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Kansas Oklahoma Conference
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K-O Conference Prayer Calendar
Yoked Congregations of Fairview UCC, Fairview, KS and
Bethany UCC, Hiawatha, KS - Rev. Shane Spangler
Rosedale Congregational, Kansas City, KS - Rev. Jane Heide & Congregation
K-O Conference Council as they meet and July 9th and10th. |
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Interim Conference Minister Schedule
July 16-18 Regional Youth Event, Park University, Kansas City, MO
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KO Conference and Associations Coming Events
Here is the link to the KO Conference Calender
July 9-10 KO Conference Council meeting & retreat @ White Camp
July 14-18 2010 Regional Youth Event
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PEACE MONTH AT OpenTable UCCOwasso
Beginning this Saturday, July 3rd, OpenTable UCCOwasso will begin a month long study of peace and methods of peace. On Saturdays during worship at 5:00 we will have a reflection and discussion each week on Peace. We will share a light meal and then watch a movie with a peace theme. This first week we will be discussing Entitlement and Privilege as we look at history and the Bible from the side of the minority. We will then view the TV movie "I Will Fight No More Forever." Other movies that we plan to show are "The Witness" and "Camelot."
In addition to worship and movies, we will also have a study on Peace each Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 led by our summer ministry intern dealing with Scriptures and historical situations up to the present. The more people the livelier the discussion. This study group will begin on July 8th through the end of the month.
OpenTable UCCOwasso is located at 202 S Cedar, Suite E. We are west of McDonalds and KFC on 76th Street North. If you have questions, you can call Rev. Melinda Foster at 693-0458. We hope to see you.
Blessings,
Melinda Foster
Pastor, OpenTable UCCOwasso
609-6292
693-0458
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CLEVELAND EVENT OFFERS INSPIRATION
A recent conference brought Jancy Pettit, Christian Ed Director at First Congregational UCC/Topeka (FCC), the opportunity to connect with other Christian Ed Directors throughout the country.
Jancy spent three days at UCC national offices in Cleveland attending the Leaders in Koinonia (LinK) event, absorbing the energy and enthusiasm of other UCC Christian Ed leaders.
The word Koinonia comes from koinos, meaning a sharer, associate, companion, partaker or partner. The purpose of LinK events is to strengthen relationships between the ministries of local churches, clergy, lay leaders and the national staff of the United Church of Christ. UCC funded the entire event for Jancy.
"The biggest impact was meeting people from around the country who do what I do," Jancy said. "Now I have all kinds of people I can pick up the phone and just call."
UCC leaders spoke to the group and identified resources available for everyone to use. In addition, they broke into small groups and shared ideas amongst themselves. Jancy shared First Church's successful Vacation Bible School last year that expanded beyond children to include adults.
"There are tons and tons of UCC resources," she said. "For instance, there's a new OWL program, Our Whole Lives that UCC teamed with the Unitarian Church to develop. It is a sex education program that spans all age groups."
Overall, Jancy returned from her experience energized and excited about incorporating new ideas in FCC programming.
"I was so grateful to go and get an idea that there are resources out there for me to use," she said. "We don't always have to be inventing these things on our own."
Written by Morgan Rothenberger, FCC
Jancy Pettit on the K-O Conference trip to Germany |
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NEW SIGN AFFIRMS THE PRESENCE OF THE UCC
Pictured above (from the right) are our K-O Conference staff
Sara Shaw, Camp Director, Rev. Krista Betz, Interim Conference Minister and Judy Vincent, Financial Associate.
The new K-O Conference office sign adopts the color and design of the UCC "God Is Still Speaking" emphasis. It is a bold, fresh look that affirms the presence of the UCC in Kansas and Oklahoma.
The design was recommended by the Finance and Asset Committee and approved by the Conference Council.
Contributions from two anonymous donors paid for the sign that is attached to the face of the original sign structure.
Joe Latas, member of the committee and Pilgrim Congregational, Wichita, coordinated the design development, manufacture, installation and removal of the old, deteriorated sign face. Thanks Joe!
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Open Arms Youth Border Mission
Church of the Open Arms, Oklahoma City, young people and adult sponsors
departed Saturday morning, July 3rd, on their 12-day mission trip to "The Border"
to learn about "Border Issues" and some of the history of "Mexico-USA" relations. They will visit the Alamo in San Antonio and historic sites of the conflicts that resulted in the US annexing Texas from Mexico.
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TIS THE SEASON
Tis the season for Mission Trips and Vacation Bible Schools. Won't you think about sharing your good news stories with the rest of the Conference? Just send a photo or two and a short story about what happened, who was involved and how you saw God in that time and place for submission to the weekly email. We'd love to see and hear about these important ministries that are happening in the conference. Submit articles to kofocus@yahoo.com. |
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K-O WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP
White Memorial Camp
SEPTEMBER 9-10-11, 2010.
