"The Vine"
An email update.... Keeping Us Connected in Christ"
This newsletter is brought to you by your OCWM Contributions
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Your generous gift makes our ministry possible |
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"Blessings Always"
Rev. Daniel L. Busch
Association Minister Message
March 10, 2021
POLE. “Make a poisonous snake and place it on a POLE” Numbers 21:8. The forty-year journey through the wilderness, which could have been done in eleven days, was both treacherous and liberating. Moses was reluctant to be the leader. Then as leader, the people grumbled and protested to Moses about accommodations, food and leaving comfort to go to an unknown place. It was the stubbornness of the people and their unwillingness to take the land immediately that became forty years of wandering. In that time a new nation would evolve that would not have direct ties to captivity in Egypt.
One event during the Hebrew Exodus in the Book of Numbers is about poisonousness snakes attacking the people because they were “impatient” and “spoke against God and Moses: ‘Why did you bring us up from Egypt to kill us in the desert, where there is no food or water. And we detest the miserable bread!’” Poisonous snakes were sent to bite the people, and it was at this moment that the people realized they had sinned. Moses put an image of a snake on the POLE and when the people were bitten they would look at the snake image and be saved. It was not a graven image but a symbol of God saving the people.
Poisonous snacks are all around us making our lives miserable. We, too, are impatient and like to grumble that things are not like we want them to be. We have “Covid fatigue” along with “isolation fatigue.” These “snakes” interfere with what is thought to be normal. However, there are other snakes that distort the goodness of God’s Creation when Creation is thought of as our own personal asset. It is time to view the poisonous snakes for what they are, face them and deal with them.
POLE. During this time of Lent, we are reminded of Jesus’ suffering, death AND resurrection. Jesus, too, was placed on a cross—a POLE—on which we look for forgiveness and hope. Words from a hymn declare, “...so I’ll cherish the Old Rugged Cross…” that is the empty cross of Easter proclamation: “Christ is risen…Christ is risen INDEED.” Lent is not an end in itself; Lent points to victory over evil, sin, hate and inhumane acts perpetrated against one another. Many know John 3:16, but the words following it declare, “God didn’t send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (v. 17) When we look at the cross, we see God’s love that offers forgiveness and hope. The journey the Hebrew people experienced is also the journey we take from captivity of all that would destroy our minds, bodies and spirits, to a place of freedom that gives meaning and purpose to abundant living. “Give thanks to God, because God is good, because God’s faithful love lasts forever!” (Psalm 167:1) As the Hebrew people were asked to look at the POLE, let us look to the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ, giving thanks what is done in God is for us and the world.
BLESSINGS ALWAYS.
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Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister |
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March 21, 2021 - Preaching at First Reformed UCC, Kenton 10:00 am
April 4, 2021 - Preaching at St. John's UCC, Fostoria
April 25, 2021 - Preaching at Trinity UCC, Upper Sandusky 10:00 am
May 23, 2021 - Preaching at First UCC, Shelby 10:00 am & 11:15 am
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Prayer Concerns/Request
Rev. Dan Busch did well with his cataract surgery last week and will have surgery on the other eye, soon. Prayers appreciated.
Continuing prayer for : Keith Huizenga, Rev. Joy Skeel, Rev. Steve Voelker, John Cox (husband of Rev. Kay Mooney Cox), Rev. Diane Christopherson, Rev. John Miller,
Pastor Dee Schroer, Pastor Bill Kerr, Rev. David Culp, Tim Metz, Jim Huckemeyer,
Rev. Pat McKinney, Pastor Tom Kagy, Rev. Frank Isaacs
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2021 Disaster Kit Collection
Church World Service Buckets & Hygiene Kits
CHANGE IN THE MAKING
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Keynote Speaker
Dr. Richanne C. Mankey, Ed.D.
