Featured Resource

OMD and CERG Staff

Need help with your congregation in RE, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Campus Ministry, Social Media, Conflict, Leadership Development, Stewardship or more? Contact the district office or any of our staff and we'll be happy to help you. Our staff have a variety of resources available they can use to help our congregations grow and thrive. Be sure to read the Staff Blog each week to find out what new ideas and resources the staff are discovering every week.

In addition we now have the CERG staff to call on for assistance. This staff includes: Mark Bernstein, Regional Consultant for Growth Development; Pat Infante, Regional Consultant for Faith Development; Rev. Renee Ruchotzke, Regional Consultant for Leadership Development; and Beth Casebolt, part-time Communications Consultant. We will be posting webinars and workshops offered by the CERG staff, please keep an eye out for these offerings.

UUA & OMD Headlines

Fast Links: Congregational News; September OMD Now; Webinar & Workshop Podcasts

Two OMD Congregations Selected for Leap of Faith Growth Intitiative.

UUA and UUSC create Joint Pakistan Flood Relief Fund. You can learn more and donate at http://tinyurl.com/PakistanFloodReliefFund.

The UU History Convocation will be October 7-10, 2010 in Waltham, MA. To learn more about this event, visit their website at www.PartnersinUUHistoryandHeritage.org

Young Adult Ministry Team Conducting Young Adult Needs Assessment. Are you a young adult, involved in young adult programmingor a leader of an OMD UU Congregation? Then please complete our survey.

Standing on the Side of Love has released a Video focusing on our time in Phoenix. View it at http://www.uua.org/videos/index.php?movie=ssl/20100811-ssl-sarber2.mp4&tr=y&auid=6817049 You can read what our Phoenix protest participants had to say about their experiences. Local Reaction to AZ Protests - The First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh & UU Church of Akron both took a collection for the SLL fund for defense of those arrested - thank you! and the Kent Record-Courier ran an article on their front page.

Staff for CERG Hired Rev. Renee Ruchtozke hired as Regional Consultant for Leadership Development. Patricia Infante to serve as Regional Consultant for Lifespan Faith Development, Mark Bernstein to serve as Regional Consultant for Growth Development.

Congregations are hiring. UU Meadville is looking for a part time director of religious education.

Religion for Our Time Eighth video has been released from the UUA. This one features a Cluster working together.

The August OMD Up Close features resources to help you plan and start your church year.

First Pittsburgh selected for August Chalice Lighter Call.Funds to assist with programming led by Rev. Alma Crawford.

Check out the August UUA Congregational Monthly Bulletin - This month, Beacon list of books spotlighting immigration; information about my.UUA.org and how to update your congregation's information for the UUA directory; field testing opportunities for several Tapestry of Faith components; Association Sunday information and more.

UU Ministry for Earth looking for volunteers in a variety of areas.

UUSC Looking for OMD Volunteer Regional Coordinator.

Pre-orders for Western PA UU History Book now being accepted.

Online Class on Dynamic Youth Ministry to be offered by Starr King School for the Ministry beginning September 7, 2010.

UUA Job Openings - The UUA is now searching for a Spirituality and Service Consultant, Administrative Assistant to VP and AVP, and a Gift Processing Coordinator. They are also still searching a number of positions including: Green Sanctuary Intern and Director of Public Relations, Witness Ministries Director in DC, Congregational Justice Administrator in DC, and LBGT Ministries Program Coordinator.

OMD Recieves Matching Grant from UUMFE to help with education and support around the Green Sanctuary program. Please help us meet our matching goal.

New Books from Beacon Press and Skinner House. See what is now available.

Association Sunday set for October 4, 2010. Learn about this year's theme and plans. Has your congregation signed up yet?

Have you seen the UU Wiki?

Interested in Social Media for your Congregation? - The UUA has setup a new blog to discuss issues around using Social Media for your congregation. The latest post discusses new media policies for use in your congregation. There is also a slideshow explaining the basics of social media available on the UUA social media blog.