There is a young man named Jeff Galasyn who lives in a small town at the southern tip of Maine. Jeff has made multiple disaster recovery mission trips to New Orleans (the first one because his mother – a member of Southern Maine’s United Church of Christ -- sort of pushed him into it, he says) and was interviewed by Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose during his third visit. What could a 17-year old high-school student have to say to a journalist that would inspire him to write a column? Plenty….and plenty filled with wisdom. Here are some excerpts: “People always say thank you to us for helping them. But I think we should be saying thank you to them – to you all – for not being mad at us, when nobody came right after Katrina. I just feel that when everybody says ‘thank you,’ that it’s actually us who are in their debt. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I want to keep coming back, because I feel like you guys were abandoned, and I’m trying to do my part to help you guys get back your city.” And then there’s this: “I’ve learned a lot of life lessons down here. I respect people a lot more than I used to. I listen to my teachers a lot more; what they say, and I just grasp everything I can. It’s really had a huge impact on me. I’ve definitely learned that life doesn’t revolve around myself.” Finally, Jeff relayed one more piece of wisdom to Chris Rose, “There’s one more thing I want to tell you. One of the workers here said this to me and it made a lot of sense: Demolishing these houses is saying goodbye to the old but also saying hello to the new. I thought that was really cool. It means the demolishing is New Orleans’ past and we’re moving toward the future and getting these homes ready for people to live in again. I thought that was a good explanation for the things that are happening here.” Chris Rose says he feels like he got a life lesson from a kid who got a life lesson and he knows “that we must never forget, never stop helping, never stop thanking and never surrender.”

Since 1982 the Midnight Run has organized hundreds of relief missions involving volunteers from churches, schools and other civic groups. The First Congregational Church of Branford, CT is one such church. Groups of volunteers collect and distribute clothing and personal care items and drive them into New York City and share with the poor and the homeless there. Through these trips the forge bonds with the people in the city by establishing a foundation of sharing and compassion through which solutions to the urban problems may evolve.

The Prayer Shawl ministry of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Colorado Springs, Colorado supports TESSA; a local organization that provides confidential programs for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. They started this ministry in 2007 with 20 shawls; today they are supplying over 40 shawls a year to TESSA. They send their shawls with the prayers of the maker’s hands and with the prayers, blessings, and music they receive at the Sunday service of worship.

In keeping with good stewardship practices of resources, the people of Lake Edge United Church of Christ in Madison, WI, are implementing some changes in how they communicate with one another. Thanks to improved technology, they are now able to send more types of correspondence electronically; thus saving in paper, toner, postage, fuel, staff and volunteer hours. Special announcements, quarterly financial statements, weekly and monthly newsletters as well; can be sent to members and friends either through the US mail or electronically. Going green saves not only the environment but precious time that can be shared in mission and ministry in new ways.

Pub-Theology at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio meets regularly at the Red Door Tavern. Pub-Theology is a monthly informal gathering sponsored by their Young Adult Ministry Team. Some times they have guest speakers, other times more of a get to know you time. Regardless, all are welcome – not just young adults but the young at heart as well; all who are interested in Koinonia (fellowship) and the sharing of faith and fun.

The ever-increasing number of natural and human-made disasters -- floods, fires, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, toxic spills – serves as a clear call for us to help prepare our congregations and communities for unprecedented challenges. Our collective ministry has never been more critical. As witnessed by a dozen UCC members during the One Great Hour of Sharing informational mission trip to New Orleans in December 2008, the task of rebuilding remains daunting. National Disaster Ministries and Volunteer Ministries play key roles in recovery efforts, both physically and spiritually. In addition, resources are available. The Silent Disaster: 21st Century Response to Technology-Caused Disasters addresses preparedness for and response to technology-caused disasters. More often than not, natural disasters include technological complications that intensify the death and destruction. Why not challenge yourself and your congregation to learn and be prepared?

