This past Monday, I had my first day at UCC Head Office.  I was offered a job in the JGER - Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations - unit.  My head is still spinning, but I know I can say something I've never said before:  I love my job.

I was thrown into things straight off the starting block - conference calls, staff meetings, M&S awareness week, etc.  I don't think I've had much time to process everything yet!  But I have learned a handful of things.  Here they are:

 i found these two videos on Youtube that I thought others might be interested in.

 The following is an essay I started writing in order to help me figure out what is happening with the church, and also to reconcile that all things are loved by God and have  a place in her world.  Even those people and processes, and structure that I see as destructive.

Nothing I say is something that I might change my mind. In fact I do change my mind about it several times in the same day, as I my mood and optimism changes. It is also not really an esay but a gathering of some of my thoughts, which are always changing.

 It is obvious to me that as the scandal in the Catholic Church unfolds, it will have repercussions for all of Christianity.

What are the many possible outcomes of the scandal for the Global Church and which outcomes will affect the UCC and other Protestants?

Should we be having  groups of informed people forming discussions groups to explore this?

Will this scandal also make people afraid of the UCC and other Christians.

Hey all!  Who else was there?  Who did I miss?

I ran into Carollus, SpiritBear, and aotn - it was great!!   I know I saw RichardBott, but I never got around to introducing myself.  Did I run into you and didn't know it? Let me know!!

 While their is a lot of discussion in the Christian world about the declining membership, some local Christian Churches, and some United Churches are growing, or at least retaining there membership and remaining vital and alive. 

Is your church one of these, or do you know of one. What are they doing, or how are they changing so that they grow or remain vital, while others shrink and many close?

 Hi everyone...

Does anyone know of any professional or elite(ish) athletes who are part of a United Church community?  Can be either past or present.

I'm thinking of doing a youth workshop/event and sharing some stories of faithful United Church folks who participate in the sports world.

Surely there's some NHL or CFL or Olympic (or other) connections in this big church of ours.  Any help you can offer is great.

Peace.