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Greetings
 by Rev. David Moyer, Conference Minister
Greetings and summertime grace to you all.
Amid all of the hot weather, I hope that you are finding time for some renewal and at least a little different pace to church life. Faith is nurtured in retreat and reflection as well as in action, so it is good to know that there are different rhythms to the seasons of the church year. There is certainly a different pace to life around the Trost Center and in the Wisconsin Conference, but it is a good pace, with time to do a little catch-up work after the big push for the Annual Meeting. The summer has brought us very important and interesting experiences. read on> |
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New! Pastoral Excellence Program
We're excited about an important new ministry to be offered in our Conference beginning this fall - peer support groups organized on the Pastoral Excellence Program model pioneered by the Lilly Endowment.
We're excited about an important new ministry to be offered in our Conference beginning this fall - peer support groups organized on the Pastoral Excellence Program model pioneered by the Lilly Endowment.
Christina Braudaway-Bauman, in a recent issue of the Christian Century, highlights the deep value of such programs for pastors: "The lesson emerging from every peer group project is that when clergy meet regularly in a 'community of practice' for intentional reflection on their ministry, they find that trust develops, anxieties diminish, and challenges turn into occasions for learning.... Pastors are helping one another stay connected to the joy of ministry." ("Peer Power," January 11, 2012).
She goes on to state that "For many years, clergy have told stories about the isolation and loneliness of ministry. But a new story is beginning to be told about how clergy find affirmation and support, guidance and accountability, as they meet in peer groups."
Learn more about how you can benefit from the Pastoral Excellence Program - Read on to review the Lily Endowment Progress Report "Sustaining Pastoral Excellence", expert articles, and information on how to participate in the Wisconsin Conference Pastoral Excellence Program. |
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10 Ways to Pay-It-Forward
Written by Tiffany French
 | | Make a meal and take it to a neighbor |
"Paying it forward" is based on the idea that everyone, no matter who they are, can make a difference in the life of someone else. When you pay it forward, you are positively impacting a person's life through a random act of kindness and love.
Read ten ways to pay it forward.
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UCC Polity Online Course Registration Opens
Sept 12-Oct 31 (Wednesdays)
 The Wisconsin Conference Lay Academy offers a popular Introductory United Church of Christ History and Polity Online course. This course is an introduction to the United Church of Christ, appropriate for any person interested in its history and polity. Dr. Martha Ann Baumer, is the instructor.
The course is composed of 8 online sessions of 90 minutes each, over eight weeks. Topics include:
- The UCC Today
- Covenant Commitments and Basic Ideas
- How We Got This Way, Parts I and II
- Ministry
- Worship
- Common Life, Basic Texts
- Current Concerns
more info and to register
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Our Whole Lives Training
Training Educators to teach Human Sexuality to 7-9 & 10-12 Grades
Our Whole Lives is a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum series. It provides youth with accurate information on sexual health, human development, sexual behavior, relationships, and personal skills in the supportive setting of their faith community. This workshop trains teachers how to teach participants about sexuality in age-appropriate ways. This workshop will focus on the curricula for grades 7-9 and 10-12.
Parent comment about the Our Whole Lives program: "This has made such a positive impact on our family in that we're able to have open and frank discussions about topics that would have otherwise been difficult. The difficulty primarily would have been because I would have struggled with how to bring up the discussion, but possibly also because my "child" might not have been so comfortable in discussing."
Learn more and register |
Register for the Lay Academy Today!
A Ministry in Adult Faith Formation
The 2012-2013 Lay Academy class seats are quickly filling up. Registration closes July 31. This year Faith Foundations Year 1 and Lay Ministry Skills Year 3 will be offered. If you are considering joining the Lay Academy, this is the year to begin.
 The Wisconsin Conference Lay Academy offers an exciting and provocative opportunity for adult learning! Lay Academy courses are taught by experts from the Wisconsin Conference, national leaders in the UCC, and nationally renowned theological professors. Lay Academy instructors are humorous, knowledgeable and very approachable.
Lay Academy participant comment: "Lay Academy has it all: joyful worship, excellent inspiring instructors, wonderful fellow students who quickly become friends, and books and discussions to challenge you on your faith journey."
NOTE: Registration fees have been adjusted this year to include the price of the books. Please check our website to find the latest prices.
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CHHSM Corner - Park's Edge Preschool Celebrates Another Milestone
Thursday, May 24th, 2012
by Ellen Kvalheim, Park's Edge Preschool
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2012 Park's Edge Preschool Graduates Photo Provided |
Park's Edge Preschool held the annual Preschool Graduation Ceremony for 2012's preschool graduates.
Park's Edge Preschool is located in Emanuel Church of Hales Corners, Wisconsin. Fifteen children entering 5-k in fall participated in the graduation ceremony held in Emanuel Church's beautiful sanctuary. The classroom's wooden rowboat converts into a bridge for the ceremony. The preschool graduates are donned in graduation gowns complete with caps and tassels. read on> |
Seeing Your Building As Ministry
Join Susan Eaton Mendenhall, presenter, for a Saturday morning workshop - Seeing Your Building as Ministry - which offers ways to learn how the building impacts lives in the church and community at large. Much energy and work is given to church programming and ministry. Many dollars are spent on facility maintenance and upkeep. Too often the conversation between the ministry of the church and the spaces of the church never happens. Discover how ministries are supported or compromised simply because of the building!
NOTE: This event is not sponsored by the Wisconsin Conference |
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Conference Events Calendar
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PO Box 435
De Forest, WI 53532
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