to the Spring Gathering brochure as a pdf.

The Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ
Spring Gathering
May 2, 2015 ~ Coral Gables, Florida
Join us for an exciting, historic and joyous weekend
as we celebrate our covenant with the
Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Highlights include:
The Installation of Our New Conference Minister, John Vertigan
A Presentation by Geoffrey Black, the General Minister and
President of the United Church of Christ
Fantastic Workshops ~ Inspirational Worship ~ A Down Home BBQ
Special Events throughout the Weekend
all in a Gorgeous Tropical Setting
A Weekend Not To Be Missed!
Register at https://uccfla-reg.brtapp.com/2015SpringGathering
Registration Deadline April 24
$50
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Florida Conference Spring Gathering
COVENANT
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ
3010 De Soto Boulevard, Coral Gables, Florida
The churches of the Florida Conference represent the great diversity that is the United Church of Christ. No two
congregations are exactly alike, each a reflection of their individual culture, theology, setting, and heritage. Yet, while we
are very different from one another, we are bound together in covenant, a sacred contract, if you will, of congregations,
conferences (representing the wider church) and God. The Spring Gathering will celebrate this covenant as lay people
and clergy gather together to worship, deliberate, learn, serve, and celebrate together. YOU are encouraged to be with
us on this exciting and historic weekend.
Suggested Hotels
Welcome to Gables UCC
Please make your reservation at the links provided below to receive special
prices at the listed hotels. All reservations must be made by March 25.
It has been said that Coral Gables
Congregational United Church of Christ is
an “out of the box church.” One only has to
look at the worship, programs, and people
of this local South Florida congregation
to know this is true. We are a diverse,
culturally rich, and interesting congregation
who believes that God is still speaking and
so we listen for new ways to respond to
new generations of worshipping people.
We find humor in the ordinary and grace
in the extraordinary. At 92 years of age,
we are the oldest public building in Coral
Gables and reside in a beautiful historic
Mediterranean-style building, the very
first church listed on the Florida Register of
Historic Places. The people of Gables UCC
look forward to welcoming you.
Hotel St. Michel
162 Alcazar Ave, Miami, FL 33134
Phone: (305) 446-6572
$129.00
Book at gablesucc.org/product/st-michel/
A charming European style Inn unexpectedly nestled in
the midst of beautiful Coral Gables. In walking distance
to hundreds of local restaurants, galleries, and shops.
The Courtyard Miami Coconut Grove Hotel
2649 S Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33133
Phone: (305) 858-2500
$159
Book at gablesucc.org/product/courtyard-miami/
Offering a relaxing space with spectacular views of
Biscayne Bay and within walking distance of downtown
Coconut Grove.
The Biltmore Hotel
1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33134
$219
Book at gablesucc.org/product/biltmore-hotel/
Known for its old world glamour and elegance, the
Biltmore Hotel sits on 150 tropical acres. Its pool, the
largest hotel pool in the United States, is nestled among
beautiful hibiscus and bougainvillea. The hotel is directly across from the church.
Please note that shuttle service will be available to these hotels on Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday. Just park your car at the church and the shuttle will
take you right to your hotel door. No additional parking or valet fees.
MAKE A WEEKEND OF IT
Come Early – Stay Late
Friday, May 1, Service Projects
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Cerasee Farm, NW 54th Street and NW 16th Avenue, Miami, Florida
Providing environmental projects and food security programming to under-served urban communities throughout South
Florida. After an introductory talk and tour of the Cerasee Farm, volunteers will help with various garden projects. All
necessary tools will be supplied. Comfortable clothing, closed shoes, sun hats and water bottles are required. For more
information visit: www.urbangreenworks.org.
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Feeding Homeless Families at Chapman Partnership, 1550 North Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136
We will prepare and serve lunch at this center which serves over 800,000 meals a year to homeless families.
Friday, May 1, Evening Reception
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
3131 De Soto Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Laurinda Hafner, the Senior Pastor at Gables UCC cordially invites everyone to her home for a reception and the
opportunity to meet and greet John Vertigan, the new Conference Minister, and Geoffrey Black, the General Minister and
President of the United Church of Christ. Her home is between the church and the Biltmore Hotel with plenty of parking.
All are welcome.
Saturday, May 2, Annual Meeting
• 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. – Registration
• 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Morning Worship
• 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Conference Business with Reports, Resolutions, Awards and a Presentation by Conference Minister John Vertigan.
• 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Keynote Address by UCC President and General Minister, Geoffrey Black.
