Center for Progressive presents a Webinar Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church
February 16, 2011
07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Global Missions Presentation Feb. 10th
Rev. Patrick Nixon will be presenting a program for the Disciples Clergy Cluster in Cheney, KS. on February 10th at Noon. The meeting will be at Trinity United, 416 Washington Ave, Cheney. A Nicaraguan lunch will be served. All UCC clergy are cordially invited!
Global Missions is the organization through which the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ work together to do missions in other nations. Global Missions works in 70 countries around the world helping with everything from traditional missionaries to water systems and AIDS prevention.
Typically Global Mission works with host country partners where an American church partners with a church or organization in the host country. There are many churches from the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who have People-to-People Global Mission partnerships. There are churches involved in building projects, water projects, and education projects. There are churches who work in India, Latin America, Haiti, Jamaica, and places in Africa. Over the next few months we will highlight the work of these churches from both the Disciples and UCC.
Lyle Schaller, who knows more about churches than anyone else, has said that the most efficient way to turn an inwardly focused church into an outwardly focused church is through mission trips. Mission trips create a sense of energy and mission for a church. Mission trips changes lives of people who benefit from the projects. Mission trips change the lives of those who go on the trips. Through mission trips you become friends with people whose lives are very different from yours.
Mission trips are not just for the mega-church. There are places and projects where a small church can make a huge difference. Most of the churches involved in Global Missions projects in our area would be delighted to have people from other churches take part in mission trips with them. If one or two people have gone to a place with others it is so much easier to return to that place.
For more information about Global Missions, and possible mission trips, contact Patrick Nixon at Trinity United Christian Church in Cheney, Kansas at 316-540-6161, or patrick@cheney.kscoxmail.com
K-O WOMEN
WOMEN'S WEEK and
WOMEN'S DAY WORSHIP SERVICE
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2011
Materials found in the Winter Issue of COMMON LOT, (download by clicking here) share resources for Women's Week and the Women's Sunday worship service, suggested for Sunday, FEB. 6th.
Our revised Conference directory of congregations, authorized ministers and lay leaders has recently been published. A copy was mailed to each of the congregations and all of the members of the Conference Council.
If you, too, would like a copy, please email Judy at jvincent@kocucc.com and she will send you a pdf file so that you may have your own copy. If this is difficult for you, please let Judy know and we will try to accommodate that. Also, if after receiving the directory you notice any inaccurate or incomplete information, please let Judy know so that we can update the database.
YOUNG ADULT MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Ecumenical Advocacy Days will be held this year from March 25 - 28 and offers scholarships for young adults to participate. It is an ecumenical event grounded in our common faith and shared traditions of justice and peace. The gathering includes issue briefings and advocacy trainings, and culminates on Monday with all participants going to Capital Hill for pre-scheduled meetings with their Members of Congress. Early registration rate deadline is February 19.
Two young adult-specific Justice LED trainings will be held this year for UCC members between the ages of 18 - 30. The first will be held in Cleveland, May 5 - 8, 2011; the second will be hosted by Pilgrim Firs in the Seattle area from September 24 - 26. The goals for these events are: to share with them the Biblical/theological and socio-cultural grounding for doing justice work; to offer them them a taste of the Justice LED program so they can promote and share it with others in their respective churches and communities; and to empower them to be faith-based leaders and champions of justice, able to deeply reflect and engage with others on issues and act on areas of injustice that move them.
Justice and Witness Ministries will cover the cost of transportation, lodging, meals and program materials for all accepted applicant; each event has space for up to 25 people.
WMC MATCHING GRANT CHALLENGE
White Memorial Camp has been awarded a $30,000 MATCHING GRANT for a High Ropes Course from the Hopkins Foundation of Lyon County, KS.
Our challenge now is to raise the other $30.000.00 by the spring so we can have the course up and running before summer starts. The addition of a high course that accessible to all will enable the camp to be more self sustaining, enrich the lives or our camp family, and expand our conference participants.
The UCC Puritan Congregational Church in Drummond OK has given $1,000.00 and is challenging other churches to meet their donation.
Our challenge to you is to be part of this exciting addition to camp and help us reach this goal. Climb on! For more information call the camp office 620-767-5165 or send a check to the Conference office with "High Ropes Course" in the comment section.
If you are associated with construction of challenge courses or might know of someone who is working in this field please let Sara know. She is sending out requests for bid proposals and would like to include several contractors.
Celebrate Seminary Sunday on February 27th
Please plan to celebrate Seminary Sunday on February 27th or any Sunday that works for your congregation.
This is an opportunity to lift up UCC theological education during worship. Bulletin inserts or offering envelopes can be emailed or mailed to you.
For more information, visit the CUE Seminaries website:
www.cueseminaries.org or contact Kiely Todd Roska,
Pat Humphreys and Sandy O use the power of music as advocates for peace and justice, the environment, human rights, women and LGBTQ issues. They will lead a discussion and workshop in how to advocate for change without resorting to violence.
