February 9, 2006

Rev. Daniel Busch will preach on Sunday, February 19th at St. Peters UCC in Millbury at 10:30 am service.

Mr. Henry Moyer, (serving on our Church and Ministry Team) accepted the honor of  Lay Minister Emeritus at Memorial UCC, Toledo during the month of  January. Congratulations Henry!

Register today!

REVISITING, REVIVING and RENEWING THE CALL  A Day of Reflection and Recommitment for licensed, lay and ordained ministers serving Northwest Ohio Association will take place on Thursday, February 23 from 10 – 4 pm at First UCC in Findlay.  Cost is $10 which will pay for lunch and the speaker, Rev. Bill Barndt. Bill will be sharing astute thoughts on the nature of ministry and ways of keeping alive a joyful sense of adventure. A Service of Re-Commitment  and Holy Communion will conclude the day together. You may register with the flyer in the monthly mailing or by emailing joan@nwoa.org and paying at the door.  To keep faith with the call, ministers of NWOA need spiritual refreshment and encouragement. Come enjoy the day!  

Annual Meeting in the Planning – April 29, 2006

The Annual Meeting of the Northwest Ohio Association will take place on April 29^th at The St. Paul UCC in Wapakoneta.  On this day, 3 persons will be approved for Ordination, the Association business will take place and the Installation of our new Association Minister, The Rev. Daniel Busch will be on the agenda. Please prepare to take place in the Installation by bringing a banner from your church to carry in the processional as the Installation celebration begins.

Congratulations to Rev. Bradley McKibben.  Brad was ordained last Sunday, February 5 at St. John’s UCC in Galion.  Brad is serving at Trinity UCC in Upper Sandusky.

Installation at First UCC, Shelby

Rev. Rich Rader will be installed at First UCC in Shelby on March 12, 2006 at 3:00 pm.

Thank you to all who responded to the need for General Synod Delegates 

Summer Travel to Turkey

A group from Sylvania UCC will be traveling to Turkey this summer from June 16 – 30. The trip will include encounters with the Islamic culture and Christian history as well as the beauty and charm of modern and ancient Turkey. Visits will be made to sites of the earliest Christian communities and the glories of the Byzantine Empire. We will also visit with Global Partner missionaries currently serving in Istanbul. We will stay in good quality, family owned hotels and travel by bus and plane over the two weeks. Travel in Turkey is safe and inexpensive! The total cost of the trip will be between $3,000 and $3,500 per person. This will include hotel costs, almost all meals, entrance fees to museums, and all tips. This price also includes the estimated cost of airfare to Turkey and back to the US, but those reservations will have to be made by individual travelers. To get more information about this opportunity contact Bill Chidester at 419-882-0048 or bill@sylvaniaucc.org.

Please return your CUE Goal with your OCWM Goal sheet to the Northwest Ohio Association.

Auglaize Valley Regional Leadership Empowerment Day – February 26 at The Oasis at West Elm UCC, Lima, OH. See flyer at bottom of this newsletter!

Junior High Youth Event – Sponsored by the NWOA Faith Formation Team “Body Building” will be held at Pilgrim Hills Camp on February 19 and 20^th (President’s Day Weekend). Cost is $55 per person (youth and adults)  Registration Forms were mailed to all churches.  Questions please contact Rev. Joel Fetter at Peace Community in Waldo  740-726-2808 or email dce@peacecommunityucc.org

Sandusky Valley Regional Event – “March Gladness- Celebrating the UCC” with Loren Cope, Minister for Conference Relations, will be speaking.  March 19, 2006

Tom Paton Award will be presented at the Ohio Conference Annual Gathering on June 16 -17 at Heidelberg College.  A Form has been sent to all persons receiving the Monthly mailing.  Please remember if your church is applying for the award to send a letter outlining the things your congregation has done and intends to do with the completed form to the Association Office.  The Witness and Proclamation Ministry Team would like to receive this form and letter by March 1 if at all possible.

Tom Paton award deadline has changed.  Please get them to the office by March 1, 2006.  This award is given out every 2 years at the Ohio Conference Gathering in June. (Make sure you include your letter with application)

Most NWOA Churches have received an Ohio Conference Directory.  We do have extra directories in the office. If you are interested please call Carolyn at 419-447-8323.

Just so you know, this 2005-2006 directory will be the last printed directory. Directory information will be maintained in a central data base maintained by The Ohio Conference.

The United Church of Christ Office Support Staff Network (UCCOSSN) Gathering will take place on April 27-30, 2006 in Cleveland at the Church House. This event will begin on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm with Registration and Ice Cream Social on the 9^th Floor Conference Room of Church House. Friday will include, Breakfast, Welcome, Morning Worship with Cally Rogers-Witte. As the weekend continues, workshops, business meeting, worship with Rev. Make Milligan, Dinner with Sacred Dancing, Photo Session, free time will all be part of the agenda.  Register online by visiting the United Church of Christ’s registration website at:  www.conference.com/eventmanager/profilelogin.  Go enjoy the company of others working in your positions.