• 12:00 noon – BBQ in the Courtyard. Enjoy a delicious lunch of burgers and veggie burgers, BBQ chicken, black beans and rice, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, creamy cole slaw and fresh grilled corn in the husk. And, oh yes, did we mention cookies? Homemade cookies available throughout the day.
• 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Workshops (Check them out on the next page).
• 2:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – A Festival of Worship with the Installation of John Vertigan as Conference Minister.
Saturday Evening, May 2, Check Out Miami!
Once you register, you will receive a listing of many activities throughout the Miami area including:
• 5:30 p.m. - A Walking Tour of the Gables. Meet in front of the church for this one mile walk.
• Check out the night life in South Beach, have dinner in Key Largo (only 45 minutes away), discover Coconut Grove, the oldest modern continuously-inhabited neighborhood of Miami, enjoy one of the many interesting restaurants in downtown Coral Gables, or have a drink around the pool at the Biltmore Hotel.
Have a question about what to do?
E-mail Mark Hart, our activities consultant at MarkH@gablesucc.org for free advice, suggestions, and directions.
Sunday Morning, May 3, Worship at Gables UCC
11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
We will be engaged in meaningful worship, which feeds our spiritual hunger through stirring music, meaningful liturgy,
and a morning message offered by the Rev. John Vertigan. The service will feature the music of the Gables UCC
Community Arts Program ALL-STAR Jazz Ensemble, an outreach ministry of Gables UCC which is comprised of a diverse
group of jazz musicians from schools throughout Miami-Dade County. In May 2015, the CAP ALL-STAR Jazz Ensemble
returns to Jazz at Lincoln Center for a third consecutive year, to perform as finalist in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially
Ellington festival. Under the Community Arts Program’s record label, CAP Records®, the CAP ALL-STAR Jazz Ensemble
released its recording, With a Swing! Can’t be here? Check out the service online at http://gablesucc.org/live.
Saturday Workshops
Covenant: The Arc of Justice
Covenant: The Arc of Housing
At the UCC General Synod 2015 two resolutions are being
presented that address the conflict between Israel and
Palestine. Although much has been written about this
conflict, few people are well versed with the contributing
factors that perpetuate this conflict in the Middle East.
Come learn what you need to know and what you can do
about it. Led by the Rev. Dr. Guillermo Márquez-Sterling
and Gail Burnaford, Ph.D.
Twenty-five years ago, more than 8,000 people in South
Florida lived in conditions that would have been a disgrace
to a third world nation. There was no plan, no money, no
leadership and no ownership of the homeless problem. Today, the number of homeless individuals living on the
streets of Miami-Dade County is about one-tenth of what it
was, but the greatest challenges lie ahead. Led by Victoria
L. Mallette, Executive Director of the Miami-Dade County
Homeless Trust.
Covenant: The Arc of the Environment
Covenant: The Arc of Covenant in the UCC
This workshop is an attempt to begin a conversation about
climate change and the pursuit of faith communities
to become more “green” in their life and witness. The
premise of this workshop is that building both a social
consensus and an active effort to address these challenges
must be based not solely on facts but primarily on our core
values as God’s children and disciples of Jesus Christ. Those
values being: care for creation, concern for justice, and
creating a more diverse community to better reflect God’s
kingdom. Led by Rev. Dr. William Wassner and Rev. Mike
MacMillan.
Drawn together by the Holy Spirit, we are a distinct and
diverse community of Christians that come together as
one church, joining faith and action. In covenant with
the church in all of its settings, we serve God in the cocreation of a just and sustainable world as made manifest
in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Led by Edith Guffey, the
former Associate General Minister of the UCC and now the
Conference Minister for Kansas-Oklahoma, we will have a
conversation about the work, ministry, and future of our
denomination in light of our covenant.
Covenant: The Arc of Art
Using a variety of art modalities, including sound, movement, guided meditation, writing and drawing, we will
explore the nature of covenant from the inside out. Using images of covenant from scripture as they take form in our
imaginations via shapes, colors, rhymes and space, we will create our own unique images of covenant in song, story,
dance, sculpture, poetry and visual art. This is a time of sacred play! No prior artistic ability necessary. Led by the Rev.
Donna Papenhausen.
Childcare
For kids up through age 11, excellent childcare is available
without cost at the church.
Fair Trade MarketPlace
Visit the store for unique gifts and items. Your purchases
empower artisans to work and build strong families and
villages globally. 15% of all sales that weekend will go to the
Florida Conference for OCWM.