Newsletter

March 27, 2025

issue # 13

"Blessing Always"

Association Minister Message

Rev. Daniel L. Busch

     RECONCILIATION. No longer is trust a significant part of the dialogue with one another, for mistrust has oozed into public conversation and causes controversy. Rather than having respect and a willingness to work together, discussions begin with mistrust of families, community groups, religious organizations, and politicians fearing loss of power, possessions, and prestige. There is fear and a lack of trust as benefits, services, assistance for people’s physical and mental concerns, environmental issues, and international relationships are being curtailed.

     One of the most familiar scriptures is the parable from Luke 15 called “The Parable of the Prodigal Son,” “The Parable of the Two Brothers,” “Lost Son,” “Loving Father,” or “Forgiving Father.” Jesus begins by saying, “There was a man who had two sons.” (Luke 15:11). The younger one demands his inheritance immediately and runs off, squanders the money, and eventually journeys back home. Dr. Peter S. Hawkins, theologian writes, “An empty belly, not remorse, sends him back to his father.” The older brother is angry because his father gives his brother on his return a great feast, including the “fatted calf” symbolizing highest honor. The father’s emotions of losing a son and rejoicing that his son returned, is both celebration and torture for the family. The father RECONCILES with the returning son, while the brother is tormented and jealous, not willing to any RECONCILIATION. He judges the brother a robber of some of the family fortune, a wasteful spender, AND not “earning” his inheritance like he had worked so hard to do.

     Each story character has strengths and flaws, but compassion was lacking and not a unifying factor in their relationships. The father’s compassion welcomed his son back and there was RECONCILIATION.  This is one parable that there is no resolution of knowing if the brothers RECONCILED or not. Did they even sit down together at the banquet? In all the divisiveness that touches our lives, are we willing to do ministries of healing, peace, justice, and extravagant welcome? We, too, are the prodigal, “lost and has been found.” (vs. 32). No matter how Prodigal we or others are, we all are invited to come to God’s feast of extravagant generosity, forgiveness, and love to be RECONCILED. BLESSINGS ALWAYS.

Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister

Mar. 30-St. Peter's UCC, Millbury at 10:15 a.m.

Apr. 6-St. Stephen, Sandusky at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

Apr. 27-Zion, Bettsville at 9:30 a.m.

UCC Yearbook Reporting - Deadline Extended

The UCC Center for Analytics, Research & Development, and Data (CARDD) is now collecting data for the 2025 UCC Yearbook! You can create an account to enter statistics in the new UCC Database and Directories through Friday, April 11. PLEASE NOTE: Since this is a brand new system, there have been unexpected issues - updates will be provided as they are received!

*Any issues, please contact research@ucc.org

**Just a friendly reminder that registration is open online. To register click below.**

Farewell

Farewell to Mary Wood was held on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Calvin UCC, Toledo.

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, Peggy George, Rev. Martin Stiffler and family, Rev. Diane Christopherson, Rev. David Voll, Pastor Amy Kinney, Rev. Adrian Sunday, Rev. Patrick McKinney, Regena Mummert, Pastor Amy Kinney, Rev. Marge Mair-Hansen

Please keep in your prayers

To the family of Marilyn Homeister, The NWOA extends Christian Love & Sympathy to family and friends. She passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at Elmwood at the Shawhan in Tiffin. There will be a celebration of Life in June at Trinity UCC, Tiffin, Ohio. For Obituary click HERE.

MONTHLY ARTICLES

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)

Time, Talent and Treasures

TimeTalentandTreasures.docx

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

Stay informed through Facebook

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TEAM ARTICLES

Back Bay Mission Long-Term Volunteer

Solar Powered Lantern by Alice Chun

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 Great Hour of Sharing® is one of four special mission offerings of the United Church of Christ. This Lenten Offering supports the disaster, refugee, and development ministries of the United Church of Christ within Love of Neighbor.

One Great Hour of Sharing Sermonette by

Minister and Team Leader of Global Hope, Andrew Long-Higgins

Your Heartland Conference Disaster Response Team continues to work at responding to a variety of needs within the Heartland Conference. At our annual organization meeting in February, we identified 4 priorities for 2025:

1. CWS cleanup buckets/hygiene kits/period packs, with our goal being 2,500 units

2. Continuation in training and creation of an Emotional & Spiritual Care Team

3. Church Preparedness focus and resources

4. Inventory Local Church resources so as to be able to provide a wider scope of assistance

   As you can see, we are not shy about addressing daunting tasks! We are fortunate, in that our Partnership with the Ohio Assembly, Disciples of Christ, has continued to grow...with DOC members joining our Disaster Response Team! However, to accomplish these goals, it will also take additional financial resources to ship/deliver CWS buckets & kits...it will take additional financial resources to provide the adequate training and ultimate deployment for our E&S Care Team members...well, you get the jist! Thus, if your church would be willing to add DR Ministries to its Mission Outreach offerings, or to the list of Mission Endowment disbursements, that would result in our heartfelt appreciation.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me as listed below. Blessings in Mission. 

Kevin Gehres 

Heartland Conference Disaster Response Coordinator

gehreskb@gmail.com

(419)203-2776

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.

Reclaiming Scripture

General Synod 35 keynote speaker is a minister at the intersection of faith and civic engagement.

Your generous gift makes our ministry possible.