God's Extravagant Welcome

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• National Gathering Advance Registration is Still Available
• ONA Media Outreach
• Media with a Mission
• The Language of God
• ACTION ALERT! Pass ENDA Now
• News, Events and Job Announcements

There’s still time to sign up for National Gathering 2010 at the advance registration price of just $119! Register now at https://www.regonline.com/national_gathering_2010.

Gathering takes place in San Diego, CA, July 14–17, 2010. Exciting information about the program can be found at www.ucccoalition.org/programs/gathering/.

More than 80 people have already registered. This is shaping up to be the best attended National Gathering ever. Don’t miss out, register today!

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While visiting YouTube to review the Language of God video, we stumbled on a couple of original videos from ONA churches.  Each tells about the unique character of the congregation in its own creative way.  Has your church created an original video production to tell others about your ministry?  Let us know at communications@ucccoalition.org.

United Church on the Green (New Haven, CT)
United Church on the Green is one of our earliest ONA declarations (ONA church #30).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J60di7_KC2U

Living Water UCC (Philadelphia, PA)
Living Water UCC is one of our newest ONA declarations (ONA church #873).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xODVugRQIuI

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Did you know that the UCC has a grant program specifically to help local congregations spread the word through media outlets?  Are you considering outreach through TV, radio, print, and electronic advertising efforts?

The Media with a Mission program is an initiative of The Stillspeaking Ministry of the United Church of Christ, and, since 2006, it has awarded more than $120,000 to 144 churches in 33 states. The outreach made possible by these grants has collectively reached more than 12 million people.

The Media with a Mission program is now accepting applications for the 2010, with $40,000 in funding to distribute.

Learn more at http://www.ucc.org/god-is-still-speaking/ and click on Media with a Mission grant program in the left menu.

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Have you seen it?  In less than a week, it's already been played over 100,000 times (about half on YouTube and half on Vimeo).  The UCC has a page that breaks down how to share on websites and social networks.  Check it out at http://www.ucc.org/god-is-still-speaking/ads/ and join the viritual  spiral dance.

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The transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination bill (ENDA) has been a work in progress at the federal level for years, but congressional leaders are beginning to move the bill, and LGBT activists say that the time is now to push legislators to make it happen. This is one of the most important pieces of legislation that needs to be passed, especially for the transgender community. In brief, this bill stops companies from firing or refusing to hire workers simply on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Here are 3 things you can do:

1.     Visit House Members in District Offices.  Get an appointment, drop by their office, and definitely leave a note.

2.      Write your Representative.  Handwritten is best, so mail it, or send an email.

3.     Call your Representative today! Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Give the operator your zip code and ask to be connected to your Representative.

Learn more at www.unitedenda.org and check out suggested strategies at www.unitedenda.org/take_action and www.transequality.org/ENDA.html.

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Please refer to our website for current listings of Newsbits, events and job announcements.