“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” 
Luke 10:36-37 (NRSV)

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The 2019 Annual Gathering Planning Team welcomes you to its Building the Neighborhood Event! We have prepared a gathering for you that will inspire, help you connect with old and new friends, and learn about the exciting happenings in the IKC UCC! Here's some important information:

Location and Directions. Our team is thrilled to welcome you back in 2019 to our 2018 host church, Friedens UCC. Just click on the map on the left for address and directions.

Schedule. Consult our tentative agenda for all the details about the event. Here are the basics:

Thursday, May 30. Education Day with Rev. Dr. Don Gillett from the Kentucky Council of Churches. Don will unpack and share how the ministry of advocacy within the Kentucky Council of Churches works and impacts the lives and neighbors within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  Don will share how congregations and denominations can use their voices of faith to advocate with and for neighbors around us.  Between sharing stories, collaborations, and strategy for advocating with and for neighbors, the conference will be invited to engage in what it means to be a neighbor, to need a neighbor, and love a neighbor.  Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. Workshop from 1-4 p.m.

Friday, May 31. Annual Gathering. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. Opening Worship with preaching from IKC's own Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund, author of Blessed Are the Crazy: Breaking the Silence about Mental Illness, Family, and Church, begins at 9 a.m., followed by our first plenary session at 10:30 a.m.

Friday Celebrations and Recognitions Banquet. The banquet begins at 5:30 p.m.  Performances by the Union Church Choir, Berea, Ky and a concert featuring musician Christopher Grundy will be given during the banquet. Christopher Grundy has been writing and performing music for regional and national gatherings of the UCC for twenty years. His songs have been used in nine of the last eleven General Synods of the UCC. He has recorded five albums and has emerged as a leader in the genre of progressive Christian worship music. Tickets for the banquet and concert are included in a full registration, or can be purchased separately for $30.

Saturday, June 1. begins with light refreshments from 7:30 - 9 a.m.  Beginning at 7:30 a free event featuring Coffee and Keynote with the Rev. Lawrence T. Richardson: A Personal Journey of Transformation will be hosted by the IKC Open and Affirming Team.  Plenary starts at 9 a.m. Closing worship, featuring preacher Rev. Mihee Kim-Kort, author of Outside The Lines: How Embracing Queerness Will Transform Your Faith, at 11:15. We will conclude our gathering with lunch at 12:15.

Workshops and Front Porch Conversations. We will be offering workshops and Front Porch Conversations at two times on Friday. Font Porch Conversations are opportunities during our workshop session time to offer spaces for people to discuss topics pertinent to their congregation with others who share the same interests or concerns.  These spaces will not have presentations that offer content, but rather will be conversations led by those who are in the room.  If none of the workshop options during this timeframe catch your attention, please join one of our front porch conversations.

Mission Project. Days for Girls We are requesting 100 dark-colored and dark-patterned pairs of panties, 200 gallon-sized Ziploc brand zipper bags (no sliders), and 100 dark-colored washcloths for the IKC. Please collect as you are able and feel led! Perhaps 10 pairs of underwear, 20 of the bags, and 10 washcloths per congregation. Nothing will go to waste. If we collect more than the goal, we will make more kits or will donate to Days for Girls, local shelters and women’s homes.

Overnight Accommodations. If you are staying overnight in the area, we have arranged with three local hotels to block-off rooms. Here are the hotels, call to check rates and availability and to book your room.

Connecting on Social Media. Several plenary sessions will be live streamed from IKC's UCC Facebook page. We will be live tweeting the event using #IKCNeighborhood2019. Use social media to connect with people at the event and beyond!

Registration Cost and Deadlines. It's $125 for delegates and visitors who sign up before May 5, $150 for delegates and visitors who sign up after that date. It's $80 for retired clergy, $30 per child (to cover costs of childcare), and no charge for Members in Discernment. Final deadline for online registration is May 27.

Still have questions? Contact the IKC office.

Sincerely,

 The Annual Gathering Planning Team

Helpful Tips When Registering:

1. Each attendee must complete a separate registration with a unique email address. If a congregation is paying for delegates or visitors, the registrants may select “pay by check” and have the church office mail the payment in.

2. Attendees will need to make their own hotel room reservations using the information above.

3. Opting to pay via PayPal does not require a PayPal account. Simply choose to sign in as a guest after clicking on the PayPal payment option.

Register Now!