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Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference
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Between now and the 2013 Annual Meeting each week's Mission Bites will highlight the work of volunteers as they report on the work of the Program Ministry Teams. The Conference Bylaws state that program ministry teams assist in fulfilling the strategic mission priorities of the Conference and carry out specific programmatic functions. As you will see in the weeks to come, these groups do amazing work and greatly increase our capacity.
2012 Justice and Witness Team
from Dwight Wagenius & Rev. John Guttermann, co-chairs
What does God require of us? Simply to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Micah 6.8. Very simple. Very [not] easy. But required.
 The Justice and Witness Team strives to embody the Core Value of serving with compassion and advocating with passion in seeking a more just and peaceful world. The Team, empowered by the Prophetic Voices resolution of the 2012 Annual Meeting, implemented that resolution initially by educating, organizing, and advocating on the Voter Photo ID proposed constitutional amendment. From resolution adoption to the election, we wrote weekly articles for COMMAntary, conducted forums and provided speakers to a handful of churches. And we won! All of us! Because Justice prevailed!
The Team continues its Prophetic Voices activity by education and advocacy on gun violence legislation in the legislature and Congress. We work with Protect Minnesota and other ecumenical community organizations.
 The Team organized Justice Leaders Engaging and Developing (Justice LED) training last fall, led by national trainers. Twenty or so people in retreat studied biblical/theological and socio/cultural grounding for doing justice work. We will offer this training again. Send leaders from your congregation.
The Team focused on legislative advocacy in a dinner meeting training discussion led by Revs. Mark Pettis (First Congregational UCC, Moorhead), Jane McBride and Alison Killeen (First Congregational Church of MN UCC, Minneapolis), the eve of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition's Day on the Hill. Enhance your comfort about legislative advocacy with us next year.
 The Team approved Peace Fund grants to the Global Justice Team for the Philippine SEMJUR representative to last year's Annual Meeting, to three young church leaders to attend Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C., for training regarding food and hunger, to Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis for Prophetic Voices Voter ID forums, and others.
The Team continues combating climate change by: supporting Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis in bringing its carbon neutral resolution to General Synod; endorsing the Massachusetts Conference Resolution urging divestment from fossil fuel companies, working with the Conference Board to bring it to the upcoming Annual Meeting, and providing information and speakers to congregations; and supporting Mission 4/1 Earth activity in congregations.
We are supporting an intern out of the Center for Public Ministry to work with Conference congregations on justice advocacy and networking. Talk to us at the annual meeting and come to one of our workshops. Talk to us about your witness for justice. Apply for a Peace Fund grant to train a justice advocate at your church. Take a Peace Fund collection at your church!
We celebrate the completion of six years of service by our dude, the Rev. Don Britt, Union UCC Elk River. Your continuing hard working team includes: Rev. Dr. Dana Mann, Union UCC Elk River; Barbara Proost, First Congregational UCC, Anoka; Ray L. Daniels, Union Congregational UCC, St. Louis Park; Jack Chandler, Falcon Heights UCC, St Paul; Dwight Wagenius, Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis; Rev. John Guttermann, United Church of Christ, New Brighton; and Martin Erickson III, Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis. Rev. Elena Larssen is our staff liaison. Contact the Team at mnconfjusticewitnessteam@gmail.com.
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Joys and Concerns
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1. Rev. Brooke Wickliffe Fisher will be installed as Pastor of St. Paul's UCC and Peace UCC, both in Minnesota Lake, on Sunday, April 21st. A 1:00pm appetizer reception at St. Paul's (54577 230th Street) will be followed by a 2:30 installation at St. Paul's. Installation at Peace UCC (16 Park Street South) will be at 4:00pm, followed by a light dinner reception. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles.
2. United Church of Christ in New Brighton will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ordination of their pastor, Rev. Beth Donaldson, at the 9:20am worship service on April 21st. Rev. Donaldson has served UCC New Brighton since May of 2004.
3. Rev. Rex Beyer will be installed in a 4-way covenant on Sunday, April 28 at 4:00pm at Living Table UCC (4001 38th Ave. S., Minneapolis). A chaplain at Allina Hospice, Rex is joined in covenant with Allina, Living Table and the Minnesota Conference. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Light refreshments will be served following the service.
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Retirement Celebration - Deadline extended!
