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Maine Conference Newsletter
April 27, 2016
 

Domed ceiling above the Tomb of Jesus, 
Church of the Holy Sepulchre



Please Keep the Krueger Family in your thoughts and prayers

The father of Rev. Joel Kruger, pastor of the Congregational church in Belfast, Fritz Krueger died peacefully
, surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, April 20, 2016.

To Read Obituary in Full, Please Click Here 
 
Excitement Builds
Quitobaquito Dining Hall 
Dedication June 12



We are going to PASS IT ON!!!  Quitobaquito,
(Kee-toe-bah-kee-toe)
The new dining hall, is closer and closer to completion!  
 
Please join the Maine Conference as we gather at Pilgrim Lodge on June 12, from 1:00-4:00 for the dedication of Quitobaquito and an Ice Cream Social.  The blessing of the building will take place at 2:00.
 
If you would like to stay longer, you are invited to stay over night (leaving by noon on June 13) for a cost of $30.00.  (Bring your own bedding!)  Dinner and breakfast will be served.
 


 Please Register for Event and/or over night below
by June 5th

Register Here 
 
 
 
The Maine School of Ministry
Maine Conference, United Church of Christ
First Convocation, Spring 2016
 

Saturday, June 4, 10:00am-3:00pm at the Conference Center
One Weston Court, Suite 104, Augusta, ME 04330

May 1, 2016 
Heifer International who will present 
Windham Hill UCC 
with the Ark Award which reflects our donation of $2530, which was matched to the amount of $5060.

On May 1st  Windham Hill United Church of Christ will have a celebration worship service with special guest Jan Schrock from Heifer International who will present Windham Hill UCC with the Ark Award which reflects our donation of $2530, which was matched to the amount of $5060. The Ark Award symbolizes the gift of a full compliment of all of the services and animals given by Heifer, which will have the effect of changing the life of a community in a dramatic way. Jan Schrock is the daughter of the founder of Heifer International. Windham Hill raised this money during Lent as our International Mission offering for 2016. We have designated our gift to be used in Honduras, reflecting our commitment to the Maine Conference's partnership with that country. This effort was supported by all ages of our congregation. Our children held a pancake breakfast on Palm Sunday, each family had a small Heifer bank for the day's leftover change, families and individuals made generous donations. The congregation learned about Heifer and world hunger in special Moments for Mission at each worship service during Lent done by Heifer volunteer Claire Crocker. Pastor Sally Colegrove preached on being citizens of the world.
   
 
 
In the Resource Center!
(Maine UCC Lending Library)
 
 
We Make the Road by Walking by Brian D. McLaren
This book contains over fifty-two readings offering everything you need to explore what a difference an honest, living, growing faith can make in our world today. Organized around the traditional church year, these readings give an overview of the whole Bible and guide an individual or a group of friends through a year of rich study, interactive learning, and personal growth. If you're seeking a fresh way to experience and practice your faith, if you're a long-term Christian seeking new vitality, or if you feel out of place in traditional church circles, this book will inspire and activate you in your spiritual journey. Dare to venture off the old maps into new, uncharted territory and discover how we make the road by walking.
   
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 [email protected] 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.
  
2016-2017 UCC Desk Calendar Information

 
Order your 18 month UCC Desk Calendars! The Resource Center is taking orders for the 2016-2017 UCC Desk Calendars. The cost of the calendars remains the same $15 per calendar. However the cost of postage has risen to $3.75 per calendar, or you can pick them up and save postage. Should your church need extra copies for other staff and committees here is your chance to order as many as you need. Deadline for ordering from the Resource Center is May 31, 2016.


For your information:
Each local church receives one free desk calendar from the National UCC. Each retired clergy person should also receive a free calendar from the National setting. If you are a retired clergy and do not receive a copy you need to contact the National Offices of the UCC in Cleveland. Calendars will be shipped from UCC Resources sometime in June 2016.

 
A recently closed church has
a full set of paraments 
 
(Red, White, Purple & Green) 


(not actual parament)

and/or choir robes
(blue with white sashes) 
 to donate to a needy church  

Please contact Charlotte or Ralph Withee

207-696-3375 
 



  
Getting Our BEARINGS 
 


Swimming into the Deep End: Parenting, Pastoring, and Common Discernment    
"Since I was ordained in my late 20s and didn't become a parent until almost 40, I spent the first 15 years of seminary and ministry without children of my own. All those years, I longed to have the sense of authority in myself, and in my ministry, that I witnessed (or at least imagined) in so many pastors who were parents."...
   

 

2016 UCC HIV Ministries Survey

The 2016 UCC HIV Ministries Survey is your opportunity to share with the Leadership Team of the UCC HIV & AIDS Network (aka, UCAN) about the HIV ministries happening the and through your local church.  You will also have the opportunity to tell us how you think UCAN is doing and what you need from us to better serve you.

* This survey is for United Church of Christ local churches

* Please complete the survey by midnight, Sunday May 1

* One survey per church, please!



