R CELEBRATE fl o r i d a

Transcription

The United Church of Christ in Florida
CELEBRATE
fl o r i d a
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2014
The Fall Gathering is Coming Soon!
by
Sammie Hartwell (UCC/New Smyrna Beach) and Terry Waldron-Wilkinson (Arlington Congregational Church/Jacksonville), Gathering Co-Chairs
R
egistration is now open for the Florida Conference Fall Gathering, to be held on Saturday, October 25, at First UCC/Orlando (4605
Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32812).
The agenda has not been finalized as it will depend largely on whether the Conference Minister Search Committee has selected a
candidate as the potential new leader for the Conference in early October. But you aren’t going to want to miss this Fall Gathering regardless!
Come to worship and praise our God together as the United Church of Christ in Florida!
Our keynote speaker will be Rev. Martin B. Copenhaver. Many of you know him for his regular contributions to
the UCC’s Still Speaking Devotionals. He is also the new president of Andover Newton Theological School and a
renowned author, pastor and speaker. His latest book, Jesus is the Question: The 307 Questions Jesus Asked and
the 3 He Answered, was just released in September.
Once again this year the registration fee for the Fall Gathering is just $35
per person (lunch included); you must go online to register at www.uccfla.
org. For those traveling from the far corners of the state we’ve arranged a
discounted rate of $79 per night at the La Quinta Inn & Suites Airport North
(7160 N. Frontage Road, Orlando, FL 32812), which is about seven miles
from the church. To get the discounted rate, call the hotel at 407/240-5000
(ext 6), and tell them you are with the Florida Conference.
Why Go to the Fall Gathering?
♦ To reconnect with UCC friends from all over Florida
♦ To hear our keynoter, Rev. Martin Copenhaver
♦ To vote on important actions from the Board of Directors
♦ To meet and greet our Acting Co-Conference Ministers, the Rev. Drs. Jim and Sandy Boler
♦ Thank Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund and release her from her duties as Western Regional Minister
♦ There is a strong possibility that you will be meeting and voting on a new Conference
Minister, but that, of course, depends on the work of the Holy Spirit!
Davida’s Farewell
Notification to the Conference
July 15, 2014
To: Rev. Phil Garrison, Moderator, Florida Conference
I write officially to notify you that I must leave my
position as Interim Conference Minister of the Florida
Conference on September 15, 2014. As you know, when
I signed on, it was originally to be for six to nine months.
By September 15, I will have been here just five weeks
shy of a year. Home is calling me and telling me I must
get back and begin to get things in order to sell my house
and make my next, as yet unknown, move. It is also the case that under IRS regulations,
a temporary job is less than a year, and I risk some financial impacts that are not fiscally
tolerable for me if I stay longer.
Truth be told, I would have loved to have stayed to see the Conference through to its new
leader. I have found among you new friends, inviting churches, and a compelling mission.
I have felt warmly welcomed everywhere I have gone, and know that there are dozens of
churches yearning to find new life and growth through the ministries of the Florida Conference. I am pleased that I could be here during a period of time when we have been able to
identify resources particularly to help smaller churches with their challenges.
continued on page 2
“Standing at the Threshold”
UNITED CHURCH
OF CHRIST
IN FLORIRIDA
FALL GATHERING
OCT 25, 2014
Special thanks to artist Connie Rodriguez
connierodriguezart.com
A Richness of
Opportunities
Your Invitation to be
Informed – Inspired – Transformed
October 4 UCC Women Retreat
(page 22)
October 8 Mental Health webinar
(page 17)
October 21-23 Retired Clergy Retreat
(page 17)
October 25 Florida Conference Fall
Gathering (page 1)
November 7-9 Fall Youth Retreat (page
26)
November 13 Dementia Care Seminar
(page 21)
November 15 “Money in Church”
seminar (page17)
Conference Minister
From page 1...
If there is any message I would share with the wider Conference, it is the urgency and the imperative of recognizing that we are
always stronger together. Because of the economy in recent years, smaller churches are far less able to give than the stronger, larger
churches, and when the giving of the latter stutters, those who suffer are the smaller churches. A Conference is only as strong as
its churches will it to be. And its churches are only as strong as the links among them all. As the Cambridge Platform of 1648 put
it, “The terme independent wee approve not.” We are bound together in Christ, with a mutual care of each other’s wellbeing when
we are at our best.
I will leave with love in my heart and gratitude in my soul for my tenure here. I believe that together we have taken some steps
toward health and strength. There is joy in my being when I know that the gifts God has given me continue to make a difference in
the life of the United Church of Christ because I know the UCC makes a difference in the world.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, Interim Conference Minister.
!
Share The
Good News
If you are not mailing us your
church newsletter or placing us
on your e-mail list to receive it,
then we can’t share your good
news with our other churches.
Send your hardcopy
newsletters to:
Celebrate Florida,
Florida Conference/
UCC, 924 N.
Magnolia Avenue,
Orlando, FL 32803;
your electronic
newsletters to
celebrateflorida@
uccfla.org.
Celebrate
FLORIDA
Published by
fl o r i d a c o n f e r e n c e
United Church of Christ
924 Magnolia Ave., Suite 250,
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 835-7501 / (800) 432-8311
www.uccfla.org
E-mail: CelebrateFlorida@uccfla.org
Acting Conference Minister
Rev. Drs. Jim and Sandy Boler
Editor: Rick Carson
Associate Editor: Tom Mitchell
Graphic Design /Layout
Sharon Bond / GreenDoorMAGs@gmail.com
2 Zoom in
Prayer Message in Conference Call
(September 3)
I
do not know a better way to say thank you than in prayer:
Behold, God, your Conference, the United Church of Christ in
Florida! Filled with life and hope, struggling at times to see the future, but faithful and strong, these Your people are a gift to one another.
I pray for them that they would discover more about each other, ways to
strengthen one another, a shared vision and shared mission for faithful
witness and ministry.
Holy One, You have given them every gift under the sun. Among them
are carpenters, film makers, lawyers, bloggers, technicians and teachers,
pastors and chaplains, CPAs and environmentalists, faculty, students and
visionaries. If only they knew each other, what a ministry of transformation
they would have in this beautiful yet troubled state.
In gratitude I lift up Your Conference staff and elected leaders and all
their giftedness and dedication. I give you thanks for each church, each
authorized minister, every member in discernment, each and every member
of all these churches, for together they make up the UCC part of the Body
of Christ in this place. Grant them a disciplined curiosity, a wild focus, a
daring to dream of the meaning of their life together!
O Good and Gracious God, as the Florida Conference awaits your Spirit’s
anointing of the one who will be their new leader, I give you thanks for
the privilege of serving among them, for I have found them a joy. Their
churches of every size have given me hope, even when they face into
trouble, for their leaders orient them toward faithfulness and toward You.
I have loved this children’s choir,
and that Big Plan, these dreams of
gardens and those determinations
to reach new people, and so much
more.
I will leave here, O loving God,
with thankfulness for the opportunity
to use my gifts to work alongside
both You and them, building a
foundation for the future. Now give
them daring, help them challenge
one another into a new way of being,
and teach them a deep hospitality for
their new leader who will minister
to this Conference in new ways for
new days.
In the name of Christ whose Body
we are! Amen.
Davida
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Elder and Master Gardener
T
he following remarks were given by Conference Moderator
Rev. Phil Garrison on Saturday, September 13 at the farewell
to Interim Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree.
Dear Davida:
You have served the Florida Conference of
the United Church of Christ with your whole
self as our Interim Conference Minister for
these past eleven months. gotten more than one email from you after
10:00 pm with a subject line something like,
“Oh, I just thought of one more thing”), your
graciousness in meeting people where we
are, your honesty about what you believe we
may yet become as the Body of Christ, and
your trust in the unimaginable extravagance
of God’s love. Thank you for bringing all of
your “Elder” self to the Florida Conference.
You brought with you your status as an “Elder” within the UCC (in the Native American
sense) by way of your years of faithful ministry
in a wide variety of settings, your relationYour leadership among us has been as a
ships all around the United States, your gift
Master
Gardener. You have loved us and
for seeing clearly and speaking directly, your
tended
who
we are, where we are. You have
passion for justice, your love of the church and
evaluated
our
soil. You have assessed our
its people, your dedication to diversity, your
wellness
and
honored
our strengths. You
commitment to financial fundamentalism, your
have
challenged
us
to
deepen roots and
ease with the words needed to craft policies
grow
branches
so
as
to strengthen our
and procedures, your sense of humor,
covenantal
relationship
as individuals
your practice of transparency, your
within
churches,
as
churches
within
fidelity with the earth and the atthe
Conference,
and
as
a
Conference
tendant responsibility to sustain the
within the denomination. You have
environment, your daring to dream
suggested where we are in need of
the dreams, your articulation of
a bit of fertilizing. You have identihope, your skill at assessment, your
fied where we are parched. You have
appreciation of history in terms of
taught us about life in the shade and
how we got to where we are and what
life in the full sun. You have encourwe need to do/be from here, your
aged us to weed with discipline. You
prophetic and pastoral life-of-prayer,
have planted seeds for both our nouryour Swamp Yankee Farmer work
ishment and beauty. You have taught
ethic, the story of your “call to minus that care for each other requires
istry” when you were an adolescent
care for the world.
at Silver Lake, your stories of David
As you return to Connecticut, you
as the unpolished-gem-love-of-yourwill yet be with us through all you
life-with-a-magnificent-voice, your
Ron and Dana Cross, members of the
have tended, touched, inspired, and
journey with cancer, your delight in the
former
University Congregational Church,
hoped. We are grateful! personality and antics of Heidi-the-cat,
with Davida at her September 13 farewell
your fearlessness, your capacity at comThank you Elder, Master Gardener,
celebration, where Davida received parting
munication during the day and late into
Davida
Foy Crabtree.
gifts from the Conference and friends.
the night (I think several of us may have
Thank You, Davida
Susan Cheney, Past Moderator of the Florida Conference
first met Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree in July 2013 at General Synod in Long Beach. It was a chance encounter -- just a hello,
nice to meet you, enjoy the week. Nothing more than that. Little did I know that she would eventually become the Interim
Conference Minister of the Florida Conference!
