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KANSAS-OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
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October 11 - 13, 2013
Embassy Suites
Norman, OK
Registration will open soon.
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Dr. Ward will be doing Bible Storytelling at the Annual Meeting. He has done storytelling at a General Synod. He takes a Bible passage and makes it come alive.
He will also be the speaker at the Banquet for Authorized Ministers and Members in Discernment on Thursday evening.
Richard F. Ward Ph.D. is the Fred B. Craddock Professor of Homiletics and Worship and Director of Denominational Formation at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK.
He brings to the study of preaching a rich background in performance studies and practices.
Those who attended the 2012 K-O Clergy retreat will remember Dr. Ward, he was one of the presenters! We are excited that he will be with us again at the Annual Meeting!
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
BISHOP YVETTE FLUNDER
Bishop Flunder founded the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in 1991 in order to unite a gospel ministry with a social ministry. City of Refuge is a thriving inner-city congregation that celebrates the radically inclusive love of Jesus Christ.
A native San Franciscan, Bishop Flunder is a third generation preacher with roots in the Church of God in Christ. Bishop Flunder is also an ordained Minister of the United Church of Christ and a graduate of the Ministry Studies and Master of Arts programs at the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California. She received a Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo California.
Bishop Flunder is a Trustee and Adjunct Professor at Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley California. She is a board member of the National Sexuality Resource Center, and she is an active voice for the Religion Council of the Human Rights Campaign. She also served as the Justice and Witness Board of Directors representative on the United Church of Christ Governance Facilitation Taskforce. Bishop Flunder has served as past President of the Board of Directors for the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, as a Board Member of the Shanti Project, as Chair of the San Francisco Inter-religious Coalition on AIDS, Chair of the Black Adoption Placement and Research Center, Founding member of the African American Interfaith Alliance on AIDS, Member of the Alameda County Ryan White Consortium, a member of the San Francisco HIV/AIDS Planning and Prevention Council, a consultant to the Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust, and as a Member of the California Ryan White Working Group.
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K-O Women's Assembly
August 16 - 18
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Feeling perplexed? - stressed? -lost?
Come explore your thoughts and feelings,
grow in faith, and fellowship with the women
who will be "BUILDING HOPE"
at the K-O Women's ASSEMBLY -
August 16-18th at White Memorial Camp.
DON'T WAIT!!
WE MUST HAVE A GOOD COUNT BY AUGUST 1st!
Here's the link...
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It's not too late to donate to
Christmas in July!
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 | | We have come to bear the light of Christ - Christmas Fund 2013 |
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*New*
Prophetic Renewal Conference ONLINE
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If you can't make it to Atlanta this year for the National Church Leadership Institute, you can still be part of the experience from the comfort of your home or office for $149.
We will be streaming the main sessions of the conference online. You can log in as the sessions are going on, or you can view them later through our website.
This pass will give you access to the 6 main sessions of the conference as well as some additional interviews from workshop leaders. All you need is internet access and a computer. It is the next best thing to actually being there! Click here to read more.
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Should your legacy include your church?
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A friend replied, "but my estate is too small to make a difference." But it does! Just such a gift started a church endowment. Inspired other members contributed and it has grown with gifts from others estates, including some that were "too small to make a difference".
The endowment investments added to that growth while providing income for our church and its ministries.
Alone, I can't carry a tune. But with others in the pews, a choir and the piano; ours is a rich, joyous song. Imagine what it could be with an organ.
The K-O Foundation Board works with individuals and churches to enable your legacy to include your favorite ministry. For more information, contact Russ Townsley
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Climate Change and Inequality
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Climate Change: One of the highlights of the United Church of Christ's recent General Synod was a clear, compelling, and moving presentation about climate change by Professor David Orr. Even if you think you already know a lot about this topic, or if you think it is too depressing or hopeless, watch this anyway; you will be very glad you did. Orr recently retired from teaching environmental studies and politics at Oberlin College in Ohio. He has written numerous publications and received many awards. He is also a member of the UCC and a person of faith. The 38-minute presentation is posted here.
Inequality: There is a fairly new website about inequality from the Economic Policy Institute. It does a good job of describing inequality and, most importantly, the pages also describe the policy changes that are needed to reverse this policy-driven, politically-created crisis. (To find the "what to do" pages you will need to poke around the web site a bit; start by clicking on the "Fixable" tab at the top of the page.)
EPI lists five things we need to do:
1) strengthen and enforce labor standards, especially for lower-wage workers;
2) regulate the financial sector;
3) reform our international trade and investment treaties;
4) ensure full employment, that is, a job for everyone who wants one; and
5) reform tax policy to require higher tax payments by wealthy households and corporations.
The site also provides links to additional information and resources on these five topics.
Edith (Edie) Rasell, Ph.D.
