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KANSAS-OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
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UCC launches Eastern Horn of Africa drought and famine appeal. More than 10 million people in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are affected. Your donation needed now.
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One Great Hour of Sharing emergency relief grants have been shared with Church World Service and Action by Churches Together to support immediate emergency food relief in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. The United Church of Christ is a member communion of Church World Service and an affiliate of the ACT Alliance. Your donation is needed now.  SITUATION: This year marks the driest period in the Eastern Horn of Africa region since 1995, with the lowest level of rainfall in more than 50 years. As a result, food security -- the access and availability to food -- has deteriorated for most households in all arid and semi-arid regions in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia as well as other countries in the region. In a word, the situation has become a crisis. Crops have failed, large numbers of livestock needed for survival have perished, and local food prices have increased substantially. Earlier this week, the United Nations declared that famine exists in two areas of southern Somalia, southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle. (Famine is declared when acute rates of malnutrition exist among children, exceeding 30 percent; when more than two persons per 10,000 die daily; and when people are not able to access and sufficiently utilize food and other basics.) In all, more than 10 million people in East Africa are affected by the drought. In Somalia, some 3.7 million people are now facing a crisis, while in Kenya the total number of those estimated to be affected is up to 3.5 million. Among the characteristics of this crisis: Deepening food insecurity in pastoral areas and in urban poor settings; the rate of acute malnutrition among children in these areas is steadily increasing; and Kenya is experiencing an unprecedented influx of refugees fleeing drought conditions from Somalia. RESPONSE: ++ Church World Service is focusing work on both immediate relief and longer-term food security/nutrition and water initiatives. Work is focused in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. ++ In Kenya, CWS-implemented work is focused on the Mwingi and Kibwezi areas and will include immediate relief work (for five months) involving provision of family food packages, Unimix nutritional supplement for children under the age of five and water tinkering. In the longer-term, CWS will initiate food security/nutrition/livelihoods efforts and permanent water initiatives that are part of our already-existing disaster risk reduction initiatives in Kenya. ++ ACT members have determined that Somalia will be the largest area of focus for the overall ACT response in terms of the amount of assistance. That is because Somalia is a country "where little other than NGO support will exist and the situation of people there is the most dire," said Donna Derr, who heads CWS's development and humanitarian assistance program. ++ CWS-supported efforts in Somalia are focused on contributing to the work by fellow members of ACT Alliance: Lutheran World Federation and Norwegian Church Aid. ++ CWS-supported work in Ethiopia is focused on response efforts by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission, a long-time CWS partner.
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Happy Faces at White Memorial Camp
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The Topeka Sheltered Reality site visited White Memorial Camp on Monday, July 11th
to play for the DDA campers. We had a wonderful time together learning about the steps
to success and how to "Do the Impossible," which is the theme for Sheltered Reality this year.
There were over 40 campers that "took a chance" and came up front to guest drum. Following
the more serious portion of the show, the SR members performed some fun songs and the campers
got up and danced.
This is the second year that Sheltered Reality has done this show and three of our newest
members had the privilege of this being their first show.
SR Topeka performs at many shows throughout the year and this is always one of our favorites.
Thank you to Amy Redmon and all of the White Memorial Camp staff members for having us.
Christine White 785-559-7630
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CUBA CARAVAN STOPPED IN OKLAHOMA CITY
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THE CARAVAN PARTICIPANTS:
Luis Barrios, Episcopal priest
Nancy Cohn, Boston, MA
Bob Abplanalp, Illinois
Steven Flowers, Chicago, ILL
Patrick O'Dougherty, St. Paul, MN
Scot MacGregor, Colorado, bus driver
Sylvia Knight, Brighton, UK
Dr. Bill Maher, Veterinarian,
CONTACT: Nathaniel Batchelder, Director, The Peace House, OKC 405-524-5577
Eight travelers in three vehicles on a caravan taking humanitarian aid to Cuba stopped in Oklahoma City, Thursday, July 14th, to deliver a program about their project, and spend the night with local supporters. Their public presentation was at Church of the Open Arms, UCC.
The group represented just one of 12 different routes of the caravan that are stopping in 130 cities to make presentations and collect humanitarian aid. Construction tools and supplies, medical supplies, computers and vehicles will be given to the churches in Cuba for distribution there.
Declining to apply for a U.S. license, the caravan presents a legal challenge to the 50-year old U.S. Embargo against Cuba. "This aid is from U.S. churches to Cuban churches, and we challenge the restrictions on trade and travel that are part of the Embargo," said Luis Barrios, spokesperson for the caravan. "Love is our license," he said.
When the 12 routes assemble in Texas, there will be more than 100 participants planning to travel on through Mexico and fly to Cuba.
On August 20th, the entire caravan will gather at the U.S. border with Mexico where they will be challenged by U.S. government officials because they have no license to go to Cuba. In the past, the contents of the aid caravan have been examined, and licenses issued to allow the caravan to proceed. It is not certain what will happen at the border this year.
