The Congregationalist Dec 2019 : simplebooklet.com

Table of CONTENTS Features Congregations grow stronger with MMBB When clergy and staff feel secure about their future they can focus on and rejoice in what every church does best connecting its community to God Unbiased advice Competitive returns No cost personalized service It can be hard to talk about money MMBB is here to ease the burden by working with you and your church or faith based organization to help navigate these important conversations We work closely with pastors church leaders Flexible affordable benefit plans and other decision makers to craft customized affordable and flexible plans that benefit everyone We re experts in the financial side of ministry That s the MMBB difference Let s begin this journey together plans mmbb org 800 986 6222 The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board 2018 6 10 12 14 18 20 22 Plymouth s Pilgrims ON THE COVER David Wall restores the Mayflower weathervane at Piedmont College Blending Faith and Cultures Pastoral Care Mrs Peabody and the Christmas Miracle The Great Crossing The NACCC 66th Annual Meeting 2020 To Grow a Congregation Faith and Finances Departments 4 8 16 24 25 26 27 OUR VOYAGE TOGETHER Looking like Christmas ALONG THE WAY NEWS AND NEEDS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NECROLOGY PASTORATES AND PULPITS CALENDAR EDITORIAL STATEMENT All content in The Congregationalist appears by the authority of the editor We reserve freedom of expression to our authors and freedom of opinion to our readers Except for service information clearly sponsored by the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC or its component parts content does not necessarily reflect policies and opinions of the NACCC Neither The Congregationalist nor the NACCC has a creed or holds positions on social or theological issues but we recognize the authority of each local church to do so for itself if and as it wishes and we encourage thoughtful and respectful discussion of our agreements and differences

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PLYMOUTH S PILGRIMS THEIR CHURCH THEIR WORLD AND OURS L ike so many historical events the Pilgrims arrival in Plymouth is a story that everyone knows kind of It s a tale that has been told and retold for 400 years layered with myths both good and bad Of course the people we know as the Pilgrims definitely did not call themselves that nor did they step off the Mayflower directly onto Plymouth Rock much less see themselves as making history or starting something new Yet many Americans especially those who count themselves Mayflower descendants love Pilgrim lore Plimoth Plantation is a major tourist destination drawing thousands of visitors to its down to the last detail recreation of the first settlement and Thanksgiving is still vigorously observed by millions of American families a yearly windfall for Martha Stewart the National Football League and the purveyors of deep fat turkey fryers and the mysterious turducken The Pilgrim story survives in the national consciousness for other reasons as well Over the past several decades we ve learned much more about what the Pilgrims arrival meant for Native people The physical moral and spiritual devastation that followed in its wake was the beginning of a long train of tragic encounters It is not surprising that Native American communities observe the Thanksgiving holiday as a Day of Mourning History is complicated For people of faith remembering requires not only knowing the facts about the past but taking seriously its moral and spiritual message It means making careful judgments about the past always being careful to admit our own failings and shortcomings The Pilgrims lived in a world where racial and religious prejudices were accepted as a matter of course where men and women were not considered equal But we also know them as religious dissenters looking for a safe place to do their dissenting to work out the wrinkles in the Congregational Way without interference from the Church of England The upcoming year is a unique opportunity for the churches in the Congregational tradition to deepen their understanding of the Pilgrim story and their own historical roots As we are in the history business the Congregational 6 By Margaret Bendroth Margaret Bendroth has been the Executive Director of the Congregational Library and Archives since 2004 A historian of American religion her most recent books include The Last Puritans Mainline Protestants and the Power of the Past and The Spiritual Practice of Remembering for church life and personal faith Library and Archives has put together a four part historical introduction and discussion guide Plymouth s Pilgrims Their Church Their World and Ours The guide is now available free of charge on the Library s website www congregationallibrary org Elegantly written by Library board member Linda Smith Rhoads and vetted by our own committee of historians and pastors it provides a brief fact filled introduction to the Pilgrim story each one centered around memorable individuals William and Brewster Squanto and Massasoit Edward Winslow and John Robinson A series of discussion questions invite conversation about the implications of this historical event Our website also includes a variety of online resources for those who want to dig deeper We have provided four sets of historical documents to pair with each lesson as well as suggestions for further reading and a list of helpful websites We ll be adding to this over the course of 2020 including an ask the experts forum that will put churches directly in touch with top historians We are also providing a version of our discussion guide specifically geared for youth groups and confirmation classes The discussion and study guide is only part of what the Library is putting together for 2020 We are putting together some great public events and historical exhibits and of course our renovation project will be completed early next year and so the Library will be polished and ready for visitors We d love to be part of your plans for the upcoming Pilgrim year And finally we can enjoy celebrate and honor our ancestors as real people who lived and breathed loved and worried and forgot and sometimes made absolutely terrible decisions just like we do now They aren t stick figures or saints or moral midgets they were human beings as complex and contradictory as anyone today We do this in the hope that our descendants will give us the same grace They ll probably wonder at a lot of the choices we are making everything from watching pro football to eating fast food to destroying so much of the world they may never get to enjoy It s our joy our privilege and our duty to keep the all the important memories alive good and bad We can let the past inspire us but also challenge us let it make us more thoughtful wise and thankful people 7

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THE Along WAY Mayflower Weathervane F or 50 years the Mayflower weathervane had sailed atop the College Chapel at Piedmont College in Demorest Georgia After a half century however it had succumbed to the elements The college invited David Wall a local artist to craft a new one The restored Mayflower weathervane will top the Chapel in time for the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower crossing Submitted by Dr James F Mellichamp President Elm Street Congregational Church of Bucksport Maine is interested in purchasing 50 plus copies of Hymns for a Pilgrim People Voice YOU HAVE A If your church has extra hymnals it s willing to sell please call Vickie Adams Administrative Assistant at 207 469 3333 Or email her at elmstch gmail com The Congregationalist celebrates the voices of Congregationalism unique in our thinking and unified by our heritage DONATE TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES Living Nativity Christmas 2018 L ast Christmas visitors witnessed the wonder of the Christmas manger scene in Marshfield Massachusetts The First Congregational Church of Marshfield Youth Fellowship held their annual Live Nativity on the green Youth appeared in costume and enacted the Christmas story of Jesus birth Everyone enjoyed the beautiful holiday lights and all were treated to some tasty hot chocolate candy canes and treasured carols while immersed in the Live Nativity Submitted by the Reverend Joel K Boyd Pastor Please cut and send to The Congregationalist NACCC PO Box 288 Oak Creek WI 53154 Yes Please use my our gift to support the Congregational Way through The Congregationalist Editor s Round Table 1 000 Henry Martyn Dexter Society 250 499 Elias Smith Connexion 500 999 Edward Beecher Society 100 249 Sustaining ___________Other A check is enclosed made payable to the NACCC Please charge my credit card MasterCard Visa Amount ________________ Card Number _______________________________ CVV Code _________ Expiration Date ______ _______ Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________________________________ City __________________________________________________State ___________________ Zip ________________ Phone ____________________________________________ E mail Address __________________________________ Church __________________________________________________________________________________________ Thank You For Your Generosity All Gifts Are Tax Deductible To The Fullest Extent Allowed By Law 8 9

