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KANSAS-OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
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K-O e-NEWS
October 30, 2012
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The United Church of Christ is reaching out to partners in the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Sandy there, while also bracing to respond to the storm's expected catastrophic destruction yet to come in the U.S. from North Carolina to Maine and inward as far as Wisconsin. So far, Hurricane Sandy is known to have killed 65 people in the Caribbean ~ 51 in Haiti, 11 in Cuba, and 1 each in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. Communications systems remain unreliable in the region, and there are widespread power outages.
Hurricane Sandy officially made landfall overnight in Central New Jersey. This storm is around 1000 miles wide with wind and rainfall spreading across the much of the Eastern seaboard from North Carolina to Maine. Hurricane Sandy is projected to move inland toward the Great Lakes and will impact States as far away from the coast as Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin.
Florence Coppola, UCC Executive for National Disaster Ministries, is monitoring the storm and is in contact with the UCC Disaster Response Coordinators Network. Coordinators and Conference Staff are reaching out to local churches sharing information about shelters for evacuees; and other information that may be helpful to survival. As Hurricane Sandy passes through and information is available about UCC members and church facilities, it will be posted to the UCC website and OGHS Facebook page.
There will be a lot of needs as a result of this storm, which meteorologists have referred to as "near historic" in size. Sandy's tropical-storm-force winds extend some 520 miles from its center, and its storm surge is predicted to reach nearly unprecedented levels.
"The most important way you may help at this time is to pray and make a donation," says Ms. Coppola.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Pray for the people and communities across the Caribbean and United States impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
2. To assist people impacted by this disaster, please make a gift payable to your congregation marked for "Hurricane Sandy Response" with the request they be sent through your Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries.
OR
Send gifts, made out to United Church of Christ and marked in the memo portion "Hurricane Sandy Response" to United Church of Christ; Financial Services; 700 Prospect Avenue E, Cleveland, OH 44115.
OR
Make a secure online donation to the Hurricane Sandy Response fund.
Thank you for your compassion and support.
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On a side note...
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For those of you that have asked, we have heard from our former Interim Conference Minister, Krista Betz. She is safe and currently has power, food, and water. Last we heard, she was without internet and tv.
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Kansas Oklahoma Conference Annual Meeting
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Chautauqua United Church of Christ Society
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The Chautauqua United Church of Christ Society is seeking nine outstanding individuals to serve as Chaplain of the Week during the 2013 summer season. Chautauqua is our nation's foremost cultural festival, and the UCC Society is located right in the center. Chaplains receive housing and two gate passes. In exchange they preach at our Sunday morning service and offer leadership for an informal vesper service. They are also expected to engage in conversation with our other guests and be available in case pastoral care is needed. Compared to the opportunities for renewal and growth, the expectations are quite small. The Society sees this as our ministry to its chaplains more than as their ministry to us. To learn more about Chautauqua in general, visit www.ciweb.org. For more on the UCC Society or on how to apply visit www.cuccs.org. The deadline is November 30, 2012. UCC ordination is required.
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Georgann Peck Ordination
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 The Oklahoma Association of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the United Church of Christ and
the congregation of Fellowship Congregational United Church of Christ
invites you to a worship service in celebration and recognition of the ordination into the Christian ministry
of Georgann Peck
on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 10:30 am
located at 2900 South Harvard Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Clergy are invited to robe with red stoles and join in the procession
Reception to follow in Church Hall
For further information, contact 918-747-7777
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KCADP 2012 Abolition Conference
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Former Death Row Warden to Discuss Impact of Executions on Correctional Officers
Allen Ault to Speak on Death Penalty in Olathe, KS, November 10th, 1:30 p.m.
Topeka, Kan.--Former death row warden Allen Ault will give the keynote address at the 2012 Abolition Conference, sponsored by the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Ault's speech will discuss the traumatic effects of capital punishment on the corrections officials responsible for carrying out executions.
During his time as a death row warden in Georgia, Ault had the responsibility of overseeing executions. These experiences had a traumatic impact on Ault and many of the correctional officers with whom he worked. On November 10 in Olathe, Ault will share his concerns about the death penalty from the perspective of a former warden who has spent a lifetime working in corrections.
