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KANSAS-OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
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K-O e-NEWS
February 12, 2013 |
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IN THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION
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Rev. Dr. Richard T. Wentling died February 9th in Topeka.
He served as interim pastor in Omaha, Nebraska. He served churches in Muscotah, and Huron, he served yoked parishes of Smith Center and Athol, Hiawatha and Fairview, Baldwin City, and Topeka. He then served as a Chaplain at Brewster Place in Topeka for the next eight years totaling over 50 years. He was most recently Pastor Emeritus at First Congregational Church in Topeka where he was active, with funerals, weddings, filling the pulpit and making pastoral calls, as needed. Funeral will be at 10:00 am Wednesday (13th) at 1st Congregational in Topeka.
Jean Marie Davidson, 85, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Feb. 6, 2013. Jean was a long time member of First United Church of Christ in Newton, KS and an active participant in the K-O Conference for many years. A celebration of life will be at 2 pm on Saturday, February 16, at First United Church of Christ in Newton. Memorial suggestions are for the First United Church of Christ or Wheaton House in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansas/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=163017344#storylink=cpy
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GENERAL SYNOD 29
June 28 - July 2, 2013
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Nominate your JUSTICE HEROES
for General Synod awards! |
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In keeping with the spirit of former national agencies of the United Church of Christ, the Board of Directors of Justice and Witness Ministries has approved the recommendation that we seek candidates to honor at our General Synod dinner who have done exemplary work in the area of justice.
If you know a prophetic justice worker, a local church, or grass roots organization that you think deserves to be honored for effective justice work, please fill out the form below. You may apply online or download and send in a hard copy. If submitting more than one nominee, please use seperate forms.
Deadline for submissions: March 31, 2013.
Download: .DOC | .PDF
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KOC Foundation announces that the Kansas Oklahoma Conference ministries will receive $20,785 from Endowments in the coming weeks. |
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The Conference will receive $7,105 in unrestricted funds. In addition, $6,374 will be available to ministries in the Conference through the Make A Difference Fund and White Memorial Camp will receive $2,135 for maintenance and scholarships.
The Foundation enjoyed a good year in 2012. KOC Foundation Endowments increased thanks to a $36,100 bequest from the Ramon R. and Marma P. Johnston Trust. The Endowments are invested in United Church Funds' Moderate Balanced Fund which posted a 13% year-to-date return in 2012. "Past performance does not guarantee future returns."
To learn more about establishing an endowment for your church or the Conference, connect a Foundation Board member through the conference office (800-880-6466).
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What is Mission 4/1 Earth?
ONE UNITED CHURCH on a shared resurrection witness for Planet Earth during 50 great days of greening up, powering down, and shouting out for the environment! That's
Mission 4/1 Earth!
"Mission 4/1 Earth: 50 Great Days" is about boldly living Jesus' let-your-light-shine proclamation in the Sermon on the Mount: "That they may see your good works!" It is an opportunity to live out our faith - in unity,
as one church - for the sake of our fragile planet Earth.
Launching on Easter Monday, April 1, 2013, and continuing through the great 50 days of Eastertide, United Church of Christ congregations, colleges, seminaries, camps and outdoor ministries, and health and human service agencies will join together in a shared mission campaign to:
* Collectively offer more than ONE MILLION HOURS of engaged earth care, including clean up, advocacy, education, and behavioral changes that will impact the environment.
* Collectively plant more than
100,000 TREES locally and globally in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation and the UCC's denominational partners around the world.
* Collectively write and send more than 100,000 ADVOCACY LETTERS on environmental concerns to elected officials and local and national newspapers.
Mission 4/1 Earth links together four significant events - Easter (March 31), Earth Day (April 22), Arbor Day (April 26) and Pentecost (May 19) - for a sustained, aggressive and collective mission opportunity for the entire United Church of Christ. Together, we will inspire and aspire to what we can accomplish as ONE CHURCH.
Groups are encouraged to engage in creative local mission projects, service opportunities, educational programs, worship services, and media events. Your innovation will spark momentum for the initiative and stir the imaginations of other UCC people, agencies, schools, and congregations.
Download the Mission 4/1 Earth manual
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2013 UCC Yearbook Updates
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Churches: It's that time of the year again! Time to update your information for the year book.
All information has been emailed AND mailed out to you. Please make note of the deadlines below:
If filling out paper forms, deadline to have them in the office is Friday February 8, 2013. Once they are completed please mail them to:
Kansas Oklahoma Conference
1245 S Fabrique
Wichita, KS 67218
If filling out online forms (WHICH IS THE PREFERRED METHOD) the deadline is
Friday, March 1, 2013.
Please send an email to the Conference Office to let us know if you will be doing the updates online or by paper. kmoore@kocucc.com
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Visiting Scholar Event
April 5-6, 2013
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Presbyterian Women of Village Presbyterian Church is pleased to present the 2013 Visiting Scholar Event, featuring renowned author, speaker, and scholar Diana Butler Bass, PhD. |
 Christianity After Religion
Friday, April 5 7:00 pm - Spiritual and Religious?