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Faith Blending and CULTURES Countries of Origin Members of Reaching Nations Ministry come from most every Latin American country including Cuba Puerto Rico Brazil Colombia Dominican Republic Chile Argentina Bolivia Mexico Guatemala and Nicaragua While they speak different Spanish dialects the congregation has an amazing cohesion Their worship which follows our service is high energy with a combination of brass keyboards drums guitars and piano Their worship leaders are able to quickly involve the congregation in a spirited form of worship Alan Sotonayer accompanies the congregation on drums W hen our church was approached by a representative of the Reaching Nations Ministry an Hispanic congregation that was meeting in a school cafeteria we remembered our own beginnings considered the challenges of meeting in and renting space in a school cafeteria setting and felt sharing our space would in some way be paying it back Why not allow this congregation the blessing of space for ministry Our only request was that the Hispanic pastor a highly trained musician share his musical talents with our congregation He did in fact do just that and participates in all of our worship services often as a tenor vocalist and sometimes directing the choir 10 Exceptional Musicians Just as all people smile in the same language musical notes are universal While there are many non English speaking members of the Reaching Nations Ministry members of their church are more than willing to incorporate their instruments into our service whether they speak English or not The blend of brass and strings for which they are most talented adds greatly to the inspiration of our services The pastor the Reverend Miguel Cruz is a highly trained musician who trained at the Academy of Music in Cuba Unbeknownst to most Americans Cuban musicians are trained in classical music for which Pastor Cruz is a perfect example His father also a classical musician was not allowed to sing Christian music after the revolution However when he was five years old Pastor Cruz was able to study music in the Catholic Church with a private teacher in piano voice trombone trumpet and guitar He later played for the Cuban Symphony and was a choral director Coming to the U S with a special visa granted by President Clinton he studied orchestration at the Richard Cook Music School in Orlando He also obtained a seminary degree from the International Evangelical Seminary in Orlando Building Trust and Integration Although our church welcomed the Hispanic congregation their people often kept their distance When questioned about this Pastor Cruz said Hispanic people wonder about their acceptance into what he called The American Church or they wondered if we looked on them with suspicion Gradually and thankfully the walls came down as a relationship of trust and common faith developed Understanding this trust factor we go out of our way to welcome and integrate them into every event in our church The coffee hour after our worship and prior to theirs has become a time of friendship building often visibly expressed with hugs and kisses Hispanic people tend to be far more expressive than many Americans and it took a little while to get used to open hugs and kisses but gradually we were able to share their more gregarious way of expressing love Also they always greet or say goodbye with the words God bless you While our folks were a little more reserved with such a greeting warming up to that approach The Reverend Dr Les Wicker is the founding pastor of First Congregational Church of Naples Naples Florida He has published five books the latest being Kaleidoscope Perspectives on Life Faith and Country Planting the church in 2004 the church now has a membership exceeding 200 and is an active congregation in the Naples community became more natural as time passed and we now use the same greeting with our new friends While we have welcomed this Hispanic congregation into our space the reciprocity of support they bring to us is beyond measure Pastor Cruz has stated time and again he wants to do everything possible to build our church And he does just that He leads the music at the 8 00 AM service is vocalist for the 10 00 AM service and often directs the choir In addition he shares his multiple instrumental talents on brass strings and piano as well as sources outstanding musicians from his congregation Beyond the efforts of Pastor Cruz Carolina Castillo one of his members teaches our lower elementary Sunday School class Another Susi Aguilera a florist provides beautiful flowers for the chancel every single Sunday The men of his church willingly assist with fellowship meals Unexpected Blessing There is a proverb that says You can never out give God or the words of Christ The good you do will return a hundred fold Our experience with Reaching Nations Ministry has confirmed these words beyond measure While they have found a place of worship and fellowship we have found wonderful people who have enriched our lives in remarkable ways What more can be said Pastor Cruz left and members of his congregation Arbor Grove Congregational Church 2621 McCain Road Jackson Michigan Columbia native Caroline Castillo Since Arbor Grove Congregational Church was founded in 1950 there have been four pastors The Pastoral Search Commi ee is actively seeking applications Caring for our from interested Community candidates For more information regarding this position candidates may apply online at www naccc org or contact Laura Wright at NACCC 800 262 1620 ext 1614 lwright naccc org or contact us at AGCCSearch gmail com www arborgrovechurch org 11

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Care Pastoral The Rev Michael Glidden D Min is Supply Minister at North Deering Meeting House in Portland Maine He has been pastoring since 1993 Rev Glidden earned his Master of Divinity Degree in 1995 from Bangor Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in 2002 He was ordained in 2000 Mike lives in South Portland with his wife Rhonda by Dr Michael Wayne Glidden M y phone rings one morning and on the other end is a voice that I didn t recognize This is Dave I don t know if you remember me but my Great Aunt Maggie wants to see you I had been Maggie s pastor for several years earlier but had moved on to another pastorate Dave told me that Maggie was receiving round the clock care and doesn t have much time left These words sink into my heart when he says Maggie wants to see you Maggie is 92 years old A couple of years earlier we celebrated her 90th at the small rural church that she s attended for over 30 years We presented her with a cake that looked 12 bigger than her small body We also got her a little granny pillow in the shape of a wheel that reminded me of the steering wheel on the John Deere tractor that she uses on her little farm in town When my wife Rhonda and I go to see her in her home we spy her pillow propped up in a chair to which she sternly directs me to take a seat The old chair seems to beckon me to sit be still and listen to this wise soul Maggie s commanding voice doesn t match her frail size She s about 4 foot 7 inches tall and barely 70 pounds Not much intimidates her though She had already weathered storms living through the Great Depression and World War II This illness doesn t seem to faze her This is just another stage in life to weather To give you an idea of her fortitude she missed church one Sunday because her car flipped over on the ice She was able to crawl out of the car without a broken bone I remarked to my wife that Maggie is one tough old bird or at least made of steel Our visit with Maggie is about 30 minutes Most of the time she wants to hear how my wife Rhonda is doing at work how we like living in South Portland and how I am doing Maggie is always like that more concerned about others From my vantage point sitting across from her she looks like an old teacher that I had in the 1970s with her glasses resting on her nose and a ruler in her hand Sometimes I can t tell if Maggie is going to scold me because she has the type of stare that makes me feel as if she knows my thoughts And she must have because the many times I visited her I always felt renewed and re energized for ministry after a few minutes She could tell what I needed During that