"The Vine"
An email update.... Keeping Us Connected in Christ"
This newsletter is brought to you by your OCWM Contributions
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Your generous gift makes our ministry possible |
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"Blessings Always"
Rev. Daniel L. Busch
Association Minister Message
May 5, 2021
“NEW SONG.” “Sing to the Lord a new song because God has done wonderful (marvelous) things.” Psalm 98:1. “And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.” 1 John 5:6b. Violence is everywhere. Xenophobia. Racism. Chauvinism. Nationalism. Disrespect. Threats. Power struggles. Family feuds. Political wars. Religious narrow-mindedness/fanaticism. Inflexible attitudes. Unkind words. Blame games. Nation against nation. Intolerant ideology. Misrepresentation of the facts.
Can there be a NEW SONG in the midst of the fears and worries of these times in which we are living? And what is the NEW SONG? Are we so miserable that we miss, neglect or are not “singing” a NEW SONG of the marvelous and wonderful things God has done—in us, for us, with us? How do we “sing” a NEW SONG when we have so much anger and turmoil in our lives?
The Easter Season is almost coming to a close and we continue hearing and singing the Alleluias of the Resurrection message. The Easter message reminds us that it began in darkness and in the tomb. Jesus’ death was the leaving of all the hostility of the world and it became “the victory that conquers the world, our faith.” St. Paul later writes in 1 Corinthians, “Death where is your victory? Death where is your sting?” Faith is the corrective needed to find meaning and purpose in our lives. Faith is collaboration with God, others and the world to have the NEW SONG of resurrection and life. Faith changes destructive behavior and death into communion and fellowship together as God’s beloved.
Each season of the Christian calendar is not an end to itself but a preparation for the next. Lent, the Season of self and community examination leads us to the Easter Season of vitality out of the tombs of all that would be destructive. Easter Season prepares us for the Pentecost time of being filled with God’s Spirit. God’s Spirit gives us fortitude, strength and empowers the faith in us to be witnesses to the mighty acts of God in the world and in our lives “because God has done wonderful (marvelous) things.” It is time to turn away from the violence and destructive behaviors of the world and find the NEW SONG “to love one another.” (John 15:17). BLESSINGS ALWAYS.
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Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister |
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May 9 - Preaching at Lyme Congregational UCC, Bellevue 10:15 am
May 23 - Preaching at First UCC, Shelby 10:00 am & 11:15 am
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Prayer Concerns/Request
Continuing prayer for : Keith Huizenga, Rev. Steve Voelker, Rev. Diane Christopherson, Rev. John Miller, Pastor Dee Schroer, Pastor Bill Kerr, Tim Metz, Jim Huckemeyer, Pastor Tom Kagy, Rev. Marty Stiffler
Captain John H. Cox. We extend our Love and Sympathy to Rev. Kay Mooney Cox and her family. Kay's husband, John of 58 years passed away on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky.
Visitation will be 4-7 pm, Saturday, May 8, 2021 at Hanneman-Chudzinski-Keller Funeral Home, 416 South Arch Street, Fremont, Ohio 43420. There will also be visitation for an hour before the funeral service, which will be at 3 pm, Sunday, May 9, at First United Church of Christ, 802 Prairie St., Marblehead OH 43440. Rev. Dr. Doug Williamson will officiate. All are welcome to attend; masks are required at the church. A smaller group will attend the graveside military service at Trinity Cemetery in Kansas, OH on Monday, May 10.
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NWOA Annual Meeting Follow-Up |
You may have been one of the 104 participants representing 50 NWOA churches or one who volunteered as a presenter during the meeting or one of the very talented tech persons of the Association, who assisted in running this meeting very smoothly. Thank you for joining. It was a great day!
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2021 Disaster Kit Collection THIS Week
Northwest Ohio Association office
Depot Drop Off
May 6 & May 7 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Church World Service Buckets & Hygiene Kits
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***From the NWOA Stewardship and Caring Ministry Team |
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Dear NWOA Faith Family,
The Stewardship and Caring Team is pleased to offer you a series of conversations with Don Hill, a specialist in Stewardship and Fundraising. The team met with Don one Saturday morning in April and from that meeting came 5 separate videos for your consideration. A new video will be posted each week so you might take time to linger over each one (about 15-20 minutes in length). If you wish to follow up with the team with questions or wish to be put in touch with Don for a follow up consultation use the Association email or phone number to send a message and someone will be in contact with you. We hope you enjoyed these “conversations” and that Don’s thoughts prove useful to all as we continue to engage our local church Stewardship practices.
Blessings to All, The NWOA Stewardship and Caring Team
Video # 1 - Post-Pandemic: Is this the time to ask for money? LEARN MORE
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***From the NWOA Witness and Proclamation Ministry Team |
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To the clergy and lay people of the Northwest Ohio Association…..
I am the Chair of the Witness and Proclamation Team, and we have been working to keep you informed through The Vine of ways in which we can witness to the salvation we have in Jesus Christ and proclaim it in the corner of Northwest Ohio where we live and worship. Please note that we are also trying to keep you informed through our Facebook page, and please LIKE / FOLLOW us so that you can stay engaged with us and others.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 New International Version
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
What a “season” this Covid pandemic has imposed upon us and which continues to influence us in ways that we are conscious of, and in other ways which are deeply unconscious or subconscious!! The long-term effects of this “season” will appear and reverberate for decades to come, with many of these revelations being rather shocking to us when they come, I imagine.
