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 Boundary Awarness Training Dates:

 NJ: September 27th & October 4th, River Edge, NJ

 POTOMAC: October 4th & 5th, Christ Congregational, Silver Spring, MD

 Employment Opportunities

Music Director
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New Church Pastor Prospect Survey Link

 

Minister's Compensation Guidelines 2010 - 2011

new guidelines will be voted on at the June Annual Meeting

       

 Report from Revs. Dawn and Jon Barnes, Missionaries in South Africa
Click here

Resources on the environment and on

Going Green

 

 Resources for

Stewardship Campaigns
Click here

 

 
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Welcome to the Central Atlantic Conference
of the United Church of Christ

an Open and Affirming Conference
--where God is still speaking!


No matter who you are, no matter what, no matter where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here.
 
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The UCC Health and Wellness ministry is putting together a Resource Guide.  The Resource Guide will highlight congregational approaches to addressing health, health welfare and human service issues faced by individuals.  By identifying innovative ministries, programs and projects, building partnerships, sharing information, and replicating efforts, congregations will be able to forge stronger partnerships with other UCC congregations, ecumenical/interfaith groups, faith-based and community organizations, and health and human service agencies that will lead to improved and increased health and wholeness.

 TO DOWNLOAD THE ONLINE FORM VISIT 

http://www.ucc.org/justice/health/resource-guide.html

(posted 9/2/10)

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 Lancaster Seminary is seeking an Associate Director of Alumni/ae and Church Giving.  Click here for more information. (posted 8/25/10)

Over 300 youth from Virginia, NY, Maryland and all over Pennsylvania gathered at Susquehanna U for RYE this year.  CAC sent 20 youth and adults.  We had some really great speakers and some really good workshops and we made some new friends and overall we were reminded that God is good-all the time! 

 

Click here to see the Call to Worship they shared as a voice choir at their closing worship. (August 2010)

 Click on the title below to read about John's trip:

Reflections while traveling in Afghanistan

 

 A message from Florence Coppola (posted 8/3/10)

Friends,

As events continue to unfold on the Gulf Coast, we are aware that even if the oil well is finally “killed,” the long term recovery of the people impacted is just beginning.  The UCC Florida Conference decided to ask their churches to participate in a conference wide worship service either on the beach or in their own buildings on August 22 to recognize and to pray for people impacted.

 In Kent Siladi’s words:  “In the Florida Conference the fourth Sunday in August has been set aside as “Disaster Relief Recognition Sunday”.  This annual observance is in recognition of the disasters that take place here in the Florida Conference – hurricanes, tornados, floods, fires and in the case of the oil spill – technological disasters.  Pastors of the Gulf Coast region have been meeting to discuss how their congregations might respond to the Oil Spill and they decided that a Conference wide gathering on the beaches across Florida would be one such response.”

 This note is to invite all UCC churches across North America to consider having a worship service or other type of event on August 22 (or on a date that would be appropriate to their church life) as a witness to the caring nature of the church for people whose lives have been put on hold indefinitely.  Provided here is a link to a UCNews article and a liturgy that you may choose to use.  We continue to pray…

 Web link:

http://www.ucc.org/news/ucc-wide-prayers-for-gulf-of.html?autologin=true

 Please share this information

 

 Mount Tabor Park's big slide is big fun

By: LAUREN REDDING
Associated Press
07/22/10 5:20 AM PDT

ROCKY RIDGE, MD. — Mount Tabor Park's "Big Wooden Slide" stands 40 feet high and was built in the spring of 1950 by volunteers two churches and community

 After waiting eagerly in line behind a dozen other children, Trace Dockman finally reached the coveted spot at the top of "The Big Wooden Slide." ...more

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From the Insurance Board- 

Here is the Summer, 2010 issue of The Steward.

Highlights from this issue include:
 - Setting Financial Priorities for Your Church
 - Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Abuse
 - Protecting Your Copper from Theft 
 - And more!

We hope you enjoy! If you have any questions, please contact us at 800.437.8830 or email us.  Click to download the Summer 2010 Newsletter.

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The ship Amistad has been damaged and needs funds for repairs, 
see the request from Paul Bryant-Smith here.

 Link to UCC web page on Gulf Oil Spill:

http://www.ucc.org/gulf-oil-spill/

Dr Diana Butler Bass was our keynote speaker this weekend at the CAC Annual Meeting.  She used our theme “Who are you Christians, anyway” as the starting point for her Beliefnet Blog.  The link is below:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/christianityfortherestofus/2010/06/who-are-you-christians-anyway.html

  Have you filled out the 2010 Annual Meeting survey yet?

 

 POSTED May 26, 2010

 Friends,

Summer and hurricane season are nearly here and it has been a busy winter and spring.  Floods and tornadoes have almost depleted the CWS supply of clean up buckets, personal care, and school kits.  Attached is the link for formulas on ingredients and places to ship.  Please share this information within your conference.  These kits are a great gift to people in need.

 CWS kits:

http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kits_main

 I have also included here the latest web posting on the Gulf oil spill in Louisiana:

http://www.ucc.org/disaster/gulf-oil-spillone-month.html

 Peace, Florence Coppola, Executive, National Disaster Ministries
UCC Wider Church Ministries
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
216-736-3211; toll free: 1-866-822-8224 x-3211
Fax: 216-736-2294
Web site: http://www.ucc.org/disaster

National Disaster Ministries' are supported by OCWM and OGHS."

