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ICCC President Rev. Paul Drake died Thursday, April 12th, after a courageous battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held 11 am Thursday, April 26 at the Community Church of Little Neck, 46-16 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, NY 11362, USA. A luncheon will follow the service.
Paul's leadership was one of faithful steadiness in a time when the Council most needed it; his faith and hope in the face of terminal illness was inspiring. We thank God for his life and ministry. Please be in prayer for Paul's wife Karen and their family, and for the Little Neck church family.
Though we grieve Paul's passing, the Council and its ministry and mission continue in strength. At the recent meeting of the ICCC Board of Trustees and at the request of Paul Drake, First Vice President Rev. Bruce Merton assumed the duties of President until the next Annual Conference this July. Please be in prayer for Bruce in his leadership, as he continues to serve the community church movement.
 A note from our Council Minister....
Gifts to Church World Service are the best way we know to respond to recent storms.
Please spread the word to your church and area churches.
Church World Service: CWS emergency appeal: 2012 severe storms and tornadoes
www.churchworldservice.org
 At the 62nd Annual Conference
You Can
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE
In Many Ways!
Dr. Bruce N. Merton,
Chairman, Conference Planning Committee
When I learned to type in high school we were taught to practice our technique by typing “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.”
That phrase comes to mind as we prepare for an outstanding annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Now is the time for all good people in the I.C.C.C. to plan to come to the conference.”
We will meet from July 16-20, 2012. Our venue is the Hilton Charlotte University Place. Our theme is “Spice Up Your Life!” and it is based on Jesus’ call to his followers to be the “salt of the earth.”
The Conference Planning Committee has been hard at work in fulfilling our pledge to bring you a conference that is
filled with the many experiences that will “spice up your life” with faith, fun, fellowship, and food.
I would strongly encourage you to begin your planning for attendance and full participation.
Consider these TOP TEN REASONS TO ATTEND THE “SPICE UP YOUR LIFE” ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
REASON 10
Getting to Charlotte is quite easy. The airport is a major hub and it is serviced by all major airlines at reasonable prices. The city and hotel are easily accessible via the interstate road system and many of our churches and ministry centers are within a single day’s journey.
REASON 9
We have a great venue! The hotel is well suited for our conference needs. The rooms are nice and reasonably priced. The parking is free and ample! It is at the core of a shopping and restaurant area.
REASON 8
Charlotte is a city with much to offer. You can visit the Billy Graham Museum. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is a must for racing enthusiasts. There are college campuses to visit. Art lovers can tap into museums like the Bechtier which features modern art. The Levine Museum of the South gives a great look at life in the south and the development of Charlotte from a farming community to a major metropolis. You will not want to miss Discovery Place, one of the nation’s top science museums.
REASON 7
There are over 75 restaurants from fast food to fine dining within easy walking distance of the hotel. There are also many stores, including T.J Maxx and Talbots, within walking distance.
REASON 6
We will have GREAT MEAL EXPERIENCES including a new “PRAISE LUNCHEON” featuring a wonderful praise music experience led by our conference music leaders, Revs. R.C. and Gail Fleeman and Kevin Gray, the Minister of Music from River Hills Community Church in Lake Wylie, South Carolina. Our Koinonia (Fellowship) Lunch will feature the amazing human mixologist, Rev. Gary Batey. He will “spice up your life” with a great “getting to know you” experience that will have you meeting old friends and making new.
REASON 5
We will “spice up your life” with WONDERFUL WORSHIP! Your life of faith will spiced up and challenged. You will hear from an outstanding key note speaker, Dr. Ron Allen, on Monday and Tuesday. Our Council Minister, Rev. Don Ashmall, will preach on Thursday. You will not want to miss the outstanding youth led worship experience on Friday. Our closing Communion service on Friday will be a holy and inclusive way to end our time together. It will be led by Rev. Leroy McCreary and Dr. Bruce Merton.
