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New Items
- The EOA offices and the Support Center
will be closed December 26 through January 2 which also means
there will be no e-Pistle next week.
- We extend our deepest sympathies to Susan Lehosky on the death of her mother, Patricia
Parker, Saturday, December 17. A memorial service will be held in
January. Susan is pastor at Woodsfield Presbyterian Church.
- Margaret Mills, EOA/WRA Minister for Stewardship and Youth,
will be on sabbatical from January 4 to January 24. She'll be
working on issues of immigration approaching it from the
standpoint of "Documented and Undocumented Immigrants - How
Does the Issue Affect our Churches and
the Extravagant Welcome and Radical Hospitality We
Profess?"
- The joint EOA/WRA spring meeting will be May 5, 2012 at Middleburg Heights
Community Church, 7165 Big Creek Parkway, Middleburg
Heights, OH 44130. Dr. Clinton
McCann of Eden Theological Seminary will be our keynote speaker.
Please mark the date on your calendar right away!
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Around EOA
- Area E Clergy
Gatherings:
- Jan.
6, 2012, 7:30PM, at the home of Arnie
and Anna Belle Klaiber, 630 Hickory Drive SW,
Sugarcreek
- Jan. 17, 2012, 10:30AM, at St. John UCC, 516 Wooster Ave.,
Strasburg
- To serve worship and music leaders within the United Church
of Christ, Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO) is
offering a January course titled "Congregational Song:
Singing in the United Church of Christ Tradition" on Friday,
January 20 from 9AM to 4PM preceded by several hours of required
online meeting times. The class is taught by Dr. Robin Knowles
Wallace, professor in the Taylor Endowed Chair of Worship and
Music, and an authorized minister in the UCC. "Congregational
Song: Singing in the United Church of Christ Tradition"
carries one hour of graduate-level credit. A limited number of
non-credit auditors will be accepted. To register, contact MTSO
Registrar Susan Lamphere at slamphere@mtso.edu or
740-362-3344 and reference course No.
WM-008d. To learn more about the class, contact Robin Knowles
Wallace at rwallace@mtso.edu or
740-362-3431.
- January 23-24 the Ohio Ministries Convocation will be held
in Columbus.
The theme is "The American Dream or God's Dream?"
Keynoter, Dr. Ron Sider, will take a
look at what is going on in our economy and help participants
wrestle with what pushes us, as Americans, to pursue the
"American Dream." There will be a UCC sponsored
box lunch that participants must register for. Please visit www.ohcouncilchs.org/register.apx for
a detailed brochure and registration.
- Do you sing, play an instrument, dance, act,
tell jokes, recite poems, juggle or have other talents? EOA Has
Talent! is being organized as a
fundraiser in support of the ministry of our EOA-UCC and will be
held Saturday, February 18 at 6:30PM at Trinity UCC, 3909 Blackburn Rd NW,
Canton. Donation
envelopes will be available at the show for all in attendance to
share a special gift with the EOA. EOA Has Talent! will be a fun event packed with food, friends
and plenty of talent. An appreciative and welcoming audience
awaits every performer. Joni Christian and Dave Carnell are
currently forming the talent line-up. Please contact one of them
soon to volunteer for the show or for additional information: Joni
Christian, jonichristian@gmail.com; Dave Carnell, dcarnell@trinityucc.com or
330-492-3383.
- The 1995 Chevrolet truck at Pilgrim Hills needs to be
replaced due to a cracked frame and many other needed
repairs. We plow snow and do a great deal of hauling around
camp, so we need at least a ¾ ton truck with an eight foot
bed. We would like to get a 2002 model or newer if possible.
If you can help us out on our needs for another truck, or if you
know someone who can help us, please contact Jeff Thompson at
740-599-6314 or phcamp@hotmail.com.
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Youth & Education
- It's Your Turn: EOA/WRA Youth Leaders Lock-In. "YOUth" on January 27-28. Taking the
emphasis off youth and putting it on YOU. A time for Taize, journaling, massage, quiet reflection,
learning ways to take care of ourselves in the midst of busy youth
group schedules. We'll be back at the Radission
and Church House in Cleveland.
Watch for details. Register online at www.cvent.com/d/7cq8qc/1Q.
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Local Church
- You are
cordially invited to attend the wedding of Rev. Sharon G. Jacobsen
and Rev. Dr. Donald N. Nichols on Friday, December 23 at 11AM
at Grace United Church of Christ, 13275 Cleveland Ave. NW, Uniontown,
OH 44685.
Refreshments will follow the ceremony. RSVP to Don Nichols at
330-499-5707 or DrDonSally44@copper.net.
- You are
invited to the annual Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.
celebration at Saint John United Church of Christ (516 North Wooster Ave.,
Strasburg, Ohio
44680) on
Sunday January 15th at 7M. Besides all of the music by two choirs
and guest soloists, our speaker this year is Dr. Josephine
Wright from the College
of Wooster.
She is Professor of Black Studies and Music plus the Chair of
Africana Studies. More information about Dr. Wright may be found
at the following website http://www.wooster.edu/Academics/Areas-of-Study/africana-studies/faculty-staff/wright.
Please join us for this great time of celebration.
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In This Issue
New Items
- Office
Closed
- Deepest
Sympathies
- Sabbatical
- Spring
Meeting
Around EOA
- Area E Clergy
- Congregational Song Course
- Ohio Ministries Convocation
- EOA Has Talent!
- Truck Needed
Youth & Education
Local Church
- Wedding
Invitation
- MLK
Celebration
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Food for Thought
Who Am I?
"Praise him, all his angels;
praise him all his host. Praise him, sun and moon: praise him, all you
shining stars!"
Psalm
148:2-3
Reflection by Anthony B.
Robinson
(Stillspeaking Devotional)
Martin Luther described sin as life curved in upon itself. The theme of today's psalm, praise, is
pretty much the opposite of that. Praise is life opened out, expansive,
a jubilant response to a gracious and astonishing God. What's
especially wonderful about this psalm of praise is that it includes all
creation in the great chorus. Perhaps this is part of the reason that
many of the manger scenes we see at this time of year aren't limited to
human beings alone. They include sheep and goats, a donkey or a cow.
They unfold beneath the starry sky and sheltering trees. Sometimes it
can seem that all creation is somehow caught up and united in praise of
God.
Such experiences tell us something about who we truly are. At one time
or another, most of us wonder what life is really about and why we are
here. We may think of ourselves as producers or professionals, as
family members or citizens. All of these are important and have their
place. But most of all we are, I think, worshippers. Whether kneeling
at some manger, shouting praise unto the highest heavens, murmuring our
gratitude before mystery, we are worshippers. And the reason for our
praise? While we were yet sinners, Christ has come for us; while we
were yet far off, Christ has come to us.
Prayer
"Unto you is born this day in the city of
David,
a Savior who is Christ the Lord." And for this we praise you this
day and all our days. Amen.
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