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 Conference-wide celebration
of the retirement
of Conference Minister,
Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers
May 5, 2013, 5:00-9:00pm
Silverwood Park Great Hall
2500 Cty. Rd. E, St. Anthony, MN
Cost: $35/person
Includes appetizers, dinner and a program in Karen's honor
Register: www.uccmn.org/transition
Deadline extended! Get your registration in by Wednesday, April 17!
Need hotel accommodations? Blocks of rooms are available at two local hotels. Mention "United Church of Christ" when you call in your reservation. To ensure our rates, please call no later than April 14.
Comfort Inn, Brooklyn Center, $79/room: 763-560-7464
Crowne Plaza, Minneapolis North, $92/room: 1-800-481-3556
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In addition, our final goodbye for Karen is during the June 7-9 Minnesota Conference UCC Annual Meeting. A brief program will be part of the Friday evening plenary, followed by worship, then a reception beginning around 9pm. Our liturgical release of Karen from the Minnesota Conference happens during worship, Sunday, June 9. The Annual Meeting takes place at the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN. Check www.uccmn.org/annualmeeting to register for the Annual Meeting.
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2013 Annual Meeting:
Behold, I am doing a new thing!
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A Springtime Promise
Many of us throughout the United States are very weary of the relentless and seemingly never-ending winter of 2012-2013.
In Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog that announced on Feb. 2 that there would not be six more weeks of winter, has been placed on the state's "Endangered Rodents List".
In South Dakota, after Rapid City and the Black Hills received 30 inches of snow last week, Mount Rushmore has been declared the largest island in the state.
In Minnesota, where people are wondering why the Minnesota Twins had to open their baseball season by hosting Detroit on April Fools Day, even that has been blamed for the continual onslaught of wind, rain, sleet and snow.
A lot of us have been personally affected by the never-ending winter.
Last week, I dreamed I was back at Yellow Medicine High School at Granite Falls to attend their fall musical, Oklahoma. The difference was that, when Curly came out to begin the performance, he began by singing:
There's a bright, ivory glow on the meadow
There's a bright ivory glow in the meadow.
The snow is as high as an elephant's eye
And it looks like it's climbing clear up to the sky.
Oh, what a beautiful Morning,
Oh what a beautiful day.
I've got a beautiful feelin',
Snowplows are headed our way!
Although no one can guarantee when this winter will finally leave us, there is one springtime guarantee that I can truly offer. Whatever the weather, the sun will be shining on all those who will be attending the 51st Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ at the College of St. Benedict, June 7-9.
Please join us as we gather to worship, to be inspired, to renew old friendships and to make new ones and to celebrate the BOLD NEW THINGS that our conference is doing in this new season of ministry and mission, united in Christ.
Rev. Dick Fylling, Annual Meeting Planning Work Group
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Don't forget to register today to attend this year's Annual Meeting! There are only three weeks left to nab the early registration fee - don't delay!
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Reserve your spot at Pilgrim Point for 2013!
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 Congregations are invited to sponsor a week or weekend of their own at Pilgrim Point! We provide twice daily all-camp, cross-generational programs, worship support for the Vespers leadership (once a day as an all-camp event), amazing meals and hospitality. You will still have plenty of time for relaxing, playing at the beach or ball field and creating your own experiences!
Download the reservation form here, and GET TO THE POINT!
On the reverse of the form, please find procedures on how to make a successful reservation. Please read through this carefully before submitting your application. Contact Zac Norenberg (zacn@uccmn.org) if you have any questions.
Here is what is currently available:
- July 12-14 (Available: Lodge, Campground)
- July 26-28 (Available: Annex, North Shore, POEM Cabins)
- August 9-11 (Available: Annex, North Shore, Campground)
- August 23-25 (Available: North Shore, Campground)
- August 30-Sept 1: (Available: North Shore, POEM Cabins)
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Successful Open and Affirming Celebration!
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 Over ninety people gathered in Elk River last Sunday for a joy-filled celebration of our Minnesota Conference Open and Affirming congregations. Union Congregational UCC, Elk River hosted this year's ONA Celebration, Widening the Circle. The event began with two workshops: "A New Way to Do Church" presented by Rev.  Lawrence Richardson and members of Shift UCC, and a music workshop, "Sing Out!" led by Gigi Nauer. Twenty-two ONA churches/institutions of the Minnesota Conference participated in the worship service. Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Guess, Executive Minister for Local Church Ministries of the UCC, was the guest preacher for the event. Music for the worship celebration was provided by Gigi Nauer, Rev. Zoe Kuester, and Ruth  MacKenzie. The St. Anthony Park UCC Sanctuary Choir, directed by John Habermann, also took part in the service. One guest commented that, "The music was worth the trip. People should know that this is a music event as well as an ONA observance." The benediction was delivered by our own Conference Minister, the Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers. Following the service, attendees experienced superlative hospitality and fellowship at a reception hosted by members of Union Church, Elk River. The celebration is a collaborative ministry of the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns and the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ.
