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EVENT NEWS

Service Online Only

Due to the latest increase in numbers for COVID 19, the board has chosen to continue our service as ONLINE ONLY at this time.

Lunch Bunch Gathering On Hold

As of printing, we are assessing whether the Mason Christian Village covered pavilion is available. Please check the Thursday 27th email to see if we are meeting.

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS

Work Day at Camp Christian

Saturday, Aug. 29, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The time has come to get
some work is done!

Join us Saturday, August 29th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm as we tackle step one of the Monroe Lodge Bathroom Project.

A while ago Camp Christian has generously gifted some funding to do improvements to the bathrooms in the Monroe Lodge. This was done so the bathrooms could meet ADA requirements. The funding is there, now it’s time for people to be there to help get the work done. That’s where you come in! We need your help prepping the bathrooms for the renovation.

Please click on the link and RSVP through SignUpGenius so we know how many people to expect. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4daeaf2ea6fc1-work

Some things for you to know:

Masks will be mandatory while working and we will be following all safety guidelines for social distancing practices.
You will need to bring your own lunch and water.
If you are able to bring hammers, screwdrivers, and any basic tools, that would be helpful.
Unfortunately, there is no overnight option. Everything at camp has been shut down this summer and we are not able to “turn things on” for people to stay there at this time.
If you can’t make it for the whole day, that is fine. Just come for as long as you can. Any help is appreciated!
If you have any questions, contact Campsite Manager Ted Nelson directly at 614-214-4860

Book Discussion

“Anxious to Talk About It: Helping White Christians Talk Faithfully about Racism.”

Wednesdays @ 6 p.m.

Chapter 3—August 26
Chapter 4—September 2
Chapter 5—September 9
Chapter 6 & Conclusion—September 16

September Retreat

How can we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land? Psalm 137:4

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7

These two passages are written to the exiles in Babylon, yet each speaks to a different moment within that experience. The psalm is a catalog of lamentation…of tears shed by the rivers of Babylon, a yearning for Jerusalem though in ruins, and a desire for revenge against those that inflicted such woes upon Judah. The prophetic oracle is both a challenge and invitation…a challenge because the ruination of Jerusalem and exiling of her leaders were permitted by God, a challenge to offer prayers on Babylon’s behalf and a challenging invitation that in Babylon’s welfare the exiles would find their own.

The contrast between these two passages could not be starker, yet each reveals an important aspect of truth. A truth not just for exiles 2500 years ago, but for the exiles of today. Consider the exiles among us since COVID-19’s arrival—the unemployed, the newly homeless, and students. Or healthcare workers self-quarantining from their own families. How about those exiles prior to COVID? People of color, asylum-seekers, women, or the 140 million poor and low-income Americans?

What might these passages say to people of faith like us exiled from our communal place of worship since mid-March? How might these passages be like opposing magnetic poles, creating a dynamic space within which God’s voice can speak not just to people of faith, but to all exiles in our culture?

Leadership will wrestle with these questions at our September retreat—please hold us in prayers!

MEMBERS CORNER

Rev. Larry Pigg July 21, 1936 – August 3, 2020

CCC was honored to host on 8/15 the Celebration of Life of Rev. Larry Pigg, beloved pastor, camp leader, and interim minister for our congregation from 2007-09. We’re grateful for his years in service to the Lord and continue holding son Mike and family in our prayers.

Michael Lyons – Member in the News

The Hamilton County commissioners are using $18 million of federal CARES Act funding to increase COVID-19 testing and data collection in the county.

The commission approved a contract Thursday with The Health Collaborative for that effort. It’s a non-profit agency working to improve health and health care in the region. It will be working with several private medical providers on the project.

“We estimate it will be possible to conduct an additional 175,000 tests for COVID-19 infection in Hamilton County,” said Dr. Michael Lyons from UC Medical Center. “Approximately 35,000 of those will be in the context of outreach directly into the community by our early intervention testing program, specifically targeting populations that are most at risk and most vulnerable.”

YOUTH NEWS

Children’s Moment for All Ages

In the next few weeks, everyone will be going back to school, whether you are in Kindergarten or College, teacher or custodian. The school will look different this year. It may be different in where we go to school – home, school, a different building, or multiple places. The school will look different with people wearing masks, stickers on the floor, lunches spread out, desks arranged differently, and more. Change can make us uneasy, worried, and even scared. When we can’t picture what something will look like or what we will do, it makes us feel all kinds of feelings and very uncomfortable.

