Synod 'highlights' schedule offered for online viewers
Written by J. Bennett Guess June 13, 2007
The UCC again will offer extensive web coverage of its upcoming General Synod, June 22-26, in Hartford, Conn., where the denomination will celebrate its 50th anniversary with record attendance and high-profile speakers.
?We will once again provide gavel to gavel webstreaming at ucc.org," says the Rev. Robert Chase, the UCC's communications director. "The world is coming to Hartford, even if that means online viewing from your personal computer."
All plenary, worship and celebratory sessions at the Hartford Civic Center will be shown in real time and in their entirety. Visitors to http://www.ucc.org can click to access the streaming from one of the three promotional boxes, now a fixture in the homepage?s new, recently-launched design.
Each plenary session will be streamed live, then archived for later viewing as well.
Below is an overview of some General Synod highlights to help plan your online viewing. All times are Eastern.
Friday Afternoon Opening Plenary, June 22 at 2:30 p.m.
* Greetings by Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell and others.
* Opening celebration, with theatrical presentation, ?And the World Took Notice.?
* ?Hope Shall Bloom? video / UCC response to Hurricane Katrina.
Friday Evening Opening Worship, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. (Music begins at 6:45 p.m.)
* A service honoring beginnings ? of world, of life, of church.
* Rhythmic ensemble of 40 drummers.
* The Rev. DaVita MacCallister, the UCC?s minister for youth and young adults, is preaching.
* Presentation of new UCC congregations.
* Video presentation: UCC Council on Higher Education
All-day ?Synod in the City? ? Main Stage, Saturday, June 23, beginning at 8:15 a.m. (Music begins at 8 a.m.)
* A half-hour service, with blessing of the day-long ?Synod in the City.?
* The Rev. Peter Rosazza, Roman Catholic Bishop of Hartford, is the guest homilist.
* Morning keynote by Bill Moyers, journalist, at 9 a.m.
* Chung Hyun Kyung, theologian, at 10:15 a.m.
* Ricardo Esquivia, Colombian human rights advocate, at 11:15 a.m.
* Rachel Barton Pine, musician, at 12:30 p.m.
* Maria Otero, microfinance expert, at 1 p.m.
* Children?s Orchestra at 2 p.m.
* Afternoon keynote by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama at 2:30 p.m.
* Ray Kurzweil, imaginative scientist/futurist, at 3:30 p.m.
* Peter Gomes, Harvard preacher, at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday evening, June 23, at 7:30 p.m. (Music begins at 6:30 p.m.)
* UCC@50 Birthday Bash with music, frivolity and celebration.
* Laser light show honoring Charles Townes, Nobel-prize-winning inventor of the laser and UCC member.
Sunday Festival Gala Worship, June 24, at 3 p.m. (Music begins at 2:30 p.m.)
* A global-themed celebration beginning with a colorful processional of 250-plus worship participants.
* A 700-voice mass choir will sing.
* The Rev. John. H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president, is preaching.
* Holy Communion will be celebrated.
Monday Afternoon Plenary, June 25, at 2:30 p.m. (Music begins at 2 p.m.)
* Election speech: The Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, executive minister of Wider Church Ministries, nominated for additional term, 2:45 p.m.
* Music by renowned performer Ken Medema who, though blind from birth, demonstrates remarkable musical vision.
* Election speech: Edith A. Guffey, associate general minister, nominated for additional term, 3:45 p.m.
* Keynote address by Marian Wright Edelman, civil rights activist and children's advocate, at 4 p.m.
Monday Evening, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. (Music begins at 7 p.m.)
* Business, elections.
* Honoring the ministry of the Rev. José A. Malayang, retiring executive of Local Church Ministries.
* Evening Prayers, with a dramatic liturgy with dance emphasizing God?s saving acts as understood through stories of light.
* Music by the Coalition Choir of the UCC Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns.
Tuesday Morning, June 26, at 8:30 a.m. (Music begins at 8 a.m.)
* Election results announced.
* Music by renowned performer Ken Medema who, though blind from birth, demonstrates remarkable musical vision.
* Faith journey of actress Lynn Redgrave, a UCC member, at 10:10 a.m.
* Collegium Report at 10:30 a.m.
* Business session, committee reports
Tuesday afternoon, June 26, at 2:30 p.m. (Music begins at 2 p.m.)
* Business session, committee reports
* Stillspeaking presentation
* Wrap up video
Tuesday Evening Closing Worship, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. (Music begins at 7 p.m.)
* A celebratory service emphasizing the sharing of God?s light throughout the world.
* The service will being with a time of anointing by UCC?s 40-plus Conference Ministers as people enter worship.
* The Rev. Mary Mikhael, president of the Near East School of Theology, a partner of the UCC/Global Ministries, in Beirut, Lebanon, is the preacher.
* The service will conclude with thousands of individual hand-held ligh ts.