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Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference
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from Rev. Rick Wagner, Associate Conference Minister
Pilgrim UCC in Benson feeds hungry kids
 Children who qualify for free or reduced lunches at school often go hungry during the summer when school is not in session. The census shows more than 50% of children in Swift County qualifying for free or reduced lunches, so Pastor Will Warnock of Pilgrim UCC in Benson suggested the church apply for a USDA grant to feed children during the summer. The grant, which reimburses the church for the number of meals served, was awarded, and because of the high percentage (>50%) of low income families, Pilgrim UCC is an "open site" where people don't have to show proof of eligibility to be fed.  Publicized through local church bulletins and flyers in the elementary school, 48 children on average are coming to Pilgrim UCC for lunch each weekday this summer. There have been as many as 65 on some days. Pastor Warnock credits lay leader, Mary Flower, who he describes as "chief cook, organizer, and the person who gets things done" with helping make this a success. In addition to the USDA grant, $3,000 was awarded to the church by Second Harvest for non-food items to help upgrade the church's kitchen. Other contributors stepped forward as well, including The Benson Foundation, the local electrical co-op, a dairy association and numerous local business leaders, most of whom are not members of Pilgrim UCC. The dairy association donated a soft-serve ice cream machine which has proven enormously popular. Kids can get a cone after the regular meal. Pastor Warnock says they have more volunteers than they need, with members from the local Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches offering their assistance. The work is divided into three shifts: preparing, serving, and cleaning up. Volunteers who work 90 minutes or more get a free lunch. Not surprisingly, some menus (all of which must meet USDA standards) are more popular than others. Pizza burgers and tater-tot hot dish are favorites.  At first, some church members had their doubts about the program and whether it would be used or even abused. After the first few days, though, all doubts were removed, and now there is great energy and enthusiasm for this program both in the church and the community. Pastor Warnock says they try to have a different theme each week and games to engage the kids. Recent weeks have seen a "sports" theme and a "talk like a pirate" week. Things are going so well that an ecumenical effort is underway to organize a year-round evening meal one night a week for people in the community. We commend Pilgrim UCC for this important ministry which recognizes a need in the community and works to meet it.
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Interim Associate Conference Minister Announced
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from Rev. Howard Bell, Acting Conference Minister
Rev. Dr. Anita L. Bradshaw has been selected as our Interim Associate Conference Minister (ACM)
 Please join me in welcoming Anita. She begins here ministry with us on Monday, August 5 and will continue her service to the Conference for an expected nine-month period. Her responsibilities will include those currently contained in the position description for Rev. Elena Larssen whose last day is July 26.
Anita is known to many in the Minnesota Conference and comes to us with substantial training and experience for this ministry. She recently completed a Sabbatical Supply for ACM Rev. Rick Wagner.
More recently, Anita has served as Director of Judicatory-Based Education for Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO, National Field Organizer for the Institute of Welcoming Resources, and Director of Conflict and Mission Programs for Church Innovations Institute in St. Paul. Previously, she was Director of Church Relations at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and Director of Supervised Ministries at Yale University Divinity School.
Anita is well-grounded in local church ministry, having served as a Minister-in-Covenant at Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis, since 1999. She also served as Sabbatical Interim Pastor at Cherokee Park United Church, and as Sabbatical Supply Pastor at St. Anthony Park UCC, St. Paul. Anita also previously served churches in Connecticut.
She is also highly-regarded and involved in the wider United Church of Christ. She has served as Chair of the Board of the Office of General Ministries of the UCC and Member of the Executive Council. She has been the United Church of Christ representative to the Planning Committee for Plenary on Reconciliation of Ministries for Churches Uniting in Christ and has served as the UCC representative of the Alliance of Baptists Denominational Board of Directors. She has also been a member of the UCC History, Theology and Polity Teachers' Network for nearly two decades.
Anita has taught at Yale University Divinity School, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, and St. John's University/The College of St. Benedict. Her continuing education experiences include training in appreciative inquiry and narrative leadership in congregational life. She is a certified instructor for "Growing Healthier Congregations" and for "Making Our Churches Safe for All."
