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KANSAS-OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 

 
  K-O e-NEWS 
  October 8, 2013 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 October 11 - 13, 2013

Embassy Suites

Norman, OK

 

Pray for the churches, delegates, pastors and lay leaders of the Conference as they gather in Norman 

 

One Last Time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Meeting Book 

The Annual Meeting Book is online!  You can access it on the website or by using the link below. You can read it now and we will have hard copies on site for those who requested that they be provided. If you want to receive a hard copy by mail in advance of the meeting, send an email or call the office to provide your name and address.   Click here for the Annual Meeting Book.

  

 

Church Anniversaries To Be Celebrated

 

Many churches are celebrating anniversaries this year and the Annual Meeting will join in the celebration by recognizing  the following church  anniversaries:

 

55 Years       First United Church of Christ,  Newton  

65 Years       Colonial UCC, Prairie Village

105 Years     Rosedale Congregational, Kansas City

120 Years     Immanuel UCC, Ellinwood

125 Years     St. Peter's UCC, Inman

130 Years     Trinity United Christian Church, Cheney

130 Years     Grace UCC, Abilene

135 Years     Community UCC, Caarbondale

135 Years     First Congregational UCC, Anthony

140 Years     First Congregational, McPherson

140 Years     Fairview United Church of Christ, Fairview

145 Years     First Congregational Church, Onega

145 Year       Evangelical UCC, Marysville

145 Year       Christian Congregational UCC, Eureka

145 Years      St. John's UCC, Baldwin City

150 Years      First Congregational UCC, Council Grove

  

 

 

HELP TORNADO VICTIMS WITH HOUSE IN A BOX

 

It's not in the news these days, but life continues to be very challenging  for those who were affected by the tornadoes in Oklahoma last May.  There are many families who are living in temporary housing, waiting for insurance or FEMA claims to be processed. The UCC is working with  the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as the long term recovery effort continues. There will be an update on the recovery efforts  during the Annual Meeting, but we can do something now to assist in meeting an immediate need by joining in to provide requested supplies for House in a Box. 

   

The House-in-a- Box (HIAB) Project was started during Hurricane Katrina by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.  In Oklahoma it is a unified effort of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Catholic Charities and United Way. The intent of this project to provide start up items for families once they have secured housing. The KO Conference has the opportunity to support this effort by responding to a specific need and request.  HIAB needs BLANKETS and COMFORTERS (sizes, twin, twin xl, queen, and double).  PLEASE SEND ONLY NEW UNOPENED ITEMS. 

 

Please share this need with your congregation and if you are not attending Annual Meeting, check with a neighboring pastor or other UCC member and make sure these items get transported to the Annual Meeting. We can take it from there and help meet this particular need.  Remember that old UCC bumper sticker? To Believe is to care, to care is to do! Let's do this and make a difference!

 
More on Annual Meeting Leadership 

Each issue of the eNEWS has featured leaders at the Annual Meeting.  Richard Ward is on the staff of Phillips Seminary and from the KO Conference. John Thomas, former General Minister and President of the UCC is no stranger to many. but this is Yvette Flunder's first visit to KO.Read the bios of them all and warmly welcome them as our guests in Norman. Next week, meet Lori Walke our closing preacher. 

 
                    
  
 
 


 
 
Requesting Prayers for Kent Cormack and Family
 
 A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Kent's father, Robert Clifton Cormack, will we held on Saturday, October 12, at 2:00 P.M. at Grace UCC, Abilene.  Kent says:  "My dad was a farmer, stockman, school teacher, and a remarkable role model.  He was a liberal Christian in the best sense--I can hardly imagine that I will no longer see him, but I know he was ready and that his suffering has ended."  
 
Cards and notes may be sent to Kent at:
110 Keith Ln
Athens, TN 37303 
Don't Misss Bishop John Shelby Spong!

 At 1:30 pm on Saturday, November 9, 2013, in the Bradbury Thompson Center on the Washburn University campus, Bishop John Shelby Spong will speak on his latest book, "The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic." This presentation is co-sponsored by the Department of Philosophy at Washburn University and by Central Congregational Church in honor of its 125th anniversary. 

 

Then, at 3:30 pm at Central Congregational Church, Spong will speak on his book "Jesus for the Non-Religious."

 

There will be opportunities for book signings after each event. Books will be available for purchase through the Ichabod Shop at Washburn University.

 

Because seating is limited at both venues, advance tickets are recommended. There is no cost for tickets, but donations will be accepted at the events.

 

You may request tickets and find additional information at:

  

 



EVENTS AT WHITE MEMORIAL  CAMP



 
CLICK HERE for all the 50th Anniversary Details and to Register! 


Here is some fall fun for the Whole Family...

