A Bayberry Block

And so, it's been three weeks since my last posting. I began a posting on August 7 (the day between the observances of the only nuclear bombs dropped during a time of war) but I found myself staring at the blinking cursor on the blank page. I even had a catchy title, "Between Then and Again!" I might still find the words to go with the title (and the thought underlying it all).

My blog server tells me that I've written 152 postings (since January 15, 2007). I guess I'm due for a case of writer's block.

It's been a great summer though. I've worked on stuff around the house. Work continues on various resources for the New York Conference (An introductory video on the UCC Manual on Church; transferring the Powerpoint presentations of Casting Your Nets and OCWM into a more internet-friendly video format; further development of my website -- http://www.flowingstreams.org/). But, no blog postings since August 3...that is, until now.

Much has been going on in the world (and even in and across the UCC) while I've been enduring blog withdrawal: the Olympics, the Russian invasion of Georgia, a change of power in Pakistan, the U.S. Presidential Campaign, tropical storm Fay, to name a few events.

The UCC has another nationwide TV ad campaign underway. The deadline is fast approaching for contributions toward the $350,000 campaign goal. Here is the link describing the campaign and for donations: http://www.ucc.org/allthepeople/.

Here's the ad "All the People".

The Oneida Association Global Church Committee is planning a Mission Fair for our churches on September 13, at the Fairmount Community Church, Syracuse to benefit "Tents of Hope".

Tents of Hope provides a tangible way for church folks to actually do something to help refugees from the genocide in Darfur. Here is the link to the online flier for our event: http://www.flowingstreams.org/Oneida/Oneida%20Mission%20Fair.htm.



From noon to 4:00 we'll paint 12" square canvases that will be sent to a U.N. Refugee Camp in Chad. The squares will be sewn together there into a tent. It takes 300 squares to make one tent. By the way the event will also include visits from the local Sudanese community, the regional director of Church World Service, videos on the crisis in Darfur, a chicken barbecue, a bake sale...and, did I mention, great fun!



Well, that's all for now. I guess I'm out of the blocks (to borrow an Olympic metaphor).



Blessings,



Rick Cowles

A Mid-Summer Intercessory

Today was one of those days when I didn't want to go to church. The increasingly delusional thought that summer is less busy than the rest of the year to the contrary, this past week has been one of many meetings. I do have a meeting later today, but my morning was free. I wanted to sit at home, drink my coffee, have my breakfast and read my book.

But, I went, and I'm glad. We sang. We said our prayers. Pastor Mark Lawson preached and we celebrated Holy Communion. All of this was good, but it was during the pastoral prayer that I thought of some extended intercessions that I would offer for your consideration, too.

And so, please pray with me...

For the life of our churches, especially...

• those that are in times of transition (1st Corning, 1st Ithaca, Park
  Elmira, East Side Binghamton, Preble, Plainville Christian, Ravena Christian,
  1st Poughkeepsie, 1st Albany, Gloversville, Clinton Heights)
• those that are actively searching for pastoral leadership (Groton Community, Homer, Preble, Deansboro, Center Lisle, Caroline Valley)
• those that will soon vote on whether or not to become Open and Affirming (Sherburne) and those that are in the process of discernment regarding Open and Affirming (Fairmount Community, Greene)
• those that have been involved with conversations with other churches
  regarding more intentional cooperation of mission and ministry (Plymouth
  Bethesda Utica, UCC Cortland, 1st Binghamton, Groton Community, Groton City,
  McLean Community)
• those that are brand new congregations (Journey UCC Slingerlands, Ecclesia Ministries Newburgh), newly merged congregations (Three Steeples United--UCC/PCUSA) and about to join the UCC (Central Square Community)
• those that plan retreats, go on mission trips, hold picnics and ice
  cream socials
• and all of our churches that do the work of ministry or seek to do this work faithfully.
  

Join with me in praying for those authorized to lead us in ministry, especially...

• those that have moved to new ministry settings out of our Conference (Randy & Mary Lou Hammer -- Tennesee, Daniel Happel -- Germany, Nathan Wright -- Canada)
• those that have found new ministries within our Conference (Tomi Jacobs -- Interim Protestant Chaplain of Hendricks Chapel, Vicki Johnson -- Executive Director Cortland County Council of Churches, Bruce Schoup -- Interim 1st Poughkeepsie, Eileen Dearborn -- Interim Ravena, Sandy Damhof -- Journey UCC Slingerlands, Anthony Green -- Interim 1st Albany, Ralph English -- Interim Gloversville, Barbara Wright -- 1st Presbyterian Scipioville)
• those that are on sabbatical leave (Craig Schaub, Carol Giordano) and that will soon be going on sabbatical leave (Mark Lawson)
• those who are going through rough times in their churches, in their personal lives, those who are recovering from surgery

Join with me in praying for the life of our Associations and our Conference, especially for...

• Casting You Nets on the Other Side and the churches that this exciting program is helping to recapture a vision, energy and plan for mission
• the many ministries of the Commission on the Global Church: as partners with Mision Cristiana in Nicaragua; the United Congregation Church of Southern Africa and our missionary partners in East London SA, Dawn and Jon Barnes; NY/Help Honduras, the Disaster Response Team in it's upcoming training for local churches (November 15 in Syracuse and November 22 in Albany) and the planned work camp trip to New Orleans (October 5-11); and our plans to hold Mission Possible 3 in Syracuse (March 27-28,2009)
• the work of the Commission on Ministry as it seeks to support ministers through Clergy Retreats (November 5-7, 2008 and March 23-25 each at Stella Maris, Skaneateles); and through the New York School of Ministry, UCCNY's vibrant regional program of preparation for ministry.
• the Oneida and Susquehanna Associations in their work of visioning an revitalization
• the Oneida Association's Mission Fair, Saturday, noon to 4:00 on September 13, at the Fairmount Community Church to raise awareness of the refugee crisis in Darfur through involvement in the Tents of Hope project.

Join me in prayer for the United Church of Christ, especially for...

• the thousands of youth and adult leaders from across the denomination at the National Youth Event in Knoxville, Tennesee last month
• the Collegium of Officers, our national leaders, as they seek to help the entire national setting to envision a new covenantal structure for our life together and our mission
• all those that work on our behalf in the national setting, in conferences and around the world as missionaries
• the new God Is Still Speaking television ad campaign and the need to raise another $250,000 ($100,000 has already been raised) by September 1, in order to ensure nationwide coverage.
• the continuing efforts to be faithful in mission, witness for justice and radical welcome, and encourage and work to strengthen our churches for mission.

The petitions are endless -- for peace in Iraq and Afghanistan; the end of racial, ethnic and political strife in the Sudan, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Kenya; for reconciliation between Isreal and Palestine, China and Tibet, India and Pakistan, Columbia and Equador/Venezuela; saftey and recovery from forest fires, floods, typhoons and hurricanes, mortgage foreclosures and so many more.

Prayer is one of the things that we are called to do as people of faith, however. As Christian people of faith, we find strength, encouragement and power in praying together in Bible studies and prayer groups, in churches, associations of churches, conferences and denominations, etc., etc.

And so, I'm glad for the time of prayer that I shared with the good folks at UCC Bayberry this morning. Again, these prayers saved me from myself by opening me up to the grace of God and the call to minister to the needs of God's people. Praise God!

Blessings,

Rick Cowles