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Embrace the Spirit - Global Ministries
Caribbean Initiative
There are ways to encourage financial stewardship in your congregation. Take a look at 4 Ways to Improve Stewardship in Your Church.
Communities of Practice
Looking to connect with colleagues in ministry? Consider joining one of the Associations' Communities of Practice. These groups of 5-8 people and a facilitator meet monthly to focus on excellence and support one another in common practice. Currently, there are groups around Preaching, Pastoral Care, Chaplains, Member-in-Discernment, Women Associates, Senior Pastors, Transformational Pastors, Soon-to-Retire Pastors, and some geographic groups. New groups will be forming. Participation satisfies the Periodic Review requirement for standing. The cost is $250 for the year, and scholarship help is available. For more information see the website, or email Rev. Mark Frey .

Overdose Awareness Service
Amistad Chapel (700 Prospect Ave E, Cleveland) unites with Blyth Barrow of Femminary for an Overdose Awareness Worship Service on Thursday, August 31 at 7PM. Through preaching, music, and ritual the service will illuminate overdose reversal as real-life resurrection. Learn more about Naloxone (also called Narcan), the medication that can reverse an opiate overdose. Volunteers from Project Dawn will provide training to recognize a possible overdose and to administer Naloxone. All will receive a Naloxone kit. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in Ohio. Let's be people of resurrection: learn how to reverse an overdose.

Youth Leader Retreat
A free retreat just for Youth Leaders, September 8-9, at the beautiful Sunset Shores Retreat Center in Vermilion. Friday is a night for fellowship and socializing. Saturday have breakfast, get to know each other, plan events for youth, share resources and have some lunch. Karen Jepsen is the guest presenter. The day together will end with a worship service. Bring a snack to share on Friday night and BYOB. You will also need to bring bedding, shower bag, camp chair and bug spray. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please be aware, there is no wi-fi or air conditioning.

Rock the Park
Youth Groups and families are invited to this free Christian concert on Saturday, September 9 beginning at 6PM. Metzger Park (1420 S Nickelplate, Louisville) is once again hosting this Small Town America Tour which includes music artists such as Seventh Day Slumber, Manic Drive, Shonlock, Consumed by Fire, VRose, and SafeKept. Special speaker is Joseph Gardia. Over the past six years the community churches and area businesses have partnered to bring this great event to life.

NEOSOM Fall Classes
Registration is now open for the fall term of the Northeast Ohio School of Ministry (NEOSOM). Three classes are offered: The Church-Ecclesiology and Administration, Personal Ethics, and UCC History and Polity. Personal Ethics is also available for audit by anyone interested in the topic.

Lantern Fellowship
Calling all ladies! Explore women of the Bible who "walked in the light of God" at Lantern Fellowship, September 15-17, at Pilgrim Hills with featured speaker Rev. Penny Lowes. This will be the last event at Pilgrim Hills. Cost of the weekend is $135. If you cannot come for the entire weekend, there will be a luncheon celebrating Lantern Fellowship's time at Pilgrim Hills. Lunch cost is $15.

Life Planning Event
Richville UCC (6125 Richville Dr SW, Navarre) will host a life planning event Leaving a Lasting Legacy: Making Preparations for End-of-Life Issues on Saturday, September 16 beginning at 8:30AM. Breakfast will be served. Legal and medical professionals and clergy will present legal document templates. Q&A and advice will be available. This event is free. To register, please email Pastor Will Stuart or call him at 330-704-2164 or email the church office or call 330-832-1891.
An Interfaith Workshop
Can We Have a Conversation When We Disagree? How to Create Connection Through Contemplative Dialogue, with Kathleen McDonnell. October 9 at the Jesuit Retreat House (5629 State Rd, Cleveland) from 9AM-3PM. Have you felt frustrated in your conversations with people who think differently from you-at work, at your parish, at home? Explore ways to help create more compassionate and effective dialogues regardless of differences. Kathleen is a certified trainer of Contemplative Dialogue, Active Engagement and the Art of Mindful Leadership. Cost is $45. Scholarships available from St. Paul's Community Church.
45th Annual Holiday Bazaar
Come see why the St Peter UCC Holiday Bazaar (125 E Ridgewood Dr, Seven Hills) is celebrating its 45th Bazaar on Saturday, October 14 from 9AM-3PM. Some examples of booths are bakery, handcrafts, needlecrafts, jewelry, hand-painted slates, watercolors, photography, pet items, lotions and soaps, candy, plus much more. There is something for everyone, whether it's crafts, flea market, food, or raffles (Chinese and regular).

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Periodic Support Consultation
All authorized ministers are invited to attend Periodic Support Consultation: Pastor as Mediator of the Holy on Tuesday, October 17, 9:30AM, at Pilgrim UCC (130 Broad Blvd, Cuyahoga Falls). This will be a time to look at what's been neglected or lost, what should be discarded or added so that we can be strong, loving and wise among the people we are charged to serve. The facilitator will be Dr. W. Scott Haldeman . Cost is $35 (retired UCC pastors free) and $10 for optional lunch. Authorized ministers are required to attend a Periodic Support Consultation every three years to maintain standing.

Save the Date
The Association of United Church Educators (AUCE) invites anyone who is involved in the ministry of Faith Formation to a free Open House on November 2 from 6-8PM. There will be food, fellowship, information, and food. Watch this newsletter for more information as it becomes available.
Open Position
Do you have a passion for student and family ministry? Do you have the ability to create new programs? Paradise United Church of Christ in Louisville is looking for a dynamic, gifted, nurturing visionary who can help bring their family ministry into the 21st century. Someone who can balance traditional pieces (Sunday School, VBS, Youth Group) with the challenge of developing a new children's worship service and family ministry approach. If this excites you, please look at the full job description and email the church office or call 330-875-2677.

Ordinations & Installations
Installation of Luke Lindon
September 10 ♦ 10AM
UCC Congregational ♦ 217 E Liberty ♦ Medina

Installation of Rachel McDonald
October 1 ♦ 4PM
South Haven UCC ♦ 415 Northfield Rd ♦ Bedford

Installation of Jason Thompson
October 8 ♦ 3PM
West Park UCC ♦ 3909 Rocky River Dr ♦ Cleveland
Association Ministers' Schedules
Here's where your Association Ministers will be the next few Sundays.
September 3
Vacation

September 10
10AM
217 E Liberty ♦ Medina

September 17
10:30AM
200th Anniversary Celebration
16 Eastern Rd ♦ Doylestown
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Your Associations' Staff
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
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
Submission Guidelines
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.