July 6, 2010 Volume 2: Edition 6
Welcome
Rev. David Moyer
Rev. David Moyer
by
David Moyer, Wisconsin Conference Minister
 
Greetings friends and grace and joy to you all in the spirit of Christ.
 
This issue of Wisconsin Conference Life will give you a flavor of our recent Annual Meeting in pictures and brief words.  We welcomed nearly 600 clergy, lay delegates, visitors, exhibitors, presenters and youth and children to our 2010 Annual Meeting.  We wish you all could have been there, but this newsletter is a way to let you know we had a wonderful time being the UCC in Wisconsin at the Green Lake Conference Center. 
 
We heard important and difficult words from our international guest, Pastor Mitri Raheb, of Bethlehem Christmas Lutheran Church in the Holy Land.  Pastor Raheb is a voice for peace and for the rights of Palestinian people.  In addition to a Thursday workshop, he preached on Sunday and told us that faith needs to have an "invisible" impact on life, like salt, and a "visible" impact, like light.
 
Speakers helped us to learn about resources to help congregations through change.
 
 
 
 
Annual Meeting Survey
 
New Occassions teach New Duties...
and the Wisconsin Conference took another leap into technology by going online with our Annual Meeting Survey.  If you haven't taken it yet, please do as your feedback is very important in our future planning. 
 
It takes less than 5 minutes! 
Take The Plunge! 
A retreat for youth and young adults - $50
 
LabyrinthThis retreat is designed for the high school youth and young adults to age 23 who would like to "plunge" deeper into their faith and answer God's call, who want to know more about God, and who have theological questions about the Bible... about the questions of suffering in the world...about social justice...or about the afterlife. This retreat will focus on spiritual exercise, quiet time, and reflection. 
 
Plunge flyer (pdf)
Plunge Covenant (pdf)                                       
Parental Consent (pdf)  
Plunge Registration Form (pdf)
United Church Camps Fall Highlights
 
While most hear the word "camp" and think summer fun, programming at United Church Camps takes place year round with retreats and camps.  With winter on the verge, fall can be a beautiful time for a getaway and why not go to camp?  The Healthy Gourmet retreat and the Baby Boomer Camp are wonderful ways for adults to spend a fall weekend in Wisconsin. 
 
Moon Beach CampThe Healthy Gourmet retreat on November 5-7 at Moon Beach will explore both traditional and non-traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas foods, as well as entertain "professional eaters".  Read more 
 

Pilgrim CenterThe Baby Boomer camp on October 11-15 at Pilgrim Center will include conversation about faith, about the church, and about the relevancy of the church in 2010.  The event will also include a tour of the new wind farms south of Fond du Lac, a visit to the Horicon Marsh during the peak migration and fall color season, and a visit to a local glass blower's studio. 
Registration Information
 
Pathway to Renewal - Evangelism Workshop
Saturday, October 23, 2010 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wisconsin Conference Center - DeForest
with Rev. Dan Smith
 
This workshop is designed for those who are just beginning to think about renewal as well as those who are already on their way. Dan will introduce basic principles of congregational renewal and the steps in the renewal process as outlined in Pathway to Renewal. He'll also address the critical need to ground a healthy renewal process in the mission of the church. As an add-on option for leaders who would like back home help adopting this approach to congregational renewal, Dan will offer the possibility of organizing "coaching clusters" for follow-up coaching at an additional cost.
 
To register, print the registration form and send it with a check made payable to the Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ, PO Box 435, De Forest, WI 53532-0435. Registration deadline is October 15. Contact Rev. Joanne Thomson for information about the workshop content. Jthomson@wcucc.org. (608) 846-7880
 
 
"Baptized People" Art Exhibit/Auction a Success
 
Wire FiguresThe Wisconsin Conference Arts Committee wire sculpture exhibit and auction at the Annual Meeting proved to be both visually stimulating to patrons as well as hitting the bane of philanthropy through an auction of the figures which yielded $500 in donations for Haiti disaster relief. 
 
When the twenty lifesize figures, crafted from malleable wire were "born" through the committee's creativity there was little thought of what would become of them after the Annual Meeting.  A member suggested they be auctioned off at the meeting so their beauty could infiltrate through homes and churches in Wisconsin. 
 