Davida applied for the position of Florida Interim, having recently served as Interim in another conference. The search team
accepted her application along with those of others interested in the exciting experience of serving in the Florida Conference.
Telephone interviews and prayer led the search team to recommend Davida to the position. The Board of Directors approved
extending Davida an invitation to serve, and she accepted without hesitation.
Davida hit the ground running! She is by far the most amazing workaholic I have ever met. She knows nearly every soul connected to every UCC Conference and beyond. Her expertise in business management, staff management, relationship building
and overall love of anything UCC is both admirable and contagious. Davida challenges herself every day, and she brings out the
best in everyone with whom she has contact.
continued on page 4
I
3
Conference Minister
From page 3..
There were lots of complicated issues to tackle when Davida arrived. She faced
every issue, every problem and every challenge head on. Davida never shirked any
task, and she embraced each day with joy and great anticipation. Davida is a “Let’s
get this done” kind of leader. She never found any obstacle or road block impossible
to overcome. What Davida has accomplished as the Florida Interim Conference
Minister is beyond amazing. Many of us don’t know what goes on during those
day-to-day events that consume and, at times, overwhelm a Conference Minister.
Davida took on everything thrown her way … and then some.
As the Moderator of the Florida Conference during the majority of time Davida
served, I can’t imagine anyone else who would have fit into the job as beautifully as
she did. She guided and directed the Conference during our transitional time with
relentless energy, an admirable tenacity and a blessed grace. Davida has provided
the leadership and guidance our Conference needed, and she embraced the Florida
Conference with joy and dedication.
It was an honor and privilege to work with Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree. She
was a treasure to the Florida Conference, a guide, a mentor and collaborator with
me and the Board of Directors, and she became my friend. We owe Davida our
gratitude and blessings for a job well done, “you good and faithful servant.”
August 18, 2014
Dear Sisters and Brothers of the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ,
Peace to you and grace on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Conference.
You have received Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree’s announcement of her resignation as our Interim Conference Minister
effective September 15, 2014.
On August 15, the Board of Directors selected Rev. Dr. Jim and Rev. Dr. Sandy Boler to jointly serve as our Acting Conference Minister while the Search Committee for the Conference Minister completes its work of selecting a candidate to present
to us. The Bolers will begin their work on September 8, allowing for a week of overlap transition.
Jim and Sandy are well known leaders within the Florida Conference. They grew up in the upper Midwest and met a Macalester College in St. Paul. Jim earned his M.Div. at Chicago Theological Seminary. Sandy’s M.R.E. and M. Div. are also
from CTS. Jim served local churches in Oak Lawn, IL, and Fargo Moorhead (ND/MN). They also separately served two
local churches in the St. Louis area.
In 1988 Jim was called to serve the Florida Conference as Associate Conference Minister. Sandy was the organizing pastor
for the new church start Faith UCC in Bradenton. Then she was called to be Associate Minister at Sanibel UCC. During these
years they each earned their D.Min. degrees from Eden. Sandy served on the Conference Church and Ministry Committee.
Jim continued as ACM and served as Acting Conference Minister for 4 months in 2004. From 2005 to 2009 when they retired,
Jim and Sandy served together in the same church for the first time. The Bolers are members of Ft. Myers Congregational
UCC. They have two children and three young grandchildren living in Charlotte, NC, and Naples, FL.
The Florida Conference has been richly blessed by Davida’s service as our Interim Conference Minister. In her written report
to the Board of Directors last Friday, Davida included these words: My overall assessment of your Conference is that you are on
your way to health…I believe financial matters are clearer now than when I started, and we have put into place a series of policies to guide you into the future in many respects. However, there is plenty remaining to be done….More and more the people
of the Florida Conference must develop their shared life and be significantly less staff dependent than has been your history.
This is not true only here, but all across the church. Perhaps this is a moment in which the Holy Spirit is moving to revive our
old sense of covenant. A yearning is an awful thing to waste!” I agree! Davida has challenged and inspired the Board of Directors to be thoughtful in our deliberations and courageous in our leadership of the Conference during this transforming time.
You are invited to a time of bidding Davida farewell on Saturday, September 13. We will gather at noon at 9300 University,
Orlando, for this event. Our purpose that day will be to express our thanks to Davida and to wish her well.
Thank you for your prayers for Davida, for the Bolers, for the Search Committee and their candidates, for each of the
churches and ministers of the Conference, for our remarkable staff, and for the Board of Directors.
Sincerely,
Phil Garrison, Moderator
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Conference Minister
A Model of Ministry
Rev. Drs. Jim and Sandy Boler
Acting Co-Conference Ministers
R
ecently we drove past the Taco Bell on East Colonial Drive in Orlando
where in 2001 the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) kicked off what
has now become the world renowned Campaign for Fair Food.
Our own UCC Florida Conference Board of Directors brought a resolution to the
UCC General Synod in Kansas City that summer, and on July 17, 2001, the UCC
General Synod passed the “RESOLUTION: SUPPORT OF THE COALITION
OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS BOYCOTT OF TACO BELL.” The UCC was the
first national denomination to support the boycott, and this Conference took the
leadership role in that.
Today Taco Bell is part of the Fair Food agreements with 11 other multi-billion dollar food retailers establishing more humane farm labor
standards and fairer wages for farmworkers. Right here in Florida the CIW has led a major transformation of what was a plantation-style agricultural industry in Florida’s tomato fields [see www.ciw-online.org].
Many of our congregations and clergy are very familiar with the CIW and supportive of its mission. But the CIW is not just a mission: it is
also a Model of Ministry.
We have been there in Immokalee and on the picket lines around this state
from Tallahassee to Miami as the Coalition has emerged as a force for change.
And we have seen this group of “nobodies” impact the lives of so many.
How does the Coalition do it? Here is some of what we see. You apply this
in your own congregation.
1. Everyone in the CIW is a leader
That is not just a motto of the CIW. There are two key founders of the group, but you might
not pick them out when the Coalition gathers. Each year new leaders are identified and trained
and then put out front. And they are male and female, young and old. Everyone in the Coalition is an active farmworker; even those who work in the office.
2. CIW is a community with a mission.
Every Wednesday night the Coalition gathers in Immokalee. Meetings are in Spanish, Creole and sometimes English. Everyone in the town is invited. This is a time to learn about and
train for the mission. Every time we have attended we were warmly welcomed. The group
continues to focus on its core mission.
3. Members of the Coalition do their homework.
We have learned so much about how our lives in America are shaped by major corporations
from being at Coalition events. We have learned about the exploitation of workers and the
slave trade going on in our own backyards. And we have learned about the power we have
as consumers.
4. The Coalition is non-violent.
At the large march through Miami to the headquarters of Burger King a few years ago, we heard the Miami police comment on what
a well-behaved group we were. This in large part because the Coalition always has trained parade marshals. When there is a heckler or
someone who is trying to provoke a response, the Coalition has a non-violent response to deescalate the situation.
5. The Coalition is a movement with institutional characteristics, not
an institution with movement characteristics.
With all the international recognition, the CIW remains an accessible,
humble community with a modest office building. But it makes terrific
use of a low frequency FM radio station and social media to support its
mission. It builds many networks of support. And it keeps the CIW community center and offices clean.
We invite you to visit the Coalition or join a public action in your area.
But don’t just go to support a justice mission -- go to learn how to build a
community and lead a movement. The church of Jesus Christ could learn
a lot at the CIW.
Conference Minister Rev. Kent Siladi presents check to CIW reps at
Synod 29 in Tampa in 2011.
5
Board of Directors
The Conference Minister Search Committee
continues its discernment and hopes to have an announcement soon. Thanks to all for prayers for the Committee and its work.
Meet the Florida Conference United Church of Christ
Conference Minister Search Committee
2013 - 2014
Rev. Dr. Bruce Havens, Co-Chair
Ed Pritchett, Co-Chair
Member, First Congregational UCC, Orange City
9 year Florida resident, 45 years in the UCC
Retired Fortune 500 company (marketing/sales)
Local Church experiences: Mission Board,
Council Member
Conference and beyond: Board member (6 yrs.)
Vice Moderator, Southern Regional Conferences
Collaborative Conversation Group, Chaired
Conference Bylaws Revision Committee
Rev. Dr. Guillermo
Marquez-Sterling
Susan Cheney
Member, Congregational UCC,
Punta Gorda
Florida resident for 16 years,
UCC since childhood
Retired educator
Local Church Experience: Moderator,
Leadership Team, Bylaws Revision
Conference: Past Moderator, General
Synod delegate
Associate Pastor, Congregational UCC,
Coral Gables
Florida born, Ordained in the UCC in
1997
Conference: Board of Directors,
General Synod delegate
Rev. Eileen Norrington
Member, Hope UCC, Rockledge
Florida resident for 10 years, UCC for
39 years
Retired US Navy Chaplain
Conference and beyond: Past Vice
Moderator, National staff Parish Life
and Leadership
6 Pastor, Arlington Congregational Church, UCC,
Jacksonville
Serving this congregation for 15 years, UCC since
confirmation
Conference: Co-chair, Conference Minister Search
Committee
Rev. Vonshelle Beneby
Rev. Dr. Kathy Rooke
Member, New Smyrna Beach UCC
Chaplain, Vitas Innovative Hospice
Care - Volusia-Flagler Counties - 4-Way
Covenant since 2009
Florida native
Conference: General Synod delegate,
Church and Ministry Committee, ONA
Consultant
Founding Pastor, Faith Family UCC,
Tampa
Florida resident for 10 years, UCC since
2011
Conference: Board of Directors,
General Synod delegate
Terri Crawford
Rev. Bill Klossner
Member, Fort Myers Congregational
UCC
Florida resident for 13 years, UCC since
childhood
Deputy Director, Lee County Library
System
Local Church Experience:
Stewardship Chair, Bd. Of Finance,
Choir member/soloist, Women’s Book
Discussion leader
Conference: Florida UCC Women Bd .
