|
 Introducing
Faith Practices
Larry Trent, Susan Waddell & Carol Wilson, Partners in Education
“Living out the faith, exercising our faith, practicing our faith
is a lifelong process.” The United Church of Christ is creating a
new resource for worship, learning and serving based on a variety
of faith practices. Join us to explore these rich resources for
local congregations with the SWC Partners in Education.
Participants will experience activities from the faith practices
available for 2010-2011 including: Hospitality, Keeping Sabbath,
Living Stewardship and Playing and Living Joyfully. |
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Becoming
a Discerning Congregation
Teresa
Blythe, spiritual director, author & director of the Hesychia
School of Spiritual Direction
What does God desire for your congregation? That question is at
the heart of congregational discernment-a spiritual practice that
is being reclaimed in churches all over the world. In this
workshop, Teresa Blythe will go over some basic tenets of
Christian spiritual discernment and describe some ways your
congregation can reflect on how and where God is speaking in the
life of the congregation. |
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Financial
Development
Jim
Briney, member of SWC Financial Development Task Force
The Southwest Conference Financial Development Task Force worked
well together to discern the aims and the particulars of how to go
about funding the mission of the Southwest Conference. As a member
of the task force, Jim Briney is available to present the
concepts, to answer questions and to engage in conversation. |
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Youth
Ministry
Katrina Glenn, Youth & Outdoor Ministry Coordinator
Want to expand your youth ministries? Come ask the experts, the
youth themselves! Youth Council will be available to brainstorm
with you and answer any questions that you have. A youth ministry
is a wonderful way to grow your church's vitality. |
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8
Leadership Laws for Healthy Church Growth
Cameron Trimble, director of the Center for Progressive Renewal
Whether you are a lay leader or a pastor, you are a person of
influence in your congregation. What you do impacts the health and
growth of your church. Yet few of us have been trained to address
the leadership challenges that many of our churches face today. In
this workshop, Rev. Cameron Trimble will explore the 8 Critical
Leadership Laws that shape your ministry in your congregation.
Don't miss this chance to improve your personal leadership skills. |
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How
Do You Say “Emergent Church” in Spanish?
Daniel Erdman, pastor of Iglesia Congregacional Unida
This workshop will address new styles of ministry to and with
Hispanic/Latino/Latina populations in the SWC. Using the book
Jesus is My Uncle by Luis G. Pedraja and other resources, we will
examine ecumenical progressive ministry being done in Albuquerque,
New Mexico, drawing conclusions that will help us in other
multi-cultural contexts. This bilingual seminar is not just for
people from “Hispanic churches.” |
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Going
Green
Gordon Gilles, Cornerstone Fund
For most congregations, “going green” sounds like the right thing
to do. Whether their support begins in a general concern for the
environment, a commitment to caring for God's Creation, or a
desire to save money, most members support the idea of Going
Green. We will consider changes that will not only reduce damage
to the environment, but will also save money. Some of the changes
are easy and virtually cost-free. |
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Young
Adult Ministry
Katrina Glenn, Youth & Outdoor Ministry Coordinator
Young adults are often left out of church life until they have
children. We are missing out on a vital population of people with
a lot to say and offer. Come and learn how to jumpstart a young
adult ministry at your church. |
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Connecting
Women through Women's Ministries
Rachel
Chapman, Women's Ministry Consultant for the UCC’s Western Region
In this modern, high-tech, multicultural world we live in, how is
your church's Women's program enriching the spiritual needs and
growth of women? We will explore together some of the resources
and ideas available to help nurture and nourish the lives of women
in our churches, communities and society. |
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What's
New in SWC Church Growth and Development
After two years of working hard to rebuild a solid infrastructure
to support our vision of growing and revitalizing churches, a new
committee is preparing to call the SWC into a new era of growth
and development. Meet some of the members of the new team; hear
about some of the exciting things they are planning and the new
directions they feel called and challenged to try; hear about
their vision for how we grow the gospel in the SWC; and to discern
what will be your role, or your church's role, in this
all-important mission of the Conference. |
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Worship
for Vital Congregations
Talitha Arnold, pastor of United Church of Santa Fe
Vitality in worship has to do with its integrity and essence,
whatever form it takes or whatever music it uses. We will focus on
the whys and hows of worship and draw upon both the multicultural
traditions of the UCC and our connection to God's creation in the
desert Southwest. We'll also explore the worship context of your
own congregation and how to be open the heritage of the past and
God's call to the future. |
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Q
& A with Geoffrey Black
Join the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black for a question and answer time.
There won't be a formal presentation, this is your chance to chat
with and get to know our new General Minister and President of the
United Church of Christ. |
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Who
Is Our Neighbor: Discipleship in the Borderlands
Tracy Hughes, BorderLinks & Randy Mayer, pastor of Good Shepherd
UCC
Join in conversation about critical issues facing people and
communities of the Borderland: immigration, border security and
militarization, migrants living in our midst, and the roots of
migration. Together we will seek faithful responses, as members of
United Church of Christ congregations, to the humanitarian crisis
within which we are living. |
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Justice
LED (Leaders Engaging and Developing)
Liana Rowe, national Justice LED trainer
The Justice LED program launched by the Justice and Witness
Ministries Team of the UCC in the fall of 2009, training 30
trainers to bring the program to the wider church. The purpose of
this training is to provide each participant with knowledge and
skills to train local church leaders in the Justice LED
curriculum. There will be a brief overview of the Justice LED
experience so that attendees may discern, either for themselves or
members of their faith communities, whether they would like to be
a Justice LED Trainer. |
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Up
from the Dust
Mary Schnack, founder of Up from the Dust
The empowerment of women around the world is Mary Schnack's
passion. Hear how she started “Up from the Dust” which imports
items made by women in developing countries. She sells these
unique items in the U.S. - helping the women grow their
businesses, AND support their families and communities. As a
fundraiser at churches and charities, Mary says “Through these
sales, we help the local community at the same time we help the
global community.” |
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Is
There a Capital Campaign in Your Church's Future?
Priscilla S Bizer, UCC Church Building and Loan Fund
A capital campaign calls forth people's untapped gifts and
abilities, reinvigorates a congregation's ministry and mission and
raises new dollars and new life. We assist you in creating a
unique experience for your congregation through a free
informational meeting, feasibility studies, organization,
oversight and training. Our campaigns are Faith Based, Spirit
Filled and Lay Led! Come hear what UCC Capital Campaign Services
is all about. |
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The
Difference Between Charity and Justice
The SWC has recommitted itself to the work of justice, and has
undertaken listening visits in almost every church in the
Conference. Clear themes emerged that have redirected the work of
the Justice and Witness Committee. Come hear about those themes
and what we see the role of the Conference is in equipping,
facilitating, and resourcing our churches as they engage in
justice work. But also learn how justice ministry differs from
charitable work AND about critical Biblical passages that call
disciples to be fully committed to justice |