9 am – 12:00
Boundary Training – Carriage House
Leader: Tracey Dawson
This year’s session will cover parts 1 and 2 from the Sacred Trust: Boundary Issues for Clergy training program. Part 1 covers issues related to power and vulnerability. Part 2 focuses on dating, friendships, dual relationships and gifts. The session will be led by Tracey Dawson who is serving as our Conference attorney. As a bonus, she will discuss some boundaries from a legal perspective that clergy and lay leaders also should consider.
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9 – 10:15 am
La Foret Walking Tour – Meet in front of Inglis Hall
Tour Guides: La Foret Staff
This one hour walking tour of the grounds and facilities may be of particular interest to those who are less familiar with La Foret. This guided tour will help to orient you to the lay out of the camp grounds while your guide shares some of the rich history and amazing stories of La Foret.
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Faith Practices Experience -- Labyrinth next to Blue Spruce
Presenters: Partners In Education
Enjoy an experiential introduction to the new faith resource material from The Pilgrim Press for worship, learning, and serving. This is not your parents Sunday School but a fresh and innovative format for faith formation inviting all ages to live out the practices of faith such as hospitality, stewardship, Sabbath, and joy.
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Family Group Leaders – Inglis Hall
Leader: Tom Rehling
This will be a training session only for those who have been recruited to serve as Family Group Leaders.
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Rocky Mountain Conference Links to the National UCC - Ponderosa
We currently have six members of the Rocky Mountain Conference representing us on National boards or committees. We invite you to come meet with them, learn what is happening through the national ministries of the UCC, and share with them your thoughts and concerns.
Executive Council – Beth Robey-Hyde
Justice and Witness Ministries – Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi
Local Church Ministries – Sharyl Peterson
Office of General Ministries – George Worcester
Wider Church Ministries – Merv Bangert
Search Committee for Associate General Minister – Curtis Rueter
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Church Growth Resource Review Panel – Ponderosa
Moderated by Jan Switzer, M.A., LPC
Members of the panel will review a number of books written on church growth and will also look at the software program Percept and the assessment process as additional resources that are available to enlighten and motivate church leadership. We will compare the different tools and models that other churches have used to bring potential new members into the church.
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Becoming ONA: A Grace-filled Process of Engagement – Ponderosa
Leader – Malcolm Himschoot
“Open and Affirming” are words churches may use to describe a welcome and a witness to the worth of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Without an experience of faithful dialogue, it can be hard to say some of these words. Or it can be easy – too easy. What difference does an explicitly ONA statement make? What can help foster faithful dialogue and uncover diverse experiences in your community? Malcolm Himschoot and Mark Lee, ONA consultants, will offer theological and practical resources as well as answer common questions about ONA processes in UCC churches.
Faith and Finance: Christians and the Economic Crisis - Blue Spruce
Led by Justice and Peace Ministry Team
Experience how you can engage your church members in studying and taking action on this challenging issue facing the United States, and, indeed, the global community.
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10:45 am – 12:00
La Foret Riding Tour – Meet in front of Inglis Hall
Tour Guides – La Foret Staff
This one hour riding tour of the grounds and facilities may be of particular interest to those who are less familiar with La Foret and would prefer a ride instead of a walk. This guided tour will help to orient you to the lay out of the camp grounds while your guide shares some of the rich history and amazing stories of La Foret.
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The Southern Ute Tribe at La Foret – Chapel Parking Lot
Leader: JoAnne Bogart
The Southern Ute Tribe graced these lands hundreds of years ago and left subtle evidence of their presence on this property. One Ute Medicine Tree and two Prayer Trees have been identified here at La Foret. It was only 4 years ago that a Native American visitor to camp noticed their presence. Join JoAnne Bogart for a short, easy, flat walk to see these precious legacies we have inherited from the Ute Tribe, and for which we are now faithful stewards. We’ll meet at the Chapel Parking lot and proceed from there.
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Mapping Our Church’s Wider Mission – Inglis Hall
Leader: Jane Heckles, National UCC Staff
Support for the wider ministries of the United Church of Christ may be the largest item in your Mission budget, but do you really know where it goes? Come find out just how important your Basic Support is to people around the Conference, national and globe! See how lives are being changed!
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Grow your Church through Strong Social Justice Stands– Blue Spruce
A panel from RMC churches facilitated by the Justice and Peace Ministry Team will describe how their churches have grown and prospered after taking strong social justice stands. Learn what these churches did and continue to do and how to engage your church in a similar process.
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Going Green – Ponderosa
Leader: Gordon Gilles, National UCC Staff
Through this workshop you will learn how you can make your church buildings and grounds more eco-friendly and save money in the process.
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The Insurance Board is a non-profit ministry of the UCC – Ponderosa
Leader: Matt Huntington CLU, LUTCF (Local Agent for the Rocky Mountain Conference)
Matt will discuss the generous benefits of the Insurance Board policy and also go over the many loss control programs that the Insurance Board members benefit from. This workshop will be well worth the time and your church will benefit from your participation.
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Enhancing lay care efforts … a place to start - Chapel
Leaders: Rev. Elizabeth Denham Thompson & Rev. Jason C. Whitehead
Connection. Community. Care. All are words that represent what congregants need and desire for themselves, for each other, and for their larger community, and are often providing for each other but in a haphazard way or in ways that are dependent upon the minister. So how to include more laity, and do it effectively? In this workshop, you will receive and begin working through 2 assessment tools to use in figuring out what your church is doing now and how it is working, and what the needs & desires are in your church community for enhanced lay care services. Further, you will learn about the Web of Care training programs that may be helpful in furthering your church’s efforts.
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