The committee felt strongly and wanted to respond to the Disaster Relief in Haiti through the United Church of Christ and opted to donate the proceeds to this fund. 
 
The Wisconsin Conference is thankful for the work of the Arts Committee and their designation of the auction proceeds.
Join The 2011 Annual Meeting Planning Committee 
 
Interested in volunteering on the 2011 Annual Meeting Planning Committee?  The committee meets monthly 4-6 times a year to plan the upcoming Annual Meeting.  Lunch and mileage (volunteer rate) are provided. 
 
Email Liisa Analore at lanalore@wcucc.org if you are interested in serving. 

 
Great Lakes Regional Youth Event Draws Largest Attendance From Wisconsin 
 
The Great Lakes Regional Youth Event (GLRYE) had 96 youth who represented the Wisconsin Conference in attendance, outnumbering attendees from other conferences.  Nearly 350 youth attended the event which was held on June 16 - 20 at Defiance college in Ohio. 
 
The Crescent, a local Defiance Newspaper, featured an article on their website about the service project event.  Read the article written by The Cresent staff writer, Darlene Prince:
http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/4846141
 
The GLRYE is held every four years and in 2014 the Wisconsin Conference will be hosting the event.
Team Jacki Races For The Cure 

 

Team Jacki

 
Nearly twenty friends, family, and employees of the Wisconsin Conference joined together on June 5th in Madison to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in remembrance of the late Jacki Mitchell, former assistant to the Wisconsin Conference Minister.  With designation as "Team Jacki", team members walked or ran the 5K course to raise money to find a cure for Breast Cancer.  Jacki passed away on July 16,2009 after a 17 year battle with cancer.  Thank you to the many team contributors who helped Team Jacki reach a goal of over $1,000.  
 
Watch the video
Help Interfaith Conference Hit a Home Run

InterfaithTUESDAY, JULY 27

BREWERS VS. REDS 

GAME TIME: 7:10 PM
 

Be a part of history as we celebrate the Interfaith Conference's 40th anniversary and the 25th year of the Milwaukee CROP Hunger Walk.  It's also the Milwaukee Brewers' 40th anniversary year.  

For the first time ever, we have arranged with the Brewers to hold an Interfaith Day at Miller Park.  Help us to hit a home run by bringing a bunch of your family and friends or a group from your congregation or faith community for an evening at the ballpark. 
 
Wear one of our specially designed t-shirts to make a visual statement to thousands of people who may know little or nothing about the Interfaith Conference or the CROP Hunger Walk. We want to let the crowd and TV viewers know that the Interfaith and CROP Hunger Walk communities are in da house!
 
Exactly What Is a Flood?
by Carl Kotheimer, Director Insurance Board 
 
Ahhhh. Take a breath! InsuranceBoard"What's that," you say.
It's spring!
 
Not so fast. It's spring after a year of record snowfalls, and that is
not a good combination. Snow is melted,the ground is saturated,
and rivers are running full. Flood season is upon us. Do you really understand your insurance policy?
 
Read More
Fall Lay Academy Classes - Registration Extended
 
Watch Our Video
 
The Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ is pleased to announce registration for the 2010-2012 lay academy is now open. The lay Academy program offers five different courses of study to pastors and lay people who seek to: 
deepen faith, strengthen Christ's church, grow in spiritual maturity.
 
Each course meets five weekends per year at the Wisconsin Conference Center in De Forest. Faith Foundations is a two year course of study that will introduce a wide range of topics pertaining to Christian faith and the church. No prior education or experience is necessary, only a willingness to explore together in community.
 
Lay Leadership Skills is a one-year course of study focusing on preparing members to be leaders in their local church setting by engaging five specific ministry topics. Emphasis is placed on understanding the context of your local church and community; then applying the weekend topics to your setting through skill building and drafting ideas for possible implementation.
MayAnnual Meeting...Cont.
 
Rev. Lillian Daniel of Glen Ellyn, IL spoke of recovering "testimony" in the mainline church.  How can we speak of God and Christ and their impact on our lives?  Lillian and our second speaker, Martin Copenhaver are authors of This Odd and Wondrous Calling, a book that was given to each registrant to the meeting.
 