News from Rev. Tracy Hughes

Dear Friends and Family,

           By now you may be hearing news that an international human rights group evacuated from Hebron on Wednesday (yesterday) as a result of a second violent attack on their headquarters by a large group of Palestinian youth/young adults. This group (TIPH) evacuated to Jerusalem. There is no information at this time what their future plans are for returning to Hebron. The World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompany methent Program in Palestine and Israel evacuated to Jerusalem last week. The Danish and Swedish personnel were evacuated to their home countries.
             Christian Peacemaker Teams and the International Solidarity Movement/Tel Rumedia Project are the only international peace and human rights groups left on the ground in Hebron. CPT is continuing school patrols, family and community visits and other accompany work in Hebron and the area. We have not received direct threats or attacks related specifically to increase in violent demonstrations that began after inflamatory cartoons of Muhammad were republished in Danish and European newspapers.
             Please keep the Palestinian and Muslim communities around the world in your prayers. Pray for healing from Islamaphobic attacks on their religion as well as an ending to the violent protests of the last weeks. And of course and always, pray for peace rooted in justice for all of the oppressed and suffering of this world.
Peace,  Tracy Hughes

RECENT EMAIL & MAIL CHANGES and ADDITIONS

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

First UCC in Fremont has a new email address:    FirstUCC@woh.rr.com

Prayer Requests

Rev. Richard Weir’s mother, Mae passed away on January 29^th in Massachusetts.  Richard is the pastor at St. Paul UCC in New Bremen. Please remember Richard and his family in your prayers.

Rev. John Tostrick’s mother, Ester passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 7.  Her Funeral will be Monday, Feb. 13^th 10:30 am at St. Paul UCC in New Bremen.  John is the Association Pastor at St. Paul UCC in New Bremen. Prayers to the Tostrick family.

Rev. Jim Latimer’s (Point Place UCC in Toledo) father–in –law passed away in Connecticut.  Please remember the Latimer family.

Rev. Ed Heilman’s wife, Cynthia is recovering from surgery. Prayers to you, Cynthia.

Ed is the Interim Pastor at St. John’s UCC in Elmore

Deadlines and Meeting Dates

We are still taking ANNUAL REPORT FORMS. Send as soon as possible.

The Ordained Clergy Periodic Support Consultation – Feb. 16 at St. John’s UCC, Bluffton

  Registration deadline   Today – Feb. 9  

Revisiting, Reviving and Renewing the Call – Feb. 23 at First UCC, Findlay

   Registration Deadline  - Feb. 17^th  

Upcoming

February

9        Monthly Mailing Deadline

9        Auglaize Valley South Clergy 11:30 am  Lima Hospital

11      Finance and Budget 9:00 am

14      Maumee Bay Clergy 9:30 am Park UCC, Toledo

16      Periodic Support Consultation St. John’s UCC, Bluffton  10-1pm

16      Church Development 2:30-4:30 pm

20      Office Closed President’s Day

19-20  Jr. High Youth Event-Pilgrim Hills

21      Personnel Committee 9:30 am-noon

21      Lay School 7:15 pm

22      Firelands Clergy 9:30 – 11:30 am First UCC, Fremont

23      Revisiting,Reviving and Renewing the Call, First UCC-Findlay 10-4 pm

26      Auglaize Valley Leadership Empowerment Day  2:00 pm

          The Oasis at West, Lima

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Auglaize Valley Region

Leadership Empowerment Day

Sunday, February 26, 2006     2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Oasis on West Elm United Church of Christ,

1606 W. Elm Street, Lima, Ohio

What’s the purpose?

To energize and equip local church leaders with transformational leadership skills and program ideas that will help your congregation to better live and witness the love of God in your own community.

Who’s invited?

Clergy and lay leaders  (both youth and adults) engaged in ministry throughout the life of your church.

Schedule:

2:00 p.m.          Registration - $2.00 per person 

Leadership Empowerment Resource Store opens

2:30 p.m.          Opening Worship & Keynote – Rev. Daniel Busch

3:00 p.m.          Workshops – Session #1

4:15 p.m.          Workshops – Session #2

5:15 p.m.          Table Talk with Supper

6:00 p.m.          Closing Hymn and Benediction

New This Year!     Leadership Empowerment Resource Store

Featuring resources for worship & music, youth ministry, Christian Education, evangelism and more!!

Find the resources you need to empower your congregation for vital ministry! 

The Store will be open throughout the day.