Member and ‘Reading for Renewal’
Chair
Retired Pastor (June, 2014),
Congregational UCC, Punta Gorda
Sr. Chaplain, Punta Gorda PD
Florida resident for 26 years,
UCC since childhood
Conference: Past Moderator, General
Synod delegate (x4), UCBWM, served
Wisconsin Conference congregations
for 13 years, World Council of Churches
CWME
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Dr. Mary Nutter, PhD.
Member, United Church of Gainesville
Florida resident since 1978,
Retired Administrator
Local Church Experience: Moderator
Conference: New Church Start
Committee, Planning Team leader for
General Synod 28 in 2011
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Board of Directors
Dr. Lund Accepts a New Call
T
he Board of Directors has received the following letter of resignation from the
Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund. We are sorry to see her leave but excited about this new opportunity for ministry she has accepted.
At our Fall Gathering, we as a Conference will thank Sarah for her ministry and release
her from her duties as the Western Regional Minister. Her last day with us is Saturday,
November 1.
Watch for information about how the Western Region will be covered as we await a
new Conference Minister.
September 8, 2014
Dear Rev. Phil Garrison, Moderator of the Florida Conference
This message comes to you in the spirit of Christian faith, hope, and love. In January of 2013, I had the honor and privilege of joining the Florida Conference staff as
Regional Minister for the Western Region. During my time serving in this role I have come to know
and admire the depth of dedication, gifts, and passion our lay leaders and ministers have for the United Church of Christ. It’s
been a joy to work alongside such faithful servants of Christ’s mission. Even in the most challenging moments, together we
have looked toward what God would have us do for God’s glory and the good of the people.
It is now time for me to move on in my ministry into a new call and a new setting. My last day serving the Florida Conference will be November 1, 2014. Shortly afterwards I will begin serving as Vice President of Christian Theological Seminary
in Indianapolis, Indiana. I will be part of the President’s Leadership team with specific oversight of Seminary Advancement. I
am excited about this ministry opportunity and my family is looking forward to snow and new adventures!
I trust that in this time of transition we will continue to be led by the Holy Spirit’s grace and abiding love. I remain forever
grateful for all I have experienced and learned among you all. You have made me a better person and you have shown me the
face of God. May the Still Speaking God guide you into this exciting new chapter in the life of the Florida Conference.
Blessings and peace, Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund
Candace Younglove Recovering
O
n September 17 Candace Younglove, Florida Conference UCC Administrative Assistant in the
Orlando office, had knee replacement surgery. Candy reports that she is doing well and that her
goal is to be back in the office before the three months the surgeon predicts. She is the only full
time support staff person in the Conference office and she is greatly missed.
Dave Cyril and Beth Shedden have kindly adjusted their part-time schedules to have the office open weekdays from 9am-4:30pm (10:30am-4:30pm on Thursday). In the meantime we are asking all the leaders of the
Conference and our congregations to help by getting materials to the office in a timely manner and helping
us make sure nothing important falls between the cracks while Candy is out. Check the Florida Conference
website (www.uccfla.org) first to find answers to your questions. And watch for our new website this month,
which has been slightly delayed because of the staff transitions. Thank You.
Reports of Progress and Streamlining
T
his spring and summer at your Conference office have included significant time by staff and volunteers in streamlining
the retention of records and materials. Much, much more remains to be done, but a lot has been accomplished:
Duplicates have been eliminated from storage and from files.
All fitness review files have been reduced to the required single copy of every document related to the review, and every file has
been sealed or resealed. Every fund of the Conference and the Endowment has been researched to verify that all funds are being
used according to the original donor’s intent or according to the restrictions voted by the Board. Copies of the original documents,
when available, have been compiled into a single place for easy reference in the future.
Old resources no longer relevant to today’s church have been disposed of and newer resources are easier to find.
One task we would love some assistance with is the scanning and digitizing of records that are no longer needed in hard copy.
What a gift it would be if some of you would offer yourselves to undertake that! With the Conference office currently shorthanded,
volunteer help would be greatly appreciated.
R
egistration for the October 25 Fall Gathering is ONLY on-line. Please go to the
Conference website to register (www.uccfla.org). If you need assistance, first
check with your Pastor and/or church office staff. If they are unable to help,
call 407/835-8311 or 800/432-8311 and ask for Dave Cyril.
7
Board of Directors
the sale of a Conference-owned property in Davie. The Search
Committee for our next called Conference Minister is entering
into the interview phase of their process. They are excited about
their candidates.
We are family in the Florida Conference. It is my hope, sisters
and brothers, that in the months before us we will encounter a
moment -- or better yet, many of them -- when we are overcome
with the joy (mirth and madness) of God’s extravagant love for
us, for our churches, for our Conference, for our denomination,
for all the people of the world and for our fragile Earth.
Rev. Phil Garrison
St. Andrew UCC/Sarasota
Moderator’s Musings:
The Mirth and Madness of God’s
Extravagant Love
Will you join me in four practices that can lead us to such joy?
I
n doing some reading on-line about the lectionary texts for
Sunday, September 28, I came across a Frederick Buechner
blog related to Psalm 25:1-7.
There is a quote there from his novel,
Godric, about a 12th century saint
who perceived of himself as more
earthly than saintly. In the quote,
Godric is remembering the “mirth
and madness of the time he waded
into the River Jordan and came out
soaked and dripping wet, never ever
to be the Godric that waded in.”
Many of us have not had a singular
transforming moment of such mirth
and madness -- but all of us can look
back to a time when the world shifted
and we were never the same again.
Sometimes that shift was personal.
Sometimes it was familial. Sometimes it was organizational. Sometimes it was global.
Yearn: Pray for yourself, pray for your church, pray for the three
UCC churches that are closest to yours, pray for the Conference.
Sing: Allow yourself to hum the tune or chant the words of your
hope for the church in this particular
time of transition.
Commit: Give of yourself in service
to the poor and the hungry, the lonely
and the bereft, the oppressed and imprisoned. And give to the “Friends of
the Florida Conference.”
Show up: Bring your precious,
beautiful, one-of-a-kind self to the
Fall Gathering of the Conference in
Orlando on October 25.
Here is my prayer for us as adapted
from a Buechner prayer attributed to
Godric:
O
We are in such a time of transition in the Florida Conference.
Yes we are.
Davida has returned to Connecticut. The Bolers have graciously agreed to serve as our Acting Interim Conference Ministers.
Sarah Lund has accepted a Call to her next ministry as Vice
President of Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.
Plans for rehabilitation of the buildings and grounds of 9300
University are progressing. We are very close to closing on
God who asks much of those
to whom you have given much,
have mercy. Remember us not for the ill we have done but for
the good we have dreamed. Help us not to just be the old and
foolish ones you see now but once again see us as the foolish
ones who stepped from the River Jordan never to be the same
again. Help us in whatever ways you can, oh Holy One. You
have asked of us who are the Florida Conference of the United
Church of Christ to be the seed, the star, the yeast, the salt, the
beacon in covenant with each other. May we be these ones. In
your name we pray. Amen
Delighted to be family with you…
God as the Great Jokester
A
colleague from our days in St. Louis, when hearing that we
are now the Acting Co-Conference Ministers wrote, “Isn’t it
funny what the Great Jokester does to us now and then.” And
we thought of Sarah laughing (Genesis 18:12).
We were surprised by the invitation to serve the Florida Conference
at this time in history. And we were then shocked when we said Yes!
Our thanks to the leaders of the Conference for this opportunity and
to all for the warm welcome we have received. We look forward to
being with as many of you as possible at the Fall Gathering (October
25 in Orlando) as we recognize the ending of the Authorized Ministry
of the Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund as Western Regional Minister and -- God
willing -- extend a Call to our next Conference Minister.
Grace and Peace,
Sandy and Jim Boler
Acting Co-Conference Ministers
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Sandy and Jim at
Davida’s farewell
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Board of Directors
University Property Committee Report
Rev. Dr. Bill Wealand
9300 University Property Committee Chairperson
by
T
he Board of Directors received the interim recommendation of
the 9300 Property Team (formerly the Office Location Committee) at its meeting on August 15. Again we give thanks for
University Congregational/Orlando’s legacy gift to the Conference as
we proceed to consider option possibilities for developing the former
church located at 9300 University Boulevard. This includes as a Life
Long Learning Center for the Conference along with other purposes
such as a potential site for a new church start. Further the Board agrees
that developing the facility to the maximum extent possible as an environmentally sustainable site is a high priority and encourages each
decision be made in that context. The Committee was given approval to
proceed with deferred maintenance items and move ahead to renovate
the property to accommodate Conference staff/offices.
The 9300 Property Team is in the process of interviewing roofing contractors, HVAC contractors, general contractors and energy conservation consultants to receive proposals and recommendations. The Committee has filed
an application
seeking an
energy conservation incentive grant. A “plan of action” is being
developed and work should begin in the near future.
Of particular importance initially are efforts being made to
modify the design of the roof in order to insure complete water
drainage, increase the level of insulation rating and provide
for the installation of a new reflective roof. The current HVAC
systems and equipment are old, inefficient, dysfunctional and in
need of repair or replacement. Recommendations and estimates
are anticipated by the first week of October.
