The Vine - Communication from the Northwest Ohio Association UCC

Sept. 20, 2006

Office Hours at Northwest Association office 8 – 4 pm.

Email Address for Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister dlbusch@nwoa.org

Rev. Daniel Busch will preach at St. John’s UCC, Holgate this Sunday, September 24th at 10:15 am.

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for the family of Rev. Reuben Bebler. Rev. Bebler passed away on Monday at the Lutheran Home in Napoleon. Reuben was 82 years old. Funeral Visitation will be today - September 20th

2-4 and 6-8 at Snyder-Wesche Funeral Home in Napoleon, Ohio. (On Scott Street which is State Route 108)

The Funeral service will take place at St. John's UCC - I 946 St. Rt. 108, Holgate on Thursday - September 21st at 11 am in the morning. The committal service will follow in the church cemetery and a luncheon will be held.

All clergy on invited to robe (white stoles) and process in. Please call Rev. Jane Hillman (41-264-4401) and let her know you are coming, so that seats may be reserved. Upon arrival, please meet in the church office.

Cards & notes can be sent to Reuben's wife Joyce:

Joyce Bebler, Alpine Village #314, 1032 S. Perry Street, Napoleon, OH 43545 Telephone: 419-599-0614

Our prayers go out to Mrs. Jean Hunt, wife of Rev. David Hunt- Retired. Jean had a kidney transplant.

Small Church Cluster Sponsoring a Work Trip to Louisiana (Contact Roy Howell by Friday’s deadline)

The Small Church Cluster is sponsoring a work trip to Louisiana on October 28 to November 5, 2006 to participate in the on-going restoration efforts being coordinated by the South Central Conference.

The group will be housed at Little Farm UCC in River Rouge. Their skills will be used out in the neighborhood. Work assignments will be determined on a daily basis, according to specific needs at the time; therefore, flexibility will be the most important component of the group’s experience.

Even now, months after Katrina, the needs of the people are great. Some of you have asked how you can help with this outreach. The answer is twofold. First, the group asks for your prayers – for them as individuals and as a group, and for those in the devastated area, especially those who will touch and change their lives. Secondly, your financial donations are encouraged and appreciated. You may wish to sponsor a volunteer by helping to pay their expense for the week (food, gas money, insurance and $50 per person to stay at the church) or perhaps you would like to contribute toward the purchase of supplies the group will need for their work. They will need $200 a person. Donations can be sent to Ms. Luanne Newlove, PO Box 43, Bloomville, OH 44818.

Work groups have been cautioned not to bring goods into the area to order to avoid storage problems and the need to deal with unusable items. They are encouraged to purchase supplies, including food for the group’s meals, in New Orleans to help boost the local economy. Any donations leftover at the end of the week will be used to purchase gift cards for needy residents or for the church to purchase more tools and supplies.

If you would like to join this mission work group, please contact Rev. Roy Howell, Trinity UCC, McCutchenville, 419-981-5808. There are openings still available. (deadline Sept. 22, 2006)

Pastor Adrian Sunday – In-Care Student will be ordained on October 22 beginning at 3:00 pm at Calvin UCC in Toledo. All are welcome!

Professional Event - Monday, October 16, 2006

(register to meet your Periodic Review commitment)

(for licensed, lay and ordained ministers)- Mark Your Calendars and plan to attend)

Leader: Dr. David Greenhaw, President, Eden Theological Seminary

Place: St. Francis Spirituality Center, Tiffin, Ohio

9:00 a.m. Registration 9:30 a.m. Opening Worship

10:00 am - Noon, 1:00. - 3:00 p.m. Affirmation of Ministry Issues lead by Dr. Greenhaw.

A time of spiritual refreshment and encouragement for ministry.

Lunch: Noon-1:00 p.m. Closing Worship (Holy Communion) 3:15-3:45 p.m.

Sponsored by Faith Formation Team Cost: $20.00. registration attached

Lakeshore Regional Gathering Fall 2006 “Seeking Healing” Sunday, Oct. 15^th, St. John’s UCC, Elmore 2-5 pm. Cost $5 Click here for registration.

