MIDDLETOWN -- About 500 pastors, church leaders, delegates, young people, and creative souls gathered on Saturday, May 10, at South Congregational Church UCC for the Spring Session of the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference. Those present explored their place as co-creators with God in a celebration of music, dance, drama, and visual arts led by keynoter the Rev. Cliff Aerie, Minister for Special Events, Creativity and the Arts of the United Church of Christ. 05/14/2008
CLEVELAND -- A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southwest China on May 12, leaving massive death and destruction. The quake, centered in Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province, impacted nearly 20 heavily populated surrounding provinces. The state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua reports the death toll in now nearly 12,000 and looks set to rise. 05/14/2008
MIDDLETOWN -- The Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ presented the Living Waters Award for service by a layperson to Dr. John Ramos, Sr., Superintendent of Education for the Bridgeport public school system, at its Spring Meeting on May 10. Ramos, a member of First Congregational Church UCC of Norwalk and an associate member of First Congregational Church UCC of Watertown, was honored for his efforts to transform the educational system, working with local faith communities, city government, the city's Board of Education and through the legislative process. 05/13/2008
CLEVELAND -- Why give to the UCC's Myanmar Cyclone Fund if the money can't get through and make a difference to those trying to survive the storm? Because in the United Church of Christ, we have partners in the area who will be able to help. 05/08/2008
CLEVELAND -- United Church of Christ members and churches are responding with financial support for cyclone-devastated Myanmar, where thousands have been killed and an estimated 1 million are homeless. 05/07/2008
HARTFORD -- Connecticut Conference clergy and authorized ministers have been invited to converse with each other as they prepare to lead their congregations in a sacred conversation on race. United Church of Christ General Minister and President the Rev. John Thomas asked UCC pastors to preach on the issue on Trinity Sunday, May 18, as a way of beginning further conversations in houses of worship, homes, and the broader society. 05/02/2008
CLEVELAND -- Having called for a "sacred conversation" on the issue of race and racism in America to begin on May 18, the United Church of Christ's Collegium of Officers has released a Pastora Letter on the topic. "Racism remains a wound at the heart of our nation," it reads, "a wound that cannot be wished away or treated carelessly... truth-telling and racial reconciliation are crucial to our spiritual, physical, and emotional wholeness." 04/29/2008
HARTFORD -- Connecticut Conference Minister the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree has sent a pastoral letter to authorized ministers, local church moderators, and association moderators of the Conference, stressing the importance of "seizing this moment and beginning the sacred conversations about race to which we believe God is calling us." She invited local church pastors and members to speak the truth with one another, with room for grace and forgiveness, and asked them not to let the challenge pass by. 04/24/2008
HARTFORD -- Imagination may be one of God's greatest gifts to human beings. I know that in my life, my ability to imagine a different world, a renewed church, a splendid garden or a new understanding of a given scripture text all nourish me spiritually. Indeed, imagination is often a source of hope and healing for all of us. 04/01/2008
SOMERS -- The "Field of Flags" was dedicated on Sunday, October 23, 2005 at the Somers Congregational Church in Somers, Connecticut. Members of the Memorial Garden Committee placed 2,231 American flags -- one for each American casualty in Iraq and Afghanistan -- on the west lawn of our church. The list of casualties was displayed on a board showing the name and rank of each American killed. 04/01/2008
ORLANDO, FL -- Jeanne, Ivan, Frances, Charley, Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Familiar names? Perhaps not all of them. But they are very well known to the thousands of Florida residents whose homes are still in need of repair after the devastating storms of 2004 and 2005. Today, Florida's long-term recovery efforts also include a focus on the aftermath of deadly tornados that swept across the state in 2006 and 2007. 04/01/2008
DANBURY -- I spent last night in a homeless shelter. No, I didn't suddenly lose my home; I merely left it for a night to volunteer at our overflow shelter. 04/01/2008
WOODBRIDGE -- "What am I doing here?" I often ask myself! During the 36 years I spent in parish ministry, serving congregations ranging from 120 to 1,200 members, including three interim ministries and four years co-pastoring a new church start with my wife, I never imagined myself in conference ministry. In fact, I recently described myself in a Lenten reflection as a local church pastor masquerading as a regional minister. 04/01/2008
HARTFORD -- As we move into spring, many local churches are beginning to focus on their own campaigns and ways to best show their support and commitment to the Campaign for Silver Lake. They recognize that Silver Lake is a place of year-round ministry, offering Christian community and the grace of God's creation as it serves the youth and adults of the Conference's nearly 250 United Church of Christ churches in the state. 04/01/2008
NEW ORLEANS -- Churches of the Connecticut Conference continue to express their commitment and support to the congregations and communities of the Gulf Coast devastated by hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, through prayer, fundraising such as the recent "Fat Sunday" special offerings that were requested, and organizing work trips. 04/01/2008
SHARON -- Silver Lake Conference Center is thrilled to announce the call of Dave Kobersmith as our new, year-round Site Manager. He will begin work on April 1. Dave comes to us with 15 years experience at Camp Birchwood in Alaska, a ministry of hospitality and Christian faith formation within the Alaska Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church. 04/01/2008
SHARON -- Silver Lake summer sign-ups are in full gear now. There are still plenty of spaces left in many conferences for youth entering 4th through 12th grades. You can register online at silverlake.ctucc.org, and see all the conference descriptions for your age group! This year we are offering a $25 discount when you sign up for a second summer conference. Bring a friend and get a free Silver Lake t-shirt, too. 04/01/2008
CLEVELAND -- Strengthen the Church, one of four special mission offerings within the United Church of Christ, grows the UCC's future in many ways. 04/01/2008
ELLINGTON -- Mainline churches are under attack by the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD). Masquerading as a religious group, in reality it is dedicated to a political agenda. The IRD's fundamental purpose is to divide denominations and separate and remove congregations from their denomination for political and social reasons. Denominations such as the Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, and United Church of Christ (UCC) are now experiencing the undermining efforts of the well-heeled IRD. 04/01/2008
HARTFORD -- The Stepping Stones program offered three short-term courses for youth group advisors, pastors or church educators who want to energize and refresh their ministry. The gatherings provided an opportunity to network with others involved with youth in their churches. The second year of the series was attended by more than 30 people at each of the January and February events, representing a total of nearly 30 churches of the Conference. 04/01/2008
HARTFORD -- Pastoral transitions that have been reported to the Connecticut Conference office. 04/01/2008
HARTFORD -- This month's issue tells the story of a dramatic mobile tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price serving their country in the Iraq and Afghan conflicts, celebrates the arrival of Silver Lake's new Site Manager Dave Kobersmith, and previews the May 10 Spring Session of the Annual Meeting: New Wineskins for a New Day. 04/01/2008