The 9300 Property Committee will be seeking volunteers to
help with the removal of some out-buildings and some interior
walls. If your church has a group willing to assist, special dates
will be arranged to meet your preference. Dates will be scheduled for those who are willing to join with volunteers from other
churches to assist in the renovation projects.
For additional information, please me at 352/406-4484 or
BWealand@uccfla.org.
9
Being Church
Reaping and Sewing
S
everal months ago Melanie Goff from Hope UCC/Rockledge
was attending a local social work event. As she sat through the
day-long event, she was crocheting a scarf for the UCC Boston
Marathon Scarf Project. Another social worker approached her, asking
about the scarf and Melanie’s crocheting abilities. Melanie was asked if
she would like to make blankets, hats, mittens and booties for Holmes
Regional Medical Center’s Neo Intensive Care Unit in Melbourne. Melanie felt it was a God-driven meeting of the two social workers and took
this as an opportunity to create a mission to meet the needs of grieving
parents of non-surviving newborn infants and late term miscarriages.
The women of Hope UCC soon formed a Blanket Mission. It didn’t
take long to create over 40 items desperately needed for the neo-intensive
care unit’s babies and parents. Some women -- who could not crochet,
knit or sew the articles -- washed and packaged each individual item.
Some women taught others to knit and crochet. The first dedication and delivery was done three months ago, and since
then the Blanket Mission continues. They continue to knit, crochet and sew the delicate, teeny, tiny items with prayer in
their hearts and hands. Pastor Rev. Clarice Mitchell will dedicate the next delivery of blankets, hats, mittens and booties
this coming December. Be Brave. Lose the Beige encourages women to discover and nurture their creative
spirits. The group believes a creative act is a spiritual act and members look for
opportunities in their daily lives to find creative solutions to enhance their lives and
those of others. The following is an application of this intention by Jackie Sorensen,
one of the founders of Be Brave. Lose the Beige.
Wisdom’s Daughters: Growing in Spirit
by Jackie
Sorensen, First Congregational Church/Winter Park
O
n September 7, First Congregational Church/Winter Park (FCCWP) “launched”
its fall programming. As if on fertile ground, many exciting new opportunities have
“sprung up” for adults in our congregation, including a course of study created for one of
our women’s groups: Wisdom’s Daughters.
Wisdom’s Daughters is a group of over 20 women who have embarked on both an
individual and collective journey of spiritual growth using Joyce Rupp’s The Cup of Our
Life as a guide. After choosing a common coffee or tea cup to remind us that our “personal
transformation occurs in the common crevices of each day,” we will proceed over six
weeks to focus on different aspects of our cup as a metaphor of our spiritual growth. With the intention of drawing ever nearer
to God’s presence and of realizing the wholeness of who God calls us
to be, we examine our cup’s emptiness or fullness, its brokenness, flaws
and boundaries and its blessings and openness to quenching our spiritual
thirst. We support each other in developing a mindful spiritual practice,
which includes book study, breathprayer, scripture readings, reflections,
journaling and opportunities for creative expression. As we join together
to review each week of our study, we offer fellowship and encouragement to each other and contribute our ideas, experiences, traditions and
resources to enhance our journey.
In the fertile ground of FCCWP seeds of spiritual growth have been
sown and are flourishing.
Liz Kitchens and Jackie Sorensen (members of First Congregational
Church/Winter Park) are the founders of Be Brave. Lose the Beige.
They conduct workshops and retreats focusing on relevant issues facing
Lady Boomers (women of the Baby Boomer generation).They welcome
women to become a part of their Be Brave. Lose the Beige community
(they are quite inclusive, however, of all age categories). Click here to
join the mailing list -- http://tinyurl.com/m8qtefu or visit their website
at http://www.bebravelosethebeige.com. E-mail them at losethebeige@
gmail.com for more information.
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Being Church
From A to Z
By Dr. Ron Morgan
Director of Music Ministries,
Coral Gables Congregational
UCC
Over the summer months, all
members of Coral Gables Congregational UCC were invited
to participate in a series of nine
gatherings which we called Solfest.
These summer gatherings were
an opportunity to gather as a
church family over some food,
fun and fellowship.
The agenda was simple: to
come and enjoy! Pastor Rev. Dr.
Laurie Hafner and her family
were the hosts and all SOLFESTS were held at their home across from the church. To close the loop on people saying “no,”
all dietary preferences -- from vegan to gluten-free -- were addressed and child care was provided. As our folks introduced
themselves to those gathered, one of our members said, “I probably come from the most unusual place. I’m from Albania.”
The women who followed him said, “Maybe I’ve got you beat. I’m from Kyrgyzstan.”
Through these summer gatherings, we all gained a deepened appreciation for the people of Gables UCC and the life journeys
that brought folks to our diverse and beloved congregation.
Outreach to Hospitalized Kids
T
here is a new ministry outreach at Faith Family UCC/Tampa, which
began in August for the children at St. Joseph’s Children Hospital in
Tampa. One of the church’s congregants has a grandson, A.J., with stage
four neuroblastoma and the congregation has shared his journey with updates
from his grandmother, church members feel particularly close to the boy.
When they learned he was being admitted to hospice, Faith Family wanted to
do something for him and the other children at St. Joseph’s with whom he has
spent so much time these past two years. The grandmother, Kim Ressler, checked
with the nursing staff at the hospital and they suggested that the church donate
prizes for the children’s treasure chest.
After a procedure, each child or teen chooses
something from the treasure chest as a reward for
the successful completion of the procedure.
More and more items keep coming to the church
each week for this rewarding ministry.
A.J.’s cousin Logan with
grandmother Kim.
Clueless! That’s how many churches feel as they
contemplate how to express gratitude to their Pastor and
Teacher during Pastor Appreciation Month each October.
Here is one suggestion. Ask those who are willing to
pick up an envelope addressed to the Pastor. An instruction note invites each church member to write and mail a
personal note of encouragement and appreciation to the
Pastor during the month -- not an e-mail but if possible
a handwritten thank you for the Pastor’s ministry to you
and the congregation.
11
Being Church
The Sounds of Om
and Silence
M
ore and more of our Florida
churches are offering opportunities for members and those in their
communities to engage in the practices of yoga
and meditation.
Recently, St. Andrew UCC/Sarasota decided to provide the experience of chair yoga: with
the support of the chair and simple modifications, yoga becomes available to everyone (and
appeals to those who cannot see themselves in
those pretzel shapes you find on the cover of
the fitness magazines). Church member Julie
Moore (RYT-200) will begin offering chair
yoga on Friday mornings for a free will offering. She believes the practice provides physical
benefits -- such as increased strength, flexibility
and balance – while also improving digestion
9/11 Remembrance Tea
B
eta Sigma Phi (the international women’s social, cultural and service
organization) and First Congregational Church/Lake Helen cosponsored a Remembrance Tea on Saturday, September 13, remembering the fallen from 9/11 and their families and honoring present day heroes.
Rev. Frank Faine conducted a brief memorial
service in the Sanctuary
and members of the local Great Expectations
Men’s Chorus provided
patriotic music. The ladies of Beta Sigma Phi
prepared and served food
and beverages at the Tea
in Shalom House, the
Renewal and Retreat
Center adjacent to the
church. Church members
provided a brief history of the 125 year-old
congregation prior to
the service. Members
of the crew from Volusia
County Fire Services
Station 35 brought a fire
truck to the event.
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and sleep and being both relaxing and energizing. The union of mind, body and spirit can also
enrich one’s faith tradition. St. Andrew is also
offering a Friday 10am mindfulness meditation
practice – a period of stillness, quiet, peace and
transformation as participants sit and become
focused through a centering reading or guided
imagery followed by 20-25 minutes in quiet
meditation.
A couple sessions on meditation were held
at First Congregational Church/Winter Park in
mid-September, led by church member Chuck
Fiandaca, a former Franciscan priest and retreat
director. He led an exploration of the history,
tradition and practice of meditation and how
it can help an individual enrich his/her prayer
life, manage emotions, increase concentration,
reduce blood pressure, manage stress – all to
live everyday life more effectively.
Print
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Being Church
International Day of Peace at New Smyrna Beach
T
he World Peace labyrinth, designed by Paxworks, was a featured part of the International Day of Peace annual observance on Sunday, September 21, at the UCC/New Smyrna Beach. International Day of Peace is a United Nations event
dedicated to the hope that some day violent conflict will end everywhere on the globe.
As usual, this year’s events welcomed everyone who believes peace is the path to healing for our world, including representatives of various spiritual traditions. Everything about the 2014 observance was participation-oriented, including a drum circle,
lighting of candles and hanging prayer flags in memory of those damaged by war or simply as an expression of hope that peace
will prove possible.
A meditation space was designated and, of course, many walked the labyrinth, which was provided by Kathryn McLean and
Sharon Meehan of Jacksonville. Walking the labyrinth is a spiritual practice that tends to the spirit, the psyche and the body. For
thousands of years people across faith traditions and cultures have found the practice to be helpful and meaningful.
Back to the Joisey
Shore
A
lucky number of 13 members of Pass-a-Grille
Beach Community Church/St. Pete Beach
traveled to New Jersey – as a group did last
summer – to work for five days on seven homes impacted by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Locations were
in the areas around Sea Girt and Tom’s River. One
contingent dry-walled, mudded, sanded and painted.
Another installed hurricane windows in a home
where a young woman, who was seriously injured
in a car accident, lives with her parents. Others
tasks included digging up blacktop, installing tile,
landscaping and digging up a huge tree stump.
Wake-up was 6:30am and the work hours went
from 8am-4pm on each of the days, eating quick
lunches of sandwiches and salads prepared at
Point Pleasant Beach Presbyterian Church, where
the volunteers stayed. Dinners were courtesy of the church
and a second church across the street or taken at local restaurants.
