Welcome to the first 2008 issue of Joseph Priestley District Lifespan
Faith Development News.  In this issue, you can learn more about the
Teacher Development Renaissance Module coming up March 5-7, the
Building a More Effective Staff Team workshop, CONtribution (the
social-action themed high school youth con), and nominating people for
the JPD Outstanding UU Awards.

This is Rev. Lyn Cox, Acting Director for Lifespan Faith Development
for the Joseph Priestley District.  I look forward to hearing the
questions and comments that arise from this newsletter.  E-mail me at
l...@jpduua.org or call me at 202-262-0485.

RENAISSANCE MODULE REGISTRATION IS OPEN. Download the flyer and
registration form from http://jpduua.org/ or from the Files page of
the JPDLFD Google Group.  The Teacher Development Renaissance Module
will be led by Rev. Judy Tomlinson and Rev. Betty Jo Middleton.  The
$300 registration fee ($275 for early registration by February 6)
includes five meals and two nights of accommodations at the Bishop
Claggett Center in Buckeystown, MD, not to mention collegial
connections and top-notch workshop material.  Spread the word to
seminarians, volunteer leaders, and professional Religious Educators.
The Teacher Development Renaissance Module will be offered March
5-7.

BUILDING A MORE EFFECTIVE STAFF TEAM is a workshop for groups of
employees of UU congregations.  Rev. Dr. Richard Speck and I will
facilitate.  We hope that this training will help participants learn
more about the motivation and working style of others on their team,
name challenges and assets in their working relationship, consider
issues of communication, and review their congregational staff
covenant.  We are planning to offer this workshop two ways.  If we get
enough registrations, we will facilitate the workshop on-line on
Thursday, January 10, from 1:00 to 4:00.  Participants in the on-line
version will need access to a computer with a high-speed Internet
connection and a good phone for conference calling.  The registration
fee for the on-line version is $7 and the registration deadline is
this Friday, January 4.  We will offer the traditional, in-person
version on Wednesday, January 16, from 9:30 to 4:00.  The $25
registration fee for the in-person version covers light morning
refreshments, lunch, and a full day of workshop material.  The
deadline to register for the in-person workshop is Friday, January
11.  Download the flyer and registration form from http://jpduua.org/
or call the JPD office at 302-778-4564.

SOCIAL ACTION-THEMED HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH CON: The JPD Youth Steering
Committee is sponsoring their annual justice-oriented WinterCon at the
Mount Vernon Unitarian Church in Alexandria, VA, January 25-27.  This
year's event, CONtribution, will include the standard elements of a
youth con: team-building games, small group ministry (also known as
"Family Groups"), and participatory worship, PLUS workshops that deal
with justice, equity, and compassion.  The Youth Steering Committee
selected workshops with a particular eye toward concrete actions that
youth can take related to justice issues.  Youth are encouraged to
bring non-perishable food with them to the con; the food will be
donated to a food bank.  Registration for youth is $30 until January
10, or $40 if postmarked between January 10 and January 17.  Advisors
register for free, but MUST turn in their advisor applications by
January 10 if they have not been approved by the JPD in the last 2
years.  All participants, youth and adult, must pre-register by
January 17. Download the flyer and registration form from http://www.jpdysc.org
for more information.

Incidentally, if you are interested in youth ministry, I highly
recommend the Winter 2008 issue of the Interconnections newsletter
published by the UUA.  Andrew Mertz, Director of Youth Ministry at the
UU Church of Arlington, is quoted several times.  Go to
http://www.uua.org/publications/interconnections/index.shtml to
download the current issue or to sign up for e-mail notification when
a new issue is published.

NOMINATE YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS, AND OTHERS FOR JPD OUTSTANDING UU
AWARDS. Nominations are open for the Outstanding UU Youth, Outstanding
UU Young Adult, and Outstanding UU Awards, which will be presented at
the JPD Spring Conference & Annual Meeting March 28-30.  Can you think
of someone in the JPD who is making significant contributions toward
Unitarian Universalism?  The JPD Awards Committee wants to know!
Download the form from the Files page of the JPDLFD Google Group or e-
mail crist...@jpduua.org to obtain a copy of the nomination form.
Fill it out and return it by February 29, 2008.

WHERE'S LYN
Here's a sample of meetings, public events, and worship services where
you can find me for the next little while:
January 2, Central RE Cluster, UU Fellowship of Harford County,
Churchville, MD
January 8, Combined DSAREC and UUMA-PK Meeting, UU Congregation of
York, PA
January 9, GWAREC, UU Church of Arlington, VA
January 10, On-Line "Building a More Effective Staff Team"
January 16, In-person "Building a More Effective Staff Team,"
Wilmington, DE
January 17, Young Adult Worship, First Unitarian Church of Baltimore,
MD
January 23, CUUMA, Bethesda, MD
January 25-27, CONtribution (youth con), Mt. Vernon UU Church,
Alexandria, VA
February 5 & 6, UUMA-PK, West Chester, PA
February10, Leading worship at First UU Church of Berks County,
Reading, PA

THANKS FOR READING
You've received this newsletter because you are subscribed to the
Joseph Priestley District Lifespan Faith Development (JPDLFD) Google
Group.  Visit http://groups.google.com/group/jpdlfd to learn more,
download files, or adjust your membership.  Contact me by e-mailing
l...@jpduua.org or calling 202-262-0485.  See you soon!

Peace,
Rev. Lyn Cox
Acting Director for Lifespan Faith Development