particular visit with Maggie after 10 minutes of silence she proceeds to tell us that she is very ill then looks at me with her soulful eyes and asks if I can fit a funeral into my schedule I almost fall off her pillow She speaks so matter of factly I don t hear or see any emotions This is very typical of her stoic outlook on life And yes she is a stubborn old Downeast Yankee Mainer I say Yes of course I can And with a satisfied look Maggie brings the conversation to a rapid end Short sweet and to the point That s what I so love about her She says I m so glad that you both came to see me What you see is what you get an old but very good quote that my Grandmother often said to me Maggie is real and authentic not showy but good salt of the earth In my short time knowing her she had sprinkled some good seasoning into our lives Maggie is about to provide me with another parable on life I happen to glance over at her card table and notice a half done puzzle As we say in Maine it was a monsta a thousand piecer She d been picking away at it for some time She wasn t in a big hurry Time didn t matter Maggie looked for pieces that seemed to connect with each other without focusing on the border of the puzzle The frame wasn t in her mind None of the border was connected Everyone I ever knew always worked on the border edges before working inward but not our unconventional Maggie She took each piece as it came to her She had no strategy or plan Looking at her puzzle reminded me of Maggie s life What does it mean to just live in the moment and not fret about what will come or what will happen Life is not a straight line from A to B I think Maggie would have been a great teacher In clinical pastoral education this was called being mindful Just concentrate on life as it comes and don t fret about tomorrow Each day will be its own mystery Maggie wouldn t use those words She was simply content to just be Maggie pointed me to someone else that spoke of living day to day and not taking too much stock in tomorrow I wonder who that is I ve read about Him in my Bible I bet you have too I m so glad that you came by Maggie s words are like a benediction the grand finale to a living and breathing sermon At that moment I m not realizing that I m in church two or three gathered in her living room Together we are as the body of Christ We were ministered to Time with Maggie was like a refreshing drink in a parched land She had heard me as a preacher often say well done good and faithful servant in many of the sermons and funerals that she attended At the moment I m not realizing that I m in church to Only later did I realize I d been in church two or three gathered Maggie was announcing to us that her departure is near Rhonda and I gather our things and leave The smell of supper is in the air Enough has been said Maggie wants to get back to her puzzle 13

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Mrs Peabody and THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE The Reverend Justin J Nierer is the lead pastor of Sandstone Congregational Church in Jackson Michigan He absolutely loves being a Congregationalist adores the NACCC and enjoys spending time with his wife Seneca and their six year old son Wesley He can be reached any time via email at theoutreachguy hotmail com by Justin Nierer A Friendly Reminder I have received a lot of correspondence from wonderful people from all over the country that have been enjoying the Peabody stories I have thought about why people seem to really connect with them and have decided that these simple stories of a church antagonist gives them the reader permission to laugh and through that laughter they finally get to stand up to the bully that they might have faced in their own churches in some way The best way I have found to deal with Mrs Peabody in my own life and ministry is to write about her and to laugh at each sentence each memory It has become my way of saying get behind me Satan when there hasn t been any other way to do so So please do not take her seriously remember that she doesn t actually exist and please continue to enjoy reading and laughing at her antics and the antics of those around her So now my friends sit back and enjoy Mrs Peabody and the Christmas Miracle Justin H erbert was ninety years old when I met him To describe him I would have to use the word round The man was actually round round as an apple He had a small head small 14 legs and small arms and the rest of him was actually well round I also would say that Herbert was jolly He was always smiling he had this twinkle in his eye that just showed complete joy if that is possible In my mind the only issue I ever had with Herbert was that he was the uncle of Mrs Peabody who was always looking for ways to care for him because dear reader not only was he ninety years old but he was completely deaf I was told he lost his hearing while working in a local foundry most of his life The man never really concerned himself with ear plugs or anything like that so over time he lost his hearing Our dear church member his niece took this to mean that he was incapable of living life on his own and that she needed to be there for everything every meeting every appointment every outing everything She once tried to get power of attorney over Herbert but thankfully he wasn t having it He was also best friends with a judge s father so needless to say that venture didn t go very far He was capable of living on his own using public transportation and making his own decisions On a Sunday morning you could definitely say that Herbert s looks towards his niece when she wasn t looking his way were ones of annoyance At the end of any church service if Mrs Peabody came toward the front of the church he made sure to escape out of the back Seeing a ninety year old round man trying to sneak away had to be one of the most entertaining things I have ever witnessed in a church sanctuary Herbert and his antics always made me smile inside and out I didn t know that those antics I was witnessing dear friend were only the tip of the iceberg Herbert was quite elderly when he completely lost his hearing so he never learned sign language I was told he could read lips fairly well and in order to gain context of a conversation would write down questions in a small notebook he carried around He almost never missed a Sunday and I did my best to make sure he could enjoy his time as much as possible I once asked him for a list of a dozen songs hymns he knew almost word for word I wanted to make sure we added at least one a Sunday so that he could sing along He seemed to really appreciate that gesture because thereafter he seemed to have that twinkle in his eye I enjoyed so very much Hebert had never been married or had any children so when it came to outings or holidays he usually had the honor of spending them with Mrs Peabody and her family One year Herbert decided to spend Thanksgiving with some friends and failed to tell his niece that he wouldn t be home to be picked up for dinner So before you ask yes there was a police report filed and yes she was sure he had been kidnapped Why anyone would want to kidnap a jolly round fun loving ninety year old I do not know It was during one of the coldest December nights in memory when I got the phone call It was December 23rd and I was enjoying a quiet evening at home before the very full Christmas Eve the church was going to have When the phone range the caller ID read Peabody and I at first hesitated to answer It would be just like her to know I was completely relaxed and that s when she would call She had that wily sixth sense I know she did Yet I was her pastor and I needed to answer her call so I did She was hysterical and crying it looked like Uncle Herbert had suffered a stroke or some sort of episode She had gone to the house and he was completely unresponsive so they rushed him to the hospital admitted him and he was there now I looked outside it was frigid cold and I really didn t want to go but the next day was Christmas Eve so I told her I would head over right away The hospital was close enough that the car never warmed up so I ended up standing in the foyer of the hospital thawing out and praying a very honest but quite selfish prayer Dear Lord I really like Herbert so if we could keep him here on earth a bit longer that would be awesome Also and you know this I really don t want to do a funeral right after Christmas Like I said dear reader the prayer was honest and yes a little selfish I walked into Herbert s room and there he was lying there wide eyed and watching TV with the closed captioning on When he saw me and smiled there was that twinkle I have only met a few people with that type of twinkle in their eye It s not something you forget I did my best to mime that I heard he wasn t feeling well and that I was there to visit and have prayer with