Anyone who has tried to archive a family history can attest to the difficulties that stem from gathering and chronicling information from many different sources. Imagine doing that for 74 U.S. organizations spread across 21 states and the District of Columbia! Members of Edgewood United Church in East Lansing, Michigan did just that to put together an African Activist Archive. The archive helps to present, preserve, and document the history of the solidarity movement with more than 1300 items listed on the site at http://africanactivist.msu.edu . Hundreds more documents will be digitized, uploaded and added to the galleries of buttons, t-shirts, posters and photographs already available. In addition, the site has audio and video tapes designed to appeal to a new generation of activists with a section of “remembrances” – interviews and essays and speeches from people reflecting on their experiences in the movement. The Edgewood group is making their contribution to preserve history and to inspire future generations in the struggle for justice and peace.

Pentecost, the birth of the church! Disciples gathered, empowered, and scattered to spread the love of God made known in Christ. Today it’s happening UCC-style through ministries made possible by the Strengthen the Church special mission offering. In 1854 Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ was the first church established in the Kansas Territory. On April 5, 2009 Plymouth became the first mainline Protestant church in Kansas to offer worship services en español. ¡Bienvenidos y Bienvenidas a Plymouth! Reunión Libertad is a new ministry birthed out of Plymouth’s desire to welcome and invite Spanish-speaking persons in Lawrence to come to the church to be “centered in their own journeys of faith and liberation.” Free English classes, with free child care, create a bridge across cultural and language barriers as English-speaking volunteers serve as conversation partners. Pastor Shannon Gorres observes, “We know it’s been working, first because our students are learning English and telling us of more success in communicating at their jobs and their kids’ schools. Our volunteers are also growing their understanding of a different culture and the common community we share.” The spontaneous shared basketball game, the offer to help with a citizenship exam, a shared human experience of computer dating in our “techy” culture, and recent demand by English speakers for Spanish classes are signs of “shared liberation” – another vision for this ministry. The church is becoming known as a safe and warm place where God is still speaking. Strengthen the Church grows our presence as a vibrant community of extravagant welcome. It builds the UCC’s future by funding The Stillspeaking Ministry, new and renewing churches, youth and young adult ministries, and lay and pastoral leadership formation – especially among women and people of color. Offerings are directed to Conferences, Local Church Ministries, and The Stillspeaking Ministry.

ABOUT STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH Your gift to Strengthen the Church builds the UCC’s future now by funding The Stillspeaking Ministry, new and renewing churches, youth and young adult ministries, and lay and pastoral leadership formation – especially among women and people of color. ABOUT STILLSPEAKING The God is Stillspeaking Ministry spreads the message of God’s extravagant welcome, reaching out especially to those who have felt there is no room for them within Christianity and the church – the excluded and alienated, the spiritually homeless, the questioning. In the last two years, Stillspeaking reached an estimated 25 million people through national, regional and local advertising. Your offerings are directed to your church’s Conference, Local Church Ministries, and The Stillspeaking Ministry for these church development, leader development and Stillspeaking purposes.

Irina Karapetyan Melusky tells her story: “During the first volatile years of Russian Perestroika, I was a young single professional caught in the upheaval. I ended up receiving refugee status at the American Embassy for religious persecution being an Armenian. I took the plunge, praying to get a better outcome and mostly hoping to see something positive down the road. Just like a skillful, caring farmer who planted seeds into the ground, watering, and securing its growth, the Little River, VA UCC family embraced me in a warm and caring welcome to a new life, new hope, and new beginning. Many family and friends from this heartfelt community of people became so close to my heart that they became an extension of my real family that I left behind.”

A new church start in a coffee shop… that was Kirkwood United Church of Christ in 2007. The Gathering Grounds was a natural setting for creating community connections. The church began to grow and thrive through service, worship and mission. Seeking adequate, affordable space, they’ve just made their fourth move since the coffee shop. But the Rev. Susannah Davis affirms, “We are committed to be in this community.” Kirkwood UCC offers radical hospitality in strongly evangelical southeast Georgia. Happily, they now have space for worship, child care, pastoral care and hosting community groups. To nurture its diverse community, the church is praying about adding a contemplative Sunday morning service with communion as a compliment to the lively family-oriented 5 p.m. service. Many have had little or no church experience in years. “For many the Story is a brand new story and community living is brand new. Not a soul knew the UCC before.” But they do now. By God’s grace, their faithfulness, and a little help from Strengthen the Church, they are the UCC in the Kirkwood neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia.