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Official Call of the 2016 Annual Meeting
The 85th Annual Meeting of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ (successor to the Congregational Christian Conference of Maine; it being the 105th Anniversary of the Congregational Conference and Missionary Society of Maine; the 191st Anniversary of the State Conference, the 209th Anniversary of the Maine Missionary Society, the 187th Anniversary of the Maine Congregational Ministerial Relief Society, and the 49th Anniversary of the Maine Conference as a Conference of the United Church of Christ), will be held at Gracie Theater, Husson College, Bangor, Maine and will convene at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, October 22, 2016. Items to be voted at this year's meeting will be the:
- Use of Proceeds from the Sale of the Rockcraft Retreat Center
- Proposed 2017 Conference Budget
- 2017 Compensation Guidelines for Clergy
- Slate of Officers Elect
Walter (Ted) Ruark, Conference Clerk
Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ
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One Day Only!
October 22, 2016
Location
Gracie Theater
Husson University
Bangor
Key Note Speaker
Rev. Chris Davies
Coordinator for Congregational Assessment
Support and Advancement (CASA)
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2016 Annual Meeting Documents
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There are four Budget Hearings across the state in to preview & discuss the 2017 budget prior to The 2016 Annual Meeting.
(
There will not be a hearing at the actual Annual Meeting)
(Recommended budget information will be available by close of business September 16th)
SACO
September 21, 2016 7PM
(Zoom will be available)
First Parish Church
12 Beach Street
September 25, 2016 2PM
(Zoom will be available)
Maine Conference Center
1 Weston Court, Suite 104
September 28, 2016 1PM
Hammond Street Congregational Church
28 High Street
October 3, 2016 7PM
(Zoom will be available)
High Street Congregational Church
106 Pleasant Street
Auburn, ME 04210
If you are interested in participating via Zoom Video Conferencing (web based online meeting application.)
Please register and then contact Beth Campbell at
conference@maineucc.org
(Once you have received the meeting e-mail Click Here to download application and join meeting)
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Announcing Steve Jones' Retirement Banquet!
Pilgrim Lodge, October 1, 2016, 5:30
After 13 years of faithful and dedicated ministry, Steve Jones will be retiring as from the position of Pilgrim Lodge Maintenance Supervisor at the end of this camping season. We would like to send him off with a huge show of our love and gratitude. There will be retirement banquet at Pilgrim Lodge on
Saturday, October 1, at 5:30. Everyone is invited to attend. We are really hoping staff and volunteers who have worked with Steve will come out to say "thank you." We are asking $15 for dinner, and will be accepting donations toward a parting gift. Stay tuned to ACE next week, we will include instruction for registering and sending funds for Steve's gift. In the mean time, please put October 1 on your calendar!
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Save the Date
Christmas Open House
Maine UCC Conference Center
Augusta
December 14, 2016
11AM - 3PM
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The Earthcare and Spirituality Resource Team will be meeting at Pilgrim Lodge on Thursday September 22 from 9 to 3. All are invited. This is an open gathering to talk about caring for the Earth and including the Earth in our spiritual journeys and worship routines. We will share ideas and experiences, learn a little about the Conference's efforts to divest of fossil fuels, worship and have communion outside, prepare a workshop for Annual Meeting, and hopefully begin organizing ourselves a little more as a ministry of mission and outreach in the Maine Conference. Please bring a lunch. Feel free to contact Steve Hastings at
shastings@fairpoint.net if you have any questions.
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Women's Autumn Weekend
Fall Fiber Friendzie
Sept 23rd - 25th
Dean's Letter
We are so glad you plan to join us...the air will be crisp
...the trees turning...the lake alive!
and Pilgrim Lodge our home sweet home
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Free Lecture
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Workshop
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SAVE THE DATE!
YORK ASSOCIATION FALL MEETING
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Starting at 3:00 PM
at
First Parish Federated Church
150 Main Street
South Berwick
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Does a concert have the power to change the course of gun violence legislation? Probably not. But can hundreds of thousands of people raise awareness about gun violence in an impactful way just weeks before an election? You bet we can!
Let's sing for peace on Sunday, September 25th!