Rev. Martin Copenhaver of Wellsley, MA told us of how his church has begun to use spiritual discernment as a way of making decisions, and how it has brought much grace to congregational life.  He asked, "Who is Robert, and why do we use his rules?"  He gave us practical ways of discerning the movement and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
 
Rev. Jim Griffith of Griffith Coaching and a consultant to our Conference in church development challenged congregations to turn outward to their communities and to find ways to serve and work with people to bring the love of Christ into contact with human need. 
 
Many, many workshops provided resources to take home to the local church, and we are grateful to all our workshop leaders!  The display area allowed people to meet those who are leaders in many of our health and human service and educational ministries and other specialized programs, and the bookstore was, as usual, a popular place to browse and buy.
 
In our business session the delegates prayerfully and thoughtfully considered a proposal to make changes to the way we staff our Conference and Association ministries.  By a vote of 256 to 60 the proposal was adopted, authorizing the Conference to bring constitutional changes to the 2011 meeting (and the spring Association meetings) and to work to implement the changes.  These moments of discussion were difficult, and a range of views were expressed, but the spirit of the group provided respect and a trust in God's guidance.
 
By Saturday night, the group was ready for something light, and we were entertained by Comedy Sportz out of Milwaukee, an improve group that left us all wondering when we had last laughed so hard!
 
Our closing worship on Sunday was graced by one of our Reformed/Lutheran Formula of Agreement partners, Bishop Bruce Burnside of the South Central Wisconsin Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  As we presided at the communion table, we celebrated our oneness in Christ and our common ministry in Christ's name.
 
Thank you to ALL who made the meeting a wonderful time of worship, work, and fellowship. 
 
As you read this message, we have a group from Wisconsin and other parts of the UCC in Germany to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Eduard Nollau, one of the founders of the Evangelical Synod of North America, a forerunner of the United Church of Christ.  We'll report on that trip when we return.
 
With every good hope that you will find renewal in these summer days.
 
David S. Moyer
Conference Minister
 Friends at the 2010 Annual Meeting
 
Annual Meeting Friends
 
Friends 
 
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Friends
 
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Friends
 
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Friends
 
Friends
 
Friends  
 
 
 MissionInsite

WI UCC is offering free, unlimited access to MissionInsite, a tool for you to utilize to locate church members, acquire instant access to community information, and access demographic data. 
  
 
 Annual Meeting Event Pictures 
Entertainer Marcus Bovre
Entertainer Marcus Bovre
 
Choir
Choir
 
Lay Academy Graduation
Lay Academy Graduation
 
Vote on Restructure Proposal
Restructure Vote
 
Some of the Lay Academy Graduates
 
Lay Academy Graduation
 
 
Join us on Facebook
Editor's Note:  297 Friends are on the Wisconsin Conference Facebook -join us!
twitter 
 
  
 
Links
 
 
 
 
 
 UCC
 
Association web sites
 Where is Your Neighbor?
 
Wisconsin Conference Evangelism Event
Nov. 12 & 13, 2010 
 
 
Gospel Workshop
 
Gospellers 
A Gospel Workshop, sponsored by the Wisconsin Conference UCC, is being held on Friday evening September 17 and Saturday, September 18 at Our Savior's UCC in Ripon, Wisconsin.
 

Westend Gospel Singers

Background

Brochure

Bulletin Insert

Bulletin Announcement and Church Newsletter Article

 
Gulf Oil Spill
Back Bay Mission
Read the update of the Gulf oil spill effects on the Back Bay Mission
 by Shari Prestemon, Executive Director
 
 UCC Polity Online
WebEx
 
Take a UCC Polity
 course online this fall.
Tuesdays, beginning
Sept 21 - Nov 9th with Dr. Marti Baumer
$40.00
Email Gail O'Neal at goneal@wcucc.org if you are interested.
 
 Correction:
A few of our annual reports, which were included in the annual meeting packets, were stapled incorrectly.  If you would like another one mailed to you please email Liisa Analore at lanalore@wcucc.org
 
 
 
 

Wisconsin Conference UCC
608-846-7880