Auglaize Valley Regional Gathering “Kinderfest 2006” November 4, St. Paul’s UCC-New Bremen

$2 per child with a $6 per family maximum cost 9:30 – 10:00 am registration Event 10 – 1 pm

Click here for registration

Jeff Patton Coming to Ft. Seneca

Nationally-known author, speaker, and teacher JEFF PATTON is coming to Ft. Seneca Community Church on Saturday, Oct. 21. Jeff is an expert on prayer, spiritual formation, small groups, and leadership development. A partner with Easum-Bandy & Associates, Jeff is in demand across the U.S. for his powerful teaching and coaching. This will be a GREAT event for church staff, prayer teams, or any church leaders and teachers. Click here for more information: flyer or contact Pastor Barry Bordenkircher

Winter Break All-Niter January 14, 2007 10 pm – 7:00 am Celina YMCA, Celina, OH

A Junior & Senior High Youth Event in the Auglaize Valley Region, UCC Keynote Speaker, Rev. Darryl Kistler, Heidelberg College Campus Minister

The Celebration begins for The United Church of Christ 50^thAnniversary

50^th Anniversary Kick-off Celebration – Auglaize Valley Region

On Sunday - November 5, 2006 from 5 – 7:30 pm at Spencerville UCC, 102 Wisher Drive, Spencerville, OH

Featuring: worship, nationwide web streaming event and refreshments

ATTENTION Church Quilters & Sewing Groups

MEET NEW ORLEANS TEXTILE ARTIST CELY PEDESCLEAUX

Learn how she and the quilters of Beecher Memorial UCC in the Katrina-devastated Ninth Ward have worked to bring hope to their neighborhood even as they face the challenge of rebuilding their own facility.

      After hearing their pastor’s stories about her work group experience in New Orleans, the Evangelism & Outreach Board at First Congregational UCC, Sandusky, decided to bring this locally well-known New Orleans artist to Northwest Ohio. Through her interaction with the quilters and sewers in our area, they hope to increase awareness of the post-Katrina situation as it really is, and to help raise funds to rebuild her church. Beecher Memorial UCC is one of two UCC churches that had to be closed after Katrina hit.
     The Beecher name is an important one in the history of First Congregational. Not only was Sandusky named in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, but a member of the Beecher family, Lucas Beecher, an abolitionist and attorney, belonged to the church. He was know for fiercely defending the runaway slaves in court.
      In addition to talking about her Katrina experiences, Cely looks forward to talking about Civil War quilts and the secret Underground Railroad codes sewn into some of them.   She will arrive Sunday, November 12th and leave the afternoon of Saturday, November 18th. If you would like her to come and talk to your group, or are willing to plan an event for the quilters in your community, please contact Rev. Lenore Kure at 419-625-8105.

Update your web page
Would you like to update your church webpage, ask webinfo@nwoa.org for help. Visit www.nwoa.org for more Association information.

Monthly Mailing

The monthly mailing will be sent over the email by request only. If you would like to receive the mailing by email please contact Joan Davidson at joan@nwoa.org.

Help us meet our OCWM Goal for 2006

Goal for 2006 - $ 495,000 (as of Aug 06) $ 245,093

The SARA Annual Meeting Sunday, October 22, 2006 3:00 P.M.

St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church, United Church of Christ, 59 East Mound Street, Columbus, OH 43215 Members of the Board are cordially invited to attend worship at St. John’s at 10:30 a.m. where Jean Szilagyi will give the Children’s Sermon. Stephen will follow-up with a SARA presentation to the church at their Annual Sauerkraut Luncheon in Fellowship Hall. St. John’s has many excellent cooks and the sauerkraut meal is a long–standing tradition. Ralph & Sue and Joyce Decker are members at St. John’s and hope that you will join them for this event. St. John’s is located in downtown Columbus just off Interstate I 70. Please contact Joyce Decker at 1-800-282-0740 or joyced@ocucc.org if you have any questions or need directions. Also please let her know how many people to expect for the luncheon.

Diversity Week programs at Heidelberg College
The slate of presentations for Diversity Week 2006, scheduled for Sept. 24-29, promises to be unique, engaging, timely – and of course, diverse. See Attachment

Defiance College Presents “The Annual Olds Lecture & Continuing Education Day” October 30, 2006

Roundtable on Katrina 7 pm, at Schomburg Auditorium, Defiance College Featuring Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian, close friend and former associate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Founder of “Churches Supporting Churches” – Rev. Dwight Webster, Pastor, Christian Unity Baptist Church, New Orleans – Rev. Charles Duplessis, Pastor Mt. Nebo Baptist Church, from the lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans – Thom Butler, Mercury Media, Artist, Musician, Videographer This event will be followed at 9 pm by Free Pizza & drinks and Stuent Discussion on the Topic: “How Do We Build a “Student Katrina Movement” for Justice & Fairness in New Orleans?” this Event is Free and Open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Gary Percesepe, McMaster Scholl for Advancing Humanity 419-783-2553 or Dr. Marian R. Plant, Schauffler Chair of Christian Education 419-783-2338

Fall Rally for the Templed Hills Women’s Cluster is October 19, 2006 at Windfall Emanuel UCC, 1781 Biddle Road, Galion, OH 44833. Registration is 9:30 am Gathering begins 10:00 am Cost $5.00 Register by calling St. John’s UCC, Bucyrus at 419-562-8271.

