Annual Meeting 2000June 30, 2000
TO: All Delegates of Connecticut Conference Churches Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: This comes to you as the first of three mailings for the Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ. The following are the dates and site:
The Moderator, the Rev. Gordon M. Rankin of Naugatuck, the Assistant Moderator, Mr. G. Graham Davidson of Salisbury, the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, Conference Minister and the Chair of the Board of Directors, Mr. Alan E. Green of Hartford join in welcoming you to the One Hundredth and Thirty-third Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ. The theme "With the Eyes of our Hearts Enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18) was chosen by the Planning Committee. Our hosts for the weekend will be UCC churches in Southbury, Middlebury, Oxford and Woodbury. This is the first of three planned mailings you will receive to prepare you for Annual Meeting. Please read the enclosed materials. Registration materials will be sent in the second mailing in late August. Our business meeting will begin after dinner on Friday, to allow you time to get to Southbury after work. Other events on Friday evening include Resolution hearings and Conference Minister’s Address. Saturday will include Keynote Address by Ricardo Esquivia, reports from the Board of Directors, action on resolutions, two sessions of workshops, presentation of proposed budget, and in the evening we will have a farewell to the Rev. Barbara Brown Zikmund as she leaves Connecticut. Sunday morning will include a second Keynote Address by Ricardo Esquivia, reports from the Board of Directors, action on 2001 Budget, election of officers, completing Action on Resolutions. Items from the Board of Directors will also include the Design Evaluation Report, and a proposed pre-capital campaign. On Sunday afternoon we will join in worship together. A full agenda will be mailed in August, along with registration, housing, special needs, and child care forms. Keynoter and Theological ReflectorRicardo Esquivia is the executive director of JUSTAPAZ, the justice and peace ministry arm of the Colombian Mennonite churches, our newest partners in mission. He is a theologically educated attorney, prominent leader in the Civil Society Movement in Colombia, focusing on peace and human rights in this nation which is considered the most violent place in Latin America. Most importantly, he is a man of profound faith and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Your heart will be stirred and your spirit nurtured with his addresses. Ricardo will be accompanied by Bonnie Klassen, a Canadian Mennonite who works with him in Bogota and who will translate for him as needed, as well as offering her own contributions to our weekend.Festival Worship with Communion and Installation of Officerswill be on Sunday afternoon at 1:15 P.M. Our Conference preacher, the Rev. Jed Rardin of South Britain, will preach. The Worship Committee has planned an exciting and spirit-filled worship including a variety of joyful music. Everyone from your church is invited to join your delegates and pastor/s at this service.
SettingOur setting this year will be the Pomperaug High School. The facility is fully accessible, has a large auditorum, and many rooms for workshops, displays, receptions, snack bars. Meals will be served in the cafeteria of the high school with specially prepared menus. The high school is just off Exit 16 in Southbury and very easy to get to. Directions will be provided in the August mailing.HousingLodging reservations should be made this summer if you plan to stay overnight in the Southbury area (please see enclosed flyer). In the August mailing will be a form to complete if you desire to stay with a host family in the Southbury area.Saturday workshopswill include opportunities before and after lunch so that delegates will have the chance to attend two workshops. The workshops will be held at Pomperaug High School. The CT Women of the UCC will have their program at South Britain Church and people will be bused to that site. A list of all the workshops will be in the August mailing.Pre-Annual Meeting Orientation SessionsIf this is your first Annual Meeting, we encourage you to attend a Pre-Meeting Orientation Session. Please see flyer enclosed giving the dates and locations around the Conference. No registration is needed for these events. They are open to all even if you have attended an Annual Meeting.ResolutionsPlease review and study the enclosed resolutions. Perhaps you can form a study group in your church, arrange for a second-hour program in September, or present them to your Church Council.Clergy EventThe speaker for the event will be Mark S. Burrows, Professor of the History of Christianity, Andover Newton Theological School. The event will be held at the United Church of Christ in Southbury on Friday, October 20 at 12 noon. Please see flyer enclosed. Registration forms for the event will be available in the August mailing.Youth ActivitiesOpportunities for work projects will be held. Please see the August mailing for registration forms.Make plans now to join us for Annual Meeting in Southbury! Faithfully yours,
Davida Foy Crabtree P.S. If you have any questions about this mailing, please direct them to Peggy Wright at the Conference Office or by email: <right_hand@ctucc.org> Enclosures:
Flyer on lodging in the Southbury area -- also available as a PDF file |
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