November 5, 2010 Volume 2: Edition 10
Thanksgiving
Message From The Conference Minister...

 

Rev. David MoyerNovember is the month we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. At our family table we often place 5 kernels of corn at each place as a reminder that the early Pilgrims at the Plymouth colony had about the equivalent of that in grain as they fought to survive the first two years on the North American continent.

 

They had a bountiful first Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621, but they were hardly prepared for the coming winter, and before winter a ship arrived with new settlers but with no provisions.  In the spring of 1622 their food was gone, and if not for shellfish and for some gracious help from some trading ships docked up in Maine, they would have starved.  At the worst of the time, they had only � pound of bread a day.

 

In the spring of 1623, they had learned greater skills and had acquired equipment for hunting and fishing and had trade goods to trade with the native people, but their crop of corn was still essential for their survival through the coming year.  Governor William Bradford wrote:  By the time our corn is planted our victuals are spent, not knowing at night where to have a bite in the morning, and have neither bread nor corn for 3 or 4 months together; yet bear our wants with cheerfulness and rest on Providence.

 

It was this theme of Providence that President Abraham Lincoln picked up on in 1863 when he declared the last Thursday in November to be a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. 

 

1863 was a momentous year.  The Union was threatened when Confederate forces reached their high water mark at Gettysburg, almost within sight of the capitol in Washington.  The Union victory there cost more than 50,000 casualties on both sides, and even through the rest of the year the battles waged, yet it was in this moment that the President asked all citizens to pause to give thanks.

 

FallWith his amazing theological depth, Lincoln declared this holiday as Thanksgiving, not as gloating, because victory was far from assured in this terrible war, but in humility for the great gifts of God and in an attendant penitence for the terrible conflict that the President understood had offended God.

 

...these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, ...are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is insensitive to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. 

 

In the midst of the Civil War, the President continues in the Proclamation, the nation has continued to grow and many new enterprises and endeavors have grown and been successful.  He recognizes that these are gifts of grace.

 

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these things.  They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.  In honoring God's gifts, the President asked all to also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His  tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the civil strife..., and fervently implore...the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

 

ThanksgivingThanksgiving has its origins in hard times.  This year we will celebrate the holiday in hard times, with new terrorist threats, an election that will have just finished and will be recorded as one of the most divisive in our history, an economy that is slow to recover, leaving many people vulnerable, and two continuing wars that seem to have little purpose and unclear ends.

 

Thanksgiving is an essential of faith, because it celebrates what is "at hand, not what is in hand."  It remembers God's faithfulness in concrete events of history from earliest biblical ancestral times through crises both personal and national.  It anticipates with great hope, expectation, and, yes, joy, that this same God, this Providence, this loving Heavenly One will continue to bless.  Thanks and Praise without end!

 

David S. Moyer, Conference Minister 

Last Chance to Register!

Evengelism Event

NeighborSpace still available!   Don't miss this event!
Watch a Video about the Event!

Find out (Where your Neighbor is) on NOV 12 & 13 at the Bridgewood Resort Hotel just off Hwy 41 in Neenah 

 
ON THE SPOT...
Brochure design for your church!
Demographic info for your neighborhood!

PLUS!  Learn where your neighbors might BE during church worship and programs and "why," as you watch an actual "person-on-the-street" focus group take place.

Find out how to embrace "social networking" (Facebook, Twitter), and be inspired by our keynote speaker, David Schoen, team leader for congregational vitality and discipleship ministries at Local Church Ministries, National UCC, Cleveland. 

United Church of Christ Friend Raising Weekend and New Video Launch 
 

UCCFriend

Celebrating the wide-welcome of the UCC is the theme of this upcoming weekend for everyone in United Church of Christ congregations. The denomination's Friend-Raising Weekend promotes personal evangelism, and will be kicked off by a new Stillspeaking video message Friday morning. Members are asked to share the new ad while inviting friends, neighbors and family members to join them at church services on Sunday.

 

"We are asking churches to promote Nov. 7 as Stillspeaking Friend-Raising Sunday, a day set aside to be intentional about inviting our family, friends and neighbors to come to church with us," Carrion says. "Then, we want to hear how the day went, so we can announce a tally for the entire denomination." 

 

Watch the United Church of Christ New Video

 

Wisconsin Conference Life to Publish Bi-Weekly
Liisa Analore
Liisa Analore, Editor
Editors Note - Liisa Analore

Wisconsin Conference Life, the electronic edition, has been in publication since September 2008.  Since its launch our newsletter has grown in size and readership.  We are thankful for your continued interest in receiving our newsletter. 
To accomodate the increase in content and allow for richer content, we will be publishing bi-weekly beginning Wednesday, November 17.   

