An email update.... Keeping Us Connected in Christ"
This newsletter is brought to you by your OCWM Contributions
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NWOA Disaster Kit Challenge - BACK
See Detail below!
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"Blessings Always"
Rev. Daniel L. Busch
Association Minister Message
May 3, 2023
TROUBLED. Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be TROUBLED. Believe in God, believe also in me.” The great African-American spiritual song, “Nobody knows the TROUBLE I’ve had/seen/been through” originated during the time of slavery and first was published in 1867. Sorrow, TROUBLE, trials, ups and downs express the pain and grief they encountered. But in spite of all that seems to demean their lives, there was a faith in God that they were in God’s care. The slaves could sing “Glory hallelujah” in times of joys and sorrow with deep conviction that God had not abandoned them, even in the worst of situations.
Many people are facing TROUBLED times today: financially, unhealthy physical conditions, societal separation, hunger, and crisis of faith. Anger and just plain meanness dominate many situations. There are TROUBLES maintaining saneness, caring for our bodies, and growing in spiritual endeavors. Love is missing. The passage from John 14 points us to the last days of Jesus’ life and the confusion of the disciples to face His death. Jesus informs the betrayer to do what he has to do. The disciples are instructed that they would be entrusted with carrying on Jesus’ mission and they were TROUBLED. Jesus is telling them that He will be coming back to get them after He leaves them first. Jesus reminds them that they should know the way that is before them, because He showed them “the way, the truth and the life” by His actions. Yet fear, doubt, and uncertainty blinded them to accept their calling at that moment to be the messengers of Jesus’ “way, truth, and the life.”
Like the disciples, there are so many TROUBLES that distract us from focusing on that which brings grace and hope to living life with abundant blessings. TROUBLES inhibit us from singing the “Glory Hallelujah” of being a beloved child of God. The good news is found in Jesus who knows our TROUBLES because He faced them Himself, and TROUBLES could not destroy Him. We are resurrection people because God is “Making All Things New” (Annual Meeting theme) in us and through us. TROUBLES do not and cannot have the last word, for Jesus shows us the way, the truth and the life that invites us and calls us to be God’s messengers to bless one another. “Glory Hallelujah.” BLESSINGS ALWAYS.
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Travel with Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister |
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May 7 - Preaching at Zion UCC-Fireside, Bellevue 10:00 am
May 7 - Installation at St. Paul UCC, Oak Harbor 3:00 pm
May 14 - Organist at Trinity UCC, Tiffin with Ordination Anniversary Celebration 10:30 am
May 28 - Preaching at St. Paul UCC, New Bremen 10:15 am
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Celebration of Christian Ministry for Rev. Fred Zimmerman |
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Farewell Celebration
The congregation at St. Paul UCC, New Bremen will celebrate the ministry of Rev. Rebecca Erb Strang on her last Sunday as Pastor on May 21, 2023 during the morning worship. Ordained in 1994, Becky has served three parishes: one in Texas and two in Ohio. Morning worship at 10:15 am with a reception/celebration to follow.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Ordination Anniversary Celebration
Rev. Louis (Rick) Dorsch will be honored for his 50th Ordination Anniversary by the congregation at Trinity UCC, Tiffin on Sunday, May 14 during the morning worship beginning at 10:30 am.
Rev. John Mummert will be honored for his 50th Ordination Anniversary by the congregation at Salem UCC, Kenton on Sunday, June 4 during the morning worship beginning at 10:30 am.
Rev. Gale Gebhart will be honored for his 35th Ordination Anniversary by the congregation at St. Paul UCC, Wapakoneta on Sunday, June 11 during the morning worship beginning at 10:15 am.
Rev. Jeanette Tangeman will be honored for her 25th Ordination Anniversary by the congregation at St. Paul's UCC, St. Marys on Sunday, June 18 during the morning worship beginning at 10:00 am
Church Anniversary Celebration
On Sunday June 25th First UCC, Marblehead will celebrate their 150th Church Anniversary at 10:30 am during morning worship.
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Prayer Concerns/Request
Continuing prayer for: Dee Schroer, Rev. Marty Stiffler, Rev. Daniel Johnson, Rev. Bob Jencks, Rev. Jim Garner, Rev. Michael Darling, Rev. Hafidha Saadiqah, Rev. Don Corbin, Donna & Rev. Rick Dorsch, Pastor Bill Kerr, Rev. Adrian Sunday, Marcy Miller, Carolyn George, Rev. Randall Forester, Don Clark, Rev. Gale Gebhart
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THE CHALLENGE IS ON
2023 buckets & hygiene kits
collected with in the
Heartland Conference
Collected at the Annual Meeting
buckets, hygiene kits & school kits
totaling 194 kits
But Wait - Still Collecting through September
NWOA Offering Assistance
For every bucket filled by your church,
the NWOA Disaster Gift Account will pay you to fill another bucket,
matching your cost up to $75 per bucket.
