National Association of Congregational Christian Churches: Community Connections Leadership Council Highlights Laura Hamby, Moderator The primary work of the Leadership Council is programming, membership, and service to our Churches; and vision for the NACCC. Here is a sampling! NAPF/ HOPE PIEDMONT 2017 youth meeting is Rooted in Him. Piedmont College is assisting with the expenses, which will allow the price to be $335, considerably lower than most years! Find a registration form on page 6. VITALITY MINISTRY COUNCIL Chair, Mike Fales, hosted an excellent vision discussion regarding the need to create a variety of paths to support people of all ages called to the ministry. The main speaker for the Minister's Convocation in May is a leading expert on The Missional Church. GROWTH MINISTRY COUNCIL is revising their SMART goals for mentoring churches and assisting remote churches connect in fellowship and to take advantage of NACCC support and programs. Cool Clicks Order 2017-2018 Calendar (Page4) Recent Calls and Ordinations (Page 5) MISSIONS AND OUTREACHMINISTRY COUNCIL would like to thank everyone who made a donation to our 1
missions between October 20th and November 18th. We were able to send $52,000 to our "missions" which they will receive before Christmas. A NEW TASK TEAM was established to develop ideas and language for helping member churches, congregants and ministers to understand and cherish the broad diversity represented in the Congregational Way as a fellowship of NACCC churches. A current Goal of the Leadership Council is to provide the process and means for youth to actively serve on NACCC boards and ministry councils. Wishing you and yours the light and love of this Christmas season! From Our Churches The Congregational Church at the Villages, of Summerfield, FL, hosted their 2nd Annual "Red, White & Blue Revue" Concert, honoring veterans. Proceeds benefitted the church's Infant & Toddler Pantry and a scholarship fund. South Congregational Church of Braintree, MA filled 126 bags with food on November 13th for their Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Members of First Congregational Church of Fall River, MA came together to paint a canvas for the church on November 20th. East Orrington Congregational Church, of Orrington, ME, hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner on November 24th. They had over 80 people in attendance. Congregational Church of Soquel, CA hosted a FRIENDSgiving for their church members on November 20th. First Congregational Church of Newton Falls, OH will host a Breakfast with Santa event on December 10th. The Phoenix Congregational Fellowship recently launched their online Advent program. 2
Our Congregational Future Jim Waechter, Vice Moderator What a joy to have celebrated Thanksgiving, the beginning of Advent and later this month, Christmas, with my one year old grandson James. Earlier this year James was baptized at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. While sitting in the pew listening to his parents voice their promise to raise him as a Christian I had a sudden, overwhelming and tearful sense that the hundreds of hours consumed on every task force, committee, council and NA church member boards is worth every minute spent. Passing on the Congregational Way to young James, and to the many children attending Congregational churches, has mine and your Board of Directors full and unwavering support. Merry Christmas! Attention: The NACCC office will be closed from December 23rd-January2nd. Congregational Foundation, The Basics Edith Bartley, Secretary, Board of Governors The Congregational Foundation (CF), is run by its Board of Governors (BoG), currently consisting of 9 members-all with long NA involvement-plus liaisons from the Leadership Council and Board of Directors. The CF is a separate corporation from NACCC Inc., but is a "supporting corporation" whose sole purpose is to raise money for the NA and to manage those funds responsibly. All income goes to the NA, which has exclusive authority to decide how to spend the funds. (Only exceptions: the recipients of two small funds, the Providence Fund and the Richard Fund, are selected by the BoG, at the request of the NA.) Learn more about the Providence Fund on page 8 and the Richard Fund on page 9. Send Me Your News Submissions for the January edition are due by December 20, 2016 mohara@naccc.org National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 8473 South Howell Ave Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53154 mohara@naccc.org 800-262-1620 ext. 1615 3
