01 Nov Halloween at Findlay First UB

Findlay First UB (Findlay, Ohio) served 400-500 individuals during the annual harvest party on Halloween night in Findlay. Donuts were handed out to the parents, a puppet show was being shown, tracts were handed out, and coffee and hot chocolate were served. Church members brought their cars and opened their trunks for “Trick or Trunk.”

Community members were heard saying, “This is really nice of you all to do this.” We had even been asked by community members if the church was going to host it again this year, because the sign was not put out–because it was stolen last year.

This tradition started when Pastor Darwin Dunten noticed that community members were using the parking lot to park their cars during Halloween. So the church started providing coffee and donuts for them. It has grown every year since.

Halloween is the biggest event in Findlay, Ohio. The annual parade attracts tens of thousands of visitors.

01 Nov Pastor Appreciation at Morocco UB

Sunday October 24, Morocco Church (Temperance, Mich.) surprised Pastor Todd Greenman (right) and his wife Eva with appreciation for being their pastor and wife.

Eva received a beautiful vase of flowers, and Pastor Todd was surprised throughout the service with some skits bringing many smiles and laughs–especially the ”Top Ten Reasons you know the Pastor is not prepared to bring his sermon.”

After the service, cake and ice cream were served to the congregation. Pastor Greenman started at Morocco Church August 1.

25 Oct Lansing UB Ends with Celebration Sevice

L. Scott Hergert (right), senior pastor, First UB Church (Lansing, Mich.)

First UB Church of Lansing held the closing service on October 24. I have been praying that it would be a time of celebration, remembrance and most importantly of God’s faithfulness.

Beginning with the first Sunday of October, Theron Smith gave us a brief lesson on the History of the United Brethren denomination. The next Sunday he gave us a lesson on the history of First United Brethren Church of Lansing.

It was incredible to hear how the city of Lansing contributed to clearing the lot that the building is built on. R. E. Olds donated funds toward the building, and a local bank donated the original chandeliers. You could clearly see how God’s hand had been in the starting of First UB Church.

On the third Sunday of the month we were introduced to Pastor Tim Flickinger, former pastor of Fowlerville UB (Fowlerville, Mich.), who will serve as church planter/restart pastor to begin a new UB church in Lansing.

In preparation for the closing service, several invitations were sent to people who have moved on and to those who have not been in church for a long time. As a result, over 100 people attended the last service.

Each of the living pastors were contacted, and most of them sent letters highlighting their time at First UB. Rev. Harold Cherry, Rev. Kevin Cherry, and Rev. Connie Cherry were also in attendance. Harold and his family served the church 1959-1969. They all shared some of their memories.

Much of the service was opened up for people to share their memories and to express their thanks to individuals. Many people shared special music. The service was closed with Pastor Kevin Cherry praying for the Hergert family and their future, then Pastor Theron Smith prayed for the children in the church and for their future as well.

It seems clear to me that God has been working through the closing of First UB to benefit the kingdom through the new work in the Lansing area. The people of the church have been very open to this, plan and the issues of timing make It evident that God has been and continues to be in charge.

13 Oct Pastor Appreciation Month

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Many churches use this month to recognize their pastor and do something special to show their love. What is your church doing?

04 Oct Church Closing: Convoy, Ohio

The Convoy UB church (Convoy, Ohio) voted to close during a local conference meeting on Sunday, September 26. Bishop Phil Whipple spoke during the morning service, and then led the local conference meeting.

30 Sep Family Day for Faith UB in Jamaica

The congregation attending Family Day at Faith UB

Deon McLennon

On September 26, Faith United Brethren Church climaxed its month-long family celebration with the all day ”Family day” program. The first Sunday in September focused on the role of the mother, the second Sunday on the role of the father, the third Sunday on the role of youth, and the fourth Sunday–Family Day–on the role of the family.

Family Day began with a special 9 a.m. service where Pat Eves-McKenzie delivered an inspirational sermon on the role of the family. After the service, all participants attended a special Sunday school which looked on issues relating to married couples and single people.

The 203 strong attendance then congregated outside to take the group picture for the 60th anniversary magazine. We then enjoyed a wonderful dinner together after which all enjoyed a spirit-filled concert which displayed the variety of artistic gifts God has blessed us with.

28 Sep 14 Persons Baptized at Liberty UB

On August 15, after the morning service, the congregation of Liberty UB (Stockport, Ohio) adjourned to Wolf Creek. There, 14 persons were baptized. All 14 are pictured above, along with Pastor Charlie Simmons (in the middle in the back, wearing the white shirt).

21 Sep Morocco UB Holds Fun Fest for the Community

On Saturday, September, 18 Morocco UB church (Temperance, Mich.) held a Family Fun Fest, for which they invited church families and the community to a outdoor festival setting. A worship team from Abundant Life in Temperance performed.

The event included a lot to eat–cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, funnel cakes, hot dogs, brats chips, and  beverages. There were games for the kids.

Mark Smith of Morocco writes, “We saw many new and old faces. We praise God for the chance to offer this for free and share his love with others! Pastor Todd Greenman is the new pastor at Morocco. The Bedford press did a feature story on Morocco Church and his coming as the new pastor.”

20 Sep Eden UB Central to Tornado Relief

Eden UB church of Reedsville, Ohio, is serving as a command center emergency services in the aftermath of the tornadoes which swept through the area last Wednesday, Sept. 16. Three F3 tornadoes touched down, one of them within a mile of the church.

Eden UB is located in hill country, which supposedly doesn’t attract tornadoes. Pastor Adam Will says they have floods and ice storms, but never tornadoes. This is considered the country’s worst disaster ever.

Fortunately, nobody in Ohio was killed, though some were injured, including one lady from the church who couldn’t get out of her home when the tornado sucked the doors shut.

Most people in this economically depressed area, says Pastor Will, have no insurance. Many lost everything they own.

From the church, they are feeding about 350 volunteers and families three meals a day. Many volunteers attended Eden Church on Sunday, after which they immediately began feeding people. Some are fed at the church, others receive food delivered by truck and ATV.

Much clothing has also been collected at the church–more, says Pastor Will, then they’ll ever be able to use.