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A Word from our Conference Minister and Conference Moderator
"Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." 
- Isaiah 60:1
Rev. Dave Long-Higgins
Conference Minister

Co-chairs Rev. Beth Gedert and Rev. Brian Burke and the Annual Gathering Planning Committee have organized an event that we believe will inspire, connect, equip, and support us all in this ministry we share. 

Stories of “rising up” will significantly energize our time together. Here is just a sampling of things we are looking forward to:
Dear Friends,

We are so excited about the Heartland Conference Annual Gathering centered on the theme, “Rising Up!” that will be held on September 22 and 23—a new Thursday-Friday format that was adopted after a survey of past attendees. We very much hope you can join in this great gathering and celebration!

After two years in a virtual setting, the Gathering is back as an in-person event with an online option. And we are back at Westerville Community UCC, which has so graciously hosted recent gatherings. If you haven’t taken the opportunity to register, we hope you will do so soon by clicking here.
Tom Hathaway
Conference Moderator
Heartland Conference Annual Gathering
September 22 & 23
Click on the video below for a challenge for the Annual Gathering from our Disaster Relief Network Coordinator, Kevin Gehres!
Take the Challenge and bring your Bucket and kits to Annual Gathering and help us fill our newly designed trailer. 
  • 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.
We are Hitting the Road to Western Kentucky!
Sunday, October 23 -
Saturday, October 29, 2022
During the late evening of Friday, December 10, 2021, a violent tornado moved across Western Kentucky, producing severe to catastrophic damage in numerous towns, including Mayfield, Princeton, Dawson Springs, and Bremen.
Over the next few days, images and stories of the destruction caused by the tornado filled our screens and news feeds. While these images are no longer a part of the daily news cycle, the work of rebuilding remains. Click on the link below for more information about this important work trip.
United Church Homes’ Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging
2022 Abundant Aging Symposium
(Pro) Longevity: The Convergence of Ethics, Technology, and Spirituality
  • What are your assumptions about aging, expected longevity, and appropriate medical care?
  • How do you expect technology to contribute to your longevity?
  • Can we go too far when it comes to longevity? 
  • How might technology affect spirituality? 
  • How might the valuing of spirituality affect technology?
 
Hear speakers consider these and other questions. Sept. 30, in Columbus, Ohio at the 2022 Abundant Aging Symposium hosted by United Church Homes’ Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging.

Great Lakes Association of United Church Educators is gathering IN PERSON this year for our annual event at Potawatomi Inn. Pokagon State Park. IN, October 4-6. 

This will be a time of mourning our losses, healing and renewing our hope and moving into action to inspire change in our respective communities. Please plan to join us.
You will find a link to the registration on our GLAUCE Facebook page or email Samantha Barret, iuccdir@gmail.com , or Penny Johnson, PJohnson@uchinsdale.org for more information and a link to the form.

We would like registration numbers ASAP, so please decide to come join us soon. 
Neighbors in Need
Special Offering
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.
OPTIC - Marketing and Communications (MarCom)
Close Date: September 30, 2022

Human Resources (HR)
Close Date: September 30, 2022

Faith Education, Innovation & Formation (Faith INFO)
Close Date: October 3, 2022
Many have asked if there is a way in addition to our prayers that we may be of aid to those who are suffering in Ukraine. The answer to that question is “yes”! The Heartland Conference S.A.R.A. partnership will serve as a conduit for aid to partners in Ukraine who are suffering as a result of the war. Daily, our partners are bringing food and water relief to displaced Ukrainians in Transcarpathia. Those wishing to make a donation via this channel may do so by clicking below. Please know that your gifts of any size make a difference in this critical time.
The work continues! We deeply appreciate your generous donations and will continue to accept funds to help support the folks in Ukraine.

To date we have received $107,930.29!

Your generous donations have helped us provide the following:

  • Food for refugees, poor families, soup kitchens, overwhelmed hospitals, and orphanages.
  • Medications and medical supplies, ie glasses, walkers
  • Medical treatment 
  • Housing
  • Bedding
  • Gas for heating and for transportation