Anita has both a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Sacred Theology degree (emphasis in theological ethics) from Yale University Divinity School and a Ph.D. from Luther Seminary where her focus was Ecclesiology and Congregational Studies. She has completed a Distance Education Certificate Program through the University of Wisconsin.
We are fortunate, indeed, to have one of Anita's background and skill join our staff! Please join me in extending to her the extravagant welcome of the UCC.
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Joys and Concerns
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1. Margaret (Peggy) Thompson will be ordained on Sunday, July 21 at 2:00pm at Mayflower UCC (106 E Diamond Lake Road, Minneapolis). Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. A reception with light refreshments will follow the service. Please RSVP to Mayflower UCC at 612-824-0762 if you plan to attend. 2. Our prayers and sympathy go out to the Rev. Helen McEvoy-Freese and her family on the death of her husband, John, following a short illness. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 19th, at Wayzata Community Church, 125 Wayzata Blvd. E, with visitation two hours before. Helen is a 2-time former Moderator and Authorized Minister of the Minnesota Conference. She and John met as students at United Theological Seminary. 3. Rev. Lawrence Richardson of Shift UCC in Mendota Heights was recently interviewed and is now featured in the New Times, a new church newsletter of the Center for Progressive Renewal. Check out the article on page 5!  | | DOOR Chicago Youth Mission Trip 2013 |
4. During the week of June 30 - July 5, a group of 20 youth and chaperones from Linden Hills UCC and Lynnhurst UCC in Minneapolis, and Parkview UCC in White Bear Lake participated in a collaborative mission trip to Chicago. The trip, hosted by DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) Chicago in East Garfield Park included a variety of service projects at homeless shelters, food pantries, community gardens, and a community center for persons with Alzheimer's disease. Our trip included education and faith formation around homelessness, dismantling racism, and breaking down stereotypes. We enjoyed meaningful worship, reflection, fun and fireworks at Millennium Park. We want to express our deepest gratitude to the Minnesota Conference of the UCC for awarding us with an Ashley grant that helped make this trip affordable to our families. A video recap of the trip is available by clicking on the image at right. 5. A Service of Farewell for Rev. Mark Pettis will be conducted on Sunday, July 21 at 10:00am at First Congregational UCC in Moorhead. The church is located at 406 S. 8th Street in Moorhead. Rev. Pettis, who has served in Moorhead since 2009, has accepted a call to serve Community Church UCC in Manhattan Beach, California. 6. A Service of Farewell for Rev. Brigit Stevens will be held on Sunday, July 28 at 9:00am at St. Paul's UCC in Henderson. The church is located at 111 S. 6th Street in Henderson. Rev. Stevens has accepted a call to be Associate Conference Minister in the Iowa Conference. She has served St. Paul's UCC since 2009. |
UCC seeks videos: My Faith, My World, My Voice
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Introduced at the 29th General Synod in Long Beach, the "My Faith, My World, My Voice" video contest will challenge young adults to show what their faith means to them and how it impacts the world in video.
The contest is open to individuals ages 18-35 and the deadline for submissions is Oct. 31, 2013. All entries must be original content and cannot be longer than 60 seconds. Videos can contain stills/photos, graphics, music, text, animation and/or video, and must be family-friendly and appropriate for viewing on ucc.org. The "My Faith, My World, My Voice" contest committee will select the videos of up to five finalists to be posted on YouTube, and the UCC community will have seven days to vote for their favorite video from Dec. 1 to Dec. 7, 2013. The creator of the video that earns the most votes will win $5,000 and national recognition on ucc.org.
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Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week
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There are no clergy clusters in the coming week.
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Service of Farewell & Reception
for Rev. Elena Larssen
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 You are invited!
Thursday, July 25, 4:30-6:30pm
Farewell for Rev. Elena Larssen,
Associate Conference Minister
Please join us for a brief program thanking Elena for her service to the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ, along with a Service of Farewell, followed by an appetizer and beverage reception.
St. Paul's UCC, 900 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105
Please RSVP to alisonb@uccmn.org
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Registration Now Open!
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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.
Register Now!
Single room: $95* | Double room: $85*
*A generous grant from the Mayflower Foundation (Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis) makes a 50% reduction in the registration fee possible for all attendees of the 2013 Fall Convocation.