REASON 4
We will “spice up your life” with GREAT ENTERTAINMENT. You will enjoy the “return” of the Rev. Dale Hopely as emcee for a night of wonderful talent of many kinds. All the talent comes from people who are part of conference. Laugh, sing, celebrate! You can do it all at the talent show. Kevin Gray, Minister of Music from River Hills Community Church, will take us from Bach to the Beatles as the entertainment for our annual conference banquet. This is a “not to be missed” experience.
REASON 3
We will “spice up your life” with PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS AND RESOURCES. Workshops will be offered in areas such as music, evangelism, children’s ministry, and the utilization of social, television and broadcast media for church growth and worship.
We will also offer a RESOURCE ROOM where conference attendees can get specific information about programs and ministries which have worked in other ICCC churches and could be adapted or adopted to their churches.
REASON 2
We will “spice up your life” of faith with presentations from our outstanding keynote speaker, Dr. Ron Allen. (His introductory biography was in last month’s issue of this paper.) Ron is an excellent speaker and New Testament authority. He will be a real treat for our ears and our faith development.
We will also “spice up your life” of faith with Bible study presentations from outstanding pastor/teachers from the I.C.C.C.
REASON 1
YOU! YOU are the number one reason for this conference. YOU will spice up the lives of others and YOU will be seasoned in faith, fellowship and fun. YOU and your needs are what we want to plan for and meet. YOU are the critical element to a successful and meaningful conference. The I.C.C.C. is YOU and others of like mind, heart, and spirit.
YOU will see me in Charlotte and I hope to see YOU!
Here’s Help to “Spice Up Your Life”
(and the Life of Your Church)!
A RESOURCE ROOM will be offered this year at conference, where attendees can get specific information about programs and ministries which have worked in other ICCC churches and could be adapted or adopted to your church.
Please note we would appreciate individuals or churches bring at least 25 copies of EACH resource recommendation to the conference.
Click here for the entry form and either send it to the Council Office by June 30th, or turn it in, along with your resource copies at registration.
Internat ional Council of Community Churches
Empowerment Opportunities at the Annual Conference
Annual Conference is the leading annual event of the International Council of Community Churches. Much thought, work and prayer makes this event possible; we are grateful for the dedication of so many in making this gathering possible.
You can help make this year’s Annual Conference a success by your material gift. Your generous empowerment gift will be recognized, as you direct, in appropriate ways during the Annual Conference and in a subsequent issue of The Christian Community.
Gifts for this purpose will be included in the annual total of your gifts recognized and honored by the ICCC at year end.
Empowerment gifts are not exclusive. Others may wish to empower the same conference event.
 2012 Annual Conference Workshops
“Variety is the spice of life” – we have all heard that saying. This is true for the musical life of the church as well. No matter how traditional or how innovative we consider our musical program to be, any program can feel stale if variety is not introduced. In this workshop we will take a glimpse at some different styles of “church music” for you to consider to add that variety to your church music life. Bring a recording of music from YOUR church to share and let’s SPICE THINGS UP. This workshop will be led by our own Roberta Smith.
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Being Salt for the Earth: Discipleship Evangelism
This workshop, led by our conference director, Bruce Merton, will focus on the practical elements needed for churches and individuals to effectively share their faith with other people in a caring, Christ-like manner.
2012 Annual Conference Keynote Speaker
Ronald Allen, a native of Poplar Bluff Missouri, and ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is Professor of Preaching and New Testament and will be our keynote speaker and a worship leader in North Carolina.
Since 1982, Rev. Allen has taught teaching and Gospels and Letters at the Christian Theological Seminary. Prior to that, he and his spouse were co-ministers of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Grand Island, Nebraska.
Recently, he has published Preaching God’s Transforming Justice: A Commentary on the Lectionary, which not only comments on every reading in the lectionary but introduces 22 new Holy Days for Justice.
Also recently, Rev. Allen directed a study of people who listen to sermons to determine the qualities in preaching that encourage them to pay attention,, including Hearing the Sermon: Relationship, Content, Feeling.
Ron and his spouse have five young adult children. He and his family have traveled extensively to such places as Zambia, Jamaica, Israel, India, South Korea, Belize, England, Ireland, and New Zealand.
CONFERENCE YOUTH DIRECTOR!
