Highlights from the State and National
UCC
Disaster Relief for Japan
Dear friends,
The news from Japan over the weekend and into today has been absolutely horrifying. Current estimates of those who have died are over 3,000 and expected to rise. In addition to the havoc wreaked by earthquake and tsunami, the ongoing emergency at the Dalichi nuclear power station adds an additional, additionally terrifying, danger to the people of Japan.
For more information about the disaster, you’ll find stories from our colleagues at United Church News on our website at:
http://www.ctucc.org/news/
Ongoing information will be found at:
http://www.ucc.org/disaster/japan-earthquake-2011/
The United Church of Christ has already begun its response, first by verifying the safety of our Global Ministries personnel in the country (all three are safe), second by assuring our mission partners in Japan of our prayers and concern, and thirdly by gathering resources to be shared through those partners as the needs become clearer. I am pleased to report that we have heard from our former Connecticut Conference colleague Susan Page Townsley, and she reports that she and her family are all safe and well.
Our role in disasters is two-fold. First, through our advanced giving through the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering and Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic support, we are able to rapidly make funds available where appropriate, and through our partners at Church World Service, to bring some very basic supplies to affected residents quickly. Second, we stay in “for the long haul.” Thanks to the giving of our churches to OCWM Basic Support, which funds the structure and supports the international partnerships, 100% of gifts directed toward this disaster will be used for local services over the course of the months and years of recovery that lie ahead.
We are able to accept individual directed gifts toward earthquake and tsunami relief online at:
http://www.ctucc.org/donate/
If your congregation is collecting funds, please send those to the Conference office that we may pass them on through our partners. Please make checks payable to the Missionary Society of Connecticut, and note on checks that they are for “Pacific earthquake/tsunami” (that designation was chosen even as the tsunami wave was sweeping across the Pacific, and we didn’t know the extent of damaged coastlines). Our address is:
Connecticut Conference UCC
United Church Center
125 Sherman St.
Hartford, CT 06105
Thank you for all your prayers and concern for the people of Japan: and please continue those prayers for many days to come.
Upcoming Events Available through the CT UCC Conference
Silver Lake’s Open House – May 8
Spring Annual Meeting - Part 1 - May 14
Annual Report from the Conference Minister
The Connecticut Conference, the members of its churches, and its neighbors around the state and around the nation were ready for changes as 2009 drew to a close. Some things, unfortunately, remained stubbornly the same. Though some major economic indicators looked promising — including a significant recovery in the value of the Conference’s and many Connecticut UCC churches’ endowment funds — others remained bleak. In particular, the state’s unemployment rate was 9.1% in October 2010, nearly half a point higher than it had been the year before. The state’s capital city had the mournful privilege of the highest unemployment rate in Connecticut, 15.2%, and rates in excess of 10% remained common in the state’s cities. Small towns suffered with cities: both Plymouth and Plainfield, for example, had unemployment over 10% in October.
Rigorous cost-cutting, including staff furloughs, and significant end-of-year generosity permitted the Connecticut Conference to end 2009 with a surprising budget surplus. As a result, the staff returned to a full year of ministry and the Regional Minister positions for Fairfield County and the Eastern Region were increased to three-quarter time.
The Board and the Conference received the report of the Special Commission on Conference Sustainability, which had been tasked with reviewing the financial support of the Conference. Presented in September, the Commission offered fourteen recommendations for the near and long term. They noted the presence of three underlying themes: the needs to improve communication, deepen connection, and reinforce the covenant between local churches and Conference. As the year closed, the Board was considering specific ways to implement some of the short-term recommendations, and had appointed a Staffing Configuration Task Force to consider Conference personnel job descriptions and costs.
The major change of the year came in May, with the retirement of Conference Minister the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree. Hundreds turned out at the Old State House in Hartford to celebrate her fourteen years of ministry with the Conference, and her coast-to-coast service as pastor and leader in the United Church of Christ. Sadly, the Conference soon mourned the loss of her beloved husband, David Hindinger, who died peacefully in November after a courageous struggle with stomach cancer.
The Rev. Carole Carlson took the helm over the summer while the Board searched for an interim Conference Minister, and in August the Rev. Charles L. Wildman arrived, bringing a wealth of pastoral sensitivity and local church experience, along with years of conference and national setting board experience. “With the entire United Church of Christ, the Spirit is leading us on a new journey,” he told the Conference in September. “The world has changed dramatically from the one most of us knew in our youth. Every setting of the Church must change as well. We do not know the shape of our future, but we can trust that it is good — because it is God’s future! God is still speaking!”
