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| Newsletter of the Ohio Conference United Church of Christ |
October 2009 |
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This is the first issue of Connections, the e-newsletter of the Ohio Conference, designed to strengthen the connections between us - and maybe make some new ones. You are receiving Connections because of your connection to a ministry of the Conference.
Connections will be published monthly to let you know what's happening around the Conference, provide information you can use, and alert you to events coming up that you might be interested in. We encourage you to forward this resource liberally within your congregation, to leaders and committee members. Please help us expand our mailing list by providing email addresses.
If your congregation - or group of churches - has a story you would like to tell about a successful program or ministry or a problem you have solved, we'd like to hear about it. We'll share as many of your stories as possible in Connections.
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 Fall Youth Event with Andra Moran · November 13-15
On the second or third weekend of each November, the Ohio Conference offers a retreat for senior high youth, their advisors and pastors at Pilgrim Hills Camp in Brinkhaven, Ohio.
The Fall Youth Event is an outdoor experience of personal self-discovery and enjoyment focused on foundations of faith, friends, leadership and fun, in experiences which expand life and faith horizons.
Enjoy music, thought-provoking workshops, games, outdoor activities, campfire, vespers, and the leadership of Andra Moran and Stephen Daniel King.
Cost: $110, includes 2 nights' lodging, 4 meals, snacks, t-shirt and program costs
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 2010 Annual Gathering
June 11-12 · Heidelberg University
Join us on the beautiful Heidelberg campus in Tiffin, Ohio on June 11 and 12 as we continue Connecting Vital Ministry Networks. Once again, we are encouraging affinity groups to plan a gathering or event during the Conference Annual Gathering.
We will work with group leaders to provide time and space for interested folks to get together to meet or get re-acquainted, share interests, learn something new or make plans for the future.
Keynoter: Martha Grace Reese, author of the Unbinding the Gospel series
Leader/preacher: Rev. Geoffrey Black, new UCC General Minister
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 Welcome Geoffrey Black
The United Church of Christ welcomed a new General Minister and President on October 1. His name is the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black.
Having served as the UCC's New York Conference Minister since 2000, Rev. Black was elected this summer at General Synod 27 in Grand Rapids to succeed the Rev. John H. Thomas, who is completing 10 years of service in the office.
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 Disaster Recovery work camps being organized in Galveston
October-November 2009 and
mid-January thru mid-Feb. 2010
Great devastation from Hurricane Ike in August 2008 requires lots of rebuilding in the Galveston, Texas area. Become part of the solution! Volunteers are needed.
Ohio Conference members, Jean and George Siddall, will be station mangers hosting hurricane recovery workers in a church in Texas City from January 15 - February 15.
For more information, contact George Siddall, Disaster Response Team Co-Director
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 Outdoor Ministries welcomes Michael Brooks
A new contract employee began this fall as the Camp Development Leader for the Division of Outdoor Ministries. Michael Brooks will continue the efforts of Stuart Fisher and expand the vision of the Division of Outdoor Ministries to attract more campers for the 2010 camping season.
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 Szilagyi Memoir Published
Rev. Stephen Szilagyi, Executive Director of SARA (Sharing America's Resources Abroad), the Ohio Conference medical ministry, encountered a boy with a crooked back on a street corner in 1988 Communist-controlled Hungary.
The events which followed inspired him to found the SARA ministry and to write a memoir: From Habakkuk to SARA.
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| Short Subjects
Our Conference Minister welcomes invitations to preach or visit local church gatherings. Contact Bob Molsberry at bobm@ocucc.org or 800-282-0740 to schedule a date.
The Conference trip to Israel planned for late 2009 has been postponed. Announcements will be sent out when it is re-scheduled.
JOHN DOMINIC CROSSAN: World-renowned Jesus Scholar in Cleveland on the topic of "Jesus & Paul: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" at Pilgrim Congregational UCC. November 13, 7:30 pm and November 14, 8:30am. Find out more. | |
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Conference Minister's Corner 
The Ohio Conference exists to enhance local church ministries. Our focus is on congregational vitality and developing new churches. We work by networking churches and associations, and by sharing and leveraging resources.
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Ministry Quick Links
Register for FYE
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| Upcoming Events |
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Association Fall Meetings
Central Southeast Ohio Association, October 31
SARA Annual Meeting, November 15, New Bremen
Conference office closed November 26-27 for Thanksgiving holiday
Regional Youth Event, "Challenges, Choices, Consequences," June 17-20, 2010, Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio |
| Contact Information |
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Pam Brown
Ohio Conference
Communications/Admin. Assistant
800-282-0740
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