Despite getting dirty each day and returning to the church
totally drained, fun times were enjoyed by all. Lights out
ranged anywhere from 8-10pm, depending on the “giggle”
level (just like teenage sleepovers).
The group departed, exhausted but grateful for the opportunity, which was underscored by running into a man
who remembered some of the PAG members who worked
repairing his house last year.
13
Across Florida
I
n “Across Florida” our intent is to share with you what is happening
at our 90+ churches throughout the state. It is obvious from
these entries that there is an exciting vibrancy evident within our
congregations. This energy is making a decisive difference in the
lives of congregation members and the communities in which they are
located while also touching the lives of strangers in far away places.
Through this sharing, you can learn about innovative ideas, creative
outreach and stimulating ministry, some of which might be adapatable
within your own congregation. See something that catches your eye
or brings a smile to your face? If an idea sounds good and you’d like
more information about what they’re doing, contact that church.
We’ve singled out a few of these with the following symbol
bright
ideas that you might want to let shine in your own church.
Port Orange UCC assembled 20 Church World Service
School Kits with hand-sewn bags. Here’s one example (the
bags were made by Louise Egan). In the words
of Pastor Rev. Dr. Bill
Wassner, “It was a pleasure to do this mission on
behalf of God’s children.”
Closer to home the church
partnered with a local
elementary school with
a “Sneaker for Students”
project in order to provide
appropriate footwear and
clothing to in-need kids
for their phys ed classes.
A check for $600 was presented to the school and
covered the cost of seven
pair of sneakers plus some
clothing.
A panel discussion on illegal immigration was held at United Community Church/Sun
City Center on September 17. Topics covered included open
borders, economic ramifications and amnesty. The panel was
Peace Sunday
R
ev. Drew Willard, Pastor of The UCC at The Villages,
suggests congregations consider dedicating their second
Sunday in Advent to interfaith outreach when we as Christians
light the candle for “Peace.” He offers that Protestant liturgy has
the flexibility to include the simultaneous participation of Jewish and Muslim clergy for a service of worship that is Christian
and celebrates diversity. He has prepared a suggested outline
of worship to share with those who are interested. Contact him
at 352/446-5323 or uccatvoffice@aol.com for a copy or more
information.
14 Zoom in
composed of individuals knowledgeable about the issue who are
instructors at the church-sponsored Community Church College.
The $22,000, which was raised by Rev. Dr. John Danner (Senior
Pastor at Sanibel Congregational UCC) on his fundraising bike
ride from Fort Lauderdale to Key West last summer, has been translated into the purchase of 220 wheelchairs through the Wheelchair
Foundation. Half were sent to Guatemala and in mid-September Dr.
John traveled to Trinidad with his grandson, Zack, and two fellow
Rotarians to deliver the remainder. The project was co-sponsored
by the Sanibel church and the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club.
Life Line Screening had a mobile health testing unit
at Venice UCC on August 13 to offer screenings for
stroke, heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms,
peripheral arterial disease and osteoporosis. Fingerstick blood tests were also made available for cholesterol,
glucose and liver enzymes…. With flu season upon us, the
United Church in Tallahassee is making flu shots available
to those who might not get one due to cost, lack of insurance
and so forth. Pastor Rev. Nan Dahlberg provides you with the
secret password to use at the nearby Walgreen’s!
The Stetson University Concert Choir Fall Retreat took place
at First Congregational Church/Lake Helen on Saturday,
August 30. Timothy Peter, director of choral activities at Stetson
University, led the students in a time of team building and music
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Across Florida
BOOKS
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kid. (First
Congregational Church/Winter Park)
Jesus -- the Human Face of God by Jay Parini and The
Shipping News by Annie Proulx (Windermere Union
Church)
Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop
Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture by John Shelby Spong
(Faith UCC/Dunedin)
Making Sense of the Bible by Adam Hamilton (Pass-aGrille Beach Community UCC/St. Pete Beach)
The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible
by Charles Eisenstein (First United Church of Tampa)
ten days after the start of fall term classes. Students voiced their
appreciation for a home-cooked lunch prepared by the women of
the church and sang a special song thanking them for their hospitality. At 3pm the students presented a free performance open to the
community followed by cookies and lemonade.
Members of Faith UCC/Dunedin have taken on a mission
project to help area homeless persons. Volunteers will be serving
lunch and dinner meals at least one day a month for the Homeless
Emergency Project in nearby Clearwater as a charitable outreach
of Everybody’s Tabernacle. About 150 people are served two meals
a day at the facility.
The “Wednesday Night Live” offering continues at First
Congregational Church/Winter Park. The evening
includes dinner and fellowship followed by classes and
then closing prayer. The class opportunities on September 24, for
instance, were: Reflection & Exploration (a.k.a. Bible study) –
Learning to Meditate; Health & Wholeness – Yoga; Creative –
Where Do You find Those Great Ideas on the Computer?; and a
Kids Club for ages 4 and up.
Q
T
B
LG
The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate and A Place at the
Table: A Novel by Susan Rebecca White (Hope UCC/
Rockledge)
Hot Dogs & Hamburgers: Unlocking Life’s Potential by
Inspiring Literacy at Any Age by Rob Shindler (Sanibel
Congregational UCC) An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor (Congregational UCC/Punta Gorda)
DISCUSSION
“Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door: The History of the
Jehovah’s Witnesses, Part I” and “The Life and Thought
of Henri Nouwen” (Sanibel Congregational UCC) DVD series “Soul Keeping” narrated by John Orthberg
(Windermere Union Church)
“Painting the Stars: Exploring the promise of Evolutionary Christian Spirituality” (Arlington Congregational
Church/Jacksonville)
Book of Acts (Union Congregational Church/West
Palm Beach)
Books of I & II Corinthians (First Congregational
Church/Fort Lauderdale)
Covenant Bible Study series (Pass-a-Grille Beach Community UCC/St. Pete Beach)
U P D A T E
Faith Family LGBT Outreach
into the Community
F
aith Family UCC/Tampa had a table at the University of South Florida’s Office of
Multicultural Affairs fall 2014 LGBTQ and Allies Ice Cream Social in August. For
the past several years, FFUCC has “tabled” at this event so that students know they
are not alone on their journey of faith. This semester Joe Ebbing and Kindell Workman
(pictured) handed out rainbow bookmarks and candy as well as about 80 brochures detailing information on the UCC and Faith Family UCC. They answered students’ questions and
shared their stories about Faith Family and the UCC. Since this event, the church has had a
number of students attend services and the church is delighted that the word has gone out:
“Whoever you are or wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
The congregation’s “Bingo for Others” events have been held throughout the year over the past
three years to benefit local nonprofits doing good in the greater Tampa Bay area (and sometimes
beyond). Each event raises monies for the designated partner nonprofit by giving them 100% of the admission. Gift baskets are donated
by Faith Family congregants, who also cook and serve refreshments at each bingo. The “Bingo for Others” event held on September 13
benefited PFLAG Tampa, and over $300 was raised.
15
Across Florida
Build It...
A
and they will come
fter a long delay awaiting approval requiring the
installation of drainage pipes, grading and laying
in of culverts and pavers proceeded and Sanibel
Congregational UCC finally has its new parking lot. The
final cost was in the neighborhood of $15,000, contributed
by church members, a discretionary use donation and its
endowment fund.
Refinishing the floors in Fellowship Hall at First Congregational Church/Winter Park was completed in September
at a cost of about $11,000 contributed by church members.
A major project facing Faith UCC/Dunedin involved its
doors. The large front doors were not up to fire code because
they lacked panic bars, not up to hurricane standards, were incredibly energy inefficient and let in water. The newly installed
doors are fully up to code, allow more filtered sunlight into
the Gathering Space and back room. A couple more challenges
are on the To-Do list but everyone is excited at the progress
being made.
Gulf Coast
clergy gathering
for lunch during
September
M
Miss Seeing News About Your Church?
aybe we aren’t receiving your newsletter (hard copy or online version.) Whatever the reason, let’s fix it!
For your online newsletter, add us to your mailing list: Celebrateflorida@uccfla.org or snail mail your hard copy version to:
Celebrate Florida, Florida Conference UCC, 924 N. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803.
And always know that you can send us info whenever the spirit moves you and we’ll find a place for it in the next issue (send it to
celebrateflorida@uccfla.org).
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Opportunities
Retired Clergy
Retreat
You’re Only Old Once –
The Art of Aging
T
he three day Gathering of retired clergy,
partners and spouses will be held on October 21-23 at the El Caribe Beachfront
Resort in Daytona Beach. Keynote speakers are:
Michael A. Downs, (R top) President and CEO
of The Pension Boards of the United Church of
Christ; and Laverne Joseph (R bottom), President
and CEO of the Retirement Housing Federation,
a UCC affiliate with a number of retirement
homes in Florida.
“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” movie
will provide fun and conversation and nine
workshop leaders will stimulate thought and
provide new information about a variety of topics that will be helpful to retired persons.
“You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights. You’ll join the high
fliers who soar to high heights” – Dr. Seuss Additional information, program and registration forms are available from Rev. Dr. Bill
Wealand at 352/406-4484 or BWealand@uccfla.org. The registration fee for two persons is
$295, which includes a two night stay (sharing a room), 12 meals and the program. Inquire
about other options (e.g., commuters, extended stays).
Money
in Church
Seminar
Mental Health
Webinar
Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund (Western
Regional Minister) will be leading
a webinar on Wednesday, October
8, on the subject of mental health.
It will begin at 1pm and you can
get the link to it www.progressiverenewal.com (the website of the
Center for Progressive Renewal).
The webinar is in conjunction with
the publication on September 30 of
Rev. Sarah’s book, Blessed are the
Crazy: Breaking the Silence about
Mental Illness, Family and Church
(Chalice Press) [see “On Our Bookshelf” in this issue].
