25 youth and their sponsors leaving Germany on their way to Topeka for 2 weeks!   

PRAYER REQUESTS FROM OUR K-O FAMILY

• Prayers for safe travels and good times for the 25 youth from Baden, Germany and the youth from K-O Conference as they experience life in Kansas together for the next two weeks. 

  Pictures and videos are being posted on the K-O Conference Facebook page.  

• If you would like to send a card to Harry Kasitz expressing your condolence for the loss of his wife Grace, his mailing address is:  509 E. 7^th   Newton KS 67114.

We have also been informed that memorial contributions may be made to:

White Memorial Camp and Conference Center in care of K-O Conference office

1245 Fabrique, Wichita, KS 67218 and First United Church of Christ  210 E. 4th St., Newton, KS 67114

K-O PRAYER CALENDAR 

Rev. Max and Rev. Lillie DaMetz, retired clergy and UCC Pension Board Visitors

Fairmount UCC, Wichita, KS -- Rev. Larry Young and Congregation

Peace Church, Alma, KS ~ Rev. John Austin and Congregation

Alida Upland Cooperative Parish, Junction City, KS ~ Rev. Ross Olson and Congregation

The June, July, August K-O Prayer Calendar is posted on the KO website   www.kocucc.com/prayercenter

K-O ANNUAL MEETING RESOLUTIONS 

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION 

The deadline to submit resolutions for consideration at the 2011 Annual Meeting is July 1, 2011. 

 Everything you need to know about what's happening at 

General Synod

Everything you need to know about what's happening at General Synod can be found athttp://www.ucc.org/synod/ .  

Take some time to tour the website and find out what will be discussed by the delegates at General Synod.  The plenary sessions will be webcast so plan on spending some time with your computer July 1-5 even if you can't make it to Tampa. 

Kansas-Oklahoma Conference will be represented by 7 delegates, 2 associate delegates and several visitors.  The delegates and associate delegates are:  

Jim Ahrens (First Congregational UCC, Manhattan, KS), 

Jan Gian (Community Church of Garden City, KS), 

Jim Massey (Fellowship UCC, Tulsa, OK),

Lizette Merchan (Community of Hope, Tulsa, OK), 

James Rix (Pilgrim UCC, Wichita, KS), 

JF Wickey (CrossWalk UCC, Enid, OK), 

Jennifer Wachowski (Fellowship UCC, Tulsa, OK), 

Nancy Wolfe (Community UCC, Carbondale, KS) and 

Krista Betz (Interim Conference Minister). 

The delegates would love an invitation to come to your church and discuss the General Synod experience.

The Executive Council of the United Church of Christ has approved a unified governance plan for the denomination.  The proposal for a United Church Board of 52 people and necessary changes to the United Church of Christ Constitution and Bylaws will go to the 28^th General Synod in July for approval.  Constitutional changes require ratification by Conferences.  To see the proposed changes, go tohttp://www.ucc.org/synod/constitution-and-bylaws.html

The candidacy of W. Mark Clark, nominee for Associate General Minister, was affirmed by the Office of General Ministries Board and the Executive Council in late March.  Since 1999 he has been President and Chief Executive Officer of CODAC Behavior Health Services, Inc, in Tucson, Arizona, a non-profit managed behavioral health care organization.  He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Office of General Ministries, chairing its Budget and Finance Committee and representing that board on the UCC Executive Council.

Jim Moos' candidacy as Executive Minister and Co-Executive of Global Ministries was affirmed by the Wider Church Ministries Board in early April.  Jim has served as Senior Pastor of Bismarck UCC in North Dakota since 1996.  He is a former US Air Force Reserve chaplain and UCC Executive Council member, where he served as Chair.  He is also a past member of the Wider Church Ministries Board.

The UCC Local Church Ministries Board of Directors endorsed the Nomination of J. Bennett Guess to the position of Executive Minister in early April.  Ben has served at the national setting of the UCC since 2000-as Communications Director for Justice and Witness Ministries, followed by News Director and Editor of United Church News, and since 2007 as the Director of the UCC's Publishing, Identity and Communication Ministry.  Guess served twelve years as a local church pastor in Kentucky.

Nominations for these three members of the Collegium will be forwarded to the 28^th General Synod in Tampa for affirmation.  If elected, they will join Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President, and Linda Jaramillo, Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries, on the UCC Collegium of Officers.

That they may all be 1.

From 11/1/11 to 11/11/11 all UCC churches are invited to share in a terrific mission.

