"Blessing Always"
Association Minister Message
Rev. Daniel L. Busch
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CHANGE. “…but this isn’t the end yet.” (Mark 13:7c, CEB). The political election is over, with a few contests yet to be decided. It was a divisive campaign with divisive results, mixed emotions, and excitement or fear about the results and future. Depending upon which side voters supported, the outcome was joyous or disappointment. No matter the result, CHANGE is going to happen. A new administration brings new personnel, visions, ideas, plans, and tasks. CHANGE seems so chaotic, messy, and unpredictable, yet filled with possibilities. There is weariness about the future and wondering what lies ahead. What kind of CHANGE will happen? Who is going to benefit or be hurt by these CHANGES? Again, “…but this isn’t the end yet.”
We are people of the resurrection with a message that God continually makes things new. Evil, sin, narcissism, illness, wars, and unkind words do not have the final say in God’s creation. We cannot succumb to those seeking power, possessions, and privilege for themselves. As followers of Jesus Christ, we cannot give up for there is hope that our faith offers a CHANGE that brings about healing, love, and second chances over and over and over again and again.
“Ends become beginnings.” We constantly face many challenges to our living and faith amidst the chaos and order of the world. God shares abundance generously with us. We unite to make CHANGES to defeat those things that want to make life a personal treasure rather than filled with God’s unlimited possibilities for all. However, we cannot give up and become subjects and captives to the idea that nothing matters except personal satisfaction. It is time to face our self-destructive natures and become CHANGE-agents for good as followers of Jesus Christ. We are called to bring about peace and justice with compassion and kindness to all God’s children. The creation is a gift from God entrusted to our care, not as a possession to waste or destroy, but to enjoy and share. There is hope! BLESSINGS ALWAYS.
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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.
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Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister
Nov 17 - Preaching at Union UCC Bascom 10:30 am
Dec 22 - Attending Farewell at St. Paul's UCC St. Mary's at 10:00 am
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Exploring the Old Testament 1
Beginning January 7, 2025
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Diane Carter
Via Zoom
Brochure
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UCC Hymnals to Give Away
St. John's UCC, Mansfield
Call the church secretary DaLynn
for more information 419-522-2813
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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.
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THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
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2024 OCWM Giving Goal - $285,000
(Goal approved at the 61st Annual Meeting)
OCWM giving Through Sept 2024 - $152,172
Supporting OCWM...
Creating A Just World for All!
Thank You!
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.
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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
- 67 cents per mile for business use
- 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
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VISIT THOSE CHURCHES OFFERING SUNDAY SERVICE ONLINE | |
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Rev. Paul Moyer, Holland (center) is celebrating his 60th Ordination Anniversary and was presented with a certificate by Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister. Pictured with Rev. Busch and Paul is Judy Moyer. Congratulations.!
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Rev. Hafidha Saadiqah, Toledo (center) was honored with a Certificate celebrating her 25th year of Ordination. The certificate was presented by Rev. Daniel Busch (left). Rev. Ed Heilman joined in the picture. Congratulations!
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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
To the family of Ted Hansen, The NWOA extends Christian Love & Sympathy to family and friends. Mr. Ted Hansen, 2005 graduate of the NWOA Lay School of Religion passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at the Heritage Corner Health Care, Bowling Green. Rev. Marge Mair-Hansen, spouse of Mr. Hansen served at First UCC, Shelby and is now retired living in Bowling Green. The Hanneman Family Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. Theodore Hansen Obituary | Oct 27, 2024 | Bowling Green, OH
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NWOA Stewardship and Generosity Ministry Team | |
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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
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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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NWOA Witness and Proclamation Ministry Team | |
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?
Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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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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UCC Clergy
Before our congregation-wide event begins on November 14th at 1 PM, UCC Clergy are invited for a special lunch and learn from 11:30-12:30 EST with close Desmond Tutu colleagues Rev. Edwin Arrison & Rev. Rene August. Please register for this free luncheon so we can be sure to have enough food for everyone. We look forward to sharing in this special opportunity with you for conversation, fellowship, and food!
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Does your congregation have a special ministry it would like to engage to make a difference in the world? A MAD grant may be just the thing to help that get launched.
The application can be found by clicking on the link below. For further questions, contact Becca Hoskins at becca@heartlanducc.org
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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
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Rev. Jim Kulma helps participants strengthen their personal devotions, Bible study, and prayer life. He is a great Biblical storyteller and his previous class was highly reviewed. All ages are welcome to participate. | |
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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.
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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. | |
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PATHWAYS Theological Education - FALL 2024 SECOND TERM
MINISTRY PREPARATION COURSES
o Understanding the Bible as a Progressive Christian (Level 1, Begins 10/16)
o Introducing the Old Testament (Level 1, Begins 10/16)
o Variety of Beliefs within Christianity Today (Level 1, Begins 10/16)
o Old Testament Hermeneutics (Level 2, Begins 10/16)
o Introduction to Storytelling for Preaching and Proclamation (Level 2, Begins 10/16)
o Ecological Theology (Level 3, 6-weeks, October)
NEW for 2024 (Partner with PROJECT PROCLAIM of Southern New England UCC)
DICKINSON SERIES Exploring the Bible: Introducing the Old Testament (Level 1, Begins 10/16)
PROJECT PROCLAIM Skill Courses: Writing About Faith and Religion for the Public, Scout Opatut (Level 2, Begins 10/16)
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rev. Dr. Ruth E. Shaver, Academic Dean (RuthShaver@PATHWAYSTheological.org)
Rev. Melissa Ashmore, Registrar (registrar@PATHWAYSTheological.org)
The next UCC History and Polity course begins January 8, 2025.
For more information, go to the PATHWAYS Theological Education website, pathwaystheological.org
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Your generous gift makes our ministry possible. | |
Stay Connected
Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister
cell: 419-934-5386 email: dlbusch@nwoa.org
Joan Davidson, Office Manager/Search Coordinator
email: joan@nwoa.org
Deb Long, Bookkeeper
email: deb@nwoa.org
OFFICE PHONE: 419-447-8323
OFFICE EMAIL: office@nwoa.org
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