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Working to prevent gun violence
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The Time is Now to Address Gun Violence
from Dwight Wagenius, Co-Chair, MN Conf. UCC Justice and Witness Team
The events in Boston might cause us to decry the prevalence of violence in our culture and just hunker down or assume a fetal position. Or we can say, No! Enough! The time is now to act in some way against implements of violence. First UCC, Northfield and Linden Hills UCC, Minneapolis have told us some of what they're doing. Follow their lead-take five minutes, or more, this week to tell federal and state legislators by phone, postcard, or email to act to diminish gun violence, and ask friends near and far to do the same.
This is a critical week in the U.S. Senate for legislation to address the terrible toll of gun violence in this nation. For the first time since 1994, we have the opportunity to pass meaningful, sensible legislation to help end gun violence.
In the next several days, the Senate will debate amendments on legislation to strengthen background checks on commercial gun sales (known as the Manchin-Toomey amendment) and strengthen anti-gun trafficking legislation. Even this modest proposal is under threat. The Manchin-Toomey amendment falls short of the stronger universal background check provision we really need, but it is a step in the right direction.
Don't wait any longer. Don't let more lives be lost before Congress takes action to help end gun violence. Contact your Senators TODAY and tell them the time is now to pass meaningful, sensible legislation to help end the scourge of gun violence. Send a post card or email message or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121 to be connected to your Senators. Here's how to contact your state legislator: find your legislator here.
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A Resolution to Divest from Fossil Fuel Companies
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Prophetic, Productive, Covenantal
In Genesis 9, God covenants with Noah, all humanity, and all of creation, for then, now and all the future. As covenant partners, God calls us to extend God's inclusive love to all future generations. Exploiting the earth's energy reserves to render the earth inhospitable for life violates the covenant. Let's resolve not to do that.
Divesting is a prophetic action, expressing a truth about climate change, its cause, and its resolution. And it will produce several notable outcomes.
- It will make the public aware of the incalculable damage the fossil fuel industry causes as it generates huge profits, to the end of an uninhabitable future creation.
- It will build public recognition of the urgent need to drastically and rapidly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
- It will call attention to the consequences of "business as usual" in extracting, transporting, marketing, and burning fossil fuels.
- It will inspire a commitment to leave unexploited a high percentage of known carbon reserves.
- It will make apparent the artificially low cost of fossil fuels, made so by not taking into account the true cost of its damage to the environment.
- It will foster development of renewable energy resources capable of meeting humanity's needs.
Divestment is not the only approach, but it is essential; other tactical, strategic, and prophetic approaches, the ones you are taking at home, at church, and in your business, are essential too.
You can read the resolution and FAQ document here. If you have questions, comments, or would like additional resources, or a speaker on the resolution, contact the Justice & Witness Team at mnconfjusticewitnessteam@gmail.com.
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Getting Ready for General Synod!
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Head over to www.ucc.org/synod for all the information that you need to learn more about the big event, to study up on pre-synod details, and to get yourself registered!
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Mission 4/1 Earth!
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ONE UNITED CHURCH on a shared resurrection witness for Planet Earth during 50 great days of greening up, powering down, and shouting out.
- 50 days, 1 million hours of earth care
- 50 days, 100,000 trees planted
- 50 days, 100,000 letters to leaders
Join the journey: 50 days - Easter to Pentecost
www.ucc.org/earth
Click here to report your participation!
Click here for all of your Mission 4/1 Earth resources! Worship resources are available here too! Excellent.
Let's get planting! The UCC, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, offers special ways to plant trees in your community and across the US. Order your gift trees today for planting locally.
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Celebrate a Mission 4/1 Earth DAY OF ACTION
2013 Earth Day Rally at the Minnesota State Capitol
MN Clean Energy & Jobs
through Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light
Monday, April 22, 2013
9:30am: Registration (Location, Christ Lutheran Church, 105 University Ave. W., Saint Paul, MN)
10:00-2:00pm: Briefings/Lobby Meetings/Lunch/Committee Hearings
2:00pm: Youth March
2:45pm: Rally in the Rotunda, Interfaith Prayer Circle (following)
To help us prepare, please register by clicking here or by going to mnipl.org and clicking on the "Join MNIPL for Earth Day at the Capitol" link.
