REGISTER NOW FOR THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION SPRING MEETING
The Spring Meeting for the New Jersey Association will be held on Saturday, May 17 from 9:30 a.m., until 12:00 p.m. at the Community Church of Cedar Grove (65 Bowden Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009). The meeting will be from 9:30 a.m., until 12:00 p.m. On site registration will be from 9:00-9:30 a.m. A light lunch will follow at the conclusion of the meeting. If you’d like to register NOW, click here: NJ SPRING ASSOCIATION MEETING REGISTRATION.
NEXT LAY WORSHIP LEADERS WORKSHOP TO FOCUS ON PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR MUSICIANS
We are heading into the third and final workshop for Dr. Marcia McFee’s “Small Bites, Big Flavor” program. You can still register for the May 2-4 online event if you have not attended the first two. You can attend either live or watch the recorded workshop later.
If you’d like to hear more about what will be offered, please watch this video: WORKSHOP OVERVIEW.
If you would like the link so you can register for this FREE event (paid for by your Our Church’s Wider Mission contributions), please contact Rev. Craig Peterson at cpeterson@cacucc.org or 609-929-7585.
“BEDTIME STORIES & PRAYERS” CONTINUES APRIL 30
We have the perfect midweek ministry connection for your families - “Bedtime Stories and Prayers”! Join us on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-7:15 pm on Zoom to hear a story, pray, and be sent forth with a blessing. Come as you are, even if you are in your car, running home from soccer practice.
Each session is 15 minutes long and perfect for families to add to their evening going-to-bed rhythms. This is a program supported by your local church’s generous contributions to Our Church’s Wider Missions (OCWM). If you would like the Zoom link to attend, contact Rev. Craig Peterson at cpeterson@cacucc.org. In your request, please include the local UCC church which you attend.
NEXT ONA NETWORK GATHERING APRIL 24
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, April 24 from 7-8 p.m. (EDT).
LAY WORSHIP LEADER NETWORK MEETS APRIL 28
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 April 28, 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.
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:
April 27 - Absecon Presbyterian Church in Absecon, NJ (Preaching - Congregation led by UCC Authorized Minister)
May 4 - Glen Ridge Congregational Church in Glen Ridge, NJ (Preaching)
May 11 - First Congregational Church of Montclair in Montclair, NJ (Preaching)
May 18 - Rossmoor Community Church in Monroe, NJ (Installation of Pastor)
May 25 - Faith UCC in Union, NJ (Worshipping)
June 1 - Reserved
June 8 - Trinity UCC in Manchester, MD (Preaching)
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
“CREATING SANCTURY” NETWORK MEETS MAY 5
Each month we gather individuals from local churches in the Central Atlantic to talk about ways in which individuals and local churches can get involved to help meet the needs of our undocumented siblings who are our church members, friends, and neighbors. We understand that given the complexities of our times and the variety of our locations in the Central Atlantic Conference (which covers five states and the District of Columbia), each individual and local church will have to find points of entry that work for their setting. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach that will work for every setting.
The conversations will take place on the first Monday of each month from 7:00-8:00 pm. Our next conference-wide gathering will be May 5. If you would like the Zoom link contact Rev. Craig Peterson at cpeterson@cacucc.org or 609-929-7585.
UPCOMING CHURCH TRAINING CENTER PRESENTATION MAY 6
On Tuesday, May 6, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Keith Clark-Hoyos (Executive Director of the Church Training Center) will present what the organization can do to help your council or consistory adapt past practices to meet current realities. To register for the free presentation on May 6, click here: CHURCH TRAINING CENTER PRESENTATION.
For those who want to learn more about the Church Training Center, they are offering FREE membership to the Effective Church Leadership Community to church leaders in the Central Atlantic Conference. The Effective Church Leadership Community is an online gathering place designed to empower church leaders with peer support, collaboration, and best practices in governance and administration. This community provides:
Live Webinar Events – Free access to training on governance, finance, budgeting, fraud prevention, and more.
Recorded Webinar Access – If a church leader is unable to attend a webinar, they can access the recording anytime.
Governance and Finance Best Practices – Regular insights from Keith Clark-Hoyos to enhance leadership skills in church governance and finance.
Resource Library – A growing collection of sample policies, training materials, and leadership resources.
Cohort Training Discount – Special discounted access to targeted training programs on various leadership topics.
Governance & Treasurer Mastery Coaching Group Discounts – Reduced-cost participation in coaching groups, including a dedicated group for Church Treasurers that meets weekly to discuss best practices and tackle challenges collaboratively.
The Church Training Center would love to offer this resource at no cost to the churches of the Central Atlantic Conference. By partnering together, we can strengthen congregations and help them thrive in their calling.
At Church Training Center, our mission is: "To transform churches and ministries into cohesive, mission-driven communities that faithfully fulfill God’s calling by empowering leaders with transformative leadership support, strategic resources, and financial clarity."
Join here FREE: https://community.churchtrainingcenter.com/plans/1515404?bundle_token=2d66faf8155050c1486cf3e6084f67c5&utm_source=manual
LAST IN-PERSON LUNCH FOR AUTHORIZED MINISTERS MAY 8
Our final Authorized Ministers’ lunch for the 2024-2025 program year will be Thursday, May 8 from 12:00-1:00 pm at the Reformed Church of Highland Park (19 S 2nd Ave, Highland Park, NJ 08904). You can purchase lunch for just $6 at the Global Grace Cafe (located within the church), or bring a brown bag lunch. We will take a break from the monthly lunches during the summer and then return in September.
CHILDREN & YOUTH MINISTRY WORKERS’ NETWORK MAY 8 - NEW TIME OF 2 PM
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. It meets on the second Thursday of each month from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM. Our next meeting will be May 8 at 10:00 AM. Here is the link: CHILDREN & YOUTH.
Questions? Contact Rev. Craig Peterson at cpeterson@cacucc.org or 609-929-7585.
INSTALLATION OF ROSSMOOR COMMUNITY CHURCH’S PASTOR MAY 18
Rev. Ann Schoonover will be installed as the new settled pastor at Rossmoor Community Church on Sunday, May 18 at 11:00 am. While installations are usually held on Saturday afternoons to allow lay and clergy members of the association to attend, the situation at Rossmoor is different than most. The church is located within a gated retirement community with limited access. The church also has limited access to their worship space so afternoon services are difficult to accommodate. There will be representatives from the NJ Association in attendance to participate in the installation liturgy. We are thrilled to help Rossmoor celebrate this important moment.
RETIRED CLERGY NETWORK MEETS MAY 21
A monthly gathering for retired clergy who served in the Central Atlantic Conference will be held on May 21, 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.