President, Defiance College
Giving Our Best as Servants in a World of Uncertainty
There is no better place to reap the benefits of sowing seeds than on a college campus where students with raw potential and (un)realized academic skills apply grit and faith to face an uncertain world with grace and courage. At Defiance College, as in life, continual engagement about a vision and strategies to realize it as promotes holistic learning and adaptability to guide us forward. Engage. Explore. Energize. Dr. Mankey's Bio
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OCWM GIVING
(Our Church's Wider Mission)
2021 OCWM Giving Goal - $305,000
2021 Giving through February 28, 2021 - $15,846
Church Remittance Form
(use this form when sending donations
to/through the Association Office)
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NWOA Periodic Support Consultation
Saturday, October 9, 2021
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Youth Leader Opening - Part-time
St. Paul's United Church of Christ, St. Marys is seeking an energetic, organized and creative youth leader. Candidate must have excellent communication skills and be able to work with all age ranges of our congregation, with a focus on Senior High youth and school age children. Send resumes to: St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Attn: Pastor Rhonda Hainer, 201 N. Perry Street, St. Marys OH 45885. Applications can also be picked up at this address.
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Worship Ways
Most NWOA Congregations are offering online Sunday Worship. Look at all the options to join in.
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From the NWOA Stewardship and Caring Ministry Team |
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I want to begin by thanking everyone who has continued to support their local churches and the wider church through these difficult days as we deal with this terrible pandemic. You may not realize the good you have done.
Agencies like Crossroad, Back Bay Mission, and local missions get support from the wider church and depend on our backing. Missions touch people and change lives. In the 21st chapter of St. John’s Gospel, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. Each time, Peter says yes. After each time he says yes, Jesus gives Peter a charge to “feed my lambs,” “tend my sheep,” and “feed my sheep.” We have that same charge.
When we joined the church we took vows to support the church “with our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service.” The work of God’s kingdom has not stopped during this pandemic. Even when churches have had to stop meeting in person, the work goes on.
There have been distributions from the Federal Government in the form of stimulus checks, and many that get those checks need them desperately. However, some of us are not as strapped as others and could spare a portion of that money to shore up the church. The Stewardship and Caring Team of the Northwest Ohio Association is asking members of NWOA churches to prayerfully consider paying forward some of the relief that they themselves received. We are all in this together, and your gift could make all the difference.
Respectfully submitted, Rev. Adrian Sunday
NWOA Stewardship & Caring Team
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Information from the Pastoral Relations Working Group
of the NWOA Church and Ministry Team
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Covid Resources
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed and exacerbated places of pain and injustice throughout our institutions and communities, and clergy have borne the weight of this. The Pastoral Relations working group has listened to the pain that exists in our local clergy and have been trying to pay close attention to mental health and family concerns. Included here are links to resources for clergy and churches to be aware of. Read more
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Spiritual Director
Ongoing Covid 19 issues and other daily life processes can get in the way of mental health and happiness. We are in the process of gathering names and email addresses of spiritual directors. The names we have so far are Rev. Ed Heilman whose email is echeilman@hotmail.com and Breta Gorman whose email is bretasm@att.net Please contact them if you would like to explore what spiritual direction is and how it can help in your day to day life.
If there are other spiritual directors you know who would be interested, please let us know by contacting the Pastoral Relations WG of the Church and Ministry Team. Thank you.
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Anti-Racism
Responses from recent pastor annual review surveys indicated a strong interest in resources to assist pastors in facilitating conversations within their congregations regarding anti-racism. This is not surprising given the events of this past year and we feel it important to address this need. Our first thought was to host a virtual training event, however, as we explored, we found many readily available resources that may meet the needs of local congregations.
Living Water’s 21 Week Anti-Racism Challenge Toolkit offers congregation members the opportunity to better understand systemic racism and to inspire local community engagement. This Challenge was developed by the YWCA of Greater Cleveland who has partnered with Living Waters Association to host the Challenge. The Challenge asks participants to make weekly time and space to build more effective social justice habits – particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege and leadership for a period of 21 weeks. Each participant who registers receives daily tasks via e-mail to help foster their understanding and awareness about racial equity. Participants from a congregation can then meet to discuss the weekly Challenges. Weekly tasks may include articles to read, tips for developing social justice habits, or opportunities to reflect on personal experiences. Learn more here to determine if this may be right for your congregation:
White Privilege: Let’s Talk – A Resource for Transformational Dialogue, is a resource offered by the National UCC office. The UCC offers a full curriculum, divided in 4 parts, complete with lesson outlines and facilitator resources. In addition, there is a 6 session webinar series available at this site called White Privilege: Let’s Talk, that is very comprehensive. Each session is led by national leaders within the UCC and other denominations and tells the story of spiritual journey through the lens of race and invites participants to become an ally in pursuit of racial equity. These resources are free and available by clicking the following link:
The UCC also offers an additional curriculum titled, “Sacred Conversations to End Racism”. This program is led by Dr. Velda Love, Minister for Rachial Justice and Local Church Ministries. Dr. Love will also be the keynote speaker for The Heartland Faith Formation Conference, titled, “Live It: Engaging the Sacred Texts Through the Lens of Culture”, which will be held virtually on 2/26 and 2/27/2021. This conference includes significant time for small and large group discussion following her keynote addresses each day. The link to the Sacred Conversations site is:
Attached to the end of the newsletter is an additional list of available resources.
