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upcoming activities..
Let the Bidding Begin!
Three spring outings are yours if you get your bid in now--
A Broadway Show, an evening at the Westport Country Playhouse, or family passes to the Stepping Stone Museum in Norwalk.
SPRING INTO ACTION
Interfaith Day of Social Action
This April 29th event was a great!
Check out the Tent of Abraham facebook page to see pictures and comments.
www.facebook.com/tentofabraham
Meet people of many faiths, many cultures united in a commitment to care for the earth
Act together to help beautify our city.
Click here for details
CCGB CEO Preaching and Speaking Schedule
Sunday, May 6: 10 a.m. Preaching at Long Hill United Methodist Church, 6358 Main Street, Trumbull, CT 06611
1:15 p.m. Offering invocation for the Greater Bridgeport CROP Walk, United Congregational Church, 877 Park Avenue (at State Street ), Bridgeport, CT 06604 Sunday, May 13: 10:15 a.m. Preaching at Hamden Plains United Methodist Church, 15 Church Street, Hamden, CT 06514
Sunday, June 3: 9:30 a.m. Preaching at First United Methodist Church of Shelton, 188 Rocky Rest Road (at Long Hill Avenue, Shelton, CT 06484
 
Calling All Angels!
click to see the angel giving guide
The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport’s 28th Annual Angel Giving Guide invites you to "Be an Angel" – an angel who leverages hope and transforms people's lives!
How can we make gift giving a sacred act in which we give out of our own grateful hearts? How can we respond to the gift of Christ to the world in a meaningful way? How can we respond to the Gospel call to love God and neighbor in all we do?
Using The Angel Giving Guide, you can honor the angels in your life while you empower The Council of Churches to:
- Keep kids safe and families together
- Challenge young students to become scholars
Provide second chances for ex-offenders
- Connect people and communities to celebrate diversity and meet urgent needs
Here's how some of your neighbors use The Angel Giving Guide:
- A local businessman uses it to honor his employees during the holidays.
- A Bridgeport doctor uses it to honor both colleagues and staff.
- Families use it to show appreciation for their children's teachers.
- Stockbridge’s Gourmet Cheesecakes Shop in Shelton displays The Angel Giving Guide in their store and gathers donations from customers.
- A daycare center in Shelton encourages parents to express their appreciation for the care their children receive by giving to The Council’s Hunger Outreach network in the form of Grocery Store Cards.
The possibilities are endless! Using the form, and an additional piece of paper if necessary, provide the names of the people who are "angels" in your life. Each one of them will receive a personalized note telling them of your thoughtful gift – inside that note will be tucked an Angel Ornament for Holiday display made of seeded paper, which when planted in the Spring, will grow beautiful wildflowers!
A gift made through The Angel Giving Guide can also be a beautiful way to embrace the memory of loved ones who have passed on.
God fills our lives with bounty. As we celebrate the extraordinary ways in which God blesses our own families, may we become blessings to others who may be in desperate need of angels.
O Holy One, as we rush to shop and send out cards, as our Christmas trees are lighted, and Christmas songs are played everywhere, as we strive to make everything perfect, keep us close to you. Keep us close that the one whose coming we celebrate – Jesus the Christ – may be honored in all we do. May the gifts we give in this season shine forth with your love. May our lives shine forth with your love. Let Christ be seen in us; in all we do, in all we say, in all we are. For with wonder and with awe we pray in his name. Amen * based on a prayer by Ruth C. Duck
The Norma F. Pfriem Foundation awards The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport a grant of $45,000 for Hunger Outreach Network
CO-OP Center Recognizes Client Achievements!
CCGB program featured in "RELEASE"
click below to read
Marathon Madness!!
Thanks for all your support!!
read the press release
Rev. Brian Bodt nears the finish at the Steamtown Marathon, Scranton, PA
CEO'S MARATHON APPEAL: The Running Reverend completed his third consecutive Steamtown Marathon on October 9th in a personal Steamtown record of 5:06:54 and a fund-raising record of over $22,000 to date. To give, click on "How to Donate." To read his blog, click here.
Race completed, Rev. Brian Bodt displays his finisher's medal.
What is CCGB all about?
check out this 7 minute video to find out!
click on the link then double click on
the video for full screen
CCGB
Video Overview
Members talk about the history,
programs, and inspirational stories that
make the Council of Churches an
outstanding ecumenical, social service
organization that YOU will want to
become involved with.
Rev. Dr. Brian R. Bodt, President and CEO, Tony Mancini, Project Executive, KBE Building Corporation, Carl Johnson, Chair of the CCGB Board of Directors, Byron Crosdale, Finance Director and Hunger Fiduciary
COUNCIL OF CHURCHES RECEIVES HUNGER GIFT
The Council of Churches recently received a gift toward Hunger Outreach from the KBE Building Corporation of Farmington, CT. KBE has municipal and educational construction projects throughout Connecticut. Part of their model of corporate philanthropy is to choose an organization in the area of a current project through which to make an impact. Their recent project at the University of Bridgeport make them aware of hunger needs and the essential role The Council has in helping fund the programs of the Hunger Outreach Network.
"The Council is very grateful to KBE Building Corporation and its associates for this kind donation," said Reverend Brian R. Bodt, President and CEO of The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport Inc. "Through the 37 feeding programs of the Hunger Outreach Network, this contribution will help provide meals for families and individuals in need in our communities. In these trying economic times, the need is greater than ever."
If you want to help alleviate hunger in our area, follow the “How to Donate” link on this website or go to www.justgive.org. We thank the KBE Building Corporation and all our supporters for helping feed hungry people.
Tom Larson, Chair of Human Resources
for The Council, and recent
recipient of the 2011 Community
Builder Award, reflects upon what
“Community” means to him.
