Newsletter

December 11, 2025

issue # 50

“I’ll Take Care Of It”

Sometimes we all procrastinate. We put things off. We delay or reschedule. We don’t want to face things. We want to avoid physical or emotional pain at times. We avoid doing what we know we should do.



Our excuse phrase becomes, “I’ll take care of it.” Then we don’t follow through.  As an example there is an often repeated TV commercial for buying insurance. A couple talks about how they really need insurance and one spouse has put it off. Sometimes our delays are because of laziness, other times we get busy with life and put things off, or we don’t want to deal with something and we say, “I’ll take care of it”.

Christmas will soon be here. When Jesus was born of the virgin Mary the world was challenged for all time to respond to His birth. Emmanuel “God with us” had come.  Prophecy was fulfilled. The question,” Who is this Jesus born in Bethlehem”? changed the world. The shepherds responded in belief, (Luke 2:20) “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” In Luke 2:14, the multitude of the heavenly host said, “Glory to God in the highest heaven”.   The angel in Luke 2: proclaimed, ”not to be afraid…to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

All of these declarations were a response to the truth of God’s love. Evidence demanded a verdict. Jesus, King of Kings was born. Their lives were changed. History was changed forever.  The Good News of the Gospel spread and is still spreading. Some will put off dealing with the historic facts and the truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.(John 14:6). The opposite of “I’ll take care of it” is to deal with it.  The history is in, the facts are there. Its time to respond. Jesus came. The reason for the season is Jesus Christ. Its time to know Him and to make Him known.     We celebrate our Savior’s birthday. Its not a guess, and not a suggestion. It is not just something to do once a year. It’s a celebration for our Savior.

Have a wonderful Christmas! As English folks say, “Happy Christmas”. 

Blessings,

Don

Don Giesmann, (Bridge) Interim Minister NWOA-UCC

CHURCH IDEA FOR THIS WEEK

Invites to special days and services like Christmas are so welcoming. Your church could print nice invite card so members can hand them out to family, neighbors, friends, and all They can be given by members personally or can be mailed by members with their own personal notes. Keep the cards simple, friendly, welcoming.

GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK

Helpful verses to use in notes, cards, conversations to encourage people....

Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd"

Psalm 46 "God is our refuge and strength"

Isaiah 40:31 "They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength"

Lamentations 3:21-24 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases"......

John 3:16 "For god so loved the world...."

Romans 8:31-39 "Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God.....

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK ALOT LIKE CHRISTMAS AT

THE NORTHWEST OHIO ASSOCIATON

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David Weininger is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in McCutchenville. He was baptized in the Evangelical and Reformed Church of McCutchenville which became part of the United Church of Christ in 1957. He is an elder of Trinity, McCutchenville and is currently as Vice-President of the Congregation. He served previously as a member of the Church and Ministry Committee when Rev. Dr. Roger Perl was the Northwest Ohio Association Minister and is currently the chair of the Church and Ministry Committee. He also serves as the chair of the Discernment Working Group, a subcommittee of Church and Ministry. He was privileged to have attended the 18^th and 19^th General Synods in Norfolk, Virginia and St. Louis, Missouri as a delegate of the Ohio Conference. He finds the United Church of Christ to be a perfect fit for his view that the most important message in Christ’s teaching is that all of humanity are children of God and deserving of our love and support and that this view should be the fundament principle of our interactions with all others. 

David is known as Dave by his family and friends and enjoys playing golf and fly fishing. He is also an avid reader who enjoys detective stories for light, leisurely reading. But, he highly recommends a book by Bryan Stevenson titled, Just Mercy, A story of Justice and Redemption. The author shares his experiences as a civil right lawyer defending those marginalized in America’s legal system. Another book that he recommends is Healing the Space Between Us, Connecting Across Racial and Economic Divisions by Jan Thorpe. The author is a political activist who lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Her book describes the work of citizens of Cleveland who work to create a community where everyone can thrive. 

Dave spent his professional career as an educator. He has a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Ohio Northern University and a Master’s degree and Ph.D., both in mathematics, from Bowling Green State University. He retired from Heidelberg University in 2015 after 30 years of service to that institution with the rank of Emeritus Provost and Professor of Mathematics. He and his wife, Lynda, celebrated their 53^nd wedding anniversary in October 2025. He and Lynda have two adult children. A son, Drew, is a graphic designer who lives in Littleton, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, and a daughter, Christie, who is the Executive Director of the Hayes Presidential Library and Museums in Fremont, Ohio. Christie is a single mother and has two children, Emma and Noah. Emma is a senior voice major at Heidelberg University, and Noah is a budding photographer whose full-time job is as a lifeguard at the Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky.

NEW COMMITTEES TO MEET:

Technology – Thursday, January 15 at 3pm

Building – Thursday, January 22 at 3pm

    Two new committees are set to meet in January:

    Technology Committee: This committee will work to evaluate all use of technology and business equipment in the Association office. Anyone with expertise in computers and information technology is invited to help with this evaluation. The committee will meet on Thursday, January 15 at 3:00 p.m.

    Building Committee: This committee will work to evaluate the use of the NWOA headquarters building, as well as its current physical condition and its value. The Cabinet wants to be sure we are using the building to its fullest potential, be prepared to address any repairs/renovations, and to determine an approximate value of the building should the make-up of the Conference happen to change dramatically. We need a realtor on this committee, as well as a remodeling/construction contractor. If your congregation has someone who could assist with this evaluation, please contact Kim Nye at the office. This committee will meet on Thursday January 22 at 3:00 p.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Several events are being scheduled

December 14, 2025

Don is meeting with Spencerville UCC, Spencerville Search Committee at 1:30 p.m.

January 11, 2025

Don is meeting with St. Paul's UCC, St. Marys Search Committee at 2:00 pm

February 1, 2026

Don will be preaching at St. Stephen UCC, Sandusky at 8:00 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.

February 1, 2026

NWOA Ordination of Pastor Amy Kinney at St. John's UCC, Fostoria at 3:00 p.m.

February 15, 2026

NWOA Ordination of Elyse Cramer at McCutchenviille UCC, McCutchenville at 3:00 p.m.

March 1, 2026

NWOA Ordination of Liesl Higgins at First Congregational UCC, Sandusky at 3:00 p.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. Diane Christopherson, Rev. Patrick McKinney, Regena Mummert, Rev. Mike Ebersole, Susan Bishop, Rev. Diane Thomas, Rev. Adrian Sunday, Peggy George, & Rev. Frank Isaacs, Rev. Steve Trimble, Rev. Wayne Chasney, Kim Nye's Husband & Oldest Daughter.

*Please keep them in your prayers.

*PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE ADDED TO OUR PRAYER LIST. CONTACT KIM NYE AT NORTHWEST OHIO ASSOCIATION VIA EMAIL: KIM@NWOA.ORG OR CALL (419) 447-8323.

MONTHLY ARTICLES

The Christmas Fund

Be the Light

For over 100 years, The Christmas Fund (originally “Veterans of the Cross”) has provided direct financial assistance to the leaders in all our lives: retired and active UCC ministers, church workers, and their families. 

Please consider donating today to ensure more leaders receive the loving support of the Church in their moment of deepest need. The Christmas Fund was here for them. 

Your gift is more than just a testament to your belief in the values of the United Church of Christ; it is a critical lifeline for those who depend on our grant programs for care and support. 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! Thank you again for your generosity and I offer a prayer for your continued safety and peace.



In Christ’s Service

Stewardship & Generosity Ministry Team

Rev. Jerald Fenske

St. Stephen UCC, Sandusky

Your generous gift makes our ministry possible.