Tulsa area advocates will join them to talk about their efforts to work for change in such areas as bullying prevention, local food insecurity and community development in Tulsa North.
The advocacy discussion is 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5 and the concert begins at 7:00 p.m that evening. Both events are to be held at Fellowship Congregational Church at 2900 S. Harvard in Tulsa.
A pie auction and silent auction are planned during intermission. In addition, Emma's Revolution will have CDs and teeshirts available.
Both the discussion and concert events are at Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Ave. and are organized by Open Table UCC, Owasso. For more details, see www.OpenTableUCC.com.
The concert is a benefit for Open Table UCC in Owasso, a new open and affirming community of faith.
Synod contest to honor congregations that imagined,
then made possible
Six congregations that have imagined something significant - and then worked to make it possible - will be honored at General Synod, July 1-5, in Tampa, Fla. The celebrated churches will help bring to life the Synod's theme, "Imagine What's Possible. God is Still Speaking,"
One congregation representing each of the UCC's six geographic regions: Southern, Great Lakes, New England, Western, West Central and Mid-Atlantic will be chosen by Synod moderators to be honored during the Synod's Imagine What's Possible Music Festival to be held on the evening of Saturday, July 2. The winning churches' pastor and one lay leader will receive an expenses-paid trip to General Synod (airfare, hotel, registration and meals).
"We hope congregations will not be shy in telling the wider church what they made possible with ingenuity, persistence, faith and hard work, and why their story will bring hope and encouragement to the rest of their UCC family," says Edith Guffey, Associate General Minister and the Synod's administrator.
A video presentation on July 2 will weave together the stories of the honored congregations.
"It really doesn't matter what the focus of your accomplishment is," emphasizes Guffey. "It could be an overall renewal effort, a justice advocacy campaign, a mission project, or a fundraising or building program. Anything that underscores that idea that possibilities can and do become realities."
Congregations should email submissions to synodcontest@ucc.org, with "Synod Contest" in the subject line, by Friday, March 11. Submissions can also be mailed to General Synod Contest, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115-1100.
Submissions should include:
A one-to-two page essay describing how your congregation envisioned something significant and then made it happen. Be sure to include details about obstacles, perceived and real, that were overcome, and how the achievement has impacted your church and/or community.
Photos, videos, YouTube or web links, or other materials, that will assist contest judges with understanding your church's story.
A brief description of your congregation, as well as some basic information: Name of your church, address, pastor's name, association/conference, region (if known), and applicant's name, email and phone numbers.
Winners will be announced no later than Tuesday, April 5.
OPENING FOR HALF-TIME CAMPUS MINISTER
The board of directors for the Wichita State University Campus Ministry is accepting applications and/or resumes for a half-time position as campus minister at Wichita State University. The campus has a diverse, 14,000 plus student body with many international and commuter students. The ministry has an office in the Ratigan Student Center and a part-time
administrative assistant. Please send your information and/or queries to: Rev. Phil Shull, 2220 N. Yale, Wichita, KS 67220 or phil@uumc.net.
Krista would be happy to visit your congregation. Call her at 316-686-4331 to schedule a date.
K-O CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Cathedral of Hope, Oklahoma City, OK Rev. Joe Meinhart is interim pastor Congregational UCC, Carrier, OK Rev. Gordon Epps is interim pastor. Community Congregational UCC, Gaylord, KSRev. Linda Kemp is interim pastor. Fairmount UCC, Wichita, KS
Federated Church, Kingfisher, OK Rev. Sam Steele is interim pastor. First Congregational UCC, Anthony, KS First Congregational UCC, Centralia, KS Pastor Scott Caulley is supply pastor. First Congregational UCC, Great Bend, KSRev. Stan Crawford is interim pastor. First Congregational UCC, Goltry, OK First Congregational UCC, McPherson, KS Rev. Constance Lunn is interim pastor First Congregational UCC, Onaga, KS Pastor Scott Caulley is supply pastor. First United Church of Christ, Newton, KS Pastor Jerry Scribner is supply pastor. Highland Trinity UCC, Newton, KS
Immanuel UCC, Ellinwood, KSRev. Larry Young has resigned and his last Sunday leading worship is March 13. St John UCC, Baldwin City, KS Rev Lewis Hinshaw is supply pastor St. Paul UCC, Eudora, KSPastor Rodney Nitz is interim pastor St. Peter's UCC, Inman, KS Rev. Jim Nelson has resigned and his last Sunday leading worship is February 27
United Church of the Good Shepherd, KC, KS Rev. Art Foster is supply pastor.
United Church of Norman, Norman, OK Rev. Warren Jensen is interim pastor.
Zion UCC, Junction City, KS. Rev. Patty Brown-Barnett is interim pastor
Sara Shaw, Camp Director 620-767-5165 (Camp Office) 620-202-0311(Cell) 620-767-7244 (Fax) 1271 South 1050 Road Council Grove KS 66846-8520 wmcucc@tctelco.net
Nancy A. Wolfe, Conference Communications Coordinator
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.