Conference churches responded generously when new trouble quite literally rocked the Caribbean island nation of Haiti in January, sending just under $300,000 for the people’s relief. They gave generously again when another earthquake struck Chile, when floods devastated a great swath of Pakistan, and when Indonesia suffered both volcanic eruptions and a tsunami. In March, Connecticut residents — including UCC churches — learned first hand about disaster, when high winds swept the southwestern corner and high waters flooded the southeast. In June they lifted prayers when oil stained the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The Regional Ministry of the Connecticut Conference helped local church pastors and lay leaders understand that they were not alone in crisis and in celebration. Michael Ciba, Ineke Mitchell, Mike Penn-Strah, Susan Tarolli, and Sarah Verasco supported search committees and association church and ministry committees, worked with clergy and churches in crisis, led worship services, and offered referral suggestions when a question arose that they couldn’t answer. They also led programs and workshops both in local churches and at larger gatherings throughout the year.
The Threshold Initiative, a pilot project directed at helping healthy churches strengthen their ministries, had its formal launch in 2010. At year’s end five churches had signed on to participate, and each had identified a unique set of areas in which to focus their work. In the fall, the Conference announced the Crossroads Project, offering support for congregations struggling with significant decisions about their future. The first informational sessions are scheduled for January 8th.
The Conference closed the Now, for the Future Campaign for Silver Lake Conference Center in June with a successful anonymous $50,000 matching gift. Now, for the Future gifts have been put to work at the outdoor ministry facility in Sharon through infrastructure improvements and in the rebuilt amphitheater. Along with it, the new Circle Commons and new basketball court were dedicated in October with laughter, song, and prayer. Co-directors Anne and Tim Hughes reported that 1,064 conferees from 159 churches attended summer sessions, and another 3,497 retreat participants in 125 groups enjoyed Silver Lake’s hospitality in the winter, spring, and fall. Supporting it all: $38,500 in direct aid from churches for camperships, and 289 summer staff, and volunteer deans and counselors. Jenn McBurney joined the staff in the spring as the Silver Lake Registrar.
In Youth and Young Adult Ministries, “Thinking About Working for God for a Living” began its work supporting young people considering church vocations and ordained ministry. Three chapters of “Give2” (pronounced Give-Squared), a youth in service program bringing together young people from several churches, had been formed by year’s end, with two more “in the wings.” Two hundred participated in July’s Regional Youth Event in Boston, and the first YAYAM Signature Partner, the “In Our Shoes” anti-bullying project at King Street UCC in Danbury, was announced in December.
Presenters Steve Sterner and Cameron Trimble challenged the Spring Session of the 2010 Annual Meeting to a real commitment to found new UCC churches and reverse the trend of decline. In the fall, Conference delegates honored the 200th anniversary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the nation’s first overseas mission society, and heard a compelling address from United Nations official Dr. Robert Orr on the global challenges ahead.
Associate Conference Minister for Clergy Concerns Ron Brown accepted a call to the pulpit of First Congregational Church in Southington as the year drew to a close, and Barbara Libby assumed those responsibilities on the staff as the Interim ACMCC.
The UCC’s Stillspeaking Initiative introduced the “Stillspeaking Voices” project in 2010, summoning individual church members to pledge themselves to be spokespeople for their beloved Church. Supporting that effort, the UCC released the Language of God and Uniquely UCC video spots. The Connecticut Conference broadened its communication efforts, publishing four print issues of ConnTact, adding a new weekly web and email news service called CTUCC This Week, and launching a weekly audio podcast called CTUCC ConferenceCast, all of which may be found at ctucc.org.
As 2011 begins, there will be much to do. The Conference Minister Search Committee will begin its work, and Board, staff, and leadership will conscientiously consider what the Conference’s ministry will be in the years that lie ahead. In partnership with the local churches of this state, and in prayerful fellowship with UCC congregations across the nation, the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ will strive to faithfully serve God’s people, by equipping the saints to proclaim the Gospel, to teach the Good News of Jesus Christ, to do the work of reconciliation and justice, and to live faithfully in daily life.
Silver Lake News
Silver Lake E News for November 2010
In the Loop: Remember you can always stay informed on all the happenings at Silver Lake by following us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SilverLakeCT
Jump Into Action: Over 80 alums, staff and High School conferees attended this years Fall Action, and boy did we accomplish a lot! The grounds look beautiful, the fireboxes are full of wood, some needed building work continued, and the Co-Ed Fred has been gutted in preparation for an exciting renovation that will provide increased comfort and accessibility . After all the work, attendees enjoyed each others colorful costumes and some well deserved fun in the form of games and pumpkin carving. Thanks to all who made this weekend such a success!