him He smiled and nodded At that moment a nurse came in and said she was there to take some blood Herbert was looking at me when the nurse spoke so I once again tried to communicate via various hand gestures why she was there He nodded and smiled again She moved to his left side and said to herself you know this might be easier on the other side With that Herbert raised his right arm and moved a bit to give her room She took the blood and went on her way Then and only then dear reader did it hit me It hit me like reindeer running over Grandma Herbert was looking at me when the nurse murmured to herself He heard her say she was going to switch sides He heard her my friends He heard her I looked at him and with my heart pounding said out loud You can hear Herbert you can hear He didn t move He just stared at me It seemed like he stared at me forever but it was probably only about a minute at the most I felt like such a fool He couldn t hear after all I thought I had made a terrible mistake I was so embarrassed That was until he smiled He smiled big and now now both eyes were twinkling Herbert can you hear me I asked He looked at me and said very softly the words I share with you now Not great but yes I can hear if there are no other distractions and the person is talking directly to me But Pastor Justin if my niece thinks I can hear her she ll never stop talking Then it all made sense If his niece thought he was completely deaf she wouldn t try to talk to him She would in her way talk around him I think that was Herbert s plan all along Now it is at this moment you might be asking yourself if I considered telling Mrs Peabody that her uncle could hear I did consider it but please read on and you will understand why I never did Following Herbert s revelation I nodded in understanding we prayed and I went on my way Walking outside in the cold I looked up and realized that the sky was full of stars It was a beautiful December night I closed my eyes and I thanked God for Herbert I thanked Him for letting me know a jolly round delightful old man that still had a life to live and if he had to figure out unique ways to be allowed to live it in peace so be it Herbert had asked a church friend to make sure that his Christmas cards were delivered on time while he was in the hospital I was handed mine and after a very full day Late into the evening I got the chance to open it Inside was a two thousanddollar check for the church Herbert had written the following Merry Christmas Pastor Justin you are always in my prayers since I know what you do isn t easy Also thank you for making sure I have a clear escape route every Sunday Your friend Herbert 15

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AND News NEEDS of OUR WORD ALIVE MISSION The Ghana West Africa Rev Charles Nyane T P MISSION SCHOOL OF HOPE Cameroon Rev Charles Sagay Introducing Reusable Sanitary Pads to Girls in Mission School of Hope Ms Katie Dejournette For a more detailed list please contact Julie Robie at jrobie naccc org heir future is so bright they gotta wear shades reports Hosanna Industries Their Acorn Club 2019 was full to the brim with activities where young children played grew and explored They also learned to be respectful kind and loving The best part of all was that they learned that God loves them Parents and students alike are grateful for this summer ministry Argentina Asociacion Civil Cristiana Congregational child sponsorship tools and medicine for the clinic Cameroon Mission School of Hope mosquito nets fish farm supplies Colorado A Christian Ministry in the National Parks worship books student sponsorship Florida Bread of Life supplies for ministry to the homeless Florida Love Worth Sharing generators Ghana Word Alive Mission child sponsorship and desks for the school Honduras Ministerio Vida Hospital medical and dental supplies India Indian Community Fellowship sewing machines food for the children computers Kenya Happy Life Children s Home child sponsorships building funds Kenya Pilgrim s Presence mosquito netting personal hygiene items for women and Bibles in Pokot language Mexico Fishers of Men supplies for medical crusades Mexico Panamerican Institute student sponsorships 30 lab coats for students sizes 12 14 funding for facilities Myanmar Congregational Church of Myanmar child sponsorship support for teachers Nigeria Christ to the Villages funding for Cashew Tree Farm project Pennsylvania Hosanna Industries tools building materials classroom activity supplies Philippines NACC child support kitchen utensils kitchen appliances equipment Tennessee Morgan Scott Project gas vouchers home repair funds books and tuition for students his past August an eight member team from Porterville Congregational Church California and Bow Lake Baptist Church New Hampshire travelled to Word Alive Mission to work in the orphanage teach at a church leadership seminar preach and give p ersonal testimonies in seven churches and break ground for the Ghana Guest personal House For two of the remote churches it was the first time they were visited by a mission s team Travel was grueling the bus broke down four times and often filled with exhaust for hours Roads were washed out and full of deep wide holes For three nights in a row the team had less than four hours sleep The hardest part though was when one of the young orphan boys asked Will you come back tomorrow and the team had a flight to catch is needed The flooding in Myanmar and those impacted by Hurricane Dorian Missions deeply impacted by recent political changes in their countries Praises for Josue and Marisela Hernandez who celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary They pray for many more years together Hospital records which are now housed and updated on a new used computer Until last month all records for Asociacion Civil Cristiana Congregation were kept on paper 16 MINISTERIO VIDA HOSPITAL Honduras Rev Dr Josue Hernandez For more information about any of these missions or to make a donation to any of the above projects please contact Missions Administrator Julie Robie at 1 800 262 1620 ext 1618 or jrobie naccc org For a complete listing of NACCC Mission Projects please visit the website www naccc org and click on Missions H ygiene and sanitation are a huge challenge in the Baka community and the most affected are women and girls Hygiene kits which included reusable sanitary napkins were given out to 20 girls Because most families can t afford health supplies girls must skip school for a week due to their monthly menstrual periods Ten girls have already been trained to make the pads and more will be trained in the future MISSION TO MISSION Christian Mission in the Far East Educational Concerns for Hunger T he Reverend Jaime Julian sent a note of thanks to the Mission and Outreach Ministry Council for connecting him with Educational Concerns for Hunger ECHO Christian Mission in the Far East is an NACCC supported International Mission ECHO is an NACCC Recommended Mission The Mission and Outreach Ministry Council strives to connect missions for mutual benefit During his last visit to the U S Rev Julian visited ECHO in Florida He learned different methods of installing wells and water systems After returning to the Philippines he and his team have installed two wells and the Community Christian Fellowship Church now benefits from a sufficient water supply art of the ministry of Ministerio Vida Hospital is to sponsor medical and dental clinics The line is long the sun is hot and the work is endless as staff ministers to the physical and spiritual needs of those who come For those of you who speak Spanish this is from Josue Gracias Padre por permitir a MINISTERIO VIDA seguir siendo de apoyo en la obra que nos has encomendado Gracias Dra Rhona por hacernos parte y seguir expandiendo el Reyno de Dios Vamos por mas A DIOS SEA LA GLORIA For those of you who don t speak Spanish a rough translation Thank you Father for allowing ministry life to continue to be of support in the work you have entrusted us Thank you Dr Rhona for making us part and continue to expand the kingdom of God Let s go for more To God be the glory HOSANNA INDUSTRIES T Mission and Outreach Ministry Council NACCC PO Box 288 Oak Creek WI 53154 NEEDS OF THE MISSIONS IN BRIEF 17

