Newsletter

March 13, 2025

issue # 11

"Blessing Always"

Association Minister Message

Rev. Daniel L. Busch

     IMITATORS. Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while in prison to encourage the members of the early Christian church to remain committed to their faith in Jesus Christ. Even though Paul was going through a difficult time, his letter expressed words of comfort to the members without seeking comfort for himself. “Brothers and sisters, become IMITATORS of me, and watch those who live this way—you can use us as models.” (3:17). It is important how we act or speak in front of others, for our actions and words can show others the way of being a Christian. There is a story of a driver who was driving dangerously and shouting at other drivers in an unkind manner. A police officer stopped the driver and asked to see the car registration, accusing the driver of stealing the car. The driver asked, “Why did you stop me driving my car?” “Well,” said the officer, “your actions did not match the words of the bumper stickers on your car expressing Christian love, and I thought it was a stolen car.”                                   

     Being IMITATORS of Jesus Christ is lived by words of kindness to others, doing justice with and for the least of society, and loving and praying for enemies in such a way that reconciliation can happen. Paul was harassed for being a Christian by religious leaders and Roman captors. Paul reminds us that Christ chose to suffer both for and with us. Throughout history, there have been IMITATORS of Christ who took a stand for ways of peace, sharing wealth and love so others might live, and their faith was instrumental in changing society. In our time selfishness, greed, and flaunting of wealth endanger people and cause suffering towards others. Paul’s words are the inspiration to the faithful to never give up doing good when it would be so much easier to allow the injustices of society to prevail. We are blessed to have IMITATORS—Christ-followers—around us who guide us in making this world as God would intend it to be. During our Lenten journey to the resurrection, we are called to love as Christ loves us. We are loved unconditionally, and that love offers renewal, so that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of lives” with BLESSINGS ALWAYS.

Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister

Mar. 16-Calvin UCC, Toledo Farewell to Mary Wood at 10:30 a.m.

Mar. 23-Calvin UCC, Toledo at 10:30 a.m.

Mar. 30-St. Peter's UCC, Millbury at 9:30 a.m. & 11 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.

Greetings Conference partners,

As always, our goal for Yearbook reporting is to get as many churches as possible to report their data. We are well aware that there have been some challenges with the new data hub. This is true whenever there is something “new”. As a result, we have made some changes to our timeline and the instructions that we have for Yearbook data collection.

We are also launching a new option for churches to enter their data without needing to access the UCC Database and Directories (the new data hub). We have created a survey monkey option that will collect all of the data that we normally collect from churches, available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UCC_Backup_YB_Data_Entry_2025

Attached, you will find updated Church Yearbook Instructions and updated Conference Yearbook Instructions. At the end of the Conference instructions you will find the new dates for our timeline.

Elizabeth Dilley, Evan Pence, and Karen Koza

United Church of Christ, National Ministries

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

Mark Bishop was in the hospital & is recovering. Please keep him your prayers.

We have received word that Marilyn Homeister is in Hospice care. Please keep her & her family in your prayers.

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

www.facebook.com/groups/593773784349506

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

March 20 - Harm Reduction Resources for Congregations with Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry, Associate for Advocacy and Leadership Development, CHHSM

In the workshop Harm Reduction Resources for Congregations, we will explore different models of understanding substance use, what harm reduction is and how it relates to drug overdose prevention, how the values of harm reduction align with UCC values, and what individuals and congregations can do to respond to the overdose crisis. This webinar is for those who are curious and would like to understand this topic more, those ready to take action but unclear what their next steps are, those heavily involved in this work already, and everyone in between. The hope and intention is for folks to come away with a real tether to a community involved in this life-saving ministry as well as insights, perspective, and perhaps even more questions about what a harm reduction response means for them and their congregations.

Your generous gift makes our ministry possible.