The Vine "A weekly Email Update ... Keeping Us Connected in Christ"
Northwest Ohio Association
United Church of ChristMay 25, 2005
Congratulations to our three graduates of the NWOA Lay School. Dianne Ahlefeld and Gary Schiefer (members of St. John’s UCC, Bucyrus), and Ted Hansen (moved from membership at First UCC, Shelby to Michigan) completed the 4-year program. The Rev. Diane Thomas preached at the graduation celebration held at St. John’s UCC, Bucyrus. We encourage more members of our local churches to consider involvement in this exciting program!
Welcome to The Rev. Elaine Bast who has begun as pastor at First UCC, Fremont! Elaine comes to us from the Western Reserve Association.
Outdoor Ministries still has great camps available! The camps below have lots of places or in the case of couple of the adult camps, are in danger of being cancelled for low registration. There are many camps besides the ones listed that have one or two spots available, so don’t hesitate to check the Ohio Conference website www.ocucc.org .
Faith Journey Camp
Confirmation Camp is structured to be part of a local church’s Confirmation Program. Geared toward young people who have completed grades 7-9, this camp will focus on faith as well as the traditional camp activities such as swimming, hiking and sports. Campers should contact their church before attending this camp. Come to our camp, and it will be a wonderful experience in your faith journey!Exploring Our Faith Camp
Explore your faith through learning about the Bible, church history, Christian living and worship. Make friends with young people from other churches across Ohio. The camp is designed to augment the local congregation’s Confirmation Program. Our staff of clergy and lay volunteers seeks to use the outdoor environment creatively to involve campers in experiential learning. Our camp is open to all confirmands in the Ohio Conference.
Lifeguarding Camp NEW This Year !!
Enjoy a week of camp activities while learning the skills needed to become a lifeguard. There is a shortage of certified lifeguards in every community. If you are a strong swimmer, are responsible and like helping others, give this camp a try. We will offer the American Red Cross lifeguard certification at this camp. Join us, learn to help someone, enjoy camp and explore God’s call in your life.Prerequisites for lifeguard camp:
• You must be 15 years old by the first day of class. (no exceptions)
• You must be able to swim 500 yards (20 lengths) continuously, including 200 yards (8 lengths) freestyle/front crawl, 100 yards (4 lengths) breast stroke, and 200 yards (8 lengths) either breast stroke or front crawl.
• You must be able to swim 20 yards, either breaststroke or freestyle/front crawl, then surface dive 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10 pound object from the bottom and return with the object to the starting point.
• Other useful skills: sidestroke, elementary backstroke and treading water.
Pottery and Printmaking: Being Faithful, Being Creative NEW This Year !
Your choice - pottery or printmaking! "Clay" (pottery and hand building) and "ink" (printmaking—etching, monographs, linocuts, and others) – two mediums will be offered. Adults and older teens (16 & older) will use hands, imaginations and spirits to learn new skills and enjoy God’s creativity in us. Campers will use the art studios of UCC-related Defiance College and live in their air-conditioned apartment-style dorms. Field trips to local artists and shared camp-style worship will enhance our creativity. Please contact us for a more detailed description of activities: jbechtel@defiance.edu, cynthias@ocucc.org.Floating with the Spirit--Women's Canoe Camp
If you are a woman who needs a break from the cares of life, if you enjoy being outdoors, if you want to meet interesting women and share your faith, your struggles and your joys—this is the camp for you. If you want to laugh and play and be like a kid again for a few days—this is your camp. Any life experience you have will contribute to the richness of the camp. Women from age 20 to age 60+ have enjoyed this camp. We will canoe downstream on local rivers, camp out in tents, enjoy good food, and share stories around the campfire.Variety Is the Spice . . . Women's Camp
Hey, women — add some variety to your lives! We’ll develop a faith community while canoeing on one day, biking or hiking on a Rails to Trails pathway on a second day, and hiking at camp on a third day. We’ll take a dip in the pool and punctuate our time together with a book discussion and meaningful group times. We’ll stay in the Prettyman Center for Adult Spiritual Nurture.
Rev. Cynthia M. Speller, Minister for Outdoor Ministries
Ohio Conference, United Church of Christ
6161 Busch Blvd., Suite 95
Columbus, Ohio 43229-2547
phone--1-614-885-0722 (in Ohio) 1-800-282-0740 fax--1-614-885-8824
cynthias@ocucc.org--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECENT EMAIL & MAIL CHANGES and ADDITIONS
If your personal (or church) email address or mailing address has recently changed, let us know!
Trinity United Church of Christ, Elliston, Ohio 43432 Phone # 419-862-3417
Corrected email tucc1862@wcnet.org
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Prayer Requests
Pastor Terry Kohanski has been moved to Lake Park Hospital Rehabilitation, Toledo. She is slowly improving. Please keep her in prayer. Also, First UCC, Findlay as they continue without Terry’s presence.
The Rev. John Mummert has resigned as pastor of Emmanual UCC, Bluffton effective August 31.
The Rev. Jeanette Tangeman has announced her retirement from Buckland UCC effective August 1.
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Deadlines and Meeting Dates
Register for the Periodic Support Consultation on June 14 at Northwest Ohio Association office in Tiffin by June 7. Cost $5
Mission Priority Funds Application deadline June 1.
Upcoming -
May26 Sandusky Valley RCT 5 pm
College Hill UCC, Bloomville
26 Faith Formation Team 10 – 2 pm
31 Auglaize Valley RCT 3:30 pm Spencerville
30 Office Closed
June
2 Small Church Cluster
Bloomville UCC 7:30 pm
2 Maumee Bay Clergy – WTOL, Toledo 7:00 pm
4 Association Cabinet 9:30 am
4 Second orientation session for delegates to General Synod 2005
Dublin Community Church 10-3 pm
7 Church and Ministry Team
12 Defiance Clergy Holgate 5:00 pm
13 In Care Interviews 9- noon
14 Deans Meeting 10-1 pm
14 Periodic Support Consultation
NWOA Office 10:00-3:00 pm
14 Executive Committee 4 pm
17 Ohio Conference Professional Day
18 Ohio Conference Gathering
1st Community Church-North Campus
Hilliard, OH
28 Search Committee 9:30 am
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