Earth Day Goals Include: - Increasing the Minnesota State Nenewable Energy Standard to 40% by 2030.
- Establishing a solar energy standard of 10% by 2030.
- Creation of incentives for utility to promote and increase energy efficiency.
- Measures to make it easier to generate local power.
For additional information, please visit
Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light at mnipl.org. |
Conversations with Friends: Press Release
| April 17, 2013
For Immediate Release
Conversations With Friends (CWF) applauds the "Gang of Eight's" introduction of the bi-partisan comprehensive immigration reform bill (S.744). The bill's title - Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act - aptly describes the needs and challenges the bill addresses. For too many years our broken immigration system has been dividing families, hurting children, failing
our economy, and undermining our national core value of being an immigrant welcoming nation. We celebrate that this proposal affirms a path to citizenship and that thousands of families torn apart by deportation will be eligible for return, and we hail the proposal to end the one-year deadline for asylum seekers.
Conversations With Friends visits the men and women held in detention at the Ramsey County Detention Center for Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE). Our interfaith program brings together men and women for compassionate conversations with detained
immigrants. We hear their stories, see and share their tears, know through and with them the disappointment and sorrow they experience. Our prayer and hope for them is that this bill will repair the broken immigration system, end mandatory detention, and offer alternatives to detention, including individual hearings that meet international human rights standards.
We wait further parsing of the bill's contents and celebrate the following proposed repairs to our broken immigration system [source, Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)]:
- Provides for appointed counsel for unaccompanied immigrant children and mentally ill individuals in deportation proceedings,
- Strengthens human rights protections for immigrants in detention,
- Expands access to legal orientation programs for detained immigrants.
Conversations With Friends is a two-year-old program that does in-person visits with immigrants held for ICE at the Ramsey County Detention Center. It is sponsored by the Interfaith Coalition on Immigration (ICOM) and has received funding from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS). It is a member of the national visit program network CIVIC - Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement, the official national network of the U.S. immigration detention visitation movement, www.endisolation.org. CWFs lead, the Rev. John Guttemann, is a part of CIVIC's core leadership team.
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Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week
| South Central Cluster Tuesday, April 23, 2:00pm
Federated Church, Morris
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Save the Date!
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Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ
is proud to present the 7th Annual Fall Convocation
BOLDLY
TELLING OUR
STORIES OF
GOD'S LOVE
AND JUSTICE
October 10-11, 2013
Christ the King Retreat Center
Buffalo, Minnesota
with Ann Poston and Rev. Steve Newcom
The Vision for the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ proclaims the Big Inspirational Goal: to be a bold, widely-known, proactive and respected public voice of Christianity.
In this Fall Convocation we will work together toward the envisioned future in which we Boldly tell our stories of God's love and justice inspiring state and national leaders, as well as news media, to seek our comment and counsel on issues of peace, justice and faith.
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Spring Middle School Youth Event
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Spring Middle School Youth Event:
God is Still Speaking, Part II
May 3-5, 2013 @ Pilgrim Point Camp
Join conference middle school youth (grades 6-8) with our awesome musician, Hans Peterson, for a weekend retreat on beautiful Pilgrim Point in Alexandria, MN.
Register Now!
Registration: $85 youth, $60 adult
Deadline for ALL Registrations is April 29
Download the Authorization Form: YOUTH - ADULT
Note: The Authorization Forms are interactive.
This event is for middle school youth (grades 6-8) and their adult leaders. All attendees are expected to be active participants in the entire event. Check-in: 6:30pm, Friday, May 3rd (dinner will not be provided Friday evening, so eat before you arrive). The retreat will conclude at noon, Sun, May 5th.
Questions? Email Zac at zacn@uccmn.org or 612-871-0359.
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PPC&R Summer Camps
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We are pleased to announce that we have opened registration for youth camps at Pilgrim Point for summer 2013. Register now to join other Minnesota Conference youth for a fun-filled week while enjoying this magical place of ministry. Both youth camps are directed by David Becker, Youth Program Director.
