"Blessing Always"
Association Minister Message
Rev. Daniel L. Busch
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PRAYER. In the United Church of Christ, when a ministerial candidate has completed requirements to be authorized as a minister, an “ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL” meeting is scheduled with the candidate. During the meeting questions are asked of the candidate about her/his faith journey to seek authorization. Historically, these Councils were an “official” meeting of the association/conference requiring a quorum, and sometimes could last several days (thus nicknamed “ecclesiastical trials”). Any delegate could ask any question of candidates. Ecclesiastical Councils are now the responsibilities of the Church and Ministry Teams which have for at least three years heard, guided, and reflected dialogically to the candidate’s spiritual, ethical, ecclesiastical, and biblical knowledge. Clarity to God’s call to become a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is shared.
In one association I served, Ecclesiastical Councils were supportive and affirming of candidates that the committee had approved to be ordained. Every time we met we always knew that a particular lay person, who was a psychiatrist, had served on the committee, and would always ask the question, “Tell us about your PRAYER life and how important is PRAYER to you?” His question is one that we all should consider. Why PRAY? PRAYERS can be spoken or in our thoughts, formal or informal, instant or planned, secret or shared
This Sunday’s Gospel lesson from Luke 11:1-13 is the short version of the Lord’s PRAYER and emphasizes requesting for what we need. The Matthew 6:9-13 version emphasizes forgiveness. In one of our UCC historical documents, “The Evangelical Catechism,” question 105 asks, “What is PRAYER?” and states, “PRAYER is the conversation of the heart with God for the purpose of praising God, asking God to supply our needs and those of others, and thanking God for all God gives us.” (CONVERSATION implies that it is more than asking or telling God what we want or need, and be open to hear God’s Spirit speaking to us.)“It can be subversive. It is unafraid to lift its voice amid the pyramids of indifference and that vast deserts of conformity to evil that take our breath away.” Jesus says, “Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened.” (Luke 11:10). We should be persistent (engaged and not passive) in conversation with God and in service to one another. Let us PRAY! BLESSINGS ALWAYS.
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Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister
July 27, 2025-Lyme Congregational Church, Bellevue at 8:45 am
July 27, 2025-Bloomville UCC, Bloomville at 10:15 am
August 10, 2025-First UCC, Marblehead-Farewell to Doug Williamson at 10:30 am
August 17, 2025-First UCC, Marblehead at 10:30 am
August 31, 2025-Park Congregational, Toledo at 10:00 am
September 7, 2025-Baseline, Bloomville at 9:00 am
September 7, 2025-College Hill, Bloomville at 10:30 am
September 14, 2025-Sylvania UCC, Sylvania at 10:00 am
September 21, 2025-Salem UCC, Kenton at 10:30 am/165th Anniversary of Salem UCC, Kenton
September 28, 2025-St. Paul's UCC, Bellevue at 10:30 am
October 5, 2025-St. Stephen UCC, Sandusky at 8:00 am & 10:15 am
October 12, 2025-St.Peter's UCC, Millbury/150th Anniversary Special Worship
October 26, 2025-Trinity UCC, Tiffin-Release of Service Dan Busch at 3:00 pm
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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, Rev. Diane Christopherson, Rev. Patrick McKinney, Regena Mummert, Rev. Mike Ebersole, Susan Bishop, Rev. Diane Thomas, Rev. Jeanette Tangeman, & David Weininger, Adrian Sunday, Peggy George.
Please keep them in your prayers.
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**If you would like the form emailed to you, please contact Kim Nye at the
Northwest Ohio Association.
Email: kim@nwoa.org or Call (419) 447-8323.
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THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
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IRS Standard Mileage Rates for 2025
- 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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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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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!
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HELP IS NEEDED IN CENTRAL TEXAS
Photo Credit: Jim Vondruska / Getty Images
This month heavy rainfall and catastrophic flash flooding devastated areas of Texas. More than 100 people were killed or remain missing, including dozens of children. The flooding displaced many people, destroying homes and severely damaging critical infrastructure, including roads and river crossings.
When a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude strikes, United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries is ready to help. The Disaster Ministry Team at the National Ministry of the United Church of Christ has been in contact with the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and the Conference Minister for the South Central Conference to monitor the situation and determine how best to support communities. We need your help to empower our churches and members in the impacted areas to help their communities recover. Your donations can make a difference.
HELP NOW - Please scroll to the bottom of the page and change the designate your gift box to Severe Storms.
Your generous donation to UCC Global HOPE’s Disaster Ministries, specifically reserved for this event, helps our church continue to serve!
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Climate champions from churches across Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky
will gather to elevate collective voice and action
against environmental harms.
Come to start or jumpstart your "Green Team"
CONNECT- EQUIP- INSPIRE- for SHARED ACTION.
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Camp Christian
10335 Maple Dell Rd
Marysville, OH 43040
For more information contact Hank Stonerook at hankstonerook@gmail.com
| | 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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