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The NACCC 66th Annual Meeting By Seth Jones T he Year 2020 is the 400th anniversary for those of us who claim the Pilgrims as the Christian guideposts of our Congregational tradition In 1620 a group of Separatists with the guidance of the Holy Spirit determined that the Lord was calling them to the New World While in Leiden Netherlands the Pilgrims formed a charter through the King of England to create a working colony in the New World The Plymouth Charter was approved and through a series of haphazard occurrences the Pilgrims finally set sail on the Mayflower in September of 1620 to make the trek to the New World Upon their arrival they settled on the coast of what is now Massachusetts and formed the Plymouth Plantation That was 400 years ago and this year for our NACCC Annual Meeting we gather to remember The Great Crossing and celebrate our heritage as followers of Jesus Christ in the tradition of the Pilgrims and the first Congregationalists Our theme is The Great Crossing and our guiding verse for this coming year s meeting is from Mark 4 35 Jesus said to the disciples Let us go across to the other side Jesus calls us to continually cross over to the other side For the Pilgrims crossing the Atlantic was a journey into the unknown made with deep trust in God and a profound willingness to see what the Lord will provide in that unknown future What does it mean for us today to follow in Old Port 18 June 27 30 2020 Portland Maine the tradition of our forefathers and foremothers What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus in a day and age when the distance between us and others who think look or act differently from us appears to be an ocean or a sea Since this is the 400th Anniversary of the Pilgrims coming to the New World we thought it appropriate to have our Annual Meeting on the East Coast We will be gathering in Portland Maine and our event space will be at the Holiday Inn By the Bay right in downtown Portland This past September several people from the Congregational Christian Churches of Maine the Massachusetts Association of Congregational Christian Churches along with Carrie Dahm from the home office and our moderator Jim Waechter gathered together in Portland at the location to scout it out We were all impressed with the opportunities available right near the hotel as well as the hotel facilities It has been a long time since we have had easy access to a downtown area from our Annual Meeting gathering space and we look forward to everyone taking advantage of what is available in Portland Maine Portland is an historical lively and accessible city right on the Atlantic Ocean Old Portland an area full of art galleries shops and restaurants is just three blocks from our hotel The West End along Congress Street is the newer part of Portland just two blocks from the hotel and has its own flavor with more great restaurants museums and historical points of interest Portland has an abundance of restaurants and is known for its many breweries and distilleries Over 20 microbreweries exist in the area and supply many of the pubs and restaurants with their own mix of beers gins whiskies and wine There is also a mead distillery in town Seafood is readily available and lobster is the main food of Maine Every day lobster boats leave the harbor to fish along the Atlantic coast for the best lobster in the world For those of you who are more adventurous Portland has whale watching cruises lighthouse tours and many more activities in the area Just up the road is one of the best botanical gardens in the United States the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden in Boothbay Harbor Freeport Maine is 15 miles up the road and is the outlet shopping center of the Northeast Coast and the home of LL Bean Portland and the surrounding area are full of hiking trails and beautiful walks along the coast You can find more information about Portland Maine at https www visitportland com Each year we try to find speakers who will deepen the theme of our Annual Meetings and this year we have asked the Reverend Gregory Mobley to be our Bible Lecturer Rev Mobley teaches Hebrew Bible and Congregational Studies at Andover Newton Seminary of Yale Divinity School His most recent book is the excellent The Return of the Chaos Monsters and Other Backstories of the Bible Rev Mobley s mytho poetic and narrative approach to Scripture along with an up to date connection to our fast moving culture will be entertaining and edifying Our Congregational Lecturer will be the Reverend Dr Mary Mimi Biedron who is Senior Minister at North Congregational Church in Farmington Hills Michigan Dr Biedron has been at North Congregational Church since 2011 She has been involved with the NACCC and the Southeast Michigan conference at many levels and received her D Min in 2015 from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio She will bring her unique perspective and excellent sense of humor to her presentation or at nig d Harb Portlan ht Portland Headlight The Annual Meeting Committee AMCC and the Congregational councils of Maine and Massachusetts along with the 400th Anniversary Committee have gathered together to provide a great celebration of our 400 year anniversary in Portland Maine We hope you will join us from June 27 30 2020 for our 66th Annual Meeting Submitted by the Reverend Seth Jones Chair of the NACCC 2020 Annual Meeting on behalf of the Congregational Christian Council of Maine and the Congregational Councils of Massachusetts 19

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TO AGROW CONGREGATION A ccording to Gallup church membership has been on a steady decline since the 1970s In the past two decades that decline has increased sharply with 20 fewer church members since 1999 Asylum Hill Congregational Church AHCC in Hartford Connecticut saw its membership following this downward curve The church has a history spanning 150 years but it s future was uncertain because all of its most populous years were at least a quarter century behind them To change that trajectory was the challenge of Fathom a future design firm I co founded that historically has served businesses such as Cigna and Newman s Own We set out to help AHCC our first church client grow and live into their next chapter with intention and purpose Through this experience we developed an approach that we can now say consistently results in renewed energy engagement and organizational growth not just with AHCC but with other churches and community impact By Brent Robertson organizations Interestingly enough this approach doesn t include the typical strategic or tactical solutions so many organizations focus on Instead we begin by guiding leaders in adopting shifts in perspective that allow future growth initiatives to be effective This article highlights five key perspective shifts that we have specifically seen bring greater success to Congregational churches From serving the past to creating the future Any organization that has a history of success by default uses a lot of energy to protect that history Churches are often rooted in history so the gravity of the past is strong and breaking free from it is no easy task When engaging a church my first question is Is it OK to keep doing what you are doing Or are things not OK enough to try something new This might sound like a simple question but unless there is a commitment at the level of we can t keep going on like this there will not be the willpower to sufficiently diverge from the way things were done in the past in order to invite growth Those with authority and influence must take the bold step to create courageously what s needed and key to AHCC s success was that commitment at every level By create courageously I mean you must be willing to set aside that impulse to know what you re doing long enough to let new voices and ideas surface Equally important is committing to acting upon those ideas without any guarantee of success Question to ask your church If what we are doing isn t working what is there to lose trying something different Are we serious enough about growth to try something new From Who s here to Who s wanted As member driven organizations grow into an acceptable population of attendees the energy often shifts from attracting to retaining Of course making sure you don t lose members as fast as you find them is important a lot If you want your numbers to improve you need to refresh your perspective first 20 of the fastest growing churches suffer from this condition known as having large back doors When churches experience the loss of members they often double down on keeping people there Before long little if any energy is put toward bringing in anyone new Losing attendees and members is a natural thing As the old sales mantra goes The day you land a new client is the day you start to lose them Make sure you have a clear idea of who you are interested in attracting and that your members are extending invitations to them on a regular basis One of the first acts for AHCC was to define who they wanted to attract and what they wanted to be known for Questions to ask your church What are the invitations we are extending To whom Why would they care What will they experience when they get here Who will they tell about that experience From quantity of events to how remarkable the experience is When growth is the focus a lot of organizations will create more and more events