CONNECTICUT DISTRICT NEWS

Transcription

1 CONNECTICUT DISTRICT NEWS March 2017 The Connecticut District Office of the United MethodistChurch 20 Broadfield Road, Hamden, CT Resident Bishop: Thomas J. Bickerton Editor: Dorothy Chamberlain Superintendent: Reverend Kenneth Kieffer Volume 34, Issue 3 ctdistrict@nyac-umc.com Web: REGARDING MY GOING-AWAY PRESENT By Ken Kieffer As you surely know by now, I ll be leaving this post at the end of June, having served the maximum time allowed by our current Book of Discipline. Reflecting on my time with you over these past 8 years, I have to say that we ve done some very good work together, particularly with regard to our mission giving. Again last year, there was not another district in the entire New York Annual Conference that paid a higher percentage of their apportionments than Team Connecticut (yes, I do consider apportionments to be mission giving)! And our district mission project last year exceeded its already lofty goal by more than 50%! Well done, good and faithful servants. Hey, speaking of giving, I d like to talk to you about my going-away gift. Since I m the one going away, it seems only fitting that I get you all a nice going-away gift. Something which will reflect my deep love, admiration and appreciation for all of you. Something worthy of the ministry that we accomplished together, by the grace of God. Something that will last as long as our faith in Jesus Christ. There s the wind-up. Here s the pitch As part of my Lenten journey this year, I would like to personally visit each and every one of the seventy-something UM church buildings in our district. While there, I plan to pray for the building, its pastor(s), its laity, and its future. This will require nothing from you, other than to hold me accountable. The doors won t have to be open. The pastor won t have to be in the office. And the secretary won t have to be on-site. As long as the Holy Spirit is present, I m good. (BTW, if the presence of the Holy Spirit is NOT evident in and around your church building, let me know and maybe we can work to convert it into luxury condominiums or a Dunkin Donuts or something else we don t really need).

2 My Going Away Present continued. The way I see it, it was your faithful and fervent prayers 5 years ago that helped cure me of my cancer and gave me new life. So all I m doing with this gift is returning the favor. Or better yet, all I m doing is praying you back. ******** BISHOP S DAY ON OUR DISTRICT MAY 16, 2017 Clergy will have several opportunities to spend time with Bishop Bickerton during the course of the day. The laity are invited to join the bishop for dinner that evening and spend some time for conversation afterward at a church near where Route 8 intersects with I-84. Please reserve the date.

3 Enjoy four days and three night in the Pocono Mountains - FREE! Now that we have your attention the NYAC Disaster Response Ministry is looking to sponsor up to 2 persons from each District to attend the Northeast Jurisdictional Disaster Response Academy, sponsored by UMVIM/UMCOR, March 26 to 29. The venue is the Pocono Plateau Camp and Retreat Center in Casco, Pennsylvania. Now, here comes the rub to be eligible for this offer persons should have a desire to know more about faith-based disaster response ministries, agree to meet ahead of time in preparation for the Academy, agree to serve on the Conference Disaster Administrative Committee (CDAC), and commit to working toward developing their District s response capacity and capability. For more information about the Academy please visit the NEJ VIM website (umvimnej.org) or contact Tom Vencuss (tvencuss@nyac.com). Participants will be accepted on a first-come basis. Early-bird deadline is February 26. Please contact Tom before registering. ******** Disaster Response Ministry Retreat and Work Week-end(s) Calling all ERTs, Long Term Recovery volunteers, DESC-trained personnel join us for a retreat and work weekend at Camp Olmstead, Thursday, May 11 through Saturday, May 13. During the day we will put our disaster response skills to work, assisting with work projects, and during the evening spend time in fellowship and disaster response-related discussions and workshops. The camp will be hosting us so there is no cost to volunteers. In preparation, we are looking for several persons with construction/building backgrounds to visit the camp and begin to put together a scope of work for each project Please contact Tom Vencuss, Coordinator Disaster Recovery Ministries, NY Annual Conference. (tvencuss@nyac.com) or if you are interested.