The "Nones" and the Future of Faith
Reception and book signing following the program Books available for purchase courtesy of Rainy Day Books
Saturday, April 6 9:00 am - Protestant No More, But Fear Not 10:30 am - Belonging, Behaving, Believing: The Shape of Emerging Christianity
For more information, call 913.671.2381 or e-mail
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Village Presbyterian Church.
 
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White Memorial Camp is now hiring for the following positions: |
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Summer Residence Counselors
Summer Day Camp Counselors
Head Cook
Assistant Cook
Dishwashers
Yard Keeper
Maintenance
Interested in volunteering as a Jr. Counselor please contact Sara. You must be at least 15 years of age.
-- Playing for God in the Flinthills, Sara A. Shaw, Director White Memorial Camp and Conference Center 620-767-5165 |
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WEBINAR SERIES
PART TIME MINISTRY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
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Parish Resource Center of Long Island
Webinar Series
Part Time Ministry in the Local Church
WEBINAR LEADER: Bob LaRochelle is the author of Part Time Pastor, Full Time Church. He is a pastor in a UCC congregation in Connecticut and also works as a counselor in a local public high school. He has also written extensively on this topic, including articles in The Living Pulpit, Still Speaking and Day One, among others
Session 1: A Church Calls a Part Time Pastor
Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm est
This session explores the phenomenon of local churches considering and/or moving to hiring a part time pastor. It will explore obstacles to the successful establishment of this approach, including an in depth examination of the perceptions often attached to it. In addition, it will offer specific, practical suggestions for local churches and search committees. This session will draw upon successful models for implementation. The relationship between part time pastor and full time church will be explored in detail. The focus of this session is on the impact of this model for ministry upon the church.
Cost: $15 / Subscriber and $20 / Non-Subscribers
Click for more information and to register
Session 2: The Part Time Pastor
Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm est
This session explores realistic expectations for a pastor in a part time pastoral setting. It looks at concrete issues such as: hours spent 'on the job', prioritization, the pastor's relationship with others ministering within the local congregation, self care and collegial support. While it deals with issues involving the pastor, it is designed to give local churches insights into the issues they must consider when exploring the viability of the part time ministerial model in their local setting.
Cost: $15 / Subscriber and $20 / Non-Subscribers
Click for more information and to register
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Walter Brueggemann
A Native Kansan, Well Known UCC Scholar
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April 19-20, 2013
Brueggemann Lectures sponsored by
Oklahoma Institute for Bible Literacy
Respected author and world-renowned theologian Walter Brueggemann turns his discerning eye to the most critical yet basic needs of a world adapting to a new era, an era defined in large part by America's efforts to rebuild from an age of terror even as it navigates its way through economic collapse. Yet in spite of these great challenges, Brueggemann calls us to journey together to the common good through neighborliness, covenanting, and reconstruction. He is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary. Additionally, he is one of the world's leading interpreters of the Hebrew Bible and is the author of numerous books.
Friday, April 19 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 9:00a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Host Church: First Christian Church, 220 South Webster, Norman, OK
$10 before April 5 $15 after April 5
Details at www.okibl.org
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K-O PRAYER CALENDAR |
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St. Paul's UCC Church - Holyrood, KS - Rev. Debra Rains & Congregation
First Congregational UCC - Great Bend, KS - Pastor Julie Shields, pulpit supply
& Congregation
K-O Conference Committee on Ministry |
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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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Feb 16, 2013 - K-O Conference COM Executive Committee meeting at Mayflower, Oklahoma City. 10:00am
Feb 23, 2013 - Conference Council Meeting in Conference Office in Wichita, KS
Feb 24, 2013 - Installation of Rev. Lewis Hinshaw as Pastor at St. John's UCC, Baldwin City, KS. 3pm
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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
Additionally, if you have a committee meeting coming up, please let us know.
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K-O INTERIM CONFERENCE MINISTER'S SCHEDULE
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Feb. 13 Central Congregational Search Committee
Feb. 15 Gathering of Clergy In Tulsa
Feb. 16 Committee on Ministry Executive Committee in Oklahoma City
Feb. 17 Worshipping with Mayflower Church
Feb. 17 Meeting with Search Committee in Carrier, OK
Feb. 19 Gathering Of North Central Clergy in Manhattan
Feb. 23 Conference Council
Feb 24 Lew Hinshaw's Installation - Baldwin City, KS
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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. First Congregational UCC, Anthony, KS First Congregational UCC, Centralia, KS First Congregational UCC, Goltry, OK ~ Rev. James White is pulpit supply 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, McPherson, KS First Congregational UCC, Onaga, KS First Salem UCC, Wichita, KS 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 |
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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Edith Guffey, Designated 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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