Keeping Us Connected in Christ"

Northwest Ohio Association,

United Church of Christ

March 2, 2005

About 100 folks gathered at The Oasis on West Elm, UCC in Lima this past Sunday for the Auglaize Valley Leadership Empowerment Day. It was an afternoon of workshops, worship and fellowship. Thanks to the many leaders and Regional coordinating Team who made it all possible!

This Sunday - March Fest: Hands on Connection – Sandusky Valley Regional Event

Sunday-March 6^th from 2:30 -6 pm at St. John’s-Baseline UCC, 5721 E. Cty. Rd. 58, Bloomville (this is south of Bloomville). Register Today!

Many of our churches will be receiving the special One Great Hour of Sharing offering this Sunday. For additional stories about the missions/ministries this offering supports (including disaster response), check the UCC website (www.ucc.org) and click on One Great Hour of Sharing.

The God is Still Speaking TV Commercials will air this month. Within a three-week period, over $500,000 has been donated for the air time. This is not enough to cover the total cost, but there is faith that enough money will be received. Therefore, watch the UCC website for more details of when the ads will run. And…consider supporting this exciting venture by purchasing a $500 share or a different amount. And yes, because of the TV commercials that aired in Advent, visitors have come through the doors of churches in NWOA!

From Berkey Congregational Church: In the rooting around, we found a set of two brass collection plates (Badly in need of professional buffing and re-shellacking), the accompanying brass flower holders in same condition, and a communion set. The communion set bought in late 1950's is aluminum. Will accommodate over 100. If interested contact Pete Durbin 419-829-4113 or pdurbin1941@earthlink.net.

PALM SUNDAY MULTI-PRAISE BENEFIT CONCERT

On Palm Sunday, March 20, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at Pilgrim Church UCC (1375 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo), four very different praise teams will meet in one place for two reasons:

1) To Praise God & 2) To raise money for Tsunami Relief.

This concert is FREE to the public and ALL ARE WELCOME!!

The teams performing will include:

“The Go Fish Band” from Heritage Christian Church

“The Christian Festival Choir & Orchestra”

“Everfree student ministry” from Bedford Community Church

“Captured” from Pilgrim Church UCC

Please come and join us in lifting Praise to God and helping to provide relief for the many victims of the devastating Tsunami! See you there!!

In conjunction with the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, the UCC Ohio Conference will sponsor a prayer vigil at the Statehouse at noon on April13, to protest a state budget that fails to provide adequately for public schools and children, and that ignores Ohio's long running constitutional crisis in school finance. Below is a flyer and tidbit that can be placed newsletters. This vigil is being planned by members of the Ohio Conference School Finance Study Group, which has been working for five years to explore the moral implications of a school funding system that delivers wonderful educational opportunities to Ohio's middle class and privileged children but denies opportunities for poor children.

Please notify Rev. Milton Ellis <mjellis@oberlin.net> if you will be coming and/or bringing others. We would like to be able to send you the final arrangements and exact Statehouse location. We will also be working with the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign to provide briefing materials to help your group schedule a meeting with your representative and state senator while you are at the Statehouse. Plan to come and bring others. A prayer vigil is a wonderful witness. You don't have to be a policy expert to hold a candle and demonstrate your concern for our children and the future of our state. See flyer in the March Monthly Mailing.

Jan Resseger
Minister for Public Education and Witness, United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries; 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100; 216-736-3711.
<ressegerj@ucc.org>

RECENT EMAIL & MAIL CHANGES and ADDITIONS

If your personal (or church) email address or mailing address has recently changed, let us know!

New email for Rev. John Mummert, Emmanuel UCC, Bluffton rjmummert@earthlink.net

Prayer Requests

The wife of Rev. Arnold W. Meckstroth, St. Marys, OH (Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Meckstroth) 95 years of age, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 27th. Viewing at the Miller Funeral Home, Celina Road, St. Marys, Ohio will be Wednesday March 2, 5:00--8:00 PM. The memorial service is on Thursday, March 3, 11.00 AM. at the First United Church of Christ, West Bremen & St. Marys St., New Knoxville, Ohio with burial at the Pilger Ruhe Cemetery. There will be viewing at the church at 10:00-11:00 on Thursday, also. Cards and condolences may be sent to Rev. Arnold Meckstroth, Otterbein Retirement Center, 11133 Circle Drive, Apt. 133, St.Marys, OH 45885

Deadlines and Meeting Dates

Mission Questionnaires are due NOW. Only those received will be put into the Association Annual Report. Thank you!

Next Wednesday (March 9) is a Timely Topic discussion, “Leaving No One Out.” This will be a look at the impact our language has on the folks with whom we minister. The Rev. Diane Thomas will lead the discussion.

OCWM Thank You Month Response Cards are due by March 10^th to the Association office.

Upcoming

March

6 MARCHFEST-Sandusky Valley Event St. John’s-Baseline, Bloomville

8 Maumee Bay Clergy, 9:00 am

Nu-Vizion Christian Fellowship, Toledo

8 Deans 10-1 pm

9 Timely Topics 10:30 – 1:30 pm

“Leaving No One Out”

9 Stewardship & Caring Team 2 pm

10 Auglaize Valley Regional Clergy

Lima Memorial 11:30 am (Rev. Cynthia Speller, guest)

12 Association Cabinet 9:30 – 2:30 pm

12 Flight School Shiloh UCC, Dayton

15 Lay School 7:15 pm

17 Search Committee 9:30 am

19 Flight School St. John’s, Mansfield

19 Flight School Trinity Methodist, Defiance

25 Office Closed – Good Friday

30 Firelands Clergy 9-11 am

1^st UCC in Sandusky

31 Faith Formation 10 -2 pm