"Blessing Always"
Association Minister Message
Rev. Daniel L. Busch
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IMAGINE. One of my middle school friends would say, “If I could be God for 5 minutes…” and depending on what was happening at the moment, he generally would want people to play peaceably in the imaginary sandbox. However, he also had a vindictive streak and would want troublemakers punished or even dead. He had quite an IMAGINATION on how to deal with different situations.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” (Revelation 21:1). John
describes the contrast between peace and powers that are destructive: “no tears or death anymore…no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And the greatest is God’s announcement, “Look! I’m making all things new.” IMAGINE having the opportunity to correct mistakes, take back unkind words, or change habits that belittle oneself or others. New Testament scholar Dong Hyeon Jeong states, “…we have had moments of cowardice, faithlessness, idolatry, sexual immorality, and duplicitousness.” Thank God that we are given God’s grace “from the life-giving spring.” (vs. 6) to start over again and again.
Contrary to society’s selfishness and ugly temperament of self-love, Jesus’ new commandment reminds us, “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other.” (John 13:34). It is not what/who we love but the manner of our love. It is not limiting or curbing how we love but loving in ways that heal, bring new life as we encounter one another, and is reconciling in its actions. IMAGINE love without limitations or restraints embracing all God’s children and creation. IMAGINE a world of compassion, justice, and goodwill, loving without expecting anything in return and yet loving to make things as God would intend them to be. It is a love that is not just convenient but willing to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable to follow Jesus’s love. Rev. Roger Knight wrote, “The grace of God, deeper than our IMAGINATION; the strength of Christ, stronger than our need; and the communion of the Holy Spirit, richer than our togetherness; guide and sustain us today and in all our tomorrows.” BLESSINGS ALWAYS.
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Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister
May 18, 2025-First UCC, Marion at 11:00 am
May 25, 2025-St. Paul UCC, Wapakoneta at 10:15 am
June 1, 2025-Presbyterian, Defiance at 9:30 am
une 1, 2025-St. John's, Defiance at 11:00 am
June 22, 2025-Wapak
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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. Diane Christopherson, Rev. Adrian Sunday, Rev. Patrick McKinney, Regena Mummert, Rev. Mike Ebersole, Susan Bishop, Lenore Kure (Car Accident-home recovering), Rev. Diane Thomas is out of the hospital & is home, Rev. Jeanette Tangeman is hospitalized.
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THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
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2025 OCWM Giving Goal - $250,000
(Goal approved at the 62nd Annual Meeting)
OCWM giving Through Mar. 2025 -$32,887.63
Supporting OCWM...
Creating A Just World for All!
Thank You!
Please see all 2025 donations are dated no later than December 31, 2025, if considered 2025 donation. All donations received after January 8th will be considered 2026 donations.
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CHURCH TREASURER
Church Remittance Form - please use this form when sending donations to/through the Association Office.
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IRS Standard Mileage Rates for 2024
- 70 cents per mile for business use
- 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
| | | VISIT THOSE CHURCHES OFFERING SUNDAY SERVICE ONLINE | | NWOA Stewardship and Generosity Ministry Team | | | | |
If you want to jump start your thinking about Stewardship and Generosity, our 5 videos collection of topics covered with noted consultant Don Hill is available. As you click on the resources page, a short synopsis of each video is available. Can be used effectively in small group settings or you can take a segment for use in worship.
Permission is granted for the churches of Northwest Ohio Association, UCC to use the series as they wish with proper credit given.
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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
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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
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Want an easy way to connect with The Heartland Conference's resources and news?
Add this QR Code to your church's bulletin or print material. From here you can access our website, newsletter, email our staff, register for camp, and more!
This QR code will be regularly updates in time for things like Annual Gathering Registration and other primary conference events.
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At 7:38 a.m. on Sunday, April 27th the Canton Fire Department received a call regarding a fire in an apartment building. The 50 occupants were immediately evacuated, with no time to retrieve possessions. The fire was eventually extinguished, but damage to the structure required demolition of the building the same day of the fire.
The apartment building was operated by ICAN Housing, a non-profit agency that serves people experiencing homelessness in Stark County – many of whom struggle with mental illness and substance use disorders. ICAN gets people off of the streets and into housing, supporting efforts for residents to achieve self-reliance while treating them with dignity and care. In the aftermath of the fire, ICAN put out a call for donations to help the displaced people, including the need for hygiene products.
