When we say, “everyone welcome, seriously everyone,” we mean it. This year, Slumber Falls and New Church have come together to craft a junior & senior high experience that is a safe, brave space for all youth to deepen their faith in an open & affirming community!
Submitted by Rev. Phil Hodson, SCC Conference Minister
As we move through these unusual times in the life of the church, one of the challenges I’m hearing in many of our congregations surrounds giving. Our friends in the Wisconsin Conference have created a series of online stewardship courses to help congregations consider these concerns, and I encourage you to check them out! Each opportunity has a unique registration button so that you can select those most relevant to your local church. These are offered at no cost, and I hope you’ll be able to participate!
APR 27 – 3 BEST PRACTICES FOR INCREASING GIVING
MAY 25 – MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGES
JULY 27 – BUILDING AN ENDOWMENT
AUG 25 – ANNUAL CAMPAIGNS 101
SEPT. 28 – NARRATIVE BUDGETS: TELLING YOUR STORY BY THE NUMBERS
OCT. 26 – PLANNED GIVING TO SUPPORT MISSION AND MINISTRY
Slumber Falls Camp continues to be a beacon of hope for children and youth of all ages with its all-inclusive summer programming. This year we are excited to announce a new camp called Color Splash, a four-day, LGBTQ+ focused, summer camp experience.
Color Splash will promote an intentionally safe and brave space that welcomes all youth from our South Central Conference churches, and beyond that to other churches, denominations, and faiths.
Rev. Yadi Martinez, Associate Pastor at New Church – Chiesa Nuova, UCC in Dallas Texas, will be directing the Color Splash Camp for Junior High and Senior High age groups. Programming for both age groups will run parallel, each with its own appropriate age group activities. Programing for these four days will include:
Empowering workshops.
Open and affirming spiritual and worship opportunities
Opportunities in the musical, visual and performing arts
We know that many LGBTQ+ young people face significant challenges, anxiety and fear when participating in Christian or other faith-based programs and camps. Yet we also know the life changing experiences that a camp like Color Splash can offer young people as they seek to live into their true authentic selves.
Slumber Falls Camp is an inclusive and empowering environment that opens its doors to all LGBTQ+ youth and their allies. Please join us in prayer as Slumber Falls prepares for summer 2022. And let us rejoice as a conference as we continue to be the church, creating a just world for all.
Submitted by Rev. Phil Hodson, SCC Conference Minister
As we move through these unusual times in the life of the church, one of the challenges I’m hearing in many of our congregations surrounds giving. Our friends in the Wisconsin Conference have created a series of online stewardship courses to help congregations consider these concerns, and I encourage you to check them out! Each opportunity has a unique registration button so that you can select those most relevant to your local church. These are offered at no cost, and I hope you’ll be able to participate!
FEB 23 – YEAR-AROUND STEWARDSHIP
APR 27 – 3 BEST PRACTICES FOR INCREASING GIVING
MAY 25 – MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGES
JULY 27 – BUILDING AN ENDOWMENT
AUG 25 – ANNUAL CAMPAIGNS 101
SEPT. 28 – NARRATIVE BUDGETS: TELLING YOUR STORY BY THE NUMBERS
OCT. 26 – PLANNED GIVING TO SUPPORT MISSION AND MINISTRY
Submitted by Rev. Phil Hodson, SCC Conference Minister
I write you today in the hope that each and every one has enjoyed some part of this past week. Perhaps it was time with loved ones and a shared meal; maybe just some quiet moments alone out of the ordinary busyness of our everyday lives. Maybe you made a list of ingredients for that Thanksgiving dinner, or the parts of it you were responsible for preparing alongside others. You shopped. You prepped. You cooked. You shared the result. My hope is that preparation culminated in the creation of new memories, the opening of new conversations, and the sharing of new possibilities in your life.
It is customary each year for the Conference to debut our tentative spending plan for review prior to its adoption by the Board of Directors. This custom was, by necessity, not undertaken this year due to the sudden passing of one of our pastors at the time those details were to be finalized and released. So, in November, the Board met for the final time of this calendar year and passed a spending plan. Today I present it here for your review.
I’m a process-oriented person and I recognize that the finished product has been fully baked. However, I think it will be palatable this year and am confident we’ll be back to cooking by the typical ingredients in 2022! Because I can share with you, happily, that the extra time we had in preparation allowed us to examine things more closely and to balance the budget in this upcoming year’s plan! Together with your support through our “Fair Share” OCWM initiative, the South Central Conference can now make new memories, open new conversations, and share new possibilities of a future filled with hope because we can set this plan in motion.
I present it to you, on behalf of the Board of Directors, with joy and hope for all that lies ahead as we prepare in this season of Advent to celebrate the birth that makes all things new!
Please click here to review the 2022 Spending Plan.
Blessings, Rev. Phil Hodson Conference Minister South Central Conference, United Church of Christ 3610 River Road New Braunfels, TX 78132
Submitted by Rev. Arlene Turner, Bethany Congregational UCC San Antonio and Rev. Nikki Stahl, Association Minister Heart of Texas
Dear South Central Conference Churches and Members,
You are cordially invited to participate in a monetary donation drive to purchase Christmas gifts for the kids of Piedras Negras and local orphanages. We (Arlene & Nikki) recently traveled to Piedras Negras and Jimenez, Mexico to visit children supported by El Shaddai Ministries, a ministry partner of Bethany. Provided is a short 3-minute video of that experience. Please feel free to download and share this short-video with your congregations, family, friends, the world by including in your electronic newsletters, social media, websites and more.
Our desire along with Pastor Jose is to provide each child (300, or so) a small gift from the church so that they will know that they are not forgotten and loved by God. Monetary donations will be accepted through Monday, December 20th at Bethany Online Giving . We will be returning to Piedras Negras Christmas week to purchase and distribute the gifts. Plans are to create a follow-up video so we can celebrate together!
As the video shows, this journey has already been spirit-filled and we look forward to experiencing how the Divine will live, and move, and has its being in and through us all.
Who would you call on in your congregations to make a special event happen in your church? We need them and/or you!
It’s the Heart of Texas Association’s turn to host the Conference Annual Meeting!
Dates (May 27-May 29, 2022) and a venue (Camp Allen) have been secured, but the HOT Planning Committee needs help in the areas below.
If you, or a member of your congregation, has a particular gift in any of these areas, please let me or our Moderator, Carl Schwartz-King, know ASAP. There will be a special installation service for our Conference Minister, Rev. Phil Hodson during this event as well. This is a great opportunity to get to know people within the Association and beyond. Annual Meeting Focus Areas:
Venue Coordinator: Ann Wherly
Registration Coordinator: Stacey Silvey
Worship Coordinator: Trent Williams
Program Coordinator: CJ Wood
Child/Youth Cordination: Jeremy Albers (with specific leads for youth, children)
Boundary Training: Lynette Ross
Business Meeting Coordinator: Debra Joseph
Vendors Coordinator: Charles Stark?
Kit Collections Coordinator: Anne Wehrly and Doris Machinski
Hospitality/Fellowship Coordinator: Carl Schwartz-King
Banquet Coordination: Arlene Turner assist
Volunteer Coordinator: Nikki Stahl
A/V Equipment Coordinator: Needed
Online planning kicked off this past Tuesday, November 30th and the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 6 at Noon.
Let me or Carl know if you plan on attending and we will send you a zoom link. If you want to help but cannot attend, let one of us know as well. Or if you know someone that we can contact in your congregation directly, we would love those names and email/phone numbers.
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