God's Extravagant Welcome
2592 West 14th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113
1-800-653-0799 tel; 216-861-0779 tel;
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God's Extravagant Welcome
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2592 West 14th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113 |
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Get the Latest Updates in YOUR Email Inbox! Ripples - May 2009Early Registration Deadline Extended!The Growing BOLD planning committee and the UCC Coalition board have extended the early registration discount for Growing BOLD until May 5, 2009. Don't miss these extra savings! Register now! Last week for Growing BOLD early registration discountOur 2009 National Gathering, Growing BOLD, will be a celebration of Open and Affirming, an exploration of what ONA can be in its fullest expression, and an opportunity for worship, fellowship, celebration, and engagement. Join us June 22–25, 2009, in Grand Rapids, MI, to kick-off the week of General Synod. Act now to get your early registration discount! The $99 registration rate is available only through More Growing BOLD Themes and LeadershipGeneral/Plenary Session topics include:
Workshop topics include:
Confirmed Presenters:
The Coalition is seeking Frequent-Flyer-Mile donationsThe UCC Coalition is seeking frequent-flyer-mile donations. We would like to collect frequent-flyer miles to help provide scholarship support to folks who may not be able to join us this year at Growing Bold in Grand Rapids, MI, unless they have some assistance. Please contact office@ucccoalition.org or 800-653-0799 to arrange for your contribution. We are also glad to accept cash contributions toward our Growing Bold scholarship fund. More volunteer opportunitiesGraphic Designer: The Coalition staff has occasional graphic design needs and is seeking volunteers who are able to make themselves available on an occasional/ad hoc basis. History Project: We are looking for a volunteer to work with us on converting some UCC Coalition historical information into a "Web 2.0" online tool. Volunteer will need access to the internet and email. Timeline is flexible. Video Advisors: The Coalition staff and our volunteers are delving into video recording for some small, targeted projects. We have started collecting short video clips, but could use some support, particularly around format, audio sync, and file optimization. Assistance would be very occasional on an ad hoc basis. We would also love to have a volunteer who could do minor video editing (e.g., add an intro and closing slide) and monitor our efforts on YouTube and other video-sharing sites. Please contact the Coalition's national office at office@ucccoalition.org or 1-800-653-0799 to find out more about these opportunities! Open and Affirming: Why It's Important, and How It Matters to YouthThe UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns is engaged in a video project of adults, youth, and young adults who are members of ONA churches talking about why ONA is important to their church, how it matters to youth, and how it has impacted the youth in their churches. If you'd like to make a 30-90 second video clip, contact Timothy Brown, 720-941-1062, or yya@uccCoalition.org. Important Youth Survey UnderwayAs part of the study process of Youth and Young Adult Ministries that the UCC is currently conducting, there is an online survey in which you may wish to participate. (http://uccyyasurvey.questionpro.com/). Please forward it to others you may know, whether youth, young adults, youth ministers, chaplains, those interested in being advocates for YYAs, etc. It will take 15–20 minutes to complete the survey. New Resource: Through My EyesThrough My Eyes provides an unflinchingly honest look at the role of today's young Christians in the gay debate: what they really think, how they perceive the church, and what they wish other Christians knew. It's a powerful, eye-opening experience you won't soon forget. Included with the disc is an action guide, 4 simple ways to change someone's life, and a special on-disc "discussion version" for classes and groups. Get it now to share with your family, class, church group, or pastor. And help everyone see through their eyes. To learn more, please visit http://www.throughmyeyesdvd.com/. New Resource: To Do Justice - A Study of Welcoming CongregationsIn order to both highlight the vibrancy, faithfulness, and power of the Welcoming Movement and to counter the “false witness” of those who seek to quash this movement of hospitality and justice, the Institute for Welcoming Resources surveyed pastors and leaders of 1,200 Welcoming congregations to ask them about their work and witness. Two areas emerged that warrant particular focus and celebration:
Available for free download at www.welcomingresources.org/To_Do_Justice.pdf. New Resource: Building an Inclusive Church - A Welcoming ToolkitDrawing upon twenty five years of experience within a variety of Christian denominations, this Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to help facilitate a Welcoming Process in your local congregation. Biblically and theologically based, it uses tools of relational organizing, congregational assessment, conflict management and change theory. From the Institute for Welcoming Resources. Available for free download from www.welcomingresources.org/welcomingtoolkit.pdf. New Resource: Decision Day Resource KitCalifornia Faith for Equality release a “Decision Day Resource Kit” in anticipation of the California Supreme Court’s soon-to-be-released Decision on Prop 8. The goal of this kit is to provide materials to faith leaders in order to minister to the LGBT community and its supporters, regardless of the Court's ruling. It may be useful for other "decision days" happening around the country as well. There are three main resources in the Kit:
Available for free download at www.cafaithforequality.org/documents/DecisionDayResourceKit.pdf. New ONA SettingsWelcome and congratulations to all recently declared ONA congregations! The up-to-date list can be found here: http://www.ucccoalition.org/programs/ona/who/list/ Total active ONA congregations: 790 Note: We need your help to update our list of ONA churches to include website links. If your web link is missing, please contact communications@ucccoalition.org with updated information. Thank you! News, Events and Job AnnouncementsPlease refer to our website for current listings of Newsbits, events and job announcements. |
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You have received this newsletter because you have indicated a willingness to have email contact with The UCC Coalition. You are invited to send this newsletter to others and encourage them to subscribe. If you would like to receive WAVES, the newsletter of The Coalition, please send an email to office@ucccoalition.org. You may also receive WAVES electronically. Please let the office know if you would like to receive it via PDF rather than by post. Thank you. |
