December 15, 2005
Season’s Greetings
Dan,
Carolyn,
Dick & Joan
The
Association’s financial books for 2005 will close Friday, January 6, 2006. Please see that money to be recorded for
2005 is received by this date. It is helpful if checks sent are dated Dec. 31,
2005 so that there is no confusion of intent.
Please return your CUE Goal with your OCWM Goal sheet to the Northwest Ohio Association.
The Auglaize Valley Regional Banner will hang at the the Bethel Congregational Christian of
Arthur in the Defiance area, Dec. 18
and 25th.
Jr. High Youth Association Event! February 19-20 @
Pilgrim Hills
Attention Pastors, Christian Educators, and Youth Leaders!! Some of you may
have wondered what happened to the Fall Jr. High Youth Event like we have had
the last several years. The answer...the Faith Formation team decided to do
something different. We are going to offer a weekend at camp in February.
The theme will be "Body Building". Among the experiences, youth will
have the chance to participate in an action challenge course, community
building activities and a night hike. The cost will be $55 for each person (both
youth and adults). A flyer is included with the December monthly mailing!
Watch for more details. Contact Joel Fetter at Peace Community, Waldo
(740-726-2808) or by e-mail (dce@peacecommunityucc.org)
NWOA Churches Insured With The UCC Insurance Board (UCCIB) will have continued liability coverage after the New Year and there should be no interruption in coverage to local churches. However, if your church is currently with the UCCIB and would like more information or see other quotes; please contact Ben Rupp of the Rupp Insurance Agency at 1-800-282-9258 ext 35.
Chicago
United Eden are CUE
Seminaries and keep us on target as we educate ministers to serve in our
congregations. Each year we have a challenge to help our Seminaries do their
job so we can do our job. Find out more information at http://nwoa.org/cue.htm and download a
bulletin insert or brochure to distribute at church. Or go exploring for
helpful
Association information at http://nwoa.org/ .
The Auglaize Valley Regional Banner will be at Bethel Congregl. Christian of Arthur on Dec. 18 and Dec. 25.
Shirley Mason, Ohio Conference Office Manager will retire effective December 31. We wish Shirley the best in retirement.
The local church year end reports will be mailed the first week of January. Please fill out all forms completely and return to the association office by the deadline indicated on the cover letter. Please remember the timely return of these forms assists us in keeping the most updated information about your local church.
News from Tracy
Hughes below!
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Lenten Lectionary Day(s) Clergy and Church Professionals
January 17-18, 2006 1 day or 2 day event
Sponsored by Ohio Conference Outdoor Ministries
Come plan ahead for
Lent and Easter!
Get a head start on Lent by theologically reviewing lectionary texts on
Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Stay for supper and an overnight retreat to
plan preaching points and worship resources.
Leadership:
David Cleaver-Bartholomew--Eastern Ohio
Association Minister and Biblical Studies Professor
Jack Seville--Ohio Conference Interim
Conference Minister and former Hebrew Professor
January 17 event $16.00 — 9:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m.
January 17-18 event $56.00 — 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 17 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 18
Register by phone or
email—1-800-282-0740 (Registrar); lesleyj@ocucc.org
Identify whether you are registering for the one or two day event. Mail check to: Ohio Conference UCC; 6161
Busch Blvd., #95; Columbus, OH 43224.
Tentative schedule:
Day
One
9:30--10:00--Registration
10:00—Short opening worship or hymn, welcome and
building orientation overview of schedule, beverage service
10:20—Intro to David Cleaver-Bartholomew and
additional leadership
Get to work!
11:45—Break & hoppers to lunch
12:00—lunch
1:00—Gathering song & Get back to work!
3:00—break (time for a short walk or make
connections with colleagues)
3:20—Get back to work!
5:30—Closing Hymn and good bye to 1 day group.
5:45—hoppers for dinner for overnighters
6:00—dinner
7:00—preaching the texts; liturgical ideas—text by
text.
