2006 Pledge
Kit
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Our Church's Wider Mission
Basic Support
 
2006
PLEDGE KIT
God is still speaking,
Massachusetts Conference
The Mission of the
Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ
is to nurture local church vitality and the covenant among our churches. We live this out:
- by equipping churches to respond to and participate in the
 Still Speaking Initiative,
- by equipping ministers through the Pastoral Excellence programs,
- by providing pastoral search and placement services,
- by providing Sunday School resources,
- by equipping churches through the training of Evangelism and Mission coaches,
- by providing youth programs such as confirmation retreats, summer camps and mission trip opportunities,
- by strengthening the local church in its work by providing programs for church members and leaders:
- on Christian education,
- contemporary worship,
- congregational life,
- spirituality,
- justice and mission,
- stewardship,
- planned giving,
- church growth,
- safe church,
- open & affirming,
- leadership development,
- and more…
- by providing assistance in conflict intervention and resolution,
- by providing print and electronic resources for use in local churches,
- by producing the Massachusetts edition of the
 United Church News,
- by providing information and resources through the Conference website – www.macucc.org
 Still Speaking
God is not God of the dead but of the living. —Luke 20:38b (NEB)
In the United Church of Christ, we worship a living God. We believe in God’s continuing revelation. We always have.
When the Pilgrims set sail for the new world in 1620, their pastor, John Robinson, told them: “The Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth from His holy Word.” Translated into a 21st century idiom, we believe that God is still speaking, (and we never place a period where God has left a comma).
Our United Church of Christ has been called the “early” church, because we’re usually among the first in addressing important issues facing our society and in taking bold positions that challenge the status quo.
That’s because we believe God continually calls us into new ministries of love, justice, and inclusiveness. And we live out that calling in new settings and circumstances.
The roots of our faith are over two thousand years old. But our thinking is not. We are a seekers’ church. Our worship doesn’t exclude questions and explorations. At our best, our congregations seek to include anyone and everyone who wants to listen for the voice of the still speaking God.
So, no matter who we are, or where we are on life’s journey, we know we have a home in the United Church of Christ.
Our Church’s Wider Mission supports the whole
United Church of Christ!
The United Church of Christ is a strong religious presence in countless communities across the country – thanks above all to faithful people, gifted leaders, and to the quiet steady support of Our Church’s Wider Mission. Our Church’s Wider Mission is helping right now to bring the United Church of Christ message to more and more people.
With your congregation’s support, Our Church’s Wider Mission can come closer to fulfilling God’s mission. And by being a part of Our Church’s Wider Mission, your congregation can come closer to being all that God intends it to be, touching lives at home and around the world, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Steps for Determining Your Church's Pledge for
Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) Basic Support
√ Give this letter and material to the group in your congregation charged with making a recommendation or decision about your 2006 pledge for OCWM Basic Support, i.e. mission/outreach committee, trustees, or church council.
√ Inform yourselves about mission work through OCWM Basic Support by using the materials suggested on the enclosed sheet.
√ Prayerfully consider giving at least 50% of your mission budget to OCWM Basic Support, (guideline adopted by our churches at the1993 Annual Meeting).
√ Make a pledge for OCWM Basic Support for 2006. For budget purposes, please send the enclosed card by December 31, 2005 or email your pledge to Andy Gustafson at gustafsona@macucc.org. Revisions can be made at any time during 2006. If your fiscal year begins at a time other than the beginning of the calendar year, please send in your pledge as soon as possible.
 Remittance Guidelines
√ Local churches are encouraged to remit payments to OCWM Basic Support monthly or quarterly.
√ Associations are encouraged to remit their Fellowship Dues quarterly.
√ The Massachusetts Conference will make every effort to disburse funds to the National UCC and other mission agencies on a monthly basis.
Learn about Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic Support
Order from the Stewardship & Financial Development department at the Conference Office, 508-875-5233 or email at gustafsona@macucc.org.
- Great Generosity, Abundant Blessings – Why should we give to Our Church's Wider Mission? Hear the answers to this question from the pastors of three very different UCC churches - and meet the congregations they lead in this inspiring and challenging video. 10 min. Available to borrow through our Resource Center.
- More Than We Can Ask or Imagine – When you give to your local church, your generosity does not stop there, but is shared with others in the church and around the world. A specific portion of your gift, called Our Church's Wider Mission or OCWM, provides the life-blood funding for our UCC Conferences and our national setting. How does this happen? This video will walk you through that process. Available to borrow through our Resource Center - 12 min.
- Our Church’s Wider Mission: Design a Workshop – This outline is intended for use by any leader in a UCC congregation who wants to present information about Our Church’s Wider Mission to a group. May be downloaded at: (www.macucc.org/stewardship/design.htm)
- Mission Moments – Weekly stories of your OCWM support at work, suitable as bulletin inserts or newsletter items. May be downloaded at (www.ucc.org/steward/mm.htm)
Order from United Church Resources: 1-800-537-3394
- Our Church’s Wider Mission Brochure – May be ordered in bulk (enclosed) or downloadable at (www.ucc.org/ocwm/OCWMbrochures05.pdf)
- Calendar of Prayer – Daily mission stories, Sunday bulletin inserts
- Sunday Bulletin Service – Bulletins with UCC mission story on back
- Our Church’s Wider Mission – Frequently asked questions
2006 OCWM Pledge Estimate
Email the folowing information to Pat Niness at ninessp@macucc.org
The ______________________________________________Church, UCC
of__________________________, MA - Church Code#________________
Pledge for 2006 Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) Basic Support. $_____________
(Please check one box below).
______ This amount has been approved.
______ This amount will be recommended to Annual Meeting.
Or print out the pledge card and mail it to:
Massachusetts Conference, UCC
One Badger Road
Framingham, MA 01702-5517
Attention: Stewardship & Financial Development Office
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