Youth @ General Synod 2011 - Tampa FL
June 29 - July 5General Synod 2011

Why Should You Attend?

Friendships, old and new!

Two days of immersion in service and justice!
Learn more about the UCC and have faith conversations to help you on your journey!

Help the church discern how we can respond to significant issues in our churches, communities, nation and world!
Worship that feeds your soul, food that feeds your body, adventures that feed your heart and mind and spirit!
☺ Concerts, workshops, exhibits, movies, games, socializing... and more!

 

Youth @ General Synod is for youth who will be in grades 9 - 12 in 2011 (including 2011 high school graduates). Youth groups are invited to register with a minimum of 2 adults and 2 youth, with adult genders matching the gender of the youth. Youth group leaders and their adult chaperones are responsible for the supervision of their respective youth groups during the event. Groups may register as local church, church clusters, and Association or Conference groups.

 

More information

Printable Invitation - Please Distribute

History of Outdoor Ministry
The Wisconsin Conference Historical Committee published a booklet in 2007, Reflections on the Roots and History of Camps, *Conferences, and Youth Work in the Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ,  and recently updated the booklet with an addendum being released soon. Each month we will share an excerpt from the booklet as it may be of interest to our readers.

Moon BeachMOON BEACH NOTES
BY DONALD DUCHOW (deceased 2008)

 

The Rev. Armin Duchow, in 1956, had the initial idea of the North Wisconsin Synod purchasing a piece of land and building a church camp on it.  He thought about Cedar Lake, Sheboygan County, as a possibility, since there was a farm property up for sale.  A meeting was called at Armin and Gloria Duchow's trailer located at Cedar Lake, in which the Revs. Vernon Jaberg, Kiel; Lowell Ferguson, Plymouth; and Hilton Grams, Brookfield were present.  Vernon Jaberg engaged a realtor from Manitowoc who came to the meeting and advised all of them to look up north for a resort that they could purchase.

 

A second meeting was held at Armin and Gloria's new cottage at Pike Lake, near Ringle, Wisconsin.  Apparently Royal Meyer of St. Germain was present and advised that the group take a bus trip up to see a northern resort known as Phillips Resort.  Armin then organized a bus trip of pastors and Synod personnel on November 14, 1956, to look at the resort owned by George Phillips.  The Rev. Edmond Hennig, then secretary of the North Wisconsin Synod, was part of that group of pastors. Later he became the first President of the Moon Beach Board of Directors.  In attendance also at that viewing was a contractor, Arthur Quasius, from Sheboygan, who said it would cost at least $350,000 to build what they had before them.  In subsequent negotiations with Mr. Phillips, they agreed to buy the resort for $110,000, a real bargain.


Share your reflections of Outdoor Ministry on our message board
Newest Addition to New Glarus Home Campus

New Glarus Home, Inc. a retirement campus in New Glarus and partner of the Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ dedicated their new assisted living complex on October 17.  

Glarner Lodge will be the first Residential Care Complex located in New Glarus, WI and the first on New Glarus Home Retirement Campus. An RCAC refers to assisted living, where various levels of nursing and support care are available to meet each residents needs.

The Glarner Lodge offers many wonderful amenities such as an exercise room, salon, spa, and a beautiful hillside country view in a country setting.

 

Rev. Beth Cherney's Acceptance into Target 2030

As an effort to encourage and sustain young UCC clergy (those in their 20's and 30's) who have answered the high calling to parish ministry, the UCC (through the Pension Boards) has created a new program called Target 2030.  This program provides advanced training and skill development opportunities for young clergy so that they can become transformational leaders who not only guide the church into the future but also help shape the church of the future.  

Rev. Beth Cherney
Rev. Beth Cherney

From the 32 who applied, Rev. Beth Cherney (serving St. Luke's UCC in South Milwaukee) is among the 14 who have been accepted into the first class of this 10-year program.  During the first four years of the program, Beth will gain further training in conflict resolution, family systems theory, transformational leadership, and other pertinent topics to ministry.  She will also have the opportunity to attend the 2011 General Synod.  Additionally, her class will meet virtually twice a year for further training. 

Target 2030 has been funded through the United Church Board of Ministerial Assistance.  In return for a 10-year commitment to local church ministry and to the program, Beth will receive a significant financial incentive for her pension.  

