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Maine Conference Newsletter
February 03, 2016

Pilgrim Lodge Online Registration is now open! Go to www.pilgrimlodge.org to view the schedule and register for camp! Questions or concerns please email Our Administrator Karen Steelhammer at karen@pilgrimlodge.org

Yearbook Data Collection

Is Now!!

All Data Collection will be Done Online

There are NO paper forms this year

Accessing the Data Hub

To login to the UCC Data Hub please go to

http://datahub.ucc.org/.

Alternately, you will find a link to the Data Hub at

http://www.ucc.org/research_yearbook.

Please be sure to read

The Church Instructions

and watch the tutorials at the site below before beginning. If AFTER reading the instructions and watching the tutorials you still have questions please feel free to contact Beth Campbell, Ministry Assistant, in the Conference Office at 207-622-3100 or at

conference@maineucc.org

Your username is your conference church ID#. Please do not use leading zeros for the conference portion of the login. However, leading zeros should be used for the church portion of the number. (For example, The Maine Conference ID # is 28 and if your church number is #40, then your ID# would be 280040.) A link to a list of ID numbers is below.

Church ID Numbers

Your default password is password.

Several brief video tutorials have been posted at http://www.ucc.org/research_yearbook to assist you. Please view these videos before calling your conference or association for assistance.

. Please submit your data as early as possible to avoid potential delays if you should need assistance. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Beth Campbell at the Conference Center

Please view these videos before calling the conference for assistance.

The Data Hub will be available January 4, 2015 at noon until March 7, 2015 at midnight

In the Resource Center!

Faith in the Face of Empire by Mitri Raheb

A Palestinian Christian theologian shows how the reality of empire shapes the context of the biblical story, and the ongoing experience of Middle East conflict.

The search page for the online catalog is now available on the Maine Conference website and the Library cart is now working, or you can send requests to resourcecenter@maineucc.org

or call 1-800-244-0937 or 207-622-3100. Please be aware that once you enter a search item you will be taken to a page that says "Grace Presbytery" in the upper left hand corner. You are in the right place. This is our catalog web host.

'Spotlight' discussion guide a meaningful conversation starter for preventing sexual abuse in churches

Written by Barb Powell

Sexual abuse of children, teens and adults by church leaders is a serious problem brought back into focus recently by the heralded film, "Spotlight." To aid thoughtful dialogue about issues highlighted in the movie, the United Church of Christ has released a film discussion guide for use by churches interested in addressing ways to ensure members of our faith communities are not vulnerable to abuse.

Click Here for Full Article

Hi, I'm Marcha�. I'm the social media manager for the national office of the United Church of Christ, and in case you wondered, I am not one of the people featured in this meme.

When people hear what I do, they often get a furrowed brow and say one of these things:

"Cool! So you get paid to play on Facebook all day?"

"So, that's a full-time job?"

"So, what does that even mean?"

If you've tried creating a social media presence for your church, you know social media is definitely a lot more work than it seems.

And that's where I come in.

I'm starting this weekly newsletter called "Get Social" to help church leaders and faith-based social media managers get a better idea of how to improve their social channels.

Don't worry. I'll have a little something for everyone. I realize some people don't know what Facebook really is, and some people want tips about using Facebook analytics. No matter what your social media ability is, I have your back.

If you've read this far, you are either really excited to get the weekly emails or trying vigorously to figure out how to unsubscribe and never hear from me again.

Hey, I believe in unfollows! If this isn't your thing, you will never hear from me again. You can stop reading, and you don't even have to hit an unsubscribe link.

If you want to follow "Get Social," please click here. I'll send you one email a week, guiding you through the ever-changing, sometimes exhausting, but always exciting, world of social media.

Talk to you soon, I hope!

Marcha�

Marcha� Grair is many things. A Netflix addict, puppy enthusiast, songbird, Millennial dreamer, and God lover, to name a few. She is the editor of New Sacred and social media associate for the United Church of Christ.

Are your Youth going to

The National Youth Event?

We are curious to see is going

Please send me an e-mail at

conference@maineucc.org

Deadline for the National Youth Event Scholarships is coming up!

(2/15/2016)

See Information Below

National Youth Event Information

When: July 26-30, 2016

Registration:

Opens January 6, 2016

New & Updated Information Regarding NYE

National Youth Event

Scholarships Available

The quadrennial UCC National Youth Event is coming up in July in Orlando, Florida, and for the first time, families are invited to participate along with teens.

Check out all the action:

http://www.ucc.org/national-youth-event-disney-08042014

Already, the Maine UCC Resourcing the Local Church Committee has been asked to help fund our youth to go to this event. Because we wish to make sure that the youth in all our churches have an equal opportunity to attend, and because we wish to treat all interested youth fairly, the Committee has set a special deadline to receive all applications for scholarships to the National Youth Event.

