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Northwest Ohio Association
United Church of ChristApril 20, 2005
The whole world waited with anticipation for the white smoke to appear indicating the choosing of the next Roman Catholic Pope. Although in the daily lives of UCC folks, this may not seem to make a difference, in scripture there is a strong mandate that the Christian Church work toward unity through Jesus Christ. Jesus’ prayer in the gospel of John which is central to the UCC (“That they may all be One”), reminds us that as long as there are divisions within Christianity, we are not living as the church to which Jesus called us. The Roman Catholic Pope, as well as leaders of all denominations, can have a real impact toward this unity in Christ. Let us keep alive, the prayer for Christian Unity!
Back Bay Mission Workcamp Opportunity the week of June 19-25,2005. Due to a breakdown in communication this date remains open. Any group interested contact Don Morgan at 228-432-0301, Ext 109.
You are cordially invited to the Lay School of Religion Celebration on May 21, at St. John’s UCC, Bucyrus. Worship will begin at 5:00 pm with the dinner to follow around 6:00 pm. Cost is $7. Register by calling the Northwest Ohio Association office at 419-447-8323 or email office@nwoa.org by May 17th.
12th Annual Congregational Nurse Project Seminar, April 20, 8 am – 3:45pm. This is for parish nurses, social workers and counselors, pastors, lay church leaders. Location is Sylvania UCC. Registration: $65. For more information contact Mary Jane Fulcher at 419-262-1462 or lfulcher@wcnet.org.
Toledo Area Ministries 2005 Spring Assembly – celebrating the adoption of a new structure with a new name (Toledo Area Council of Churches and Toledo Metropolitan Ministries have merged). May 19th at Collingwood Presbyterian Church, Toledo. 7 pm – 8:30 pm. Registration” $5. Contact Toledo Area Council of Churches to register 419-242-7401.
Ecumenical Advocacy Day: Making a Difference for People in Poverty, April 27, 9:30 am – 2 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, 125 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH. Help your elected leaders make tough budget decisions – hear from House and Senate Leadership. Registration: $20. For more information and registration contact the Ohio Council of Churches, 614-885-9590.
Association Annual Meeting Updates and Reminders:
Registration Deadline: April 22
Remember to wear red!
Remember to bring Ohio Conference Disaster Kits
Annual Meeting Forum DescriptionsThe Forums (workshops) below offer opportunities to learn and reflect on how God is calling us into the future. New Forums have been added. People can change their choices of Forums at the Association Meeting.
1. The new Proposed Association Constitution and Administrative Policies.
With a new structure, comes a new constitution. This was mailed to churches in the registration material. It is also available on the Association website (www.nwoa.org) and will be in participant folders. This Forum is a time to ask questions prior to the vote which will be taken in the afternoon. Presenter: the Rev. Sam Buehrer, secretary of the Association and pastor of First UCC, Galion.2. The Association Mission Spending Plan for 2006 (Budget) and new Staffing Recommendation.
The Association Cabinet is recommending that, in light of recent decline in giving to OCWM, the Association call an Association Minister who will assist in seeking part-time staff instead of beginning the search for a full-time Minister of Community which was voted at last year’s Association Meeting. The Forum will provide an opportunity to talk about this recommendation and the Mission Spending Plan for 2006 prior to the vote which will be taken in the afternoon. Presenters: Mr. Larry Clausing, Association Treasurer; Mr. Jim Hutchins, Finance Committee chairperson; Rev. Bill Chidester, Association Vice Moderato; and Mr. Dale Schmidt, Association Moderator.3. The Role of the Local Church in Raising and Nurturing the Call to Ministry.
Where are the young pastors? From where will the next generation of pastors and teachers come? A person’s preparation for ministry does not begin at seminary. It begins in local congregations like ours. Nurturing the call to ministry is an important mission and we will look at some of the ways local churches can strengthen their mission of preparing future leaders for the church.
Presenters: Ms. Barbara Everett, Eden Theological Seminary, and Mr. Joe Rowley, a second level student at Eden Seminary from Wisconsin and co-president of the student body this year.4. What is unique about the United Church of Christ?