2017-2018 NACCC Planning Calendar Order Form Please send Two Year (2017-18) Calendars Price: $10.00 per copy Plus shipping & handling charges (Please Print Clearly) Send Calendars to: Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Telephone: Please send completed form to: NACCC PO Box 288 Oak Creek, WI 53154-0288 or Email your request to: lmiller@naccc.org Telephone: (800) 262-1620 ext. 1618 Fax: (414) 764-0319 4
Recent Calls and Ordinations Congratulations The following churches recently ordained or called ministers to their churches. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Recent Calls Enterprise Community Congregational Church Enterprise, Oregon Rev. Archie Hook, Pastor First Congregational Church Vermontville, MI Rev. David Poole, Pastor Ingle Chapel Congregational Church Milton-Freewater, Oregon Rev. Stan Hughes Jeremiah 29:11 For more information on our pastoral search process, please contact Marie Steele at: msteele@naccc.org or (269) 749-7245 5
Piedmont College Registration Form N.A.P.F.-H.O.P.E. June 25th-June 29th, 2017 (Sunday to Thursday) (A separate form must be filled out for each individual. Additional forms may be obtained from the NACCC Office or you may duplicate this one.) Important: Please print legibly all information. I am registering for: N.A.P.F. or H.O.P.E. (Circle one) Completed Grade 8 through 12 Graduated high school until the age of 27 I am registering as: NAPF Youth NAPF Counselor HOPE CYM member Last Name First Name MI Name to appear on nametag Address City State Zip Phone Number ( ) Youth E-Mail Address Cell number while traveling/at conference: ( ) Age Birth / / Sex: M F T-Shirt Size S M L XL XXL (Circle one) Circle grade to be completed in 2017 (N.A.P.F. registrants only): 8th 9th 10th 11 th 12th Church City State (Please Note: To attend N.A.P.F. you must have completed 8th Grade. Graduating Seniors may attend either N.A.P.F. or H.O.P.E.) I will be: Driving Flying (complete information box below) Traveling with my Church Group in a Van/Bus I will be traveling with the group) Included with this form (Local church, state, or regional $335.00 ($150 deposit due by March 15, 2017. (Balance due May 15, 2017) $410.00 (Fee after May 15, 2017. Due no later than June 10, 2017) I agree to abide by the rules and regulations below and to participate in the N.A.P.F. and H.O.P.E. programs and cooperate with the leadership of the conference. (Registrant) (Parent or Guardian if under 18) (Minister/Youth Director - Required) Conference Fee: $150.00 deposit and Registration Form due in the NACCC Office by March 15, 2017. The balance of the registration fee ($185.00) will be due on May 15, 2017 Late Registration of $410.00 will be charged for any registration postmarked after March 15, 2017. Space is limited if registration is received after March 15, 2017 there is no guarantee your registration can be honored. Absence of any required signature will void this registration. Scholarships are available please check the NACCC website (NACCC.org) Scholarship deadline is February 15, 2017 REGISTRATION FEE MUST ACCOMPANY THIS FORM (Over) 6
N.A.P.F. and H.O.P.E. Rules and Regulations ATTENDANCE: You are not to leave the conference site. Extenuating circumstances may allow variations from the Directors only. Individuals with extenuating circumstances may contact Directors. You are expected to participate fully in all aspects of the N.A.P.F. or H.O.P.E. program and to respect the regulations and property of the host institution. DRESS: No bare feet in the dining room or around campus. Please wear appropriate casual attire for a Christian conference. Shirts or T-shirts are always to be worn. Modest bathing suits required (one piece or tankini style for females). SMOKING: Permitted only in designated areas in accordance with the host institution s policy and laws of the state. ALCOHOL: Possession or use of any alcoholic beverages is forbidden. DRUGS: Except for individual medical prescriptions, the possession or use of drugs is forbidden. AUTOS: Not to be used during the conference. Infractions of the above will be subjected to review by a disciplinary committee and may result in dismissal from the conference at parents or registrants expense. PUBLICITY RELEASE: By signing this registration form the undersigned agrees to allow the possible use of photographs and/or verbal quotes of the attendee for published promotional materials including but not limited to direct mailings, advertising flyers and internet web site information and social media. Conference fee includes lodging, meals (Sunday dinner through Thursday brunch), and all program costs. Registration deposits are non-refundable but are transferrable. IMPORTANT MEDICAL and DIETARY INFORMATION Failure to supply any of the following information may result in our inability to assist the registrant according to their medical needs: 1. Is the registrant in good health and able to participate in all normal activities? Yes No If no, please attach a statement indicating limitations. 