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SOUTHERN CONFERENCE UCC NEWSLETTER - 2/11/10
The Southern Conference needs yearly Form G report no later than 2/15/10 and the E & F form no later than 3/1/20 as we are trying to be one of the first conferences to turn in our reports to national as part of the national all-conference competition. If you have all forms completed, please send them in together. Thanks to everyone that have already sent their reports in.
In this month of February, we reflect on Black History. The UCC offers a tribute to those who have overcome suffering and injustice and offers praise for a powerful and sustaining God. From the Amistad to the presidency, the United Church of Christ is forever entwined in the history of a people who stood with courage and pushed forward with faith. Please join our national office in honoring this rich legacy. Here are several resources that can be used to celebrate an empowering history. In the current UCC (Email) Newsletter, there is a special prayer for this month and also these resources: Amistad Resource Center; Biography.com (a variety of interesting and interactive ways to learn more about Black History;also a special poster is being offered at UCC Resources (Free with any purchase). Go to ucc.org or contact the conference office and we will send you by email the UCC newsletter.
Franklinton Center at Bricks Conference and Retreat Center
African Americans in the UCC - Where we came from, where we are going!
March 8-10, 2010
A Conference about Black Congregational, Afro Christian and other African American UCC Churches
Exploring and acknowledging our history and charting our future!
For: Any clergy or lay member or friend of the UCC
For information on registration, room, meals and a schedule, contact Rev. Ervin Milton at 252-437-1723 or 800-345-1850
Volunteer Work Groups Needed
Great news to share widely... The United Church of Christ is participating this Spring in an ecumenical rebuild in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The dates to mark on your calendar are: April 12 through May 21, 2010! Volunteer work groups are invited to spend a week repairing/rebuilding homes that were damaged by the 2008 floods - long term recovery is indeed a marathon not a sprint. We are seeking groups of 10-12 people for each week to bring their gifts and skills and apply them in Cedar Rapids. Volunteer groups will be assigned to work side by side with nine denominational and two local partners to do this much needed work.
Pam Small of Evansville, IN is serving as the volunteer coordinator for the project and can be reached at: psmall66@gmail.com; cell phone: 812-453-3995. We are fortunate to also have John Small serve as a site coordinator during the project. Pam and John Small have served the UCC on the Gulf Coast in Biloxi and New Orleans. We are grateful for their faithful service to the church and the people in communities we serve.
HISTORY AND POLITY CLASS OFFERED IN MARCH
The Pastoral Leadership Development program will offer a course in UCC History and Polity for persons seeking authorized ministerial standing in the UCC (e.g., Members in Discernment, those seeking Privilege of Call or transfer of standing from another denomination) starting Tuesday, March 2 from 6:30-9:30 There will be 6 class sessions on Tuesday nights March 2, March 16, 23, 30, April 6 & 13 at Community UCC,
814 Dixie Trail, Raleigh 27607. The cost of the course is $300. For more information and to get a registration form, please contact Rev. Margot Trusty Pickett at PLDdirector@verizon.net. in The deadline for registration is February 22.
New Fitness Coordinator Hired at Abernethy Laurels
Newton, NC - Abernethy Laurels, a continuing care retirement community located in Newton, NC has hired a new fitness coordinator, Vanessa Smith, for their CORE Fitness Center. Her emphasis will primarily be on fitness, nutrition and helping residents, employees, and community members exceed their personal fitness goals.
Vanessa is certified as a Personal Trainer, a Group Power Instructor, a Dietary Manager and in Primary Group Fitness. She received her Associate of Arts and Science degree at Illinois Central College. Vanessa received her Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics, with a minor in health at Bradley University. She moved to the Stony Point area in June, 2009 to be near family and began working as a trainer at Peak Fitness in Statesville.
Vanessa's goals at Abernethy Laurels are to teach the members of CORE Fitness that there is more to healthy living than just healthy eating, such as stretching and moving, setting goals for oneself and seeing how rewarding it can be to reach those goals. Her plans also include getting certified in yoga and enrolling in classes that will help her motivate a diverse group such as the members at CORE Fitness.
