6 - sonkaucc.org - Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association
6 - sonkaucc.org - Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association
6 - sonkaucc.org - Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association
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SNIPPETS May 6, 2013<br />
SOUTHWEST OHIO NORTHERN KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION<br />
OHIO CONFERENCE-UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST<br />
‘It is not you that support the root, but the root<br />
that supports you.’<br />
(from Romans 11:18)<br />
‘<br />
THIS NEWSLETTER IS MADE POSSIBLE BY YOUR OCWM GIVING.<br />
News, Generosity, Celebration Mark SONKA Spring Gathering<br />
There will be change. What that change will look like is yet to be determined.<br />
This was the overarching message from SONKA leaders as they addressed more than 100 people gathered at<br />
Christ Church UCC in Fort Thomas, KY, April 27 for the association’s Spring Gathering. It was clear that<br />
the <strong>Ohio</strong> associations and the Conference leaders have opposite views of what that change should entail.<br />
Discussions among association and conference leaders will continue in an effort to come up with a plan for<br />
the re<strong>org</strong>anization of the middle judicatory in <strong>Ohio</strong>—a plan which matches current realities while meeting<br />
the needs of local churches.<br />
Re<strong>org</strong>anization<br />
Proposals<br />
Representatives of both the Conference and the SONKA Strategic<br />
Planning Team took turns broadly outlining plans for<br />
re<strong>org</strong>anization, with the association proposing a bottom-up<br />
approach in which monies currently given to the Conference would<br />
remain at the association level for SONKA functions in support of local church ministry. The Conference<br />
proposal calls for centralizing all middle judicatory functions at the Conference level, with the Conference<br />
receiving all OCWM Basic giving from association churches. It also calls for the Conference to furnish all<br />
staffing from the Columbus office.<br />
Conference Vice Moderator Tim Smith, who was invited to present the<br />
Conference re<strong>org</strong>anization proposal at the SONKA meeting, reported that the<br />
plan had been soundly rejected “by all,” referring to all five <strong>Ohio</strong> associations.<br />
Smith, a member of St. John UCC in Newport, KY, reported that OCWM<br />
support in the Conference in 2000 was 3.1 million, with the associations<br />
retaining 1.5 million, but this year the OCWM support dollars will amount to<br />
about 1.8 million, with the five associations keeping about 1 million.<br />
“The Conference runs out of money in 2015,” Smith reported. (Continued on page 2)<br />
Photo by Karen Gutierrez<br />
SONKA people representing 38 different churches worship together at the association’s 2013 Spring Gathering.<br />
Current OCWM Distribution<br />
10%<br />
Nat'l.<br />
15% Conf.<br />
75%<br />
SONKA
Spring Gathering (Continued from page 1)<br />
The association re<strong>org</strong>anization concept would call for SONKA retaining all or most of the 15 percent of<br />
OCWM support that currently goes to the Conference, reported Carl Robinson of the Strategic Planning<br />
Team. The association plan calls for the <strong>Ohio</strong> region (Conference) to be led by a Collegium of Officers<br />
comprised of the association ministers, and with staffing at the association level. Pastor Carl also shared that<br />
association leaders currently are considering a network model of <strong>org</strong>anization, whereby churches could be<br />
grouped by strengths and needs.<br />
Summarizing the role of the middle judicatory, Pastor Carl remarked that the Strategic Planning Team’s<br />
mantra is “the job of the association is to help local churches move from isolation into community.”<br />
Phrasing it another way, Karl Ulrich, Strategic Planning Team member, stated that the middle judicatory<br />
