December 1, 2019 NACCC News: Community Connections

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December 1, 2019

NACCC NEWS

Community Connections

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400 Years of American Congregationalism

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The Congregationalist

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Annual Meeting Accessibility Task Team to Provide Recommendations

Jim Waechter, Moderator

Fifteen months ago a Task Team was formed to envision how future NACCC Annual Meeting and Conferences might be attended by more member churches. In the past few years an average of 100 churches attended the meeting each year.

The Task Team created a survey that resulted in 150 individual responses, many who have attended previous annual meetings and a few from some who had never attended these meetings. The survey reviewed the many factors that churches and individuals take into consideration in their decision to attend a meeting. Follow up phone calls were made to some respondents who indicated a willingness to talk further with someone from the task team.

In November, after careful consideration and analysis of the survey and conversations, the Task Team presented its recommendations to the Annual Meeting and Conference Committee who supported taking the recommendations to the entire leadership of the NACCC including the Leadership Council, Board of Directors and the Congregational Foundation. As soon as these meetings are complete we plan to share the recommendations with all our member churches and will begin to implement the recommendations at future NACCC Annual Meeting and Conferences including this coming summer’s meeting in Portland, Maine . I’d like to thank Ashley Cleere and her entire Task Team for their thoughtful work on this task.

As we commemorate 400 years of American Congregationalism we will bring you historical information about the landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, as well as current events taking place in our member churches.

What is your church doing to commemorate 400 years of Congregationalism in America? Email us with your plans and we will highlight member church events over the coming year!

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Advent Reflections

Rev. Dr. Cindy Bacon Hammer, Chair, Board of Directors

It is Advent--my favorite time of the church year. For the Board of Directors that means budgets are put to bed, reports are finalized, and everything has been made ready for the next fiscal year. What is really lovely is that once these business items are taken care of, we can relax and enjoy the season. We prepare for Jesus' birth with decorations and beautiful lights. We sing together the familiar songs of the season. We read of the prophets of old who had been waiting for the Messiah to come. And, we give thanks. We thank God for coming to earth to meet us in human form. We thank God for hope, peace, joy and love. And, we thank God for the mystery and wonder that seem to make themselves known at this time of the year. Peace seems possible. Because of Jesus' birth we have reason to hope. We are filled with joy in the enormity of love found in a tiny babe born in a humble stable. May your Christmas be filled with wonder and gratitude.

Boards Meet in Wisconsin

Ashley Cleere, President, Board of Governors

Amid changing colors of fall foliage, the Board of Governors of the Congregational Foundation (CF) gathered on October 23 and 24 in Oak Creek, joined by several members of the NACCC Board of Directors in person and by conference call. The prospective culmination of a three-year process of consolidation and transfer of endowments from the NACCC to the CF in April 2020 gave rise to several agenda items. Both boards and NACCC staff are working diligently to ensure preparedness and continuity as responsibilities shift. Other topics discussed were current and future fundraising endeavors, the progress of pertinent task teams including one addressing support for The Congregationalist and another envisioning an updated NACCC website, and plans for the 2020 Annual Meeting and Conference in Portland, Maine.

Member Church News

On November 1st, People's Congregational Church of Bayport, MN presented "A Harvest of Hope" . This fall concert featured the SeVy Gospel Quartet and the newly formed People's Church Women's Ensemble. This event was made possible by a grant from the John Richard Memorial Endowment.

Several NACCC member churches, including Arbor Grove Congregational Churc h of Jackson, MI , First Congregational Church of Saugatuck, MI and First Congregational Church of Portland, MI are having "Blue Christmas" services on or around December 21st designed for those having a difficult time during the holiday season.

Congratulations to the First Congregational Church of Akron, OH who received an Akron Beautification Award from the Gardeners of Greater Akron for their "Feed My Sheep" garden.