Hygiene Kits will be included with this matching cost up to $12 per kit.
Request extra funds by contacting NWOA Office
@ 419-447-8323
or by emailing joan@nwoa.org
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Church World Service (CWS)
Disaster Kit Collection
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Deliver to the NWOA Office, 416 Wentz Street, Tiffin
or to Templed Hills Camp Depot
Call the Association Office to arrange delivery
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"Don't forget to do good and share with those in need". Hebrews 13:16 |
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CWS Emergency
Cleanup Buckets
You can help make the road to recovery easier with a CWS Bucket filled with essential home recovery supplies.
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CWS Hygiene Kits
You can make sure that someone has the hygiene supplies they need to start their day out right.
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CWS School Kits
You can give children the classroom essentials they need to learn, dream big and reach for the stars.
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CWS believes that miracles happen every day because of our generous donors and volunteers. When you share a CWS Kit, you show a tremendous amount of love and support to our neighbors around the world, and you help to transform lives. |
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THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
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2023 OCWM Giving Goal - $285,000
(Goal approved at the 59th Annual Meeting)
OCWM Offerings through April - $57,768
CHURCH TREASURER
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Church News, pictures, events, etc.....
Summit to office@nwoa.org by Tuesday 9:00 am.
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***From the NWOA Stewardship and Generosity Ministry Team |
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Your Stewardship and Generosity Team is gathering stories of the many ways that churches make real their practices of Stewardship and Generosity. Read below current mission happenings.
Send your story to
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If you want to jump start your thinking about Stewardship and Generosity, our 5 videos collection of topics covered with noted consultant Don Hill is available. As you click on the resource page, a short synopsis of each video is available. Can be used effectively in small group settings or you can take a segment for use in worship.
Permission is granted for the churches of Northwest Ohio Association to use the series as they wish with proper credit given."
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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:
To donate to Ukraine:
Resources from the Heartland Conference
Conference Stewardship Newsletter
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Year-Round Stewardship Resource |
Promoting generosity throughout the year is the best way to teach giving and generate financial support for your ministry and mission. "Because of You" is a year-round stewardship resource with practical tools, sermon and worship guides, and faith formation activities for all ages. Learn more at uccresources.com.
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Andrew Warner in the Heartbeat of Generosity newsletter makes a convincing case for knowing the importance of where to start when considering doing things in a different way. With Stewardship you must think beyond the "way we have always done it". Of course, the exception to that is if you have more than enough money, people and energy for ministry because everything is going so well. If the answer is yes, we need you and your church to join our team to teach other churches how to do it. If not, then take time, right now, to do some Googling.
If you do a search engine look, you will find countless hits on "Year Round Stewardship Programs". I have always used a UCC resource like the one highlighted above as a starting point. All have some common themes and common "how to do it" strategies. But key to them all, is having a plan. The old saying of "if you don't know where you are going, any old road will get you there" is never more applicable than when considering Stewardship. And a major challenge for churches is the only road we travel on gets us decreasing dollars, people and energy for ministry and mission because we don't really know where we are going, only where we have been. (Remember, if your budget is still the same and your dollars coming in is still the same, while many consider that a victory, the reality is you are falling behind in the longer run).
So, begin to THINK, and PLAN, and EXECUTE the plan, tweaking it as you go. When you review the various strategies out there, match the one with the special character of your congregation in mind or combine different parts from each one. Find some advocates in the church to work with you so you are not alone. And finally, make this as an important part of your work, whether volunteer, or paid, as anything else you do.
Scripture reminds us that we can't receive if we don't ask. So, let's dedicate ourselves to being clear about what we are asking of one another.
Do it often, do it regularly, and do it faithfully.
The Stewardship and Generosity Team stands ready to be of aid and assistance.
Rev. Dave Plant, chair of NWOA Stewardship and Generosity Team.
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Setting Resolutions:
The Monkey or the Pedestal
Author Rev. Andrew Warner
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Every January, I set personal and work goals. I love this process of thinking about what I accomplished in the past year, what I hope to do in the year ahead, and what concrete steps can get me there. I also appreciate that the beginning of Lent, the start of a new program year, and many other points throughout the year let me restate my goals!
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***From the NWOA Witness and Proclamation Ministry Team |
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Stay informed through Facebook page
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SoLight Design
by Alice
Annual Meeting Highlight
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Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16).