exists” to serve the mission and ministry of the local church.” The SONKA team believes strongly this role<br />
is best served at the association level, and not at the Conference level. Discussions about re<strong>org</strong>anization will<br />
continue among the five associations and the <strong>Ohio</strong> Conference.<br />
Rubate Water Project<br />
Pledge Drive<br />
Offering in Honor<br />
of Mission 4/1 Earth<br />
Affirmation<br />
of Ministry Candidates<br />
Listening Session<br />
Results<br />
A highlight of the Gathering was the spirited Rubate Water Project<br />
Pledge Drive, conducted by Dan Weyand-Geise of the Global<br />
Partnership Team and originating in response to a generous challenge<br />
grant from First St. John UCC in Hamilton. First St. John pledged matching funds, up to $7,500, toward the<br />
Rubate Water Project.<br />
Pastor Dan outlined the goal of the Water Project, which began one year ago in an effort to raise funds for a<br />
new water delivery system for SONKA’s Global Partners in Rubate, Kenya. A bore hole that had been dug<br />
years ago dried up, leaving Rubate, the site of a teachers college and a clinic that SONKA donations helped<br />
to build, without sufficient or clean water. Donations from SONKA churches and individuals helped start<br />
the construction of the new water system last year. Currently four miles of pipes and channels bring much<br />
needed clean water from a river to the village. But the college still requires a $15,000 water reserve system.<br />
The result of the morning’s Pledge Drive was that nearly $9,000 was pledged, surpassing the $7,500 required<br />
to fund the $15,000 project (counting First St. John’s matching funds). Not only did the total exceed the<br />
goal, 14 different SONKA churches stepped up to enthusiastically pledge toward the project.<br />
In a continuing spirit of generosity, SONKA people in attendance<br />
donated $619 in an offering dedicated to the <strong>Ohio</strong> Interfaith Power &<br />
Light <strong>org</strong>anization, a project of the <strong>Ohio</strong> Council of Churches which<br />
seeks to empower a religious voice in dialogue concerning the<br />
environment while encouraging faith communities in energy conservation. The <strong>org</strong>anization advocates for<br />
policies which ameliorate climate change, and provides resources for congregations, including energy audits,<br />
an on-line energy use tracking tool, carbon footprint education, green sermons and more. The offering was<br />
given in honor of the UCC Mission 4/1 Earth campaign, which encourages everyone to “green up, power<br />
down and shout out for the environment.”<br />
The association office will report Mission 4/1 earth care hours to the national offices for time spent by<br />
SONKA’s Communications Coordinator on creating Rubate Water Pledge Drive and <strong>Ohio</strong> Interfaith Power<br />
& Light flyers, and researching and writing newsletter stories about these projects and Mission 4/1 Earth<br />
activities within SONKA.<br />
Also at the Gathering, a celebratory atmosphere was evident as four<br />
candidates approved for ordination pending a call were affirmed by<br />
applause from the Gathering attendees. Congratulations to Aaron<br />
Saari, Avery Sledge, Ken Weidinger and Charles Williams.<br />
Reporting on the association’s Listening Sessions, held last fall<br />
through this past winter, Karl Ulrich of the Strategic Planning Team<br />
said roughly half of all SONKA churches participated in the sessions.<br />
During the sessions SONKA churches identified their strengths and challenges. Some of the strengths<br />
(things that are working well) mentioned by our churches included pre-schools, grant-writing, cable TV<br />
coverage for shut-ins, the ONA process, a church merger, visitation teams and others.<br />
The challenges reported included attracting new members, an aging congregation, the lack of volunteers,<br />
finances going to a big building, Christian education improvements, attracting younger families and the need<br />