"..One
of the exciting parts of working in
community building is I’ve learned
that no one person has all the
answers, but each of us may have
some of the answer – and each of us
can be part of the solution..."
Read
the whole speech here
Go to full report for videos of award recipients!
Cinco de
Mayo was also
CCGB's 66th
Annual Meeting
2011
It proved to be "the
best Council annual meeting ever.”
Three new member congregations were
received and other business was
conducted.
click
here for a full report
click
here for event photos
THANK YOU
FOR MAKING "SPRING FLING" A GREAT EVENT!!!
Click to
read all about it and see the pictures
THANK YOU !
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For a successful
ART FROM PRISON Auction event.
Janus Center
Director Dale Holder
chosen
to participate in 2011
Fairfield
County Leadership Development
Roundtable (LDR)
Program.
read the whole
story
"Let your light so
shine before others, that they may
see your good wo
Thomas received hope through CO-OP
Center. Released from prison with
no prospects, Thomas found CO-OP
Center and its Computer Technology
Learning Center. He has redirected
his life, is gaining new skills,
building relationships and is
gainfully employed.
Thomas has a changed life
++++++++++++
Lori's family received hope through Janus Center. Their son was
truant and on the verge of landing
in jail. The intervention of case
managers from the Janus Center for
Youth in Crisis gave resources and
expertise for the crisis. Today,
the family is reconciled and their
son has completed school and is
working.
Lori's family has a changed life.
++++++++++++++
Jarvis received hope through Janus Center
and Project Learn. As a result of
his encounter with
a caring case manager from the Janus
Center, Jarvis was able to take
control of his life and finish both
college and graduate school. Coming
full circle, he now gives of himself
to young students
who want to succeed
academically through our
Project Learn after school program.
Jarvis has a changed life.
The Norma F. Pfriem Foundation
awards The Council of Churches of
Greater Bridgeport $150,000 for
Hunger Outreach Capacity Expansion
Click
to read the whole story!
in Safe Place's newsletter
"Connections."
The Council of Churches of Greater
Bridgeport Receives $100,000 Grant
from The Norma F. Pfriem Foundation
read
more...
(from left to right)
Barbara Stinson, Annual Appeals
Chair; Byron Crosdale, Finance
Director; and the Rev. Dr. Brian R.
Bodt, CEO of The Council of
Churches, presents an unrestricted
gift on behalf of the Norma F.
Pfriem Foundation to officers of The
Council of Churches: Valzie Peterkin,
Secretary; Phil Norgren, Treasurer;
and Carl Johnson, Chair of the Board
of Directors.
Fairfield Fire
Department and Safe Place…
A Great Match
click
to read all about it!
Click to read :
John
Cottrell testifies before State Senate
Select Committee on Children regarding
Bill #292
CCGB Chief Operating Officer and member
of The Connecticut Team for Runaway and
Homeless youth, John Cottrell testified
before the State Senate regarding “An
Act Concerning Homeless Youth.” The
purpose of the bill is to authorize the
Commissioner of Children and Families to
administer, within available
appropriations, a program of outreach,
shelter and transitional living services
for homeless youth. Read his
comments in their entirety.
Trumbull
Youngsters Stock St. Luke's Food Pantry
CCGB
Board Member Spotlight
The State of the Council
Scroll down to see current CCGB events & announcements
Read about CCGB
honorees:
Co-op
Client Recognition Events
2010
Great Friends Honorees
2009
Great Friends Keynote Speaker & Honorees
2008
Great Friends Keynote Speaker &
Honorees
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“Reflections”
May, 2012
Dear friends of The Council of Churches,
On July 1st I will begin a new ministry as pastor of the Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in Milford , Connecticut . This decision came after more than a year of reflection on my sense of a growing call to return to parish ministry. This column details our transition activities.
Our Board Chair, Carl Johnson, is in the process of appointing a search committee and, with the Executive Committee, establishing a transition committee with short and long-term goals. I will remain until late June to assist in that process.
Meanwhile, the remainder of our staff is in place and committed to continuing our existing services while also continuing program development through our year-old Life Cycle Management initiative and new website development. Janine Wolfe , our new Development professional, will continue her work in consultation with our long-tenured Lead Staff: COO John Cottrell , Administrative Coordinator Patty Jensen , Finance Director/Hunger Fiduciary Byron Crosdale and Program Directors Dan Braccio , Sean Campbell and Dale Holder . The 93 years of aggregate service in the Lead Staff provides depth, key relationships and stability, making us confident in our ability to transition well.
The Council has great strength to continue to advance its mission “to turn faith into action…to help people at risk meet their urgent needs.” We successfully completed executive leadership transition in 2005-2006 and are confident in our ability to do so again. Such executive-level changes are common in academic, business, non-profit and religious communities, so this is a natural process. We are on solid financial footing, expecting to finish fiscal 2011-12 “in the black” and with news of two recent, and significant, legacy gifts. The website development is part of a pro bono partnership with General Electric. A limited major gifts campaign raised $60,000 last fall to fund our new Development professional. To date, those funds remain available in their entirety although we are three months into her compensation.
Friends often ask, in times of change and transition “What can we do?” Expressing positive sentiments for this transition and continuing to advocate for our mission are cherished actions. Inviting staff to present our work to wider groups of which you are a part is always welcome! All are welcome to attend our May 8th Annual Meeting [6:30 – 8:45 p.m., United Congregational Church, 877 Park Avenue at State, Bridgeport ] where our “Great Friends” will again be honored. Please do stay in touch with The Council, as we will with you.
We thank you in advance for your support during this leadership transition; and support for the vibrancy of our vital, life-changing work on your behalf at The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport. Most sincerely,
Brian
* * *
The Rev. Dr. Brian Bodt is the President and CEO of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport
* * *
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in Crisis