Child Care – Infants Through Primary Age

Childcare will be provided for those needing it for Leadership Empowerment Day.  Reservations must be made February 21^st by calling the Northwest Ohio Association Office at 419-447-8323.

Supper Information

Each church attending is asked to bring a crock pot of beef vegetable, chili or chicken noodle soup and a dessert with them to share.  During supper members of your church will have a chance for guided Table Talk questions to discuss with your church’s participants what next steps your church needs to take to implement what you learned at in your workshops.

Proposed Workshops for Leadership Empowerment Day

First Session Workshops and Leaders

1. Music Wars: How to Bridge the Divide

Leader: Joan McConnell – Organist, Trinity UCC, Tiffin, OH

2. Keeping Christian Unity in a Divided Church

Leader: Rev. Robert Chase – Proclamation, Identity, and Communication Ministry Minister & Team Leader, Publisher United Church News

3. Forum for Church Moderators & Church Council Presidents

Leader: Rev. Daniel Busch – Northwest Ohio Association Minister, Tiffin, OH

4. Leading Contemporary Worship & Song Selection

Leader:  Mitch Reed – Associate Pastor, First UCC, New Knoxville, OH

5. Keeping Them Connected: Ministry to College Students

Leader: Rev. Janice Bechtel – Campus Minister, Defiance College, Defiance, OH

6. Purpose Driven Youth Ministry

Leader: Rev. Ron Shifley – Pastor, Spencerville UCC, Spencerville, OH

7. Multiply Your Ministry: Moving From Sitting to Serving

Leader. Rev. Barry Bordenkircher – E4 Church Coaching (www.e4churchcoaching.com)

Second Session  Workshops & Leaders

1.       Music Wars: How to Bridge the Divide

Leader: Joan McConnell – Organist, Trinity UCC, Tiffin, OH

2.       Keeping Christian Unity in a Divided Church

Leader: Rev. Robert Chase – Proclamation, Identity and Communication Ministry Minister & Team Leader, Publisher United Church News

3.       Hurricane Rebuilding in New Orleans

Leader: Rev. Jeanette Tangeman – Buckland UCC, Buckland, OH

4.       Rotation Model Sunday School: Taking It to the Next Level

Leader: Rev. Ron Shifley – Pastor, Spencerville UCC, Spencerville, OH

5.       Teen Leadership… a Workshop Just For Teens!

Leader: Mitch Reed – Associate Pastor, First UCC, New Knoxville, OH

6.       Forum for Choir Directors: Taking Your Choir to the Next Level

Leader: Jack Hansbrough – Choir Director, St. Paul UCC, New Bremen, OH

7.       The Right Sound & Projection Equipment Makes the Difference

Leaders: Bruce Klucharich & Robert Eiber – Media Integrators Inc., Oakwood Village, OH

The Rev. Robert Chase, Director of Communication, United Church of Christ

                The Rev. Robert Chase of Lakewood, Ohio, is Minister and Team Leader of the Proclamation, Identity and Communication Ministry of the 1.4-million-member United Church of Christ. As such, he is the denomination’s Communications Director. Chase began work at the UCC’s national offices in Cleveland in April 1999.

                Chase is an award-winning video producer with more than 100 productions to his credit.  In his present position, he is responsible for directing and providing vision for the denomination’s efforts in public relations; marketing and education; video, radio and emerging technologies; and advocacy issues such as access to communication technology.  He is publisher of United Church News, the UCC’s national newspaper.  His task is to help others in the United Church of Christ tell stories of how God’s eternal love has intersected with the confounding reality of their lives.

                For 15 years, from 1982-1997, Chase was founder and President of Creative Connections in Media, a full-service communications company based in Rhinebeck, N.Y.  The staff of 10 produced promotional and interpretive resources in a variety of media, primarily for a not-for-profit clientele.  Much of the firm’s work was documentary in style and took him from the northern slope of Alaska to the black townships of South Africa, from rural Chinese villages to the urban favellas of Brazil.  These experiences allowed him to meet some amazing and heroic people and to tell their stories.

                An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Chase served most recently as interim pastor of Palisades (N.Y.) Presbyterian Church. This unique congregation consisted of artists, writers, scientists and entrepreneurs. Gay partners and young families worshiped side by side.  This pastorate combined a deeply spiritual prayer life with a strong sense of mission and a demand for preaching that was both healing and intellectually challenging.

                He also has served as senior pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Teaneck, N.J.; Associate Director of Willowbrook Ministries, an inter-faith ministry in a shopping mall in Wayne, N.J.; and as Youth Minister in Packanack Community Church in Wayne, N.J.

                Chase earned a Master of Divinity Magna cum Laude from New Brunswick (N.J.) Theological Seminary, and a B.A. with honors in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania. He grew up in Port Jefferson, N.Y., graduated fourth in a high school class of 525, is married, with two adult daughters and one grandson.

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