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ConferenceCast 129: 6/13/2013: Video Edition

"Your Sins are Forgiven": Rev. Barbara J. Libby

CTUCC Featured Videos

Weekly Reflection from The Spirit Calendar

We Can Do More; I Can Do More, by Mr. Charlie Kuchenbrod

News and Announcements

CT Women and Connecticut Conference Presenting Resolution on Women's Rights to General Synod 29

HARTFORD -- Gathered for a regular meeting of the Board of the Connecticut Women of the United Church of Christ, the members took a break from the regular business of organizing retreats, planning service projects, and raising mission dollars, but it wasn't a gentle break. For months, even years, they had become aware of a rising tide of legislative actions at state and federal levels that seemed aimed at the rights of women, rights hard-won by vigorous activism in the 1960s and 70s. Suddenly, what had seemed settled was imperiled. 06/19/2013

New Minister Profile: Rev. John Van Epps

IVORYTON -- Not many pastors can celebrate their 40th anniversary of their ordination with a new congregation. Rev. John Van Epps, who has served 26 of those years in Connecticut, has been the acting pastor at Ivoryton Congregational Church for nearly a year and is about to become the church's settled part-time pastor. 06/19/2013

Service Members "Come As They Are" to Holy Joe's Cafes

WALLINGFORD -- Even as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces formally transferred security responsibilities to the Afghan government today, U.S. servicemembers continued their work of patrolling dangerous areas, training Afghan soldiers, building roads and facilities -- and treating the wounded. Amidst the dangers and stresses of duty in war zones, and amidst the harsh realities of recovering from that duty, Holy Joe's Cafes offer a precious resource. For a cup of coffee, servicemen and women "come as they are" to a safe place where they can be themselves, and where military chaplains provide a smile, a prayer, and a listening ear. 06/18/2013

The Depth of Doing Church (Book Review)

GLASTONBURY -- The Rev. Liz Miller reviews Lillian Daniel's book: When "Spiritual But Not Religious" Is Not Enough: Seeing God in Surprising Places, Even the Church. Miller writes, "It reads like a love letter to those of us who participate in church life." 06/17/2013

Keith Bolton and Deborah Blood Leading Sacred Conversation on Race Ministry Team

HARTFORD -- The Connecticut Conference's Sacred Conversations on Race Ministry (SCRM) Team will enjoy the capable and committed leadership of two exemplary pastors as it begins its work this year. The ministry's goal, as voted by the Board of Directors and wildly applauded by ministers and delegates at last October's Annual Meeting, is nothing less than "to eradicate racism." 06/12/2013

Connecticut Conference Bids Chuck Wildman a Fond Farewell

BLOOMFIELD -- When the Rev. Charles L. "Chuck" Wildman asked then-chair of the Connecticut Conference Board of Directors the Rev. Richard Koenig how long his tenure as Interim Conference Minister might be, the Plantsville Congregational Church UCC pastor replied, "Oh, about a year or so." Nearly three years later, grateful members of the Conference gathered at the First Congregational Church UCC of Bloomfield to thank him for his diligent, faithful ministry, and to honor him as he formally relinquished his leadership responsibilities. 06/12/2013

In Memoriam: Gail Wadlin Joslin

COLCHESTER -- Gail W. Joslin, former Associate Minister of Christian Education and Child Advocacy for the Connecticut Conference UCC and a life-long educator and children's advocate, of Colchester, passed away peacefully with her family by her side after a courageous battle with cancer on Monday, June 10, 2013. She was 64. 06/12/2013

Spirit Corner: The Lamp

HARTFORD -- Working and studying with Muslims as I do, it is consistently clear how well they know their Qur'an; indeed, many have memorized much if not all of it -- impressive enough, let alone that many read and speak it in the original language, shifting deftly between Arabic and English. This familiarity with the holy text enables an enviable nimbleness in applying scriptural teachings to particular situations and circumstances of life, and sharing conversations which draw on the breadth of the collected wisdom within. 06/07/2013

Sunny Day and Sunny Spirits Salute the Seventh Silver Lake Golf Tournament

WATERBURY -- Experienced golfers know that the weather doesn't always cooperate, but yesterday at the Country Club of Waterbury, it certainly smiled on the seventy players in eighteen teams who came out to "play a round" on behalf of Silver Lake Conference Center. Enjoying the most refreshing temperatures of the season so far -- just a little cool in the early morning, and pleasant at high noon -- the golfers made their way around the course, enjoying its beauty and (sometimes) groaning at its difficulty. 06/05/2013

Interim Conference Minister Offers Thanks and Prayers

HARTFORD -- Interim Conference Minister the Rev. Charles L. Wildman offered his thanks and prayers as his time leading the Connecticut Conference draws to a close. In a message to Conference leaders today, he reflected on some of the transitions experienced by Christians in earlier days, and declared his faith that incoming Conference Minister Kent Siladi "will take you along wonderful, new paths of mission and service." 06/05/2013

Sixty Years Later, Koreans Seek an Apology for Abused Women

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA -- If it's Wednesday at noon, Korea Standard Time, they are there. For over twenty years, since the visit of Japan's then Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, they have been there. They bear placards and banners, images of butterflies, and Korean flags. At the center, seated on a bench, are some of those for whom they raise their voices. On a portable sound system, they call their demands across the street to the Japanese Embassy: apologize for what your military did to these women seventy years ago. 05/29/2013

Sacred Conversations in Music

SHARON -- Over sixty singers and musicians braved the rain and the chill on Saturday, May 25th, to spend the day with music. Gathered in the Cedars common room at Silver Lake Conference, they raised their voices in songs of praise from a variety of traditions -- some famliar, some new -- and engaged as well in some early stages of Sacred Conversations on Race. This was the first rehearsal for a Conference Choir planned to accent worship during the Annual Meeting in October. 05/28/2013

Advocates Take Action to Protect HUSKY

HARTFORD -- Nearly 40 concerned citizens from community organizations, social advocacy groups, and religious institutions, including several pastors from UCC churches in Connecticut, gathered at the Legislative Office Building on May 22nd to take action and voice their concerns over a proposal in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's budget to eliminate the HUSKY A healthcare coverage program. 05/28/2013

Touchstones with History: Conference Ministers

HARTFORD -- Next month we will be welcome Kent Siladi as our fifth conference minister. Only five conference ministers in our nearly 400 year history? That's a long tenure! Actually for over 200 years we didn't have one leader of our Congregational churches in Connecticut. 05/28/2013

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