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KANSAS-OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
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K-O e-NEWS
JANUARY 26, 2012
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Register Today for United Church of Christ Polity Online Course
The Wisconsin Conference has opened registration for our 8 week United Church of Christ Polity online course, taught by Rev. Dr. Marti Baumer.
Dates: Weekly, Wednesdays beginning March 14 - May 2, 2012 (8 sessions)
Time: 11:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Chicago Time (Interactive live course)
Cost:
$100 (Wisconsin In State Residents)
$150 (out of state)
Materials: The book "The Evolution of a UCC Style", by Randi Jones Walker (purchase book separately through UCC Resources www.uccresources.org)
Rev. Judith Scott has a new copy of this book and will sell at a discount.
Registration Limit: 15 (class fills quickly)
Participants need an internet connection to participate.
Any question or additional informaton please call
Liisa Analore Communication and Outreach Coordinator
Phone: 608-846-7880
E-mail: lanalore@wcucc.org
Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
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HEY!!! It's time to REGISTER FOR NYE 2012
National Youth Event
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submitted
by Marah
Schlingensiepen |
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Hello everybody,
I have had the pleasure of being on the National Youth Event 2012 Vision Team for a year and a half now, and I want to remind you that National Youth Event us coming up!
It will be from July 10th-13th at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
I can't stress enough about how great I think the location is. Purdue University is a great place for event like this! As a part of the Vision Team, I attended an on-site visit to Purdue in order to be able to better plan where different activities should take place. I have enjoyed every minute of being on the planning team, and I know that NYE 2012 will be an absolute blast
MK Asante, (who I am extremely excited for), an award-winning author, filmmaker, and professor; will be the opening keynote speaker. Some other speakers we have lined up so far are Rev. Barbara Essex, Minister for Higher and Theological Education and Dr. Marcia McFee, best known as an author and worship leader/designer. There will be many others, some of whom you may know of very well!
This is a time where THOUSANDS of UCC youth gather together in fellowship with one another for a few days of service projects, worship, workshops, and lots of fun activities taking place day and night. It is a time to make life-long friends with your brothers and sisters of the greater UCC beyond our Kansas-Oklahoma family.
The 2012 NYE Theme is "Imagine" with scriptural focus, Isaiah 43:19. The daily subthemes are: Imagine Extravagant Welcome; Imagine a Healthy World; Imagine A World Where Differences Are Embraced and Imagine One Church.
Registration for National Youth Event is now open!
http://www.ucc.org/nye
Registration will be completed exclusively on-line.
The National Youth Event <http://www.ucc.org/nye> website is being updated regularly. Check back often and remain in touch with our planning team at youth@ucc.org.
Also, follow us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/UnitedChurchofChristYouth#!/UnitedChurchofC
hristYouth> and Twitter <http://twitter.com/#!/TheUCCYouth>
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Community Connection to PTS
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Phillips Theological Seminary
Student Spotlight: Shannon Gorres, PTS M Div student
Member of Plymouth Congregational UCC and a Member in Discernment in the Eastern Association
What helped you decide to attend PTS?
When I came to visit, Linda Ford and everyone I talked with carried a unique balance of calmness, eagerness, and sincere support. Jules' presence in the cafeteria also illuminated for me how great this place is all around. Ultimately, though, it was a deep sense of belonging, deep in my gut where God said and claimed, "howdy, this is go."
What is the most fulfilling part of seminary for you?
Worshiping in a community of diverse people with different theologies feels like the fulfillment of the open, welcoming table. I rejoice in the opportunity to express my love for God in my form, alongside my struggles and inquiries, and in the company of others committed to their own process. I keep thinking, "I am so lucky, privileged, and blessed to be in seminary."
What is your biggest challenge in attending seminary?
It has been difficult spending time away from my intentional community where we focus on permaculture, social justice, and holistic health. I invested the last 4 years of my life there and moving 35 hours of my week toward seminary studies was a significant shift. You can see me give a tour of the project at www.cosmicbeauty.org.
What is one thing we simply MUST know about you?
I am teaching free yoga classes this semester at PTS! They are super relaxing and energizing- great for any overly committed, too busy seminarians, professors, or staff. We do a combination of breathing exercises, chanting, and physical stretching and strengthening. We're also going to post video recordings of them on the PTS website for folks off-campus. Email me atshannon.gorres@student.ptstulsa.edu if you're curious.
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The Mission: 1 Survey is designed to gather feedback about the ways that both individuals and churches or other groups participated in Mission: 1. This is part of a larger evaluation initiated by the UCC Collegium of Officers to discern the fuller effects and learnings gleaned from Mission: 1 within the denomination as a whole. We want to hear from you!
The survey should take no longer than 10-15 minutes to complete, so we'd really appreciate any information and feedback you can provide us.
Please complete the survey by February 15, 2012.
Thank you and blessings on your continued ministry. God Is Still Speaking!
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Regional Mission Trip to Nicaragua in August
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After a few years of hiatus, the long-awaited next regional mission trip is set! We will visit Nicaragua, August 4-11, 2012. In cooperation with the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of our United Church of Christ partners and with Global Missions, the joint mission agency of Disciples and UCC, Regional Mission Trip Coordinator Pat Nixon, pastor of Trinity United Christian Church in Cheney, will lead our visit to Mision Cristiana near Mangua, Nicaragua.
The purpose of this trip is two-fold: to experience our wider church at work in the world, and to take part in the mission directly. While in Nicaragua we will work with Global Missions missionaries LauraJean Torgerson and Tim Donaghy. We will see and share a piece of the larger mission work that we support through our offerings.
Local Details: In Nicaragua we will stay and work at the church center "Mision Cristiana," This is the place where the Nicaraguan church gathers for programs beyond the local congregation. We will also share in their lively and life affirming worship services. During mornings we will work on our project, and in the afternoons and evenings we will connect with the people of Nicaragua. A live volcano, hiking trails, and a lively arts and crafts market are within a few minutes of the center.
What's the living like? Mision Cristiana is in the community of Ticuantepe, about 15 miles southeast of Managua. We will live in dormitories at the center, which have bunk beds with twin mattresses and electricity. Participants will bring their own bedding, and if possible leave it behind for the use of the center. Cold water showers and toilets are down the hall; typically men are on one floor and women on another. Our meals will come from the dormitory kitchen, and are said to be pretty good.
What will we do? We will help finish a house which will be used for missionary lodging, classes, and general meetings. At this writing it is a bare block structure. Work groups this year will level dirt, mix concrete, pour floors, install wiring and plumbing, paint, and more. As the last group for the year, we will finish the remaining work. Depending upon needs at the time, we may also help with a church after school program.
Money, Participants, and More: This trip is open to youth and adults. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Cost for this adventure is $500 per person plus air fare, currently $800 per person. The cost includes lodging, food, transportation, and interpreter. A $100 deposit will be required by May 1.
Even if I don't travel, can I help? In addition we will need money for project supplies. Mision Cristiana simply cannot pay for things like this, and we should not put them in a position where we cost them money.
To support this project with your gifts, send them to the K-O Conference office marked "Nicaragua mission." Churches of mission participants are especially encouraged to support this need.
Interested? Have questions? Please contact Pat Nixon soon to indicate your interest: Patrick@cheney.kscoxmail.com, nixon748@cox.net, 316-540-6161.
Are other trips planned? Pat Nixon is the Regional Mission Trip Coordinator for our region, and holds a corresponding position with the local UCC conference. In conversation between our region and the conference, tentative plans are to sponsor mission trips in the Americas in even-numbered years, and beyond the Americas in odd-numbered years. South India is the likely destination for 2013.
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To fellow Christians, Pastors, and Denominational Leaders,
Make Lent an opportunity to enter into a spiritual discipline of fasting from carbon.
Last year, over 6,000 people in every state and 14 countries participated in a daily invitation to fast from carbon as their Lenten discipline.
Initiated by the UCC in 2011, endorsed by Episcopalians in 2012 and promoted in countless places the world over, here's our hope:
If you're a pastor -SIGN UP... and:
·email this invitation to the people in your parish, tell them you'll be participating, AND
·convene a weekly Lenten discussion focusing on the Carbon Fast.
MAKE THIS YOUR CHURCH'S LENTEN PROGRAM!
·And if you're part of a local clergy association, email it to your colleagues, too.
If you are a denominational leader -SIGN UP... and:
·email this invitation to the pastors in your region, AND
·email this invitation to your regional colleagues who lead other denominations.
AND FOR ALL WHO MAY PARTICIPATE:
For hundreds of years, Ash Wednesday (February 22, 2012) marks the beginning of a time when Christians engage in spiritual disciplines involving repentance, fasting, prayer, study and works of love. Living as we are at a time when our actions - along with the actions of only a few generations - have threatened creation as we know it by the excessive burning of fossil fuel, it is fitting to engage in a spiritual discipline of fasting from carbon.
Click here to join us as we commit to fasting from carbon during Lent.
Yes... we are on Facebook! Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 22, each day's activity will be cumulatively posted on this page. Click here to go to the Facebook page.
Let's make protecting God's creation by reducing our carbon footprint as fundamental a spiritual discipline as prayer.
The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal * Conference Minister and President * Massachusetts Conference,
The Rev. Dr. Chuck Barnes * Conference Minister * Rhode Island Conference
The Rev. Dr. Lynn Bujnak * Conference Minister * Vermont Conference,
The Rev. David Gaewski * Conference Minister * Maine Conference,
The Rev. Gary Schulte * Conference Minister * New Hampshire Conference,
The Rev. Chuck Wildman * Interim Conference Minister * Connecticut Conference,
An initiative of the New England Regional Environmental Ministries, United Church of Christ
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Oklahoma Council of Churches
Day at the Legislature
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Join us for OCC's annual Day at the Legislature at the Oklahoma Capitol on Monday, February 13, 2012!
This all day event will be held at the Oklahoma Capitol and includes materials plus lunch in the Rotunda. The first 101 attendees to register will receive priority seating in the House of Representatives Chamber. All other attendees will be seated in the Gallery.
Registration (with coffee) begins at 8:30 a.m. in the 2nd Floor Rotunda. All events will be completed by 4:00 p.m. Free parking is available at the Capitol. Groups and buses are welcome!
Download the 2012 Day at the Legislature Registration Formand see the complete agenda at www.okchurches.org (UPCOMING EVENTS page).
Mail or fax the completed form to OCC by January 31, 2012. Payments for the DAL can be mailed to OCC or paid online securely using PayPal on our website. Call the OCC office at
(405) 525-2928 with questions!
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YEARBOOK DATA
Every year the United Church of Christ asks each of its local congregations to send in statistical information about its membership and finances. This data is then compiled and published in an annual UCC Yearbook. This information is crucial in tracking trends and patterns in our United Church of Christ churches which help the conferences and wider churches be more responsive and effective in their ministries. Each local church should have received the forms and their instructions in the mail-please be on the look-out for them and make sure they get to the right person to fill out. You can choose to fill out the forms with a tried and true pen/pencil or you can choose to fill out the forms electronically. Instructions will be included for whichever procedure works best for you.
The deadline for completing the forms is February 8.
Just to whet your whistle, here's some statistics that we have learned because churches sent in their yearbook data:
*As of December 31,2010, there were 5227 churches and 1,058,423 members in the 38 Conferences.
*Average church size in the UCC is 210 members.
*There are 16 churches with more than 2,000 members.
*64% of churches have less than 200 members.
*More than 1900 churches have less than 100 on average in their worship services.
*Over 88% of churches contribute to Our Churches Wider Mission (OCWM)
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JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 1, 2012
CLERGY RETREAT
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INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION IS POSTED ON THE KO WEBSITE. CLICK HERE
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JANUARY 30 - Governor Call-In Day
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From The Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty
Sponsored ministry of the
KO Conference Justice and Peace Ministry
Mark Your Calendars - January 30th is the Governor Call-In Day
Join hundreds of Kansans on January 30th as they call in to urge Governor Brownback to take a stand against the death penalty.
January 30th is Kansas Abolition Day, commemorating the first time a Kansas Governor signed a bill to repeal the death penalty, in 1907.
The Governor's office number is (877)-579-6757.
When calling the Governor's office, be sure to thank him for his service and tell the staffer on the phone exactly why you oppose the death penalty. You can also use our call script below:
Hi, this is <your name> from <your town> and I am calling to urge Governor Brownback to make repealing the Kansas death penalty a priority in 2012. The death penalty doesn't make Kansans any safer, doesn't deter violent crime and diverts money from more effective law enforcement tools. Our criminal justice system sometime gets it wrong and it is unacceptable to risk executing an innocent person. Life without the possibility of parole is less expensive, keeps Kansans safe and doesn't risk innocent lives. I want to thank Governor Brownback for his service and encourage him to do the right thing and speak up against the death penalty.
We would love to know what you hear from the Governor's office, so call or email us at (785)235-0214 or ben@ksabolition.org with any feedback you receive
Thanks for everything you do to help make the death penalty history!
-- Ben Jefferies
(785) 235-0214
PO Box 2065
Topeka, KS 66601 www.ksabolition.org
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Ladies - get out your calendars!
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Looking ahead in 2012, the following dates should be noted:
FEBRUARY -- Winter Issue of COMMON LOT will present worship materials and daily devotionals for the 2012 WOMEN'S DAY/ WOMEN'S WEEK, which will officially be Sunday, FEBRUARY 5 and FEB. 5-11, 2012. (Materials may be used for any women's worship service.) Adding a dedication of an annual gathering of women's "Blessing Box Offerings" is a possibility, too.
Please remember to remain in covenant with UCC Women in Ministry through contributions to UCCWM ($34) which bring quarterly COMMON LOT publications as well as the Ecumenical BIBLE Study (spring issue). Send to: Local Church Ministries (UCCW), 700 Prospect Ave E, Cleveland OH 44115-1100.