2. Has the registrant ever received counseling or been treated for an emotional disorder? Yes No If yes, please attach a statement of explanation (information is given to Directors only) 3. of last physical exam of last Tetanus shot 4. Operations or serious injuries within the last 3 years: 5. Does the registrant experience/suffer from/react to: Allergies, fainting, flushing, itching, swelling, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, anaphylactic shock, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, sulfa, hay fever, bee sting, tetanus, penicillin, etc? Please describe: 6. Please list and explain all medication presently prescribed and its use: 7. Any Drug/Environmental Allergies? 8. May youth take over the counter pain reliever if needed for headaches or pain? YES NO 9. Does the registrant request vegetarian meals? 10.Please list any other dietary restrictions: IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACT Name Phone Number Relationship Dr. s Name Dr. s Phone Number Insurance Company Policy # Group # In case of medical emergency, I understand that every effort will be made to contact the emergency contact listed above. In the event that they cannot be reached, I hereby give my permission to the physician selected by the conference directors to hospitalize, secure proper treatment, and order injection, anesthetic, or surgery. (Registrant) (Parent or Guardian if under 18) Return Registration Form with appropriate Fee by March 15, 2017 Make Checks Payable to NACCC Mail to: N.A.P.F.-H.O.P.E., NACCC, P.O. Box 288, Oak Creek, WI 53154-0288 Absence of any required signature will void this registration. 7
Providence Fund The Providence Fund was established and initially funded by the 2004 Annual Meeting and Conference Host Committee to help churches offset the expenses of sending a delegate to the Annual Meeting and Conference. About: The Providence Fund will provide a grant to cover registration fees for the Annual Meeting and Conference. The registration fees provided by the Providence Fund will be directly paid from the Fund to the NACCC. Any remaining awarded funds will be sent to the church for use towards travel expenses. Grants will be awarded up to $500 per church. Grant Recipients must complete and submit a Grant Report - a brief questionnaire, within 30 days of the Annual Meeting and Conference for which the funds were received. Requirements: 1. The Member Church must partner with the Providence Fund in sending a delegate. 2. The Member Church must not have been able to send a delegate to the Annual Meeting for 3 or more years, due to financial reasons. How to Apply: Complete the Providence Fund Grant Application found at: http://www.naccc.org/providence-fund.html. Submit applications to the NACCC no later than May 5, 2017 via email, fax or mail. Applications received after the deadline will NOT be considered. Apply to: mohara@naccc.org FAX: 414.764.0319 PO Box 288 - Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53154 8
John Richard Fund The John Calvin Richard Fund was established by his family as a loving and living memorial. His love for music and theater performance was a large part of his talented but short life. About: The Fund awards annual grants to National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) Active Member Churches of 200 members or less that are planning a fine or performing arts event in their church. Grants will be awarded up to $500 per church. All funds awarded for an event must be used by April 1, 2018. Grant recipients must complete and submit a brief questionnaire as a final grant report within 30 days of the event for which the funds were received. Requirements: 1. The event program or bulletin must include mention of the John Richard Fund of the Congregational Foundation and the NACCC. A copy of this program or bulletin must be submitted with the final grant report. 2. The church must have 200 members or less. How to Apply: Complete the John Richard Fund Grant Application found at www.naccc.org/john-richard-fund.html. Submit applications to the NACCC no later than May 5, 2017 via email, fax or mail. Applications received after the deadline will NOT be considered. Apply to: mohara@naccc.org FAX: 414.764.0319 PO Box 288 - Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53154 9