for assistance with social media.<br />
-Lynne Wise<br />
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NEW! MARCC Delegates Meeting<br />
The MARCC (Metropolitan Area Religious<br />
Coalition of Cincinnati) Delegates Council will<br />
meet Wednesday, May 8, at noon in Synod<br />
Hall of St. Peter-in-Chains Cathedral<br />
downtown. Attorney Alphonse Gerhardstein<br />
will share insights from his involvement with<br />
the Collaborative Agreement and speak to the<br />
role the Agreement continues to have in<br />
ongoing efforts to reduce violence and improve<br />
community-police relations.<br />
NEW! RVCC Clergy Group Meetings<br />
The Cluster 1 (River Valley Covenant Cluster)<br />
Clergy Group will continue to meet on a new<br />
day, Thursday, throughout May, with the next<br />
meeting set for Thursday, May 9. All meetings<br />
are from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the Highland<br />
Springs Nursing Home in Fort Thomas, KY.<br />
Heidelberg Choir Concert<br />
The Heidelberg University Concert Choir will<br />
perform at Harmony Creek Church, Kettering,<br />
Tuesday, May 14, at 7 p.m. Highlighting the<br />
program will be compositions by Howard<br />
Helvey (O lux beatissima), Gwyneth<br />
Walker (I Will Be Earth), David Conte (a<br />
setting of Theodore Roethke’s The Waking),<br />
Irving Berlin (Blue Skies) and more. The<br />
concert is open to the public. A freewill<br />
offering will be taken.<br />
NEW! First-Troy Salad Buffet<br />
The women of First UCC in Troy will have their<br />
annual All-You-Can-Eat Salad/Sandwich/-<br />
Dessert Buffet on Wednesday, May 15, from 11<br />
a.m. – 1 p.m. Everyone is invited to come to the<br />
church for lunch, featuring a huge variety of<br />
salads, sandwiches and dessert treats. The price<br />
is $6, with admission charged at the door.<br />
Cluster 2 Meeting<br />
SONKA’s Cluster 2 (Westside Cincinnati) will<br />
meet on Thursday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at Trinity<br />
Hill Church.<br />
THIS WEEK<br />
COMING UP<br />
NEW! Polk Grove Ascension Day Service<br />
Polk Grove UCC in Dayton will host a<br />
cooperative Ascension Day worship on<br />
Thursday, May 9, at 11 a.m., with a light<br />
fellowship lunch provided after worship.<br />
NEW! Fairborn Pancake Breakfast<br />
Trinity UCC in Fairborn will<br />
have its next free Community<br />
Pancake Breakfast Saturday,<br />
May 11, from 9 – 10:30 a.m.<br />
Trinity started this ministry<br />
earlier this year after receiving<br />
an abundance of sausages from a local food<br />
bank. That kicked off a long-desired program to<br />
serve a free breakfast to the community on<br />
occasional Saturdays, augmenting the free<br />
dinner programs in the community.<br />
Helen Prejean Talk<br />
The author of Dead Man Walking, Sr. Helen<br />
Prejean, will speak at Epiphany Lutheran<br />
Church, Centerville, Saturday, May 18,<br />
beginning at 5:30 p.m. Good Shepherd<br />
Ministries of Dayton, a faith-based nonprofit<br />
which offers counseling, career planning and<br />
spiritual development to people with histories<br />
of incarceration, is sponsoring the event, which<br />
also will feature food, raffles and a silent<br />
auction. Advance tickets are required. Prejean,<br />
is a Roman Catholic nun who wrote Dead Man<br />
Walking as an autobiographical account of her<br />
relationship with a death row inmate. It served<br />
as the basis for the well-known feature film.<br />
For more information, call 937/938-5781 or<br />
email dalenieberding@hotmail.com .<br />
NEW! Christian Connections Meeting<br />
Greater Dayton Christian Connections will<br />
have its annual meeting Sunday, May 19, from<br />
3-5 p.m. at 1436 Needmore Rd., Dayton. A<br />
panel discussion on gun control will take place.<br />
West Liberty to Install New Pastor<br />
West Liberty UCC will have a special<br />
installation service for its new pastor, Paul<br />
Forrey, on Sunday, May 19, at 3:30 p.m. at the<br />
church, 212 W. Newell St. Clergy are invited<br />
to dress casually for the installation, which will<br />
