River of Life

A Prayer

O River of Life,

 Press your being anew

 Into the war-torn fabric

 Of a world gone mad

 With violence unspeakable

 Calling forth necessary lament

 Tearing open the heart

 For a healing only possible

 With Your grace alone.

Let no paralysis of the past

 Prevent Your promised future

 From taking up residence

 In our hearts, minds, and souls

 Formed by a Christ vision

 Nonsensical to the world

 But calling us to our senses

 That we may discover

 Your arrival in the other

 So easily defined as enemy.

Let Your vision deeper

 Than eye for eye 

 And tooth for tooth

 Bear itself ever anew

 In resolute “no” to violence

 And Yes, to You, O Love,

 Who promises a peace

 Beyond our understanding

 Yet calling us to stand 

 In creative resistance 

 To every diminishing demon

 So easily taking up residence

 In the heart of humanity.

Grant us the grace

 Of openings unimaginable 

 If left to ourselves alone

 But made possible by You

 In parting seas we have made

 Often preventing the possibility

 Of entering the promised peace

 Of the world’s deepest longing.

Yes, Love, part the waters

 Of our own created chaos

 That we may meet You

 In the approach of the other

 Who also yearns for Your peace

 That passes all understanding

 And dares to imagine a world

 Driven by You, O Love of Life

 Instead of every diminishing devil

 That dares to distract the vision

 You so deeply desire to raise 

 In the heart of Your human family

 Yearning to be whole.

Yes, Love, 

 Press Yourself anew 

 Into our hearts, our minds

 And our souls for this of You,

 Yearning to stir our imaginations

 Beyond narratives of death

 Forming Your surprising song

 Of resurrection resilience 

 At every turn this day demands.

October 2022, DMLH

• The main event Saturday, October 22nd: Saturday only $15 per person
• Friday and/or Saturday night add on:
• Add on a room/cabin for your family and/or friends for $80/room per night (up to 10 people)
• Add on individual $25 spending the night sharing a room/cabin with a random Multi Gendered group of adults. (Adults only) 
• All minor children (17 and under) must be accompanied and supervised by their parent/guardian. 

For more information click on the image above or contact Jill Frey, jill@heartlanducc.org or 740-901-0734.

Neighbors in Need 

Special Offering

Can be received through the month of October!

In 2022, the Neighbors in Need “BEHOLD!” offering focuses on an economic justice. With inflation impacting all of our households, we wanted to provide a way to discuss this through a faith lens. Join us by promoting this year’s NIN “Behold!” campaign at your church. As you may recall, one-third of the offering supports Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds are used by Justice and Witness Ministries to provide grants to UCC churches and organizations as well as supporting a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. 

Most churches collect the offering on October 2, 2022 as part of World Communion Sunday, but contributions can be made at any time.

The work continues! We deeply appreciate your generous donations and will continue to accept funds to help support the folks in Ukraine. 

Sometimes it feels like we don’t say “thank you” enough simply because we don’t reply quickly. So many of our friends around the world, churches and service organizations, are generous in their contributions to SARA’s Emergency Fund for Ukraine.

We are grateful for your support of time, money and plain hard work. Sixteen boxes have been sent to Ukraine via Hungary. It was no easy task, at least 20 people sorted, packed and helped the packages on their way.



Your support allows us to focus on our work in Hungary and Transcarpathia, Ukraine. We have been able to supply food and safety items, medical supplies and equipment. We also provide money for the refugees and their families who are beginning the process to relocate.