Radical Hospitality
at Pilgrim Point Camp
Middle School Camp
July 21-26, 2013 (Sunday through Friday)
Cost is $315/person until May 1, then $340/person
Register here or online at pilgrimpoint.org
Senior High Camp
July 28-August 3, 2013 (Sunday through Saturday)
Cost is $340/person until May 1, then $365/person
Register here or online at pilgrimpoint.org
Eco-Justice Training
August 11-14, 2013
Women's Retreat
September 20-22, 2013
Note: Middle School Camp is for youth currently in 5th-8th grade. Senior High Camp is for youth currently in 9th-12th grade.
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Save the Dates
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Boundary Training has been scheduled for 2013. Dates are:
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at First Congregational UCC in Alexandria.
Tuesday, September 24 at Normandale Hylands UMC, Bloomington.
To register, go to events.minnesotaumc.org where it is listed as "Living the Sacred Trust." Choose "other" for district and church.
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2013 Certification School - Scholarships Available
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May 19-24, 2013 | closing retreat Nov. 8-10, 2013
This course includes 50+ hours of instruction, all textbooks, six webinars, coaching and ministry plan projects. May classes take place at Pilgrim Point Camp in Alexandria, MN and the November retreat in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Registration Cost: $2,000
Register Now! | Click here for more info.
Scholarships of up to $800 are available thanks to the Ashley Endowment of the Minnesota Conference UCC. You can download the scholarship application here. For more information, contact Zac (zacn@uccmn.org) in the Conference Office.
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VRV Annual Meeting Pre-event!
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The Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ announces a special
Vitality*Renewal*Vision Pre-Event with
Tony Robinson, UCC author, consultant and voice for vitality asks...
"What's God got to do with it?"
Connecting Theology and Congregational Vitality
Friday, June 7th, 9:00 am to noon
(Annual Meeting begins after lunch)
College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph MN
$30 per person; register online:
www.uccmn.org/annualmeeting
Come Thursday to enjoy an evening of dinner and worship with the Minnesota Open and Affirming Gathering, hosted by the Open and Affirming Ministry Team. Meals and housing are available through the ONA Gathering registration.
Questions? Contact maritak@uccmn.org
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United Theological Seminary Spring Convocation
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Spring Convocation | April 24-25, 2013
"The Church's Public Witness"
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, in collaboration with the Center for Public Ministry*, presents this year's Spring Convocation, exploring the role of faith communities and their calling to do justice - from theological, prophetic and practical perspectives.
Check the website (www.unitedseminary.edu) for program details and information about presenters and panelists:
- Sarah Bellamy, Penumbra Theatre, presenter ("Theatre as Public Witness")
- Jennifer Butler, Faith in Public Life, keynote presenter and panelist ("The Path to Irrelevance" & "Finding Our Way Back")
- Eleazar S. Fernandez, United, presenter and panelist, ("Letting Justice Roll: God in Public")
- Steven Newcom, Center for Public Ministry, panel facilitator (panel topic: "The Place of Public Ministry")
- Paul Slack, ISAIAH, panelist
Whether you are active in ministry or exploring your own spiritual path, join us for this invigorating topic.
Costs: $45-$120. Space is limited; register now!
*The Center for Public Ministry at United Theological Seminary is dedicated to equipping the church to be a powerful and sustained force for social justice.
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Our Whole Lives Training
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Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a sexual education program with resources written by professional sexuality educators that equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information to help them make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. OWL provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants clarify their values and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.
More information about OWL is available here.
The Minnesota Conference UCC, in partnership with the Prairie Star District UUA, has established the following OWL Training Courses:
Middle School/High School Training (grades 7-9, 10-12)
May 10-12, 2013 @ Pilgrim Point Camp
Elementary and Young Adult/Adult Training
(grades K-1, 4-6, Young Adults and Adults)
May 10 & 11, 2013 @ Pilgrim Point Camp
Register Online or get more info.
Questions? Email Phil Lund orZac Norenberg.
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Ramsey County Detention Vigil
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The MN Conference UCC immigration team and Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis are the hosts for the Vigil at the Ramsey County Detention Center on May 5 from 2:30-3:00. This is an opportunity to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are detained with the likelihood of deportation. Please come out on May 5 and be a part of this vigil! This is one way to show justice with our feet and our hearts.
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Local Church Events
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Check out all the events happening at our local churches across Minnesota on our Local Church Events Calendar! You can surf around the calendar to see what's coming up across the Conference. Just click on the title of the event in the calendar to get more details.
Would you like your events to appear on this calendar? Just email Alison Bents at alisonb@uccmn.org. Simple as that!
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Employment Opportunities
| Check out the Employment Opportunities portion of the Minnesota Conference website. Click here to see the listings.
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