programs and content Ideas are a plenty and acting on all of them can exhaust resources quickly leaving little time to create experiences to remember What I find interesting is how little is done to communicate and market new events and programs I subscribe to the nine lives philosophy Any event or program you create should have nine lives not just the one life that happens during the event or program itself but also promotion anticipation and of course photos and information shared afterward For AHCC it was all about prioritizing which events and programs if enhanced would have the greatest effect Not surprisingly this began with Sunday service where the first hints of a renewed focus began to emerge to the congregation Questions to ask while planning any event Where are the people we are trying to attract What are we doing before the event to draw their attention How will we capture or follow up on the event to continue the experience and share with our community what s happening at our church From following the example to being the example Churches that need to grow often try to replicate what other churches are doing usually by looking at examples of other churches in their local community The result is multiple churches in the same area offering the same things which further hinders the ability of all of those churches to stand out Congregational churches benefit from applying their own spiritual advice to their own organizations instead of looking outside look on the inside With AHCC we began by identifying the core ideas they wanted to be known for which wound up being three affirmations inquiry acceptance and impact The church s entire focus and the source of every new idea is living up to encouraging and investing in those affirmations Questions to ask your church What is it about our members our values and our venue that makes us unique Who would enjoy that uniqueness What kind of experiences could we create that would amplify those distinctions From protecting the scarcity to investing in the abundance better than today it can provoke a reflex to protect what exists for fear of losing any more ground I see a lot of churches paralyzed by a scarcity mindset They tighten their grip and end up losing more of what they re trying to hold on to Instead of thinking about what s been lost a healthier mindset is to think about what you have What are the resources and people you have access to that could be invested in to create a platform for growth If we reference the Bible the first Christian churches were established with relationships committed to a belief Nothing more With an abundance mindset any church that exists has many gifts AHCC has learned to leverage its gifts and now has a 150 member growth team who are actively out in the community extending invitations and delivering powerful experiences Their attendance is on the rise with over 1 000 people at their Easter service this year more than any other year in the last decade The central question then for any church interested in growth is What are we using our gifts for Brent Robertson works with leaders to design futures worth believing in A partner at Fathom he champions an approach to strategic planning leadership development talent engagement and market differentiation that prioritizes people and relationships over the status quo to generate valuable organizations that matter As a result his clients don t simply plan their futures they bring them to life The last point I will make is that when a church looks back at times that seemed 21

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FINANCES Faith AND FINANCES Ashley Cook Cleere is a CFTS graduate who served as minister at three NACCC congregations Most recently she was Chaplain and Director of Church Relations at Piedmont College The Rev Dr Cleere is the current President of the Congregational Foundation and a member of the NACCC Board of Directors An Essential Equation A mong the treasures of church life are occasions for sharing significant even intimate moments At the invitation of the officiating pastor newlyweds exchange the first kiss of their marriage before hundreds of people Ministers and parishioners make hospital visits to members encountering individuals at times when they are physically compromised Sunday worship services reflect a collective yearning to know what is happening in people s lives evidenced in a time of Joys and Concerns or updates regarding people on prayer list from the pulpit Following a death we shed tears at funerals for the person whose life ended and for those whose grief is most poignant Churches act as sanctuaries where it is safe to be vulnerable in the company of others But that role does not always extend to concerns about money Last Spring the Congregational Foundation convened a small group of clergy and laity from Congregational churches of differing sizes from around the country They spent four months discussing the relationship between faith and finances A common thread emerged In the various congregations represented the subject of money rarely came up outside the context of a stewardship or capital campaign or perhaps following an unexpected bequest In many settings the minister participates in fundraising only peripherally if at all The group attributed this tendency to social taboos patterns of judgment and a sense of vulnerability Our relationship 22 By Ashley Cook Cleere with money is intensely personal These views are not unique According to the National Study of Congregations Economic Practices conducted by the Lake Institute of Faith and Giving at Indiana University s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy only 9 of congregations designate time each week to teach or preach about giving Contrary to inhibitions about bringing up the subject of money in church the Bible provides ample resources for contemplating financial matters One out of ten verses in the Gospels speaks directly about the subject of money The only topic that Jesus talked about more than money is the Kingdom of God He spoke about it more than he did about love or heaven and hell combined The mystique surrounding money surfaces during the weekly offering Many clergy adopt a tactful practice of not making eye contact with people in the pews when ushers receive the collection Choirs sing glorious anthems a gift to God that also draws attention away from shuffling wallets and envelopes The offering sometimes seems to take on a life of its own Deacons may carry silver plates to every pew including those where no one is sitting as if to complete a ritual rather than enable generosity At one church the checks and cash are carried straight to the counting room while purple velvet bags stuffed with newspaper are brought forward for the doxology and prayer of dedication Amid various local church traditions the inclusion of an offering during a worship service inviting gifts as a response to the Word of God forges an ongoing reminder of how the material and spiritual are intertwined Technology now tenders multiple alternatives for making donations Some congregations have been quick to relish the efficiency afforded by online giving This option can facilitate members keeping up with their pledges when they are not present for Sunday worship And the recording of contributions can be expedited as well Other congregations have been reluctant to introduce this option Reasons for this hesitation vary and the decision to add a donation link to a church website can be controversial But objections citing cumbersome software or possible identity theft may mask the impression that online contributions move away from mindfully contributing money to the church giving to God Also people say they feel awkward if they do not place anything in the plate on Sunday even if they make an online contribution Some churches ameliorate this discomfort by providing cards in the pews with variations of this explanation I support this church and its ministry by giving electronically I place this card in the offering plate as a way of sharing in this act of worship In keeping with the objective of those pew cards the study group zeroed in on the importance of merging practice and intentionality focusing on connecting with others and one s relationship with God This emphasis may help people to overcome possible sheepishness about the church s practical needs budgeting to support not only mission and ministry but heating bills and roof repairs The way money is acquired and spent reflects our deepest values priorities and goals both while we are living and in the legacy we leave Uncertainty about financial matters touches the present and the future Regardless of whether a household s financial resources are limited sufficient or plentiful questions arise How much should be spent on basic needs A vacation Education Donations to the church or other