 
Written by Connie Larkman 
 
 

The United Church of Christ has long advocated for sensible, responsible policies to end gun violence.  More than 20 years ago, in July of 1995 the General Synod passed three resolutions dealing with guns and violence in our society.  This May, the church is amplifying the call for change, encouraging advocacy around stricter gun laws with a sharable vido message from one of our congregations forever changed by a shooter with a gun.  A new 5-part Bible study will also be introduced.

For Full Article Please Click Here
 
National Youth Event (NYE) 2016 Official T-Shirt

FREE SHIPPING! Pre-order today.  
Will begin shipping the end of May


Click Here to see your options 

 
*The store for the National Youth Event (NYE) will be online only. Coming soon.
There will not be a store at the event, so order t-shirts early.


National Youth Event Information

  

When: July 26-30, 2016

Registration:
Opens January 6, 2016

Get Social Logo


3 Things You May Not Know About Using YouTube
 
Hey there, Get Social users! I've missed you! I can't believe it's spring already.
  


(And neither can Mr. T.)
Anyhoo, I get so excited when I hear from "Get Social" readers!

I received a really important question about a post from a pastor in Ohio, and I thought it was so good that I should discuss it with the entire Get Social family.

As you may remember, one of my Get Social posts talked about using social media during worship.

A pastor who read the post emailed me and said:

"Hey Marchae. I saw your suggestion to use YouTube during worship. Does this mean we are allowed to use videos that have a copyright without penalty?"

Well, Get Socialites, this is where YouTube, and social media in general, gets tricky.

If you want to use YouTube during worship, you should stick to videos created for social media sharing, that don't use copyrighted images, video clips, or music. You have to receive permission to use anything on YouTube that's copyrighted, and the chances that you'll contact a record label or production company are pretty slim.

Since we're already talking about YouTube,
here are three things you may not know about using YouTube. 
1. YouTube is one of the largest search engines in the world. Yes, you read that right, in the world.
  If you decide you want to build up your church's YouTube page, you want to make sure you focus on content and keywords in your posts to get a YouTube following. The words in your video description, post description, video tags, and video transcripts determine if your fellow YouTube users will see your content and subscribe to your page.

2. If you have a choice between posting an organic video file or a video through as a YouTube link, always choose the organic video
with a link to the video on YouTube.
  Most social media websites reward you for using organic video by giving it top priority in the news feed. (Organic video means you aren't linking to the video file, you are uploading it directly from your phone or computer.) This means your followers have a greater chance of seeing a video file you upload to Facebook than the same video posted as a YouTube link.
If you want to make sure users have both the highest chance of seeing your video and access to the video on YouTube, you should provide the video as an organic post with a link to the video on YouTube in the copy of your post copy
.

3.  YouTube content can come from Live video
This may be obvious for some...
 
 
 
Help Wanted/Classifieds
Elm Street Congregational Church
in Bucksport



Organist/Pianist Needed

Sunday Morning Services
&
Special Services

For more information please contact The Rev. Dr. Sandra Reed at
[email protected]

 
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN CUMBERLAND
Position Title: Director of Music

The Congregational Church in Cumberland, United Church of Christ in Cumberland, Maine is seeking to fill the part-time position of Director of Music. The Director of Music will be responsible for overseeing the music offerings and performances at our appreciative and friendly, open and affirming church. Key duties include playing the organ (historic George Stevens Tracker Organ) and piano, conducting choirs, and working collaboratively with the worship planning team to select music for our services. The Congregational Church in Cumberland is an Open and Affirming congregation located and founded in 1793 in beautiful Cumberland, Maine. We are located on the coast of Maine, ten miles north of the cosmopolitan city of Portland. Additional information on the Cumberland Church and this position can be found at www.cumberlanducc.org
and through the Church Profile we have developed.

 
For Complete Ad Click Here
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  [email protected] attention David.

  
Article Headline
Know your target audience. Who are your most important customers, clients or prospects, and why? Know what is important to them and address their needs in your newsletter each month. Include a photo to make your newsletter even more appealing.
Insert a "read on" link at the bottom of your article to drive traffic to your website. Links are tracked, allowing you to see which articles create the most interest for your readers.
 
Article Headline
Know your target audience. Who are your most important customers, clients or prospects, and why? Know what is important to them and address their needs in your newsletter each month. Include a photo to make your newsletter even more appealing.
Insert a "read on" link at the bottom of your article to drive traffic to your website. Links are tracked, allowing you to see which articles create the most interest for your readers.
 
In This Issue
 


US, Palestinian Churches lay groundwork for future collaboration to strengthen advocacy

Written by Anthony Moujaes
 

Two peoples and three faiths sharing one city.  That sentiment - about Arabs and Jews from Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths sharing the city of Jerusalem - was shared and repeated at a historic summit assembling the heads of several U.S. and Palestinian churches, church organizations and civil sector leaders.

In all, leaders of 24 churches - including the United Church of Christ - gathered for two days of prayer and to discuss the ethical urgency for a just peace in Palestine-Israeli occupation, and to strengthen the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

To Read Full Article Please Click Here
 

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Beth Campbell
Maine Conference UCC
207-622-3100