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KANSAS-OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
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K-O e-NEWS
November 5, 2013
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Conference Books Close on January 11, 2014
Please send OCWM checks for 2013 to arrive no later than January 11th as the Conference office books will close on that date. More details will be sent to churches next week by email.
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DON'T MISS THESE TWO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES
Feb. 8th: Church Money and Management
Whether you want to improve your skills at reviewing and
managing your church's money, learn ways to inspire greater giving, or better understand your legal and fiduciary responsibilities, Church Money & Management will help pastors and lay leaders learn more about:
* financial statements & trend analysis
understanding & communicating what the numbers tell us
* unique financial issues for churches & pastors
housing allowances, unrelated business income and more
* reframing how we think & talk about giving
from narrative budgets to personal finance education
* the policies & procedures every church needs
to protect the organization, its people, building & funds
Presented in an engaging and interactive manner, Church
Money & Management will help equip more women and men
to take active roles in the financial and administrative lives of
their church and conference. Don't miss this great workshop supported and sponsored by the Cornerstone Fund.
March 29-30: Come and See
Come and See is an event designed for churches and pastors to learn about the the New Beginnings Assessment Program. This program is designed to answer the question "What is God calling your congregation to do and be in this time and this place?
New Beginnings' purpose is to empower congregational leaders as they guide their Church into life-giving expressions of ministry for this new era of God's mission.
New Beginnings assesses a congregation's strengths and challenges as it seeks to redevelop its ministry. The goal of the process is to put the congregation on the
road to sustainable Christian witness and action within its community.
New Beginnings is for congregations that meet at least three of these characteristics:
- Less than 70 in worship
- Significant building issues (too much space, inadequate parking, putting off repairs and maintenance)
- Aging membership
- Changing neighborhood
- Trouble paying bills and/or paying off a loan
Don't sit on the sidelines and DO NOTHING, be proactive; this program may not be a tool for your congregation, but it could be and it's time to explore the possibilities.
So, Come and See!
Registration information for both of these opportunities will be available soon, but save the dates and plan on attending!
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Just Who IS that New Pastor?
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There are new faces in the Conference and we will be introducing you to some of the new pastors who have joined us in ministry here in KO. And who knows, we may re-introduce some pastors who have been serving among us for a very long time. So in her own words, meet Rachel Pryor:
Greetings! My name is Rachael (Smith) Pryor and I am thankful to be serving as the pastor, currently part-time, of First Congregational UCC in McPherson, Kansas. On Sunday, Nov. 3, we celebrated a service of installation, so now it's official! I grew up in the UCC as a member of Sylvania United Church of Christ, just outside of Toledo. My family is from Southwest Michigan, and as a senior at the University of Michigan, I began to experience the first inkling of a call to ordained ministry. In hindsight, I can see that this call was forming throughout my life as a church member, and especially during my senior year of high school spent at Woodstock International School in Mussoorie, India. After college, I spent two years as a teaching assistant in Austria, then began my seminary studies at Eden in St. Louis. I loved Eden, but was looking for a different kind of challenge, and so I transferred to Princeton. In 2007 I graduated and also got married to Adam Pryor (we met in seminary). The next year, Adam finished his M.Div. and we were off to Berkeley, California, where he pursued a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology. I worked part-time for a Lutheran congregation and two Episcopal congregations, all the while seeking a call in the UCC. Finally, Adam was ready to work on his dissertation, so my search expanded nationwide. In March 2011 I was ordained and then moved on to Limerick, Pennsylvania, where I served as pastor of St. James UCC. Adam finished his dissertation and graduated! Along the way, our son Henry was born in California (2010) and this year, Greta was born in Pennsylvania. Adam's search for a teaching position came to fruition when Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas offered him the post of Assistant Professor of Religious Studies. We never expected the blessing that I would find the perfect call right next-door!
We are already in love with life out here on the prairie and hope to stay in one place for a while now after all the moving around. It's been a long journey, but we believe we have found our home for a while. We're so thankful for the welcome we've experienced here, and for the opportunity for both of us to serve in our respective callings.
Welcome Rachel!
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Changing Lives at St. Paul's UCC in
in Holyrood, KS
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St. Paul's UCC in Holyrood has been "Alive" with the passion of serving Jesus the Christ for 121 years. The voices of children bring the church "alive" during the pre-school story hour on Tuesday mornings, and Wednesday evenings when the Awesome Kids Club Meet. Sunday morning worship is filled with the sound of children mixed in with our noisy adults as they greet each other at meet and greet time and prepare to worship together. The voices of our youth blend together as they meet on Sunday afternoons and prepare Super Bowl Sunday Sub Sandwiches.
The church is "alive" with prayers being lifted up on Wednesday mornings and in our newly organized Men's Prayer group on Saturday mornings.
Women's voices come together during the Women's Guild meetings with inspirational Bible Lessons. The Guild has for over 100 years hosted the Annual Bazaar, highlighting Chicken Noodle Soup and Chili, sandwiches, crafts and our homemade halo noodles. This is a fundraiser for the many ministries that the Guild sponsors. Needles fly as we quilt our Love Quilts for graduating Seniors in High School.
The church rocks with laughter and conversation when the monthly Dinner for 8 Pot Luck Dinner is held or the Annual Valentines Dinner is held and the men entertain the women of the church with skits and songs.
The church rejoices when the Food Pantry has enough to give out when the hungry families come on Thursday afternoons and as the Commodites are given out. Our voices blend together as we work together during our Annual Chicken BBQ. Proceeds from this event help to sponsor the Scholarships to Young Adults heading to college.
We are an "alive" church because we are God's hands, feet and voices in our community and in our world. Thanks be to God!
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Advent Resources
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Behold!
Don't miss the 2013 Advent Devotional from the Stillspeaker's Writer's Group.
(800) 537-3394.
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Found on Facebook, Cut Paste and Explore!
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Worship Comes in many shapes and sizes...REALLY! Listen to this NPR story to hear some "out of the box" thinking on worship.
Watch the PBS segment To the Contrary as it explores the "welcoming movement" featuring three very different UCC Congregations.
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K-O CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
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The following churches are actively searching for new leadership; please pray for the leadership of these churches and search committees. May they be open to the spirit, to risk taking in spreading the good news of our Stillspeaking God!
First UCC, Newton, KS
First Congregational Church, Manhattan, KS
New Basel UCC, Abilene, KS
Community Congregational Church, Garden City, KS
(Interim Called)
Plymouth Church, Lawrence, KS (seeking an Associate Pastor)
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HOW IS YOUR CHURCH MAKING A DIFFERENCE ?
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Dates for Churches to be Featured in eNEWS
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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 kofocus@yahoo.com
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!
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
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K-O CONFERENCE MINISTER'S SCHEDULE
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November 7: COM Subcommittee A
November 8-9: Conference Council Leadership Retreat
November 10: Evangelical UCC, Marysville, KS
November 11-14: Cabinet of Conference Minsters, Cleveland
November 16: Outdoor Ministries Meeting
November 24: Search Committee, Plymouth Church
NOTE: When Edith is out of the office at meetings or travelling, please feel free to contact her by email at eguffey@kocucc.com or to call her cell at (440) 759-0031
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| QUICK LINKS |
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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
Send Communications for eNEWS to:
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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