joyce if you have questions. Empower our youth to make a difference in their lives and in our world. 

JOIN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MINISTRIES!! 



Help us identify one Environmental Justice contact in your congregation!

Please take 3 minutes to complete this short survey.

Generosity Preaching Challenge Exemplar is Rev. Brian Russell, Pastor of Community United Church of Christ in Amherst!

The first-ever Heartland Conference Generosity preaching challenge yielded several fine sermons inspiring generosity. Rev. Brian Russell, pastor at Community United Church of Christ in Amherst, Ohio, offered a particularly creative sermon inviting his listeners to consider the power of bringing what you are good at and bringing what you have. Congratulations to Brian for being this year's generosity preaching exemplar! Brian's sermon may be viewed by clicking on the video link above. 

In addition, there were three other inspiring submissions whose sermons may also be viewed by clicking on their respective names:  Rev. Torie Front, Pastor of St. John UCC in Reading, Ohio; Rev. John Shonle, Pastor of Bethany UCC in Lebanon, Ohio; and Pastor Christy Thomas, pastor of St. Paul's UCC in Woodsfield, Ohio. Thanks to all of our preachers for their thoughtful submissions on generosity!

You are cordially invited to celebrate the historic installation of our 10th General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson!

The Installation ceremony and worship service will take place at Lakewood Congregational Church in Lakewood, Ohio, where the Rev. Joanna D’Agostino serves as the Senior Pastor.

Registration is required! Register now and learn more about the service, hotel accommodations, and our new GMP.

The Deadline for In-Person Registration is TODAY!!

It is such an honor and joy for Lakewood Congregational Church to host the Installation of our 10th General Minister and President on October 20th at 5:00 PM.

We are looking for volunteers from throughout our Association and Conference to support us with hospitality needs on the day of the event. Please sign up at this link to volunteer and we will be in touch with more details. All volunteers should also register for in-person attendance by clicking on the link above.

Creating an Internal Audit Team

 Saturday, October 21

9:30-11:00 am

via Zoom

Topic: Creating an Internal Audit Team

Plan to join our Financial Admin, Machelle Miller, via zoom as she walks you through the process of appointing an Internal Audit Committee, and the step-by-step process of conducting an internal audit of the church financial records. This event is designed for Church leadership, as well as Church Treasurers/bookkeepers.

Facilitator: Machelle Miller



Machelle has been serving the Association in a variety of administrative capacities since 2010. Her current position encompasses Financial Administration, Office Management and NEOSOM registration coordination. Machelle studied business Management with an emphasis in accounting at Kent State University.

When: Saturday, October 21, 9:30-11am

Where: Zoom (register)

Fall 2023 Clergy Retreat 

Monday, October 23, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT



Jesuit Retreat Center 

5629 State Road, Cleveland, OH 44134  

Clergy are in a unique position. We sometimes find ourselves conducting funeral services for people we have known for decades - people we might have seen every week, or multiple times per week - people whose stories we know well, people we have come to love. How can we grieve losses like this, when our job is to create space for others to grieve?

And then there are other kinds of losses in ministry…people move away, or they simply disappear. Many of us have found ourselves “ghosted”, especially since the pandemic. People become angry and leave the church. Sometimes we witness the congregation itself dying.

This day retreat is an opportunity to name these losses, to lament them, and to help ourselves grieve in healthy ways.

We will offer small group sharing, presentations on spiritual and self-care practices, and opportunities for yoga, reiki, meditation, and (weather-permitting), walking the beautiful grounds of the Jesuit Retreat Center.



The $50 registration fee includes lunch. There is limited space for those who wish to spend the night prior to the retreat for an additional $100; please contact Kelly Brill ([email protected]) immediately if you are interested.

Mentioning Unmentionables - Talking About Money at Church

November 1st and 8th, at 7 p.m -  facilitated by Rev. Andrew Warner

Money often occupies an awkward space when it comes to the conversation at church. Yet the ability to have healthy and transparent moneyconversations actually can be life-giving and energizing. On November 1st and 8th, at 7 p.m., the Generosity Network of the Heartland Conference will be hosting two Zoom conversations facilitated by Rev. Andrew Warner, Generosity and Outreach Officer of the United Church of Christ. Sometimes when it comes to money, silence is the first response. Using thought-provoking articles and videos to help set the stage, Andrew will help participants overcome the silence about money and move into the joy of a generous conversation! 

Neighbors in Need 

Special Offering

In 2023, the Neighbors in Need “BEHOLD!” theme continues. This year’s focus is on environmental justice. Plastics, electronics, and other non-compostable wastes are being shipped across, and even tossed into, our waterways, launched into space, as well as buried in landfills. As people of faith, we believe these egregious acts are sinful and unholy. We must be better stewards of our planet! 



Join us by promoting this year’s NIN “Behold!” campaign at your church.