ORDINATION ANNIVERSARIES 

 

There isn't a pastor around that doesn't crave strong lay leaders, but lay people also know how important Authorized Ministers are to the ongoing life of the church and to their spiritual growth care and support.!  At Annual Meeting we will celebrate the following Authorized Ministers who are celebrating ordination anniversaries. Join us in giving thanks for the leadership and ministry of:  

 

Celebrating 5 Year Ordination Anniversary:

David ShaneSpangler

Kenton Stone

Lizette Merchan

Nancy Eggen

 

Celebrating 10 years

Jennifer Parker

 

Celebrating 15 Years

Elizabeth Nicks

 

Celebrating 25 Years

Sam Askew and Kathy McCallie

 

Celebrating 35 years

Dan Thimmell

Celebrating 40 Years

Gordon Eppsa nd Ken tubbesing

 

Celebrating 45 Years

Phil Lamar

 

Celebrating 50 Years

Phil Friedeman

Warren Jensen

 

Celebrating 60 Years 

James H. McKinney

 

 Celebrating 65 Year Ordination Anniversary

Arthur Foster. 

 

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU

INSTALLATIONS SCHEDULED
Pastor Richard Mize at Carrier Congregational in Carrier, OK Sunday, November 3rd at 3:00PM

Rev. Rachel Pryor Firsst Congregational Church in McPherson on Sunday,  November 3rd at 4:00PM

K-O CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
 

 

 

 The following churches are actively searching for new leadership: 

 

Fellowship UCC, Tulsa, OK

 

First UCC, Newton, KS

 

First Congregational Church, Manhattan, KS 

 

New Basel UCC, Abilene, KS

 

Community Congregational Church, Garden City, KS

 

Rosedale Congregational UCC, Kansas City, KS

 

HOW IS YOUR CHURCH MAKING A DIFFERENCE ? 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS 
Dates for Churches to be Featured in eNEWS
  

We have heard that churches feel disconnected; well here's an opportunity to learn about the ministry of sister congregations. It's a simple process as churches have been assigned a date to 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. Connections can be built, and the opportunity is here, you have to accept the invitation to participate! 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 [email protected] 

 

If your assigned date has passed and your church still wishes to participate, send your article in and we'll use it at a later!

   

   

Haven, Congregational

Oct. 15th; due Oct 11

 

Owasso, Open Table

Oct. 15th; due Oct.11th 

 

Herndon, Immanuel

Oct. 22nd; due Oct 18th

 

 Hiawatha, Bethany

Oct. 29th; due Oct.25th                                                  

 

Holyrood, St. Paul's

Nov. 5th; due Nov. 1st                                                   

 

Inman, St. Peter's

Nov. 12th; due Nov. 8th

 

 Junction City, St John's-Alida

 Nov. 12th; due Nov. 8th

 

Kingfisher, The Federated Church

Nov. 19th; due Nov. 15th

                              

 Junction City, Zion

Nov. 26th; due Nov 22nd                  

 

 Lawton, Boulevard Cong'l & Christian

Dec. 3rd; due Nov. 29th                                                                                       

 

Kansas City, Rosedale Congregational

Dec. 3rd; due Nov.29th                                                                                        

  Lawton, Cong'l Christian Samoan

Dec. 10th; due Dec. 6th

 

Tulsa, Fellowship Congregational 

Dec. 10th; due Dec. 6th

 

 Kansas City, Welborn Community

Dec. 17th; due Dec. 13th                                

 

 

 

K-O CONFERENCE MINISTER'S SCHEDULE





 

Oct.10: Authorized Minsters and MID Banquet 

 

Oct.11-13: Annual Meeting, Embassy Suites Norman, OK

 

Oct. 20: United Church of Norman

 

Oct. 21-22: United Church Funds Meeting; New York

 

Oct. 23-25 Conference Minsters in  West Central Region Omaha, NE 

 

Oct. 25-27: White Memorial Camp 50th Anniversary Celebration

            

eNEWS on Sabbatical Next Week
         
 The eNEWS crystal ball indicates that the temporary eNEWS editor will be exhausted next week and will need a day off! So in the spirit of sanity and self care, the eNEWS will skip a week! Apologies to those who are avid readers; look for the eNEWS to be back in your mail the following week.  
QUICK LINKS
 

 Archived e-NEWS emails  

 

United Church of Christ 

 

Kansas-Oklahoma Conference  

 

White Memorial Camp and Conference Center 

 

Kansas Christians United 

 

Oklahoma Conference of Churches

 

 

 

Find us on Facebook 

 LINKS TO CAMPUS MINISTRIES

IN KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA

 

 

Cameron University - Lawton OK 

 

East Central University - Ada, OK 

 

Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS 

   

University of Kansas - Lawrence, KS 

 

University of Tulsa - Tulsa, OK 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION
       

Edith Guffey, Conference Minister
Kansas-Oklahoma Conference 
1245 Fabrique                                         
Wichita, KS 67218
800-880-6466
     
                
Send Communications for eNEWS to:

 
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