We have all heard how Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea. Read Exodus 14: 10-31 and notice how scared the Israelites were and how God saved them. When the Israelites left Egypt, they did not know where they were going, what it would look like, what they would eat, and if they would be safe. They definitely felt anxiety and panic when they heard Pharaoh’s army coming after them and the Red Sea before them. God heard their cries and reminded them He had this handled! Moses parted the waters and led people to safety. Just like the Israelites, God will make the way for you this school year. He is going before you to make a way for you. All we have to do is stop, be still, think of God, remember He has this, and step forward. He’s got this for you! Listen to this song by Hillary Scott and the Scott family –YouTube video “Still”

OUTREACH – HELPING HANDS

Reach Out Lakota

July 21

Dear Friends,

One of the things we thrive on around here is encouragement. We encourage each other and lift each other up. Uplifting words make all the difference in the world. Many times our clients are feeling very low and discouraged. Part of our role is to encourage them during these difficult times.

Encouragement does a lot for our clients and for our volunteers. It helps us from hardening our hearts and missing the good things around us. We have so much to be thankful for.

The reason I write this is that your gift is an encouragement. When we get a donation from you, it’s another sign that someone is with us and with our clients. You are part of our ministry and part of the solution.

So, thank you for hosting a food drive with a generous donation of non-perishable food and personal care items. You are a part of the work we do here, and you are an encouragement to others.

Peace, Scott D. Stephens, LISW-S CEO

July 28

Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe that it is summer and we are talking about Back to School (BTS). But 2020 has been an unusual year. It has caused changes in all aspects of our lives including the Back to School Program. One thing that is not changing is that students in our community will have needs for school. We want to ensure that all students have the tools they need to succeed at the start of the school year.

We will use funds raised from the BTS program to provide specific school supplies that are identified by the school system. Your donation will put those supplies in their hands before school starts.

Thank you for your donation of $200.00 for the purchase of school supplies. We are grateful for your support and we know the children and families are very thankful for the donation.

Peace, Scott D. Stephens, LISW-S CEO

Queen City Kitchen Bottled Water Drive!

We are not serving at this time at OTR. We are hoping to assist the other groups by collecting water for them. Start your shopping for deals on cases of water. The office will be open on Monday and Wednesday 9 – 1 for any deliveries.

We have collected 11 cases of water as of 8/23. We will continue to collect water to help until we are back to serving.

REGIONAL NEWS

Renewal Initiative from CCINOH

Dear Ministers, Congregations, and Leaders,

Since March, our lives and daily routines have been disrupted in ways that none of us have anticipated. I’m sure you’ve gone through your own upheaval in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It has impacted nearly every aspect of our lives – our families, our employment, our finances, and even the way we worship and join in fellowship.

As you probably know, The Christian Church in Ohio and Camp Christian had to make the tough but necessary decision to not hold in-person Summer Camp, as well as postponing all Regional events for the Spring, Summer, and now into the Fall. It is clear that these sad but needed decisions have left a void in the lives of many people, especially those who were eager to spend time at Camp this summer. This situation has also caused a real, tangible financial hardship for the Region and Camp Christian. Registration fees and donations made in conjunction with those events help pay for our staff, operations, buildings and grounds, and general upkeep of the Camp.

As with many of your Congregations, we have and will continue to offer online alternatives and seek out creative ways to connect with each other. Over the summer we were able to hold weeklong Virtual Camps for our youth and young adults. Adult Conference and Ohio Women’s Ministries have gathered online for prayer and fellowship. The Commission on Ministry has started meeting with their teams and candidates via Zoom. And while we are excited about these alternatives and the new opportunities they bring, we like many of you and your congregations, are looking forward to when we can welcome everyone back to Camp Christian and Regional events in person.

Click HERE to browse the sermon slides

Our first reading is from 2^nd Samuel, chapter 6 verses 1 through 2, 5, and 12 through 19. Listen to God’s word.

¹David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. ²David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. ⁵David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

¹²So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; ¹³and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. ¹⁴David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. ¹⁵So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. ¹⁶As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. ¹⁷They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. ¹⁸When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, ¹⁹and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men, and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.

Our second reading comes from the good news according to Matthew, chapter 11 verses 16 through 19.

And Jesus said,

¹⁶“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ¹⁷‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ ¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; ¹⁹the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Here ends our readings, May God bless our hearing, understanding, and living of these words.

@Copyrighted by Rev. Dr. Troy Sybrant Sermon: “Shall We Dance?” (2 Samuel 6, Matthew 11), Sunday, August 23, 2020