2008 Spring Annual Meeting Workshops

Morning Session: 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Making Paraments for your Church - Rev. Cynthia Carr, Workshop Leader (Associate Pastor, First Congregational Church of Vernon)

Ever wondered about those beautiful cloths hanging from pulpits, lecterns and communion tables? Come learn about paraments and how you can start making them for your own church. We’ll learn about liturgical colors and symbols, various kinds of paraments and methods of construction, and how to get the process started in your own church.

How Churches Can Become Better Stewards of God's Creation - Rev. Ellen Petersen, Workshop Leader (Pastor, Evangelical and Reforned UCC, Wallingford)

We will look at how the Bible speaks to the environmental crisis and we will focus on what churches can do to better protect the environment by becoming better stewards.

Pentecost in a Workshop Rotation Model Classroom - Heather Eaton, Workshop Leader (Christian Education Director, Wapping Community Church)

Through science activities designed to demonstrate the Holy Spirit's power to draw us together, we'll explore Pentecost in a Workshop Rotation Model classroom! Mixed in with our hands-on activities will be lots of information about what the Workshop Rotation Model is and how it can work in your own Sunday school program.

Creative Meetings - Susan Murtha, Workshop Leader (Associate Pastor, First Congregational Church of Guilford)

After my first year serving a parish where I attended all those meetings, I began to wonder..... Is this what I will be doing for the rest of my life? Is this what I should be doing? Is there a better way? Since then I have led three congregations toward a different model and have seen the enormous benefits it brings -- not only to the meetings, but to the ministries and to the life of the church. During this workshop, I will outline the model we use for meetings and give witness to its power to transform a church.

Bringing Jesus to Youth Group - Rev. Kelly Hough, Workshop Leader (Youth Director, The Congregational Church of New Canaan)

And When You Pray ... Pray in Color! - Gloria Bent, Workshop Leader (CT Partner in Education)

If the words won't always come, let shape and color become your expression of prayer. In this workshop we will explore a prayer form described by Sybil MacBeth in her book Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God. Absolutely no artistic ability required!

How to Prepare to Raise Funds to Renovate Your Facilities by Conducting a Partnership Campaign at the Lowest Cost - Rev. William VanderWyden, Workshop Leader (Professional Church Giving Development Consultant)

Workshop will provide guidance for how to identify the projects for which funds can be raised, how to clarify your case for the campaign, how to build congregational support, and how to present the campaign to the congregation for approval to proceed. Partnership Campaigns can enable your church to raise up to 12 times annual giving for Renovations and/or Additions and for Now for the Future, at the lowest cost per dollar raised. Partnership Campaigns involve no-pressure on members to give, using processes appropriate for UCC Churches.

Bluegrass, Blowtorches & Bell Choir: Special Worship Sundays - Rev. Jennifer Gingras, Workshop Leader (Associate Pastor and Deacon, Monroe Congregational Church

Each worshipping community has its own rhythm of “special” Sundays, when special events or ministries are lifted up in worship with celebration and thanksgiving. This workshop will focus on how to plan for and develop these special opportunities in the life of the local church. We will discuss ways in which the church might incorporate creative worship ideas, nurture a lay-empowered worship ministry team and share resources.

Afternoon Session: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Healthy Endowments, Healthy Congregations - Charlie Kuchenbrod, Workshop Leader (Associate Conference Minister for Endowment Ministries)

A healthy endowment extends the mission and ministry of a congregation beyond the resources of current members and catalyzes good stewardship within the community. An unhealthy endowment is, at best, a mixed blessing. Come to this workshop and learn about the characteristics of healthy endowments and what can be done to make your endowment healthier.

The Crisis in Health Care – Its Impact on the Medical Profession & Small Businesses! – Ken Esposito, Workshop Leader (Congregational Organizer, Universal Healthcare Initiative, Christian Activities Council, Hartford)

How does the existing health care situation affect those in the medical profession: their livelihood; their ability to provide quality care to patients? How does the existing system affect small businesses: their ability to attract quality employees; create new jobs; continue to be profitable? What happens to the charter of communities when small businesses cannot compete? Join the discussion at this workshop.

The Art, History, and Practice of Spiritual Journaling – Rev. Claudia Muro, Workshop Leader

Come explore spiritual journaling, one of the ways God can speak to us. This workshop is open to anyone who is interested in this discipline – whether you’re a novice, an avid journaler, or somewhere in between! We will discuss a brief history of spiritual journaling, how to get started, and different methods of journaling.

Church Governance in the Age of Mission - Rev. Ned Edwards Jr., Workshop Leader (Senior Pastor, First Church of Christ Congregational, Farmington)

We often see church governance as an end in itself or as a necessary evil rather than a means to achieving the church’s mission. This workshop will look at some of the trends in governance lately and some of the changes that may be necessary in order to serve the church’s mission in the 21st century. Of particular focus will be the use of Ministry Teams to do the work of the church rather than Committees; and the use of John Carver’s Model of Policy Governance that empowers boards, committees, and ministry teams to fulfill the mission of the church, leading rather than managing. The experience of the First Church of Christ in Farmington in moving to these models will be shared.

[leXicon] - Rev. Christopher Mereschuk, Workshop Leader (Associate Pastor for Youth Ministries, First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury)

“Language keeps me locked and defeated” – Fugazi

Don’t get hung up on knowing the right words. Explore how we “talk” about God through games, music, outreach, and worship in our youth groups and in our daily lives. Join us with your experience, or join us for the experience. (For youth and youth leaders/advisors.)

Your Church Can Increase your Giving for Operating Budget needs up to 45%! - Rev. William VanderWyden, Workshop Leader (Professional Church Giving Development Consultant)

Overview of basics of fund-raising campaign processes, and a practical step-by-step process for increasing the giving of your members, will be provided by Rev. Bill VanderWyden, President VanderWyden Consultants, Inc. Rev. VanderWyden, is a former UCC national staff consultant, and he will present methods that involve no-pressure, appropriate for UCC Churches with our history of independence of thought.

Disaster Response Ministry Team - Anne Kirkpatrick and Jo-Ann Hornyak Workshop Leaders (Disaster Response Coordinators for the Connecticut Conference)

Silver Lake International Work Project - Josh & Jillian Dufresne & Work Project Participants

In April, Rev. Peter Allen & Josh Dufresne are leading a group of youth to Casa Hogar, a ministry of Simply Smiles. Come hear the group speak about their experience living in an orphanage among children, many with disabilities, who have been abandoned by society and their families and providing the manpower to build simple homes in conjunction with the Simply Smiles Dump Project.