General Synod Webstreaming Schedule

United Church of Christ Press Release

HARTFORD (06/18/2007) -- The United Church of Christ's Office of Communication will provide a video stream of activities at the 26th General Synod, being held June 22-26 in Hartford. All plenary, worship, and celebratory sessions at the Hartford Civic Center will be shown in real time and in their entirety.

"We will once again provide gavel-to-gavel webstreaming at ucc.org," says the Rev. Robert Chase, the UCC's communications director. "The world is coming to Hartford, even if that means online viewing from your personal computer."

Visitors to www.ucc.org will be able to click a prominent link at the bottom of the home page to view the live feed. Each session will be streamed live and archived for later viewing.

Some webstreaming highlights:

Friday Afternoon Opening Plenary, June 22 at 2:30 p.m.

Greetings by Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell and others.
Opening celebration, with theatrical presentation, "And the World Took Notice."
"Hope Shall Bloom" video / UCC response to Hurricane Katrina.

Friday Evening Opening Worship, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. (Music begins at 6:45 p.m.)

A service honoring beginnings – of world, of life, of church.
Rhythmic ensemble of 40 drummers.
The Rev. DaVita MacCallister, the UCC's minister for youth and young adults, is preaching.
Presentation of new UCC congregations.
Video presentation: UCC Council on Higher Education

All-day "Synod in the City" – Civic Center stage, Saturday, June 23, beginning at 8:15 a.m. (Music begins at 8 a.m.)

A half-hour service, with blessing of the day-long "Synod in the City."
The Rev. Peter Rosazza, Roman Catholic Bishop of Hartford, is the guest homilist.
Morning keynote by Bill Moyers, journalist, at 9 a.m.
Chung Hyun Kyung, theologian, at 10:15 a.m.
Ricardo Esquivia, Colombian human rights advocate, at 11:15 a.m.
Rachel Barton Pine, musician, at 12:30 p.m.
Maria Otero, microfinance expert, at 1 p.m.
Children's Orchestra at 2 p.m.
Afternoon keynote by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama at 2:30 p.m.
Ray Kurzweil, imaginative scientist/futurist, at 3:30 p.m.
Peter Gomes, Harvard preacher, at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday evening, June 23, at 7:30 p.m. (Music begins at 6:30 p.m.)

UCC@50 Birthday Bash with music, frivolity and celebration.
Laser light show honoring Charles Townes, Nobel-prize-winning inventor of the laser and UCC member.

Sunday Festival Gala Worship, June 24, at 3 p.m. (Music begins at 2:30 p.m.)

A global-themed celebration beginning with a colorful processional of 250-plus worship participants.
A 700-voice mass choir will sing.
The Rev. John. H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president, is preaching.
Holy Communion will be celebrated.

Monday Afternoon Plenary, June 25, at 2:30 p.m. (Music begins at 2 p.m.)

Election speech: The Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, executive minister of Wider Church Ministries, nominated for additional term, 2:45 p.m.
Music by renowned performer Ken Medema who, though blind from birth, demonstrates remarkable musical vision.
Election speech: Edith A. Guffey, associate general minister, nominated for additional term, 3:45 p.m.
Keynote address by Marian Wright Edelman, civil rights activist and children's advocate, at 4 p.m.

Monday Evening, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. (Music begins at 7 p.m.)

Business, elections.
Honoring the ministry of the Rev. José A. Malayang, retiring executive of Local Church Ministries.
Evening Prayers, with a dramatic liturgy with dance emphasizing God's saving acts as understood through stories of light.
Music by the Coalition Choir of the UCC Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns.

Tuesday Morning, June 25, at 8:30 a.m. (Music begins at 8 a.m.)

Election results announced.
Music by renowned performer Ken Medema who, though blind from birth, demonstrates remarkable musical vision.
Faith journey of actress Lynn Redgrave, a UCC member, at 10:10 a.m.
Collegium Report at 10:30 a.m.
Business session, committee report

Tuesday afternoon, June 25, at 2:30 p.m. (Music begins at 2 p.m.)

Business session, committee reports
Stillspeaking presentation
Wrap up video

Tuesday Evening Closing Worship, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. (Music begins at 7 p.m.)

A celebratory service emphasizing the sharing of God's light throughout the world.
The service will being with a time of anointing by UCC's 40-plus Conference Ministers as people enter worship.
The Rev. Mary Mikhael, president of the Near East School of Theology, a partner of the UCC/Global Ministries, in Beirut, Lebanon, is the preacher.
The service will conclude with thousands of individual hand-held lights.

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.