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Thursday, December 11, 2025

Greetings to All!

The Living Water Association is proud to offer a Community of Practice program to our authorized ministers and lay professionals of the United Church of Christ. Communities of Practice (COP) are a dynamic part of our Association’s emphasis on cultivating healthy leadership for our churches, chaplaincies, and UCC agencies.

While many of our ministry professionals have active groups, the Association is pleased to offer Open Enrollment for LWA Communities of Practice this November and December. We are also seeking evaluation of your COP experience. Communities of Practice are small, trusting groups of ministry professionals (including faith formation directors, music ministers, etc) that meet together on a monthly basis to support one another and sharpen the practice of ministry.

Each has their own trained facilitator. COP groups can meet on zoom or in person; each commits to a three year cycle of meeting regularly. COP’s gather around a theme or geography, meaning that one could match with a group from churches in a specific geography, chaplains, pastors to youth, pastors of small membership churches, and so on. COP’s also tend to have their own “personality.” Some are designed for contemplative practices, some like book studies, and many engage in case studies and troubleshooting ministry matters.

◦ Are you interested in joining a COP?

◦ Do you need a new COP, maybe you’ve moved or changed jobs?

◦ Would you like to be considered to serve as a facilitator?

Please complete this survey to share your evaluation of the COP program and share your needs/interest in the COP program. Cost is currently $200 per year, paid by the congregation; scholarships are available from the Association. Open Enrollment ends December 19th, and the staff plans to sort new groups in January. To dwell with kindred is a blessing; please be in touch to let us know of your COP plans and interests.

Elena Larssen

Thank you for giving to Our Church's Wider Mission. Your generous gifts to OCWM ensure the continued ministry of the Association! Please note that you do not have to wait for the deadline in order to give. We appreciate receiving your gift anytime. The sooner the better!

The deadline for 2025 OCWM and 5 for 5 giving is December 31, 2025. Please be aware that for these donations to be counted for the 2025 year it must be postmarked by December 31, 2025. You can also make your donations online through our website giving link to meet that deadline.

5 for 5 Giving is credited to the year in which it is received regardless of when it was collected in your church. If you are normally a 5 for 5 church and want to be sure that you have given to all 5 during 2025, please send an email to financialadmin@livingwaterone.org, and our Association Bookkeeper, Machelle Miller, will be glad to verify that for you.

The Tapestry of Unity is a collaborative interfaith art installation created by Women’s Interfaith Spiritual Heritage (WISH) and the Akron Area Interfaith Council (AAIC). Nearly one hundred participants from twenty-three distinct faith groups came together to weave prayers, hopes, and dreams into one united work of art — a living symbol of the strength found when our communities become the warp and weft for one another.

Accompanied by a journal of reflections and shared recipes from the gatherings, the Tapestry of Unity invites viewers to experience the beauty of spiritual diversity woven together in friendship and peace.

The exhibit has already been displayed at: First Congregational Church of Akron, Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, Akron Art Museum Senior Summit, Bath UCC, Trinity Lutheran Church (Kent), and St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church (Akron)

Upcoming displays include:

• John Brown House, Summit County Historical Society
• Unity Chapel of Light
• Akron History Center

Now scheduling showings for January through March (limited dates) and after April 1.

Congregations or community spaces interested in hosting this inspiring interfaith exhibit are invited to contact WISH at neowish2020@gmail.com or call Margaret Maurer 330-628-0313.

At Community Congregational UCC in Amherst

​Christ United Church at 23114 West Rd. in Olmsted Falls hosts a hot cocoa stand fundraiser on our labyrinth on Dec, 14 at 6 pm. Stop by to view our nativity all lit up, grab a cup of cocoa, and gather around a warm fire. All this to encourage donations to TBKids Central, a youth-led nonprofit that supports children with tuberculosis by providing comfort items such as books, toys, and basic medical supplies, raising awareness about the disease, and offering materials that help keep children calm and engaged during treatment. More information is available at www.tbkidscentral.org.

Thursday, December 18 – Music at Bath Concert Series

Burning River Brass “Christmas Around the World”

7:00pm in the Sanctuary

The Burning River Brass returns to The Bath Church (3980 West Bath Road, Akron; 330-666-3520) for a splendid holiday program! With a touch of tradition, a dash of jazz, and a healthy measure of festive cheer, the Burning River Brass presents Christmas concerts with a little something for everyone – delightful time-honored carols from around the world to their very own Big Band Nutcracker – you’ll be singing along in no time. It’s the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit! 7:00PM on Thursday, December 18! Physically accessible. Ample parking. Freewill Offering. American Sign Language interpretation! www.musicatbath.org

Help us STUFF THE STABLE on December 14 from 1-4 p.m. and December 18 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Church of the Redeemer UCC (23500 Center Ridge Road in Westlake) will be collecting non-perishable goods to donate to Westlake Community Services. Simply drive up our driveway, drop off your donations, and help us fill our outdoor stable to feed our neighbors this holiday season! Contact Rev. Kim Nagy at pastorkim@corucc.org with questions.

Are you looking for a resource to deepen your Advent journey or to use in your congregation? I have created an Advent Reflection Booklet, with a prayer for every day during the Advent season. Reflections are based on Lectionary readings, and they begin the Monday before Advent, November 24^th. Many of the reflections this year are conducive to labyrinth-walking.

If you would like a booklet, please email reverendsusi@gmail.com. I would be happy to send you a pdf to print, or a word document.

Blessings on your Advent journey!

Rev. Susi Kawolics

Need someone to fill in on a Sunday? Check out the pulpit supply list! Recommended compensation: $200 for one service (minimum $175); $275 for two services (minimum $250); mileage at $0.70 or current IRS rate.

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Heartland Conference Networks!

The Christmas Fund

The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.

The Christmas Fund is one of the UCC’s special mission offerings. Churches are encouraged to hold an offering on a suggested day in December each year or select a date that works for them. Advent worship resources are created each year for congregations. 

The Christmas Fund is managed by the Pension Boards. 

Get more information here.

Click on the logos below for information and registration details for upcoming continuing education and lifelong learning opportunities provided by our partner schools and centers of learning!

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