UCC’s minister for sexual education to retire at end of December December 17, 2012
Ann Hanson had no idea as a mother of three and grandmother to seven she would become the United Church of Christ’s outspoken advocate for comprehensive sexuality education. She has provided sexuality education to people of all ages. But at the end of December, Hanson will retire from the UCC and return to her native Montana.
UCC supports United Church of Christ Philippines after devastating typhoon December 17, 2012
On Dec. 4, Typhoon Pablo made landfall on the Philippines' eastern coast of Mindanao. Through its ongoing partnership with the United Church of Christ Philippines, the UCC's Minnesota Conference is taking action by encouraging donations for relief efforts.
Remembering a heroic young woman, Victoria Soto December 17, 2012
Victoria "Vicki" Leigh Soto was a public school teacher who loved her calling and her students, a member of the Lordship Community Church UCC in Stratford Conn., and a hero who gave her life to save several children from a gunman's bullets on Friday, Dec. 14, at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She was 27.
UCC faith community offers prayers for grieving Newtown Conn. December 17, 2012
As the grief-stricken people of Newtown, Conn. begin laying to rest the littlest victims of the school massacre, the UCC faith community is holding them in their prayers.
Community organizing to help congregations develop leaders, vitality December 17, 2012
The United Church of Christ would like to give members around the country the tools to live their faith, love their community -- through justice work. By training lay leaders to go into their neighborhoods and work toward fixing the problems that they see in their hometowns, congregation-based community organizing can make a difference.
Let us place our trust in God, not in guns December 14, 2012
The National Officers of the United Church of Christ issued this reflection and prayer in response to the elementary school shooting in Connecticut which resulted in the deaths of 27 people, the majority of which were children under 10 years old.
Connecticut weeps for the children of Newtown December 14, 2012
The people of the Connecticut Conference, UCC, mourn for the 27 people, the majority of which were children, killed by a gunman in a Newtown elementary school.
Wisconsin UCC furthers ecumenical efforts to help current and former inmates December 14, 2012
Embracing both the “haves and the have-nots,” St. Paul’s UCC in Wausau, Wis., works with other members of Greater Wausau Christian Services, an ecumenical organization of 13 churches that provide various services to those in need throughout the community.
Global Ministries executives reach out to Syrian refugees during trip to Middle East December 13, 2012
Jim Moos, the executive minister for the UCC’s Wider Church Ministries, and Peter Makari, area executive for the Middle East and Europe, have recently returned from a two week trip to the region. Their travels took them through Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon as they met with partners of Global Ministries.
UCC’s Back Bay Mission wraps up housing project in time for Christmas December 13, 2012
Back Bay Mission is finishing up the construction phase of a housing project that helps the Biloxi, Mississippi-based ministry of the United Church of Christ continue its work to assist those without a place to call home. More importantly, it will put a new roof over the heads of two disabled veterans just in time for Christmas.
‘Dates of Change’ tells the stories of restoration, second chances and changing lives December 12, 2012
Behind each date there is a story. Behind each face there is a life changed. Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas, has been helping people discover their own story and their own experience of God’s amazing grace. That’s the inspiration behind a video that the congregation is using to share testimonials of restoration and of second chances.
AM21 gathering brings leaders together to move forward December 11, 2012
The collaborative spirit of church leaders from around the country who gathered in New Orleans last week helped bring the United Church of Christ’s conference staff and national staff to common goals at the Authorizing Ministry in the 21st Century Event (AM21).
UCC Collegium: U.S. failure to ratify U.N. disabilities treaty is 'ignoble, disconcerting wrong' December 10, 2012
The national officers of the United Church of Christ condemn the moral failure of the United States Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 4. It is an affront to justice, accessibility, and full inclusion everywhere, and an embarrassment to the United States government at home and around the world
New Hampshire UCC youth group experiences refugee challenges December 6, 2012
Members of the youth group at the Congregational Church in Exeter UCC had two choices: they could cross the border illegally and risk being caught by border patrol, or they could go through the official border crossing and risk being sent back to where they came from. Understanding the decision they were facing and it's implications was the idea behind the Big Night of Hope, a refugee simulation experience held at the Exeter, N.H., church.
UCC minister for health care justice awarded legislative fellowship December 5, 2012
Barbara Baylor, the minister for health care justice with the United Church of Christ, was chosen from a field of 100 candidates for a one-year fellowship with Brookings as she will work on Capitol Hill in helping shape legislative policy.
UCC clergy couple to preach national radio sermons during Advent December 4, 2012
Two United Church of Christ ministers serving the Community Church of Vero Beach, Fla., are the featured preachers Dec. 16 and 23 on “Day 1,” the weekly nationally syndicated ecumenical radio program. The married couple, the Rev. Robert T. Baggott and the Rev. Casey Baggott, has pastored the 2,400 members of Community Church UCC church together for nine years and believe the program and its mainline Protestant views provide the right place for a UCC voice.
UCC, UUA work toward strengthening partnership December 4, 2012
The United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association are forging a partnership around justice work -- in a historic meeting in Boston the two progressive denominations discussed collaboration between the two churches and their congregations.
Former UCC board member pushes for rights of people with disabilities December 3, 2012
Of the three pillars of the United Church of Christ, a church that is Multicultural/Multiracial, Open and Affirming, and Accessible to All, the third has the Rev. Carolyn R. Thompson working diligently as the United States Senate gets ready to vote on a United Nations treaty that advocates for the rights of people with disabilities.
Specialized ministry allows UCC pastors different road for chaplaincy December 3, 2012
It’s common for people to think of chaplains serving in the military and police fields, but in the growing scope of pastoral ministry, the United Church of Christ has a firm foundation in offering spiritual support for senior citizens.
Ms. Connie N. Larkman Managing Editor & News Director Publishing, Identity, and Communication Local Church Ministries/Office of General Ministries 700 Prospect Ave. Cleveland,Ohio 44115 216-736-2196 larkmanc@ucc.org