Registration forms are posted here.
Early Registration Deadline is August 31, 2010
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The "Widening the Welcome: Inclusion for All" Conference
The time is right to join the conversation at the first national gathering hosted by
UCC Mental Illness Network and UCC Disabilities Ministries
September 23-25, 2010
Drury Inn - St. Louis, Missouri
At least one in four families in all faith communities is affected by a mental illness/brain disorder or a disability. The United Church of Christ has long been an advocate in inclusion for all through the UCC Disabilities Ministries (DM) and the UCC Mental Illness Network (MIN). Throughout our UCC history, we have highlighted, voted, and enacted resolutions related to disabilities and mental illnesses/brain disorders. Now, for the first time, the UCC DM and the UCC MIN are together hosting a national gathering. The "Widening the Welcome: Inclusion for All" conference takes place September 23-25, 2010, at the Drury Inn in St. Louis, Missouri. "Widening the Welcome" seeks to develop the life of congregations to include persons with disabilities and persons with mental illnesses/brain disorders and their families. Featured speakers include: Dr./Sister Nancy Kehoe, author of Wrestling with our Inner Angels: Faith, Mental Illness and the Journey to Wholeness, Dr. Debbie Creamer, author of Disability and Christian Theology: Embodied Limits and Constructive Possibilities, the Rev. Craig Rennebohm, author of Souls in the Hands of a Tender God, the Rev. Geoffrey Black, Dr. David Greenhaw, the Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman, the Rev. Bob Molsberry, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Bauer, R. Jeffrey Pollock, atty., Vel Garner M.S., the Rev. Jeanne Ann Tyler, and more. You're invited to join us for 7 workshops, worship, and devotions. We're also inviting all who stay through Sunday the 26th to attend local UCC churches and to meet in the afternoon to plan programs and initiatives for the 28th General Synod of the UCC in 2011. For more information and to register, please go to www.wideningthewelcome.com or call (303) 756-8380. For information about becoming a sponsor of this important gathering, please contact Alan Johnson, Chair of the UCC MIN at revalan2004@comcast.net. |
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Believe Out Loud Power Summit October 9-11, 2010 Orlando, FL
The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns in partnership with the UCC Health and Wholeness Advocacy Office are writing to share about an exciting advanced leadership training opportunity and to ask for your help and support. The advanced training called the Believe Out Loud Power Summit will gather around 500 leaders and will focus on living into the values of extravagant welcome known in the United Church of Christ as Open and Affirming (ONA). It will take place October 9-11, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Orlando , Florida .
The curriculum of the training program will address such questions as, "How can I be a helpful resource to local churches with their ONA process?" "We're ONA, now what?" and "What are we going to do about the LGBT related measure on the ballot in the next election?"
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ESPERANZA 2011
The conference is planning the 15th youth and adult mission trip to the Tijuana area of northwest Mexico. The dates are June 4 - 11, 2011. The registration forms will be ready soon so please put down the dates on your calendar and let the conference office know about your interest....email: mpoag@aol.com or call me at 316-686-4331. Saludos y paz, Mike Poage
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-----CHURCHES IN TRANSITION-----
Cathedral of Hope, Oklahoma City, OK
Congregational UCC, Carrier, OK Rev. Gordon Epps is supply pastor.
Community Congregational UCC, Gaylord, KS Rev. Linda Kemp is interim pastor.Fairmount UCC, Wichita, KS Rev. Monte Gravenstein begins as interim pastor July 15.
Federated Church, Kingfisher, OK Rev. Sam Steele is interim pastor. First Congregational UCC, Anthony, KS
First Congregational UCC, Great Bend, KS Rev. Stan Crawford is interim pastor.First Congregational UCC, Goltry, OK First United Church of Christ, Newton, KS Pastor Jerry Scribner is supply pastor. Norman UCC, Norman, OK Rev. Warren Jensen is interim pastor.
St. Paul UCC, Eudora, KS Rev. Greg Hurd is supply pastorUnited Church of the Good Shepherd, KC, KS Rev. Art Foster is supply pastor. |
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NEW FEATURE -- ARCHIVED eNEWS EMAILS
Looking for something that was featured in a previous email? Here is the link for the archives. |
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Rev. Krista Betz, Interim Conference Minister
Kansas-Oklahoma Conference 1245 Fabrique
Wichita, KS 67218
800-880-6466
Nancy A. Wolfe, Conference Communications Coordinator
3020 SE Virgo Ave
Topeka, KS 66605
785-806-4580
Our Church's Wider Mission is the lifeblood of ministry and mission in the United Church of Christ. Your contributions to this offering make this weekly e-communication and much, much more possible. Thank you for your generous support! Our covenant as local churches, associations, conferences and the national setting of our denomination is made evident through this mission together. |
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