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ON THE WAY TO OUR ANNUAL SPRING ASSEMBLY “Myanmar happened!”

The horrendous loss of life and property, of infrastructure and life-sustaining resources, in Myanmar is nearly beyond comprehension. When we react/respond with grief, shock and immediate relief efforts within our own communities – when loss of life may be in the tens or twenties – to magnify the sense of loss and bewilderment by thousands, even millions, exceeds our capacity to imagine. What’s left then is for us to pray for God’s beleaguered people in Myanmar with our heads bowed and hands clasped, as well as pray with our hands around the pens we use to write generous checks (or with fingers on computer keypads to make online contributions) to provide some of the millions of dollars needed to feed, treat, and stabilize those who are suffering. Here is a message from the Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte:

Today, in the wake of unfathomable natural disaster in Myanmar (Burma), the United Church of Christ just issued a $100,000 emergency appeal to aid victims and to prepare for long-term recovery.

Already, 22,464 people are confirmed dead, 41,054 people are missing, and as many as 1 million are homeless after last weekend's catastrophic cyclone flattened villages, destroyed buildings and ruined food supplies.

James Vijayakumar, our area executive for Southern Asia and Susan Sanders, UCC One Great Hour of Sharing Administrator, have spoken with the Myanmar Council of Churches, Church World Service and ACT International partners to pledge the UCC's full support for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Will you give generously?

In the storm's aftermath, prices for food, fuel and building supplies have escalated as much as 300 percent, and communication abilities throughout the region have been compromised.

The UCC's Myanmar Cyclone Fund, a special OGHS disaster appeal with a goal of $100,000, is now receiving contributions. However, in coming days, this initial appeal may be expanded to reflect longer-term recovery efforts needed by the Myanmar Council of Churches and its members. Our earnest prayers and generous contributions are needed now to assist the people of Myanmar. Can we count on you?


The Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte
Executive Minister, UCC Wider Church Ministries
Co-Executive, UCC/Disciples' Global Ministries

Keep up to date on our response:ucc.org/disaster

SPRING ASSEMBLY – - May 16-17.

Register now. See the website for online possibilities. Cpcucc.org.

NOTICE THIS, PLEASE: Cut off date for reservations for lunches and Friday banquet is

May 9. These are catered meals so there will only be enough meals for those who make advance reservations. Online Registration is no longer available, but the registration forms can be downloaded from cpcucc.org.

OTHER NEWS

  • There will be two speak out sections this year – with 9 one-minute opportunities each time. Look for “speak out” sign up sheets when you register.
  • There is “travel support” available one-way for one delegate from each congregation when the one-way travel exceeds 200 miles in order to attend this Assembly. Remember? It was a new feature to our 2008 budget approved at the Fall Gatherings of 2007. There will be reimbursement request forms at the registration area to use for requesting 14 cents per mile for the one way trip. (Sorry – but you’ll have to get your delegates back home without help from the Conference!)
  • PASTORS; Please be sure to share advance information, and information in these In The Meantimes, with your delegates. As I visit with folks I am surprised at the absence of information among some folks who are planning to attend – information which has been sent to the congregations. In many cases, it doesn’t seem to be getting out of the church office to those who will be part of the Assembly. You can “fix” that!

NATIONAL STAFF WORKSHOP PRESENTERS

It is now confirmed that we will have two national staff members present keynote addresses: The Rev. David Schoen will speak on Friday afternoon; Ms. Christy Trudo will speak on Saturday morning.

Christy Trudo will lead a workshop “Your Mission-Be the Church You Love.”

Andy Lang, i.ucc coordinator will lead a workshop on electronic communication, virtual church and related themes

Ama Zenya, worship vitality coach, will lead two different workshops on themes related to worship

John Pomeroy, Cornerstone Fund, will offer two workshops

Gary Langenwalter, sustainability consultant, will resource conversations about “being green.”

Joyce Liljeholm will help address LGBT concerns, issues, support resources

Amy Waltz Hansen will talk about church insurance issues, including updates on coverage from UCIG, and progress within the UCCIB.

Jim Doane will show us plans for cabins at CampAdams, strategic plans and new governance possibilities for the camping ministry program

Chuck Currie and Parkrose members will discuss opportunities for merger, or partnerships with Parkrose UCC.

Kevin Bruce, member of the CPC LCM team, will share ideas for local church website development.

Cyndi Andrews, member of CPC J&W Ministry team, will provide help with writing grant requests for J&W projects, and other grant resources as well.

DISPLAYS and other guests will include resources from Local Church Ministries (provided by Jan Wargo); Wider Church Ministries (provided by Jean Doane), Justice and Witness Team (Catherine Rolling); a table of resources provided by denominational offices with many samples including a new “fortune cookie”, Spirituality Ministry, EMO, Church World Service, United Church Foundation, Heifer International, Community of Welcoming Congregations, and representatives from Northwest House of Theological Studies and Pacific School of Religion, Forest Grove UCC and Parkrose UCC. Circuit Rider Books will be available as well.

AND THIS NOTE FROM FIRST UCC, PORTLAND: If you are staying over for worship on Sunday morning, at FirstChurch, the Rev. (soon to be the Rev. DR.) Paul Davis will be preaching, and the Rev. Dr. Walter John Boris will tell Dr. Seuss' story of The Sneetches as the children's sermon (addressed to “children” of all sizes!). Paul comments, “It's Walter John's contribution to the conversation on race …. with belly stars, I hear.” You will just have to attend to find out what that’s all about!

Y’all come!

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO PARTICIPATE IN THESACRED CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE on May 18 (or later) would you let me know about your plans? It is likely we will have some media contact to ask how we in CPC are responding to this national call. I’d appreciate being alerted to what’s up in your congregation. Thanks!

CPC WEB SITE – cpcucc.org Keep checking the CPC website. It is changed in some way nearly every week – and sometimes daily as new information becomes available.

A PROVOCATIVE THOUGHT: from Ending Racism in the Church, chapter 2 titled “Confessing What Separates Us,” by Jack Hayford, pastor of The Church on the Way, Van Nuys, CA:

“Our very use of the words ‘racism’ and ‘racial division’ is in itself a reflection of the horrendous degree to which racial attitudes have been entrenched in and engraved upon our systems… from a theological perspective, more cultural influences separate me and my attitudinal stance toward other ethnic groups than I am willing to acknowledge. To whatever degree that I fail to acknowledge this I surrender to the impact of the same pride that brought the separation at Babel. …. From a social perspective, all persons are racist. Such social definition does not imply that we are hostile and belligerent people who burn crosses, shoot people, or mount campaigns of bitter discrimination. Socially, what divides us is an unconscious fear that has laid hold of us.”

Citing his perspective that the Pentecost experience included Jews (which in itself would have been an ethnic sector from at least twelve different nations), proselytes, and people from a number of Gentile traditions, Hayford remarks “The church was born with a dominion of grace that began with God demonstrating the Spirit’s power to people from all parts of the earth…. As we seek to find how to move forward and be different from the culture in this very difficult area, we need not berate ourselves because of the way things were, or the way we were, in the past. In these days, we need to confront those things and say, ‘We can’t live that way any more. It is not an hour in which it can be allowed.’”

Shalom, jmg

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