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Thursday, December 22, 2022

Wishing a blessed, joyful and Merry Christmas to the Congregations, Faith Communities, Ministers, and Friends of the Living Water Association!

We encourage you to share this flyer in your own newsletter and post on church news bulletin boards! See below for an insert designed to fit any size bulletin. Most learning opportunities are free and via Zoom.

Registration Open! LGBTQ+ Ally Training

Saturday, February 11, 2023, 9am-12pm

The Association Office will be closed and staff will be off Friday, December 23 through Monday, December 26 in observance of Christmas, and again Monday, January 2, 2023, in observance of New Years Day. The office will remain closed Tuesday, December 27 through Friday, December 30, but staff will be working from home. Feel free to contact us via e-mail during that time! We will return to the office on Tuesday, January 3, 2022.

The deadline for 2022 OCWM and 5 for 5 giving is December 31, 2022. Please be aware that for these donations to be counted for the 2022 year it must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2022. You can also make your donations online through our website giving link to meet that deadline.

5 for 5 Giving is credited to the year in which it is received regardless of when it was collected in your church. If you are normally a 5 for 5 church and want to be sure that you have given to all 5 during 2022, please send an email to machelle@livingwaterone.org, and our Association Bookkeeper, Machelle Miller, will be glad to verify that for you.

The UCC Center for Analytics, Research & Development, and Data will begin collecting data for the annual yearbook on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 12pm through Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Your church can download instructions here. Keep an eye out for additional emails with further information! If you have any questions, need a hard copy of instructions or data forms mailed to your church, or would like a pdf version of the data forms to complete on your computer and return to our office, please contact Kellie Ramirez, Association Information Management and Media personnel, at registrar@livingwaterone.org.

24-Hour Active Clergy Retreat led by Revs. Kelly Brill, Luke Lindon and Brian Shields! Located at Bellwether Farm, beginning at noon on Monday, January 23. Cost include 3 meals and is $150 for a single room, or $125 for a shared room.

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!

Space is limited, sign up today! Registration will close Monday, January 9, 2023.

Welcome to:

Eric Hankins, who begins as Director of Youth and Family Ministries at The Bath Church on January 3.

United Church Homes Wisdom Conversation 2023

Boost the VITALITY of your church with Ministries for Older Adults! Pastors, educators, volunteers, and all who work with and among older adults are invited to attend this Zoom Meeting where you’ll learn strategies for building community, integrating older adult ministries with other church ministries, as well as developing leadership and service opportunities.



Learn more and register with this link!

A new year brings new opportunities to learn and grow in faith! PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. is pleased to announce our January term online, asynchronous courses that are accessible and affordable for curious Progressive Christians. All courses are designed with the Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers at their core, and are helpful to anyone who wants to develop spiritual and leadership gifts for use in the church and the world.

—United Church of Christ History and Polity, January 11-April 7; this course is designed according to the content recommendations of the UCC History and Polity Network Teachers group (12 weeks, $625)

—Practicing Our Faith in the Public Square, January 11-February 21(6 weeks, $325)

—Understanding the Bible as a Progressive Christian, January 11-February 21 (6 weeks, $325)

—The Art of Worship, January 11-February 21 (6 weeks, $325)

They will also offer a three week Introduction to Supervised Ministry for student ministers and their site supervisors who are participating in the PATHWAYS Supervised Ministry track.

For more information about PATHWAYS as an organization, our courses, and to register, please visit www.pathwaystheological.org.

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, email 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.

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