ALLCONFERENCE E-MAIL 
Feb. 10, 2010
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Remember . . .
Your OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission) contribution to the ME Conference makes this email newsletter and the
numerous programs described herein available to you and your church.
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- Thank You for your help
- Conference change of mailing address
- Pilgrim Lodge registration begins Friday
- Rapid Response Training Workshop
- State Youth Council Mid-winter Retreat
- Congratulations to New Gloucester church
- Reed Organ looking for new home
- Senior Choir Director needed in North Windham
- Celebrate Black History Month
- Ecumenical rebuild project in Cedar Rapids Iowa
- Embrace a new habit for Lent
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1. THANK YOU to everyone who sent in their National Yearbook Forms. If you haven’t sent them yet, it’s not too late. I am still entering the data, so if I get your information in the next couple of days, I will tag them onto the end. I have received forms from about 70% of our local churches, a good number, but I am not sure that will be enough to win some of those chocolate covered macadamia nuts that Hawaii has promised. If you have misplaced your forms, please let me know and I can send you duplicates. Thanks for your help. Sue Stevens
2. CHANGE OF ADDRESS -- Effective Feb. 15, 2010, the Maine Conference will discontinue the use of our PO Box and begin using our street address for our mailing address. Please begin using our new mailing address immediately, and make the change in your records and address books. Thanks. The new mailing address is:
Maine Conference UCC
28 Yarmouth Crossing Drive
Yarmouth, ME 04096
3. PILGRIM LODGE REGISTRATION BEGINS FRIDAY
The Pilgrim Lodge brochures were mailed on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Online registration begins this Friday, Feb. 12! Updated and expanded information as well as pictures can be found on the PL website www.pilgrimlodge.org/schedule To register offline call 207-724-3200.
DOES YOUR CHURCH HAVE A PL JUMPER? Find out here . What's a jumper? Find out here
4. Save the Date! On March 19 – 20, 2010, all members of Church and Ministry Committees are invited to a Rapid Response Training workshop, sponsored by the Spiritual Life Commission. The leader for this important workshop is Rev. Dick Sparrow, Minister and Team Leader of the Parish Life and Leadership Ministry of the United Church of Christ. The workshop will be held at First Congregational in Waterville, and will begin Friday evening with supper at 5:30 pm and continue to Saturday afternoon. Registration is $17 which includes Friday supper and Saturday lunch. There are several reasonably priced hotels in the local area. To register for this event, contact the Conference office at conference@maineucc.org
5. The State Youth Council of the Maine Conference will be holding their annual "Mid-Winter Retreat" at First Church UCC in Belfast February 19th - 21st. All of the event details, including the registration form are available on the SYC website: http://www.MaineSYC.org Registration forms are due in as soon as possible. Please pass this info along to all high school youth you work with and encourage them to attend. This is also the annual business meeting for the youth of the conference, and will include elections for the SYC Executive Committee. During times where many churches are seeing a decline in youth involvement this is an excellent opportunity to keep them engaged and offer them leadership opportunities.
6. Congratulations to First Congregational-Christian UCC Church in New Gloucester who voted to become an ONA congregation at their annual meeting on Sunday, January 31. Their ONA task force began the process in 2008.
7. The First Congregational Church in South Portland is looking to gift a manual Mason & Hamlin reed organ. It was fully restored in 1978 and has been kept in good repair since. Currently it needs some work but is playable. The repair person stated that "it is basically in very good condition" and he says "it would have an antique value of around $2200." For more information contact, - Kim Early, at 885-5777
8. SENIOR CHOIR MUSIC DIRECTOR
North Windham Union Church, UCC is seeking a director for Senior Choir. Typical Sept to June contract-42 week position. (Feb to June 2010, pro-rated salary). Experience preferred. Ability to work with an accompanist, musically motivate and have fun - a must. Call church office to obtain copy of job description at 207-892-6142.
9. Celebrate Black History Month - The month of February is a time of reflection of history; a tribute to those who have overcome suffering and injustice; and praise for a powerful and sustaining God. From Amistad to the presidency, the United Church of Christ is forever entwined in the history of a people who stood with courage and pushed forward with faith. UCC, Cleveland has put together a website with suggested resources at: http://www.ucc.org/black-history-month-resources.html.
10. Great news to share widely, the United Church of Christ is participating this Spring in an ecumenical rebuild in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The dates to mark on your calendar are: April 12 through May 21, 2010! Volunteer work groups are invited to spend a week repairing/rebuilding homes that were damaged by the 2008 floods – long term recovery is indeed a marathon not a sprint. We are seeking groups of 10-12 people for each week to bring their gifts and skills and apply them in Cedar Rapids. Volunteer groups will be assigned to work side by side with nine denominational and two local partners to do this much needed work.
Pam Small of Evansville, IN is serving as the volunteer coordinator for the project and can be reached at: psmall66@gmail.com; cell phone: 812-453-3995.
11. Though we frequently focus on giving something up for Lent, it’s also possible to consider embracing something new by beginning a “good habit”. For some ideas, I have included a poem found in the February issue of Pittsfield’s newsletter “Shalom”:
Fast from judging others; feast on Christ dwelling in them
Fast from fear of illness; feast on the healing power of God
Fast from words that pollute; feast on speech that purifies
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude
Fast from anger; feast on patience
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism
Fast from negatives; feast on alternatives
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion
Fast from gossip; feast on silence
Fast from worry; feast on faith
Author Unknown