NEW JERSEY FALL ASSOCIATION MEETING & INSTALLATION OF FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF RIVER EDGE PASTOR

AUTHORIZED MINISTERS’ LUNCHES RETURN SEPTEMBER 11

On the second Thursday of each month from 12:00-1:00 PM, authorized ministers from the New Jersey Association gather to share their ministries with one another, seek support, and discover what’s going on in the larger church. The gathering is online in September, November, December, January, March, and April. The gathering is in person in October, February, and May. If you are an authorized minister whose ministry standing is in the New Jersey Association and you need the Zoom link for the September 11 meeting, please email Associate Conference Minister Craig Peterson, and he will send you the Zoom link.

CHILDREN & YOUTH MINISTRY WORKERS’ NETWORK RETURNS SEPTEMBER 11

Serving as a Children's or Youth Ministry worker can be an overwhelming challenge as we adapt to a post-pandemic world. To lessen the sense of isolation, the Central Atlantic Conference offers a monthly network meeting for those leading children's and youth ministries.

The group provides an opportunity for participants to share resources, identify projects to collaborate on, and share the joys and frustrations of our ministries. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM. We will take the summer off. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, September 11, at 2:00 PM.

Questions? Contact Rev. Craig Peterson at cpeterson@cacucc.org or 609-929-7585.

“REJOICE IN THE WELCOME” SIGN UP & RESOURCE LIST

Our third annual “Rejoice in the Welcome” Sunday will be Sunday, September 7 (though some churches may choose an alternate date in September if needed).  If your church will participate in the weekend, please let Rev. Craig Peterson know by emailing him at cpeterson@cacucc.org.

The Church Revitalization team is in the process of compiling resources that can be used by local churches.  If you would like to view the list, click here: REJOICE IN THE WELCOME RESOURCE LIST.

If you would like to add to the resource list, contact Rev. Debra Peters Wilcox at debra.peterswilcox@gmail.com.

RETIRED CLERGY NETWORK MEETS SEPTEMBER 16

A monthly gathering for retired clergy who served in the Central Atlantic Conference will be held on September 16, from 10-11 AM. The group meets on the THIRD Tuesday of each month from 10 to 11 AM. Here is the Zoom link: RETIRED CLERGY NETWORK.  Questions? Contact Rev. Craig Peterson at cpeterson@cacucc.org or 609-929-7585.

LAY WORSHIP LEADER NETWORK MEETS SEPTEMBER 22

The Lay Worship Leader Network usually meets on the fourth Monday of each month from 7-8 PM (EST).  During our time together, we share resources that can help in the planning of worship; discuss ways you can pull together a message for Sunday morning; share best practices; and answer practical questions that can help you feel more confident in your role as a temporary lay worship leader. Our next meeting will be September 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM. We will use this Zoom link for our gathering: LAY WORSHIP LEADERS. Individuals can also attend by phone by calling 301-715-8592 and entering Room ID 747 888 8349 when prompted.

NEXT ONA NETWORK GATHERING SEPTEMBER 25

We have established a monthly gathering for those in the Open & Affirming Movement in the UCC. Individuals from churches in the Central Atlantic Conference gather on the last Thursday of the month from 7-8 p.m. (EDT) in the following Zoom room: Central Atlantic ONA Network. Our next gathering, then, will be Thursday, September 25 from 7-8 p.m. (EDT).

ACM’S UPCOMING SCHEDULE FOR LOCAL CHURCH VISITS

Here is a list of where Associate Conference Minister Craig Peterson will be for the next six weeks:

August 3 - Margate Community Church in Margate, NJ (Preaching)

August 10 - Plainfield UCC Congregational Church in Plainfield, NJ (Preaching)

August 17 - Union Congregational Church in Montclair, NJ (Preaching)

August 24 - Holmdel Community UCC in Holmdel, NJ (Worshipping)

August 31 - Rossmoor Community Church in Monroe, NJ (Preaching)

September 7 - UCC of Toms River in Toms River, NJ (Worshipping)

FREE WEBINARS TO STRENGTHEN THE LIFE OF YOUR CHURCH

The Central Atlantic Conference is a member of Practical Resources for Churches (PRC).  This gives our local churches access to a wealth of free resources that can help strengthen the life of YOUR local church. 

The free webinars cover topics including “Legal and Tax Arrangements for Space Sharing Agreements,” “Legacy Giving 101,” and “How Healthy Is Your Church Culture”.  To find a full listing of upcoming webinars, click here: PRC UPCOMING WEBINARS. 

If you can’t attend a webinar live, you can still register for the webinar so you can receive a link to the recording after its conclusion. 

There are a variety of other consulting services available through PRC at reduced rates for those in our local churches.  To learn more, contact their Executive Director, Charlaine Apsel, at charlaine@prc.org and let her know you belong to a local church in the Central Atlantic