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Boundary Training - Register Now!
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Boundary Training has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 24 at Normandale Hylands United Methodist Church in Bloomington. To register, go to events.minnesotaumc.org where it is listed as "Living the Sacred Trust." Choose "other" for district and church. For a flyer and more information, click here.
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PPC&R Summer Camps
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 at
 Registration for youth camps at Pilgrim Point are open! Don't delay your registration - join 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. All participants must submit a health and medical release form before their registration is considered complete. There will also be opportunity at both camps to participate in a High and Low Ropes Challenge Course/Zipline located at a neighboring facility approximately 1.5 miles away from Pilgrim Point. Participation requires a Challenge Course Waiver and Transportation Release Form. All of these forms can be found at pilgrimpoint.org/forms.
First Annual Deaf Family Camp
August 11-16, 2013
For any deaf family seeking an intergenerational faith experience in an outdoor setting - the UCC church is an open, affirming, progressive denomination where ALL are welcome!
2013 Camp Fees:
Children 3 and under FREE | Adults $230 | Ages 4-18 $200
Women's Retreat
September 20-22, 2013
A Grateful Heart
Join women of the Minnesota Conference UCC for a weekend of renewing old friendships and making new ones - all while experiencing the God-filled beauty of Pilgrim Point Camp and the unmistakable presence of the Lord. "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exalt in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." - Psalm 9:1-2 Download the brochure for more information about the keynoter, breakout sessions, schedule and other general information. |
Discerning Whiteness
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Discerning Whiteness workshop being co-sponsored by
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and
Cherokee Park United Church (UCC/PCUSA)
 United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is co-sponsoring the workshop "Discerning Whiteness: The Unacknowledged Barrier," which will be held on July 19 and 20 at Cherokee Park United Church in St Paul. The two-day workshop is being led by the award-winning ASDIC program. Early bird registration closes on July 12.
Utilizing interactive dialogue and reflection, the workshop will ask:
What qualities often make predominantly white organizations, no matter how well-intentioned, problematic for people of color? What are the mindset and practices contributing to racial disparities in the membership and outcomes of organizations, even liberal, progressive ones? How are these played out at the individual level and in the organizations of which we are a part?
Prior to the workshop, we will take the opportunity to study relevant leading ideas in the field of antiracism (excerpts from Zeus Leonardo 2009 and Joe Feagin 2013). Dates: Friday July 19 and Saturday July 20, full day sessions each day with lunch and refreshments. Cost: see schedule attached; $125 per individual participant with scholarships available. Location: Cherokee Park United Church, Saint Paul. More information, see flyer and registration form.
This workshop is being offered by the award-winning ASDIC Metamorphosis program and is being co-sponsored by United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Additional support for the workshop is comes from Cherokee Park United Church, St. Paul (UCC/PCUSA). "ASDIC" stands for Antiracism Study-Dialogue Circle, www.asdic-circle.org, facebook.com/AsdicCircle. FFI: Margery at margeryotto@gmail.com or 952-334-3149.
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Disaster Preparedness Webinar
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Join the Emergency Response Team of Church World Service on Tuesday, August 6, at 2pm EST for "Disaster Preparedness," a webinar that will discuss important details often overlooked while preparing for an emergency.
The Emergency Response Specialists will discuss what to expect when disaster strikes. Individuals and families are often not aware of the important steps during relief and recovery, leaving many hopeless in the wake of a disaster. For this reason it is important to know where to turn in an emergency. From Disaster Case Management (DCM) to Emotional and Spiritual Care, this webinar will inform you of the important details to consider, keeping you from becoming a disaster "victim." Click HERE to register.
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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.
- Thursday, July 18: Farmer's Market, Cottage Grove UCC
- Thursday, July 25: Farmer's Market, Cottage Grove UCC
- Thursday, July 25: Ice Cream Social, Community UCC, St. Paul Park
- Sunday, July 28: American Sign Language & Interpreter, Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis
- Sunday, July 28: Campfire Worship, Community UCC, St. Paul Park
- Thursday, August 1: Farmer's Market, Cottage Grove UCC
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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