That deadline is

Monday, February 15

Click Here for the Application Process

Brown Endowment Scholarships

For MID's

Don't Wait Until the Middle of February

Start this Time Consuming Process NOW!!

Deadline is March 1st

The Brown Endowment

Nearly $200,000 was awarded from the Richard and Helen Brown Endowment for Pastoral Scholarship to help MIDs pay for the cost of their studies during the current academic year. Non-traditional MIDs (ie, those who are not seminarians) also received some of this financial support. But to get an award for next year (2016-17), each MID must complete the online application process by March 1, 2016.

To apply for a Brown Scholarship, MIDs should visit www.ucfunds.org/brown.

Remember: Brown Scholarship Applications must be completed online by March 1, 2016 for the 2016-17 academic year; the application process takes time.

Please urge all MIDs to go online and initiate their application now.

Beginning the application after the middle of February may be too late.

SAVE THE DATE

Building an Inclusive Church Event

April 8th & 9th

Concord, NH

More Information to Come

Under 40? Share Your Thoughts #UCCVision

Calling all folks under the age of 40! The United Church of Christ wants to hear from you. What will a transformational church look like in 10 years? What does the church look like at its very best? Share your ideas by taking this survey. (Bouns: Anyone who completes the survey has a chance to win an Ipad).

https://www.research.net/r/futureoffaith_iPad

Help us spread the word by sharing this survey with your community.

Help Wanted/Classifieds

South Church, Kennebunkport

Seeking Hand Chimes

"Seeking a minimum set of diatonic hand chimes from C5 to G6 with a hard cover carrying case to begin new program - Perhaps you have a set no longer in use. Chromatics, particularly F# 5, A# 5, C# 6 and F# 6 are also desirable. Please contact David Brandes, Organist/Choir Director at South Church, Kennebunkport at 603-831-1091 or email brandede@franklinpierce.edu attention David.

Music Director Position

First Parish United Church of Christ in Gorham Maine

First Parish Church is a 270 year old spiritually progressive, open and affirming congregation of 500 members. We are seeking a Music Director, teacher and coach for our vibrant and accomplished 30 to 40 member volunteer Choir and potential Junior Choir. Candidates should offer an enthusiastic, infectious spirit, be able to draw from a wide variety of musical genres (Palestrina to the present), and view their spiritual life as rooted in music. Candidates should also endeavor to provide the Choir with fun, challenge and joy in making music together.

For More Information & Contact Information Click Here

Choir Director Position

Centre Street Congregational Church, UCC, seeks a part-time Choir Director. Duties include directing the Chancel Choir during Sunday worship and special services, collaborating with the pastor and organist on music selection, and securing special music as needed. Preferred qualifications include a bachelor's degree in music, experience in directing choral ensembles, keyboard skills, knowledge of church music programming, familiarity/comfort with UCC theology, and strong organizational skills. Application deadline is January 1, and start date is February 1. For full job description, e-mail

CentreStreetChurchUCC@gmail.com

. To apply, send letter of application, r�sum�, and contact information for two references to Search Committee for Choir Director, Centre Street Congregational Church, PO Box 265, Machias, ME 04654.

Organist/Accompanist Wanted . . .

The First Congregational Church, UCC, of Waterville, is seeking an organist to play for our worship services and to accompany the church choir on organ or piano. We are an Open and Affirming church of 200 or so souls seeking the place where God's dream for our community, the needs of our community, and what we have to offer our community, meet. The organ is a Berkshire, completely renovated in 2008 by Bill Czelusniak of Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Northampton, MA. You can find specifics and photos of the organ here: http://www.czelusniakdugal.com/instruments/waterville.php

Competitive pay offered. Hours, vacation
negotiable. Start date in May.

Send resume and references to:

Organist Search, First Congregational UCC, 7 Eustis Parkway, Waterville,
ME 04901.

Resumes must be received in our office by Monday,
February 15, 2016, to be considered.

Part-time Organist/Choir Director Needed

Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church/UCC in Westbrook, Maine seeks a part-time Organist/Choir Director. This person is primarily responsible for directing and accompanying an adult choir, and providing music for the weekly Sunday service. The ideal candidate will be an accomplished organist, pianist, and choir leader, who is familiar with the Congregational/UCC liturgy. The church is located in downtown Westbrook, with a mission to "to love God and to love one another in our congregation, community, and the world, through worship, serving and mission." More details on the position and the church are available at http://tinyurl.com/WWCCMusicJob. Applications are being accepted now for a July start date. Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter with references by postal mail to Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 810 Main Street, Westbrook, ME, 04092; or electronically to office@westbrookwarren.com. Electronic documents should be in PDF or Microsoft Word format.