9:00—R&R & Snacks
Day
Two
7:45—hoppers
8:00—Breakfast
8:45--preaching the texts; liturgical ideas—text by
text.
10:00—sharing of ideas and resources
11:30—closing devotion
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RECENT EMAIL & MAIL CHANGES and ADDITIONS
If your personal (or church) email address or mailing
address has recently changed, let us know!
Henry Moyer – NWOA Church
and Ministry Team
New email address hfmoyer@verizon.net
Peni Gray, chair of the
Witness and Proclamation Team
New email address penigx1@netzero.com
Prayer Requests
Susan Bishop's father,
Floyd Jackson, died Friday Dec. 2. Susan is the wife of Rev. Mark Bishop. Please remember Mark, Susan and family
during this holiday season.
The Rev. Carl F. Hanser, 71, passed away on Dec. 9,
2005 at the Edgewood Manor Hopsice, Westerville, OH. Carl served UCC Congregations in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and
Gomer UCC from 1987-1993. Carl is survived by his wife Grace and 3 sons, Kirk
(Laura), Kyle (Wendy), Kent. Grace
resides at 33 Jason Drive, Glen Carbon, ILL
62034. Please remember Carl’s
family at this time of loss.
Deadlines and Meeting Dates
Upcoming
December
20 Lay School 7:15 pm
21 Nominating Committee 10 -12 pm
26- 30 Office Closed – Christmas
January – 2006
3 Church and Ministry
5 Auglaize Valley Clergy 11:30 am St. John’s UCC, Bluffton
5 Auglaize Valley RCT 1:30 pm
5 Small Church Cluster 7:30 pm St. John’s UCC, Tiffin
6 Monthly
Mailing Deadline
6 NWOA
BOOKS CLOSING
8 Defiance Clergy Epiphany Party Jane Hillman eating at 5:30 pm, come anytime after 5.
9 Deans Meeting NWOA 10:00 am
9 Sandusky Valley Clergy Gathering 11:30 am Pour House, Upper Sandusky
11 Timely Topics 10:30 – 1:30 pm
11 Maumee Bay Clergy 9:30 am St. John’s UCC, Genoa
12 Faith
Formation 10 -2 pm
13 Epiphany
Party Firelands Clergy Sandusky Yacht Club
15-16 Auglaize Valley Winterfest
16 Office
Closed Martin Luther King Day
19 Church Development Team 10-2pm
19 Witness and Proclamation Team10-1pm
21 NWOA Cabinet 9:30 – 2 pm
23-24 Ohio Ministries Convocation
25 Lakeshore Regional Clergy 11-1 pm Holiday Inn - Fremont
26 Sandusky Valley RCT 5 pm St. John’s UCC, Bucyrus
News from Tracy
Hughes 12-11-05
Hello Friends and Family,
As a result of the crisis with the CPT men (Jim, Harmeet, Tom and Norman) being held in Iraq I have a major change to my winter schedule.
I had plans to leave for the West Bank town of Hebron on January 9, 2006. However, I am leaving for Amman, Jordan on Tuesday, December 21. I will be in Amman for a few days and then off to Hebron.
I am also assisting my siblings in packing up my mom and moving her-possibly as early as this Thursday. This is stressful while at the same time a blessing for my family because we care participate more fully in her life and health care.
Please continue praying for the situations in Iraq. As you pray for the 4 CPT men to be safely and quickly released also pray for the men who took them, remembering they too are children of God and their lives are as valuable as all people in this world. Pray for the US-led occupation of Iraq to end and for sure some form of reduction of violence in Iraq. Pray for our military, that they may not need to use lethal force and that they will soon be home with their families. Pray for all Iraqi people that their reality of chaos, fear, death and violence of occupation, war and insurgent violence will end soon. Also, that the Iraqi people and their land can begin to heal from all of this destruction.
Peace, Tracy
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