1. Annual Meeting Information on the Website
2. Town Meeting Update
3. Donations still being accepted for Newspaper Ad
4. Congratulations to Diane Langworthy
5. Clergy Spring Retreat: Deep Rest - April 29-30, Living Water Retreat Center, Winslow
6. Grace In Action, at Hammond Street Church, Bangor
7. Summer Institute in UCC History, Theology, and Polity
8. New President of Bangor Theological Seminary

1. It’s almost time for Annual Meeting 2008. Check the Conference website (www.maineucc.org/annualmeeting/2008/frontpage08.htm) for information about registration, housing, workshops and the revised Agenda. In response to your comments last year, we have revised the Agenda to allow more time for small group discussion around the Resolution(s), added time for visiting the Exhibits, and a concert on Saturday evening with Shepherd’s Pie. We have arranged for dormitories with elevators for those who have trouble with stairs, and rented a van to help with movement from one part of campus to another. And last but not least, we think you will be pleased with the lower cost of this year’s Annual Meeting. Don’t forget to read the FYI (for your information) page on the website for helpful hints to make this year’s Annual Meeting a delightful experience.

2. A new statistical analysis of the 2007 Town Meeting data has been posted on the Conference website at www.maineucc.org/2007townmeeting/townmeeting2007.htm. The Coordinating Council will be holding a special meeting this Friday, April 11, to review the information gathered at the Town Meetings in the context of our Conference Mission Statement, and begin to formulate plans for the future of the Maine Conference assets.

3. Last week, the United Church of Christ purchased a full page ad in the New York Times. The ad can be found on the Conference website (www.maineucc.org). With your help, the PIC Committee would like to run this same full page ad in the Portland Press Herald, and other papers around the state if funds allow. To date we have raised $2065 of our goal of $6426. Contributions are still being accepted either on-line or by sending your check to the Conference office. Please be sure to note that your gift is for the “newspaper ad” on your check on in the space on-line. To donate on-line go to: http://www.maineucc.org/donateonline/donateonline.htm

4. Aroostook Association is pleased to announce that on April 6, 2008, the Reverend Diane M. Langworthy was granted Full Ordained Standing in the United Church of Christ. Diane is currently serving as pastor of a United Parish Church of Fort Fairfield.

5. Clergy Spring Retreat: Deep Rest - April 29-30, Living Water Retreat Center, Winslow
I am so tired; I need some time to rest. What is rest? What does it mean to be spiritually weary or rested? Do we believe we deserve deep rest, or is it only for the afflicted? Can we recognize what brings us rest when we see it, can we embrace it? Bring your own noticings into our day of worship, playful reflection and wandering. Come wonder what life might look like if God desired nothing more than our true rest.
Facilitator: Rev. Joan L. Smith is ordained UCC clergy from Vermont, whose calling has included parish ministry, spiritual direction, retreat leadership, Hospice chaplaincy and a vocational counseling practice. Joan currently offers Restorative Retreats for individuals and groups at The Guest House in Rockland. Visit healingsoup.com for a taste of her emerging ministry. Please register with Cathy Croudis. The registration form is on the website

6. GRACE IN ACTION - Spiritual Development and Recovery
The Addictions Ministry of Hammond Street Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, invites all who are in a Recovery Program to a day of exploring our spiritual development through the Way of Life of the Twelve Steps.
We will meet on Saturday April 26th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Enter through the rear door of the church at 28 High Street in Bangor. Come for all or part of the day. For those who wish to stay, there will be a Healing Service at 3:00 P.M.
Coffee, tea and a light breakfast will be available at 9:00 A.M. and lunch will be provided.
There is no charge for this offering. Open to those in any of the Recovery Programs, (A.A., Al-Anon, CODA, N.A., etc.) and any who are interested in Recover and Addictions (pastors, and affected others.)
Call for registration and information, Bill or Lee at 862-5448 or the church at 942-4381. Bring a friend!

7. 2008 Summer Institute in UCC History, Theology, and Polity June 9-20 at Geneva Point Center, NH
The 16th annual Summer Institute in United Church of Christ History, Theology, and Polity, which is sponsored by Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Bangor Theological Seminary, and Hartford Seminary, will be offered June 9-13 and June 16-20 at the Geneva point Center in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. The instructor will be the Reverend Daniel Johnson. The non-credit tuition for this two week course is $350. Those wishing to take the course for academic credit need to contact Danielle LaVine at BTS for additional information. To receive a registration brochure about this summer’s Institute, contact the Resource Center at 1-800-244-0937, resourcecenter@maineucc.org .

8. With the encouragement of the Chairperson of the Presidential Search Committee, The Rev. Jean Alexander, we share with you the following news:
The Board of Trustees has voted to elect The Rev. Dr. Kent Ulery as the next President of Bangor Theological Seminary. As your representatives from the BTS community on the Search Committee, we want you to know how pleased and excited we are about this news. Kent was the unanimous choice of our Search Committee and brings so many of the gifts and graces we need at this critical time in the life of our school. We ask for your prayers and support for Kent as he begins to make this key transition in his life and ministry. May we as a seminary community prepare to graciously receive Kent and his wife Meg when they arrive this summer.
Faithfully yours,
Susan Davies, Michael Huddy, Annette Mott, and Ron Baard