1. Grants given by Resourcing the Local Church Committee of the Maine Conference
2. Annual Meeting Workshops
3. Save this Date
4. Condolences to Carol Kerr
5. Seminary Sunday, Feb. 24
6. Spirituality and Stewardship Conference
7. Spring Church Educators Day on March 25th
8. Announcing a Bold New Venture
9. Elder Program Coordinator Position
10. Tax on Camper Meals passes another hurdle
11. Explore the Possibilities at BTS Friday Feb. 22
12. Christian One-liners

1. Grants given by Resourcing the Local Church Committee of the Maine Conference
Grant funds to enhance local church ministries are given for a wide variety of projects, programs and leadership development. In partnership with local churches, the conference is able to support the spiritual health and growth of our churches. To apply for a grant go to the Maine Conference web site (www.maineucc.org) and select guidelines and policies.

At the September committee meeting, the following grants were awarded:
- Locke Mills Union Church - assistance for a new septic system.
- Elm Street Congregational Church, Bucksport - assistance for handicapped access bathroom and ramp for the community mission program of day care for seniors with moderate dementia.
- Wiliston-West UCC, Portland - program development and leadership for the Tents of Hope mission project.
- Local Churches sending youth to the National Youth Event - scholarship of $100 for youth and advisors attending this national UCC event

2. It's Still Not Too Late for Midwinter Weekend!!!
Friday, February 22 - 24th the State Youth Council is inviting all high school young people to Midwinter Weekend in Saco, ME.
This year's theme, Peace, will be explored through talk, worship, music, play and more. Come help us decorate one of the Tents of Peace, learn about what it means to be Open and Affirming, join in the Youth Council Choral Group and more. Contact the Saco First Parish Church and let them know you are coming or e-mail Morgan Brockington at morganhaleyxo@yahoo.com.

3. ANNUAL MEETING WORKSHOPS
The Annual Meeting Planning Committee is working diligently to have an exciting and renewing annual meeting in Farmington in June. We would like to hear from you concerning workshops. Are there people in the Maine Conference wishing they could present a workshop on some topic? Do you have information that would help other churches? If you are interested in sharing your knowledge with others in a workshop, please contact Anne Roundy (revaroundy@verizon.net or 207-354-0605) and she will be happy to contact you for details.

4. CHURCH AND MINISTRY COMMITTEE MEMBERS HOLD THESE DATES! The spring workshop for members of Church and Ministry Committees will be held on April 11-12. The location to be determined. Please hold these dates open. You will soon receive more information concerning the workshop.

5. Our prayers and thoughts are with Carol Kerr on the death of her nephew, Ryan Kerr, who died last Wednesday. He was a teenager who had cancer. Carol has recently been in Pennsylvania to be with her family for the funeral. Carol is the minister at Scarborough, Blue Point.

6. An Invitation to Celebrate Seminary Sunday on February 24, 2008
On behalf of the UCC Seminaries of New England, Bill Imes, President of Bangor Theological Seminary invites you to celebrate Seminary Sunday on February 24th. To read Bill’s invitation which includes an opportunity to order special bulletin inserts for February 24th, please click on the following link: http://www.bts.edu/newsandevents/Seminary%20Sunday%20ltr%20%2008.pdf

7. Spirituality and Stewardship Conference to be Held April 4th and 5th in Worcester MA
The Northeast Ecumenical Stewardship Council will hold its biennial stewardship event for clergy and lay leaders April 4th and 5th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Worcester MA. This year’s theme is “Pursuing the Disciplines of Stewardship.” Featured speakers include the Reverend A. Roy Medley, Bishop Margaret Payne, Bishop Peter Weaver, Bruce Rockwell, and Ed Hoyt. A host of workshops are also offered. This has always been a high quality event. Registration is limited to three hundred and the registration deadline is March 8th. Follow the link below for a one page flyer, the full registration brochure, and online registration:www.umfne.org

8. Remember National Youth Event, July 23-29, 2008. Be sure to check the Maine Conference website (www.maineucc.org) for a Feb. 1 letter with lots of information about the trip to Nashville. We have confirmed that John Thomas will be present, as well as Valerie Tutson, Julia Butterfly Hill, Eboo Patel, Lost and Found and representatives from the “Tents of Hope”. Registration forms are also available at the website, or from your church office. If you have questions, please contact Rev. Susie Craig at susiecraigacm@aol.com or call the Conference Office at 846-5118.

