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Eric S. Anderson Minister of Communications and Technology 860.761.7102 webmaster@ctucc.org |
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Drew Page Media Assistant 860.233.5564 drewp@ctucc.org |
GUILFORD -- Around four hundred ministers, delegates, and visitors came to the First Congregational Church UCC in Guilford on October 22nd for the Fall Session of the 2011 Connecticut Conference Annual Meeting. Invited to Imagine What's Possible, they shared their wisdom with members of the Conference Minister Search Committee; voted to become a Global Mission Conference of the United Church of Christ; and worshiped with Korean songs and drums, with Holy Communion, and even with dance. 11/16/2011
HARTFORD -- Legally, I am a farmer! I inherited the Wildman farm from my father, who was born in the old farmhouse and worked the land as a young man. His Irish immigrant grandfather established the farm, clearing the land, spending his life paying for it. 11/16/2011
GUILFORD -- The Living Waters Award was presented to Marilyn Graham, Executive of H.O.P.E., Inc., which provides affordable housing in southeastern Connecticut. "I'm truly, truly honored and humbled to have been selected to receive this award," she said, "especially when I consider how many people are doing good works throughout our state." H.O.P.E. has expanded from its first project in 1989, a home rehabilitation in New London, to expanded ownership opportunities, home repair workshops, and creating a rental program. 11/16/2011
HARTFORD -- Give thanks, my friends, because you have a treat before you. My cold-hearted editor's eyes have blurred with tears more than once as I read these stories of thankfulness. You'll find courage in adversity, recognition of blessing, and amazing grace at a Thanksgiving table. 11/16/2011
HIGGANUM -- Growing up, my least favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Other people got to spend "Turkey Day" watching the parade on television, eating too much, and talking about how good the stuffing was. The Monday after Thanksgiving, my friends always talked about their pleasant family gathering for the long weekend. When they would ask how my Thanksgiving was, I would smile and lie, "It was good." 11/16/2011
SIMSBURY -- There is a small container of homemade applesauce sitting on my desk, tied with a green bow and topped with a thank you note. The first thing I need to do this morning is to send a thank you note to the person who sent me that gift (O.K.: maybe that's the second thing I'll do. First, I want to gobble up the applesauce!). It can become a vicious cycle, can't it? Thanking someone for the thank-you for the thank-you: Help! I'm trapped in a thank-you vortex and I can't get out! 11/16/2011
WEST HARTFORD -- Remembering to give thanks is sometimes a difficult task, and at other times gratefulness seems to well up in our hearts and overflow into the world. We all have been brought up to say "thank you" to the person holding the door or when we receive a gift. But remembering to say thanks to the Holy One every day is a practice we sometimes forget and something that we can choose to do regularly. 11/16/2011
SOUTHBURY -- If we stop to think about most of the times we give thanks to God for our blessings, we are likely to realize how often we understand those blessings in terms of our own ego needs. Consider some examples: the house we've always wanted, the job with a good salary that we enjoy, being respected and valued at work and in the community, our favorite team winning, or our children's success. Simply put, we are thankful when our egos get what they want and think they deserve. 11/16/2011
MARLBOROUGH -- The sign in front of the Congregational Church of Marlborough UCC reads, "Come as a stranger -- leave as a friend." When Cassie Hamilton of Marlborough called the church, she was looking for a friend, and some urgent help. 11/16/2011
HARTFORD -- The Connecticut Conference welcomed three new staff members this fall: the Rev. Dr. Thomas Clough as interim Eastern Regional Minister, Jennifer Kronholm Clark as Silver Lake Registrar, and the Rev. Mia Douglas as Coordinator of Sacred Conversations on Race. 11/16/2011
WOODSTOCK -- In this edition of Youth Speak, Connecticut Conference Media Assistant Drew Page interviews Olivia Arsenault, Age 15, East Woodstock Congregational and Gloria Knust, Age 15, First Congregational Church Woodstock. 11/16/2011
SHARON -- As the newest member of the year-round Silver Lake staff, my new commute takes me by the Twin Oaks viewshed, as we locals refer to it. If you've ever come to Silver Lake from the northeast, you'll remember the view: Two oak trees stand in a hillside clearing, overlooking Mudge Pond (which we call Silver Lake). 11/16/2011
DANBURY -- I consider myself a relatively grateful person. I try to give thanks for the blessings in my life and not to spend too much time obsessing about the things I want that have eluded me. So when Pastor Cindy Maddox asked members of King Street United Church of Christ to keep a daily Gratitude Journal during Lent to remember where our blessings came from, I figured, "Eh, I really don't need to do that." 11/16/2011
SHARON -- This year's General Association brought the Rev. Cameron Trimble back to Connecticut in October, where she brought the learnings, energy, and wisdom of the Center for Progressive Renewal to her two days of presentations. Her message: the world has changed around us, and it is past time to reform and renew the Church. 11/16/2011
HARTFORD -- Having a last name that begins with a "V" I have often found myself in the back of a classroom or near the end of a list. Over time, I learned that I really didn't have to begin paying attention until I started hearing names that begin with an "S" or "T." I knew my place and I was good with that. 11/16/2011
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