Sad news in the Star Island UCC family...
Corporal Christian Scott Cotner - age 20 died Friday May 30th in Al Anabar Province, Iraq while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Corporal Cotner was born November 27th 1987 in Waterbury, CT the son of Graham and Karen (Christensen) Cotner of Waterbury.
The BBQ/Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 7, 2008 has been postponed. More details coming soon.
We’re going paperless! Please contact Debbie Duval - Clerk, to make sure we have your current email address or to let us know that you want to continue to receive snail mail (508-877-3037)
Donate now to the SIUCC Scholarship Fund – if you are in a position where you could help other conferees come to Star Island this summer, please donate to the SIUCC Scholarship Fund. Click here for more info.
For over 40 years, people have been coming to Star Island to attend UCC Conferences. The family conferences are open to all – singles with or without children, couples with or without children – with all ages invited and included! Each year there is a Program Leader and a Minister of the Week who provide leadership on a topic and during the morning chapel services. There is children’s programming for infants thru 8th grade in the mornings, with lots of activities available in the afternoons and evenings for all. Your time on Star Island can be as filled as you would like it to be or can be completely unscheduled. The youth conferences run separate, but simultaneous to the family conferences, and are open to any youth entering 9th grade through the summer after high school graduation. There are decades-old traditions in all the conferences – candlelit chapel services, softball games, and more, but there are also new elements added each year.
History of Star Island
Star Island is one of nine islands located nearly ten miles southeast of the mouth of the Piscataqua River. Island life is typical to life on a boat, surrounded by the hushing seas and sweeping landscapes of the open ocean. The boundary line between Maine and New Hampshire passes through
the islands and ledges so that five of the islands, Appledore, Cedar, Duck, Malaga, and Smuttynose, lie within the State of Maine while four of the islands, Lunging, Seavey, Star and White, lie within New Hampshire. Star Island is in the Town of Rye Historic District and on the National and State of New Hampshire Historic Registers.
In 1614, the islands were named “Smyth’s Isles” after John Smith who mapped the seacoast, founded the islands and opened up New England to settlement. The islands are now called the Isles of Shoals, probably named for the “shoaling” or school of fish. The Isles quickly became the busiest commercial port on this side of the ocean and dominated the fish market for over one hundred years. The island is abundant with aquatic and terrestrial life and as recorded by the Cornell University Shoals Marine Lab on Appledore Island, the Shoals include 265 species of invertebrates, 139 species of algae, 49 species of fish and 145 species of birds.
Nature is unavoidable on Star Island. Visitors enjoy the colorful vibrancy of morning sunrises, evening sunsets, floral abundances and rich historical buildings. East rock, at the far east corner of Star, is a common visiting place for spectacular views of the crashing waves and cornering islands and the surrounding ingneous rock formations.
The Island is an absolute wonder of history for those interested. The small encompassing village is full of past day’s stories from hundreds of years. Vaughan cottage is a wealth of history, books, nooks and crannies for those ready to explore the mysteries of the island.
The Star Island Corporation employs a handful of year-round employees who work out of the main office in downtown Portsmouth, NH. The senior staff work tirelessly with conference leadership, dedicated volunteers, and the Board of Directors to ensure wonderful conferences and to maintain the historical, spiritual, and educational integrity of the island. To learn more about the senior staff, visit: http://www.starisland.org/about/staff/
Star Island also employs around 100 summer season employees, affectionately known as Pelicans, who do almost every job on island – maintenance, food service, housekeeping, and more. The Pelicans, generally college-aged young adults, are known for their love of the island, outstanding service and hard work, and commitment to serving the conferees. If you’re interested in being a Pelican or learning more, please visit: http://www.starisland.org/working/seasonal/
Peacefully open your eyes to the natural sounds of the seagulls and the pleasant voices of the children who sing morning wake up on each floor of the oceanic hotel. Greet the day with morning coffee and breakfast in the beautiful historic dining hall. Socialize with friends, discuss the day's events, and sit on the porch engulfed by the smells of the sweet ocean air and the rising sun. Attend the first day's workshop, delving into today's important issues and explore different avenues of perspective. Enjoy lunch and an afternoon swim at the waterfront, row over to Smuttynose Island, the Island directly across from Star, or join in the island Lobstrathalon tradition. Watch the infamous Star Island Softball game between the youth and the adults, while rocking on the porch and devouring a delightful ice cream frappe from the Island snack bar. Close your eyes for a late afternoon nap before dinner, or maybe play a tennis match, take a walk or spend some time playing on the front lawn. After dinner, watch the gorgeous, deep red sunset, one that will leave you speechless. Evening chapel is always a soulful experience, in the Stone Chapel, built in 1800 on the highest point of the island. Candlelight chapel services are a cherished Star Island tradition. At the close of each day, chapel goers gather at the foot of the hill carrying only lanterns for light to illuminate the small chapel. Say goodnight to friends and family, rock on the porch, or appreciate the clear night sky full of stars. The day has left you feeling restful, and peacefully excited for tomorrow to begin.
