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Happenings Around Our Conference
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Rev. David Gaewski |
The best Ecclesiastical Council I ever attended was for a candidate seeking ordination for a hospital chaplaincy ministry. The reason is was outstanding, is because the candidate was able to articulate the goals of hospital chaplaincy within a theological framework. At the end of the Council I thought: we have all be enlightened.
In our Congregational History, Ecclesiastical Council were meant to be learning events during which both laity and clergy would engage in a deep understanding of our faith. While personal experience of the faith is important to articulate, a Council is not meant to ever be "person focused" or to be more blunt: "me focused". The ministry is not about any one person. I am encouraged by candidates who engage our minds and hearts to wrestle with difficult faith issues as well as celebrate the meaning of Christian living. When you leave a good Ecclesiastical Council, you know it.
This evening will be the third Presidential Debate. Like many, I long for this election cycle to be over. My anticipation is that tonight's debate will be more of the same. I hope so much to be wrong. Like an Ecclesiastical Council, a Presidential Debate should educate citizens on complex issues that defy simplistic responses: I promise more jobs, less taxes, a cleaner environment, and a more egalitarian society. Like the Ecclesiastical Council that is just about "me", a Presidential Debate that is solely focused on personality and personality-flaws demeans us as a country. Rather than elevating our national consciousness, it degrades our intelligence and erodes our collective moral integrity.
Regardless of what outcome we have on November 8th, I believe we as Christians and as citizens, must engage in a moral reconstruction of our nation. I encourage you to send me your thoughts on this. I am not interested in hearing your partisan views. I am interested in hearing what moral reconstruction means for you.
David
Rev. David R Gaewski, Conference Minister
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"ONA 201" webinars scheduled
ONA 201 is the UCC's Open and Affirming Coalition's webinar series for congregations seeking new ways to renew and recharge their Open and Affirming covenant. We focus on best practices from growing ONA congregations, including tips on marketing, communications, advocacy and evangelism. ONA churches can grow--if they "come out of the closet" and establish a bold, visible presence in their community!
Leader is Coalition Executive Director Andy Lang. Webinars are at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Oct. 25, Nov. 15 and Dec. 6. The cost is $30 per registration: if multiple members of your church are participating at the same computer, the cost is still only $30!
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Clergy Participation Invited: Discussing Pastors' Grief
Marie Tracy, a third-year Master of Divinity student at Vanderbilt Divinity School, is completing a project on the potential ability for pastors to grieve within a congregational setting. She is looking to interview United Church of Christ clergypersons who lost a loved one while working in a church, to hear your story, and to discuss your experience as a pastor facing grief. Potential participants do not need to still be serving within a congregational setting. Please contact Marie at (908) 358-5436 or by email at [email protected] with any questions or if you are interested in participating. All identifying information will remain strictly confidential.
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CHHSM Survey
Council for Health and Human Service Ministries
has launched a broad denomination-wide survey to glean the United Church of Christ's collective understandings of, attitudes about, and involvement with health and human service ministries today.
We want to invite and encourage you to complete the survey before October 31 and to share it widely among your networks (congregations, etc.) Respondents do not necessarily need any knowledge of CHHSM or its member ministries, or even the UCC, in order to provide the constructive feedback we are seeking.
The results will help to inform/shape CHHSM's strategic planning process and impact future ministry initiatives.
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Save the date: State Youth Event
Youth ages 14-18 should save the dates -- March 3-5, 2017 -- for the 32nd Annual United Church of Christ New York Conference State Youth Event at Watson Homestead in Painted Post, NY. This year's theme will be "Realize, Relax, Reassure." For more information, contact Associate Conference Minister Rev. Ryan Henderson, [email protected] or stay tuned to http://www.uccny.org/ministries/youth-ministries/ for more updates.
Click here to print a flyer advertising this event!
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Sign your church up for Readiness 360
- To take a spiritual "snapshot" of your church?
- To see how your church can be more vital in its ministry?
- To evaluate your church's readiness for perhaps a new ministry?
Congregations meeting eligibility criteria can participate in Readiness 360, an online congregational assessment in areas of spiritual intensity, missional alignment, dynamic relationships, and cultural openness. This survey assists leaders in understanding and acting upon issues that drive vital, healthy congregations. Previously available to a limited number of congregations, the New York Conference is making this survey available to all of our churches at a nominal cost.You may find a document of "Frequently Asked Questions" by
clicking here.
For questions or further information please contact Rev. Freeman Palmer at [email protected].
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General Synod... Already??
Since General Synod will be held in the Mid-Atlantic Region (Baltimore) it is not too early for us in New York to begin our planning. The dates of General Synod are June 30 - July 4.