Participating is as easy as singing a song... with your congregation, in your home (maybe even put it on YouTube and share it with others), or in your community.
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Confirmation Retreat
Offered by the NH Conference
(Open to MECUCC & VTCUCC)
September 30th - October 2nd
The Confirmation retreat is offered by the NHCUCC at Horton Center, but is not conference specific, and we hope to have groups from Maine and Vermont join us. We had a great group from Maine join us last year!
"Many youth going through the confirmation process in their local churches are wondering: So what does it mean to be part of the United Church of Christ? Am I really welcome in the UCC? What does it mean that "God is Still Speaking"
The annual NHCUCC Confirmation Retreat will be an opportunity to explore those questions. The retreat is a full weekend to be held September 30th - October 2nd at Horton Center. This promises to be a very special time for our youth and confirmation leaders. We will gather for worship, music, discussion, good food and games. Come and meet others who are going through the Confirmation journey with you.
Sign up today
Download the Confirmation Retreat brochure for sharing with your local church:
Confirmation Retreat Brochure
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Calling All UCC Youth (Grades 9-12)! Help Refugees - Win Scholarships - Share your Creativity!
ENTER the SYRIAN REFUGEE ACCOMPANIMENT VIDEO CONTEST
Show your awareness of the response to the Syrian refugee crisis and highlight your local community's plan of action for awareness-raising and welcoming.
Submit videos between October 1 and November 11, 2016.
Three scholarships ($2,000, $1,000 and $500) will be awarded.
Give a boost to the visibility of a UCC extravagant welcome. Join other congregations in opening hearts and communities to refugees. First Federated Church, North Jackson, OH and Sylvania UCC share their mission trip experience via video walking
"Hand in Hand" with Syrian Refugees resettling in Toledo, OH.
Questions? Contact Mary Schaller Blaufuss, UCC Global Sharing of Resources Team Leader,
blaufusm@ucc.org
or 216-736-3214.
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2016-2017 Program - Auburn Maine
Human systems are complicated,
and churches are no exception.
At their best, they draw out excellence in their people. At their worst, they become stuck --undermining and sabotaging even the mostwell-designed plans for change. Tending the Fire helps clergy "think systems" in their
congregations and their personal lives, so they can lead change that lasts.
They can:
* Understand anxiety's effects on churches
and individuals
* Be a healthy, non-anxious leader
* Manage complicated emotional relationships
* Avoid overwork and "underwork"
* Recognize and handle sabotage
* Discover the "next right steps" for their
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
Cumberland Association of Churches
and Ministers Annual Meeting
DATE:
Sunday, October 2, 2016 from 2:30- 4:30PM
LOCATION:
To be announced.
The Annual Report will be sent out No Later Than September 1st.
A Call to the meeting will be sent out when the Location is finalized!
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The Franklin Association and the Kennebec Valley will merge to form a new union on October 2nd at 2:00 p.m.at the First Parish Congregational Church, UCC in Augusta.
The name of the newly formed united association will the Living Water Association, based on John 7:37-39. Each church is asked to bring a container of water from a local body of water. The Rev. Deborah Blood, Conference Minister, will preach at the worship service. All delegates are urged to attend this historic event and others are cordially invited. There will be combined choir from
churches of the former two associations.
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Mark Your Calendars
& Save the Date
The Fall Meeting of the Kennebec Valley Association will convene at 2PM October 2nd at South Parish Congregational Church (UCC) in Augusta
This meeting will include a joint gathering of the Kennebec Valley Association and the Franklin Association to form a new entity as in Isaiah 43:19
...
See
, I am doing a
new
thing
!
More details to follow.
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2016 Boundary Awareness Training Schedule
Please Click the Training Title Below to get more information and to register
Tuesday October 4th
Union Congregational Church
Ellsworth Falls
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This training meets Maine Conference UCC Association requirements for clergy to maintain their ministerial standing (others should check with your Association Committee on Ministry). For more information, contact the Maine Conference Office at
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There is a cost of $25.00 for this training
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DIVINE DIVERSITY ART SHOW
First Congregational Church UCC, South Portland invites the entries of artists wishing to exhibit an original work of art that reflects its second annual show's theme Divine Diversity.
A panel of judges will award cash prizes in three categories:
1. painting/drawing
2. photography
3. other media such as sculpture, stained glass, fabric arts, metal arts.
In each category there will be:
First prize - $300
Second prize - $200
Visitors' Choice - $100
Honorable Mention.
Registration form with show guidelines is available at
fccucc.org
Application deadline is September 26, 2016.
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SAVE THE DATE
October 11th
First Parish Church of York invites you to join us at the Ogunquit Playhouse on October 11 for New England Sings, a talent showcase that will raise money for the York County Family Fund, First Parish of York Outreach, Darkness to Light for survivors of sexual abuse, and The Ogunquit Playhouse.
If you know a gifted young artist under age 30, please encourage them to submit a minute and a half or less video to
NewEnglandSings.com. Finalists will participate in the show live at the Ogunquit, and the winner will receive a studio session with singer/songwriter Kara DioGuardi.
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COME TO PILGRIM LODGE!
for the
Autumn High School Weekend
October 14th - 16th
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Sunrise Association of Churches and Ministers
Maine Conference
United Church of Christ
Announces its
2016 Annual Meeting
Saturday, October 15, 2016
First Congregational Church of Blue Hill
9:00AM - 1:00PM
All Association members and delegates are urged to attend this important meeting and celebration. Members with ministerial standing are asked to robe and process for the service of Installation (red stoles)
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Annual Fall Rummage Sale
October 15th
9AM to Noon
Christ Church
6 Dane Street
Kennebunk
Donations of clean, gently used fall and winter clothing, books, and household items will be accepted at the church during the week prior, from 9:00 to 3:00. Electronics and large or heavy appliances cannot be accepted. Electrical items in working condition, smaller than a microwave, are welcome.
Christ Church is handicapped accessible by elevator from the parking lot behind Town Hall, and also has a parking lot across Dane Street.
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October 17 - 19
"Sabbath for Sabbath Makers"
Retreat
Canoeing Getaway at Third Machias Lake (North Washington, Maine) is Designed Specifically for Faith Leaders
This October,
The BTS Center and
Renewal in the Wilderness will team up to offer
"Sabbath for Sabbath Makers," a wilderness retreat about holding time and space for individuals who typically are charged with creating spiritual rest and edification for others. Retreat participants will experience the liberty of relinquishing that control and releasing that responsibility.
Not limited to (though certainly inclusive of) ordained faith leaders, the retreat is open to all those who play leading roles in houses of worship, faith communities, and organizations focused on social justice. Since such leaders are almost always "on call" - even in contexts that provide regular experiences of rest/relief for others - we are designing a hearty day of rest aimed specifically at those who tend to go without. We know that rest leads to the renewal of creativity, and that creativity among leaders promotes the flourishing of communities committed to compassion.
The retreat is designed for individuals of various levels of skill and fitness. You do not need to be an athlete to participate, and you do not need to have had any previous camping or wilderness experience. For more information, click the button below.
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Progressive Christian Music Workshop
Registration Now Open
New Hampshire Conference Center
Friday, October 21, 2016
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
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| Rev. Bryan Sirchio |
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The New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ is sponsoring a workshop is pastors, choir directors, choir members, church organists and pianists, worship band musicians, anyone who designs or creates liturgies, and all lay persons interested in exploring the role of music in worship. Drawing from his book, The 6 Marks of Progressive Christian Worship Music, Rev. Bryan Sirchio, in town for our Annual Meeting, will focus on key points of Progressive Christian theology, a Progressive approach to Scripture, Progressive Christian Worship, and some of the reasons why music is so important. We will sing together, discuss the challenges and opportunities of bringing new music and liturgical art forms into our local churches and the role that music plays in spiritual formation and worship that is transforming and alive. We will share best practices, best resources, and how to use the gifts of music more powerfully and fruitfully in our congregations, small and large, those that have abundant musical ministry and those that may feel inadequate about music.
Cost is a nominal $20.00 per person. The event will be held at the NH Conference Center; 140 Sheep Davis Road; Pembroke, New Hampshire.
Register Here
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