Staff News: Longtime Lakers Pam and Greg Arifian recently had a baby! Lena Grace Arifian was born on 11/3/2010 weighing in at 8lbs. 1oz. and measuring 19.5 inches. Congrats Pammy and Greg!
For those interested in applying for Summer Staff 2011, applications will be made available shortly, please keep an eye on the website or Facebook for upcoming details.
Mike Kordiak, Andy Wicks, and Dustin Smith, our three summer staffers who undertook The best Road Trip Ever have returned safe and sound to New England. They did some volunteering at Cheyenne River Youth Project in South Dakota and at a UCC Mission near New Orleans, and saw quite a bit of America. Welcome Back Guys!
Speaking of Trips: There are two upcoming opportunities to serve with Simply Smiles in Mexico.
Event Link
Event Flyer
Application Link
For the Fourth Year, Silver Lake will partner with Simply Smiles to offer an International Youth Mission Project to Oaxaca, Mexico.
Trip Dates: April 16th-23 2011
Ages: 16 (by 4/15/11) to 18
Group Leadership: Rev. Jen Habetz, Josh Dufresne
Interested? Contact Rev. Jen Habetz: 203-259-8396
jhabetz@firstchurchfairfield.org
There is also an over 18 trip being organized by Silver Lake Alums Chris Miller, Sarah Stockmann, Jillian Dufresne, Josh Dufresne with support from the CT Conference Youth and Young Adult Ministries Trip Dates: March 5-12 2011
Ages: Age 18 and Over
Group Leadership: Chris Miller, Sarah Stockmann, Jillian Dufresne, Josh Dufresne Interested? Contact Chris Miller cmiller@aldenlab.com
A Camp Family Son Reflects: Eli Parker-Burgard, Camp Family 10, recently addressed his classmates at the St. Luke s School regarding his experience on summer staff Find the Article and his address here http://www.ctucc.org/news/20101115_bestsummer.html
Annual Meeting: In case you weren t able to catch the Silver Lake presentation at Annual Meeting, you can see our update video covering the past few months at the lake at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TEedn0o3_c
Calling Congregations awarding grants for ministry internships for college students
October 5, 2010
Through its Calling Congregations initiative, the Fund for Theological Education (FTE) will award grants of up to $12,500 each to congregations and church-related organizations for programs providing pastoral ministry internships to college students over the next three years.
Letters of intent for grant applications are due Oct. 30. Grants will also be awarded in the fall of 2011 and 2012.
“The energy for these grants is generated by results we see from similar funding awarded for internship projects among our current grantees,” says Jim Goodmann, Cultures of Call grants director.
The dedicated grant funding will meld enthusiasm for honoring the gifts and callings of young people with VocationCARE practices that encourage congregations to:
•Create a space to explore Christian vocation together
•Ask self-awakening questions
•Reflect theologically on self and community
•Establish ministry opportunities
Engaging interns in varied practices of ministry in a specific local context, the internship programs support formation of a leadership team from the congregation or organization to work with interns in their exploration of the pastoral call.
“This is a ministry of accompaniment,” says Goodmann. “As illustrated in a phrase coined by Dr. Lovett Weems and Ann Michael of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, the ‘church as accompanying community’ is party to the journey of an intern in a manner that goes well beyond evaluation or performance critique. Their journey together has an uncommon reciprocity, as the question of vocation belongs not solely to interns but to everyone who gathers with them to reflect together.”
Organizations submitting letters of intent should be prepared to host at least two interns within an 18-month grant period.
FTE seeks to build an ecumenical community of congregations and church-related organizations committed to the cause of cultivating future pastoral leaders. It developed VocationCARE as a means by which everyone – particularly young people exploring Christian vocation and the call to pastoral ministry – are more likely to hear, respond to, and serve God's call in their lives.
“God’s call to the church is renewed when a young person engages his or her calling ‘out loud’ with others in a context where ministry is celebrated and where vocation becomes everyone’s language,” says Goodmann.
Since launching the Cultures of Call grants program in 2007 with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., FTE has awarded more than $430,000 to local churches and organizations for programs supporting vocational discernment. Included among that total are gifts to Wellesley (Mass.) Congregational UCC, First Congregational UCC of Western Springs (Ill.), First Congregational UCC of Glen Ellyn (Ill.), First UCC of Northfield (Minn.); and First UCC of Marion (Ohio).
For more information on these grants, visit http://www.fteleaders.org/pages/grants-internshipsor contact Goodmann at jgoodmann@fteleaders.org or 404-727-1415.