Kerri Sandusky, Church at Litchfield Park’s Associate Pastor of Youth & Children’s Ministry, has enthusiastically agreed to head the youth component of our 2012 annual conference. More information about the program and Kerri will be in the next issue of the Christian Community. Watch the ICCC website for a youth schedule in the upcoming weeks. Welcome, Kerri!
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE(AND FAITH) WITH COUNTDOWN TO WORSHIP!
This year you can prepare yourself for worship by joining our music leaders, praise band and vocalists in a time of joyous, uplifting, and spirited praise music. Before each worship experience we will lift our voices to the words and music that proclaim the "Good News" of a living and transforming relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Plan now to be a part of this NEW conference experience and
Spice Up Your Life and Faith with "Countdown to Worship".
 Volunteers Needed!
DeAnn is looking volunteers for Registration!
Hours for Registration are:
Sunday 7/15 1:00pm-4:30pm, 6:00pm-9:00pm
Monday 7/16 8:30am-Noon, 1:00pm-5:00pm
Please contact DeAnn at the Council office to schedule a time. Thank you!!
 ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS!
To encourage Young Adult attendance at Annual Conference, Roser Memorial Community Church in Anna Maria, FL will again this year pay the 2012 Annual Conference registration fee for 2 Young Adults (from different churches) attending the 2012 ICCC Annual Conference for the first time.
To take advantage of this offer, please contact the ICCC Council office to see if they are still available. iccc60423@sbcglobal.net or 815-464-5690
Note from our Council Minister!
For many years it was the custom for clergy to assemble and process in vestments at the Annual Conference communion service. The ICCC board invited all clergy who wished to revive the custom to do so at last year’s conference. We would like to invite all clergy once again, at the 2012 conference in North Carolina. The communion service will take place Friday evening, July 20th. Clergy who cannot bring full vestments to the conference are invited to consider wearing a stole. Clergy will assemble for the service 20 minutes early; watch for announcements at the conference. Thanks.
Don
Second Annual Conference Arts Festival Will Feature Fabric Art
 You are invited to submit an entry to the Arts Festival contest at 2012’s Annual Conference. This year’s chosen medium is fabric art. Do you quilt? Weave? Produce fabric collages? Whatever your talent in fabric, your work can be on display in Charlotte , NC . There are prizes too! First place artist receives a cash award of $ 150; the artist’s church receives a framed certificate attesting to the award. The cash award for second place is $50. Contest rules:
The fabric art must be created for this year’s conference and be consistent with the conference theme “Spice Up Your Life.” (See Matthew 5:13.)
- The work must be larger than 12 by 36 inches, and no larger than 120 by 120 inches.
- The work must have loops, ties or other means to make it possible to hang vertically.
- Any kind of fabric art may be submitted (quilt, weaving, fabric collage, other.)
- A form listing the name and address of the artist; the name and address of the artist’s home church; the name chosen for the piece; and a one or two sentence description of how the work relates to the conference theme must be attached to the back (non-visible) side of the work.
- Artists are responsible for shipping their works to and from the conference.
- Proceeds from sales of fabric art benefit the ICCC. It is not required that works be available for sale. Any work that is available must be priced by the artist. Whether a work is for sale will have no effect on judging for the contest.
So that we arrange for the proper display of your work, please phone or email Council House by July 1, 2012. Be sure to tell us the size of your work.
ICCC’s Got Talent!
If you were fortunate enough to be present at the “Magic Show” at our 2011 Annual Conference, you were witness to an extraordinary display of talent. This display did not, however, come from the magician; he was a no-show. The magic came from the assembled audience that presented for one another a make-shift talent show; entertaining one another in the absence of the scheduled talent.
One-by-one, members of the audience stepped up to the front of the room and entertained one another with an amazing display of gifts. Some played the piano, others sang, jokes were told, skits were performed, moving poems were recited, while others danced. Young and old came forward for what turned out to be one of the highlights of our conference.
Because of the success of the event, this year we are scheduling a talent show as part of the conference. We are inviting all those interested in participating to come forward, instead of impromptu, by email ahead of time.
