K-O e-NEWS

  MARCH 14, 2011

 Global Missions /Justice Witness

 UCC, Global Ministries respond to disastrous earthquake and tsunami in Japan

Writing on behalf of the combined world mission of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Global Ministries co-executive directors told mission partners in Japan that the churches "will continue praying for you and seek ways to accompany you in the path that lies ahead."

The letter to the Rev. Aobora Taemae, general secretary of the United Church of Christ in Japan, was sent by the Rev. David Vargas, president of the Division of Overseas Ministries in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, executive minister of the UCC's Wider Church Ministries.

Following the devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resultant tsunami that left hundreds dead, a broad path of destruction in Japan and triggered warnings around the pacific, Global Ministries staff have been actively attempting to make contact with mission personnel in Japan.

Mission partners Martha Mensendiek and Casilda Luzares in Kyoto said they felt the quake but damage was light in the area. Mensendiek also assured staff that her brother, Jeffrey Mensendiek and his family in hard-hit Sendai, was safe but without electricity or gas.

News was also good for Eileen Sanderson, a member of First UCC in Hampton, Va., also in Sendai. A recent graduate of Hope College in Mich., she has been in Japan since February teaching English. First UCC pastor the Rev. Marc Stewart reports family received news via a text message that Eileen survived the earthquake and tsunami.

The Rev. Douglas Anders, the UCC's South Central Conference Minister, has extensive family connections in Japan. Anders' mother was able to contact a sister in Tokyo who reported that other siblings in the vicinity of Sendai had experienced structural damage to their homes but were spared the force of the tsunami waters.

"I invite your prayers for all people affected by today's earthquake-tsunami, especially the people of northern Japan," said Anders in an email to other Conference Ministers, noting that the possibility of such a disaster is contained in the "Japanese collective psyche."

"They know what happened today could happen any day, so in so ways they were prepared. But as one lives through such an event, you realize one can never be fully prepared for the magnitude of damage and destruction," said Anders.

The UCC's Hawaii Conference reports that damage on the islands was confined to isolated flooding and debris, and that several churches on higher ground opened their doors as shelters. The Marshall Islands, Pohnpei and American Samoa, where the UCC has historic partnerships, were spared the effects of the tsunami.

United Church News, the UCC's Disaster Ministries and Global Ministries will continue to update this story as new information becomes available.

A International Disaster Relief donation page has been established by the UCC's disaster ministries to aid in recovery efforts and a pastoral prayer is available as a worship bulletin insert.

Disaster ministries indicates that gifts may also be made at your local UCC congregation marked for "Pacific earthquake/tsunami" with the request they be sent through your Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries. Donations may also be made out and sent directly to Wider Church Ministries, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.

Kansas House Bill 2372, an Arizona-style immigration bill

A major mobilization is occuring in the interfaith community in Lawrence, Kansas to block Kansas House Bill 2372, an Arizona-style immigration bill.

 A summary of the proposed law is available here, and the full text is available at www.kslegislature.org. 

We invite anyone interested in helping this effort to join us. Some members of the K-O Conference are leading this effort, in accordance with the resolution passed during 2010's K-O Conference Annual Meeting against Arizona's Senate Bill 1070. 

More information about immigrants and the United Church of Christ can be found here: http://www.ucc.org/justice/immigration.

There will be an organizing meeting at 5:00 pm, Friday March 18th, at Plymouth Congregational UCC, 925 Vermont St, Lawrence KS.

In addition, an interfaith prayer vigil for immigrant rights will be held at

8:00 pm, Tuesday March 22nd, at Plymouth Church.  For more information, please contact Laura Canelos (laucanelos@gmail.com), Sean Weston (weston.sean@gmail.com). 

CELEBRATION ~ Scribner Ordination!!

The Central Association and First United Church of Christ, Newton, KS celebrated the ordination into the Christian ministry and installation of Rev. Jerry Scribner on Sunday, March 6. 

It was a joy-filled day for all involved, fulfilling a dream and completing a long journey for Jerry. 

Pictured  is Sam Askew, chair of the Committee on Ministry acknowledging and celebrating the covenant that was made with Jerry, the local church and the wider church that day.
 

Also pictured are all the UCC clergy who participated in the service:  Jim Nelson, Bob Smith, Bill Hickerson, Jerry Scribner, Sam Askew, Krista Betz, Ruth Wagner Bradshaw, and Judy Conners. 

  WOMEN of Oklahoma and Kansas!!

  An Invitation from Edith Guffey

An Invitation to our Pastors and Lay Leaders

Imagine What's Possible with 3,500 of your UCC friends in Tampa, Florida!  Come to the Twenty-eighth General Synod, July 1-5.

Here are some important things that you and your congregation should know as we approach our time together in Tampa.

Suncoast Saturday: Saturday, July 2, will be a day full of inspirational speakers and workshops, as we "imagine what's possible" for the UCC and our local churches.  We will begin the morning with a keynote address by Leonard Pitts Jr., the Pulitzer-prize winning syndicated columnist, interspersed with music by Nuttin' But Stringz, a finalist and crowd favorite from America's Got Talent.  The rest of the day will feature diverse and dynamic inspirational speakers and workshops to help you "imagine what's possible" in worship and spirituality, technology, justice, finance, leadership, health and wellness, youth, and the arts. Speakers will provide practical applications to help inspire possibilities-focused ideas for your congregation. Here's the complete lineup for you to review and share with others.

'Imagine What's Possible' Contest: Tell us your story! What has your church imagined and then made possible?  Your pastor and a key lay leader can win an expense-paid trip to Synod. But even more importantly, your stories will be showcased during Saturday evening's Imagine What's Possible Music Celebration, providing inspiration to all in attendance. Your work and ministry in Kansas, for example, can inspire the ministry in New York, or in Ohio or in Wisconsin. So join in the fun: tell your story before March 11 so we can help ministry grow and flourish in exciting ways.

Your Church, Better: Do you have ideas that might be helpful and invigorating for other churches to hear?  Sign up to offer your very own  "Your Church, Better" mini-workshop in the Synod exhibitor area. Share your wisdom with others, such as "10 ways to have a more effective youth group?" or "15 ways to keep your history alive" or maybe "10 ways to promote life-long learning."  What does your church or ministry do well that you can share with others? Applications are due on March 15.

For a fuller picture of the Twenty-eighth General Synod, including information on how to register and get housing, go to ucc.org/synod.

See you in Tampa, where together we will celebrate how "imagining what's possible" is the first step to making it so.

Edith Guffey
Associate General Minister
Administrator of the Twenty-eighth General Synod

 PIES Programs - becoming whole, one slice at a time!

K-O YOUTH EVENT ~ March 18 - 20

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

www.whitememorialcamp.com

or  Click here to download registration form

28th GENERAL SYNOD

Link to

the K-0

Calendar 

April 16 -- Central/Western Association Spring Meeting

April 30 -- North Central Association Spring Meeting at White Memorial Camp

April 30 -- Eastern Association Spring Meeting - Ecclesiastical Council at Colonial UCC, Prairie Village

May 7 - Oklahoma Association Meeting - location to be determined

Pilgrim Congregational, Wichita, KS ~ Rev. Ruth Bradshaw & Congregation

Jeff Keller - Vice President, Kansas Oklahoma Conference

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