Beth comments, "I am very excited and honored to be a part of this program.  The more opportunities I have to hone my leadership skills means the more ways we, at St. Luke's, can become an even more vital and energized church for mission and ministry." 

Jesus Core Retreat
Jan 7-9, 2011 Pilgrim Center 
Retreat for High School Students, individually or with their church groups.
Andra Moran
Experience faith in community, meaningful worship and great music, silence and time for prayer, getting to know new people and hanging out with friends. Rest from the stress of school, listen to God's word, connect with yourself and others, and find satisfaction in silence and in fun activities. Be inspired by the beauty of God's Creation on Green Lake, and by workshops and discussions with adult leaders and your peers. 
 



Places Where The Kingdom of Heaven Has Already Come In...

  

Rev. Elizabeth Hazel of Walworth shared with The Wisconsin Conference her online sermon, Places Where the Kingdom of Heaven Has Already Come In.  We thought you might enjoy its beauty.

 

hazel
Submitted by Elizabeth Hazel

Elizabeth says, "When we take a second look at the people or things we would normally push to the sidelines, that's when the Realm of God comes in full force.  This sermon shows how that transformation to glory takes place with the aid of art, music, and technology--even showing how traces of the Realm of God can show up in paintings where the artist didn't realize God was around or, in one case, didn't even believe God exists. I've been carrying this vision in my head as long as I can remember.  Then it occurred to me:  "We may not all be artists or technology gurus, but we can collaborate with those who are."  So I illustrated this sermon with paintings by Ruth and William Findley (my mother and father), then teamed up with a local sound studio which usually specializes in up and coming musicians."

 

Elizabeth extends special thanks to Gretchen Hladish and Mark Hladish, Sr. of HMG sound studio for making this DVD possible.  Examples of paintings by Ruth W. Findley and William N. Findley can be found at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 

 

Watch the Sermon  

In This Issue
Evangelism Event
UCC Friend Raising Weekend
WCL Publication Change
Youth @ General Synod
History of Outdoor Ministry
New Glarus Home Addition
Target 2030
Jesus Core Retreat
Sermon Highlight
Youth Ministries News
Ten Money Myths
Save The Date!
 

New Church Planter Discernment workshop

 

 Friday, February 25, 2011

9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Registration at 8:30 a.m.

 

The Wisconsin Conference Frederick R. Trost Center

4459 Gray Road

DeForest, WI  53532

 



 
Is your church having an upcoming event?  The Wisconsin Conference loves to receive digital pictures of events held within our conference.  Send us your follow ups, pictures, and quotes!  You just might see your church featured in our electronic communications.

  

 

View the 2011
Health Insurance Rates through the Wisconsin Conference
 
  

 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. 
  

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 Work Smarter
 Not Harder
Monthly Online Administrative Classes through the Wisconsin Conference
WebEx

Time Management - Easy Ways To Capture More Time

November 10
 2:00 pm-2:45pm
$10 Register Online

Facebook/Twitter - Using the Social Network to Stay in Touch

December 8
11:00 am-11:45am
$10 Register Online

Email Management - How To Gain Two Extra Hours Each Day

January 5
2:00 pm-2:45pm
$10 Register Online



Read the Wisconsin Conference
Youth Ministries
 

 

 
View the 2011
Clergy Compensation Guidelines 

Good Read!

Ten Money Myths

Ten Money Myths

 

A Guide to Personal Finance for Christians

 

The ten myths challenged in this book:


Your worth and happiness are determined by what you earn and by what you own

God wants you to be wealthy; if you aren't you are failing to follow God's guidance

 

Having additional money would solve all your financial problems


You can't manage your finances without a budget, and a budget is a great deal of work


Sales people, financial planners, stockbrokers, and bankers have your best interests at heart


Debt is always good or always bad (depending on which "expert" is involved)


Money problems are the primary cause of marriage and relationship problems

 
Ministers shouldn't talk to the congregation about money


A tithe (10%) is the correct level of giving for all Christians
 

Estate planning is primarily for wealthy people

Steve Clapp, the Author of Ten Money Myths will join us for an online weekly discussion on personal finance for christians beginning January 10th at 6:30pm


 

More information to come!  Guarantee your place in this crucial online book study by emailing
Liisa Analore at [email protected]

watercolor
Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ

4559 Gray Rd. 

DeForest, WI  53532

[email protected]

 http://www.wcucc.org

608-846-7880