What's happening this week?
Eric Anderson can't help noticing that when the eleven decided they needed to select a twelfth apostle, they gambled to make that final selection. He doesn't play games for money, he says, "But I will gamble on the leadership of Christ's church, because I believe that God has loaded the dice." He saw the signs of that this weekend during the Youth Revival in Hartford, and tells the story in this week's Spirit Calendar:
Since Monday's Spirit Calendar, we've had several new prayer concerns arise, and we ask you remember these people to God:
The friends and family of the Rev. Craig "Scott" N. Raeburn, who served churches in central and southeastern Connecticut in his long career, who died on Saturday at the age of 74.
The friends and family of Joan Eva Kertesz Siladi, mother of the Rev. Kent Siladi, Florida Conference Minister and formerly a pastor and conference staff member in Connecticut, who died on Sunday morning.
Charlie Szyszko, husband of the Rev. Dolores Szyszko, former pastor in Connecticut, who is seriously ill.
The Rev. James Kidd, former pastor of Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, who was admitted to hospice care in Punta Gorda, Florida, just today.
In the News:
Worshiping a God Who Invented Us: Spring Meeting 2012
It really was a remarkable day: in a preview of Pentecost, voices murmured, wind and thunder rumbled, and a tongue of flame leapt up in praise of God. The Rev. Lillian Daniel urged us to declare without fear what we believe, and to challenge those who misrepresent or discount us. "You can rejoice in the many diverse paths to God, but still invite people to Church," she asserted. "Just say it."
Delegates voted to ratify the amendments to the UCC Constitution which came from General Synod 28 last summer, which will markedly simplify the governing structure of the denomination. They honored nine Green Churches, and heard the Search Committee's report that "It's all good!" - and that the work on the Conference profile is well under way.
We plan to post audio of Lillian Daniel's sermon and address tomorrow, and are still working on making text and video available if we can.
The video testimonies "Witnesses to The Spirit" shown during worship are posted at:
Youth Rock Their Revival, Because There's No Such Thing as Not Being Good Enough
Over two hundred young people and adults sang, stomped, raised their hands, and danced at Liberty Christian Center in Hartford last Friday night at the Second Annual Youth Revival. Youth preachers Gabriel Cusano of Simsbury and Connor Wood of Southbury offered moving messages, and Liberty Christian's Jakar Hankerson's graceful and athletic liturgical dance offered a passionate one-man expression of faith. "You want to know why church matters?" asked Cusano. "It matters because it tells you that there is no such thing as not being good enough."
Colombia Stories
Valerie Tutson, whose talent and energy for storytelling is well known in the Connecticut Conference, returned from a visit to Colombia last August with a good deal of video footage and a commission: to help tell the stories. Last week we released a ten minute video, presented for the first time over the weekend at the Spring Meeting. You'll find it here:
Other stories on our website this week include a tribute to the late Rev. Craig "Scott" Raeburn. All the headlines are posted at:
Some upcoming events:
The great civil rights leader and Georgia Congressman John Lewis speaks at Faith Congregational Church in Hartford on May 16 Hartford Seminary's Scott Thumma will talk about "the other 80 percent," those on the church rolls but not in the pews, in Newington on May 29. Giv2 has a retreat on May 31.
We're looking for golfers to "play for God" at the Silver Lake Golf Tournament, a great fund-raiser for the outdoor ministry of the Connecticut Conference, at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield on June 5. Learn more and register at:
Farther out into the summer, National Youth Event attendees have orientation meeting opportunities on June 13 or June 26 in Hartford, and the UCC Musicians National Network Conference is in Kansas City June 22-25. The Craigville Colloquy on "The Gospel Unbound in the Mainline Churches" is July 16-20.
May 20, 2:00 pm: Congressman John Lewis on Equal Protection
May 29, 9:30 - 11:30 am: Fifth Tuesday Discussion: The Other 80 Percent, with Scott Thumma
May 31, 5:00 - 8:30 pm: Giv2 Retreat
June 5, 7:30 am - 3:00 pm: Sixth Annual Silver Lake Golf Tournament
June 13, 6:30 - 8:30 pm: National Youth Event Orientation Meeting
June 22 - 25: Renew, Refresh, Re-imagine: UCC Musicians National Network Conference
June 26, 6:30 - 8:30 pm: National Youth Event Orientation Meeting
July 10 - 13: National Youth Event
You'll find more details about these and lots of other events at:
May your days this week be filled with the presence, guidance, and grace of God.
Eric Anderson, Minister of Communications and Technology
