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December 19, 2024
issue # 49
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"Blessing Always"
Association Minister Message
Rev. Daniel L. Busch
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CHRISTMAS 2024
While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby.
She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son,
wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the guestroom.
(Luke 2:6-7, CEB)
Jesus’ birth is Emmanuel: “God with us.”
From manger to resurrection, Jesus is the Christ.
Jesus is God’s gift of unconditional love and hope.
Evil and sin do not have the last word.
God makes all things new repeatedly.
We are reborn anew and resurrection is ours.
Christ, the Savior is born anew in us.
Let us worship Christ, our Savior.
From your NWOA Staff
Joan Davidson, Office Administrator
Kimberly Nye, Office Administrator
Deb Long, Bookkeeper
Rick Sholl, Custodian
Rev. Daniel L. Busch, Association Minister
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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
Dec. 22 - Attending Farewell at St. Paul's UCC St. Mary's at 10:00 am.
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.
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Tammy Vajen was honored at
St. John's, Holgate on
Sunday, December 8, 2024 for
NWOA Lay School of Religion.
It was presented by Dan Busch (as pictured).
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Congratulations Joan on your retirement! Thank you for your 27 years of
hard work & dedication at NWOA.
Enjoy your well-deserved relaxation & time with family.
Your next chapter begins with wherever your heart leads you on the new adventure. May you be blessed with all the best that life has to offer.
Congratulations & Blessings Joan!
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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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Rev. Rhonda Hainer will celebrate her ministry with the congregation at St. Paul's UCC, St. Marys on December 22, 2024 during Morning worship at 10:00 am. | |
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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, Rev. Marge Mair-Hansen
Rev. Rick Dorsch is currently in the hospital. Please keep him in your prayers.
Our deepest sympathy to Rev. Mark Bishop & Susan for the loss of Mark's brothers, Paul & David Bishop.
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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 Oct 2024 - $166,162
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 | |
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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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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Looking for a
Devotional Guide
for your Advent Journey?
This resource
"O Come, Seed of Hope"
is given as a gift by
Rev. Susanna M. Kawolics.
Please click on the link below
for a PDF of the Devotional.
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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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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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Note: UCC News will take a break while the National Ministries Offices are closed for the holidays, and the next News Digest will be sent on Jan. 7. Happy holidays! | |
‘Go Tell It on the Mountain’
Christmas blessings from the UCC General Minister and President.
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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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PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc.
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The PATHWAYS Environmental Justice program provides a way to become conscious healers of injustices felt by God's creation - people on the margins, diminished biodiversity, and the climate crisis.
Throughout history, nations, tribes, and cultures have too often responded violently to one another and to the gifts the Earth gives us. This program addresses those wounds:
o First by giving a foundation of history, language, and tools for focusing on human and environmental challenges in the places we live (Level 1),
o Second by embracing an empathic approach across generations, and by addressing policy practices for bringing healing to one another and the earth (Level 2),
o Third by delving deeper into ecological theology, ethics, and scripture thereby providing tools for increased eco-connections in our preaching and worship (Level 3).
Sign up now for a Level 1 Environmental Justice course, Biomes and Landforms in Scripture (begins January 8), connecting our lives and lands with the life and land found in Scripture.
Visit our website and learn more about PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. You may also contact the Academic Dean, Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver (RuthShaver@PATHWAYSTheological.org) or the Registrar, Rev. Melissa Ashmore (registrar@PATHWAYSTheological.org) with your questions.
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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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