God blessing and peace to all,
Pastor Scott Johnson
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***From the Pastoral Relations Working Group
of the NWOA Church and Ministry Team
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Covid Resources
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
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Spiritual Director
Ongoing Covid 19 issues and other daily life processes can get in the way of mental health and happiness. We are in the process of gathering names and email addresses of spiritual directors. The names we have so far are:
Please contact them if you would like to explore what spiritual direction is and how it can help in your day to day life.
If there are other spiritual directors you know who would be interested, please let us know by contacting the Pastoral Relations WG of the Church and Ministry Team by calling the Association office. 419-447-8323
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Anti-Racism & White Privilege
Attached to the end of the newsletter is an additional list of available resources.
We hope that these resources meet the needs of pastors looking for resources to begin conversations regarding anti-racism within their congregations. If you have other ideas for how we may assist in bringing resources / training to you regarding this topic, please contact Nanette Warnecke-Flood at Nanettef@syctelco.com
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Rigatoni Drive Thru Dinner
May 9, 11 am - 1pm (Mother's Day)
St. Paul's UCC, Bellevue
Ticket Sales only by May 6th - Cost $10 each
Call the church for tickets 419-483-6490
Menu: Rigatoni, Salad, Roll & Butter, Cookie
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Special Offerings
November 14- Stewardship Sunday
December 19 - Christmas Fund
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Camp is On!
Camp will be Safe!
Kids need Camp!
After more than a year of isolation and disrupted social schedules, what we need most is time and a safe space to gather and re-connect! Summer camp has always been a great place for everyone to connect on a deeper level with each other and with Christ and for children and youth to do so under the supervision of caring and loving adults. This year we need this more than ever. We know that Covid-19 is still among us and we are taking lots of precautions for all events happening on site and are offering family events, as well as virtual events to meet your family’s needs. For on-site events we are asking participants to monitor their health and avoid risky exposures two weeks prior to camp, pass a screening upon arrival, wear masks consistently, and participate at camp in the same small group of 10 or less for their activities, including eating and sleeping.
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Summer camp worship bulletin insert now available in the two most common sizes! |
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If you have potential campers who are not sure which camp is for them, Faith Adventures is a great place for a 9–11-year-old to start and try it all at camp! check it out. |
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Does your church pay for a portion of the fees for campers in your congregation?
If so, please get your payments to the conference office by May 10th, if possible so that we can enter them and the parents can pay the remaining balance by May 15th.
Please click below for a handy form you can use to accompany the check so that payments are processed appropriately. If you have any questions or concerns about payment timeframe, please contact Executive Administrator, Becca Hoskins at becca@heartlanducc.org or 1-800-282-0740, ext. 2.
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Join in conversations with local church pastors from across all three conferences as they share learnings from the long season of COVID and what those might suggest for emerging ministries going forward. |
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MAY 10-14, 2021 • 23 VOICES • 5 DAYS |
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Frontline Faith and Convergence are teaming up to host an important online summit the week of May 10-14, 2021.
Faith leaders stand at a crossroads in North America today. As people of faith and moral conscious, we can either sit idly by and allow hate, greed, and fear to define us or we can channel the heart of our tradition and speak truth to greedy power, love to angry hate, and hope to unfounded fear. The Courageous Church Summit provides a critical look at where we are now and how we get to a more sustainable and equitable future. Through interviews with influential North American faith leaders in activist-oriented congregations, the Courageous Church Summit equips virtual leaders with the audacity, connections, and practical advice to be active leaders in an emerging movement for change.
FEATURING THESE VOICES (AND MORE)
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WITH CONVERSATION PARTNERS |
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This summit will include daily content available ON DEMAND.
You will log on and watch all or some of the voices for that day – whenever is convenient for you. If you aren’t able to watch the content that day, or if you want to share the content with your congregation or leadership, we encourage you to purchase lifetime access to the Courageous Faith Summit. For only $149, you will get access to all of the interviews and resources for as long as you want them.
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How to Attend General Synod
Meet.ucc will be the hub for all virtual Synod 2021 activities.
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Hope Springs Eternal
- Keeping Campers Safe
- New Security Tool for Your Church
- Water, Water Everywhere
- #LowerTheRiskLowerTheCost
- Slips, Trips and Falls: Common Culprits
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Proclaim God's Word in Worship and Worshipful Ways
Strength our Witness to the Gospel in the World
Discern God's Will for Faithful and Effective Ministry
Manifest Faithful, Wise and Responsible Stewardship of all God's Gifts
Demonstrate Care, Compassion, Forgiveness and Accountability to and for One Another
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Stay Connected
Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister
cell: 419-934-5386 email: dlbusch@nwoa.org
Joan Davidson, Office Manager/Search Coordinator email: joan@nwoa.org
Deb Long, Bookkeeper
email deb@nwoa.org
OFFICE PHONE 419-447-8323
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