4 DAYS FOR GIRLS WORKSHOPS 9 a.m. 3 p.m. March 25 April 29 May 13 Simsbury United Methodist Church 799 Hopmeadow Street Simsbury, CT Time to mark your new calendars for the New Year! This month our DFG workshop is from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, February 25, at Simsbury United Methodist Church, 799 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT. (The brownstone church in the center of town) - Go in the entrance by the playground. Bring your sewing machine and/or serger if you sew, sharp fabric only scissors, and either a dish to share or some money to chip in for pizza. Please let me know what you will bring. Snow? Use your discretion. We will understand. If it s due later in the day we will go ahead and at least work in the morning. If it s an all day, covers our cars in snow while we snow, we will cancel. Good News! Our New York/CT Conference Youth will be taking kits to a school in Tamale, Ghana in February with the Youth Ambassador in Mission TRIP. Thank you to all who contributed to the fundraising for Anna Baker, a Days for Girls Ambassador for Women s Health, for the travel expenses and for the preparations and supplies needed for the 17 young people to do construction work on the clinic there, as well as to all who helped make and fund the kits. NEXT WORKSHOPS: FEB 25, MARCH 25, APRIL 29, MAY 13 at All workshops are at Simsbury UMC from 9 a.m.to 3:00 p.m. Presentations for helping other churches begin DFG - scheduled for Saturday February 4 from 9:00 am at Golden Hill United Methodist Church in Bridgeport. For more information on the district workshop on Feb 4 th contact: Maggie Carr Chair, District Council on Ministries For information on Simsbury Team s workshops contact Jan Baker at baker1jan@aol.com - PLEASE INDICATE YOU ARE COMING AHEAD OF TIME

5 Lenten Bible Study from CBCS For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.that the world might be saved through Him. These familiar words from John are often contemplated during our holy season of Lent. We know this quote. But look again God is not giving his Son to save people or humanity, but the world.. This Lent, spend some time reflecting on what it means to us, as Christians, that God loves and wants to save the world. The Board of Church and Society recommends the bible study, To Serve and Guard the Earth by Beth Bojarski as a church Lenten scripture study that will help all of us come to a better understanding of the biblical underpinnings of concern for our environment and world and initiate practices that support creation s sacredness. This resource is divided into six sessions related to the 7 days of creation (session 2 combines Genesis days 2 and 4) and environmental concerns related to the days. Session 1: Day 1 Light / energy consumption, outdoor light pollution Session 2: Days 2/4 Sea & Sky / potable water, air pollution, climate change Session 3: Day 3 Land & Plants / deforestation, industrialization, waste management Session 4: Day 5 Birds & Fish/ habitat destruction, species extinction Session 5: Day 6 Land Creatures / consumption & greed, human disparity, overpopulation Session 6: Day 7 Rest & Reflection / being content with life, the importance of rest Although Genesis is the foundational organizing scripture of this Study, each session includes discussion and references to diverse scripture passages. For example, Session 1 builds on passages from John, Matthew, Ephesians, 1John and Psalms. To Serve and Guard the Earth is available as a downloadable pdf, for $9.95, but this one download will serve an entire group, assuming that the leader has access to a copy machine or each participant could download a copy. The study includes participant handouts and a leader s guide, along with all kinds of extras including prayers, activities etc. This is the link to order the study: When you click on the link to this resource you will have the opportunity to preview the study and read more about the many options it provides. Please consider widening your perspective about salvation and the environment this Lent! If you have any questions, please contact Sheila at churchandsociety@nyac-umc.com or visit our webpage at

6 Connecticut District Mission Project Days for Girls International is a grassroots non-profit creating a more dignified, humane and sustainable world for girls through advocacy, reproductive health awareness, education and sustainable feminine hygiene, because no girl should go without. The poverty cycle can be broken when girls stay in school, which is a huge challenge in some countries. Not having sanitary supplies means Days without school and isolation. Days for Girls gives Days back to girls, Days that can change their lives. The CT district is joining the New York Annual Conference this year to support the Days for Girls program. For $20, one Kit will provide sustainable feminine hygiene for one girl for 3 years! Please give as you are able! Please make checks payable to the CT District and mail to: CT District Office, Attention: Dorothy, 20 Broadfield Road, Hamden, CT Please note on lower left corner of the check: Days for Girls

7 RAISE THE ROOF A Connecticut District Mission Project In Partnership The South Congo Conference Send donations to: The CT District Office Attention: Dorothy 20 Broadfield Road Hamden, CT Make checks payable to: CT District Please note on lower left corner of the check: Raise the Roof Project Goal: $20,000 The newly proposed and designed orphanage for 80 children will consist of 5 buildings: 4 dormitories (a dorm for young boys, a dorm for young girls, a dorm for older boys and one for older girls) and a large central building for babies, staff and administration. The roofing for these dorms will be tin. Each building will need 80 sheets of tin: cost to install each sheet of tin (including purchasing of the tin, nails and labor) will be approximately $50. Each contribution of $50 will entitle the giver to a CT District foam brick. Each contribution of $50 will move us closer to housing 80 orphans. Each contribution of $50 will help us build God s Kingdom. Orphanage Request 30 separate times the Bible tells us to care for orphans, including this well known passage: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. John Wesley, in a letter to George Whitefield, said that caring for orphans is the highest form of charity on earth (1770). Caring for orphans and vulnerable children is in our DNA as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of the Methodist Movement. Bishop Kainda Katembo has reached out to the Rev. Wayne Lavender, pastor of Faith UMC in North Haven and director of the Foundation 4 Orphans, requesting the construction of a new orphanage for 80 children in the city of Lubumbashi, DRC. The new orphanage will be constructed on a piece of land owned by the UMC and less than 200 yards from the UMC supported schools, local church and health care facilities. The South Congo Conference of the UMC will cover operational costs for the new orphanage. The project will be overseen by the Rev. Kanyimb Mbaz, an ordained member of the South Congo Conference appointed to this UMC compound as chaplain to the school and church. Total cost of the orphanage will be $200,000.

8 DISTRICT MISSION UPDATE The District Council on Ministries chose to mission projects for this year, Days for Girls and Raise the Roof. Although the response from our churches has been terrific so far, let s double those figures listed below. We would like to have all donations in by our District Conference which is April 30, DAYS FOR GIRLS: We have received enough donations to be able to purchase 125 kits. RAISE THE ROOF: We have received enough donations to purchase 65 sheets of tin for the roofs. We received the following from Rev. Craig Fitzsimmons from the United Methodist Church of Clinton: At our District Superintendent's final regular Church Conference on Super Bowl Sunday, the members of the UMC of Clinton decided in honor of Ken's eight years of leadership and ministry to the Connecticut District to put forth a challenge to all the other churches in the District. In order to completely fund the Raise the Roof project, Clinton UMC will match all the funds raised up to a total of $10,000. We hope this will be completed by our District Conference on April 30. We know we can do this! ARE YE ABLE? 8

9 BOUNDARIES AND SEXUAL ETHICS TRAINING Thursday, March 9, a.m. 3 p.m. New York Conference Learning Center 20 Soundview Avenue White Plains, NY The first workshop for Boundaries and Sexual Ethics Training is set for Thursday, March 9th from 9 am - 3 pm in the Learning Center of the NY Conference, 20 Soundview Avenue, White Plains, NY Participants are asked to bring their own bag lunch and coffee, tea and water will be provided. I am in the process of working with Barbara Eastman to have the registration for this course online. I will keep you informed when the registration is up and running. Peace and blessings, Gail Douglas-Boykin Coordinator of Ministerial Services NYAC Board of Ordained Ministry Phone: Fax:

10 Go Preach! Preaching in the United Methodist Church For Lay Servants and all Laity in the NYAC interested in the process of preparing and delivering a sermon. This course is always exciting and inspirational in content and delivery. You will not be disappointed and you may even be a little surprised! Leaders: Rev. Kenneth Kieffer, CT District Superintendent and CT District Lay Servant Committee Members Cheshire United Methodist Church 205 Academy Road Cheshire, CT Coffee/Fellowship 8:30-9 am~~ Please bring your own lunch Cost is $15 April 8, 2017 (for all lay servants) 9 am to noon Rev. Ken Kieffer 12:30 to 3:30 pm - LS Committee April 22, 2017 (for re-certification only - lay servants already preaching) 9 am to 3:30 pm ~ Delivery of one 12 minute sermon using scripture handed out in first session. You must attend April 8 and 22. Participants must submit a written or typed sermon on April 22 to receive credit for the course. April 29, 2017 (for lay servants new to preaching) 9 am to 3:30 pm ~ Delivery of one 12 minute sermon using scripture handed out in first session. You must attend April 8 and April 29. Participants must submit a written or typed sermon on April 29 to receive credit for the course. All class participants should purchase and read Go Preach! A Primer for Beginning Preachers by Jack Gilbert before the first class available through Cokesbury and Amazon.com. This is an Advanced Lay Servant Class and all Lay Servants will receive a three-year re-certification upon successful completion of whichever two day course applies for you. 10

11 REGISTRATION FORM FOR Preaching in the United Methodist Church April 8 for ALL participants April 22 for lay servants already preaching April 29 for lay servants new to preaching I will attend April 8 and 22 I will attend April 8 and 29 Please mail this registration form and your check for $15 payable to CT District Dorothy Chamberlain, CT District Office 20 Broadfield Road Hamden, CT Your Name Address Phone Number Church District Pastor s Signature of Endorsement All class participants should purchase and read Go Preach! A Primer for Beginning Preachers by Jack Gilbert before the first class available through Cokesbury and Amazon.com For further details or questions about which sermon dates you should attend, please contact Mary Brevigleiri, CT District Lay Servant Director mbrevigleiri@perrytechnology.com or (860) IMPORTANT: Due to time constraints on sermon deliveries, registrations will be limited to 20 persons for April 22 and 20 persons for April 29. For further details or questions about which sermon dates you should attend, please contact Mary Brevigleiri, CT District Lay Servant Director mbrevigleiri@perrytechnology.com or (860) Sponsored by CT District Lay Servant Ministries 11

12 12

13 13

14 Presentations: "When Disaster Strikes the Church Responds A one-day forum on Disaster Response Ministries April 22, 2017 NYAC Conference Center, White Plains The Role of the Church in a disaster Understanding the Big Picture 9 AM to 4 PM Caring for the Community The role of the Church before, during and after a disaster Break Out Sessions: ERT Recertification class Effective Leadership - Nuts and Bolts of Leading a Response Team Caring for the Community Developing Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care Teams Final Gathering - Toward a District-based disaster response ministry Key Note Speaker: Greg Forrester - President and CEO, National VOAD Formerly of UMCOR and the NEJ VIM Coordinator We will provide light breakfast foods, beverages, and snacks throughout the event. Please bring a bag lunch to allow for a working-lunch. Please register on the NYAC website and indicate a preference for one of the breakout sessions. Contact Tom Vencuss (tvencuss@nyac.com) for more information or with questions. Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care "Basic" Training Saturday, April 29 9 AM to 4 PM NYAC Conference Center This seven-hour training provides an overview for the development of Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care Teams. UMCOR-trained Disaster Response Care Teams are faith-based, ongoing teams with standardized training that provide spiritual and emotional care before, during, following, and in-between disasters. Working closely with their Annual Conference and District Disaster Response Ministries, Care Teams help survivors and others connect with spiritual, emotional, and basic life resources. We will provide light breakfast foods, beverages, and snacks throughout the event. Please bring a bag lunch to allow for a working-lunch. Please register on the NYAC website. Contact Wendy Vencuss (wvencuss@gmail.com) for more information or with questions. 14

15 Disaster Response Ministry Retreat and Work Week-end(s) Calling all ERTs, Long Term Recovery volunteers, DESC-trained personnel join us for a retreat and work weekend at Camp Olmstead, Thursday, May 11 through Saturday, May 13. During the day we will put our disaster response skills to work, assisting with work projects, and during the evening spend time in fellowship and disaster response-related discussions and workshops. The camp will be hosting us so there is no cost to volunteers. In preparation, we are looking for several persons with construction/building backgrounds to visit the camp and begin to put together a scope of work for each project. Please contact Tom Vencuss (tvencuss@nyac.com) or if you are interested. We have also been in touch with Brooke and Justin at Quinipet and we are looking to put together a similar retreat/work weekend there. More details about this to come. Please click here to see upcoming ERT training events>> Download an Emotional & Spiritual Care Brochure Rev. Tom Vencuss Coordinator Disaster Recovery Ministries New York Annual Conference

16 SOWER: SEEDS OF FAITH AND FINANCE BY Ed Ruppman We have created a program called Sower: Seeds of Faith & Finance. The program is designed to reach out directly to the members of your church to help them get back on solid financial ground. We will come to the church, conduct an in-depth financial planning session and make recommendations on how participants can strengthen their financial position. We offer no products or services where we directly or indirectly are paid a commission. We have found that once the congregation is educated, they are empowered to ensure personal financial wellness and, in turn, are often able to increase support of their church. The program has a proven track record of success. District Superintendent, Rev. Betsy Ott, former pastor of Lake Ronkonkoma UMC and Park Ave. UMC said the following: "Your program is the most positive thing going on in this conference relating to stewardship that I've seen in a long time." You're doing a wonderful job. FYI our giving here has gone up in the past year and we are increasing in the number of pledgers. There is a much better sense of stewardship as a way of life and of the need for stability in giving so the church has stability in funding ministries. Blessings, Betsy" We have made good progress in 2016 with this program. Here is a brief recap of what we have accomplished. 1. Generated $1,750,000 in bequests since 2012 as we asked families to consider leaving something to their church in their will. 2. Overall since 2006, bequests now total $5.5 million. 3. Free will offerings now total $131,400, up 14.1% in the last 2 years. 4. Educated over 1,875 people since 2006 about how to be better stewards of their resources. There is no cost for these seminars as they are funded as part of the Frontier Foundation and Connectional Ministries' education program. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. WE ARE SCHEDULING SPRING THROUGH EARLY SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS BEGINNING IN MARCH JUNE, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUR CHURCH TO EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM IN GREATER DETAIL. SIMPLY SEND ME AN AND SAY "I'M INTERESTED. I CAN BE CONTACTED AT edrupp50@gmail.com OR AT or Thanks Very Much, 16

17 CLERGY AND SPOUSES HEALTH CLINICS APRIL 24-28, 2017 OCTOBER 23-27, 2017 You are cordially invited to participate in a health clinic at New York Methodist Hospital. Each year United Methodist ministers and/or their spouses come from the New York Conference to enjoy this experience with us. In the four days you are here you will receive a thorough physical examination and any follow-up tests that may be indicated. There will also be time to tour the hospital and participate in seminars on recent developments in health care. You will get a penetrating view of your mission hospital at work. In addition, you will be performing a unique function for us, for your presence here will remind the entire hospital family of our ties to the People called Methodist, which go back over 130 years. Overnight accommodations and virtually all expenses beyond a $50 registration fee are covered by the hospital. Active pastors and/or their spouses from the New York Conference are eligible to participate, together or singly (once every five years). For more information and the registration form, please contact Rev. Elizabeth Braddon at , (cell) or elizabeth.braddon@gmail.com. 17

18 Please keep in your prayers: Reverend Trudy Codd (Pleasant Valley) on the loss of her husband Robert (Bob) who died on February 24, 2017 after a long illness. The family of Ruth Amrein, who died on February 16, 2017 in Vernon, CT. at the age of 102. She was the widow of Rev. Arthur Amrein who served in our District at Wethersfield, Simsbury and Milford until his retirement in She is survived by two daughters and one son. The family of Reverend Richard Wiborg, of Newton, MA, who died on February 20, He is survived by his wife, Margaret and two sons. Rev. Wiborg served in our District at Summerfield-Hope UMC in New Haven from ********* All retirees are invited to meet on March 16, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. for lunch at Denny's, 631 Queen St. (Route 10) in Southington, just off I-84, exit 32. We meet on the third Thursday of each month. Plan to come to next month s gathering on April 20, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. for LUNCH! Kindly contact Ralph Roy at Ralphlroy@aol.com or call Call too, if the weather is questionable in case it is cancelled. Please come prepared to share information on any illness, bereavement or other circumstances that should engage the group s attention. 18

19 15 Pleasant Street Meriden, CT ********* CONNECTICUT DISTRICT IS ON FACEBOOK! CHECK US OUT AT: nyacconnecticut district DEADLINE FOR THE APRIL 2017 DISTRICT NEWS IS March 20,