General registration will open December 5. The full event visitor registration fee of $247.50 is discounted through the end of March. Full five-day visitor registrants pay only $225 if they register before January 5 and only $236.50 from January 6 through March 31. Information is now beginning to be posted at synod.uccpages.org.
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"Sisters 4 Sisters" Online Cancer Survivor Support Gathering
Ladies:
If you are a cancer survivor (any type) or are currently in the fight, join your fellow sisters for a time of sharing and support. During the month of October we will meet via the online Zoom platform for one hour to share our stories and encourage one another. Remember,
"as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
(
Proverbs 27:17)
. Join us. The dates, times and Zoom link are below:
October 20 - 5:00 pm
October 27 - 6:00 pm
Rev. Marsha Williams
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Youth United Nations Trip
The New York State Council of Churches sponsors an annual trip for high school youth to the United Nations over President's Day (Monday, February 20 through February 22). This year, the seminar will focus on "Islamophobia." The $400 cost covers lodging, travel, and some meals.
Click here for a flyer with more information.
Click here for an application.
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Special Collection of School Supplies for Nicaraguan Kids
In 2016 a delegation from New York Conference had the opportunity to visit the wonderful weekly educational program offered at various churches of the Iglesia Mision Cristiana. They serve children from neighborhoods in Managua who are the poorest of the poor.
At the First Church in Managua (one of the churches serving the children) more than 300 children from ages 3 years to 15 years old participate in an afternoon program that focuses on the areas of cognitive and social/emotional/spiritual development. They also receive a nutritional meal every day. They have an incredible group of teachers/directors and volunteers who serve the children with the love of God.
Our next group going in February 2017 (after consulting with the Iglesia Mision Cristiana's office) would like to bring with us supplies that would be of great help to them.
We would like to encourage churches to do a campaign to collect the following items:
Pencils, pens, markers, construction paper, arts and crafts items, glue sticks, small scissors, books for children in Spanish and cash (we can buy the items for you here in Syracuse).
Churches will be responsible for sending these items to the Conference office in Syracuse no later than February 5, 2017.
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Register before TOMORROW: Open and Affirming Workshop
When: October 22, 2016
Time: 9:30A-2:30P
Place: Journey United Church of Christ NY, 27 Hannay Lane, Glenmont NY 12077 518.729.7127
Special Guest: Andy Lang, Executive Director, Open and Affirming Coalition United Church of Christ
Learn:
- Biblical foundations for making and keeping Open and Affirming Covenant
- Ways to be an Inclusive Congregation
- "What's Next?" Best practices for your ONA church's growth
Cost: $15/Person, $50 for congregations of five or more (includes materials, continental breakfast, and lunch) Deadline: Thursday, October 20, 2016
This workshop is sponsored by Journey UCC in conjunction with the New York Conference.
To register as an individual, click here.
To register a group of five or more from a single congregation, click here.
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Fall Association Meetings
Black River-Saint Lawrence Association
Met earlier this fall (October 2, Richville)
Essex Association
(Spring Meeting Only)
Genesee Valley Association
Met earlier this fall (October 16, South Livonia)
Hudson-Mohawk Association
Date: October 29, 2016
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Place: North Congregational Church, Middletown
Address: 96 N Beacon St,
Middletown, NY 10940
Oneida Association
Met earlier this fall (September 18, Central Square)
Metro Association
Theme: The Church of the 21st Century -- Is Your Church Ready to Change? (A Panel Discussion to explore what was and what will be)
Date: November 19, 2016
Time: 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Place: Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church
Address: 1845 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh, NY 11793.
Suffolk Association
Theme: History and Current Situation of Racism in Long Island - Presenter: Elaine Gross
Date: November 2, 2016
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: The Congregational Church of Huntington, UCC
Address: 30 Washington Drive,
Centerport, NY 11721
Susquehanna Association
Met earlier this fall (September 24, Preble)
Western Association
Theme: Bold Faith for Today: A Conversation with the New York Conference Ministry Team
(Covenant signing with the Berlin City Deanery)
Date: November 6, 2016
Time: 2:00pm
Place: Lockport UCC
Address: 98 East Ave.,
Lockport, NY 14094
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Staff Preaching Schedule
Rev. David R Gaewski
October 23 - Corona Congregational UCC (Queens)
Rev. Freeman Palmer
October 23 - Journey UCC, Glenmont
October 30 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran UCC, Bronx
November 13 - Church in the Gardens (Installation of Steven Moore as pastor), Queens
November 20 - Church of the Evangel, Brooklyn
December 11 - Ridgeview Congregational Church, White Plains
Rev. Dr. Marjorie Purnine
November 6 - Niagara Falls Congregational
Rev. Dr. Marsha Williams
October 23 - First Congregational, Ithaca
November 13 - Lemuel Haynes
November 20 - Church of the Pelhams
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Opportunities for Education
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Upcoming Webinars from Practical Resources for Churches
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Fall Learning Event on Leading Changing Churches
The New York School of Ministry Fall Learning Event, "Discerning the Body: What We Need to Know about our Churches to Lead Them Effectively through Change,"
will be held on November 18-19 (from Friday dinner through worship, mid-afternoon on Saturday) at Notre Dame Retreat House, 5151 Foster Road, in Canandaigua.