"We were giving psychological help to all the staff that participated [in executions]," said Ault when referring to his time as warden. "Then I realized I was suffering pretty badly about it. 'Cause you have to understand that it is the most premeditated murder." Ault is one of a number of former wardens and correction officials across the country who are beginning to speak out about the traumatic impact of conducting executions.
"Ault's story highlights a concern sometimes forgotten in debates on capital punishment," said Mary Sloan, Executive Director of the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty. "When we look at the death penalty, it is important to examine its full range of consequences. Our broken system of capital punishment is a source of pain at every stage of the process - from the lengthy trials and appeals that can inflict additional harm on murder victims' families, to the execution itself, which can have a traumatic effect on corrections officials," said Sloan.
Ault's address is part of the 2012 Abolition Conference. Following Ault's address, there will be educational workshops focusing on different aspects of the death penalty. The conference is free and open to the public.
WHAT: Keynote Address by Former Death Row Warden Dr. Allen Ault
WHEN: Saturday, November 10. Dr. Ault to Speak at 1:30PM.
WHERE: Center of Grace, 520 S. Harrison St., Olathe, KSCONTACT:Mary Sloan, KCADP Executive DirectorOffice: 785-235-2237 Cell: 785-608-7229 Email: mary@ksabolition.org
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KS-OK Women Service Project
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At the K-O Women's FALL ASSEMBLY this August, the service project involved putting together items for Church World Service BABY KITS. The group at WMC completed 8 baby kits which were shipped to CWS with the $2.00 per kit required so that they might be sent to women in need. The additional cloth diapers, blankets, etc. were then delivered by Jo Ann Chance to the KS Disciples Women Retreat in October. The KDW were also doing the CWS Baby Kit service project, and combining the kits and materials brought to the MidWeek and the Weekend Retreat sessions, 142 kits were sent plus the $2.00 per kit for further shipping. K-O and KDW Women have worked together to help other women served by Church World Service here and abroad.
Thank you to all who helped and who might continue with this worthy service project throughout the year! 
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K-O PRAYER CALENDAR |
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First Congregational Church, Athol, KS
Community Church, Gorham, KS
Community of Hope, Tulsa, OK
Those impacted by Hurricane Sandy
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UCC CALENDAR OF PRAYER
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K-O UCC CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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Link to
the K-0
Calendar
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K-O Conference Annual Meeting
November 8, 9, 10 & 11 Wichita Airport Hilton
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Upcoming dates office will be closed
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As a reminder, the KO Office will be closed November 22-23 so we can enjoy Thanksgiving with our families.
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We know there is a lot of things going on around the Conference. Let us know. If you have something you want to share, please send it to us at kofocus@yahoo.com
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K-O INTERIM CONFERENCE MINISTER'S SCHEDULE
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November 8-11 - Annual Meeting
November 17-26 - Vacation
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K-O CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
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Central Congregational UCC, Topeka, KS ~ Rev. Scott Kenefake is interim pastor Carrier Congregational UCC, Carrier, OK ~ Rev. Gordon Epps is interim pastor. Colonial UCC, Prairie Village, KS - has made the decision to call an Associate Minister for Christian Development to work with the congregation and their Senior Pastor, Rev. Aaron Roberts Community of Hope, Tulsa, OK First Congregational UCC, Anthony, KS First Congregational UCC, Centralia, KS First Congregational UCC, Great Bend, KS ~ Julie Shields is pulpit supply First Congregational UCC, Manhattan, KS ~ Rev. Victor Force is interim pastor First Congregational UCC, Onaga, KS First Salem UCC, Wichita, KS Immanuel UCC, Ellinwood, KS - Rev. Chris Edwards will serve as interim pastor beginning October 1, 2012 Open Table UCC, Owasso, OK Puritan Congregational Christian Church, Drummond, OK. ~Rev. Matt Perkins is supply 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 |
| QUICK LINKS |
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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Rev. Kent Cormac, Acting Conference Minister
Kansas-Oklahoma Conference
1245 Fabrique
Wichita, KS 67218
800-880-6466
Sara Shaw, Camp Director
1271 South 1050 Road
Council Grove, KS 66846-8520
620-767-5165 (Camp Office)
620-202-0311(Cell)
Kelli Moore, Office Associate
1245 Fabrique
Wichita, KS, 67218
800-880-6466
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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