SAVE THE DATE FOR NJ SPRING ASSOCIATION SPRING MEETING - APRIL 18, 2026
The New Jersey Association will hold its 2026 Spring Association Meeting on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM with a light lunch to follow. The location of the event will be made known shortly. The spring meeting is the association’s business meeting, where the focus is on electing association officers and passing the 2026-27 budget. We will also get a chance to see work done by the association’s Music Project, led by Rev. Dr. Kendall Moore.
MANUAL ON LOCAL CHURCH NETWORK MEETS JANUARY 4
The Manual on Local Church Network (MOLCN) will gather on Sunday, January 4, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Here is the Zoom link: MANUAL ON LOCAL CHURCH NETWORK.
The MOLCN meets on the first Sunday of each month, from now through May 3, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Its purpose is to help authorized ministers and lay people incorporate the Manual on Local Church into the life of their congregation.
Each month, we explore three pieces of the Congregation Code and one of the Eight Marks for Faithful and Vital Local Churches. This month, we’ll explore Mark Five (“Building Leadership Skills within Local Churches”) and three pieces of the Congregational Code. Each session is free-standing – so if you haven’t attended a gathering before, please know you are welcome to join us. If you have questions, contact Rev. Craig Peterson at cpeterson@cacucc.org or 609-929-7585.
FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE GRANTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORTS
The OFBI is announcing its FY’27 Grant Opportunities. Click this link to access our grant guidelines. This funding cycle, we’re supporting a Sustainable Development Planning grant for faith-based organizations interested in getting into the affordable housing space. We’ve also increased our award amounts from previous years.
Applications are due February 26, 2026, at 4:00 pm.
On our grants page, under the “Schedule of Webinars” heading, we have scheduled a virtual Q&A for 12/10/25 at 12:00 pm. We hope that you’ve read the application that you’re interested in applying for, and we’ll answer any questions you might have.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Eddie LaPorte (Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of Faith-Based Initiatives) at edward.laporte@sos.nj.gov or 609-292-9808.
SAVE THE DATE: REGIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE JULY 23-26
The Mid-Atlantic Region will be having its first Regional Youth Conference since COVID. The conference will take place Thursday, July 23, through Sunday, July 26, 2025, at the Laurelville Retreat Center (941 Laurelville Ln, Mt Pleasant, PA 15666). The theme will be “I Am”. The theme is inspired by Jesus’ “I am” statements in John’s Gospel.
The full cost of the event is $600 per participant. We are asking families to contribute $300. We hope their local church can cover the balance. We don’t want the cost to be prohibitive; however, if a youth needs additional support, please get in touch with Rev. Craig Peterson at cpeterson@cacucc.org or 609-929-7585.
LAY WORSHIP LEADERS’ NETWORK JANUARY 26
The monthly Lay Worship Leaders Network will gather on Monday, January 26, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Here is the Zoom link: LAY WORSHIP LEADERS NETWORK.
The group meets on the fourth Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. The network’s purpose is to build relationships between lay worship leaders, share resources, and extend support. The group is designed for those who might occasionally serve as pulpit supply for their congregation or a nearby congregation, as well as those considering getting involved. If you have questions, please contact Rev. Craig Peterson at cpeterson@cacucc.org or 609-929-7585.
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
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:
November 23 – St. Paul’s UCC in Nutley, NJ (Preaching)
November 30 - First Congregational Church of Montclair in Montclair, NJ (Worshipping)
December 7 - United Church of Christ of Toms River in Toms River, NJ (Preaching)
December 14 - ON VACATION
December 21 - First Congregational Church of Montclair (Worshipping)
December 24 - First Congregational Church of Woodbridge (Preaching)
December 28 - ON BREAK
January 4 - ON BREAK
January 11 - Old First Church in Middletown, NJ (Preaching)