 DoM Newsletter
Vermont Conference, UCC, Department of Mission
Fall 2011- Vol. 2, No. 1
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| 2011 Summer Lunch Programs |  Seventeen churches received summer lunch grants from the Vermont Conference Department of Mission this year. Eight churches have sent in their final reports so far and it is wonderful to read of the enthusiasm of the volunteers and the creative and loving way children were fed. These eight churches participated in feeding approximately 3000 children. Some areas were able to provide breakfast and lunch and a snack. Some churches opened their doors every day to welcome in families and their children. Some churches cooperated with town and school efforts providing volunteers and donations of money and food. Many congregations delivered food weekly. Children received bread, milk, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, soup, fresh vegetables, boxed dinners, hot dogs, lunch meat, fruit, cookies and more all summer long. Many thanks to the following churches for reporting their program achievements: Congregational Church of Rupert, First Congregational Church, Springfield, Dummerston Congregational, Centre Congregational, Brattleboro, United Church of Northfield, United Church of Underhill, Malletts Bay Congregational UCC, Christ's Church, Saxton's River and Pittsford Congregational. Are you planning to keep in contact with your summer lunch families? Consider "adopting" a family or families for Christmas gifts/food. --Grace Cleary Chair, Summer Lunch Program |
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| Production of "Miss Saigon" Provides an Opportunity for Spiritual Growth | |
 Last summer, Grace Congregational Church, UCC, in Rutland, turned its participation in a church/community production of "Miss Saigon" into an opportunity for spiritual growth. "Miss Saigon" is about a Vietnamese prostitute left behind when the American soldier who fathered her child returns to the U.S. For two nights in June, members of the cast of Grace's summer musical shared some of the songs with other church members, and then together they discovered where their faith and spirits found truth in the hard-hitting show.
Associate Minister Tracy Weatherhogg reported that the discussions went well and added, "We are following-up this fall with a discussion of Patricia McCormick's book 'Sold' and then two gatherings for discussion - 'Slavery in Our Time: A Discussion about Human Trafficking' on two Thursday nights in November."
Read this great review of Grace Church's "Miss Saigon" from 7 Days online! - Set during the Vietnam War and chronicling the doomed love affair between an American G.I. and a young bar girl, Miss Saigon doesn't scream "church production." But a music initiative run through Rutland's Grace Church is, to say the least, "wider in scope than most church programs," notes director Rip Jackson. A highly trained cast of singers presents this sizzling, pop-opera adaptation of Madame Butterfly - sleazy nightclubs and all - to a score delivered by a full, professional orchestra. Oh, and there's a helicopter onstage, too. It's easy to see why "The Heat Is On in Saigon."
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| Environmental Signs Available for Churches' Use |
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Rev. Susanna Griefen sets up an environmental sign during Annual Meeting.
[Photo by Anne Collins]
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For a New England Environmental Retreat in Connecticut, Fred Taylor (formerly Putney Church Choir Director) and Susanna Griefen, Chair of the Vermont Conference Mission Department, made devotional signs for a contemplative nature walk. They lined a meadow and were later placed along the walkways at our Vermont Conference Annual Meeting in June at Castleton State College.
These signs may be borrowed. They are 18" by 24" weatherproof signs on metal frames that can be set into the ground, or held by silent witnesses. The signs are at the Dummerston Church and easily transported. Contact Susanna@griefen.com, 802-257-0544.
Click on the links for a list of all the resources, and templates for the signs if you want to make your own.
--Rev. Susanna Griefen Chair, Dept. of Mission |
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20 Aņos de Hermandad - 20 Years of Partnership!
|  Bethany Church in Montpelier marked the 20th anniversary of its partnership with San Antonio Grande, El Salvador by painting a Salvadoran-style mural on the outside back wall of the church. On June 26, the church service was held in the parking lot facing the mural, and testimonies from villagers and Bethany folks were shared. Abby Hall, a Bethany member who now lives in Chile, wrote in her blog about how the relationship with San Antonio Grande and her two visits there gave her direction in her life. She ended with, "I wish I could be there tomorrow, to see the mural that members of the church have painted on the back wall, to sing, to celebrate. But I will be there in spirit, eternally grateful for my experiences with the special people of San Antonio Grande and my church, and the two communities that forever changed my life." And Helio Pacheco from San Antonio Grande wrote, "Twenty years have passed. It's incredible. Sometimes I feel like yesterday was the first time I saw these people with an enormous heart and with God in their hearts and mind. . . I still remember a little song that we sang with Theresa when I was a little boy, only 8 years old, and now I'm 20. The song went like this: 'We are the boat; we are the sea. I sail in you; you sail in me.' . . . You have supported me since elementary school and now currently I am in my 4th year of the University. If one day I achieve my goal of graduating it will be thanks to God and to you all, who not only support me with a scholarship, but also pray for me." The partnership has been facilitated through the Lutheran Synod of El Salvador, a Global Ministries mission partner. Centre Church in Brattleboro has been in partnership with another Lutheran Synod congregation for more than a decade. --Theresa Lever |
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Blessings from Welcoming a Stranger!
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As part of an effort to be a more internationally engaged church, the Dummerston Church recently hosted a student from the School for International Training (SIT) in Brattleboro. He helped lead worship, sharing some of his songs from Sunday School In Burundi and his sense that he was put on earth for a reason-to help be a peace-maker through reconciliation. After worship, Pascal led a discussion on "Reconciliation as the Hope for Africa." His story of having witnessed horrific things as a 10-year-old fleeing genocide, and coming to a place of peace was very moving. He said, "How are you able to ever smile again? How are you able to be reconciled with those who have done this? It can only come by reaching a place of inner peace and reconciliation in yourself. It can only come from hard work and grace."