Our heritage and polity in the United Church of Christ provide us with a rich foundation and wonderful opportunities to respond to God’s call to the church. Yet there are also challenges. The “God is still speaking” campaign has encouraged churches to be more clear about their identity. In this Forum we will learn about some of those uniquenesses that encourage us to question, think and discern how God is still speaking to us today and calling us into the future. Presenter: Rev. Diane Thomas member of the Faith Formation Team and pastor of Sycamore United Church of Christ.5. To contemporize or not to contemporize, that is the question.
Can your church afford to add contemporary Christian music and format to its worship life? Can it afford not to? How can a church transition from traditional worship to a more contemporary experience? What are some of the risks, benefits, costs, and joys? This Forum will focus on hearing from a panel of clergy who have waded into these waters and their reflections on what worked and didn't work, how they went about transitioning, and what have been the results in taking such a leap of faith. There will be plenty of time for discussion and questions from the audience. Facilitator: The Rev. Scott Johnson pastor of St. John’s UCC, Kenton.6. Maintaining Unity in the midst of Different Perspectives
Our unity is often challenged and sometimes assaulted by our diversity. Sometimes our unity is in the midst of our diversity. How can diversity enrich the unity of our fellowship? We need to remember the United Church of Christ is God's church; we are about God's mission; the Church exists for Mission and Christ is both the head of the church as well as its heart. Presenter: Mr. Lorin Cope, Minister for Conference Relations in the Office of General Ministries, United Church of Christ.7. What is OCWM (Our Church’s Wider Mission) anyway?
OCWM is not a mission project. It is more than that. It is like the trunk of a tree, providing the pathway for life-giving nutrients to reach the thousands of ministries and missions that happen through the United Church of Christ. Come and learn more about this essential element in our existence. Presenters: The Rev. Jane Hillman, member of the Witness and Proclamation Ministry Team, and the Rev. Char Burch, Interim Association Minister8. Inspiring Generosity
How do we move to an attitude of generosity? A video will be shown, sharing the stories of several UCC congregations. This will be followed by an orientation to the new UCC Inspiring Generosity resource which provides Biblical and motivational ideas, information about building a budget, stewardship programs, and worship resources.
Presenter: Mr. Ted Lovejoy, member of the Stewardship & Caring Ministry Team9. Transforming Your Church With a New Vision...What Does That Really Mean?"
Most churches today are exploring, or at least thinking about, how to make whatever changes are needed to halt years of decline and stagnation. Churches are seeking a motivating VISION to lead them to a bright, positive, for their future. This Forum will explore the foundational transformations needed, looking at your church's "core process," normative habits, and typical behaviors. Presenter: The Rev. Barry Bordenkircher, NWOA Minister for Nurture and Development and pastor of Community UCC, Fort Seneca.
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Prayer Requests
Deadlines and Meeting Dates
Registration Deadline for the Annual Meeting – April 22, 2005
Upcoming
April
21 Search Committee 9:30 am
21 Defiance Clergy11:30amDefianeCollege
24 Installation – Rev. Judith Huber
St. John’s UCC, Bluffton 10:30 am
24 Installation – Rev. Martin Stiffler
Emanuel UCC, Upper Sandusky 3:00 pm
27 Finance 7 Budget Committee 7 pm
30th NWOA Annual Meeting, St. John’s UCC, KentonMay
2 Sandusky Valley Clergy 11:30 am
Mugsy’s Restraurant, Upper Sandusky
3 Church and Ministry Team
3 Lay School 7:15 pm
5 Executive Meeting 4-6 pm
10 Maumee Bay Clergy – WTOL Toledo 9:00 am
11 Stewardship & Caring Team 2 pm12 Auglaize Valley South Clergy
14 Flight School Shiloh UCC, Dayton
17 Personnel Committee 9:30 am
17 CUE Committee 9-12 pm
17 Lay School 7:15 pm
18 Women’s Board 10-Noon
18 NWOA Interim Ministers 12:00 noon Calvin UCC,Toledo
19 Search Committee Noon – 3:00 pm
19 Witness & Procl. Team 10-1 pm
21 Finance & Budget Committee 9 am
21 Flight School St. John’s, Mansfield
21 Lay School Banquet –
St. John’s UCC, Bucyrus
25 Firelands Clergy 9:30-11:30 am
Zion-Fireside UCC, Bellevue
26 Sandusky Valley RCT 5 pm
College Hill UCC, Bloomville
26 Faith Formation Team 10 – 2 pm
30 Office Closed
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