Where in the world is the Conference Minister?  

From August 21 through September 3, I'll be on a study trip to the Middle East organized by United Church of Christ Wider Church Ministries.  

The intro to the tour blog (which you can follow at  http://globalministries.org/news/mee/2011-me-trip-blog.html) reads:

Global Ministries 2011 Middle East Trip Blog

The third of five commemorative global mission trips in observance of our church's 200 years of global mission takes place August 21 - Sept 2, 2011. The trips are partially funded and sponsored by Wider Church Ministries and Executive, Jim Moos, especially for conference ministers and UCC Global Ministries Board members.  More 

Please follow the blog, which will be updated daily, and be ready for some new themes to creep into my sermons and messages following this once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage.

Bob Molsberry 

Ohio Conference Disaster Response Team Update 

We have a new Facebook page. Check it out to see what the Team has been doing lately.   

And send us your work trip stories and photos!  We'll post them for all our friends to see.

Clean-Up Kits Needed! 

Our stock of clean-up kits is low!  Your church or group can help.  Learn how to get "the right stuff" here.  

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As the Summer Camp season of 2011 comes to a close, there is much to celebrate!

More than 1,000 campers experienced the wonder and beauty of camp through our Outdoor Ministries program this year. We've hosted more campers this summer than in any camping season since 2005!

Approximately 130 volunteers and over 25 staff members provided amazing support, structure and programming as 40 separate camp events were held - some at Pilgrim Hills, some at Templed Hills, and some offsite.   

The number of churches that sent campers increased by 5% this year with 134 of our Ohio Conference congregations sharing in the Outdoor Ministries vision - partnering with our local congregations in faith formation, spiritual growth and leadership development. 

We'll keep you updated as we introduce new Fall & Winter programs for adults, pastors, lay members, seniors and couples in the coming months.  Stay connected!  Join us on Facebook at Outdoor Ministries OCUCC where you'll find pictures from the summer and updates on upcoming events.

Hearing all the voices in the choir

Rev. Gunnar Cerda

Pastor, Orchard Hill UCC, Chillicothe

I remember a conversation I once had with a colleague and friend.  We were in Clinical Pastoral Education together, and one day in our peer group meeting we were talking about diversity.  Some of us were making great theological arguments for diversity when John spoke up.  Instead of joining in this theological discussion, he chose instead to offer a metaphor.

He described an image for us of a choir singing a beautiful song, perhaps a stirring anthem in the midst of a worship service like we have today.  He went on to mention how something wasn't quite right, however.  There was something missing from the anthem, there was a certain octave, which if present would take the anthem to an unbelievable new level.  Perhaps it was a soprano, or a tenor or a baritone, but one of them was missing, and the so anthem was just a bit off.  And then he looked at us and said: "That is what diversity is all about for me.  There are voices missing and the song just isn't right yet.  We need all the voices in the choir.  Then it will be the most beautiful song we sing."

Read the entire sermon here 

Fall Lantern Fellowship

 September 16-18, 2011

Pilgrim Hills Camp 

Biblical Storytelling

Leader:  Rev. Bert C. Ambrose, Jr.

Cost:  $135

Registration deadline:  September 5

Learn more here.

Brochure and registration form 

Defiance College at the Annual Gathering 

Dear Bob,

I hope you will share my greetings with the delegates who attended the 2011 Ohio Conference Annual Gathering.  I understand that the gathering went extremely well, and I hope you will share with the delegates that I never received an invitation for me to speak to them - otherwise I certainly would have been honored to join them.  We at Defiance College treasure our vibrant relationship with the UCC, and I very much look forward to being able to be part of the gathering next year. 

Sincerely,

Mark Gordon, President, Defiance College

The Ohio Conference must apologize to Dr. Mark Gordon, President of Defiance College, for fumbling an invitation to him to speak at our Annual Gathering this summer.  We thought an invitation had been communicated to Dr. Gordon for him to bring greetings at the Friday night banquet, but in reality he never got the message.  It is entirely our fault that a follow-up confirmation was not made.  We will try to remedy our error by extending an invitation to him to speak to our Gathering in the near future.

Bob Molsberry

Ohio Conference Minister

Office Address Change

Please make sure you have made the office address change on all your mailings to us.  

Our new address is:

6161 Busch Blvd., Suite 100

Columbus, OH 43229

YOUTH - Calendar of repeating wider church events for youth and young adults.  Include these events in your annual youth program planning.

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.