January 25, 2008
Email address for Rev. Daniel Busch, Association Minister dlbusch@nwoa.org
Don’t forget to visit our website at www.nwoa.org
Rev. Daniel Busch will be joining St. John’s UCC in Tiffin this Sunday to celebrate and honor Rev. David Culp for his 30 years of service to St. John’s UCC. Rev. David Culp is retiring and this Sunday will be his last Sunday.
Prayer Requests
Congratulations to Grandparents and Parents of new arrivals!
Rev. Bill and Sharon Chidester are new grandparents of a grandson, Grant Irwin Chidester born January 8, 2008. Grant’s parents are Brice and Kara Chidester. Bill is the Pastor at Sylvania UCC.
Kathy and Irland Tashima are grandparents of a granddaughter, Toshiko Anne Mealy born on November 14, 2007. Toshiko’s parents are Paul and Kara Mealy and her great-mother is Toshi Kadowaki. Kathy is part of the NWOA Personnel Committee.
Rev. Steven Simpson’s (St. John’s UCC-Genoa) step-daughter, Jenna had back surgery on Jan. 7th in New York. Please keep this family in your prayers.
Cliff and Wilma Farmer’s son, Chris has started aggressive chemo and radiation. Please keep this family in your prayers.
General Synod Nominations
The NWOA Nominating Committee is asking for those interested in being a Representative at General Synod in 2009 and 2011. Please send your name to be considered by the Nominating Committee to office@nwoa.org. General Synod is in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2009 and Hawaii in 2011.
Installations Schedule
Rev. Mary Curtis will be installed as Chaplain at Fairhaven Community in Upper Sandusky, OH on February 3, 2008 beginning at 6:00 pm.
Boundary Training
On November 6, 2007 the Church and Ministry Team passed a motion to require all Authorized Ministers (ordained, licensed, commissioned ministers) holding standing in the Northwest Ohio Association, Ohio Conference, UCC and do any ministerial duties such as pulpit supply must attend boundary training every three years to maintain standing. Dates and locations are as followed: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
February 12, 2008 First UCC- Fremont
February 19, 2008 The Oasis at West Elm – Lima
February 26, 2008 NWOA office – Tiffin
(Registration is in the January Monthly Mailing)
Boundaries 101 for Local Church Use
The following article was written as an introduction to boundaries for laity, and published in the Maine Conference newsletter, MaineStay. Perhaps it will be useful to you.
“Good fences make good neighbors….says a character in a well known Robert Frost poem. Interpersonal boundaries are the “good fences” that help us respect one another and live together in harmony. In many ways, they are so basic we don’t even think about them. We can read very subtle signals to judge in a split second whether a hand is being offered to shake, or a hug is welcome. Complex judgments help us determine the level of conversation and closeness that is comfortable to another.
But remember that the poem begins, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, that sends the frozen groundswell under it, to
spill the upper boulders in the sun.” Each of us has a desire to go beyond boundaries. Moving beyond boundaries can be positive, increasing closeness and trust in relationships. But boundary crossing can be negative, when it is not done with sensitivity. If we make assumptions about others’ comfort level and limits, we may unintentionally take advantage of them. Boundaries are subtle and instinctive; we may be unaware of them, and when they are crossed in unwelcome ways often our only clue is a vague sense of unease.
In community life, maintaining standards of behavior which respect boundaries takes thought and conversation. This is particularly important in the church, where respect for boundaries allows us to build the kind of trust which makes the church a sanctuary, a safe space to be the people God made us to be. Boundaries also help us prevent abuse of those who are particularly vulnerable. “Making our Churches Safe for All” requires that we talk about how we behave with children. How do we know when it is alright to offer a hug to a child- or for that matter to other adults?
Power imbalances, like those between adults and children, create a responsibility. Those with more power (relatively) must respect those with less, and pay particular attention to the boundaries. Because clergy have a special position, they too have responsibility for maintaining interpersonal boundaries in a way that honors the other, who may be vulnerable to the misuse of their position. For this reason clergy throughout the United Church of Christ attend boundary workshops periodically to discuss the situations and relationships which require particular attention. Many conferences and associations use the video series, “A Sacred Trust” as a springboard for these conversations.
Our sense of self, and healthy communities, rely on awareness of interpersonal boundaries. All congregations are called to take seriously the “Sacred Trust” of relationship with self, other, and God.
Timely Topics – February 13 – Rev. James Vijayakumar
James is the Area Executive for Southern Asia with the Partner Relations Ministry at the National Office.
Second Wednesday of Each Month
At the NWOA Association Office, 416 Wentz St., Tiffin, 10:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Bring a Sack Lunch – Drinks Available
Tentative Topics coming up:
Auglaize Valley Leadership Empowerment Day, February 24, Emmanuel UCC-Bluffton 2 -6 pm Registration information attached!
Crossroad/Ft.Wayne Children’s Home.
