ALL CONFERENCE E-MAIL 
Feb.
17, 2010
____________________________________________________________________
- Congratulations
to Derek and Carolyn White
- PL
Local Church Training available around the Conference
- PL
Registration is Open online
- Your
testimony is invited
- Church
and Ministry Response Training March 19-20
- Old
South in Hallowell invites you to lunch and a movie
- Save the Dates: April 23-25 for “Gathered Here 2010”
- Day of Action for Humane Treatment of
- NE Women Ministers Assoc. Retreat and Annual
Meeting
- Come
to
_______________________________________________________________________
1. Derek and Carolyn White are
the proud parents of a healthy baby boy. Silas Henry White was born on
February 9th at 2:35 AM. He weighed in at 7 lbs 13 ounces and 19
inches. He was born on the date Carolyn and Derek met for the first time
8 years ago today.
2. SATURDAY'S
To get the
word out about Pilgrim Lodge, the Outdoor Ministries Committee is offering a
series of trainings for local church contacts ("Jumpers"). This
Saturday, Feb 20, the training is being held at First Parish in
This new and exciting form of communication, is a new model of environmentally sensitive communication with respect for your time. To find the name of your PL jumper, look here (http://www.pilgrimlodge.org/pages/jumpers.html#who
). If it's a big red NONE then we need your help to find someone to bring the exciting news about PL to your church. PL is an opportunity to energize your church - it's part of your church. We are going to have fun: Don't let this opportunity slip by.3. PILGRIM LODGE REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Brochures were bulk mailed last week to camper's homes. Registration is now available online www.pilgrimlodge.org or by phone 207-724-3200. Registration is strong so reserve your spot early.
4. Testimonies
At BTS Convocation, one lecture focused on the importance of
public testimonies to our faith and to that which is very important to
us. On our conference website, we are initiating a section on Testimonies
to the importance of supporting the work of the United Church of Christ through
"Our Church's Wider Mission". You can read a moving testimony
from West Parish Congregational UCC in
5. The Small Church
We offer
grants, using OCWM funds made available through the conference budget, to
assist smaller
contact: Rev. Linda
A. Smith, chair SCMT at 469-6234 or at doemeadows@roadrunner.com.
6. All
members of Church and Ministry Committees are invited to a Rapid Response
Training workshop, on March 19-20, 2010. 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. Held at First
Congregational in
7. Old South Congregational Church United Church
of Christ in Hallowell invites all to a light lunch and special showing of the
award winning film “Shooting Beauty” on Sunday, March 7. “Shooting
Beauty tells the inspirational story of an aspiring fashion
photographer named Courtney Bent whose career takes an unexpected turn when she
discovers a hidden world of beauty at a center for people living with
significant disabilities. Shot over the span of a decade, this film puts you in
Courtney's shoes as she overcomes her own unspoken prejudices and begins
inventing cameras accessible to her new friends. Courtney's efforts snowball
into an award-winning photography program called ‘Picture This’—and become the
backdrop for this eye-opening story about romance, loss and laughter that will
change what you thought you knew about living with a disability—and without
one.” (from http://everyonedeservesashot.com/aboutFilm.htm)
Lunch begins at 12
noon. The movie will be shown at 12:45 p.m. A free will offering
will be collected. For directions to the church please visit: http://www.oldsouthcongregational.org/contact.htm
or call the church office at 622-1220.
8. SAVE THE
DATES: APRIL 23-25 for “GATHERED HERE
2010”-
This is a weekend-long ONA
workshop for the ME Conference sponsored by The Witness Life Commission and
hosted by First Parish Congregational Church UCC in
Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer,
Executive for Health & Wholeness Advocacy in the UCC Wider Church
Ministries, will be joining us from
First Parish Congregational Church UCC in
Saco is hosting this event as they celebrate over 10 years of ONA ministry and
move into their second decade as an
On Saturday evening, April 24, a
Celebration Concert is being offered by Jason & deMarco. Jason & deMarco
are secular and Christian recording artists and life partners. http://www.jasonanddemarco.com This concert will be open to the general
public, so all are invited to attend whether participating in the full weekend
or not. This would be a great
opportunity for youth groups to experience a positive and welcoming Christian
music concert. A love offering will be
accepted during the concert.
For more information, please contact Bill
Walsh, 207-615-4556 or email to gatheredhere2010@gmail.com.
9. Day of Action for Humane
Treatment of
Tuesday, February 23, 9:00
AM at the State House
Maine Council of Churches invites you to
join with other people of faith and people of conscience at the State House to
inform your legislators about the need to mandate humane treatment of prisoners
in
We will meet at the State House in
Augusta at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, February 23 to learn more about a bill pending
in the legislature that would limit solitary confinement and mandate
appropriate mental health supervision for special management prisoners, and
then spend time speaking to individual legislators. RSVP to Eric C. Smith at
Maine Council of Churches for more information, 772-1918 or esmith@mainecouncilofchurches.org.
10.
Will be
held April 27 - 29, 2010 at
11. Portland
CSA – CSF Fair to Be Held At Woodfords Church Feb. 28
Interested in learning how to buy your
share of the Maine harvest directly from local farmers and fishermen?
Woodfords Church will host a
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Fisheries (CSF) Fair in Portland on
Sunday, February 28th from 1 – 4 p.m. Seafood tastings, food sales
to benefit area programs for the hungry and a 2 p.m. showing of the movie Fresh will be featured. Several dozen farms and fisheries
will show case their spring into fall and year-round buying programs at this
midwinter celebration of local food.
Like similar fairs slated for the
same day in eleven other locations statewide,
12. Come with
Ten Days and Eight Nights - September 21 – 30, 2010.
Working with the travel experts at Gate
1 Travel, an internationally respected travel organizing agency, Windham Hill
United Church of Christ is offering a Trip to
Round Trip Flights Boston to
Airline fuel surcharges of $222, Airport
taxes and fees of $165
8 nights
accommodation at 3 Star or better accommodation
5 Full English Breakfasts, 3
Continental Breakfasts
4 Dinners
Services of a Gate 1 Tour Escort
throughout the trip
Services of a Deluxe Motorcoach with restroom facilities for long distances
Services of a Deluxe
local Motorcoach in the
Transfers from and to
Admission to all sites on the itinerary
Are you curious? Would you like to go to