Dear friends in Christ and fellow “light-bringers” to the world
It is my great pleasure to bring you good news of how we can help to put lights on stands that will give light to everyone around it as our Lord Jesus indicated in His “Sermon on the Mount.” Only these lights are not just for homes as Jesus mentioned. These lights are for children who have been injured in body, mind, and in spirit because of the war in Ukraine and where their current “home” is a hospital. These are lights that bring peace in the midst of terror when night falls and there is no electricity to bring these children and the staff comfort in the midst of all the trauma that they have faced and continue to face.
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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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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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Next Class
"Preaching"
September 2023
(6:30 pm - 9:00 pm via Zoom)
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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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Climate Justice at Templed Hills!
This year at Templed Hills, we are partnering with our siblings
across the denomination to take action for Climate Justice!
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We want all of our campers to learn about creation and what they can do to help protect it. We will also be participating in the UCC Climate Hope Justice postcard initiative.
Thanks to a grant from the national setting of the UCC, we have an opening for a Climate Justice Fellow this summer.
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Do you know of a young person, 18 or older, who would like to spend part of their summer at Templed Hills making a difference in the Global Climate Crisis? Click here for a flyer to share, or contact Jill Frey at jill@heartlanducc.org or 740-901-0734.
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The Heartland Conference Veterans Network
Offers Memorial Day Liturgies!
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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CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN OHIO
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
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We are pleased to announce that this year's Adult Conference will welcome members from The Heartland Conference United Church of Christ to join us in the week's festivities. Our theme is "All Things in Common." Throughout our week together, we will have several opportunities to find the "things in common" with our honored guests. The conference is held at Northwest Christian Church in Columbus, Ohio, from June 19 – June 23, 2023. The Vesper Speaker for the evenings will be the retired UCC minister, Rev Loey Powell, and Disciples of Christ's Rev. Dr. Donald Gillett, II will be our Bible Lecturer for the weekdays. Early in the week, DOC's Regional Pastor, Allen Harris, and UCC's Rev. David Long-Higgins will have a forum discussing the UCC/DOC Ecumenical Partnership. Later in the week, we will get another chance to find our "things in common" with the LGBTQ community when DOC's Regional Elder, Rev Judy Alston, leads a forum titled "We are One." READ MORE
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Save the Date - 2023 Interim Training |
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United Church of Christ General Synod 34 - Registration Open! |
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Dear Friends of the Heartland Conference,
As May is Mental Health Month, members of the Heartland Conference Mental Health and Accessibility Network are offering their voices and experience to raise awareness regarding a variety of mental health concerns. Each Wednesday their voices will be shared via short videos that you can share with your congregations. Mental health concerns are among the leading health concerns in our country and the world. I hope you will be inspired by their testimony and that your church community will consider how it might be an oasis of welcome, inspiration, support, and engagement (WISE). Please click on the video below to hear their words of wisdom and experience.
Blessings on the WISE journey,
Pastor Dave
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May is Strengthen the Church Month |
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The Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. The Heartland Conference and the National setting equally share the gifts given by members and friends through their local congregations.
Your generosity to Strengthen the Church (STC) provides the funds that allow The Heartland Conference to Support the development our Ministry Networks and support our General Synod Delegates.
In the National setting funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations. By your generosity to this offering, you build up the Body of Christ.
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Mission Moments
Use Mission Moments every week to tell a story about your congregation’s connection with the wider church. Each issue – which is designed to be inserted with your newsletter or Sunday worship bulletin – is an effective way to inform your members about what they make possible through their gifts to Our Church’s Wider Mission.
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Are you looking for a way to restore your soul in these difficult times? The Academy for Spiritual Formation has transformed my life. I am recommending to you an amazing opportunity this coming September 17-22, 2023 at the St. Joseph’s Retreat Center in Tipton, IN.
I am excited about this September 5-Day Academy because it features two incredible “faculty”, who will be leading the curriculum sessions on the theme Cultivating Compassion. Having an opportunity to spend one-on-one time with Dwight Judy and Kwasi Kena is something you will cherish the rest of your life.
Please do take a close look at this opportunity and consider investing 5 days in your life in Christ. I think you’ll be blessed beyond anything you could ever ask or think.
My email address is below. I will be happy to tell you in more detail what you might expect. The Academy for Spiritual Formation is an affirming and inclusive, sacred time and space for clergy and laity who hunger for a deep spiritual experience in a diverse, ecumenical, and intentional community.
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Your generous gift makes our ministry possible |
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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
Fax # eliminated.
Send documents to office@nwoa.org
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