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This newsletter is brought to you by your OCWM contributions.
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A reason some people give for not donating to the church is "My role is not to keep you employed." Operational giving is not as attractive as donating to a cause, and congregants need to feel that the church cares for them - not their wallet. When it's necessary to discuss operational giving, be sure to explain the necessity and impact.
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Interim Associations Associate
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The Rev. Gary Halstead has been called to the position of Interim Associations Associate beginning September 1, 2017. His primary area of ministry will be assisting congregations in the search process and working with our church vitality programs.
Learn a Little More About Gary Halstead
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Thank You from Bonnie Bates
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I want to tell you how thankful I am that so many of my friends and colleagues sent farewell notes or shared in my open house on Sunday! I have appreciated my work here in the Eastern Ohio and Western Reserve Associations and the cooperation and support of the staff, congregations, teams, boards and individual members. As I prepare to leave my position here, I take with me your good wishes and the strength of my relationships and learning from my work among you. Thank you again for a wonderful 3-1/2 years serving among you. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers.
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Did you miss the registration deadline? Well, you can still come and register the day of the event. Join youth from all across our associations for a day serving the people of Avon and Avon Lake, an epic worship service, crazy games, lunch, and a dinner cookout. The event is Sunday, August 13, 9:30AM to 6:30PM, at
Avon Lake UCC (32801 Electric Blvd, Avon Lake). The cost is only $10 per person and includes lunch and dinner. Please bring a check or the exact amount for registration.
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You are invited to
Native Perspectives: The Church's Role in Racial Reconcilation on August 18, 7-9PM, at
First Congregational Church (292 E Market St, Akron). Jeffery Daniel Mercado (Piipaash) will speak on the history of indigenous people in the United States of America and will share an indigenous perspective on Scripture. He also will cast a vision for the Kingdom-living described in the book of Revelation and will give an invitation to seek its flourishing on Earth today. This collaborative keynote event is free and open to the public.
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Non-Combative Communication
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The
Culture of Peace Prophetic Witness Team encourages you to attend
The Art of Non-Combative Communication on August 30-31 at Westerville Community UCC (770 County Line Rd, Westerville). In this age of division, you may be struggling to find the right words...or even the right approach...to the anger, hurt and discord you encounter every day. Learn skills necessary for the peaceful resolution of conflicts
Learn More
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The current opiate crisis is growing exponentially. On August 31, 2016,
First Congregational UCC (41 E Jefferson St, Jefferson) held a candlelight vigil remembering the 12 of Ashtabula County who perished due to an opiate overdose. This year, 27 people have died in Ashtabula County. Sadly, the numbers continue to grow throughout the state. The
Opiate Crisis Prophetic Witness Team asks congregations to take a moment on Sunday, August 27 to remember the people who have died due to an overdose or hold a candlelight vigil on August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day.
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Chapel Hill UCC Clergy Lunch
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Please join the new Chaplain, Rev. Erin McCreight, on Thursday, September 7, 12PM-1:30PM at Chapel Hill Community's Activity Room (12200 Strausser St NW, Canal Fulton) for lunch and learning about CHHSM's newest resource being launched this month: "Age Friendly Congregations". Share your ideas about the needs of the older members of your congregations. Enjoy food and conversation while working together to transform aging by building cultures of community, wholeness and peace.
Email RSVP or call 330-854-4177 x135 by Sept 1
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All authorized ministers and lay church leaders are invited to attend the fall retreat Opening the Eye of the Heart: The Gospel of Thomas and Christian Wisdom on October 1-3 at Villa Maria Education & Spirituality Center (2067 Evergreen Rd, Villa Maria, PA 16155). Explore the teachings of Jesus as a path of transformative wisdom, giving special attention to the "unitive" or "nondual" dimensions of the Christian path. Rev. Matthew Wright, facilitator of this retreat, is an Episcopal priest, writer, and retreat leader working to renew the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider interspiritual framework. Cost is $140 per person.
Learn More & Register by September 10
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Roots of Reformed Christianity
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Ever wonder where the UCC came from? What makes the UCC part of the Reformed tradition? Gene McAfee, pastor of
Faith UCC in Richmond Heights and Dean of the
Northeast Ohio School of Ministry, will lead a fifteen-day tour of Germany, Switzerland, France, and Holland from June 24th to July 9th, 2018. Cost, with airfare, is approximately $5,700 per person double occupancy. Space is limited to 20. Deadline to reserve a place is September 8, 2017.
Learn More & Register; Call 216-382-7227 for Info
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Community Congregational UCC is the name chosen by members of the congregation merged from the former First Congregational Lorain and Amherst Congregational churches. All contact information remains the same as the former Amherst Congregational. New website domains and emails will come in the near future.