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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Food Pantry Grant - To assist those Northwest Ohio Association (NWOA) churches who support Our Churches Wider Mission (OCWM), a $200 grant is available by request, to those who host a food pantry or are affiliated with a community food pantry. Complete this form to apply.
Funding for this grant will come from the NWOA Disaster Gifts Fund given by many Northwest Ohio Association Churches during any given time.
*Please provide a written letter from the Local Church Leaders stating information you think is relevant to your request and will make your application stronger.
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Lay School of Religion
The Northwest Ohio Association of the United Church of Christ and the Lay School Board offer classes to expand knowledge about the Christian faith to those folks in congregations who are actively involved in the life of the church.
Next Class: Pastoral Care
Beginning: September, 2021
Instructor: Rev. Catherine Lawrence
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Special Offerings
2021
May 23 -Strengthen the Church
October 3-Neighbors in Need
November 14- Stewardship Sunday
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Chaplain at Parkvue Community, Sandusky
Full Time Opening
United Church Homes, Inc. is seeking a Chaplain to join our team! This position is responsible for providing a program of spiritual care and worship for residents and the community at assigned United Church Homes (UCH) facilities; and providing public and church relations activities in support of the community's goals. The Chaplain models pastoral competencies in accordance with United Church of Christ and The Association of Clinical Pastoral Education professional standards.
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Introducing the new Heartland Conference Website! |
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Reports from the following:
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Summer Camp Registration is open! |
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Find the camp session you are interested in and click on it to learn more and to register. Please remember that minor children must be registered for camp by their custodial/legal parent.
Volunteers are needed for camp, too! Volunteer application forms can also be found on the event calendar.
If you’d like more information before registering, please attend one of our parent information sessions. You will find them on the calendar of events on the link above.
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Anti-Racism Network Book Discussion |
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You’re invited to join members of the Heartland Conference’s Anti-Racism Network in a group reading of Austin Channing Brown’s Book entitled I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness. Meeting Dates are Thursdays 3/11 Chapter 1-Interlude: Why I Love Being a Black Girl. 3/18 Chapter 6-Interlude: How to Survive Racism in an Organization that Claim to be Anti-Racist. 3/25 Chapters 10-14 "Standing in the Shadow of Hope". Please Register at https://tinyurl.com/y4ure4ba For more information contact Matthew Hogue-Smith at mhogue.smith@gmail.com
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Upcoming Webinars
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Thursday, March 11, 3:30 pm ET - A Lenten Hour of Prayers and Reflections
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Tuesday, March 16, 3:30 pm ET - Doctrine of Discovery Hawaii
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Thursday, March 18, 3:30 pm ET - Celtic Worship
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Wednesday, March 24, 10 am ET- Journey to the Waters: A Service of Remembrance and Healing
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Thursday, March 25, 6:00 pm ET-Lessons from the Hebrew Bible: the Enduring Resilience of African Descended Women
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Wednesday, March 31, 2:00 pm ET- Commission on the Status of Women
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Proclaim God's Word in Worship and Worshipful Ways
Strength our Witness to the Gospel in the World
Discern God's Will for Faithful and Effective Ministry
Manifest Faithful, Wise and Responsible Stewardship of all God's Gifts
Demonstrate Care, Compassion, Forgiveness and Accountability to and for One Another
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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
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