Newsletter

December 26, 2024

issue # 50

"Blessing Always"

Association Minister Message

Rev. Daniel L. Busch

   MAGI. “When they (MAGI) saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route. (Matthew 2:10-12). The MAGI were foreigners, inquisitors, astronomers, and astrologist from the East. In their search of the heavens, they saw special sightings that they interpreted as striking and enticing.

     After visiting King Herod two years after the birth and inquiring about this with his legal experts, it was determined Bethlehem was where the child would be born. Herod sent the MAGI on their way to Bethlehem and wanted them to report back to him and if they found him Herod said he would “go and worship him.” Herod determined this child was a threat and ordered all male children of the Israelites killed under the age of two to eliminate threats to his rule who was thought to be “King of the Jews.

     There were more than three MAGI in the entourage who presented the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Rev. Episcopal Priest John H. Hopkins, Jr.’s Epiphany hymn certainly has mischaracterized the travelers, relying just on the presentation of three gifts. Gold symbolizes Christ’s divinity, God in flesh. Frankincense is symbolic of Christ’s willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself, reminiscent of the burnt offerings of Jewish worship. Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering and affliction. From a baby to adult, Jesus pays the ultimate price of death on the cross yet ending in resurrection.

     Defying King Herod, the MAGI “went back to their own country by another route.” This is a reminder that encountering Christ and following in His ways is a life transforming action. We live life in new directions, and we follow “another route” of love, generosity, hope, peace, and joy. Receive and know Jesus as the light of the world to overcome darkness of oppression and receive the light of life.

BLESSINGS ALWAYS - HAVE A BLESSED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Church Treasurer Alert

2024 Donation Deadline-January 8, 2025

Please see all 2024 donations are dated no later than December 31, 2024, if considered 2024 donation. All donations received after January 8th

will be considered 2025 donations.

Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister

Jan. 5-Preaching at St. Paul UCC, St. Marys 10 am.

Jan. 12-Preaching at Presbyterian Church, Defiance at 9:30 a.m. & St. John's, Defiance at 11 a.m.

Jan. 19-Attending Farewell at First Congregational, Sandusky at 10 a.m.

Jan. 26-First Congregational UCC, Sandusky at 10 a.m.

Celebrations / Changes

Rev. Lenore Kure, pastor of First Congregational Church of Sandusky begins her retirement from active ministry on January 19, 2025. Rev. Kure has served the congregation for over 29 years.

A reception in her honor will be held at the church, 1158 Cleveland Road,  on Sunday, January 19 from 2:00-4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served. All are invited to attend.

Prayer Concerns / Request

Continuing prayer for: Dee Schroer, Rev. Daniel Johnson, Rev. Jim Garner,

Rev. Hafidha Saadiqah, Rev. Randall Forester, Rev. Gale Gebhart, Rev. Don Giesmann, Rev. David Culp, Rev. Jeff King, Peggy George, Rev. Martin Stiffler and family, Rev. Diane Christopherson, Rev. David Voll, Pastor Amy Kinney, Rev. Adrian Sunday, Rev. Jeanette Tangeman, Rev. Patrick McKinney, Regena Mummert, Pastor Amy Kinney, Rev. Marge Mair-Hansen

Rev. Adrian Sunday, retired living in Westerville is hospitalized with health concerns. Please keep him in your prayers

UCC Hymnals to Give Away

St. John's UCC, Mansfield

Call the church secretary DaLynn

for more information 419-522-2813

LOOKING FOR "THE NEW CENTURY HYMNAL"

Copyright © 1995 The Pilgrim Press

First UCC in Galion is in need of 25 more New Century Hymnals.

If you have extra or are no longer using what you have

and would like to pass them on,

please contact First UCC, Galion at 419-468-4380.

MONTHLY ARTICLES

The Christmas Fund

The Christmas Fund (originally “Veterans of the Cross”), in existence since 1902, offers congregations an opportunity to reach out compassionately and provide assistance to those who have faithfully served the church and find themselves facing unexpected financial needs.

In the spirit of love, we invite and encourage everyone to prayerfully consider and support this year’s appeal, and to spread the word so that others in your church will also join in this vital ministry. The Christmas Fund is one of the Five for Five special offering opportunities we have in the United Church of Christ. This Christmas season, please consider your generous support to this vital ministry!

In Christ’s Service,

Stewardship & Generosity Ministry Team

Rev. Jerald Fenske

St. Stephen UCC, Sandusky

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)

Stay informed through Facebook

www.facebook.com/groups/593773784349506

MONTHLY ARTICLES

As Christians, let us love those who have recently immigrated from Haiti.

Jesus expects no less of us.

Thanks for the Hills

Make Someone's Day

Praying With Our Feet

How to Know a Person: the Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen

Defiance Equality Foundation for Inclusion's (DEFI)

Back Bay Mission Long-Term Volunteer

Solar Powered Lantern by Alice Chun

Do This: Communion for Just and Courageous Living

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

One can’t help but see the current “climate” of hurricane disasters, and wonder what the Heartland Conference is doing? Thus, I wanted to share several things related to this.

First, on Sept. 28, the CWS semi was filled during the Heartland Conference Annual Gathering. For our part, our 2024 goal was 2,024 buckets & kits. As that semi rolled out of the parking lot, it left with 2,334 buckets and kits that came from our Depot, our churches, and our partners! There were lots of other buckets and kits, besides ours…at the same time, CWS was filling trucks at its New Windsor, Maryland warehouse, in anticipation of hurricane Helene. 

Secondly, CWS did respond by sending 3,296 cleanup buckets and 4,360 hygiene kits to Florida and North Carolina. However, this has resulted in their reserve stock being very low. If your church feels God’s nudge to continue to assist with buckets and kits, please do so…and then let our Heartland Conference Disaster Response Team know! If you haven’t had the chance to assist with the creation of buckets and kits, now is a perfect time to respond! Our Templed Hills Depot continues to be open to receive these until the end of November. At that time, we will transition to Camp Christian, having established our Depot site there, as well as housing our pickup and 2 trailers. 

So…”how can I help?” Prayer. Monetary Donations (sent through the UCC Global HOPE website, or sent to the Heartland Conference with a Helene/Milton notation), CWS cleanup buckets & personal hygiene kits. 

Currently, many of the affected areas are still in the initial phase of Search & Rescue. Others are in the Immediate Needs phase, with organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, Samaritans Purse, Team Rubicon, etc. providing basic needs. Eventually, it will transition into the Recovery Phase, which is where faith-based organizations typically plug themselves in. Stay tuned for more information to come, when we have it.

Thank you. 

Heartland Conference Disaster Team

Kevin Gehres, Disaster Response Coordinator

Mission Moments

Use Mission Moments every week to tell a story about your congregation’s connection with the wider church. Each issue – which is designed to be inserted with your newsletter or Sunday worship bulletin – is an effective way to inform your members about what they make possible through their gifts to Our Church’s Wider Mission.

Your generous gift makes our ministry possible.