|
You are receiving Connections, the monthly e-newsletter of the Ohio Conference, because of your connection to a ministry of the Conference.
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.
|
|
Focus on our ministry partners
Your congregation, through the Ohio Conference, has 13 ministry partners that provide vital health and human services or quality higher education to folks in Ohio and beyond. Each of these partners, also known as benevolent institutions, has stories to tell about the people whose lives they have touched. We will share those stories with you each month in Connections for the next year or so.
We hope you'll enjoy these snapshots of United Church of Christ ministries. Our focus this month is on Crossroad in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Read on below. |
|
127 Years / Thousands of Promising Futures
Remember * Celebrate * Renew
 October 17, 2010 marks the 127th anniversary of Crossroad Child & Family Services, Inc.
Founded in 1883 as the Reformed Orphan's Home of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Crossroad has changed and evolved much over the years, but they are still committed to a sacred mission of helping children and families encumbered by traumatic life-experiences. Read more
|
|
One year of Disaster Response
What qualifies as a disaster? New Orleans after Katrina? Certainly. Haiti after the earthquake? Obviously. The Gulf Coast after the oil spill? Yes.
How about floods in the mountains of West Virginia? Or a tornado in Wood County, Ohio? Even though these kinds of "minor" disasters might not make front page news, they are devastating to the people whose homes or businesses are broken, filled with mud or soaked in filthy water. They are pain-filled for the congregation members who stand before a sanctuary filled with debris that used to be its roof.
It is the ministry of our Ohio Conference Disaster Response Team to help people caught in situations like these. The past year brought us many opportunities to serve amid some challenging situations. More
|
|
Your gifts will help Pakistan flood survivors get food, shelter and other basics now!
The UCC, through our partners in Church World Service, has been working in Pakistan for years and is providing help now.
Read more/donate to CWS
Or donate through the UCC
|
|
Urgent Need for Church World Service Kits
|
 Outdoor Ministries News
2011 CAMP WORK DAYS
Pilgrim Hills - March 26 & September 24
Templed Hills - April 30 & October 1
Details
WISH LISTS
Want to give a gift to your favorite camp? Here are our wish lists! Templed Hills Pilgrim Hills
CAMP WONDERLAND
December 3-4, 2010 at Templed Hills
The Division of Outdoor Ministries invites you to join us for a day of camp life. Come Friday evening and Saturday for fun, games, crafts and friends. All are welcome. Watch for more information on the Outdoor Ministries website and Facebook page starting Friday, October 29.
SUMMER CAMP 2011
Leaves are falling, snow will soon be on the ground, but we are thinking about summer camp! Planning for 2011 camps is well underway. Your favorite camps will be back, brand new camps will be offered, and a few that you may have missed in the recent past will return.
Look for our colorful camp mailer in your mailbox in January! Online registration will open in January, too. We look forward to seeing YOU at camp next summer.
|
2011 Annual Gathering
June 10 - 11 · Heidelberg University, Tiffin, Ohio
Rev. Anthony Robinson
Tony Robinson is an ordained UCC minister who has served four congregations. He is currently a speaker, teacher, preacher, consultant and coach. He is the author of nine books, the most recent of which is Changing the Conversation: A Third Way for Congregations
Save the dates! More details coming soon!
|
Healthy ConnectionsWhat innovative health programs or projects is your church involved in?
Submit an entry for Spring edition of the 2011 Resource Guide of innovative UCC church ministries related to health and human services. Deadline: December 15, 2010. Online form.
Questions? Ferne Clements: email or (216) 736-3725.
|
Support staff gather for professional day
 | | Participants enjoy refreshments and conversation before opening worship. |
Administrative staff from local churches, our Associations and the Conference gathered at Dublin Community UCC on October 11 to share in worship, inspiration, learning and fellowship.
Many of the 50+ participants commented that the event, sponsored by the Ohio Conference Support Staff Network, was a great opportunity to meet staff from other churches, learn about trends in social networking and e-communications, and to feel supported by the wider church.
The Association support staff members who were responsible for creating, organizing and running the day's activities are already making plans for another, even better event.
Special thanks to the staff of Dublin Community UCC for their warm hospitality!
 | | James Ferguson and Machelle Miller, EOA/WRA Support Center staff, lead singing during morning worship. |
**************************** United Church of Christ Office Support Staff Network
2011 Annual Meeting
April 28-May 1, 2011
Red Jacket Mountain View Resort
Sponsored by First Church of Christ Congregational UCC North Conway, New HampshireMeeting announcement (PDF)UCCOSSN brochure (PDF)UCCOSSN - The supporting hands of the ongoing ministries of the United Church of Christ
|
Short Subjects
VERIZON WIRELESS DISCOUNT for UCC STAFF! A corporate discount is available for UCC staff members! If you have a Verizon phone in your name and are a national, conference, association or local church staff member, you may take advantage of a 12% discount immediately! Use the link below to register existing accounts, activate new service, or upgrade existing equipment with a 12% discount. To register for the discount, go to the site below, enter your zip code, scroll to the bottom of the page - select enroll, and then register your information. Go to:
SEEKING LEADERS with a passion for justice! UCC Justice & Witness Ministries seeking Regional Trainers to work with local church leaders to strengthen justice ministries. More
YOUTH - Calendar of repeating wider church events for youth and young adults. Include these events in your annual youth program planning. PARISH PAPER - Ideas and Insights for Active Congregations. November and December 2010 issues now available. November - What Are the Big-Picture Trends in Congregations?
December - Fifty Years Later: What Has Changed?
Our Conference Minister welcomes invitations to preach or visit local church gatherings. Contact Bob Molsberry by email or phone (800-282-0740, Ext. 203) to schedule a date.
|
Get Association news delivered to your inbox
Central Southeast Ohio Assoc. - CSEMail Newsletter
Eastern Ohio Association EOA e-Pistle
Northwest Ohio Association - The Vine
SW Ohio Northern Kentucky Association - Snippets
|
Sign up for Keeping You e-Posted, the United Church of Christ weekly newsletter
|
|
|
|
Conference Minister's Corner
Rev. Bob Molsberry Mission Accomplished?
The 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days were successfully rescued this past week. What a story! It was hard to watch the TV coverage without shedding a tear each time another miner was brought to the surface.
The success of the rescue is attributed to the Chilean government's effectiveness, organization, resource management, and single-minded discipline. There are inevitable comparisons being made to recent US recovery efforts in the aftermath of disasters such as the Gulf oil spill and Hurricane Katrina.
But that's not my point. My point is that determination, focus, and discipline solved a problem that seemed insurmountable just two months ago.
More
More on September post about Bob's competition in Ironman Triathlon - race day video interview
|
Interim Ministry Workshop, "Refreshing Our Interim Ministry Skills," October 25, Dublin Community UCC
Subscribing churches give an enthusiastic endorsement to 'FAITH PRACTICES' online resources, designed to revolutionize the way congregations equip their members to talk about faith.
More
|
Fall Youth Event, November 19 - 21, Pilgrim Hills Camp Camp Wonderland, December 3-4, Templed Hills, See Outdoor Ministries News below for details.
Ohio Ministries Convocation, January 24-25, 2011, Columbus Marriott North It's Your Turn! Youth Leaders Lock-In, January 28-29, 2011, St. John's UCC, Dover Spring Lantern Women's Retreat, April 8 - 10, Pilgrim Hills Ohio Conference Annual Gathering, June 10-11, 2011
General Synod, July 1-5, 2011, Tampa, Florida
|
|
