“WITNESSES.” “I have seen the Lord.” (John 20:18). “And we are WITNESSES to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:32). In court proceedings, WITNESSES take an oath “to tell the truth and nothing but the truth” usually with a hand on a Bible and invoking God’s name. It is an interesting observation how lawyers construct their cases and call expert WITNESSES to get favorable results for their side.

     We just celebrated Easter Day AND we are WITNESSES (making the case) that Resurrection continues today. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb expecting to find a body to perform the burial ritual by anointing Jesus’ dead body with spices. Speaking with the “supposed” gardener Mary demanded to know where he had taken the body so that “I will take him away.” (vs. 15). It was when Jesus said to her, “Mary!” she recognized Jesus and became one of the first WITNESSES to the resurrection.

     In the story from Acts 5, some of the apostles were before the religious council who were trying to get the apostles to be quiet about Jesus. The council feared the Romans and feared the “Jesus Movement” as a threat to Roman authority AND their authority. Jesus’ followers had loyalty to Jesus and not to the Romans or the religious council. Peace was tenuous with the Romans and any threat could bring death upon those who opposed their authority. All the apostles were trying to do was WITNESS (make the case) for resurrection, hope and peace they had claimed in Jesus.

     Resurrection is more than a date on the calendar and is our experience, too. We have seen the Lord in each other and the world as we WITNESS resurrection in moments of healings of our minds, bodies and spirits. We are WITNESSES to resurrection when broken relationships find reconciliation, when wars find peace, when prejudices become respect and extravagant welcome. Miracles happen again and again as we experience God’s transforming resurrection power in the world. Resurrection changes you, me and us as we WITNESS and experience God’s mighty acts of grace, forgiveness, hope and love. “I/you/we have seen the Lord” all around us and in us. “Christ is risen! Christ is risen INDEED!” 

 Printable PDF

 “I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord;

DOWNLOAD THE LIST HERE

WHAT IS IT? Hurricanes, floods and other disasters are happening more frequently. When our neighbors around the world experience these unforeseen circumstances, we can make the road to recovery easier with CWS (Church World Service) Cleanup Buckets. These buckets are full of essential home recovery supplies that are needed after a disaster strikes.

HOW CAN WE PARTICIPATE? Anyone is welcome to participate by gathering buckets and items from the links below. Whether you’re an individual or a team, we want to celebrate you as you collect and drop off your buckets! Send us photos for our social media at office@heartlanducc.org 

·    For CWS bucket contents and bucket preparation, visit the CWS website by clicking here. There you’ll learn how to assemble Emergency Cleanup Buckets and Hygiene Kits.

·    Download a shopping list here.

·    Grants are available to offset your costs here  https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/64870-United-Church-Of-Christ

·    To learn more about the challenge, watch our video here. 

·    Don’t forget to send us your photos at office@heartlanducc.org! 

Does your congregation desire to be more prepared for disasters, both to protect yourselves and to extend love to your neighbors in time of crisis? Then Willing to Respond is for you!

Equip your congregation to love your neighbor in time of disaster This free, new and rapidly growing network is providing congregations with practical tools, training and relationships, including online resources and connection to your Conference Disaster Coordinator and to denominational, ecumenical and other disaster response resources. It’s simple to access and has an easy three-step process to register.

Willing to Respond is a United Church of Christ collaboration with Disciples of Christ Week of Compassion, and Houston Responds.

Nora Brooks, former NWOA Support Staff - passed away on Sunday, April 17, 2022. Nora's service will be Saturday, April 30th at 10:30 am, Trinity UCC, Tiffin. Hoffman-Gottfried Mack Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.

Church Remittance Form - please use this form when sending donations to/through the Association office.

The Stewardship and Generosity Team continues to work hard at finding ways to give you and your church resources for enhancing the giving of your congregations. We encourage you to explore the following links:

We, today, have families fleeing with their children to escape violence in their home countries. Many are seeking asylum as refugees in the United States. One faith community that helps thousands of legal refugees every year is the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas. It is run by our brothers and sisters in Catholic Charities. To support the families who go through the center they have an Amazon wish list where you may make purchases that are delivered directly to the Center. (a very efficient way of giving). Here is the link to Catholic Charities and the Amazon Link: https://www.catholiccharitiesrgv.org/Donations.aspx

The direct link to the Amazon wish list is: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/JJVAJFS3VIIQ/

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

Learn More

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St. John’s UCC in Genoa is looking for some willing and able adults and youth (6^th grade- high school) to join them on a Mission trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They will leave on Sunday, June 26^th and return on Friday, July 1^st. We will be assisting in food kitchens, helping residents in assisted living, general yard work and light home repair, volunteering with nonprofits and community centers or tutoring children in after-school programs. Everything is included except transportation and the activity on our free night. We will be working during the days along with daily devotional programs. The cost of this trip is $286. Please reach out to Pam Ferrara at (419) 855-3906 ext 2 or cedirector@stjohnsgenoa.org with any questions or concerns.

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St. John's United Church of Christ, 120 S. Lane Street, Bucyrus, Ohio, has an immediate opening for an Organist/Pianist. This is a part-time salaried position reporting to the Board of Trustees. The selected candidate will work with the Pastor to provide a meaningful worship experience by providing service music and congregational singing on Sundays and special services. To request a full job description or to send resume email the Board of Trustees at sjuccbucyrus@gmail.com.

In addition to our prayers, there are more ways to aid the people of Ukraine. Gifts made to UCC Ukraine Relief Fund will provide shelter, food, and other care to war refugees and internally displaced people. Donate online with the link below or designate a check for Ukraine Relief and mail to United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 71957 Cleveland, OH 44194. Gifts made to Sharing America's Resources Abroad (S.A.R.A) provide food, clothing and sanitary items for refugees fleeing to Hungary. Donate online with the link below or designate a check for Ukraine Emergency Fund and mail to SARA, c/o Heartland Conference UCC, P.O. Box 1230

$200 will cover meals and lodging at Camp Christian May 16-20. There are also partial Camp attendance options. In addition to registering for the time at camp, all participants will be responsible for registering for virtual attendance with the FoH at www.festivalofhomiletics.com.

Online registration for attending in person at Camp Christian is available here

The United States continues to grapple with the discrediting of science, the repudiation of scientific facts, science misinformation and disinformation, and increasing distrust and skepticism concerning science and scientists. MTSO welcomes psychologists and authors Gale M. Sinatra and Barbara K. Hofer to discuss pressing issues related to science denial and the role of religion during a virtual event, “Trust in Science? Responses to the Challenge of Science Denial.”

Part of MTSO’s Science and Religion Digital Dialogues series, “Trust in Science?” begins at 7 p.m. Eastern May 10. It is free and open to the public. Advance Zoom registration is required and available at //www.mtso.edu/trustinscience.

Sinatra and Hofer are the authors of Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It, published in 2021 by Oxford University Press. The book focuses on key psychological constructs such as reasoning biases, social identity, epistemic cognition, and emotions and attitudes that limit or facilitate public understanding of science, and it describes solutions for individuals, educators, science communicators and policy makers. MTSO will give free copies of Science Denial to the first 50 “Trust in Science?” registrants.

The Science and Religion Digital Dialogues series serves MTSO students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as members of the wider community, addressing challenges to meaningful science and religion dialogues and to encouraging public engagement with science. It is made possible through the Science for Seminaries project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Dialogues on Science, Ethics, and Religion program.