Humor and Spirituality: It Feeds the Soul 
April 20-22, 2001 – Plymouth Congregational UCC, Syracuse New York

Who among us can live without humor and spirituality in our lives!  Certainly not administrative professionals working in a UCC setting and they got plenty of both during the 2001 Annual Meeting of the UCC Office Support Staff Network! 

  We were greeted and made to feel welcome by the New York Conference Minister, The Rev. Geoffrey Black and our opening worship experience was lead by The Rev. Craig Schaub, pastor of our host church.  Shirley A. Manhood, author of “Making Our Lives Work: Strategies to Lessen Stress and Build Self-Esteem” told us, “Be careful how you think, for your life is shaped by your thoughts.” (Proverbs 4:23)  Her presentations bought insights about how to mange stress, deal with relationships and find direction in our life.  Her keynote address helped us “Assess our Blessings”.  She also offered two workshops during the weekend on “Recharging our Spirits”. 

Both our spirituality and our humor was given a boost by the Rev. Janice Mahle who conducted a Bible Study entitled “Holy Hilarity: Getting the Jokes in the Bible.”  Alicia Jackson further feed us through her Bible Study on “Tae-Bo: Spirit and Body”.   Filled with new insights we took time out to learn how to “reflect” not only mentally but physically as we participated in “Yoga” classes with Joanne Cook.

Invigorated, renewed and full of energy, we turned to the “continuing educational” aspect of our weekend and attended workshops.

ü       We were given help on preparing for the future with good financial planning  by Joan Brannick of the UCC Pension Board

ü       Carol Giordano, Business Manager for the New York Conference, presented one workshop around financial matters especially pertinent to Conference Business Managers and Financial Support Staff.  She conducted her second workshop with a focus on the Local Church and how Conference Staff can help them with financial matters.

ü       Fair compensation and advocacy was addressed by Kathy Hines who helped compile a resource for the Massachusetts Conference UCC called, “The Office Personnel Compensation Booklet.”

ü       Resource Centers and how they can be used effectively by the local church was explored with Darline Clemens, Director for the Ohio UCC Media Resource Center located on the
campus of Defiance College.

ü       Learning how to access and use ServerLists “online” was demonstrated by Susan Gibson who is the Communications Coordinator for the UCC Office Support Staff Network.

While UCCOSSN members were participating in these exciting learning experiences,  their spouses  were offered local tours around downtown Syracuse or a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame

In the course of the two days together, we also conducted the annual business of our organization, enjoyed great food and fellowship and even took some time out on Saturday afternoon to explore Syracuse from a “walk through downtown Syracuse which included the Erie Canal Museum, the Automobile Museum, the Historical Society, the Everson Art Museum and Amory Square” to a stroll along Onondaga Lake  to a visit to the Women’s Hall of Fame to shopping excursions at Carousel Mall and Prime Discount Outlets in Geneva. 

But most important, we left feeling supported by others in like ministries and full of new ideas that would come to much practical use as we returned to our professional duties around the UCC.

Pictures by Chris Rawson