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Recently
St Paul UCC (7507 York Rd, Parma) and
Ridge Road UCC (6050 Ridge Rd, Parma) held a joint worship service at St Paul UCC exploring the possibilities of yoking in the near future. Yoking is the sharing of one pastor between two churches. The service was led by Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, Pastor Judith Campbell and Rev. Carl Pelzer. In this day and age, new and challenging ideas are being explored to continue the work of Christian ministry.
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Parma Area Mutual Ministry
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The Parma Area Mutual Ministry Group (
St Paul UCC,
Ridge Road UCC, and
St Peter UCC) donated to the "Christmas in July" campaign at the Malachi House. Malachi House, created out of a Christian sense of ministry, serves persons who are terminally ill, without regard to gender, race, religion or national origin and without cost to the resident or family. This home ministers to individuals who need an available caregiver, who have limited or no financial resources and are in need of special home care in the final stages of life.
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Hope Homes was founded in 1966 by the United Church of Christ, Ohio Conference, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) when a widowed parent of an adult with developmental disabilities spoke with her pastor and asked "what will happen to my son when I am no longer around to take care of him?" At that point in time Hope Homes was born. This is a ministry which continues to be supported by many of our local churches. Some of you may have seen recent articles in the Akron Beacon Journal about some changes to their management and role in our communities.
Get Answers to Your Questions & Learn of Needed "In-Kind" Help
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The 3 Great Loves initiative was launched at General Synod this summer and lifts up the UCC’s love of neighbor, love of creation and love of children. Two people from each Conference are sought to inspire collaboration and transformation through this initiative. The Conference Coordinators will have flexibility in how they shape their role, but the goal is to gather and share stories about the collective impact of the UCC’s justice work. If you have a passion for spreading the word about our local churches’ justice work, email
Conference Minister John Gantt to volunteer or call 800-282-0740 x203.
Read More About This Opportunity
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The Sheffield Lake United Church of Christ (603 Sunset Ave, Sheffield Lake) is searching for a pianist or keyboardist for Sunday morning service from 11AM to 12PM. There is no choir so early arrival for rehearsal is not necessary. This is a small, old church, but they are growing. Those interested are invited to come and observe one of the services and then audition. For more information, please call Board Member, Linda, at 440-949-7436. Come and share God's gift of music with this congregation.
Archwood UCC on the near west side of Cleveland is seeking a Worship Leader to help the congregation explore and live into new forms of worship that embody a progressive theology and commitment to justice. The church is in the midst of major change as they seek to become the congregation God is calling them to be in this time and place.
Download the job description.
Grace UCC in Uniontown seeks a part-time (15 hours/week) church secretary. Email resumes and inquiries to
Jim Lynn.
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The Parish Paper is a wonderful resource to which the Ohio Conference has subscribed on behalf of all Ohio UCC churches. Each issue stands alone as a topic of interest and importance to being a living and growing congregation. With the Conference subscription, we in local churches and the associations have permission from the copyright holder to use the material per copyright restrictions. Please distribute only in its unaltered entirety.
Download This Month's Issue
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Please keep the following people in your prayers.
The family of Joyce Strommen on her death August 3. Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Gayle Strommen, 3238 Abell Ave, Baltimore, MD 21218.
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Ordinations & Installations
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Installation of Luke Lindon
September 10 ♦ 10AM
Installation of Jason Thompson
October 8 ♦ 3PM
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Association Ministers' Schedules
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Here's where your Association Ministers will be the next few Sundays.
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August 13
9:30AM
The Great Summer Serve
32801 Electric Blvd ♦ Avon Lake
August 20
10639 Oak Valley Rd SW ♦ Baltic
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August 13
9:30AM
The Great Summer Serve
32801 Electric Blvd ♦ Avon Lake
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Rita Root
Associations General Minister
Bonnie Bates
Associations Associate for Congregational Vitality & Development
Machelle Miller
Office Manager & Bookkeeper
Cheryl McGraw
Communications & Administration
Committee on Ministry Registrar
Margaret Borrelli
Faith Formation Coordinator
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Mark Frey
Pastoral Excellence/Communities of Practice
Don Hill
Financial Development Consultant
Gene McAfee
Dean of Northeast Ohio School of Ministry
Bob Richardson
Coach Coordinator
Maureen Webber
Spiritual Formation Coordinator
Lori Wick
Youth Ministries Coordinator
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If you'd like to share information about an upcoming event or past event sponsored or co-sponsored by a church in our Associations, please send your article of 100 words or less in paragraph format to
support.center@eoawraucc.org by Tuesday noon of each week. Be extravagantly welcoming by including in the article the name, location, address, date, time and contact information of the event. Items will run for two consecutive weeks. Fliers may be sent in addition to the 100 word article and a link will be provided in the article to the flier. Fliers should be less than 5MB and in Word or PDF format. Photos (which display next to your article) may be sent in addition to the article. Photos should be less than 5MB and in JPG or PNG format.
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This newsletter is brought to you by your OCWM contributions.
Copyright ©2017. All Rights Reserved.
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