S
ave the date of Saturday, November 15 for a
special opportunity to attend a seminar with
the Rev. Cheri Lovell, who has developed the
Cornerstone Fund’s educational programs.
Her seminar, “Money in Church,” is designed for
both new as well as experienced church leaders who
have a desire to better understand and manage their
church’s finances. Financial health helps make ministry possible,
and this
seminar
can help
equip your church leaders to make sound
financial decisions.
The location has been changed to First
Congregational Church/Winter Park.
Watch for further details and registration
information via e-Celebrate and on the
Conference website.
17
Opportunities
Gospel Pilgrimage of
Storytelling -- 2014
by Rev. Drew Willard
Pastor, UCC at The Villages
“In the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ
– the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who descended
from God…”
Mark 1:1[the Drew Willard Version]
O
n Monday afternoon, August 18, at The
UCC/St. Augustine, about 15 people attended my storytelling presentation -- the first stop of my Gospel Pilgrimage
of Storytelling where I would visit five churches in the UCC Florida Conference. The age range was a preteen girl to
a retired pastor at 91! By the way, this pastor has plenty of stories himself; Roy Weed was “retired” at least three times – like
Bill Wealand who just keeps on serving! There were three story segments with discussion after each one. The conversation was
excellent with some very good questions and comments from the youngest one there.
What a beautiful congregation! They have a tremendous leader with Pastor Donna Cooney, and she has a strong ally in church moderator Nan Nutt. They have a friendship with a local African-American church, and it was great to meet their minister, Pastor Thomas
Cave. I hope both churches will continue to build on their Sacred Conversation on Race and other such opportunities to work together.
Tuesday evening, I was at Union Congregational Church/Holly Hill with 40 or so in attendance and a median age of “senior.”
Pastor Rev. Steve Heath, with his able presence and folksy humor, made us all feel welcomed as he introduced me. Sammie
Maxwell Hartwell was on hand with a contingent from The UCC/New Smyrna Beach. The Rev. Dr. Raymond Hargrove –
who has been very supportive of my storytelling projects over the years -- was also present.
The format of telling these stories is a series of three segments, and following each one with review and being open for questions
works very well. I ask if they have heard a familiar story in a new way -- sometimes they will tell me they never heard some of
these stories before. They liked just hearing a story, especially when we are deluged with so many stories on video. One woman
suggested a campfire for another time (like when it’s cooler!).
One man with whom I had a conversation afterwards had been a teacher. He was very sad about current events concerning
racial unrest. Yet he acknowledged that things are getting better as he held up his left hand to show me the ring on his finger – as
a married gay man!
I went to First Congregational Church/Winter Park where there were only a few who attended, but this still allowed for the occasion of grace. A story of personal healing was privately
told to me before the program. Later one of the participants was prompted by one of the Gospel
stories to openly share a story of personal grief.
New Port Richey was my next stop where I caught up with old friends from Community
Congregational UCC and Holiday UCC. I was treated to an excellent potluck dinner where I
enjoyed table fellowship with John and Lois Boyer (“JoLo”). It was great to see my colleagues
Pastor Revs. Mark Hamilton and Jim Langdoc as well as Rita Brown, Fred Nichols and
Irma Catalano and one of the most outstanding administrative assistants I have ever worked
with, Alice Hunt. I also enjoyed talking with Betty Mitchell who told me she worked as a
teacher in tough inner city schools, had to as a single parent with two children. She made a
career of it and when it came time to retire, students and teachers didn’t want her to leave.
That’s just the kind of person we need for the challenges we face as a society and world
these days! She also did the beautiful banners of Jesus for the altar area.
My last stop that week – but not least -- was St. Andrew UCC/Sarasota where they
were preparing for a big memorial the next day for a church member who was a poet and
whose wife is a professional singer. Pastor Rev. Phil Garrison – who currently serves as
m chilu note fro ustine
o
y
k
n
a
our
UCC Florida Conference Moderator -- would not be able to attend my program, but I
h
T
g
CC/St. Au
U
t
a
n
e
had
a chance to help him set up a system for hanging pictures on the wall of their fellowship
r
d
hall for what would become their new art gallery! His secretary brought in a sub sandwich – which
seemed to multiply like Jesus’ fish and loaves with some left over! That evening I was pleased to see friends I have come
to know through the Conference including Brooke, Marylou Palmer Lindsey and Rev. Donna Papenhausen. Sadly, Donna’s
husband had been in a traffic accident and died several days later. Donna has been one of the most vocal supporters of liturgical
arts in the Florida Conference and is St. Andrew’s Expressive Arts Pastor.
The presentation basically followed this format. I introduced my program by stating my goals. First is to proclaim the Good News
of Jesus Christ through three sets of stories: a “Prologue” of the beginnings of Christ’s ministry, the Sermon on The Mount as a
three-point sermon and a day in the life of Christ, which happens to be a Sabbath. After each segment, I did a recap of points I wanted
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Opportunities
to make and clarified that my paraphrases and translations are
an interpretive work as I welcomed questions and comments.
My second goal is to lift up and celebrate who we are as the
United Church of Christ, which claims “God is still speaking” and guides us to be “open and affirming” of all people
for the purpose of “justice and peace” and that this applies
“no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey…”
The third goal is to raise money for our Conference and
national setting of the UCC through Our Church’s Wider
Mission; $703 was the total collected for this purpose – with
churches submitting their subtotals separately so they get the
credit for what their people donated.
My hope is that this will be a beginning – not only for me
to do this again, but for other liturgical artists to go out and
share their gifts like the apostles of old. It is also a challenge
for congregations to receive them with the hospitality that
allowed Christianity to spread throughout the world and to
help heal the torn fabric of society with the continuing threads
of God’s beloved community that is yet possible “on Earth
as it is in Heaven.”
Drew at Community Congregational Church/New Port Richey
My last stop was my home church of The UCC at The Villages where this program was videographed to be posted on YouTube
as “Gospel Storytelling”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rzIzjBqtV0&list=UUTqvL6KfDWvkjlsWCoRN8jw
Worship Grant at Lake Helen
O
n September 7, First Congregational Church/Lake Helen dedicated
a fabric banner of the print logo they developed for their Vital Worship
Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) in Grand
Rapids, MI. The colors of the liturgical seasons were woven together in an oval
border depicting how the events of the seasons are interwoven. In the center are the
symbols of the Eucharist, wheat and grapes; bread and cup. On Banner Dedication
Sunday, Rev. Frank Faine (pictured below) also wore a new stole created from
leftover pieces of the banner fabric.
The Banner Making Workshops that took place over the summer months were such
great times of fellowship that those who participated wanted to continue meeting and
to include more of the congregation.
A new group, the Church Mice, will
meet on the first Thursday of each
month at 10am to do some of the
odd jobs that need to be done, like
reorganizing closets, reorganizing
the pantry, inventorying dishware,
cataloging books and music, etc.
“We have so often heard that the
process [becoming a closer knit
community] is even more important
than the end product...” according to
Elizabeth (Betsy) Steele Halstead,
Program Coordinator for Grants
and Communications and Resource Specialist for Visual Arts for the Calvin Institute of
Christian Worship.
As part of the project to create a template for developing multisensory celebrations of
the Eucharist during each season of the liturgical year, the Worship Grant Team conducted
a congregational worship survey. The Team learned more about how members of the
congregation describe their worship experience, the celebration of Holy Communion and
their feelings when hearing the Word read and preached. “We also learned what small
changes we could incorporate in our worship to make it more engaging,” said Rev. Frank.
This program is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin
Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by
Lilly Endowment Inc.
19
Across
Florida
D
isaster
R esponse
& R ecovery
Rev. Dr. Bill Wealand
Coordinator,
Disaster Response & Recovery Ministry
Disaster Planning in the Panhandle
B
etzi Yungclas, a long-term UCC volunteer, is now working in Pensacola
participating in the flood damage recovery work there. She has volunteered for six months and, if needed, may be able to extend her volunteer
time there. Betzi comes to Pensacola following six months of volunteer work
in Joplin, MO, and that following two years of volunteer work in New Orleans.
She is the daughter of the Rev. Don Yungclas, founding Pastor of Port Orange
UCC. She lives in her travel trailer with her Great Dane.
While in Pensacola, she will oversee the use of one of the Conference tool
trailers, supervise the work of groups of volunteer, interview potential clients
and prepare projects for volunteers.
W
ithin 33 days
of the receipt
of a grant from UCC
Disaster Ministries,
100 Church World
Service kits were
boxed and completed
by members of Union
Congregational
Church/Holly Hill.
Steve Heath and wife
Eileen personally delivered them – along
with other school, hygiene and baby kits
they had been storing -to CWS in New Windsor, MD, as they drove
to Maine for a vacation.
Betzi will attend the Fall Conference Gathering
in Orlando on Saturday, October 25. She will be
introduced to those in attendance and be available
for individual conversations with those who are
interested.
A laptop computer is needed to enable Betzi to
do the site interviews with potential clients and to
use the computer program, which will enable her
to link with the system being used by BRACE, the
long-term recovery organization coordinating the work we do with all of our faith partners. Donations
are needed to enable us to purchase a laptop for Betzi to use; please send donations to the Florida
Conference UCC office marked “Betzi’s laptop.”
North Florida flood recovery needs have been assessed by one of our faith partners, Family Renew.
Family Renew determined that there are more than 2,100 households in need of help. The long-term
recovery work is being done collaboratively with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief),
Florida VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters), United Way and BRACE.
Groups of volunteers will be housed at Pensacola Beach Community UCC. The next group of
volunteers is coming from Holy Trinity Community UCC/Nashville. They will work from October
6-13. If your church has potential volunteers who might be able to help in this recovery work, please
contact me at 352/06-4484 or BWealand@uccfla.org.
