ALL CONFERENCE E-MAIL

Sept. 9, 2009

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Rockcraft Celebration this weekend
Open House UCC closing service, Sunday Sept. 13
See you on the Mountain
“Aliens Among Us” at Annual Meeting
New year for Middle School Ministry
Sharing Grief service in Saco
myHealth IQ wellness screening at Annual Meeting
Still room in Women’s Autumn Weekend at PL

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1. You are invited to come out to Rockcraft Retreat Center for an event which will celebrate the site and the ministries which have happened there, as we prepare to relinquish it to other hands. The date is Sept. 13, from 2:30 to 5:30. In the spirit of a meaningful Rockcraft experience, there will be time to take in the physical beauty of Sebago Lake, visit, reflect, worship and eat. And, you are invited to bring a momento of Rockcraft – a photograph, a poem, etc., to help create a collage which will exist only for the afternoon: you can bring it, and take it home with you. To RSVP to this event, please contact Cathy Croudis at the Conference office: cathycroudis@maineucc.org, or 846-5118.d

2. All members of the Cumberland Association are cordially invited to gather with Pastor Rev Stephen Carnahan and the members of The Open House UCC Church at 790 Stevens Avenue (Stevens Avenue Church) on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 5 o’clock in the afternoon for the CLOSING SERVICE OF THE CHURCH

The Church was created out of an alternative worship style of ministry at State Street Church in 1999. The church was officially recognized by the Cumberland Association on June 23, 2004. Due to several key families moving out of the area, necessary support for this ministry has declined. After a period of discernment, the Church has made the painful decision to close. It celebrated its ten year existence on August 23 along with a celebration of the Ordination of Rev Stephen Carnahan. Cumberland Association churches and clergy are invited to participate in its final service of worship.

3. Registration for Annual Meeting deadline has past. The meal reservation numbers must be at Sunday River on Thursday afternoon. Please remember that no meal tickets will be available a the registration desk.

Several of the workshops are filled to capacity. If you did not choose a workshop on your registration form, please attend only those workshops which have not reached capacity. We have several great workshops that still have space for more attendees.

Please join us at Sunday River for a weekend of visiting with friends, participating in the work of the Conference, eating, relaxing and worshiping together. See you on the mountain.

4. The Witness Life Commission invites you to a showing of the documentary “Aliens Among Us” by Martina Radwan, followed by a discussion aimed at helping us wrestle with the biblical call to offer hospitality to the stranger in our midst in the face of today’s very real challenges of international insecurity. The film is scheduled for Saturday evening of Annual Meeting. Documentary.org, the website of the International Documentary Association describes the film: “The war on terror has gone on for over seven years, yet all policies implemented have failed to produce significant results. The Justice Department designed a registration program for immigrants already in the US, based on their nationality, not on the targeted people’s actions. Aliens Among Us describes the lives of these people, who are targeted because they are ““different”” and therefore a potential danger. The drastic measures are supposed to protect us from them. But where do we draw the line?” For more information about the film, go to http://www.aliensamongus-thefilm.com/index.php.

5. Calling all Churches with Middle School Programs

On Monday, September 21st from 5-7 pm at the Waterville Church, at 2 Eustis Parkway in Waterville. We will gather to begin a new year in Middle School Ministry. This meeting will be an opportunity to evaluate our Spring Rally Day, to share ideas for programming across this new year, and to look ahead in planning an event for this year. All churches are welcome, pastors, laity, and advisors.

Come with a bag supper. Drinks and dessert will be provided. Bring and program materials, calendars, ideas or questions that come to mind. I look forward to seeing you all ! RSVP if possible to susiecraigacm@aol.com. This will help me plan for food. However, if you just learn about this at the last minute, simply come! I believe in the loaves and fishes theory for meetings.

6. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4

The Saco Church family has recently experienced a number of significant losses and it is important we take the time to share the burden of our grief with each other and with God. Wednesday, September 16 beginning at 7pm you are welcome to join us as we gather in a supportive environment for the sharing of conversation regarding the many grieving events that have happened in the near past. Blessings, Abby and Doug

7. Healthy Stewards: Healthy Leadership for Healthy Churches
To help you on your path to a healthier you, the UCC (Non- Medicare) Health Plan will be offering confidential and voluntary wellness screenings to all 2008 myhealthIQ participants and to new Plan participants. Individual wellness screenings will be provided at your Conference Annual Meeting held at The Maine Conference at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel Saturday, September 26th, from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
Please watch for additional information from the PBUCC Health team to learn more about the myhealthIQ wellness offering and about improved incentives for participation or visit www.pbucc.org.

If you would like to schedule for the exam please contact Camale Allen, Wellness Administrator today, toll-free at 800.642.6543, ext. 2872 or by e-mail callen@pbucc.org to reserve a spot for you at the wellness exam!

8. Still Room Next Weekend at Pilgrim Lodge’s Women’s Autumn Weekend September 18-20. By popular demand a second weekend was added for adult women (20 years and older) and there is still some room. Enjoy Pilgrim Lodge at its most beautiful as the leaves begin to change. You can register online and get more details at http://www.pilgrimlodge.org/camps.asp?ID=35 This will be a gentle weekend with opportunities for relaxation, solitude and connection.

9. With a prayer, a lot of hard and talented work, and the ring of the 1872 Holbrook bell, the North Waterford Congregational Church steeple was returned to the church belfry shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday. Click here to read all about it. http://www.sunjournal.com/node/232609/

10. Dear UCC members and supporters:

WILL YOU JOIN THE 100,000?

We need 100,000 people to take action in the next 10 days. Send your message to Congress now!

Over the next 10 days, we are hoping to work a miracle!
Today, we are launching a massive church-wide effort to bring together 100,000 UCC members and supporters to proclaim health care for all is the mark of a just, compassionate and faithful society. Together, speaking as people of faith, we have the power to change the conversation and envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness and human dignity.
Our faith teaches us that health care is not only a basic human right—but a human need. Offering comfort to the broken, sick and injured was foundational to Jesus’ ministry and is central to our serving the least among us.
The United Church of Christ has a long history of providing care through health and human service ministries, parish nursing programs, and health care plans for clergy and church workers. Hundreds of caring medical institutions were founded and supported by—and are related to—the UCC.
As an extension of our longstanding commitment to healing ministries, we believe it is a moral imperative to transform health care so that it is inclusive, accessible, affordable and accountable. Just consider:

Over 47 million people (one in six) and over 9 million children are without health coverage and 25 million more are under-insured.
Every year, 18,000 people in the United States die from a lack of health insurance. That’s two people every hour.
More than 60 percent of all bankruptcies are linked to medical expenses. About 1.5 million families lose their homes to foreclosure every year due to unaffordable medical costs.

Between now and the weekend of Sept. 18—in just 10 days—our hope is to send 100,000 messages to Congress.
In addition, we will deliver the huge stack of 100,000 names to the Democratic and Republican leadership in Congress, starting with the in-district office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during Rev. Black’s upcoming trip to visit churches in the San Francisco area.
Will you join 100,000 for Health Care today and enlist your family and friends?

The Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President

The Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
General Minister and President-Elect