Titles and Leaders for 2005 Annual Meeting Workshops

1. Open and Affirming  -- FRIDAY ONLY
Mark Doty    
The Hammond Street Church in Bangor developed an Open and Affirming policy. Their model of how they did it and what it looks like may be helpful as your church considers the process.

2. Is God Still Speaking About Marriage?  -- SATURDAY ONLY
Brad Hirst et al  
Now that General Synod has spoken to (and not for) our churches, the time
has come for us to discern our own voices about marriage equality. This
workshop will explore resources and strategies for engaging in meaningful
and honest dialog in our local churches about this and other value-laden
issues.

3. Contemporary Worship: Why we do it—How we do it?  -- FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Stephen Carnahan, pastor, The Open House
The Open House is the Maine Conference’s newest church and the only church in Portland that is both contemporary in style and progressive in point of view. The purpose of the Open House is to connect with people who will never attend a traditional church. We will talk about what we do, why we do it, and how we do it.

4. Christians for Justice –A Christian Voice for Human Rights in Maine -- SATURDAY ONLY
Eric C. Smith
Get involved with this Ecumenical Christian group working to support the Maine Human Rights Act and oppose the People’s Veto Referendum this November.

5. Harnessing the Media for Mission     -- SATURDAY ONLY
—Eric C. Smith and Rick Small
Leaders will outline their successful Steeple Vigil media events to draw attention to food drives for their local food pantry, and give tips for planning your own events.

6. When Disaster Strikes, the Church Responds!  -- FRIDAY & SATURDAY
—Amy Porter, Asst Regional Director for Church World Service
The Asian tsunami, 2004 Hurrican Season, Darfur and other headline emergencies raise many questions: What is unique about the role of the church? How does Church World Service respond? What are ways a local church may respond? How are our funds used? Are materials needed? These questions and more will be addressed in this workshop. Also, a hands on mission project, CWS Heart-To-Heart Kids Kits. www.churchworldservice.org

7. On Becoming a Just Peace Church -- SATURDAY ONLY
—Carol Gillis and Anne Bencks
Members of the Woodfords Church, Just Peace Task Force will share their experiences and lessons learned in the process of adopting a Just Peace Covenant
and will discuss where this process stands over twenty years later.

8. Finding Sacred Space  -- FRIDAY ONLY
—Suzie Gowie
Micah 6:8 “to walk humbly with our God” Where do we find sacred space in our daily lives to take this walk? The goal of the workshop is to identify sacred spaces and/or to create a sacred space.

9. Walking Humbly up the Gangway  -- FRIDAY ONLY
—Mary Anne Wallace, Regional Administrative Coordinator and Nash Garabedian, Jr., Port Chaplain & Mission Director
Seafarer’s Friend is an interdenominational maritime ministry whose beginnings can be traced to Boston’s Hanover Street Church, (Congregational), in 1827. Crew members aboard cargo ships arriving in Portland Harbor, often face difficulties going on shore. This workshop will provide an overview for discussion of issues such as Homeland Security, Customs and Boarder Protection and Seafarer’s rights. Discussion of these issues will come from the experiences of ship visitors in Portland Harbor and will be linked to Micah 6:8.

10. Our UCC Global Ministries Missionaries to South Africa -- FRIDAY ONLY
Scott Lovaas and Anne Marsh
UCC Global Ministries Missionaries to South Africa will talk about their work during the past four years in South Africa. Scott will focus on political realities there and Anne will focus on the Aids Crisis and Women’s Issues.

11. Peacemaking in Israel/Palestine - SATURDAY
—William Bigelow
Mac Bigelow will help us look at the major issues of contention in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and will tell of his experiences as a member of a
Christian Peacemaker Team delegation in The West Bank last April.

12. The EarthCare Team Initiative: Practicing Our Faith by Caring for Creation -- SATURDAY ONLY
—Christine James, Congregation Outreach Coordinator, Maine Interfaith Power & Light
In this workshop, participants will learn how UCCers and other individuals and communities of faith in Maine are responding to the daunting environmental challenge of global climate change by establishing “EarthCare Teams” in their
congregations. The EarthCare Team (ECT) Initiative is a joint project of Maine Council of Churches and Maine Interfaith Power & Light.

13. Building Community Organizations/Grassroots Prophetic Witness -- FRIDAY ONLY
—David Anderman
This workshop will explore ways in which grassroots community organizations can be instruments of prophectic witness. The traditions of Saul Alinsky and others, as exemplified in The Woodlawn Organization and in Back of the Yards, both in Chicago, continue into our time and place. Hear about prophectic witness in action- its joys and frustrations.

14. Make Hunger History -- SATURDAY ONLY
—Ted Bradbury
“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”—Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist
Learn how hunger is defined and how Bread for the World advocates with the United States Congress to end hunger once and for all. “This is the first generation in all of recorded history that can do something about the scourge of poverty. We have the means to do it. We can banish hunger from the face of the earth.” –Hubert H. Humphrey, 1965 Saturday’s “ACT JUSTLY LUNCH” will give everyone the opportunity to support Bread for the World and a better understanding of what many people are eating for their daily meal. All proceeds will be donated to Bread for the World.
www.breadfortheworld.org

15. Choir/Orchestra -- FRIDAY & SATURDAY
—Brian Wilson
Choir: Come be a part of the joint choir for the Sunday worship service. Be a part of this choir weather you sing all the time or just want to sing for a one time commitment. Guaranteed to be a fun experience.
Orchestra: Last year was a success at forming an orchestra. Let’s make it grow this year and double the participation. If you play an instrument or just want to blow off the dust and play for this event, please plan to bring your instrument.

6. How does God require us to be in Relationship with the Homeless -- SATURDAY ONLY
— Rich Roedner, Kris Galasyn and Saco First Parish Youth
Through a powerpoint presentation see how the Faith Commmunity of Saco First Parish, led by their youth, are actively involved in a relationship with the Homeless. Learn how the youth brought awareness to their local community, through multiple activities including a “homeless awareness sleepout” and how your church can have the same results.

17. Do Justice-York Ecumenical Advocates Case Study (YEA) -- SATURDAY ONLY
- Dolores Vail, Carrie Buntrock Joanie Monteith and Fran Koershner
Come and hear about a group from five churches in York who organized to provide help to those who were applying for General Assistance in their town. Why did they organize this group? What effect did they have? Find out about GA in your community. Then lets talk about the ideal welfare system according to those who live in poverty. What role do we have?

18. Hear Our Stories! Know Our Names! -- FRIDAY ONLY
Dolores Vail, Carrie Buntrock
The drama put together by the Maine Council of Churches-the video version. What is it like to be homeless and poor? What could happen in our lives that would lead to homelessness? Come and see the video. Stay for the discussion of the issues raised by the drama.

19.  "Ron in the Box" - FRIDAY ONLY
- Doug Guy
This is another opportunity to see the UCC God is Still Speaking DVD "Ron in the Box" with some interactive discussion about being an extraordinary welcoming church.  Learn how the initiative started, where it has been, and maybe a bit about how it's going. 

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