Dear Friends,
You are invited to attend the Fall Gathering of the Eastern Ohio and Western Reserve Associations. It has been an amazing year, and we look forward to the opportunity to meet and plan.
This summer’s 31st General Synod of the United Church of Christ in Baltimore, MD gave us much to think about as we consider how we reflect the UCC purpose statement: To love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. Or how we adjust our vision that others may see our vision: United in Christ's love, a just world for all. And how we might align our work with the UCC Mission statement: United in Spirit and inspired by God's grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.
It has been a year of changes in our Ohio Conference and in our Associations. And as we enter 2018 we are, indeed, standing at the future’s threshold, grateful for God’s guiding hand. Staff turnover for our Associations could hardly have been greater as Rich Plant retired, Bonnie Bates left for the Penn Northeast Conference, and now Rita Root is retiring. New people will be facing new challenges and we will need to rally to face them together. Likewise, the Ohio Conference is not only experiencing staffing changes but also looking at new ways of structuring our life together in the wider church.
Rounding out the year, we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation on October 31. We recognize that we are reformed, and we keep on reforming ourselves, our churches, and our world.
David Brown Ian Lynch
Moderator, EOA Moderator, WRA
Registration is $25 per person and is due by Saturday, October 21. Retired UCC Clergy, Members in Discernment and Past Council Moderators are our guests. Please register, but there is no registration fee.
A light continental breakfast will be available during registration. A variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options will be available for lunch.
Request childcare when registering. Childcare is only available with advance notice.