Friday, MARCH 2nd, will be the date for World Day of Prayer. "Let Justice Prevail," written by Christian women of Malaysia is a resource available for you. Materials may be ordered from WDP USA by calling 888.937.8720.
NOTE DATE CHANGE!!
Saturday, APRIL 14th - SPRING CELEBRATION
Central Association Women will host a one-day event for
ALL women of K-O at Trinity United in Cheney, KS.
Fri-Sat-Sun, AUGUST 17-18-19th - K-O WOMEN'S ASSEMBLY at White Memorial Camp.
All women in KO are encouraged to attend all or part of this retreat session to gain information about women's ministries, learn in Bible study and worship, and enjoy fellowship with other UCC women and explore the church camp grounds while enjoying personal meditation time.
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The Honors College at The University of Oklahoma
presents
A Presidential Dream Course Lecture
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Please join us for a free public lecture!
The Honors College at
The University of Oklahoma
presents
A Presidential Dream Course Lecture
"The Puzzle of America's Religious Pluralism:
Making Diversity Work"
by
David Campbell, Ph.D.
University of Notre Dame
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
4:00 pm
(booksigning after the talk)
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of
Natural History
Robert S. Kerr Auditorium
(free parking at the site)
Co-sponsored by: Religious Freedom Project of the
Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage
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K-O PRAYER CALENDAR
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| | | Rosedale Congregational, Kansas City, KS - Rev. Jane Heide and Congregation
The Congregation of Highland Trinity UCC, Newton, KS
Open Table UCC, Owasso, OK - Rev. Melinda Foster and Congregation
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CELEBRATE SEMINARY SUNDAY-FEBRUARY 26
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Please plan to lift up theological education and the UCC Seminaries during worship on Feb 26 or any Sunday that fits the worship schedule for your congregation. Liturgical resources such as worship bulletins, offering envelopes, or a 5-minute DVD about Chicago, United, and Eden Seminaries are available. Contact Kiely Todd Roska, kiely@cueseminaries.org or 651-255-6121. Visit the CUE (Chicago, United, Eden) Seminaries Website: www.cueseminaries.org
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| UCC CALENDAR OF PRAYER |
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ASSOCIATIONS AND CONFERENCE COMING EVENTS |
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Link to
the K-0
Calendar
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January 30 - February 1, 2012 - Clergy Retreat
February 19 ~ Central Association Ecclesiastical Council for John Werner, 3pm at First Salem UCC, Wichita, KS
March 24 ~ Oklahoma Association Ecclesiastical Council for Lori Walke
K-O Conference Council Meetings
February 11, 2012 - Wichita
May 5, 2012 - Wichita
July 20-21 at White Memorial Camp
SAVE THE DATES FOR ASSOCIATION SPRING MEETINGS!!
April 14 Oklahoma Association Annual Meeting
April 21 Central and Western Association Annual Meeting at Great Bend, KS
April 28 North Central Association Annual Meeting
April 28 Eastern Association Annual Meeting
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| K-O INTERIM CONFERENCE MINISTER'S SCHEDULE |
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January 30-February 1~ KO Clergy Retreat
February 5 ~ First Congregational UCC, Russell, KS
February 11 ~ KO Council Meeting
February 12 ~ Ok. City Community Organization Founding Convention
February 13-16 ~ vacation
February 19 ~ Carrier Congregational UCC, Carrier, OK
March 11 ~ First Congregational UCC, Great Bend, KS
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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Central Congregational UCC, Topeka, KS
Carrier Congregational UCC, Carrier, OK ~ Rev. Gordon Epps is interim pastor.
Community Congregational UCC, Gaylord, KS Rev. Linda Kemp is interim pastor
Community of Hope, Tulsa, OK
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 supply pastor
First Congregational UCC, Manhattan, KS Rev. Victor Force is interim pastor
First Congregational UCC, Onaga, KS Pastor Scott Caulley is supply pastor
First Salem UCC, Wichita, KS Pastor Myra Sorrell is serving as supply pastor.
Highland Trinity UCC, Newton, KS Rev. Bill Hickerson is supply pastor
Immanuel UCC, Ellinwood, KS Rev. Katrina Palan is interim pastor
Open Table UCC, Owasso, OK Rev. Melinda Foster has announced her resignation
Puritan Congregational Christian Church, Drummond, OK. Rev. Matt
Perkins is supply pastor
St John UCC, Baldwin City, KS Rev Lewis Hinshaw is supply pastor
St. Peter's UCC, Inman, KS Rev Christine Edwards is the interim 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
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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
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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