If you are interested in participating in the talent show, please email your name, church, talent and approximate length of your performance to dhopely@churchatlitchfieldpark.org by June 1. When the show is organized, you will be sent a schedule for the night of when you will perform.
We know the ICCC’s got talent. The question is, will you share yours?
 Youth Alert!
It's not yet Spring, but it's not too early to plan for summer. Community churches and ecumenical agencies will provide a variety of opportunities for youth this summer. If your church or center will provide summer opportunities that are open to youth outside your own membership, please send a description to Council House. Then, look for your program to appear here on the Council's website!
The servant leaders of the communions that comprise CUIC -- Churches Uniting In Christ, have issued the following joint statement:
A Statement on the Killing of Trayvon Martin
We write as leaders of churches who have covenanted through Churches Uniting in Christ to address the sin of racism that divides us in our churches and in society. We write as pastors who have baptized and welcomed into membership children to whom the fullness of God’s grace for their lives has been extended. We write as parents of children for whom we have prayed and work to build a nation and a world in which all children are free to live their lives, using the gifts God grants them. We write because we understand that when any child cries out for help, it is the duty of the Church to respond with life-affirming... to continue reading click here......
Youth Conference Provides Intensive Faith Development for Teens
The Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park (CYC) is a two-week summer conference for  high school youth on the beautiful coast of Maine . Now in its 97th year of operation, CYC provides a Christ-centered academic and spiritual experience for today's teens.
Drawing from the story of Ann Hasseltine and Adoniram Judson, two nineteenth-century missionaries, our program challenges today's young people to consider and respond to God's call on their lives. Inspired by the achievements of these missionaries, students graduating from CYC have gone on to pastoral ministry, missionary work, and other Christian vocations.
At CYC, students participate in daily worship services, and attend classes taught by pastors and lay leaders who are selected for their skills in youth work. Class topics include Biblical literacy, servant leadership, appreciation of God's creation, living a Christian lifestyle and spiritual formation. Students report that they experience God in a deeply present and personal way at CYC, and some have said that it was through these experiences that their faith became real to them.
Visit CYC online at www.cycop.org for more information. CYC welcomes students of all kinds, and can offer scholarship aid to teens who have limited resources.
 2011 Annual Conference in Las Vegas recap
While it will give you a sense of the content of the conference it won’t do justice to the quality of the experience. In evaluations of the conference, attendees remarked on the sparkling leadership of Bible Study leader Dr. Demetrius Williams, the excellent preaching of Dr. Martin Marty and our own Rev. Corwin Mason; the top quality workshops; and the inspiring worship led by our youth. Regarding the youth-led worship, I’ve heard from many that the testimonies and reflections on hours spent in service as a part of Youth Conference produced (and I’m quoting) “the best youth worship service we can remember.”
If you didn't attend, you missed a great conference and we missed you! I hope that you will mark your calendar now for our 2012 Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC, July 16 – 20. Our conference committee, chaired by Bruce Merton, pastor of Peace Community Church, Ft. Myers, FL is hard at work on plans for a wonderful experience next summer.
The 2011 Annual Conference pictures are available on DVD! The most memorable moments of the 61st Anniversary Annual Conference in Las Vegas have been captured to create a DVD presentation you are sure to enjoy! The cost is $10.00 per DVD, which includes shipping and handling. If you’d like to order one, please complete the form below and send it back to the office with payment.
Name: ___________________________________________ Phone#: __________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
Enclosed method of payment: Check _____________ Credit Card: Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover
Card#: ____________________________________________________________ Exp. Date: ___________
Signature: ______________________________________________________________________________
Payment must accompany this order form. Mail to: ICCC, 21116 Washington Pkwy, Frankfort, IL 60423
 ICCC DESIGN COMMITTEE GETS TO WORK
The Design Committee, which was formed by the Board of Trustees, met in Las Vegas under the chairmanship of Herb Freitag and began to work on a complete assessment of the ICCC’s structure. The last time this was done to such an extent was in 1970 and it seems appropriate that several issues be considered after 40 years of predominantly “status quo” and before the hiring of a new executive director.
The committee is charged with looking at the Council’s staff, Board |
Who We Are
