Growing in Our Vocation as Disciples of Jesus Christ:
“Daring to Listen to God’s Unfolding Story Through Others”
“Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.  - Matthew 11:3-5
Rev. Dave Long-Higgins
Conference Minister
Dear Friends in Christ,
                  
   I have been thinking a great deal about the stories we are willing to hear and how those stories shape us as individuals and as communities local and global.  Indeed, there is much conversation these days about whose stories should be heard and who should tell them.  Probably that is because the stories we engage shape and form the systems of life we design and inhabit.  It seems to me that a key question for us as followers of Jesus Christ revolves around our willingness to hear and tell stories in ways that uncover more and more of God’s unfolding story of healing and the formation of the beloved community. A related question has to do with how we are engaging the Jesus’ story and in what way is it shaping our heads and our hearts and our lives?
Re-imaging ministry is a very contemporary topic as we ponder the future of our churches and The Church.  Some of our members have begun great efforts in this area, and se hope to share stories of these ventures in the future.

I want to take this opportunity to share how the church that I attended as a youth in Canton, Ohio has re-imagined its ministry and created stability for its future.
Tom Hathaway
Conference Moderator
Jill Frey
Executive Director of Outdoor Ministries
Do you want to change the world? If you said “yes,” send one person to summer camp!

A strong community is the number one thing that I believe makes our world work and it is sorely lacking. Prior to the pandemic we were headed in this direction of high disconnectedness and the physical distancing requirement of Covid really heightened it.

Camp is all about community and connections! It is a “learning lab” for the world. And this year, kids can refer a friend and both camper and friend will get a $25 credit each toward camp fees. It’s simple, when the friend registers for camp they just need to share the name of the friend who referred them and we’ll give each camper a $25 credit.


Want to know more about the value of camp, how you can support Templed Hills, and how to set up an opportunity for one of our camp staff to come and talk with your congregation or group about camp? Click the button below more information.

Happy Camping!
Communications Position Opening
Announcing an opening for an innovative, remote, part-time shared Director of Communications position for the Indiana-Kentucky and Heartland (Ohio, West Virginia, and Northern Kentucky) Conferences of the United Church of Christ. This position will communicate the vision, mission, ministries, and values of these organizations with member churches and partners. Each Conference has its own needs in this shared position that are outlined in the job description found by clicking on the link below:

Position: Part-time Director of Communications for Heartland and Indiana-
Kentucky Conferences of the United Church of Christ
Status: 20 hours, non-exempt, predominantly remote
Desired Start Date: February 22, 2022
Compensation:  $20,800 annually
Location:  Midwest preferred due to occasional need to travel
Email Resume and samples of past work to: jobapplication@ikcucc.org
Resumes due by: January 31, 2022
Part Time Chaplain Position Opening
Resumes may be sent to Rev. Becky King
by email at beking@uchinc.org or by mail:
Trinity Community at Beavercreek
3218 Indian Ripple Road
Beavercreek, Ohio 45440

Questions? Contact Rev. Becky King by phone at 937-426-8481 ext 5212
Re-imagining for Tomorrow:
Building the Future for Our Youth

On February 7-8th, the national setting will offer a virtual conference for 100 youth ministers and leaders to reimagine youth ministry, National Youth Event and other events for the future. Registration can be completed here: https://cvent.me/Vy8PPK  
 
Additionally, we are asking anyone who has regular contact with youth in the United Church of Christ to complete a short survey to provide additional insight to the Faith INFO team and national setting. You may access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Youth_Min2022   Your responses and presence are greatly appreciated.

For questions or additional information please reach out to Rev. Trayce Potter at pottert@ucc.org.
Registration is free for all to attend!

Register By:
January 26, 2022 - 11:59 PM

Health and Human Service Sunday
January 30,2022
(Or whatever Sunday works most
appropriately for your congregation.)
Liturgical Elements and Prayers for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
CHHSM, in partnership with the United Church of Christ, is pleased to provide worship resources to use for your congregation’s celebration of Health and Human Service Sunday. 
ATTN: Clergy, Faith Formation and Youth Leaders! 
Share It! 
Storytelling that Intersects Our Stories with the Faith Story
The 2022 Online Faith Formation Conference

Gather for a fun, conversational (but structured!) workshop with the Rev. Rebecca Anderson, generating ideas and getting some tools in the mix to craft your own stories. Dream about what storytelling could do in your own setting. Consider what stories have been missing and how to invite them. Leave with ideas you can put to work in your community right away, and some inspiration for even bigger plans down the road.
 
What’s in it for you? Well: we’re empowered by telling our own stories, rather than consuming the stories others create about us. We find out we’re not alone when we hear about the lives of others. We learn about the on-going work of God in the world when we hear and tell stories from the Body of Christ. 
Dayton Disaster Relief is on pause due to the Omicron Variant.
Stay tuned for more details!
Western Kentucky Tornado Relief 
Dear UCC brothers and sisters: this information is from the Kentucky Council of Churches, who met Tuesday, Dec. 14 with Gov. Andrew Beshear, and received this update directly from him. If YOU would like to help the families of western Kentucky who were affected by the recent horrible storms and tornados, here is the BEST WAY to do so! 

The Governor said there is plenty of food, clothing, etc. coming in; the great need NOW is to help affected families with financial donations ; USE THIS LINK to help quickly and directly: