CONNECTICUT DISTRICT NEWS MAY 2016 The Connecticut District Office of the United Methodist Church 20 Broadfield Road, Hamden, CT 06517 Resident Bishop: Jane Allen Middleton Editor: Dorothy Chamberlain Superintendent: Reverend Kenneth Kieffer Volume 32, Issue 5 E-mail: ctdistrict@nyac-umc.com Web: www.ctdistrictumc.org 203-288-0286 "Parable for Portland" I ll be heading out to Portland, Oregon, in 10 days or so to join the NYAC delegation for the 2016 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. But rather than packing a fortnight's worth of suits and ties, all indications are that the better choice might be suits of armor! That s because every article I ve read, every video I ve viewed, and every person I ve talked to over the last year and a half regarding GC 16, informs me that I am heading into battle. It s us against them, and we aren t taking any prisoners. Not this time.can t afford to. Gotta win. At all costs.no matter what. Thankfully, God is on our side! In an effort to help keep my UMC from devolving into the UFC, I share with you now the following reallife, first-personparable: Once upon a time, there was a town in coastal Connecticut that was so close to the New York State border that the Manhattan skyline could easily be seen from the municipal beach. Not only that, but all of the local television channels were beamed into their homes from the Big City. But while the residents of this town readily availed themselves of the many upsides of the upper East Side, they were not New Yorkers. Not no way, not no how! I, on the other hand, having been born and raised on Long Island, consider myself to be a New Yorker no matter where I might happen to reside. And my sports allegiances have always reflected my New York state of mind. I root for the Jets and the Giants, the Knicks and the Nets, the Rangers and the Islanders. But mostly, I m a Yankee fan. This never posed much of a problem for me, that is until the Bishop sent me to serve as the pastor of the UMC in this very non-ny town. You see, more than a few of the flock were rabid Red Sox fans (cross-cultural appointment?) - one of whom was my Boston-bred Lay Leader, who was so upset with his new pastor s email address being 27yankees that he actually refused to send me stuff electronically! Sadly, time only made the situation worse. Things got so acrimonious between the two sides during the 03 and 04 baseball seasons that it actually began taking a toll on my spiritual health and well-being. When I finally decided to pray about it, God told me to just let it go (like a certain grounder through Bill Buckner s legs). So I did. 1
Parable for Portland continued ---- As a result, at our church s upcoming Creative Auction, I would offer to sincerely and enthusiastically root for the Red Sox for the next season (min. bid $500). This would not be easy to do, of course, but it d be good for my hardened heart and it d be even better for the church s anemic income budget. In preparation for this transformation, I spent the entire pre-season pulling for players whom I had previously disrespected and disparaged. By Opening Day, my conversion was complete. Those leprous, adulterous, tax-collecting red-socked Samaritans had become unique and unrepeatable miracles of God. And if God loved them, then I should too. Amen? It came to pass that, on the day of the auction, the Red Sox fans in my church all got together and pooled their money in order to make the minimum bid of $500. That didn t surprise me. What DID surprise me was that Yankee fans in my church refused to lose to Boston again (see 2004). They kept outbidding their Fenway foes until they finally prevailed (see 27 World Championships)! Moral of the story: Even though the winning bid was an astounding $800, the lesson I learned was priceless: I am a unique and unrepeatable miracle of God - just like everyone else. I pray that this thought prevails in Portland, at our General Conference from May 10-20. Would you join me in this prayer? - Ken Kieffer 2
CLEAN WATER FOR NICARAGUANS Thanks to the generosity of the congregations in our District, we were able to pay for 245 Water Filters for villagers in Nicaragua. 3
CT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN SPRING DAY APART REPORT Our event was held on April 16, 2016 and what a glorious day it was! Sixty women attended from all over the district. We celebrated our Lord in the morning worship service and then proceeded putting together 70 layette kits for UMCOR! The joy and delightful comments were overwhelming. Such generosity and spirit proves to me that we are sisters in Christ and certainly with each other. After a lovely lunch provided by the Wallingford UMW, it was time for the housekeeping portion which was a follow up for all the units on current events around the District such as Bethel youth raising money to buy Bee Hives to help end hunger. A surprise to them all was the white Dogwood seedling trees given out in honor of Earth Day on April 29 th, 2016. The CT District team s way of helping to save our planet and remembering climate justice, which was our theme at our Winter gathering in February 2016. We closed the day with communion and prayers. Each one of us leaving with hope and love for the young mothers who will receive the layette kits around the world, a renewed spirit and a small gift to give back to mother earth by planting the little seedlings. In Christ and affection, Nancy Hauser, President CT DISTRICT UMW 4
The Commission on Older Adult Ministries of the NYAC Invites you to OUR LEGACY A Generational Bridge Remembering & Hope Presenter The Rev. Dr. William Randolph Director of The Office on Aging and Older Adult Ministries At the General Board of Discipleship Of The United Methodist Church Saturday, May 14, 2016, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm The Mamaroneck UMC 546 E. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543 Bring a lunch. Dessert and beverages, as well as breakfast snacks, will be provided. Registration; $15, payable to NYAC (please note OAM Event in the on the memo line) Mail check and registration below to: Evelyn Brunson, Salem UMC, 2190 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., NY, NY 10027 or Warren Whitlock, PO Box 670, Glenham, NY 12527-0670 For additional information, contact Jim Stinson, Chairperson, COAM jstinson4242@aol.com Name: Phone: E-mail address: Address: Church: Mail registration and payment to: Evelyn Brunson, Salem UMC, 2190 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., NY, NY 10027 or Warren Whitlock, PO Box 670, Glenham, NY 12527-0670 5
New York Annual Conference Building Spiritually Fulfilled Men MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR DOCTORS, NURSES, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN S LIVES Celebrate Strength For Service to God and Community Month - June 2016 Invite the doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians in your community to a Sunday Worship in the month of June Present them with the Strength of Service to God and Community devotional Purchase the Strength of Service to God and Community devotional in bulk of 25 or more for $7.00 each To order, call toll free, 866-297-4312 or go to www.strengthforservice.org For additional information, contact UMM Commmunications at umc_nyac_umm@yahoo.com Scouting Coordinator, Malcolm Hall @ tmagic8006@aol.com
New York Annual Conference Local Pastor s Licensing School 2016 Four Modules: Sept. 8-10 Oct. 5-8 Nov. 3-5 Dec. 1-3 at St. Thomas Seminary 467 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield, CT 06002 WHO ATTENDS? Persons in the candidacy process who, prior to ordination, want to be considered for an appointment, once they have obtained the certificate for candidacy, MAY attend this year s school to prepare for a future appointment with the recommendation of their District Committee on Ministry and District Superintendent. If a person has not already completed the Disciplinary requirements, Check with your District Superintendent, the District Committee on Ordained Ministry and the Local Pastor Registrar for any possible exceptions. WHY? The Division of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry requires80 contact hours with 30 basic minimum competencies that are essential for beginning the practice of ministry. These competencies are divided into four modules. ATTENDANCE AT ALL FOR MODULES IS NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION. Module 1 Worship, Sacraments and Preaching Module 2 The Pastor as Educator, Stewardship, Methodist History and a touch of Safe Sanctuary s and Boundaries Module 3 Pastoral Care, Special Services and Spirituality Module 4 Evangelism/Outreach/Mission and Leadership & Administration Each competency is treated in two ways: First, there is a body of knowledge which can be communicated by reading, lecture, group experience, and other methods. Second, there is a skill or ability which comes out of the knowledge and is demonstrable within the group. Written assignments may be made during each module. Students will be expected to return those assignments prior to the following module. Persons attending the LPLS will be evaluated in each area with a written report. The report may or may not recommend that the license be granted. It should be noted that the granting of the license is not done by the Licensing School, but by the Bishop on the recommendation of the Board of Ordained Ministry and confirmed by Clergy Session of Annual Conference. Successful completion of the school is only one aspect of the process of receiving the license. COST? Students who are planning to complete all four modules within a 12 month period will need to make a single payment of $1,100. Students who are planning to complete less than four modules will pay $300.00 per module. The cost includes room for 2 nights and 5 meals. Who do I contact to inquire or ask questions? The District Superintendent, the Local Pastor Registrar, Co-Directors of the LPLS in that order. (DS Ken Kieffer at ctdistrict@nyac-umc.com, LP Registrar Eileen Daunt at Eileen.Daunt@nyac-umc.com, then the Co-Directors at LPLS@nyac-umc.com ) 7
Condolences and Prayers for: Please keep in your prayers the family of Reverend David L. Parker who died on April 6, 2016 at the age of 93. In addition to serving churches in the Northern New Jersey Conference, he served the following churches in the New York Annual Conference: Staten Island- Summerfield, Albertson, Woodmere-Lawrence, East Meadow and East Hampton. NEW APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT Wayne Lavender to Faith United Methodist Church in North Haven. Wayne is currently AIEM at Foundation 4 Orphans. ****** RETIREE S BREAKFAST May 18, 2016 All retirees are invited to meet on May 18th for breakfast 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. Next breakfast is scheduled for June 15. It helps to know about how many to expect. Kindly contact Ralph Roy at Ralphlroy@aol.com or call 860-620-1711. 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. 8
ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 8-11, 2016 Hofstra University CT DISTRICT BREAKFAST AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE FRI-DAY, JUNE 10, 2016 7 A.M. ALL CLERGY AND LAITY ARE INVITED Be sure to register for CT Breakfast when you register for Annual Conference CONNECTICUT DISTRICT IS ON FACEBOOK! CHECK US OUT AT: nyacconnecticut district DEADLINE FOR JUNE DISTRICT NEWS IS MAY 20 th 9