This year marks 125 years of service and ministry at Crossroad/Ft. Wayne Children’s Home. The Crossroad Annual Dinner is Thursday, February 21 in the gym at Crossroad starting at 6:00 p.m. All Churches are welcome to bring 8 to 10 people to fill a table at this kick off celebration for Crossroad. The dinner is free, it is a great way to see the Crossroad campus and hear the Crossroad story. Please email Kyle Zanker if you would like to attend. KZanker@crossroad-fwch.org
ALL CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS!
United Church of Christ
Ohio Conference
Christian Educators Retreat
March 28-29, 2008
At Pilgrim Hills Camp
An overnight with food, fellowship, relaxing, sharing and learning from others.
With feature speaker: Lutie O. Lee, New Minister for Children and Families at the National Office of the United Church of Christ, Cleveland, Ohio. Lutie was from Southern California and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. For more information check out the website http://www.ucc.org/children/
Come for the day or for overnight! Watch for a registration forms coming in January.
For more information contact Brenda Weslow Trinity UCC, Tiffin, Ohio 419-447-3191 ext. 14
2008 Ohio Conference Spring Youth Event – the youth planning Fall Youth Event decided we needed to expand and try an event in the spring of 2008 to be held at Pilgrim Hills. April 18-19-2008.
2008 National Youth Event, “Living the Life” – July 24-28, 2008 – University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Rev. Kelly Burd, National Youth Event- Event Coordinator, Worship & Education Ministry Team, Local Church Ministries, 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115 1-866-822-8224 X-3871 email nye@ucc.org
Also Rev. Wendy Schindler-Chasney is on the planning team, coordinating the Worship and Plenary portion of NYE 2008. If you have questions Wendy is available at 419-359-1662. Visit ucc.org/youth for NYE news and updates! Cost $345.00
Church Secretary Notice: Join Joan and Carolyn in Cleveland
To: United Church of Christ Support Staff Persons
From: Planning Committee
Re:
United Church of Christ Office Support Staff Network (UCCOSSN)
21st Annual Meeting in Cleveland
Ohio
Greetings to you. This is a chance to visit the United Church of Christ national offices in Cleveland, Ohio. We encourage you to put the dates March 27th through March 30th, 2008 on your calendar, and to begin planning on attending the UCCOSSN meeting at the Church House in Cleveland.
Our keynote speaker will be the Rev. Kathryn Huey, Minister for Covenantal Stewardship. The theme of the meeting will be “Tending God’s Garden – God Works Wherever We Work.”
We will inform you as soon as the on-line registration becomes available. The registration fee (which covers all program materials and 6 meals) will be $100. Perhaps funding sources can be found through women’s groups, individuals within the congregation, etc.
To find out more about our organization, please go to: www.uccossn.org.
2008 UCCOSSN Planning Committee
Elizabeth Hosbach
hosbache@ucc.org
Brenda Lawrence lawrencb@ucc.org
Sandi Mossbarger
smossbarger@firstcongelyria.org
Marilyn Peterson petersom@ucc.org
Eleanor Ramos ramose@ucc.org
Sylvania United Church of Christ has 26 choir robes they would like to donate to whoever they may benefit. The ivory colored robes are made of washable polyester and vary in sizes S-XL. They are 18 years old and were purchased from Academic Apparel in California. Please call the church office between 9:00am-3:30pm at 419-882-0048 or email the church at church@sylvaniaucc.org.
Attention: Interest has been shown in beginning a support group for those clergy who have or have ever had depression and anxiety. The group would be led by a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a fee would be involved. The time and location would be determined by the group. If you have any interest in this; please contact Rev. David Culp at his home. The number is: (419) 447-9548.
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.
Deadlines and Meeting Dates
Upcoming
January – 2008
23 Lakeshore Clergy 11:00 am Holiday Inn, Fremont
24 Witness & Proclamation Meeting 4:00 pm Tiffin
25 In-Care Interview 9:30 am - noon
28 Ohio Ministers Convocation Columbus
31 Church & Ministry Meeting 9-4 pm
February – 2008
3 Installation Rev. Mary Curtis Fairhaven Community 6 pm
4 Sandusky Valley Clergy 11:30 am Fairhaven, Upper Sandusky
5 Church & Ministry Meeting
5 Lay School 7:00 pm
9 Finance & Budget Meeting 9-12
12 Boundary Training Meeting First UCC, Fremont
13 Timely Topics 10:30 am
14 Auglaize Valley Clergy 11:30 am Old Barn Out Back, Lima
18 Office Closed/President Day’s
19 Boundary Training Meeting The Oasis at West Elm, Lima
19 Lay School 7:00 pm
20 Maumee Bay Clergy Noon Al Smith Restaurant
23 Cabinet Meeting 9:30 am
24 Leadership & Empowerment Day Emanuel, Bluffton 2:00 pm
26 Boundary Training Meeting Tiffin NWOA
2008 Ohio Ministries Convocation – January 28-29, 2008 University Plaza Hotel, Columbus, OH
NWOA Annual Meeting – Saturday, April 26, 2008 First UCC - Galion
Ohio Conference UCC 2008 Annual Gathering Sunday thru Tuesday · June 8 - 10 Heidelberg College, Tiffin
2008 National Youth Event, “Living the Life” – July 24-28, 2008 – University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
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