Newsletter

May 22, 2025

issue # 21

"Blessing Always"

Association Minister Message

Rev. Daniel L. Busch

    CALLING. Several years ago when Covid caused shutdowns and great fear, a prayer was shared from the Order of the Jesuits entitled “A Prayer for Our Uncertain Times.” In that prayer was a reminder that even in uncertain times “…let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.” No matter what is happening today, we need each other in trying times as well as soothing times.

    In this week’s lectionary reading from Acts 16, Saint Paul had a vision that urged him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” (Acts 16:9). An important ministry of the church is responding and helping those in need. In our United Church of Christ “Statement of Faith,” we believe that “God CALLS us into the church…to be servants in the service of the whole human family.” God CALLS not just authorized members to ministry: we are CALLED to ministry to “…save all from aimlessness and sin,…” as well as celebrate life that is filled with amazing gifts and graces to share with one another.

    Women were important leaders (pastorally, financially, and hospitably) of the missionary endeavors of the early Christian Church. We often overlook that women were also part of the disciples who followed Jesus and gave the first testimony of the resurrection of Jesus. When Paul arrived in Macedonia, he sat down with the women to discuss following Jesus. “One of these women was Lydia, a Gentile God-worshipper from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth.. As she listened, the Lord enabled her to embrace Paul’s message.” (vs. 14). Lydia’s CALL to ministry enabled her to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to the early Christian Church and care for the needs of the Body of Christ.

    Ministry is a CALLING, not a job, hiring, or task. God CALLS us again and again and enables us to be “change-agents,” for God’s Spirit is upon us with resurrection power. God CALLS us “to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18). BLESSINGS ALWAYS.

Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister

May 25, 2025-St. Paul UCC, Wapakoneta at 10:15 am

June 1, 2025-Presbyterian, Defiance at 9:30 am

June 1, 2025-St. John's, Defiance at 11:00 am

June 22, 2025-Wapak

June 29, 2025-Farewell to Scott Johnson, Spencerville



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. David Culp, Peggy George, Rev. Diane Christopherson, Rev. Adrian Sunday, Rev. Patrick McKinney, Regena Mummert, Rev. Mike Ebersole, Susan Bishop, Lenore Kure (Car Accident-home recovering), Rev. Diane Thomas is out of the hospital, Rev. Jeanette Tangeman is home.

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

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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

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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

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