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2023 Association Annual Meeting Date | |
Upcoming Creation Care Events | |
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Solidarity and Support for East Palestine: Three Actions to Embody Love
On February 3rd, the small town of East Palestine, Ohio suffered from a toxic train derailment explosion that provoked ongoing national concern. The people of East Palestine are in need of a strong and robust lifeline of support that addresses significant long-term environmental, health, and economic concerns as well as continued mental and spiritual needs. Through the collaboration of the UCC’s National Setting, Heartland Conference, and Living Water Association, three actions are offered as ways to extend solidarity and support to the people of East Palestine. Resources include a sample Moment for Mission for worship, an advocacy alert for contacting members of Congress, and an online donation page to support the Heartland Conference’s disaster response.
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Local Church Jobs & Announcements | |
Looking for a job? Here are the opportunities and other announcements in our churches!
Director of Music & the Arts, Community Church of Chesterland
Director of Music, Trinity UCC, Akron
Organist, Pilgrim Congregational UCC, Tremont
Music Director/Keyboardist (PT), Middleburg Heights Community UCC
Choir Director (PT), St. John's UCC, Strasburg
Children's Director of Worship & Arts, Kent UCC
Sound and Video Technician, Lyndhurst Community of Faith
Youth Director (PT), Howland Community Church, Warren
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At First UCC in Austinburg | |
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In April, First UCC in Austinburg became an ecumenical collection site for water donations to the people of East Palestine. Almost 600 gallons was collected and delivered. Plus, nearly $1000 in cash, checks, and gift cards. Donations came form 16 churches and individuals (4 different denominations) from Westlake and Parma to Andover and Ashtabula. All was deeply appreciated.
Coordinating with Mt. Olivet UCC in N. Lima, Rev. Bill Terry and an Austinburg church member delivered it all to one of the distribution sites in East Palestine. The need will continue thru the foreseeable future.
Pictured below: The crew which received the water in East Palestine at Our Lady of Lordes Catholic Church
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Ruth Garwood, who began as interim minister at Eastlake UCC on May 1 | |
Need someone to fill in on a Sunday? Check out the pulpit supply list! Recommended compensation: $150 for one service; $200 for two services; mileage at $0.625 or current IRS rate. | |
... in our HEARTLAND CONFERENCE | |
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For the past 15 months, a task force has been reviewing and making revisions to the constitution of the Heartland Conference. This was in response to a goal established by the Conference to provide clarity and simplicity to the organizational structure and operation.
We are sharing the draft of the proposed substitute constitution with you and invite your questions and comments. Over the next month we want to invite input so that what is ultimately put before the membership for approval has been vetted and is reflective of the membership.
The task force welcomes comments and questions about the revisions.
Please feel free to share your observations and concerns in one of the following ways:
• Email Rev. David Plant, chair of the task force at feedback@heartlanducc.org
• Participate in one of the Zoom discussion sessions:
May 15th, 7:00 pm
May 18th, 3:00 pm
May 24th, 7:00 pm
June 3rd, 9:00 am
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Click the button below to find links to the following:
A side-by-side draft document, showing the existing constitution on the right and the revised constitution on the right, aligned in such a way to identify the changes.
An explanation of the review process and an outline of the significant changes and justification for those changes.
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Wisdom Conversation: Ageism in Faith Communities | |
Mental Health Month Begins | |
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Nationally and throughout the United Church of Christ, the month of May has been chosen to raise awareness about mental illness and to “fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families!” Because the UCC really does mean it when we say “ALL are welcome here.”
There is an abundance of resources that are available through the UCC Disabilities Ministries including special worship resources to aid in your congregation’s celebration of Mental Health Sunday on May 21, 2023. NAMI, other national advocacy groups, and your state and local mental health agencies also offer resources to address this often overlooked and under-discussed topic. Please consider utilizing some of these resources for yourself, your family, your congregation, and your community specifically in the month of May and in the days that follow.
Each Wednesday in May the Heartland Conference Mental Health and Accessibility Network will be sending out short videos on the theme “A Moment for Mental Health Matters” to provide perspectives and information on various mental health-related topics. We encourage you to use these videos as you wish and hope that they will be useful for addressing this very important topic.
Please reach out to the team if you have any questions or need further support by contacting Carol Peterson at carol.peterson57@icloud.com.
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Memorial Day Liturgy Available | |
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Recognizing the need for a balance to honor those who have given their lives in wartime while not celebrating war itself, the Veterans Network offers liturgies for use in worship.
If you are interested in more information about this network that is forming in our life together, please contact, Rev. Dr. John Schluep at warriorsjourneyhome@gmail.com.
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All Experience Levels Welcome! Training will be provided!
Registration will open May 15th!
Who? Volunteers across the Heartland Conference
What? Gather to participate in a “Help Build Hope” house build
When? August 25 (Cut Team of 25) & 26 (Build Team of 120)
Where? Camp Templed Hills, Bellville, Ohio
Why? Sponsored by our Disaster Response Team partnering with CrossRoads Missions and Habitat for Humanity. This house will then be trucked to a TBD destination in Ohio, WV, or Kentucky.
How? Help Build Hope will provide a structure that enables individuals with varying skill levels to have a fulfilling time of service through team building.
So? Place this on your calendar and watch for registration information in then Heartland Conference Fast Five & email blasts. Disasters have no timeline or agenda…they just continue. So…come help with this project and Make a Difference!
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Save the Date - 2023 Interim Training | |
Invitation into 'play space' with the GMP - interactive, creative sessions on future issues | When you get some new technology - a new phone, a computer upgrade or this year's automobile - don't you want to play with it to see what it can do? That's the idea behind a series of one-hour sessions that the United Church of Christ National Setting is calling "Create Playspace with the President." | | | |
Pray with Israel/Palestine, May 14, 2023 - Global Ministries | Lectionary Selection: John 14:15-21 Prayers for Israel/Palestine O God, in whom we live and move and have our being, through your love in Christ you have called us your own. You bestowed upon us your abundant mercy in forgiving our sins ... Read more | | | |
Emergency Appeal for Turkey and Syria | |
Thousands have been killed in Turkey and Syria by a massive earthquake that struck Monday morning before dawn on the border of the two countries. The magnitude 7.8 quake, centered in a heavily populated area of southeastern Turkey but felt as far away as Israel and Cyprus, collapsed buildings and buried scores of people in the rubble.
Donate online with the link below or text UCCDISASTER to 41444. Donations may be sent by check made payable to the United Church of Christ, PO BOX 71957 Cleveland, OH 44194. Please note “Turkey and Syria” on the memo line.
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United Church of Christ General Synod 34 - Registration Open! | | | |
Continuing Education Opportunities | |
Click on the logos below for information and registration details for upcoming continuing education and lifelong learning opportunities provided by our partner schools and centers of learning! | |
Thank you for subscribing and welcome to the Streams of Connection newsletter from the Living Water Association, Ohio Northeast, Heartland Conference, United Church of Christ | |
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