Greg Rossidivito, Director of Life Enrichment at Abernethy Laurels, exclaimed "Vanessa is a welcome addition to our staff and we look forward to what she can help the residents, staff, and outside members accomplish. Her knowledge of fitness, warm personality, and passion for helping others made her a perfect fit on our team. Vanessa 's experience in teaching a variety of fitness classes will be new excitement and challenges to our members."
UCC VOLUNTEER MINISTRIES
The newsletter for volunteer ministries for February 2010 is now available. It includes volunteer opportunities and good news stories for service through United Church of Christ Volunteer Service.
To read go to www.ucc.org/volunteer/resources-for-volunteers
Two new opportunities where you are needed are:
1) Silver Lake Camp and Conference Center - Connecticut
2) Disaster Recovery Constructions Site Coordinator - New Orleans, LA (Summer of 2010)
News from Piedmont Crossings
Jack Frank Named Director Emeritus
Newton, NC. ---- Jack Frank of Lexington, NC has been named Director Emeritus by unanimous vote of the United Church Homes and Services (UCHS) Board of Directors.
Frank is a long-time supporter and was a long-standing member of the UCHS Board of Directors. His involvement spans nearly four decades. During his tenure with UCHS, he was instrumental in the start-up of Piedmont Crossing, a UCHS owned retirement community in Thomasville. He served in many roles, including Chairman of the Board, Vice Chair of the Board, Chair of the Finance Committee and Chair of the Piedmont Crossing Advisory Council. In discussing the honor, Douglas Fleegle, UCHS President and CEO stated, "Jack has been a tremendous asset to this ministry, serving in multiple volunteer leadership roles. We will miss his presence on the Board of Directors, and will always consider him an important member of the UCHS family."
Jack Frank is a veteran of WWII, entering the military at age 18. He served as a driver and messenger for the 1142nd Engineer Combat Group, a unit that set out and picked up mines, repaired bombed roads and built bridges and cemeteries. He landed at Normandy in France in September 1944, spent periods in Belgium and the Netherlands, advancing to near the Elbe River in Germany, where American troops met Russian troops at the end of the war in Europe. Frank is retired from the lumber business, and has been active for many years with the Lions Club. From 1975 through 1976 he served as Lions International District Governor and currently serves in the same capacity.
Frank and his wife Lalah live in Lexington, NC and are active members of Beck's Reformed Church. They have two sons, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
UCHS is a not for profit, church affiliated provider of senior living opportunities and programs of outreach. The corporation operates fourteen programs at eleven sites in North Carolina and Virginia serving 1200 seniors and 50 children. Visit UCHS on the web at www.uchas.org.
Chautauqua UCC Society Offers Internship Program
We have received information about an internship program at the Chautauqua UCC Society, Inc. in chautauqua, New York. This internship covers a seven-week period during the summer of 2010. It provides a stipend of $1,000, lodging and a gate pass for the Chautauqua Institution and access to its many summer programs.
If you need an application and more information about this program, contact the conference office.I think this offers an opportunity for your in-care students and a valuable experience that will enhance their ministerial preparation.
Rev. LaVerne Gill, Chaplain Administrator Chautauqua UCC Society, Inc.
Email: lmgill2309@yahoo.com
FAITH AND HEALTH SUMMIT OFFERED BY NORTH CAROLINA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
Raleigh Report Network--I am writing to encourage you to attend what is for us a new event. As part of our new Partners in Health and Wholeness Program, which is focusing on health education and health promotion through congregations, we are holding a Faith and Health Summit. The keynote speaker, Gary Gunderson, is a nationally recognized leader in this field (and has been a personal friend of mine for thirty years). He will be worth hearing. Governor Perdue has been invited to speak at lunch and, while we don't yet have a firm answer from her office, her scheduler called me last week to say that the Governor is holding that time for us and hopes to be able to attend. The rest of the day will be a series of workshops, described below, helping people of faith to make the connections between faith and health and to live healthier lives.
Please join us for this important gathering, and please feel free to forward this information to others who might be interested.
J. George Reed, Executive Director; North Carolina Council of Churches
fOR MORE INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION AND PROGRAM, CONTACT GEORGE REED OR GO TO WWW.NCCOUNCILOFCHURCHES.ORG
EMPLOYMENT OPPORUNTITY AVAILABLE IN HAITI
If anyone knows of anyone who may be interested in employment at this time.