This year's caravan will also be commemorating the life of Rev Lucius Walker, Jr., founding director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace, who for 20 years gave prophetic and visionary leadership to the caravans to Cuba in defiance of the U.S. Embargo, and who died in September, 2010.
The Caravan is organized nationally by Pastors for Peace, which initiated the annual Caravan project 22 years ago. Pastors for Peace maintains that the U.S. Embargo of Cuba is an obsolete and immoral relic of the cold war that prevents trade and travel between Cuba and the United States.
"If the Embargo were ended, American farm products could be sold to Cuba, and Cuban products including important pharmaceuticals could be sold to Americans," said Nathaniel Batchelder, Director of the Peace House in Oklahoma City. "The U.S. hotel industry is blocked from building resort hotels in Cuba, where hotels built by Swiss, German, and Japanese firms are in full operation. If we can have open trade and travel with China, why not with Cuba?" he asked.
When the caravan reaches the east coast Mexican city of Tampico, the aid will be loaded onto a ship, and the travelers will fly to Cuba. They will spend 10 days in Cuba visiting high schools, universities, medical clinics, agricultural operations, and cultural centers. "We are especially interested in observing Cuba's excellent public health and public education systems," said Dr. Barrios.
More information about the caravan is available by contacting John Waller, Cuba Caravan Coordinator, IFCO-Pastors for Peace:
Cell 831-512-6688
email cucaravan@igc.org
www.pastorsforpeace.org
418 W 145th Street
New York, NY, 10031
Submitted by Rev.Mike Poage, Chair, K-O Justice & Witness Commission
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Preaching New Heights: A Sermon Crafting Retreat in the Rockies with Martin Copenhaver and Lillian Daniel
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The Copeland Institute of Boulder County presents:
Preaching New Heights:
A Sermon-crafting Retreat in the Rockies
Please join this Masters Preaching Retreat with renown authors, pastors and theologians, Lillian Daniel and Martin Copenhaver to stimulate creative preaching practices for the coming year.
AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
3 days, 4 nights
Check in August 28, 5 p.m. (light meal will be served)
Check out September 1, 10 a.m. (following breakfast)
This retreat will be held at the Copeland Institute of Boulder County a beautifully appointed retreat center with stunning views or the Rockies wherever you turn. It is an opportunity for experienced preachers to develop their preaching skills, a kind of "master's class" for those who want to "preach new heights".
Cost for the event is $635 per person, double occupancy, including meals.
thecopelandinstitute@gmail.com.
For reservations, call 303-332-6330
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K-O PRAYER CALENDAR
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Federated Church, Kingfisher, OK ~ Rev. Sam Steele, Interim and Congregation
Boulevard Congregational Christian Church ~ Rev. Ralph Alexander and Congregation
St. Paul's UCC, Marshall, OK ~ Rev. Dan Thimell, Rev. Craig Groseclose and Congregation
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Thank You
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Thank you for all the expressions of concern and prayers for my husband and me as he went through two major surgeries this summer. He has been off work since May 1 but will resume work on July 25. He is still in the process of recovering all his strength but has been so blessed in his recovery.
Judy & Richard Vincent
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| UCC CALENDAR OF PRAYER |
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SAVE THE DATE -- SEPTEMBER 12, 2011
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Fairmount UCC, Wichita, KS will be having a special 100th anniversary celebration of the actual church building on Sept. 12, 2011 (also featuring the renovated sanctuary for those who haven't seen it).
There will be a special church service at 10:00 am; followed by a light lunch.
At 2:00pm, there will be a concert performed by organist, Celia Goering; followed by a reception with cookies and punch. The music department at Wichita State University is hoping to see a great turnout for the concert (they have some idea of plans to use the sanctuary for small recitals, etc - and we value the tie with the university).
Submitted by Pat Yungclas
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SAVE THE DATE -- SEPTEMBER 17, 2011
SMALL MEMBERSHIP CHURCH WORKSHOP
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IF YOU DON'T SEE THE IMAGE ABOVE,
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DOCUMENT
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ASSOCIATIONS AND CONFERENCE COMING EVENTS |
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Link to
the K-0
Calendar
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July 30th - Eastern Association Committee on Ministry
September 17th - Small Membership Church Workshop
October 7, 8 & 9 ~ K-O Conference 50th Annual Meeting ~ Capitol Plaza Hotel, Topeka, KS
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| K-O INTERIM CONFERENCE MINISTER'S SCHEDULE |
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July 31~ Mayflower UCC, Oklahoma City, OK in the morning and Community of Hope UCC, Tulsa, OK in the evening for Rev. Lizette Merchan's farewell service
Krista would be happy to visit your congregation. Call her at 316-686-4331 to schedule a date.
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| K-O CHURCHES IN TRANSITION |
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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
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
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| QUICK LINKS |
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| CONTACT INFORMATION |
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Rev. Krista Betz, Interim Conference Minister
Kansas-Oklahoma Conference 1245 Fabrique
Wichita, KS 67218
800-880-6466
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
3020 SE Virgo Ave
Topeka, KS 66605
785-806-4580
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