National Association of Congregational Christian Churches:
Community Connections- April 1, 2017
Leadership Council Highlights
Laura Hamby, Moderator

If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.  Isaiah 58:10 (NRSV)

 

All-Conference Mission project! Each year the host committee for the NACCC Annual Meeting and Conference (AMC) chooses a mission project. True to our 2017 theme, Dreaming ~ Talking ~ Acting, this year the AMC, NAPF, and HOPE conferences are teaming up with Rise Against Hunger to package over 25,000 meals for starving people around the world! I believe that is a dream worth talking about and acting upon!
 
Rise Against Hunger provides all the food, packing materials, and delivery to people throughout the world for twenty-nine cents a meal! Our Missions and Outreach Ministry Council kicked off the donations and our host committee is dedicating the AMC Sunday offering to this mission.  You and your church have the opportunity to participate, too. Financial donations may be sent to the Oak Creek office and clearly marked for 2017 Piedmont mission project.  Donations will also be accepted in Piedmont at the host table.  I look forward to working along side you as we continue Dreaming ~ Talking ~ Acting to bring light into the darkness.

 

First Congregational Church of  Toulon, IL held their semi annual Family Fun Night in February. They provided families with pizza, pop, and delicacies galore.
Board of Directors Highlights
Jim Waechter, Vice Moderator

I hope you all are as excited as I am for the Annual Meeting & Conference at Piedmont College! With the addition of so many new workshops, it will be hard to choose between them. One I am looking forward to is
Small, Medium or Large. Thriving Congregational Churches Come in All Sizes.  The workshop will feature three ministers, each from a small, medium, or large church. The three ministers, Rev. Sarah Gladstone, First Congregational Church, Saugatuck, MI; Rev. Les Wicker, First Congregational Church, Naples, FL; and, Rev. Bill Trump, First Congregational Church, Wauwatosa, WI, will describe programs that are helping their congregations to thrive. Come hear ideas that might be adapted for use in your own church. 

BOG Highlights
Rick Bauzenberger, Treasurer, Board of Governors

The Congregational Investment Trust (CIT) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 trust established as an endowment investment option for NACCC member churches.  The CIT invests in domestic and foreign stocks and bonds. With a portfolio of roughly 60% stocks and 40% bonds, it serves the long-term asset management needs of the NACCC, the Foundation, and participating member churches.

Welcome Sutton Bay Congregational Church, Sutton Bay, Michigan! There are now 24 member churches participating in the CIT program. Member churches constitute approximately $5 million of the CIT's $17.5 million.

Performance* as of February 28, 2017:        
3 months         4.98%
1 year             14.35% 
3 year              5.01% 
4 year              7.07%
*data, net of all expenses, is annualized if period is greater than 1 year


 
Cool Clicks

Excellence in Ministry nomination form

2017 Minister's Convocation

JJ Russell Sermon Award nomination form

 
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From Our Churches

First Congregational Church of Roscommon, MI participated in a Food Giveaway for Roscommon residents on March 25th. 

On March 31st, North Shore Congregational Church of Fox Point, WI hosted the Children's Christian Theatre for a performance of Simon Says, which tells the story of Simon.

Gahanna Community Congregational Church of Gahanna, OH hosted an annual Men's Brotherhood Grilled Steak Dinner on March 11th. Along with dinner, the participants received vital health screening.

First Congregational Church of Redlands, CA started their Community Lenten Organ Recital series on March 23rd.

On March 25th, Searsport Congregational Church of Searsport, ME hosted two choirs. They sang classical poetry set to music and 16th century hymns and folk songs.

Ozaukee Congregational Church of Grafton, WI invited their congregation to bring pies to share on March 12th. The event was just two days before "Pie Day" on March 14th.
Apply for support to attend the AMC
 
The deadline to apply for the Providence Fund is May 5, 2017. Please consider taking advantage of this great opportunity! 
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Submissions for the May edition are due by  April 20, 2017
 
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
8473 South Howell Ave
Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53154
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800-262-1620 ext. 1615