Greetings,
ACET, Inc. has received an immediate request to provide assistance to the devastation from the recent earthquake that has befallen the nation of Haiti. We are looking for anyone interested in going to Haiti to help for a 3- 6 month period. There are no particular skills sets defined at this point, except the willingness to help wherever needed. We will be presenting folks and highlighting their unique skills and trade qualifications, so if the opportunity to help in your area exists - it will be noted and presented. As you can well imagine, any skill that you may have - can be of great help.
Typical skill sets needed:
Carpenters
Masons
Electricians
Medical Personnel
Communications
Builders
Heavy Equipment Operators
Plumbers
Logistics
Etc.
THIS IS NOT A VOLUNTEER REQUEST - you will be paid for the work you do. This is a temporary employment assignment that will include travel, expenses, remuneration with an understanding that housing accommodations will be very basic. All that is needed at this point is a passport or ability to obtain one ASAP.
If you are seriously interested or know of someone who would be interested - please email me back ASAPor forward this email, and I will provide more details for you at that time.
This is a unique opportunity to make a difference to the people of Haiti!
Onekqua Beverly
Corporate Recruiter/Security Specialist ACET, Inc.
otbeverly@adamscomm.com
www.adamscomm.com
A great outpouring, UCC members continue Haiti fundraising efforts
Written by Jeff Woodard
January 26, 2010 -source ucc.org
The overwhelming outpouring of generosity from United Church of Christ members and congregations to earthquake-ravaged Haiti continues to set new standards, according to church leaders. As of noon Tuesday (Jan. 26), more than $560,000 had been raised by the UCC Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, according to Susan M. Sanders, UCC's minister for global sharing of resources.
"The total of $566,246 includes $359,245 that has been raised through online contributions," says Sanders.
The two-week total is more than double the $250,603 raised during the first six days following the Jan. 12 disaster.Creative initiatives from UCC entities are also taking shape. Retirement Housing Foundation (RHF) in California has issued a $50,000 match grant to encourage employees to donate; an employee campaign at Advocate Health Care in Chicago is sharing proceeds with both the UCC and Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America (ELCA); First United Church of Christ in Hampton, Va., is planning a benefit concert for Haiti on Feb. 21; and the youth group of Mountain Rise UCC in Fairport, N.Y., voted to donate the $1,720.25 it recently raised through Christmas wreath sales.
In addition,
Beecher Memorial UCC in New Orleans has sent a first offering of $629 and has pledged to receive a special Haiti offering the first Sunday of each month in 2010. In a letter to UCC Wider Church Ministries, the Rev. Juan R. Thomas, Senior Pastor at Beecher Memorial, wrote:
"The citizens of New Orleans and the members of Beecher Memorial UCC, who 4½ years after Hurricane Katrina continue to rebuild from devastation, destruction and pain, are deeply affected by what we have seen in Haiti."
It is still possible to donate to the Haiti Relief Fund. You may be able to deduct your donation on this year's tax report. Go to ucc.org for more information.
CHURCH WOMEN OF SOUTHERN CONFERENCE - SUMMER CONFERENCE
The Church Women of the Southern Conference will observe their annual Summer Conference beginning June 17 and concluding on June 19. The Conference will be held at Elon Community Church United Church of Christ and attendees will be housed at Elon University. The theme of the Conference is "The Spiritual Clothes We Wear". There will be workshops and outstanding speakers. Registration forms will be on the website after March 30.l
EVENT AT CORINTH UCC, YOUNGSVILLE, NC
Corinth United Church of Christ Missionary Board will celebrate it's 10h year of service on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 3:00 pm. Evangelist Hattie Loftin from Pleasant Hill UCC will be our speaker. We are excited about this celebration and our theme is "Let's come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves" taken from Psalms 126:6. We would like to invite all UCC churches within our area to join us for this great celebration. Come and Rejoice with us. Pastor Michael L. McCotter and Deaconess Pidie Green, President Missionary Board.
Please call us at the conference office if you have any questions about the above information.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Linda Carter
Ms. Janelle Bunn
Southern Conference UCC |
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