September 21, 2010
To: Lay Delegates From Local Churches
Youth Delegates From Local Churches
All Authorized Ministers Of The Conference
All Officers Of The Conference
Moderators Of Associations
Former Moderators Of The Annual Meetings
Board Of Directors And Committees Named In The Bylaws
This comes to you as the Call to the Fall Annual Meeting (Part II of the One Hundred Forty-third Annual Meeting) of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ (Connecticut Conference of the Congregational Christian Churches).
Remember that all sessions are open to registered visitors as well as delegates, so be sure to tell others about the events of the two days!
The Theme of the weekend is “Journey With Jesus… 400 Years of Transforming Mission.” This year marks the bicentennial of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, whose constitution was signed in Farmington. We will commemorate the 200th anniversary of our nation’s first overseas mission society, whose heritage lives on in the UCC’s Wider Church Ministries, and look forward to the next 200 years of mission and ministry.
Friday evening will include a report from the Special Commission on Conference Sustainability, action on the proposed budget, and the Interim Conference Minister’s address. Saturday will bring keynote speaker Dr. Robert Orr, a variety of workshops exploring a world of mission, opportunities for worship, and recognition of leadership throughout our Conference.
Dr. Robert Orr’s keynote address to the Wider Church Ministries banquet at General Synod 27 was widely praised for his understanding and passion for global concerns in today’s world. The highest ranking U.S. citizen at the United Nations, he serves as Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination. His responsibilities include advising the Secretary-General on a full range of strategic issues, running the Secretary-General’s Policy Committee, and leading the Secretariat’s efforts to complete the UN reform agenda agreed to by world leaders at the 2005 World Summit.
Registration is available on-line at www.ctucc.org. Pre-registration for meals must be received no later than Sunday, October 17 on-line and Friday, October 15 by mail. Registration will begin at 4 PM at Middletown High School. Dinner will be at 5:15. The meeting will begin at 6:30 PM. The Interim Conference Minister’s Address will be at 8 PM.
The Authorized Ministers’ Lunch will be Friday, October 22 from Noon to 3:30 pm at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell. Those attending the Authorized Ministers’ Lunch may register at that event for the Annual Meeting. Ordained ministers celebrating their 50th and 25th anniversaries of ordination will be honored at the Friday clergy luncheon. Keynote Speaker the Rev. Dr. Sarah Drummond is Associate Dean of the Faculty and Associate Professor of Ministerial Leadership at Andover Newton Theological School.
Hospitality: Please check our website (www.ctucc.org) for information about child-care, special needs and the hotel list.
A Worship Committee, led by our Conference Preacher and Chaplain, the Rev. John Nelson of Niantic, has planned our worship experiences. We invite members from congregations of area churches to attend the major celebrative worship service on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM. Offerings will be received at the Friday evening worship service for Challenged Conferences of the United Church of Christ, and at the Saturday afternoon worship service for the Sacred Conversations on Race Program. When we assemble at Middletown High School we will be the Body of Christ worshipping, praying, deliberating, and making a witness to Jesus Christ. Come prayerfully, thoughtfully, and enthusiastically to seek God’s wisdom for our common mission as the United Church of Christ in Connecticut.
Sincerely in Christ,
The Rev. Charles L. Wildman
Over Fifty CTUCC Young People Getting Ready for "Inside Out, Outside In"
BOSTON (06/10/2010) -- As the New England Regional Youth Event (NERYE) approaches, to be held at Boston University June 24-27, youth and their advisers are preparing their packing lists and preparations, and planners are settling their programs and rehearsing their music. Coming soon, it's Hello! Boston!
"This is an amazing opportunity for life-transforming worship and work," said the Rev. Da Vita "Day" McCallister, Associate Conference Minister for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, who has been on the planning team and will attend the event. Working from the theme "Inside Out, Outside In," Drumming workshops, service projects, climbing class, swimming, walking the labyrinth, and enjoying the great performers are all on the agenda.
"NERYE," says the planning team, "has something for everyone!"
| Shalom UCC, New Haven | 14% |
| First Congregational Church of Guilford | 13% |
| First Congregational Church of Derby | 12% |
| First Church of Christ, Congregational, Bethany | 11% |
| First Church in Windsor | 11% |
| Rocky Hill Congregational Church | 11% |
| First Church of Christ, Simsbury | 10% |
| Oxford United Church of Christ Congregational | 10% |
| North Guilford Congregational Church UCC | 10% |
| United Congregational Church, Tolland | 10% |
The Connecticut Conference Annual Report can be found through the following link:
http://www.ctucc.org/resources/2008_yearend_report.html