Minister for Economic Justice
Justice and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ
700 Prospect Ave., E., Cleveland, OH 44115-1100
Tollfree: 1-866-822-8224, ext. 3709; fax: 216-736-3703
raselle@ucc.org
http://www.ucc.org/justice/economic-justice/
 Is God calling your church to be an Economic Justice Church?
Economic Justice Covenant Program
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FEATURE ARTICLES FROM LOCAL CHURCHES
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Friedens United Church of Christ
Bern, Kansas
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Friedens was formed in 1892 by the uniting of two small (1869&1870) churches served by the same pastor. The name "Friedens" is German for "peace." Friedens is an "in the Kansas country side rural church" just ½ mile from Nebraska with members from both states. It is located in the picturesque Nemaha valley surrounded by farm ground, pastures and woodlands.
Friedens has several members entering into the 7 th generation. Communion is served the first Sunday of each month. Friedens modified the church and built a fellowship hall in 1980 to be handicapped accessible. Average attendance for 2012 was 69.
Our current pastor is Rev. Ken Tubbesing who recently celebrated 40 years of ordination. He has served north east Kansas and south east Nebraska during the last 40 years.
Friedens has had an annual ice cream social for almost 100 years. It is held on the 3rdTuesday of each July. This is a project of the Women's Fellowship.
One of Friedens' missions is managing a local food pantry that is open 1:00 -3:00pm each Wednesday and 5:00-7:00pm the first Wednesday of each month. We are also hosts for the mobile food pantry that comes to Seneca the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
Another mission is making blankets for the Linus Project that donates the blankets to hospitals in southeast Nebraska for children who are receiving medical attention.
Friedens publishes a newsletter every two months. Our web page is: http://www.uccwebsites.net/friedensbernks.html
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| | Dates for Churches to be Featured in the KO e-NEWS |
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Share the good news and ministry of your church with sister congregations! Churches have been assigned a date; so send in a paragraph or two about your congregation's ministry. You may feature a special event, a particular mission, anything that your church is doing well and you want to share. Your stories will encourage and inspire others; so share the good news!
The first date below is the date your church has been assigned and will be featured; the 2nd date the information needs to be submitted; send it early if you like! Send your information to kofocus@yahoo.com
Edith Guffey
K-O Conference Minister
Bern, Friedens
July 30th; due July 26th
Carbondale, Community
August 6; due Aug 2nd
Cheney, Trinity United Christian
August 13; due August 9th
Council Grove, First Congregational
August 20; due August 16th
Ellinwood, Immanuel
August 27; due August 23rd
Eudora, St. Paul's
August 27th; due August 23rd
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Open Table Owasso, OK new worship time
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OpenTable UCC in Owasso, OK recently decided to change their worship schedule. Starting the first weekend in August, we will worship on SUNDAY evenings at 6pm (Sunday, August 4 at 6pm). We will still gather around an open table and share our lives as well as a common meal following worship. We will also continue with our radical welcome that says ALL are welcome. We meet at the Disciples Christian Church, 6540 N 132nd E Ave in Owasso, OK. For more information, contact Rev Bob Lawrence, uccrevbob@gmail.com.
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- Marshallese UCC, Enid, OK ~ Pastor Marshall Langdrik and Congregation
- Boulevard Congregational Christian Church, Lawton, OK ~ Pastor Ralph Alexander and Congregation
- St. Paul's UCC, Marshall, OK ~ Pastors Dan Thimell and Craig Groseclose
Craig Groseclose will be leaving next week for Idaho. Best wishes and God bless you Craig for your ministry to St. Paul's.
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UCC CALENDAR OF PRAYER
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K-O CONFERENCE MINISTER'S SCHEDULE
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August 2 -- Foundation Board Meeting
August 5- 19 -- Out of the office; will check email and voice mails; use cell phone for emergencies (440) 759-0031
August 20-22 -- Continued follow-up on disaster recovery with UCC and Disciples Disaster Ministries Staff
August 25 -- Plymouth UCC, Lawrence
Sept 9 -- Committee on Ministry - Subcommittee A
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K-O CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
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Congratulations to Carrier Congregational, Carrier, OK has called Richard Mize as their settled pastor effective August 4, 2013
Central Congregational Church, Topeka, KS
Church of the Open Arms, Oklahoma City, OK
Fellowship UCC, Tulsa, OK
First UCC, Newton, KS
First Congregational, McPherson, KS
First Congregational Church, Manhattan, KS
First Congregational, Stockton, KS
New Basel UCC, Abilene, KS
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LINKS TO CAMPUS MINISTRIES
IN KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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Edith Guffey, Conference Minister
Kansas-Oklahoma Conference
1245 Fabrique
Wichita, KS 67218
800-880-6466
Nancy A. LeDuc, Conference Communications Coordinator
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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