Newsletter

April 10, 2025

issue # 15

"Blessing Always"

Association Minister Message

Rev. Daniel L. Busch

     PALMS. PASSION. In our present-day political climate, differing opinions often lead to arguments or loss of friendships. Lost in conversations is the unwillingness to have respectful discussions because contrary views are considered wrong, immoral, sinful, illegal, or unethical. Interpretations of laws or even scripture have generated mistrust, hatreds, and violence. When we are helpless and disregarded, we struggle with how to love and offer peace and reconciliation in the midst of conflict.

     This Sunday’s Gospel readings offer two different perspectives as we journey into Holy Week. PALMS or PASSION. Praise or suffering. Joy or pain. Loyalty or betrayal. The PALM readings are about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with all the adulation honoring Jesus like crowds had done for kings in the past. The crowds waved their PALMS as Jesus rode past them on a borrowed donkey, shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). The crowds had hope that Jesus might be the one who would lead them to new freedom from the captivity held over them by the Romans. In the midst of Passover remembrance, the PALMS included shouts of hosannas of glory days of the past with hopes for future glory days.

     The words of the PASSION journey led to suffering and death. Recognized is the powerlessness that the crowds had and how Jesus seemed unable to change the situation. It is interesting to note that Jesus’ followers were silent, watching from a distance, and struggling with their helplessness to act to save Jesus. For three years Jesus’ followers heard words of love, peace, and forgiveness. Jesus offered a way of lives being redeemed and creation being restored. Even when Jesus gathered His disciples for His Last Supper with them, they still did not understand who He was.

     The disciples remembered the triumphal entrance and sadness around the Table. The sacrifice on the cross would become Resurrection power and they would finally understand who Jesus was. Their lives would be changed because of Jesus words and actions. PALMS. PASSION. The journey is ours, too, as we struggle hearing Jesus’ words and understand the power of Jesus’ love in our lives. As we become witnesses to the power of Resurrection in our lives there will be BLESSINGS ALWAYS.

Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister



Apr. 27-Zion, Bettsville at 9:30 a.m.

Prayer Concerns / Request

Continuing prayer for: Dee Schroer, Rev. Daniel Johnson, Rev. Jim Garner, Rev. Don Corbin, Rev. Randall Forester, Rev. Gale Gebhart, Rev. Don Giesmann, Rev. David Culp, Peggy George, Rev. Martin Stiffler and family, Rev. Diane Christopherson, Rev. David Voll, Pastor Amy Kinney, Rev. Adrian Sunday, Rev. Patrick McKinney, Regena Mummert, Pastor Amy Kinney, Rev. Marge Mair-Hansen, Rev. Mike Ebersole

From Kim Nye, NWOA Office Administrator

Please keep my family in your prayers. My husband will be undergoing brain cancer surgery on Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025.

MONTHLY ARTICLES

NEIGHBORS IN NEED 2024

"BECAUSE OF YOU OUR CHURCH CHANGES LIVES"

"WHAT IS OCWM AND WHY DOES IT MATTER"

The Stewardship and Generosity Team continues to work hard at finding ways to give you and your church resourcess for enhancing the giving of your congregations. We encourage you to explore the following links:

To donate to Ukraine:

Global Partners - Heartland Conference UCC (heartlanducc.org)

Resources from the Heartland Conference

Generosity & Stewardship - Heartland Conference UCC (heartlanducc.org)

Time, Talent and Treasures

TimeTalentandTreasures.docx

Stewardship Ideas

Epiphany Greetings to you from your NWOA Stewardship & Generosity Team! At our last meeting we were sharing stories of ways our current or previous churches engaged our congregations in activities that promoted Stewardship. While we could fill numerous pages with stories, I have been asked to choose a sampling to include in a brief article for this month’s Vine.

           Mission Moments are used at a number of our churches including Sylvania UCC. These are given in worship. Whenever there is an opportunity to talk about an experience that has made a positive difference in some way, it is shared with the congregation. Examples might be people sharing after a Habitat for Humanity workday, or helping out at Grace Community Center in Toledo.

           While Mission Moments are scheduled in advance, Concerns and Celebrations are shared spontaneously by people in worship. These would involve recent experiences that the church was involved in that were especially meaningful to someone. They allow others to see the church at work and to see firsthand the impact those activities have on their members and friends.

           St. John’s UCC Tiffin engage their children in a stewardship exercise that teaches both the children and the adults the importance of sharing their God given gifts with others. They have a monthly Noisy Offering collected by the kids whereby coins are tossed into cute pails held by smiling children who say thank you to everyone.

           During Vacation Bible School, Buckland UCC receives a coin offering from the children each day that is donated to various charities.

           These are but a few of the many stewardship stories we shared. We pray these may assist you in the ministry you provide in your local church setting. Blessings as you journey into this new year and explore ways in which to continue the ministry that is vital to your congregation and beyond!



In Christ’s Service,

Stewardship & Generosity Ministry Team

Stay informed through Facebook

www.facebook.com/groups/593773784349506

TEAM ARTICLES

Back Bay Mission Long-Term Volunteer

Solar Powered Lantern by Alice Chun

From the Pastoral Relations Working Group

of the NWOA Church and Ministry Team

Spiritual Directors

Learn more

Anti-Racism and White Privilege

Learn more

We hope that these resources meet the needs of pastors looking for resources to begin conversations regarding anti-racism within their congregations. If you have other ideas for how we may assist in bringing resources/training to you regarding this topic, please contact Nanette Warnecke-Flood at nanettef@syctelco.com

READ ON FOR MORE RESOURCES

Your Heartland Conference Disaster Response Team continues to work at responding to a variety of needs within the Heartland Conference. At our annual organization meeting in February, we identified 4 priorities for 2025:

1. CWS cleanup buckets/hygiene kits/period packs, with our goal being 2,500 units

2. Continuation in training and creation of an Emotional & Spiritual Care Team

3. Church Preparedness focus and resources

4. Inventory Local Church resources so as to be able to provide a wider scope of assistance

   As you can see, we are not shy about addressing daunting tasks! We are fortunate, in that our Partnership with the Ohio Assembly, Disciples of Christ, has continued to grow...with DOC members joining our Disaster Response Team! However, to accomplish these goals, it will also take additional financial resources to ship/deliver CWS buckets & kits...it will take additional financial resources to provide the adequate training and ultimate deployment for our E&S Care Team members...well, you get the jist! Thus, if your church would be willing to add DR Ministries to its Mission Outreach offerings, or to the list of Mission Endowment disbursements, that would result in our heartfelt appreciation.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me as listed below. Blessings in Mission. 

Kevin Gehres 

Heartland Conference Disaster Response Coordinator

gehreskb@gmail.com

(419)203-2776

Your generous gift makes our ministry possible.