St. Andrew UCC,
Sarasota
(L) A Circle of Friends,
Thursday morning study,
“7,000 Ways to Listen”
(R) A Celtic evensong,
August 2014
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Build
It...
Older
Adult
Ministry
by Rev. Linn Possell
Consultant, Older Adult
Ministry
Taking on Alzheimer’s
O
n September 16 and 17, the Women Against Alzheimer’s Summit was held in Washington, DC.
As a member of Clergy Against Alzheimer’s, I
was invited to attend and give the invocation during out
first meal together.
Clergy Against Alzheimer’s is a diverse, multifaith
national network of clergy working to focus our nation’s
attention on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
The mission of the group is to promote dignity, compassionate care and quality of life for individuals with
Alzheimer’s and to promote support for families and caregivers as we work to stop Alzheimer’s by 2020. During the Summit,
doctors, scientists and the organizations that fund them gave reports about the cutting edge studies that that are developing and
those already in process to try to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. It was impressive to hear about all of the
brilliant minds and commitment to a cure that are happening all over the country.
The women also went to Capitol Hill to talk with Senators about the need for further funding and awareness for dementia.
We attended the Out of the Shadows shadow box exhibit at the Women in Arts museum that was created by women all over the
country sending in shadow boxes to honor and celebrate the lives of those they have lost to dementia. I was honored to have
my mother’s shadow box be part of the exhibit [see photo].
In my remarks at the Summit, I talked about the fact that human beings cannot live without hope and how the work of the
Women Against Alzheimer’s and Clergy Network were providing hope to families and individuals living dementia that one
day this will end. I also believe that we, as clergy, are called to point to the sacredness of life. Therefore, as clergy, we must
help others see that the essence of life is the spirit and therefore
individuals with dementia continue to be whole and beautiful, just
as God create them to be. Individuals living with dementia are the
same person -- they just experience and express their life differently
-- but the essence of who they are remains the same.
If we were to watch someone swimming in the clear open water of
a lake, we would be able to see the swimmer clearly as they glided
through the water. If that same swimmer swam through that same
water after a storm, trying to swim through tangles of weeds and
debris that may have been blown into the water, we would watch
that swimmer struggle through the obstacles. And yet...it is the
same swimmer.
As with a person living with dementia, they might live differently,
but they are still the same person. Sometimes it is difficult to do,
however; individuals living with dementia depend on caregivers and
those of us who work with and interact with them to see the person
and not the disease.
I invite you to attend one of the seminars on dementia that I will be
facilitating. The first seminar will be held at First Congregational
Church/Winter Park on November 13 from 9:30am-1:30pm. During this seminar I will review what is happening to the brain with
dementia, the subsequent issues that individuals face, how we can
respond to changing needs, tips for “best practices” in caregiving
and how to provide support and guidance to families.
There will be a time of open discussion regarding how congregations can provide supportive, dementia-friendly communities and
places of worship.
21
UCC Women
Susan DiAmicis, President Florida UCC Women
Member, Union Congregational/West Palm Beach
Upcoming Date to Remember
October 16-18, 2015, is the biennial Southern Regional Women’s Conference, a retreat for women
from UCC Conferences (Florida, Southern, Southeast and South Central). Southeast Conference area
women are hosting the event at Sumatanga Camp & Conference Center in Gallant, Alabama. On the
planning team and representing UCC Women from the Florida Conference is Susan DiAmicis, a member
of Union Congregational UCC/West Palm Beach and President of Florida UCC Women.
22 Zoom in
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Calendar of Events
Check uccfla.org
for updates
and watch for e-Celebrate messages
October 2
WRM Rev. Sarah Lund, First United Church of Tampa
October 3
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove, First Congregational
Church/Fort Lauderdale
October 4
UCC Women, “In the Company of Women” Retreat, Fort
Myers Congregational Church
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove, UCC/New Smyrna Beach
October 5
Community-wide interfaith Candlelight Service
to observe National Mental Illness Awareness Week,
Windermere Union Church
WRM Rev. Sarah Lund, Ordination of Lynn Blevins, First
UCC/Orlando
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove, Ecclesiastical Council for
David and Sonya Phillips, Community Church of Vero Beach
October 8
Conference staff meeting, Orlando
October 12
Todd Weber, Faith Congregational Church/Port St. Lucie
October 16
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove Broward Clergy group, First
UCC/Hollywood
October 18
Union Congregational Church/West Palm Beach, 120th
anniversary luncheon and silent auction
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove, Southeast Region Church
& Ministry Committee meeting, First Congregational Church/
Fort Lauderdale
October 19
WRM Rev. Sarah Lund, Installation of Rev. Mark Williams,
United Church of Marco Island
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove, United Church of Sebastian
Committee meeting, United Community Church/Sun City
Center
November 7-9
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove, Fall Youth Retreat, Key
Biscayne Community Church
November 12
w
November 13
Dementia Care Seminar, First Congregational Church/
Winter Park
November 15
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove, “Money in the Church”
seminar, First Congregational Church/Winter Park
November 16
Sonja Williams, Faith UCC/Tamarac
November 22
R&B singer Mo’ Pleasure in concert, First United Church of
Tampa
November 23
Union Congregational Church/West Palm Beach, 120th
anniversary celebration and dinner
December 1-6
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove, MESA (Ministerial
Excellence, Support and Accountability, formerly Parish Life
and Leadership) training for Conference staff, Savannah, GA
December 7
ERM Rev. Raymond Hargrove, 50th Church Anniversary,
Hope UCC/Rockledge
December 10
December 12
Open house, silent auction and reception, featuring a
reading from A Christmas Dozen by author Rev. Steve Burt,
CrossRoads Community UCC/Melbourne
“Standing at the Threshold”
October 21-23
Retired Clergy/Spouses/Partners/Widowed and Widowers
Retreat, Daytona Beach
October 24
Board of Directors meeting, Orlando
October 24-26
First Congregational Church/Fort Lauderdale, 60th
anniversary celebration
UNITED CHURCH
OF CHRIST
IN FLORIRIDA
FALL GATHERING
OCT 25, 2014
October 25
Florida Conference Fall Gathering, First UCC/Orlando
Brandon Martin in Concert, First United Church of Tampa
October 30
Special thanks to artist Connie Rodriguez
connierodriguezart.com
WRM Rev. Sarah Lund, Western Region Church & Ministry
23
Transitions
Frank Lamson, SS, CrossRoads Community
Church/Melbourne, service began September 14
Mairolet Vegas, 4-W, VITAS Innovative Hospice/
Coral Gables Congregational Church, INSTALL,
September 28
David and Sonya Phillips, EC, Community Church
of Vero Beach, October 5
Todd Weber, EC, Faith Congregational Church/Port
St. Lucie, October 12
Sonja Williams, EC, Faith UCC/Tamarac,
November 16
Gregory Smith, IN, United Church of Marco Island,
service concluded June 30
Rev. William Koch, IN, Miami Shores Community
Church, service began July 13
Tom Garrison, P, Pensacola Beach Community UCC,
service concluded July 20
William Tyson, IN, Cocoa Beach Community Church,
service began August 3
Robert Cemillan, 4W, VITAS Innovative Hospice/
Christ Congregational Church/Miami, INSTALL, August
17
Karen Curtis-Weakley, P, New Hope UCC/DeLand,
service concluded August 24
Mark Hamilton, P, Community Congregational Church/
New Port Richey, service concluded September 7
Bonnie Lipton, IN, Community Congregational
Church/New Port Richey, service begins October 1
Key: P (Pastor), SP (Senior Pastor), AP (Associate/Assistant Pastor), DP
(Designated Pastor), IN (Interim), p/t (Part Time), O (Ordination), INSTALL
(Installation), EC (Ecclesiastical Council) PoC (Privilege of Call), R (Retired),
LM (Licensed Minister), 4W (4-way Covenant), S (Supply), SS (Stated Supply),
CH (Chaplain), CM (Commissioned Minister), C (Commissioning)
Commissioning of
Jeanne Haemmelmann
J
eanne Haemmelmann -- Associate for Youth and Young Adults at Pass-aGrille Beach Community UCC/St. Pete Beach and Gulf Coast Regional
Youth Minister for the Conference – was installed as a Commissioned
Minister during a service at the PAG church on August 24.
Performing the commissioning ceremony were Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree,
Interim Conference Minister, and Rev. Donna Ives (member, Spring Hill UCC)
representing the Church & Ministry Committee.
Delivering the service at worship was Rev. Kent Siladi, Connecticut Conference Minister and former Florida Conference Minister.
Jeanne receiving Certificate of Commissioning from Dr. Davida
60th Anniversary Celebration Plans at Fort Lauderdale
A
big weekend is planned at First Congregational
Church/Fort Lauderdale as it celebrates on October
24-26 the 60th anniversary of its founding. The festive weekend begins on Friday, October 24,
with the 60th Anniversary Concert by Dunlap and Pennington. David
Dunlap and Wesley Pennington, both excellent artists in their own
right, make magic as a dynamic duo with Dunlap on his Wersi and
Pennington at the grand piano as they play a wide variety of selections from Broadway show tunes to classical pieces. The Gala Banquet is being held Saturday night, October 25, at the
Doubletree Suites in Fort Lauderdale. It will be a magical evening
with hors d’oeuvres on the balcony, dinner in the ballroom with
dancing following the meal. On Sunday morning, October 26, the
10:30am worship service will celebrate the 60 years of First Congregational at its present location. Rev. Dr. Ben Guess, representing the
national UCC, will be guest speaker. Special music by the Chancel
Choir will be provided. 24 Zoom in
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Transitions
Union Celebrates 120 years in West Palm Beach
O
n Saturday, October 18, Union Congregational UCC/West Palm Beach will celebrate 12 decades of ministry
and service in West Palm Beach during a special silent auction and banquet luncheon at the Downtown Marriott.