On April 29th, the Heartland Conference Disaster Response Team member, Dwaine Hemphill, delivered 50 hygiene kits and 20 period packs to Cynthia Vignos, the ICAN Resource Manager. The Heartland Team remains on call in case more assistance is needed. Manager Vignos said many of the residents “had transitioned to the building from homelessness,” and “they lost everything they owned.” She was appreciative of the donations that will help the displaced individuals and families rebuild their lives.
Shown in the middle is manager Vignos gratefully accepting one of the boxes filled with hygiene kits and period packs.
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On Saturday, April 26, churches in the Northwest Ohio Association brought their collections of Disaster Response cleanup buckets, personal hygiene kits, and period packs, to the NWOA Annual meeting, held at Peace UCC, Waldo. Our Heartland Conference Disaster Response Team would like to express our heartfelt "thanks" to those churches who contributed to the 73 buckets and over 200 kits!
Gratefully assisting with transitioning these buckets and kits from vehicles to the DM trailer, were members of Peace UCC...as well as DR Team member Ed Karges and Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Kevin Gehres. Our Heartland Conference churches have surpassed our annual collection goals for the past 3 years, with our goal this year set at 2,500 units...so let's "Continue to THRIVE, in 2025!"
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I joined the UCC National Ministries as Philanthropy Director in January. I am genuinely awestruck by your generosity and the openheartedness of all our donors. From my “new to the UCC’s ecosystem” vantage point, I have witnessed the countless ways you put humanity’s needs before your own, whether for neighbors who live down the street or on the other side of the world. It is both humbling and inspiring to see your kindness firsthand, and it reinforces that I am in the right place.
Please take a few minutes to view this message from the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson.
I am grateful to you for your continued steadfast support of our work. Thank you for supporting the UCC National Ministries through our Annual Fund. Please consider making a renewed gift.
With gratitude,
Michelle A. Carver, MBA
Director of Philanthropy
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I am grateful to you for your continued steadfast support of our work. Thank you for supporting the UCC National Ministries through our Annual Fund. Please consider making a renewed gift.
With gratitude,
Michelle A. Carver, MBA
Director of Philanthropy
Give to the Annual Fund
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Jointly sponsored by the Heartland Conference of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church in Ohio (Disciples of Christ)
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Our Theme:
Jesus Still Matters!
Our Bible Lecturer & Vesper Speaker:
Rev. Carl Robinson
Our Conference Choir Director:
Michael Grim,
St. Andrew's Christian Church, Dublin
Full Registration:
$245 – Registration and most meals.
-Partial attendance options are available
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Adult Conference is full of endless possibilities where faith is deepened and broadened, ministry leaders are born and nurtured, and fellowship within the wider Church is strengthened. Adult Conference is an inclusive, welcoming place, where conferees are free to explore issues openly, honestly, and without judgment. Through Adult Conference, conferees may find that God is calling them to explore horizons they had never considered or even dreamed of before. We hope that many will be able to experience the far-reaching impact that Adult Conference has in the lives of individuals.
More information, registration, hotel information and more available at https://www.ccinoh.com/minist.../adult/adult-conference.aspx
Adult Conference Packet w/Schedule
| | PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. offers a full range of theological courses which embrace your doubts and questions while giving you a firm foundation. For more information visit us at: www.PATHWAYSTheological.org | PATHWAYS Theological Education continues expanding its offerings. Look for information coming soon on the Environmental Justice Certificate, the Advanced Faith Formation Practitioner's Certificate, and new preaching and Bible courses in conjunction with the Southern New England UCC Conference Project Proclaim (funded by the Lilly Foundation). Go to the website to see a schedule of upcoming courses. | | | Your generous gift makes our ministry possible. | |
Stay Connected
Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister
cell: 419-934-5386 email: dlbusch@nwoa.org
Kim Nye, Office Administrator/Search Coordinator
email: kim@nwoa.org
Deb Long, Bookkeeper
email: deb@nwoa.org
OFFICE PHONE: 419-447-8323
OFFICE EMAIL: office@nwoa.org
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