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Thoughts: A New and Great Adventure
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Rev. Dr. Barry W. Szymanski, Interim Executive Director
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Has the Holy Spirit prompted your congregation to start something new? New creates anxieties. New is frightening. It is daunting. To begin something new means going where we have never been before. Any innovative undertaking is a risk. Congregations don’t like risk. It takes courage to move into something unfamiliar. People will twist and turn to avoid risk-taking. But change is inevitable if a congregation is to flourish. Yes, a congregation may continue unchanging for a decade or two, but will it fulfill the purposes Jesus expects of a mission-driven congregation? So, what do we do? We research. We prepare. We plan. What if there is failure? You tried! Trying is better than not. Working to continue to foster God’s Kingdom is our work. Jesus promised he will send the Holy Spirit to guide us. Prayer and inspiration and creativity coupled with good investigation and study will help lead to good results. St. Paul told Timothy that God does not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love. With God’s Love and Spirit may your congregation set out with enthusiasm to new and great adventures!
Note: “Thoughts” are Barry’s musings based upon scripture and remain his own opinions and not those of the National Association, though he prays that they are meaningful to all.
Scripture: John 14:16, 26; 2 Timothy 1:7
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Thanksgiving Proclamation
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We Congregationalists are a people of thanksgiving! With gratitude for your fellowship in the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, we offer our annual Thanksgiving Proclamation. We invite you to read it from the pulpit, insert a copy in your Sunday’s Order of Worship, publish it as part of your weekly news bulletin, project it onto your screens, or otherwise share it.
We pray that you will experience abundant joy and countless blessings during this season of remembering God’s goodness and provision.
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Hurting Churches Fund Appreciation
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Rev. Don Bliss, East Freetown Congregational-Christian Church
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On behalf of the East Freetown Congregational-Christian Church, I would like to acknowledge and thank the NACCC for our grant from the Hurting Churches Fund and commend the resource to our sister churches.
In the course of crawling around under the church to install live-streaming equipment, we discovered that our 1888 building still had what is known as “knob and tube” wiring from its original electrification 102 years ago! Needless to say, re-wiring was both imperative and not in our budget. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we, like so many other churches, have struggled to keep up with our finances. It seems that our expenses have not decreased commensurately with the decline in our income.
The Hurting Churches Fund provided us an invaluable resource to meet unexpected costs not covered in our operating budget. We are blessed to be recipients, and we urge other churches with significant financial challenges to consider applying as well.
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We invite you to read the September 2024 Stakeholder Letter, written by Interim Executive Director Rev. Dr. Barry W. Szymanski. In this insightful letter, Barry shares how his experience as Interim Executive Director has opened his eyes to the many facets of the NACCC’s work, the important responsibilities NACCC staff, leadership, and members provide for, and the impact that work has on the greater Congregational community.
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October 16, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CT (11 am PT; 2 pm ET)
Webinar: The Leader Table Information Session
Learn more about The Leader Table – an upcoming webinar training series focused on improving faith-based leadership in times of uncertainty. Click here for more information or to register to attend.
October 17, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CT (12 pm PT; 3 pm ET)
Webinar: Cultivating Generosity
An interactive seminar offered by Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. Click here for more information. To sign up, please contact Kristin Ward.
November 7, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm CT (1:00 pm PT; 4:00 pm ET)
Webinar: Christian Formation and VBS
Looking for quality Christian education and vacation bible school material? Join us to discuss what’s being used and how we can share material with each other. Click here for more information or to register to attend.
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Have questions? Seeking resources? Contact us at (414) 856-1620.
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Kristin Ward: Development
Maggie Helmick: Communications
Laura Wright: Church Services
Rev. Dr. Gerry Krupp: Programming
Julie Robie: Mission and Outreach
Sarah Sobecke: Interim Executive Assistant
Rev. Dr. Barry W. Szymanski: Interim Executive Director
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Thank you for being a vital part of our community. Your engagement, support, and commitment to the Congregational Way is valued and appreciated.
We encourage you to share this newsletter with friends, family, fellow congregants, and anyone else you think could benefit from it.
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Our Contact Information
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
8473 S. Howell Ave
PO Box 288
Oak Creek, WI 53154
(414) 856-1610
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