The keynote speaker will be the Honorable Judge Nelson Bailey, a longtime respected member of the church
and of the community.
The banquet also will feature a talented local youth performance group from “Faith’s Place Center” who will be playing
the steel drums to Christian music. “120th Anniversary Cookbooks” will be available for a $13 donation. All area churches
are invited to attend and be recognized at this event.
On Thanksgiving Sunday, November 23, at 4pm the church -- the second oldest in West Palm Beach -- will conclude
its yearlong anniversary celebration during a joint service with Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, the oldest church
in the city. The joint afternoon service will celebrate Union’s 12 decades of ministry and service with choral music and
moments of reflection, followed by fellowship and dinner.
For more information on these events or the cookbook, contact the church office at 561/686-0330.
Where’s
Candy?
Rev. Jim Reilly, Pastor of Deltona UCC, died
on September 14. He had previously served as
Pastor of First Congregational Church/Orange
City.
Charlie Nichols, a UCC chaplain at Tampa
General Hospital, died on August 23.
Phil Papenhausen, husband of Rev. Donna
Papenhausen (Expressive Art Pastor, St.
Andrew UCC/Sarasota) passed away August
27 after a brief hospitalization, having been
struck by a car at the end of August.
W
here in
the world
is Candy
Younglove? If you’ve
tried to be in phone
or e-mail contact with
her in the Conference office you’ve discovered
she’s not there.
Well, she’s had some complicated knee replacement
surgery that’s going to keep her away from the office until
mid-December. In the meantime Beth Shedden and Dave
Cyril are adding Candy’s responsibilities to their own.
Wow! Keep Candy – and Beth and Dave -- in your prayers.
25
Being Church
Youth Ministry
SNIPPETS
&
NUGGETS
O
n September 5, some 30 Florida UCC
youth and Regional Youth Ministers Rev.
Dr. Sheila Guillaume and Jeanne Haemmemelmann gathered at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for
the annual Night of Joy Christian concert.
Participants included youth from both the eastern and
western regions of the Florida Conference.
Y
outh groups from Union Congregational Church/West
Palm Beach, First Church of North Miami Congregational and Church of the Open Door Congregational/
Miami participated in the Southeast Regional Youth Revival on
Saturday, September 20.
The youth experienced an interactive praise and worship service,
which included an inspiring message and a collective sharing of
prayers for both the new school year and new church year. It was
a wonderful way to recharge the spiritual growth of our youth! Get Ready for the
2014 Fall Youth Retreat
“C
ome to the Party ...Prepared” is the theme for the upcoming 2014 Florida Conference Fall Youth Retreat at Key
Biscayne Community Church. Details for the November 7-9
event are being finalized, but you aren’t going to want to miss it.
Cost will be $50 per person. Stayed tuned for more information
and registration forms.
Save the Dates
Y
26 outh – speak with your Pastor about attending
the Fall Gathering of the Florida Conference –
Saturday, October 25 in Orlando.
Zoom in
Walk on Water -- January 16-18
Walk on Water is set for January 16-18 at Union Congregational Church/West Palm Beach with special guests from
Piedmont College, one of our UCC colleges. Youth groups are
asked to sign up to take part in a special session on sharing our
“best practices” for youth ministry. Watch for details! Annual Peace River Canoe and Camping Trip -March 6-8
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Youth
Eagle Scout Ceremony and Project
O
n Sunday, August 24th, Cameron Stark (son/stepson
of Michael and Carolyn Stark) was awarded the
highest award in the Boy Scouts – the Eagle Badge.
The Court of Honor, as the service is called, was held at Faith
UCC/Dunedin where Cameron did his Eagle Scout project in
building a butterfly garden.
The work will now continue as church members continue to
shape the garden, add vegetable and fruits to the mix and create
a habitat that is both relaxing for humans and life-giving for the
bees and butterflies that call it home.
“Sunday School” Changes at Arlington
A
rlington Congregational Church/Jacksonville reports being super excited to switch from Sunday School to Faith
Formation under the leadership of its new Associate for Faith Formation and Fellowship Ministries, Pastor Jenn
McDowell. This fall the church is rolling out all new offerings for every generation in all sorts of new and exciting
venues. The focus is on story -- God’s story, our story -- past, present and future.
Sunday mornings offer children’s worship Godly Play style, a tween Explorer group that uses science as a springboard to talk
about real-life faith issues facing young people today and a middle school Echo group using the “Echo the Story” curriculum
from Spark House. There is an adult discussion group as well that studies Scripture and current theological books. The senior
high youth participate in the life of the church on Sunday morning and meet at a local coffee shop or a host home to share a
meal and discussion one night a week. There is also a monthly intergenerational potluck game night at the church.
Moments of Mission
by Steve Case
Youth Minister,
W
Windermere Union Church
hen we are on a Summer Mission Trip, I often find myself
in becoming part of the chaos. I’m often dealing with small
issues and bigger issues and trying to make sure the logistics
of the day are taken care of. Pretty consistently God gives me a good
old fashioned dope slap and says, “Are you paying attention to this?” I
call these Mission Moments.
It was the usual week of sweat and exhaustion, of eating breakfast
standing over a sink and packing lunch in a brown paper bag. It’s a
week of little sleep and lots of work...sometimes in some very scary
places. But something else happened. I based this year’s theme around
a quote I found from Friedrich Beuchner. “Here is the world. Beautiful
and terrible things happen. Don’t be afraid.” The mission trip was also an emotional journey. One day of the trip was spent at the
Holocaust Memorial in Miami. Our guide was a man named Alex who began his talk by showing us the tattoo he was given in
Auschwitz. The memorial is not designed to inspire hope, despite the classic quote from Anne Frank engraved on the wall. It is a
memorial to the horror of the Holocaust. Created so that people would never forget. Balance this with an evening at the home of a
member of the church congregation who invited us for dinner and then to participate in the blessing of a baby blanket handmade
for their new adopted baby boy. We all held the blanket and each of us in turn offered a blessing for the new child. During the week
our youth fed several dozen homeless men, women, and children who came to the church. There was a tall man who called himself
Prince. After the meal he would sit at the piano in their meeting hall. Prince did not read music. One of our youth who has just
started taking lessons sat on the bench with him together they played “Amazing Grace.”
Kids
Corner
These are the moments that stick with you. It’s far too easy to get caught up in the world
and fail to see our place in it. God shows us his Amazing Grace. Beautiful and terrible
things happen....we won’t be afraid. The youth group would like to thank you, the congregation, for your prayers and support and donations. We’d particularly like to thank the
Windermere Pre-school for their amazing contribution to this year’s trip.
From “The Messenger,” the newsletter of Windermere Union Church.
T
he Preschool and Kindergarten at First Congregational Church/Winter Park
has offered a free parent workshop on “Connecting A to Z” on understanding
a child’s development of misbehavior.
27
On
Our
Bookshelf
Two New Books from Steve Case
S
teve Case, Youth Minister at Windermere Union Church, has two new
books which have just been published and are available through Amazon.
com. One is This Road Tonight: A New Pilgrim’s Progress, which is John Bunyan’s 1678 classic story of allegory getting a 21st century re-imagining in this
funny, tragic, life-affirming tale. Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress has been a perennial favorite among Christians for the last three centuries, and Steve’s novel
updates the story for a modern era while maintaining the important spiritual
guidance that made the book famous. Both offer time-tested spiritual wisdom
through the allegorical story of the relatable character, Christian.
His other work -- a new Christmas story -- is Charlie the Flatulent Christmas Angel. Charlie the angel spreads Christmas cheer in a unique way. Steve
styles his Christmas story in the form of a Dr. Suess-like poem, bringing a
light-hearted air to an already effervescent book.
The Christmas Story Pastor
U
CC minister Rev. Dr. Steve Burt is an award-winning storyteller
and author of the bestseller, A Christmas Dozen. The subject of
a recent UCC national news story (http://www.ucc.org/news/bookdonation-United-Way.html), Dr. Steve has been performing “An Hour
of Stories with the Christmas Story Pastor” for 15 years, reaching
nearly 1,000 churches. He now lives in The Villages and is offering to
perform his program FREE at Florida churches. Here’s the YouTube
link to an “AM Ocala Live” radio interview that ends with him sharing
one of the stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlGx67Ekhi8
If you want a great cross-generational Advent, Christmas or Epiphany
program, book soon (352/391-8293, www.steveburtbooks.
com/ or passtev@aol.com for information or to schedule).
Sarah Lund’s
Book on Mental
Illness
B
lessed are the Crazy:
Breaking the Silence
about Mental Illness, Family
and Church (Chalice Press)
by Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund.
Rev. Sarah explores her own
family’s history with and experience of mental illness, including her father, her brother
and a cousin. But the book is
meant to be more than a memoir. It offers a personal testimony about an unmentionable
in the life of church and community, but it also develops
into an important resource for
local churches and for pastors.
Rev. Sarah’s book is available
through Amazon.com
28 To hear a Christmas story in Dr. Burt’s voice, go to the
Amazon page for the audiobook and under the cover
image press the button LISTEN. It’s a story about peace
in the midst of war. Here’s the link. http://www.amazon.
com/Christmas-Dozen-Storyteller-Heart-Book/dp/
B00MX5I6PG/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_1
From a
program for
the Red Hat
Ladies in The
Villages
Flash! Rev. Steve’s teen thriller, FreeK Week, was
named a Gold Award winner for Young Adult books by
“Mom’s Choice Awards” which “honors excellence in
family-friendly media, products and services.” Zoom in
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R CELEBRATE fl o r i d a

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