charities According to polls by both Gallup and AARP over 50 of adults in the US have not prepared a will an essential step in providing for later generations Depending on attitudes related to money these conversations prompt tension or opportunity for families as well as preachers The emphasis Jesus placed on money urges us to embed financial decisions in our faith Creating ways to talk about money in church meets a pastoral need In June 2018 CNBC provided data from Northwestern Mutual s 2018 Planning and Progress Study Americans are more stressed about money 44 than work 18 or relationships 25 The following August the NewYork Times delivered the following from Fidelity Investments 43 of Americans don t know how much money their spouse makes yet fighting about money is a top predictor of divorce Americans are paying 49 more on credit card interest and fees than they were five years ago In the same way that congregations provide support during health crises and nurture faith development at all stages of life churches should cultivate ease and openness about finances including generosity Children develop perceptions about money from their families Several members of the study group shared fond recollections of their grandparents modeling generosity One grandfather always offered a kind word when giving money to homeless people while another examined whether good feelings that accompanied his donations detracted from the impact of the gift Congregational inhibitions about money can affect fundraising If the church hasn t discussed money for eleven months it is a tough assignment for the lay leader or minister who speaks on behalf of the annual stewardship campaign Uneasiness can ripple into the pews On the other hand if money and generosity are familiar topics as much a part of church life as fellowship dinners Bible studies and youth groups encouraging giving is a natural next step Data from the survey cited above show that congregations that frequently reflect on generosity are more likely to experience growth in income from one year to the next Ninety percent of churches who talked about money weekly saw increased revenue compared to 44 of those who addressed the topic monthly and 16 of congregations who never discussed money There are many ways to convene conversations about money in congregational life generosity as well as broader topics such as debt management and estate planning During the seasons of Advent and Christmas messages of giving are prevalent throughout the culture proffer a natural starting point The study group led a workshop at the 2019 AMC and provided resources for initiating a dialogue about faith and finances available from Tracy Bernhardt Development and Communications Assistant at tbernhardt naccc org The Board of Governors is preparing a workshop that will continue the conversation at the 2020 Annual Meeting and Conference 23

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TO THE Letters EDITOR Dear Editor As a lifelong Congregationalist and subscriber to The Congregationalist I was intrigued by the article Mrs Peabody and the Funeral Beans in the September 2019 issue It brought to mind the importance and focus of a church kitchen in the life of a church I recall watching my mother and her friends working in the kitchen of my childhood Congregational church in Illinois and now I and my peers have the same avocation in my Michigan church By the way we women can be very territorial about the kitchen and our menfolk have learned to give us wide berth when it comes to that space The point of Justin Nierer s article was well intentioned there aretoo many church conflicts that are started over something petty There might be little things in your church you don t like I ask you to look past those things and look at the people look at their hearts My concern is that to develop his case he may have caused harm to one of his parishioners Mrs Peabody by portraying her and her behaviors in such a bad light even to the point of divulging the contents of her private funeral notebook which he had surreptitiously read Names could have been changed to protect the innocent but if the description of the happenings at the church board meeting are accurate there is no doubt in my mind that readers among his congregation would recognize the players The article says Mrs Peabody was in charge of our funeral dinners and had been for many years and what a great ministry she was providing My grandmother taught me some valuable lessons One of those lessons was her admonition Don t judge people by WHAT they do or by WHAT they say Rather judge them by WHY they do what they do or WHY they say what they say My guess is that Mrs Peabody is a senior citizen and that the bank MAKE A TAX EFFICIENT GIFT FROM AN IRA If you are 70 years of age or older consider supporting the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC or the Congregational Foundation CF by making a gift from your IRA What a great way to support the NACCC or CF and have the extra benefit of avoiding the income tax you are required to pay on your IRA distributions Here are the details Donors must be age 70 or older at the time the gift is made It is important not to withdraw the funds before making a gift Donors must request a direct transfer of funds from their plan administrator to a qualified public charity Gifts cannot be used to fund a gift annuity or charitable remainder trust Each donor may give up to 100 000 per year Gifts can be used to satisfy the donor s Required Minimum Distribution Donors can exclude the distribution from income on their federal tax returns If they do they will not receive a charitable income tax deduction To qualify for tax free treatment donors cannot receive goods or services or a personal benefit such as tickets for events in return for the IRA rollover gift Please contact NACCC Development Director Debby Fulton at 800 262 1620 Ext 1610 414 856 1610 or dfulton naccc org to let us know your gift is coming or if you have questions Helpful materials can be found on our website www naccc org under Supporting Our Work 24 of able bodied and willing helpers available to assist with funeral dinners has dwindled making it increasingly burdensome to provide this loving valuable service to church families Also death does not always come with a lot of advance notice so having a stockpile of food supplies at the ready is especially helpful in lightening the work for those providing funeral meals that have little advance notice Mrs Peabody s harangue at the meeting about the stolen green beans was no doubt precipitated by a feeling of frustration and perhaps a feeling of being taken for granted and unappreciated for all her time and effort Justin advises us to look at your church through the eyes of Christ Let us not lose sight that Jesus taught us forgiveness and compassion and unconditional love for each other Katherine Howell Necrology2019 The Reverend Richard P Buchman Jr 1930 2019 The Reverend Richard P Buchman Jr passed away on September 16 2019 at age 89 He had an active history in the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC serving on NAPF Members Committee 1967 1969 the Program Committee 1988 and Congregational Church Development 1989 1993 He was editor of The Congregationalist magazine from 1971 to 1972 A Yale graduate and former Navy officer Buchman left a career in the steel industry to attend seminary He graduated from Union Theological Seminary in New York City after studying under theologian Reinhold Niebuhr During his career Buchman served at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church Scarsdale New York First Congregational Church Wauwatosa Wisconsin Cadman Memorial Church Brooklyn New York North Shore Congregational Church Fox Point Wisconsin and as the founding minister of Ozaukee Congregational Church Grafton Wisconsin where he was Emeritus Minister He was also very active on numerous boards of directors and a strong leader in community affairs Buchman is survived by his wife Sandy their six children and 10 grandchildren A memorial service was held at First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa Memorials to the Richard and Sandra Slocum Buchman Fund of the Milwaukee Foundation 1020 N Broadway Milwaukee WI 53202 will be appreciated Carol Lois Cole 1934 2019 Carol Lois Cole passed away at home on August 31 2019 in Westchester California after a long illness A member of Congregational Church of the Messiah in Los Angeles Cole was active in NACCC serving on Church Services Commission 1994 1995 Christian Education 1995 1997 Executive Committee 1998 2002 and World Christian Relations Committee 2007 2014 Always service minded Cole taught kindergarten at her church was den mother to her son s Cub Scouts Pack and had a long association with Altrusa which is dedicated to improving economic well being and quality of