Working Together in Faith, Trust, and Love
We Strive to Foster Faithful Witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that will Shape a Strong UCC Identity with Effective Staffing that Equips and Empowers Local Churches, Clergy and Lay for Transformative Ministry and Growth.
WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR OF FAITH & FAVOR
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SOC WILL THRIVE IN 2025
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WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR OF FAITH & FAVOR - SOC WILL THRIVE IN 2025 -
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Southern Conference Youth Bible Study – After hearing from you, Renamed- “Calling All Students - Let's Talk!”
by Rev. Belinda Sledge
April 13th was our first unconventional Bible study youth initiative for the Southern Conference and it was a time to plan our future meetings together. But, after hearing from some of our churches and realizing they have lots of elementary students that would love to attend, I have opened it up to all youth age groups – elementary, middle and high school. After all, God’s word is for everyone and Bible Study can be modified for all youth ages to participate collectively. We will still proceed with discussions on life topics so depending upon the subject that may be only for a particular age group. If you are a young adult in the 20s age group, we also welcome you to participate on both Sundays to share the wisdom you have obtained during your younger years.
The April 13th group decided that this would be a group that gets to decide its topic or Bible verse and everyone can decide how they want to share or not realizing we have introverts and extroverts. On April 27th the group decided to start with Matthew 5:1. Rev. Belinda Sledge will be the coordinator but will invite many of our clergy and laity to make guest appearances to facilitate.
It is from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. The 2nd Sunday is devoted to studying a book from the Bible, and the 4th Sunday features a pre-planned topic of choice that impacts your daily life, with either a participant leading the discussion or an outside guest.
You will use the same Zoom link each Sunday:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82852871663?pwd=iu6pSdNCSviKKiRFT7HTz052eVj54E.1
Meeting ID: 828 5287 1663 / Passcode: 506260
Dial In: +1 305 224 1968 US
With your help this can be grow into something amazing for our youth. Please spread the word and remember you do not have to belong to a Southern Conference church to attend
SOC Annual Gathering plans emerging
A 60th Year Anniversary
Date: June 19-21, 2025
Place: Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Host Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Virginia Beach, 1900 Pavilion Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23451Direct Line 757-437-2017 (Booking Link is Annual Meeting 2025)
(Note there are a limited amount of rooms reserved due to if the rooms are not booked the Southern Conference is obligated to pay for them. Once this block is filled, additional blocked rooms will be requested.)
Registration Fee: Youth Registration (grades 6-12) $50 (they have their own program), Registration Clergy & Lay Delegates & Visitors $150 (include Diamond Gala), Retired Clergy $125, (include Diamond Gala) vendors & exhibitors $50, Gala only $50 (should we have specialty luncheons & trainings, which are optional, there will be an additional charge)
(Look for the official registration link in enews and soc-ucc.org coming soon.)
Theme: “Reconnecting as One: In Christ, In Covenant, In Community.”
Scripture: “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:16)
Opening Worship: June 19th at 7:00 pm with speaker Rev. Bill Curtis (Ph.D.). (No registration required to attend opening worship.)
by C. L. "Curly" Stumb
A group of retired church servants gathered around tables at the Blowing Rock Conference Center during Holy Week to explore the contemporary moment in which they are finding themselves navigating. Compasses identified true north. Guided self-assessment helped chart — for these life seasoned pilgrims — their bearings amidst serendipitous discoveries of finding themselves off-course, and (with Jonah) in the belly of a big fish.
The retreat joined persons from both Southern and Southeast Conferences. Rev. Belinda Sledge (representing Rev. Edward Davis [D.Min.]) and Rev. Kim Wood joined the group from their respective conferences.
Rachel Hackenberg, a self proclaimed book nerd and publisher for the United Church of Christ’s Pilgrim Press, offered bouys and bookmarks for discovering Grace, and the creative tension of moving back and forth between the tides. Her charts highlighted the rip currents of polarity between FEAR and CREATIVITY, SHAME and COMMUNITY, ANGER and BEAUTY / WONDER / CURIOSITY.
Participants were invited to write their Jonah stories, using the technique of a “Six Word Story.” A few examples from people willing to share include:
Old People Alone Connect Laugh Cry — Maria Spada
Job No! Run / OK Whatever Damn — Maria Spada
NO MEETINGS - NO REPORTS - SLEEP LATE — Frank Spada
Choice: Poisonous Grudge or new life - Rick Edens
Look me in the eyes - PLEASE — Curly Stumb
Each Lenten Season, the Southern Conference offers a Winter Bible Study. This year, beginning Tuesday, March 18th, the Southern Conference will again hold our 2025 Lenten Study Series. Both laity and clergy are invited!
The theme of the study is “History and Polity of the UCC Through the Lens of the Five Streams.” The sessions will be held on Zoom for consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. from March 18 through April 15, 2025.
We are fully committed to educating, equipping and empowering the body of the Southern Conference. We want to empower our clergy and laity to be more effective in their setting. We have discovered that many of our members know little about the History and Polity of the Southern Conference and The United Church of Christ. Therefore, we will introduce history and polity to educate the body and help gain a deeper understanding of the United Church of Christ.
This study will meet the requirement for the UCC History & Polity Course for authorized ministers and MIDs as required in the UCC Manual on Ministry. You must be present for all five sessions (with your camera turned on) in order to receive credit.
You can access the sessions on Zoom at this link:
Https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83561363672?pwd=LbEaHrE9C8vDOEG70fRkLtU7vvKiN1.1
You can also access it by going to www.zoom.com. Select “meet,” and “join a meeting” and enter the following:
Meeting ID: 835 6136 3672
Passcode: 439100
