MISSIONAL PRIORITY: RACIAL JUSTICE
AUGUST ESSEX TOGETHER TRAINING
TONIGHT, AUGUST 17 FROM 6:30PM-8:30PM
AT BNAI KESHET
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The Essex Together training will be on tonight, August 17 from 6:30-8:30pm, at Bnai Keshet at 99 S. Fullerton Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey.
"The turnout and energy at our Essex Together June training at Bethany Baptist was inspiring! We are responding to the request for more in-depth workshop session with a follow-up training tonight. We will spend a substantial time at this session workshopping in small groups around issues related to New Jersey Together's existing working groups on Green Energy, Education, Criminal Justice Reform, and Housing."
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This Sunday, August 20 there will be an online national United Church Of Christ service, Prayer for Maui, at 4pm HST, 10pm EST, featuring scripture readings and prayers by lay leaders and clergy from Maui, GMP Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, and Rev. Traci Blackmon. Access will be by Zoom and YouTube. You can find more information by clicking here.
We've been hearing repeatedly how alone and desolate people on Maui are feeling -- after making harrowing escapes many are still so shocked they can barely move or speak and some have developed a weather phobia triggered by gusts of wind. So showing love and the movement of holy pneuma through big attendance to the Prayers For Maui service is strongly encouraged.
Please wear pink (the color of Maui) to worship at Union Cong on Sunday to show your support for the people of Maui. We will be taking a group photo of our congregation after worship to send to Hawai'i Conference and post online, so Maui people have a sense they are indeed remembered and loved. Inspired by the photos from Berkeley Chinese Community UCC. Thanks to Ina Isobe for the idea.
We also want to invite you to join the church in supporting those communities affected with our donations. Thanks to your generosity of pledges and donations we have made a $2,000 contribution to the Hawaii Conference of the UCC's Relief Fund. We invite you to donate specifically to this effort if you feel so moved and are able. You may choose to donate in one of the following ways (click links below):
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THIS SUNDAY IN THE CHAPEL
(AND ON YOUTUBE)
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This Sunday
Faces Of Faith Series:
Lydia
Rev. Katrina preaching
About The Scripture:
Paul, Silas, Timothy, and their companions find a prayer house on the river, a space not filled not with men and high priests, but women. Lydia of Thyatira, listens intently to Paul's message. Despite of her outsider status and how women are typically portrayed in scripture, Lydia is a woman of power, influence, and dignity, and surprisingly, the head of her household. She welcomes the apostles into her home (without needing the permission of a patriarch), and her large home later becomes the meeting place for the apostles and the growing Christian community in Philippi.
Reminder: Please wear pink (the color of Maui) to worship on Sunday to show your support for the people of Maui. We will be taking a group photo of our congregation after worship to send to Hawai'i Conference and post online, so Maui people have a sense they are indeed remembered and loved.
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Children And Learning Centers:
Continuing throughout August, we will offer relaxed Sunday programming for all children from infants to fifth graders. Children should be dropped off at Fellowship Hall in the basement of the Vincent Building. Children will be reconnected with their parents on the Chapel porch after service.
Coffee Hour:
In Person Coffee Hour will take place after Sunday worship on the Chapel Porch.
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CREATION JUSTICE MINISTRY
CLIMATE HOPE POSTCARDS MAILED TO DC
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Thank You Your Participation In The Climate Hope Postcard Campaign! Out of 200 cards distributed, 107 were mailed to the United Church Of Christ in Washington, DC on Monday, August 14. Many thanks to all who participated. Let us hope and pray that our voices will be heard in Washington and around the world, and that we continue to take personal action and urge global action to save our fair planet.
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STAFF UPDATE:
JON THOMSEN ON VACATION NEXT WEEK
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THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THE CLERGY DISCERNMENT SURVEY / CLERGY DISCERNMENT TASK FORCE NEXT STEPS |
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August 15, 2023
Clergy Discernment Task Force Update
Thank you to all of you who completed the survey. Understanding your expectations for our spiritual leadership is critical to the Task Force recommendation to position Union Cong to thrive. We are nearing completion of our interviews and research about different clergy models in local UCC churches.
In addition to interviewing Katrina and Ron, we met with the following ministers:
1. Associate Conference Minister for Congregation Development, Rev. Craig Peterson
2. Co-Minister Model (not related): First Congregational Church, Montclair (Rev. Ralosky - Rev. Rogers is on sabbatical until the end of August)
3. Senior Minister/Associate Minister Model: Christ Church Summit (Dr. Charles Rush and Rev Julie Yarborough)
4. One Minister Model: Glen Ridge Congregational Church (Rev. Jeff Mansfield)
By October, we hope to have preliminary recommendations to present to the congregation.
With Gratitude,
Vicki L. Paulson, Brian Pierson, Nancy Herron
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