"In a nutshell, 'ONE United Church on a shared mission for 11 powerful days to feed the hungry and confront food-related injustice.' is the centerpiece of this major push that we are launching today," reported Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, the UCC's general minister and president. "If you've ever yearned for the whole UCC to walk hand in hand to achieve a common goal, this is the answer to that prayer."

 

"Mission : 1" -- as  the campaign will be called -- plays on the prevalence of the number "1" in the November, 2011 timeframe and calls for three overarching goals:

• In the 11 days, the UCC will collect more than 1 million items of healthy food and other household items for local food banks and outreach services. Donations will go to local food pantries and be reported to National UCC to keep a count.

• In the 11 days, the UCC will make an extra-special push to gather online contributions of more than $111,111 for Neighbors in Need, offerings that will be shared for hunger-action purposes with agencies of justice and compassion throughout the United States.

• In the 11 days, the UCC will offer more than 11,111 letters to Congress asking the government to reform U.S. foreign assistance in a way that more effectively benefits hungry and poor people worldwide, helping to provide a major final push to Bread for the World's 2011 "Offering of Letters" campaign.

Rev. J. Bennett Guess, UCC's communications director, outlined the "Mission:1" concept as a step toward addressing five critical needs prevalent across the denomination's life:

1. The need to respect and encourage local mission;
2. The need to embrace our churches' ministries of compassion as well as commitments to justice;
3. The need for newer ways to measure our impact on those we serve beyond membership totals or dollars given; 
4. The need for transparency and accountability for achieving what we say we are going to achieve;
5. The need to "wildly celebrate" what we accomplished together.

Can you find 11 people in your church who will pledge to give $11 or $111 online to Neighbors in Need on Nov. 1?

Will your church set a goal of gathering no fewer than 1,111 food items or 111 letters to Congress?

Use your creativity and playfulness to achieve these big goals. And tell us how you plan to meet the challenge.

Rev. Krista Betz

Interim Conference Minister

Kansas-Oklahoma Conference

316-686-4331

Kansas Conference on Poverty

UCC:  e-giving

If you are a local church and are interested in gaining information on how you can enter the world of electronic giving for members who wish to contribute in that manner, the UCC has partnered with Vanco Services, LLC to offer several secure, cost-effective electronic payment solutions for local churches.  

 It can help process giving to a local UCC church through:

...Direct Debit (ACH)    Example:  can debit a member's checking or savings account on set dates or set amounts.

...Credit-Debit Card    Example:  can set up a credit card contribution on a regular basis.

...Online Giving    Example:   can provide opportunities for members and non-members to give on line as they determine how and when to give.

...Donation by Text    Example:   Givers can complete a one-time, online profile and then can text to give a contribution anytime they wish.

Vanco can work with a local church to set up a system that does not have a monthly service fee or monthly minimums.  This is perfect for churches that handle only a handful of transactions without large service fees.

 

For more info:   Vanco Services   1.800.774.9355    www.ucc.org/e-giving

Link to

the K-0

Calendar 

July 1 - 5 ~ General Synod

July 4 ~ Independence Day - Office Closed

July 15-16 ~ K-O Council Retreat at White Memorial Camp

October 7, 8 & 9 ~ K-O Conference 50th Annual Meeting ~ Topeka, KS

 PULPIT SUPPLY LIST

Cathedral of Hope, Oklahoma City, OK  Rev. Joe Meinhart is interim pastor

 

Church of the Good Shepherd, Kansas City, KS  Rev. Art Foster is serving as stated supply

Congregational UCC, Carrier, OK   Rev. Gordon Epps is interim pastor.    

Community Congregational UCC, Gaylord, KS Rev. Linda Kemp is interim pastor.  
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, KS Rev. 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 Salem UCC, Wichita, KS  Pastor John Werner has announced his resignation.  His last Sunday leading worship will be August 28

Highland Trinity UCC, Newton, KS Rev. Bill Hickerson is supply pastor

Immanuel UCC, Ellinwood, KS

Midland Community UCC, Nickerson, KS  Rev. Bob Smith has announced his retirement.  His last Sunday leading worship was May 22.  

St John UCC, Baldwin City, KS  Rev Lewis Hinshaw is supply pastor  

St. Peter's UCC, Inman, KS 

United Church of Norman, Norman, OK Rev. Warren Jensen is interim pastor.

Zion UCC, Junction City, KS.  Rev. Patty Brown-Barnett is interim pastor

Zion UCC, Kansas City, KS 

 Archived e-NEWS emails 

United Church of Christ

Kansas-Oklahoma Conference  

White Memorial Camp and Conference Center