J. Mark Lawson will be our leader.
Eugene Peterson wrote, "Once you stop struggling, you're dead." A church congregation completely free of conflict has ceased to be a living body of Christ. Not all conflict is good or even necessary, and any conflict that is misunderstood or mismanaged can lead to long-term dysfunction. On the other hand, properly discerning the true source of conflict and negotiating it successfully leads to new life. This event will familiarize participants with common and often misunderstood sources of church conflict and explore how honestly engaging these struggles can lead to new growth in size and spirit. Note: focus will be given to small and medium-size congregations of with average worship attendance of less than 120.This program fulfills 6 hours towards the continuing education requirement for authorized ministers.
Cost: Overnight: $105; Commuters: $50.
To register, go to:
http://www.uccny.org/ministries/nysom/24-hour-learning-events/ |
Boundary Awareness Refresher Training
Another Boundary Awareness Refresher training will also be offered on October 24 at Homer Congregational UCC, 28 S. Main Street,
Homer, NY
13077. Cost is $75 (to register, contact Sue Frost at
[email protected]
).
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ONLINE:
UCC History, Theology and Polity Course,
Jan. 2017
A UCC History, Theology and Polity Course that meets the requirements as set forth by the UCC Polity Teacher's Network will be offered online during January 2017. Classes will begin at 9:00am and end at 4:00pm on the following dates: January 7, 21 and 28 and February 4. The platform utilized will be Zoom Video Conferencing (
zoom.us
) The tuition will be $465. For more information contact the instructor, Reverend David Gaewski, NY Conference Minister, at
[email protected]
.
This polity course is sponsored by the Oneida Association of the New York Conference. Payments should be sent no later than December 20 to Diana Pelletier, 114 Munro Dr., Camillus, NY 13031. Make checks payable to Oneida Association UCC.
A syllabus is available upon request. Laity, Members in Discernment and Privilege of Call candidates are all invited! Class size is limited to the first twelve to register. The course will be cancelled if we do not obtain seven registered students. A student is considered registered when full payment has been received. Students who cancel enrollment will receive reimbursements up until January 6.
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Panel for Teen Threats, October 23
Garden City Community Church (245 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY) will host a panel titled "Dangerous Liaisons: The Truth About Campus Predators, Toxic Relationships, and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Teens." The panel, from 1:00-3:30 on Sunday, October 23, will address warning signs of toxic personal relationships and potential recruitment into unhealthy commercial or spiritual organizations. For more information, click here to see a flyer on the event, or visit the church website for more information and to RSVP.
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Global Ministries
The Rev. Judy Chan, Global Ministries missionary in Hong Kong, will be preaching and speaking in churches across the Conference. Everyone is welcome at any of her presentations. You may need to check with the church to find out the time of the event.
Sunday, Oct. 30, 9:15am and 11:00am:
Preaches at Ebenezer UCC, West Seneca
Wednesday, Nov. 2:
Evening program at Bayberry UCC, Liverpool
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Stewardship Committee
So your Fall Financial Campaign is in full swing or almost over. Don't forget to say Thank You.
From Luther Seminary:
From the Center for Faith and Giving:
Sample Thank you letter from St Michael's Episcopal Church
Charlaine
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Support the New York Conference
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Covenant Share
Covenant Share is the Special Offering approved by the New York Conference in 2013. This offering can be taken up any time during the year. Covenant Share is to be received in the manner as One Great Hour of Sharing and Neighbors in Need. The Covenant Share Offering makes possible ministries specific to the United Church of Christ in New York.
Click to Learn More and Support:
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Amazon Smile
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the
New York Conference of United Church of Christ
whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
Click to Sign Up:
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Donate Directly
Make your contribution to the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ today.
Join Us in Ministry:
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What's
Happening at Your Local Church?
Do you have an item of news that you would like to share throughout the New York Conference? Please email our Communications Coordinator at
[email protected] and send the details - preferably with links and pictures!
Please note that the New York Conference does not publish news related to fundraisers.
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