be followed by a reception with light<br />
refreshments. All in SONKA are invited.<br />
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Polk Grove Observes Earth Day with Mission 4/1 Tree-Planting<br />
In honor of Earth Day, Polk Grove UCC had worship services April 21 lifting up<br />
creation and including an exercise in which worshipers placed flowers on a cross in the<br />
sanctuary to symbolize the continuation of the Easter season. After worship, the church<br />
family planted and dedicated two 12-foot Blue Spruce trees on church property to<br />
honor Earth Day and the UCC’s Mission 4/1 Earth<br />
campaign. The congregation joined together in<br />
singing The Johnny Appleseed Prayer, as the legendary Johnny Appleseed is said to<br />
have passed by the church’s Dayton neighborhood long ago, spreading seeds which<br />
would sprout apple trees.<br />
FYI: Pulpit Updates<br />
SONKA minister Mark Moore has been called to<br />
be the new pastor at St. John UCC, West<br />
Alexandria. Pastor Mark, currently pastor at West<br />
Milton UCC, will begin his new call in July. West<br />
Milton UCC has plans to call a part-time pastor.<br />
Campaign<br />
Continues<br />
until<br />
May 19!<br />
* NATIONAL AND CONFERENCE *<br />
NEW! Grandparents Camp<br />
There are six different Grandparent Camps<br />
scheduled this year by the Conference Outdoor<br />
Ministries team, allowing grandparents to spend<br />
time with their grandchildren while sharing their<br />
faith and having fun. These are half-week<br />
camps, and families stay together in private<br />
rooms. The sessions are:<br />
June 23-26 (ages 4-9)<br />
June 26-29 (ages 4-9)<br />
July 7-10 (ages 4-9)<br />
July 10-13 (ages 7-12)<br />
July 21-24 (ages 4-9)<br />
July 24-27 (ages 7-12)<br />
For more information, go to<br />
http://www.ocucc.<strong>org</strong>/OutdoorMin/Summer%20<br />
Camp/SummerCamp.htm.<br />
NEW! Widening the Welcome Confab<br />
The 2012 Widening the Welcome conference<br />
will be another pre-Synod event this year,<br />
scheduled for Thursday, June 27, in Long<br />
Beach, CA, one day before General Synod 29<br />
starts. The national gathering will focus on<br />
developing the life of congregations to include<br />
persons with disabilities and mental illness and<br />
their families. For more information, go to<br />
www.wideningthewelcome.com .<br />
* PRAYER REQUEST *<br />
Please hold in prayer retired SONKA minister Mendle Adams and his extended family, especially his<br />
grandson, Pierson Adams, and Sherea Edmondson, parents of an infant boy, Ivan Benjamin Adams, who<br />
died of SIDS April 29 in Indiana. Mendle had baptized the baby April 21 at St. Peter UCC in Pleasant<br />
Ridge (Cincinnati), where he is Pastor Emeritus. Mendle will officiate at a funeral for the baby today,<br />
May 6, in Indiana.<br />
* OPPORTUNITIES *<br />
Knob Prairie UCC in Enon is looking for an <strong>org</strong>anist/accompanist to accompany its choir during Sunday<br />
worship services and Thursday evening practices. The salary is negotiable. Interested musicians should<br />
contact Worship Director Debbie Kunselman at 937/232-1967 or kkunselman@sbcglobal.net.<br />
The position of Designated <strong>Ohio</strong> Conference Minister has been posted in the UCC Ministries<br />
Opportunities database and on the Conference website.<br />
Interim <strong>Association</strong> Minister Kathryn Anadein: kathryna@<strong>sonkaucc</strong>.<strong>org</strong><br />
Snippets Editor/ Communications Coordinator Lynne Wise: lynnew@<strong>sonkaucc</strong>.<strong>org</strong><br />
Bookkeeper Wilda Peters: wildap@<strong>sonkaucc</strong>.<strong>org</strong><br />
Registrar Jim Hill: jimh@<strong>sonkaucc</strong>.<strong>org</strong><br />
SONKA: 937/438-8050 or Toll Free: 888/631-9578<br />
SONKA WEBSITE: www.<strong>sonkaucc</strong>.<strong>org</strong><br />
NATIONAL UCC WEBSITE: www.ucc.<strong>org</strong><br />
OHIO CONFERENCE WEBSITE: www.ocucc.<strong>org</strong><br />
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