A new conference for new ministers on Star Island is the result of a three-way partnership between Star Island, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. The conference, titled Challenges, Questions, Pitfalls, and Joys: The Reality of Serving a Church, will be held from Sunday August 29 to Saturday September 3, and will accommodate 20 credentialed ministers serving local congregations in their first one to ten years of ordained ministry.

Priority will be given to those serving United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalist churches, whose members founded and continue to administer Star Island. Ecumenical colleagues are invited to register as well as to explore programming related to the first years of ministry.

The new clergy in attendance will benefit from workshops specifically designed for new ministers that will focus on church organization, organizational vitalization, and living into one’s role as a pastor. Ample time for rest and renewal will be provided as ministers gear up for the new church program year. “The goal is to provide an experience that will leave conferees feeling rejuvenated and ready to return to their congregations with new ideas and resources and a stronger peer-support network,” said Kris LoFrumento of the Massachusetts Conference, UCC. “The Reverend Jane Rzepka will serve as one of the worship ministers and we are seeking a theme speaker.”

See Conference Description

There are many reasons that we are so delighted that Star Island guests will once again embark for their trip to the island from Portsmouth on the Laighton. First, there is a very long history that ties Star Island with ferry service from Portsmouth. Shoalers may remember forerunners to the Laighton: the Viking, the Oceanic, and of course, the Kiboko, which provided service from 1946 to 1961.

Besides the historical significance, there are many practical advantages to this move:
• Using the Laighton will allow all participants from a conference to share the experience of arriving at Star together…and going home together.
• Portsmouth is accessible by public transportation, a great boon to those who are coming to Star from Logan or Manchester airports.
• Parking will be simplified; with a paved and well-lit lot, the luggage drop-off will be right next to the boats.
• Simplified parking will mean fewer SIC employees must come into Portsmouth to manage the boarding/disembarking processes.
• More time will be available on the island for turn-around; cleaning, repairs, and general maintenance can be done in a less rushed environment.
• Early arrivals can take advantage of the hotels right across the street; coming back into Portsmouth on Saturday could mean lunch and shopping, to extend their Star Island experience for another few hours.
• The ISSCO staff is familiar with Star Island, the Shoalers, and our needs…they will be genuine partners in this venture.

The details of directions to the dock, information about times, logistics of luggage handling and checking in, are all being developed as we write this note. Joe Watts and Keith Noyes are working together with Captain Jeremy Bell, the Operations Manager for ISSCO and senior captain for the Laighton to iron out all the steps for 2010. It is also important to note that the rates for transportation include only a modest increase for adults, none for children, and the parking fee is also the same as last year, but with much better facilities! Please check the Star Island website after February 1, 2010, for the details on transportation.

The initial collection includes pieces by Edie and Steve Whitney, Alec Lowry, Joe Pescatello, Joan M. Strickland Johnson, C.E.V. Jenkins, and Lois Kenick. They span many years of Star Island’s history that include memories of a first week on Star Island in 1950, a first visit in September 2001, ending with the summer of 2009.

We welcome submissions –send your story about Star Island to Priscilla Hodgkins, email hidden; JavaScript is required.

• Chair of the Star Island Permanent Trust and All Star I conferee David Yermack authored an article for the Wall Street Journal that appeared on the front page of October 10th’s Weekend Journal.
• Writers in the Round conferee Kate Leigh and Photography Retreat Conferee Sarah Flause will be displaying their works of Isles of Shoals photography and poetry that are the basis for their book Lens & Pen in an exhibition at the Midheaven Gallery in Market Square from November 1 to December 5.

Broadcast times for this episode:
Thu, Nov 5 @ 8:00 P.M.
Fri, Nov 6 @ 1:30 A.M.
Sat, Nov 7 @ 7:00 P.M.
Sun, Nov 8 @ 5:00 A.M.

For more information visit the NHPTV website.

See this beautiful video by Vaughn Cottage Curator and Personal Retreat Concierge, Sarah O’Connor.

Our thanks to Sofia Piel for sending us the link.