Workshops are a wonderful opportunity for skill training, learning or sharing in a specific area. As many know, a workshop offered at the Annual Meeting is a convenient way for a committee or group to present their ideas, thoughts and skills! Has the committee or group you work with come up with an idea for a Workshop at this year's Annual Meeting?

We are at Lyndon State College for another year continuing to celebrate our unity as the Vermont Conference (UCC) in our theme: Changing Lives: Fearless Discipleship in Action. Like last year, we are planning to have our theme presented throughout our time together. We will have two large forum times available for participants to enjoy specifically with our presenter. Opposite these forums will be any workshops offered. Participants will be asked to attend one forum, and may choose up to two workshops to enjoy.

For more information on submitting a workshop proposal, click here.  Deadline:  March 12, 2010.

We are excited about this year's Annual Meeting and look forward to participating in the various planned activities! If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding Workshops, please contact John Weatherhogg, Annual Meeting Workshop Coordinator at john@gracechurchvt.org or at Church 802-775-4301. Thanks!!

UCC Haiti Earthquake Response

As emergency relief personnel and crucial supplies continue to pour into Haiti, United Church of Christ members and congregations are maintaining their overwhelming support of the earthquake-ravaged nation, according to UCC leaders.

• ~To find out how to help, click here.
  ~For the latest updates from Global Ministries, click here.
   

2009 Local Church Forms Now Available

It is again the time of year to fill out your annual Local Church Forms. The information gathered on these forms is what is printed in the National Yearbook and is your church's official record of a Church with Standing with the United Church of Christ. We also use the information from these forms to figure out your Per Capita Dues and for our own Vermont yearbook information.

This year, Form E (Church Officers) and Form F (Ministerial Support) have been designed as fill-in forms to download/save and complete on your computer. We are asking, if possible, that you email a copy of your completed forms to Lynn Thomas as an attachment (thomasl@vtcucc.org).

Again this year, the preferred method for completing Form G (Local Church Report) is via the UCC online reporting system. This week we will send out a postal mailing which includes the link to the reporting website, your username and password, as well as a partially completed Form G (containing your last year's numbers).

You can find Forms E and F and instructions on the UCC website or on the Conference website at:

http://www.ucc.org/research/yearbook.html
http://www.vtcucc.org/churchforms.html

 As always, If you need any assistance with your local church forms, please contact Lynn Thomas at the Conference Office, 802-728-4999, thomasl@vtcucc.org.

The DEADLINE for filling out the forms and emailing them or mailing hard copies is February 19, 2010. Your church's information may not make it into the yearbook if the forms are received after this date.

2010 Lenten Study and Discussion Guide on End-of-Life Issues

In 2007 and 2009 the General Synod referred two Resolutions entitled The Legalization of Physician Aid In Dying and Physician Aid in Dying respectively, for further study. Justice & Witness Ministries was designated as the implementing body. A new study guide entitled Faithfully Facing Dying: A Lenten Study Guide on Critical Issues and Decisions for the Members of the United Church of Christ has been prepared by a dedicated committee to assist churches in a six-week Lenten study and discussion on the range of choices which surround dying and death - hospice care, advance directives, removal of life support, physician aid-in-dying, pain and many other issues.

Conferences, Associations and Local Congregations are being asked to:

• 1. Engage members in a six-week Lenten Study to reflect, learn about and discuss issues pertaining to end-of-life.
• 2. Participate in a survey after Easter to provide feedback on what your members think and feel about various end-of-life choices. The feedback will be used to assist the committee in the preparation of new resources that will help clergy and lay members of the UCC when these issues do arise.

You may download the complete Study Guide and Resource list at: http://www.ucc.org/justice/health/faithfully-facing-dying/.

2010 Covenant Hills Christian Camp Brochure Available

Your church should have received the 2010 Covenant Hills Christian Camp brochure. If you need additional copies, please contact the Conference Office or see the camp website: http://www.covenanthillsvt.com/.

It is once again time to be thinking about Annual Meeting Resolutions.

See the Annual Meeting page for Guidelines, Information and Forms:

http://www.vtcucc.org/annual_meeting.html

For Resolutions to be presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting and voted on at the 2011 Annual Meeting the deadline is April 9, 2010.