Follow this link to more information about Pascal and the good things that have come out of his visit to the Dummerston Church.
--Rev. Susanna Griefen
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| VLIAC - The Vermont Low Income Advocacy Council |
 | | Karen Lafayette testifying on behalf of low-income Vermonters before the House Appropriations Committee last winter. |
This upcoming Legislative Session VLIAC will be celebrating 40 years of representing the interest of low income Vermonters. The goals of VLIAC are quite simple: VLIAC is committed to empowering the poor to speak for themselves, and to speak for those who cannot. VLIAC believes that it is our responsibility to bring the issues of Poverty and the needs of lower income Vermonters to the forefront of the Legislative agenda.
The Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ has been a partner and supporter of VLIAC since its inception. A member of the Department of Mission participates on the VLIAC Board, and the Conference helps organize two major events each spring-a day at the Legislature and a legislative dinner. In addition, the Conference gives financial assistance that helps pay the salary of VLIAC's legislative liaison working in the State House.
Karen Lafayette, the current liaison, is available during the summer and fall to visit your church meetings, events or services to let you know about our anti-poverty efforts and the Vermont legislature. Karen is a former state legislator and has served as VLIAC's advocate for 10 years. Her contact information is: 109 Caroline St., Burlington, VT 05401, kmlafayette@aol.com or (802) 373-3366.
Follow this link for a more complete report on VLIAC's history and activities and information about making a contribution.
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UCC Wider Church Ministries (WCM)
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What is the UCC Wider Church Ministries (WCM)? "Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ works with conferences, associations and local congregations to develop relationships with partners nationally and internationally seeking to lift up the needs of our world and uniting in a common mission of service." WCM joins with the Division of Overseas Missions (DOM) of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), to form the Global Ministries. (administered by the Common Global Ministries Board). This organization facilitates all the mission efforts of our two denominations. Our Vermont Conference UCC has two nationally elected members on the WCM: Dorothy (Dee) Keller and Jennifer Wright. We will be meeting November 11-13, 2011 in Cleveland to look at our mission partnerships in five world regions: Europe and the Middle East (10 nations), Africa (14 nations), East Asia and the Pacific (17 nations), Southern Asia (13 nations), and Latin America and the Caribbean (19 nations). There will also be a service of installation for several national officers, including the Rev. James Moos, who is to succeed the Rev. Callie Rogers -Witte as Executive Minister of UCC Missions. Wider Church Ministries serves through 160 partnerships in over 80 nations as a presence in times of critical economic, social, environmental, educational, medical, human rights, and spiritual need. In addition, WCM offers each of us many avenues for involvement: child sponsorship programs, youth internships, short and long term volunteer opportunities, personal and group travel or pilgrimages to mission areas, missionary relationships for our churches, disaster response services, appointment for a call to missionary service, and much more. WCM is supported by OCWM and One Great Hour of Sharing. Learn more, join in, and find out the many ways you and your church can work through Wider Church Ministries for worldwide service following the teaching and the way of Jesus Christ. ~~~~~  A Common Word Between Us and You: Christian/Muslim Relationships
We continue to implement our Vermont Conference 2009 resolution "to engage in mutual study and friendship building with Muslim neighbors" in response to their invitation to celebrate together our "Common Word", "Love of God and love of neighbor". (See http://vtcucc.org/docs/Annual%20Meeting/2009/2009ANNUALMEETINGMINUTES.pdf) A growing number of congregations are engaging Muslim speakers to meet with them and are using the resources in the Conference Office for study groups. An excellent new resource is: Great World Religions: Islam, a DVD with a Course Guidebook for 12 lectures about Islam by Professor John Esposito. Contact Sybil McShane at the Conference Resource Center for this and other resource materials. Our United Church of Christ is one of 26 national faith groups, denominations, and interfaith organizations that have formed the SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER: STANDING WITH AMERICAN MUSLIMS, UPHOLDING AMERICAN VALUES to work together to end anti-Muslim discrimination in America and to promote mutual understanding and acceptance among Americans of all faith backgrounds. (See http://globalministries.org/new/mee/shoulder-to-shoulder-marks.htm). ~~~~~  Weaving a Tapestry of Mission Efforts by Vermont UCC Churches
Let's make a beautiful mosaic, a tapestry, a map of collective witness, showing each mission interest or project of each Vermont UCC church. This will help us feel connected, enhance our services, encourage new mission partnerships and celebrate with one voice our diverse but Christ led UCC call to mission. Please join with those who have already have done so, by sending us the name of your international mission project, focus or interest, your name and/or that of the chair or contact person for your mission committee. Send by mail or email to: Bob and Dee Keller, 153 Spruce St. Brattleboro Vermont, 05301, or to: rsdbkeller@yahoo.com. Let's weave a tapestry of love and service.
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Did you know...
Your OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission) contribution to the VT Conference makes this email newsletter and the numerous programs described herein available to you and your church.
Have you considered remembering the Vermont Conference in your will? You could leave a lasting legacy which would support the good works of the Conference and our churches.
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| To submit items for the DoM Newsletter, please send them to Theresa Lever at thelevers@comcast.net.The next issue will be published in Spring 2012. |
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