The Weekly Word for June 4, 2024

News from SONKA...

Templed Hills Summer Camp registration is open!

We have sessions for young kids, youth and adults! Join us for an unforgettable final summer at our beloved Templed Hills Camp and Retreat Center!

Click Here to Learn More and Register!

Click Here to Register

Healthy Pastoral Leadership in Congregational Systems!

June 6, 10am-12pm Online

This boundary training is designed for clergy to explore the boundaries inherent in their leadership in a congregational system through a family systems theory lens. We will particularly address how to deal with the complex boundaries in ministry that arise when there is triangulation, cutoff, and evidence of a multi-generational transmission process occurring in the ministry setting. This boundary training will fulfill a 2-hour credit elective training towards the fulfilling of the 6 hours total needed in our three-year cycle between 2023-2026.

July 17-20, 2024, Augustana College, Illinois. Join hundreds of UCC middle and high school youth from across the midwest as we come together for our first regional event since 2018! Youth who will complete 6th-12th grade prior to the event are invited to attend with their pastors, youth leaders, and adult chaperones.

Programming will be designed around worship and liturgy created by The Many, The Many is an uncommon, intentionally diverse collective making music for people to sing together about peace and justice and a world where all belong. The time together at GLWCRYE will be rooted in a theme based on one of their songs, Love > Fear.

Additional details regarding the event schedule and special guests will be added to the Registration Website as they become available.

Questions can be directed to members of the planning team at glwcrye2024@gmail.com

SONKA Reorganization Update from Governance Council: As you know, this is a year of significant change and transition for all of us in SONKA.

We are writing to update you and to encourage you to dream and plan with us as we strengthen our Association to be the United and Uniting Church of Christ.

To follow up on the Fall Annual Meeting approval of the restructuring plan, we share the following outlines and invitations.

We’ve begun clearly defining the Regional Collaborator role (our new working title instead of Elders – thanks to feedback from many of you!) and process for selection. (Collaborator role draft document)

We’re envisioning how to include the Regional Collaborators in our SONKA structure. (Collaborator timeline draft document)

Below you can find documents of the regional configuration as originally designed. If a church wants to switch regions, simply send a letter of request indicating that the Church Governing Body requests the change to Governance Council Moderator chair, Todd Peterson at ohiopetersons@msn.com.

Regional Collaborator Role - Draft

Timeline for SONKA Collaborator Development

Regional Elder Groupings Proposal

Upcoming Events

First UCC Southern Gospel Concerts

Mark Bishop: Thursday, June 20th, 7pm

Brian Free & Assurance: Thursday, September 5th, 7pm

Down East Boys: Saturday, October 19th, 6pm.

Doors open 1 hour before. Love offering only, no ticket needed.

Defusing the Clobber Passages

at Harmony Creek Church (see image below)

Immanuel UCC, St. Bernard is hosting a watch party for the movie 1946: The Misinterpretation That Shifted Culture.

The event is on Open and Affirming Sunday, June 30th, kicking off with a collaborative potluck at noon! IUCC will bring the main course, Washington UCC is bringing drinks.

If your church is willing to either bring sides or desserts, please reach out to Rev. Jonathan Bradner at pastorjonathan.iucc@gmail.com

Job Openings and News:

St. John’s United Church of Christ in Germantown, Ohio seeks a Financial Secretary.

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Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati is hiring a new Executive Director

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Immanuel United Church of Christ, St. Bernard (Cincinnati) is seeking musicians. Immanuel United Church of Christ in St. Bernard, Ohio (Cincinnati) is seeking talented musicians to enrich our worship experience and lead our congregation alongside our Liturgical Vocalist. While our tradition leans towards classical hymns, we are inspired by the Spirit to embrace a wider range of musical expressions that resonate with our multi-generational community. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our congregation through our music, expanding our circle of inclusion.

We are currently looking for:

• Two skilled organists/pianists on a rotating schedule.

• One proficient guitarist to join the organists/pianists on the first and third Sunday of the month.

Interested and qualified candidates can reach out with a resume to Pastor Jonathan Bradner at pastorjonathan.iucc@gmail.com.

Pilgrim United Church of Christ, an Open and Affirming congregation located on the west side of Cincinnati, Ohio, seeks a part-time Ministry and Administrative Assistant (MAA). The MAA is responsible for running the church office, handling administrative tasks, and supporting the Pastor, church boards and committees in congregational ministry. The right candidate will have excellent interpersonal and written communication skills; be flexible and comfortable managing a wide variety of duties; and be welcoming and personable in interacting with the public; the membership of the small, welcoming, faith-filled congregation; and Pilgrim’s award-winning Preschool. Part-time, hourly, 15 hours weekly, starting hourly rate range $15-$20 depending on experience.

Please send resume, references, and cover letter to the Personnel Committee, office@pilgrim-ucc.org by June 28. Job Description Here.

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A Word from Carl Robinson

Carl Robinson is on vacation, and not in the SONKA office, from June 3-16. Carl returns on the 17th to leading a DOC adult retreat in Columbus. If you need assistance during these dates, contact any member of the SONKA Governance Council.

If you have any updates that you think should be shared in SONKA’s new newsletter, please send them to our new editor, Jonathan Bradner, at pastorjonathan.iucc@gmail.com. Please send stories to Jonathan by Monday mornings for editing to get to Cassidy Hall, Communications Coordinator for the Heartland Conference. Cassidy then puts the newsletter together, and sends it to you on Tuesdays! Stories submitted after Monday morning will have to wait until the following week’s newsletter for distribution.

SONKA STAFF

Carl Robinson

Email: crobinson@sonkaucc.org

James Hill

Email: jimh@sonkaucc.org

Cassidy Hall

Email: communications@heartlanducc.org

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