Outdoor Ministry Work Weekend. See attachments

Nu-Vizion News

Dear Friends,

This summer we were blessed by the response to our Youth Open Church program. Many of you gave generously of time, prayers, food products, craft supplies and other staples so that we could provide this vibrant and essential ministry to our community. Summer is over but the need for safe places for our Youth continues to be a pressing need. God has placed on our hearts to offer a three day a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, after school program for all school aged children, Elementary through High School ages.

The program will take place from 3pm-5pm daily and in addition on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings we will be providing a simple meal to serve as a bridge into our regular Agape Fellowship Groups on Tuesday at 6:00pm and our Reboot Worship on Wednesday at 6:00pm. Our recent experiences with the outpouring of supplies for our summer program and the ongoing outpouring of manna in the form of bread products have taught us how faithful our brothers and sisters in Christ are to the people of the Lagrange Community.

Accordingly, we are seeking the following:

1) Adult and Older Teen (High School Aged) volunteers: to participate in the 3pm-5pm portion of our program. Much of this time will be spent in providing homework help. Our children are in desperate need of one on one mentors and tutors. When not engaged in homework children will also need adult supervision for craft projects and playing board games. When enough adult supervision is available we will have the arts and crafts room open as an option for children.

2) Donations of simple meals. Ideally, you would bring a prepared meal to Nu-Vizion to be served on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Our kitchen facilities are extremely limited, No stove, oven, prep sink, as is our storage space for food requiring refrigeration. The best meals are those that can be heated and served in a roaster pan or crock pot. Tuesday night meals should serve 30 individuals. Wednesday night meals should serve 50 (Please note that on Wednesday night we have a potluck meal before worship and your dish would supplement items provided by our parishioners and staff.)

3) Donations of snacks. Snacks are provided to all children when they arrive in the after school program and are the only food provided on Thursday. Again, ideally these should be non-perishable and easily stored. Individual portions of snack cakes, cookies, crackers, fruit snacks are ideal. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also appreciated. Drinks are generally koolaid or fruit juice. Juice boxes are great!

4) Craft Supplies: While the after school program does not have a formal craft component it is our hope to have the arts and crafts room open and available as staffing allows. We continue to need staples, coloring paper, construction paper, glue, scissors (particularly pointy sharp adult scissors for older children), paint (tempera, acrylic, finger paints are all popular), play dough, clay, chalks, pastels, etc...

5) Your Prayers for the safety, success and sanity of this program.

If you intend to deliver or collect items please let us know by email so that we can co-ordinate those items. All Meals will be confirmed by email or phone to avoid duplication of dates.

Email responses to: nuvizioncf@sbcglobal.net with After School in the Subject line please!

God's Grace and Peace to You!

Kathryn Helleman Nu-Vizion UCC

Director of Discipleship "This is Your Church!"

"Sharing Hope, Seeking Healing, Building Community..."

Nu-Vizion United Church of CHRIST

2014 Cherry Street

Toledo, OH 43608

Office: (419)241.9358

Fax: (419)241.5740

NuVizionCF@sbcglobal.net

www.Nu-VizionCF.org

2006 Crossroad Car Show and Quilt Auction
The UCC Childrens Home annual fundraiser will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2006 from 10:00 - 3:00 P.M. It promises to be a profitable and fun day for all involved, especially our residents. The goal this year is to raise $30,000 to purchase playground equipment for the intensive treatment units. We are busy securing corporate sponsors to help cover expenses, but it is the car owners who show their cars, the individuals, groups and organizations who donate quilts and the staff volunteers who make the day a success.
We welcome all to attend.
Contact Robert Young if you have any questions.
513-793-5151 or 513-793-9789 RNY6380@fuse.net

Deadlines and Meeting Dates

Upcoming

September

21 Faith Formation Team 10-2 p.m.

21 Church Development 1-4 p.m.

21 Sandusky Valley RCT 5 p.m. Trinity UCC, McCutchenville

23 Finance & Budget Meeting Tiffin 9 – 12 noon

26 Defiance Women Gathering Lytton-Zion UCC-Delta 10:30 a.m.

27 Firelands Clergy Zion UCC (Fireside) 9:30 a.m.

28 Support Committee 11:00 am (Tiffin)

30 Cabinet 9:30 – 2 p.m.

October

2 Sandusky Valley Clergy 11:30 a.m. Fairhaven Community, Upper Sandusky

3 Church and Ministry

3 Lay School 7:15 p.m.

5 Nominating Committee 10-1 p.m.

9 Defiance Clergy

9 Monthly Mailing Deadline

12 Auglaize Valley South Clergy 11:30 a.m. County Charm Rest. Wapakoneta

15 Lakeshore Regional Event

Seeking & Healing 2:00 -5:00 p.m. St. John’s- Elmore Supper 5 p.m.

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