   **********

 

 
 

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Have you ever thought of being a new church planter?  Do you have expertise that might be helpful to clergy and laity starting a new church?  If so, the CAC New Church Development Committee would like to hear from you.  Please contact us by completing the following brief survey, which tells a little about your interests.  Or stop by our table at the CAC Annual Meeting.  To complete the survey please click on the New Church Pastor Prospects link in the left column.

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Have you seen the new UCC ad? 

Click on this link to view it 

The Language of God www.vimeo.com

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  For Information and Updates on Haiti Relief Efforts

click here

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Latest UCC News Minimize

New Church Leadership Institute refuels think tank of new, revitalizing churches
The Rev. Dr. Carol Vaccariello clearly appreciated the validation she received in sharing her perspective at the New Church Leadership Institute 2010 conference Aug. 9-13 in Decatur, Ga.

UCC theologian, BWF architect, Donald Bloesch dies at 82
UCC theologian, the Rev. Donald G. Bloesch, died Aug. 24, 2010, at the age of 82 in Dubuque, Iowa.

UCC-hosted conference explores global church's impact in confronting racism
How can the global church challenge racism when its manifestations take on such different forms in various places around the world?

Pilgrim Press author adds sparkle to church revitalization efforts
The Rev. Paul Nixon spoke with a passionate clarity during his visit to the UCC national offices in downtown Cleveland last week when he said bold vision and unwavering witness require an unmistakable sparkle. “The bright-eyed people are the ones,” said Nixon, speaking before 75 people in the Church House Meeting Room during The Pilgrim Press’ presentation of The Igniting Leadership Series. “Their eyes sparkle as you talk about it – whatever ‘it’ happens to be,” said a smiling Nixon. “They have a way of energizing you. When the bright-eyed people outnumber the rest, that’s when your church has turned the corner.” Citing their ability to connect, nurture and empower, Nixon says they are great apprentices to others – invaluable allies during challenging times. “If you can get even five of these people, good things will happen. Your church will survive.” Nixon, an ordained Methodist minister and pastor of Foundry Church in Washington, D.C., authored the best-selling book “I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church!” (2006), which was Pilgrim Press’ top seller in 2007. He also wrote “Jesus on the Metro: and Other Surprises Doing Church in a New Day” (2009). “We’re moving toward new territory, a whole new place,” said Nixon. “And not just mainline churches – everyone. Evangelical, big and small, we’re all scrambling. In this decade, the churches that succeed will be those making active, intentional choices.” Nixon cites “Six Key Choices” needed for churches to survive: Life Over Death; Community Over Isolation; Fun Over Drudgery; Frontier Over Fortress; Bold Over Mild; Now Over Later. Using a projector to display an image of sparse-but-vibrant vegetation rising from parched soil, Nixon hailed two Florida women whose misbehaving grandsons prompted them to begin an after-school latch-key program. “It began with a few volunteers, and the state soon said, ‘We’d better give this some water.’” The program has flourished into an operation that receives state grants and serves over 100 trouble-prone youths. Nixon invited attendees to consider ways for their churches to provide a warmer welcome. “When people drive by your church, are the lights off? Are the doors locked? Are there signs prohibiting skateboarders – or parking spaces marked ‘For Church Members Only?’ A lot of times, when people drive by your church, they see it as a club.” A healthy place of worship also appreciates and promotes its lighter moments, said Nixon, citing a church that showed a reel-to-reel “Laurel and Hardy” film after one of its Sunday dinners. “The popped popcorn and everything, and when the lights went down, designated people began tossing kernels at the person in front of them. By the time it was over, everyone was throwing at everyone. It was all-out hysteria. You can’t downplay the importance of fun and laughter.” In his morning message before a near-capacity gathering in the Amistad Chapel, Nixon offered a sermon titled “Your Conversation in the World,” based on the text of II Corinthians 1:12. Nixon relayed how his church’s recent need to fill a part-time position resulted in a large field of well-qualified applicants. “It came down to two, and the question was, ‘Who would be the better community shepherd?’ We threw them into a setting, mixed them in with other people, stood back and watched what happened.” The successful applicant, said Nixon, was the one who could “ride like the wind” while engaged in conversation. Nixon was quick to note that messy conversations are as important – if not more so – than feel-good dialogue. “Look at Apostle Paul. He did some hurtful things but he really wasn’t a bad guy. Paul was often placed in messy contexts and had messy conversations. He got run out of town by more than anyone. If you are truly going to have conversation in the Cosmos, you WILL get push-back.”

UCC church in Michigan opens its doors to local college’s communication school
Expanding its seven-year partnership with Grand Valley State University, St. John’s United Church of Christ in Grand Rapids, Mich., opened its doors this summer to the university’s School of Communication.

Faith Practices subscribers laud resource for simplicity, substance
Just over a month after its rollout, Faith Practices is drawing enthusiastic reviews from subscribers praising the simplicity of its use and the depth of the reflection it provides. To date, 73 churches have subscribed to the resources.
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