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1. On Friday, April 20, the Coordinating Council voted unanimously to affirm the decision of the ACM Search Committee and present Rev. Susan M. Craig to a specially called meeting of the Maine Conference on June 9th.

Susan Craig is the Senior Associate Minister of the First Congregational Church, UCC of Old Greenwich, CT. She has provided ministry on that church staff for over twenty years. She is a graduate of Yale Divinity School. In the CT Conf. she as served on the Board for Silver Lake Conference Center, the Wider Church Ministries Committee, Department of Mission and Stewardship, Outdoor Ministries Committee, In-Care Student Advisor, and General Synod Delegate. She has designed and implemented a Sunday School Curriculum for 365 children, Staff liaison for Stephen Ministry Group and certified Stephen Ministry leader, led annual youth mission trips, and much, much more.

Susan has some special connections to Maine. She has been a counselor at Pilgrim Lodge and has Co-Deaned at PL also. For over ten years she has lead Mission trips to HOME Coop in Orland, Maine. She has also had an active relationship with the E&R Church in Honduras. She and her husband Brad own a home in Jefferson, Maine, which is where they will reside. They have two grown daughters.

I rejoice with this candidacy as I know she will be a special gift to our common ministry in Maine.

2. General Synod Parent Meeting

On May 20th at 2:00 there is a mandatory meeting for youth, their parent, and chaperones at the Saco First Congregational Church. While there will be discussion of the updated schedule of events, what will be expected of the youth at the events and in the dorms, the meal plan and other last minute details. The main requirement for this meeting will be to complete paperwork requested by the Maine Conference and the National office. If for any reason, you are not able to attend, you need to contact Heidi at synod@maineucc.org in order to get this paperwork filled out and returned to her before the May 20th date.

3. Get your Congregation involved in SERVICE PROJECTS AT GENERAL SYNOD 26
Join in the celebration by donating items for Teacher Appreciation Bags to be assembled in one of the General Synod Service Projects.
Throughout the history of the United Church of Christ, education has been a priority. Help the UCC say ‘Thank You’ to public school teachers in the Hartford area by donating the contents and bags for Teacher Appreciation Packets.

Visit our website for the items needed and directions for making the bags, at  www.maineucc.org/synodproject.html
All Items can be sent with Synod Delegates or visitors and dropped off at the Civic Center Exhibit Hall.

4. MEN’S WEEKEND AT PILGRIM LODGE - JUNE 1 – 3
For Men 21 years and older; Dean: Rev. Gil Healy $95
Arrive Friday between 3 and 6, Finish up on Sunday around 11 am
(Note: you do not have to fill out the Free and Reduced School Meal Application on the right side of the page for this or any adult PL event.)

Many of us drop off our children at PL, or perhaps offer our time working on building and fixing the site during workdays. Even if you have never had the pleasure of visiting the Pilgrim Lodge site, this is a unique opportunity for the men of the Maine Conference to gather for companionship, worship, and a time apart. We’ll use the time for rest and relaxation as well as exploring what it means to be a man in our culture: How does the spirit that dwells inside us vary from the roles that are expected of us? We’ll look to discover and invent forms of worship that speak to our genuine selves. Be a part of something new as we move from the realm of the head to that of the heart. For more information contact bryan@pilgrimlodge.org or gilhealy@gmail.com

5. Greetings from Honduras,
As the foreign-based staff member of the Maine Conference, I thought I would send you all the link to our blog here in Honduras so that you can see what the ME Conference UCC is doing abroad. http://hondurasinterns07.blogspot.com/

Right now, it is summer in Honduras so the temperature averages high 90's every day. There has been little rain so water is rationed and 90% of the time we don't have water running into the house. We eat mangoes every day and one of our two Maine Conference chickens will be having chicks within about 10 days. The internet works most of the time, but when we have spotty power outages, we are out of luck. I get reciepts signed for money exchanges that happen and last week, two of the men couldn't sign their own names so a check-mark had to suffice. People here wait hours on end to be seen by our visiting doctors in the clinic...even returning the following day if there is not time, without complaining. Some are hard-pressed to pay the 50 cent charge for an appointment. It is a different world down here and each day is full of blessings.

Hope this finds you all well.
Liz