February 1, 2024 – Community Connections

February 1, 2024 Community Connections

NACCC

NEWS

There is a Time

Rev. Arthur Ritter, Moderator

Now is the time to make plans to attend the NACCC Annual Meeting and Conference in Spokane, June 22-25.  The AMC will be hosted by the Pacific Northwest Association and will be held at the Centennial Hotel in Spokane.  The theme for the meeting is “There is a Time.”  We look forward to hearing from our main speaker Alan Roxburgh from the Missional Network and author of Joining God, Remaking Church, Changing the World.  There will be other presentations to challenge us and to help us hear God’s fresh word for our day.

As always, the AMC is a place to celebrate our fellowship, to renew friendships and to meet new friends, to join in worship and prayer, and to conduct our business.  This year we will enjoy the food and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.  Look for your registration material in your email inbox and on the NACCC website soon.

Peace and grace!

We Give Thanks

Jodee Lord, Vice-Moderator, Chair, Board of Directors 

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity to the Shared Ministries Fund. Your contributions help support Webinars, The Listening Tour, Pastoral Search, a number of publications, the Annual Meeting and Conference, and the daily operations of the NACCC.

The Listening Tour: Our Executive Director has been busy meeting in fellowship with churches across the country bringing back resourceful information about our churches.

Webinars: Topics in 2023 included Vacation Bible School, Church Revitalization, healthy professional boundaries, mission programs, and church safety. 

Publications: printing, editing, and distributing of resources such as The Congregationalist, Advent and Lenten devotionals, News and Needs, three monthly e-blasts and more! 

Pastoral Search Support: Staff assistance and guidance throughout the pastoral search process for our churches.

Annual Meeting & Conference: Year-round planning for the in-person and virtual (hybrid) annual meeting. 

We are grateful for each of you and in the Congregational Way we look forward to working with you.

Welcome Rebekah Barsch!

Laura Hamby, Congregational Foundation Board of Governors, President

Join us in welcoming Rebekah Barsch to the Foundation’s Board of Governors!

Rebekah is a self-described, cradle Congregationalist, born when her father, Dick Buchman, was serving First Congregational Church Wauwatosa. Growing up she worshipped at Cadman Memorial Church in Brooklyn, North Shore Congregational Church in WI, and Ozaukee Congregational Church in WI.

As a professional, Rebekah cut her teeth in the non-profit sector, working for the YMCA and public television before transitioning to the corporate world, where she enjoyed 25 years with Northwestern Mutual.

Rebekah believes that Congregationalism has something very special and relevant to offer, and wants to ensure our churches are thriving for the next generation.  She served as moderator of the Wisconsin Congregational Association, and was on the host committee for the 2023 Annual Meeting & Conference in Milwaukee.

Married to her husband, Brian, they have two adult children, Caleb & Chloe. North Shore Congregational is their Church home. Welcome Rebekah!

We Are Hiring!

The NACCC is looking for a full-time Communications Manager to work out of the

Oak Creek, Wisconsin office. In this newly-created position, the 
Communications Manager will oversee all communications generated by the NACCC and the Congregational Foundation including collaboration with staff and volunteer leadership to plan and implement effective branding strategies, social media/digital presence, fundraising initiatives, and any other type of communication involving member churches of the NACCC and other stakeholders, ministry partners, affiliated organizations, and community outreach efforts.

Tech hurdles x2

From your NACCC office

A number of email providers blocked us in the past week or two. While our IT team assures us that this has been resolved, we ask that you to call, email, or check in your spam folder if you have not received all the usual communications from us.

In other news, it was reported, that Trello, our workspace app, had recently experienced a data breach. We wanted you to know that no client facing data has been exposed. Nevertheless, we have changed our passwords and advise any users to do the same for good measure.

Upcoming Webinars

Thursday, February 29, 2024, 2pm-3pm  – Youth Ministry Network; “How to connect our children and student ministries within the Association.”

Thursday, March 14, 2024, 2pm-3pm – Strong Church Cohort; NACCC Lead or Executive Ministers from strong (larger) churches exchange ideas and talk about ministry, leadership, stewardship, staffing, and volunteers.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 2pm-3pm – Interim Ministry Network joins with the NACCC to talk about navigating the crisis of change.

There is no cost to attend these webinars. For more information and to RSVP visit our website.
These webinars are organized by the NACCC Director of Programs, Rev. Gerry Brannon Krupp.