9. Spring Church Educators Day on March 25th to Focus on Confirmation
The Spring Church Educators Day for clergy and educators will be held 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the North Yarmouth Church and will focus on models, resources, and ideas for confirmation. Leaders include the Rev. Linda Hirst, Kris Galasyn, and Annette Mott. Please contact the Resource Center (resourcecenter@maineucc.org, 1-800-244-0937) to register. The cost is five dollars per church, payable at the door. Please bring a bag lunch; beverages will be provided. Follow the link below to an event flyer on the Conference web site:www.maineucc.org/news/springchurcheducator2008

10. Announcing a Bold New Venture: A Border Event for Maine Conference and the Maritime Conference Churches on April 5th
On Saturday, April 5th the Maine Conference UCC and the Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada will co-sponsor a border event in Florenceville, New Brunswick (just across the border from the Houlton/Presque Isle area). The event will be held 10:00 a.m to 3:30 p.m. and will include mutual conversation, workshops, and worship. The theme for the day is “Common Border/Common Faith: Small Churches Walking Along Together.” Annette Mott from the Maine Conference and Janice MacLean from the Maritime Conference will serve as co-leaders. The registration fee, which includes lunch, is ten dollars for the first person from a congregation and five dollars for each additional person. Contact the Resource Center (resourcecenter@maineucc.org, 1-800-244-0937) to register your church team. Follow the link below to an event flyer on the Conference web site. www.maineucc.org/news/springonline2008

11. Elder Program Coordinator
Woodfords Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Portland, Maine is seeking a part-time Elder Program Coordinator. This is a part-time position, 16 hours per week, and with a competitive rate of pay, to coordinate programs and services to enhance the health and well-being of our senior members. A Bachelor’s degree in social services or related field with 3 or more years experience is required. Must have valid Maine driver’s license. A job description is available upon request. For more information call Woodfords Church at 774-8243 or email info@woodfordschurch.org.

12. LD 2005 – EXEMPTION FOR TAX ON CAMPER MEALS PASSES ANOTHER HURDLE It was exciting to sit in the Taxation Committee hearing room on February 7th to witness the committee’s unanimous vote of “ought to pass” on LD 2005, the bill that will clarify that Maine’s sales tax on meals does not apply to summer camp meals. All the calls and contacts you made to your representatives to encourage the Taxation Committee to vote positively on this bill paid off. Thank you! This was a particularly tough year to make such great progress on this bill, as the state has a $200 million shortfall. The bill still must pass the House and Senate. An “ought to pass” bill coming out of the Committee has a better chance of getting passed, but another push will be needed to call your local representatives at that time. We’ll let you know the timetable on that.

13. Come Explore the Possibilities at Bangor Theological Seminary Information Session: Friday February 22, 2008 at the BTS Bangor Campus (9:00 - 11:30 a.m).
Hosted by the Director of Admissions, this session will feature informal discussion of the various opportunities at BTS, including degree programs, the admissions process, and financial aid information. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information or to reserve a space at the Information Session, call Fae Gilbride, Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid: 800-287-6781 x126, or email fgilbride@bts.edu.
To register online or to learn more about BTS visit here A complete schedule of visitation opportunities is also available on the website. Whether you are thinking of answering a call to ministry or seeking answers to spiritual questions, you’ll find what you need at BTS.

14. “If a church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.”