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This newsletter is made possible by your OCWM contributions. Thank you!
“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above…”
– James 1:17a
Rev. Dave Long-Higgins
Conference Minister
Dear Friends in Christ,

Recently, I have had the privilege of working with a congregation engaging its consecrating stewards’ initiative inviting a growth in generosity as it relates to the church’s finances.  Among the questions I asked the planning team was “Who are the most generous people you know and what do you notice about them?”  
Philanthropy Day - held across our country in November - celebrates the choice of people to donate time and resources to create positive change in our society. Join Rev. John Dorhauer for a celebration of philanthropy in the Heartland Conference on Thursday, Nov 17, at 4pm Eastern.  We will think together about the spiritual importance of generosity in our lives and share the impact giving makes in our world. Click on the image above to register for this event.
Combatting Burnout

The No. 1 reason for clergy leaving the profession is professional burnout.  Any search of the internet will yield scores of articles on this topic as well as potential solutions for addressing this issue.  

There are a couple of factors that contribute to professional burnout.  One is tiredness.  
Tom Hathaway
Conference Moderator
Jill Frey
Executive Director of Outdoor Ministries
I am delighted to announce the recent notification that Templed Hills Camp and Retreat Center, including Heartland Conference/Templed Hills camp sessions, has earned ACA-Accredited® Camp status! This is verification from the American Camp Association® that our camp, during a visit in July 2022, complied with up to 266 industry-established health and safety standards, which are recognized by courts of law and government regulators as the standards of the camp industry.
Thank YOU for Taking the
Bucket Challenge!

We are so close to reaching our goal of
2022 Buckets and Hygiene Kits in 2022!

Please consider putting a few together to send to
help folks who are recovering from devastating disasters.
Thursday, November 17th
7:00 pm
Want to find out more information?
Contact Rev. Teri Lynn Stackhouse at tstackhouse01@gmail.com.  

Or go to click here to visit the Inclusion Network page on our Website.
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ has opened the search for the following position through November 25, 2022. 

Executive Director
The ED position implements the strategic goals and objectives of the Coalition and provides direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organization’s mission and vision. Reporting to the Leadership Team (the Board of Directors), the ED manages the Coalition staff and provides effective and impactful leadership to this national non-profit. The Executive Director will vision and implement a movement that is energized, provides a full spectrum of advocacy and care, and promotes the mission and vision of the Coalition. The ED should have experience in working with diverse populations and lead the mission of the coalition with a commitment to intersectionality, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MFVI Applications for 2023 Are Now Open!
Since 2017, the Ministers’ Financial Vitality Initiative (MFVI) has worked to increase and improve financial wellness for more than 210 UCC authorized ministers who are overburdened with debt. 

Each year, we engage a selection of 60 UCC authorized ministers to commit to a three-year personal finance education that encourages participants to draw upon the expertise of a trusted and experienced Ernst and Young (EY) financial planner to help meet their financial goals, as well as obtain unlimited access to tools and educational resources – available at no cost to the participant.  

The program provides a yearly financial incentive of $3,000 for three years, which participants can use to alleviate their debt, or seed an Annuity Plan account to secure lifetime income. 

Active UCC authorized ministers who are interested in joining the MFVI program for the 2023 cohort beginning in January 2023, can send an email to MFVI@pbucc.org for instructions on how to apply. The application deadline is December 31, 2022. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis.
Two-year Pastoral Residency Program at the
Wellesley Village Church in Wellesley, Massachusetts!
As a Pastoral Resident at the Wellesley Village Church in Wellesley, Massachusetts you will:

• Be a full-time pastor, participating in all aspects of the life of Wellesley Village Church and our partner congregation, the Congregational Church of Weston. The two settings provide the experience of working within the large staff of a large congregation and as solo pastor of a small one.

• Gain experience in core areas of pastoral work: Worship, Faith Formation, Pastoral Care, Transformational Leadership, Social Justice, and Professional Development.

• Learn the basics of church management: worship planning and leadership, staff management, church finances and stewardship, all with the support and mentorship of pastoral staff at Wellesley Village Church and congregations in Wellesley and Weston.

• Be supported by a peer Resident, then mentor a peer: the program trains two Residents at a time, and the staggered call process enables the more established Resident to mentor the newer.

• Respond to the Spirit’s movement. Personal spiritual development is supported by the program. So is participation in a New Clergy Group through the UCC’s Southern New England Conference.

This position is an ordainable call in the United Church of Christ, with a full-time salary and housing allowance of $60,000 a year (or $55,000 with free parsonage housing, if available), and full benefits.
REGISTER TODAY!
Led by Revs. Kelly Brill, Luke Lindon, and Brian Shields

Begins noon on Monday, January 23, end at noon on Tuesday, January 24.

Costs are $150 for a single room (includes 3 meals). If you'd like to share a room, the cost is $125 per person (includes three meals.)

Give yourself a gift at the beginning of the new year - 24 hours away with clergy friends, new and old. Rekindle your enthusiasm for ministry through prayer, poetry, music, nature, chef-prepared food. Group sessions will give us the opportunity to talk about the challenges of ministry in this moment and recommit ourselves to healthy spiritual practices. We will offer plenty of free time for options including visiting the farm animals, yoga, conversation and games. Spend time alone or spend time in conversation - do what your spirit needs!

All authorized ministers invited, welcome, and thoroughly encouraged to attend! If you are interested in spending a day on your own at Bellwether, either before or after the retreat – contact Kelly Brill to discuss at pastor@avonlakeucc.org.

Space is limited to 40 people.
Celebrate the upcoming Christmas season
with life-changing gifts!
Global Ministries invites you to surprise, honor, or remember friends and family with gifts that cannot be found on any shelf. 

The online version and the printed version of the catalog share gift ideas that resonate with what is near and dear to you or your loved ones AND will make a difference in the lives of individuals around the world! 

This includes gift opportunities to support peace with justice, education, health, women’s empowerment, addressing climate change, vibrant churches, sending mission co-workers, or where needed most. 
Grief Care for the Holidays
THE HOLIDAYS…The gatherings, presents, people and food. The memories...The grief. The holidays bring many things, not all of them joyous. 

For those grieving a loss, it can feel nearly impossible. You are invited to a different sort of gathering: a time of GRIEF CARE FOR THE HOLIDAYS. During this gently facilitated space, grief will be spoken and honored, and mourning loss will be welcomed and supported. 

MINI RETREAT, Friday, November 11, 12:30 – 3:30 pm: Join us for three hours of sharing and honoring loss, while receiving resources for practicing your own grief care for the holidays.


FOUR WEEKLY SESSION, Fridays, 11:30am – 12:30 pm, 11/18; 12/2; 12/9; 12/16: Or connect in four weekly sessions, making space for support throughout the season. Or both! 

Sponsored by the Parker Center for Abundant Aging, register at no charge at www.UnitedChurchHomes.org/enliven
Please join us on Monday, Dec 5, 3pm ET for a virtual Blue Christmas worship service with Team Global HOPE at UCC National Ministries. Blue Christmas services traditionally provide space for those who don’t feel so “merry and bright” during the holiday season. This service seeks to recognize and stand in solidarity with the experiences of those aggrieved or displaced by disaster or forced migration in 2022, from Kentucky, to Ukraine, and beyond.

We remember that we are called to stand in solidarity with the captive and the oppressed, and work together with God’s guidance to create a just world for all. UCC Clergy and choirs engaged in humanitarian ministries across the denomination will be providing reflective liturgy, music, and preaching during this event. This event will be recorded for later availability or use in local Blue Christmas events.