life through a commitment to community services and literacy She worked 41 years for the State of California attaining the position of Deputy Labor Commissioner She is survived by her brother her sister three children five grandchildren and five great grandchildren Grant Stannard 1924 2019 Grant Stannard passed away at the age of 95 on August 28 2019 Stannard served the NACCC in a number of capacities Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies 1975 1982 Executive Committee 19841988 Program Committee 1988 1989 Financial Services Committee 1996 2005 Congregational Foundation Board of Governors 2003 2015 After serving in the U S Army Air Corps in WWII Stannard completed his engineering degree at Kansas State University and focused on the continual growth of Stannard Construction Co with his brother David He met his wife Katie at Plymouth Congregational Church in Wichita He became a towering figure at Plymouth and he joined the board of the NACCC He was active in the civic and business life of Wichita and involved in a number of nonprofits Stannard was preceded in death by his brother David and his wife Katie Survivors include two daughters a sister in law four grandchildren and five great grandchildren Memorials may be sent to one of the following Rainbows United Charitable Foundation at 3223 N Oliver 67220 Plymouth Foundation Living Legacy at 202 N Clifton Ave 67208 or Stannard Fund Boy Scouts of Am at Wichita Community Foundation 301 N Main St Ste 100 67202 A Congregational Book a Sudden Inspiration and a Heartfelt Offer By Grove Armstrong Reading the Reverend Dr John Tamilio s inspired Congregational Lecture in The Congregationalist September 2019 brought me an astonishingly happy insight I realized that my recent book MEETING JESUS CHRIST The Theology and Practice of Private Personal Worship with Study Guide is truly a Congregational book It emphasizes meeting Jesus Christ in the Bible It focuses on Jesus speaking directly to us from the Bible the fresh light and truth each of us needs for today and it keeps us focused on Biblical truth however it supports or corrects what we believe The book is in fact a very practical way to personally experience three of the theological principles we inherited from those passengers on the Mayflower 1 Christ alone is the head of the church 2 Every Christian possesses full liberty of conscience in interpreting the Gospel 3 The Bible is fully sufficient as our guide in matters of faith and practice and will inspire individuals and direct the church with fresh light and truth for every generation Wow I thought I wish everyone in the NACCC knew about my book Suddenly surprising even my thrifty self I became very benevolent I decided to give a book to every person in our Congregational Fellowship who wants one All I ask is that each person pay 3 00 for shipping costs Send your request and check to Grove Armstrong 209 Holly Ct Bear DE 19701 and the book will be on its way to you The Heart of our Heritage and Our Future treasure The Congregationalist Vol 171 No 3 p 22 Ibid One per family please MEETING JESUS CHRIST is not another ten step self help book for improving one s daily devotions Rather this slim but powerful study mentors the believer along a journey toward a more intimate and loving fellowship with our Lord and the sweet joy of tarrying in the garden with the son of God Dr Scott Stevens Director English Language Institute University of Delaware 25

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Recent Calls Rev Richard C Marquette Minister Newbury Congregational Church Brookfield CT June 3 2019 Rev Brad Williams Senior Minister First Congregational Church Roscommon MI July 1 2019 Installations Rev Dr Marilyn Danielson First Congregational Church Lake Odessa MI August 11 2019 Rev Toya Richards People s Congregational Church Bayport MN September 22 2019 Rev Tim Chappell First Congregational Church Clarkson MI October 6 2019 Rev Dr Michael Glidden North Deering Congregational Church Portland ME September 8 2019 Rev Matthew K Goodale Cheney Congregational Church Cheney WA October 13 2019 Rev Robb Tarr Gahanna Community Congregational Church Gahanna OH October 22 2019 In Search First Congregational Church Wayne Michigan SAVE THE DATES Arbor Grove Congregational Church Jackson MI Crystal Congregational Church Crystal MI First Congregational Church Interlachen FL First Congregational Church Rochester MA First Congregational Church Yarmouth Port MA First Congregational Church Hudson MI First Congregational Church Wayne MI Founders Congregational Church Harwinton CT Pilgrim Congregational Church Pomona CA Second Congregational Church Warren ME St Jacobi Congregational Church Richfield WI Tinley Park Community Church Tinley Park IL Third Congregational Church Middletown CT Westchester Congregational Church Colchester CT First Congregational Church Mansfield OH Pilgrim Congregational Church Green Bay WI Non NACCC Church Senior Minister First Congregational Church United Church of Christ Springfield VT Monadnock Congregational Church Colebrook NH Editor Marianne E King Publisher Carrie Dahm Contributing Editor Julie Robie Graphic Design Goes Studio APRIL 20 23 2020 Minister s Convocation JUNE 27 30 2020 66th Annual Meeting Conference of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Portland Maine JULY 22 28 2020 International Congregational Fellowship Quadrennial Conference Curry College Milton Massachusetts Senior Minister Associate Minister SEEKING FULL TIME SENIOR PASTOR CALENDAR 2019 Pastorates PULPITS Editorial Advisory Team Rev Dawn Carlson Rev Dr Barry W Szymanski Randy Asendorf Rev Dr Michael Glidden Miriam Bryant Subscriptions Policy One subscription is provided free of charge to each individual requestor who is a member of a church in fellowship with the National Association One complimentary Newcomer Copy will be sent to any person one time only upon request by a church in fellowship with the National Association A subscription to The Congregationalist is provided free of charge to each church in fellowship with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches and one to each accredited theological seminary on the magazine s mailing list Single copies may be purchased from the National Association office for 3 75 plus 3 20 to cover shipping and handling NACCC Advertising Inquiries Editorial Inquiries Subscription Inquiries 8473 South Howell Avenue Oak Creek WI 53154 naccc naccc org Marianne E King 800 262 1620 ext 1624 editor naccc org Carrie Dahm 800 262 1620 ext 1612 cdahm naccc org Tracy Bernhardt 800 262 1620 ext 1615 naccc naccc org Articles and editorials in The Congregationalist are by the authority of the editor and do not necessarily reflect policies and opinions of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches The NACCC reserves freedom of expression to its authors as well as freedom of opinion to its readers Copy deadline for each issue is noted in the previous issue s Calendar section Letters to the Editor are welcome All letters may be edited for clarity and length We regret we cannot publish or respond to all letters The NACCC reserves the right to refuse any advertisement 2019 The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches All rights reserved We seek and gratefully accept voluntary donations to help keep this magazine in print Donations are tax deductible except for the first 15 of donation per subscription received by the taxpayer per year The Congregationalist ISSN 0010 5856 Postage paid at Madison WI 53714 9998 Published quarterly by the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 8473 S Howell Ave Oak Creek WI 53201 0288 Periodicals postage paid at Madison WI and additional mailings offices POSTMASTER Send address changes to The Congregationalist 8473 S Howell Ave Oak Creek WI 53201 0288 The Congregationalist Online Our Web site congregationalist org features PDF files of the current issue plus back issues and a searchable index of all articles Each new issue is posted on the Web when the printed version is mailed so you can read it online days or even weeks before the printed copy reaches your mailbox Enjoy SUBSCRIBING CANCELING MOVING Email us at naccc naccc org Our pastor is retiring from full time senior ministry and we are looking for a new guide to lead us on our Christian journey deepening our love of Christ and serving with open minds open hearts and open hands See our Church Information Form at www naccc org Visit our Church Website at www fccow com 26 The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Mission Statement To nurture fellowship among Congregational Christian Churches and to support ministries of the local church in its community and to the world all in the name of Christ 27

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The Congregationalist Dec 2019

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