|
Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference
|
from Wade Zick, Associate Conference Minister
of Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Summer of 2013 @ Pilgrim Point Camp
This has been a wonderful season of growth and vitality for the ministry
happening at Pilgrim Point Camp. There were nearly 1,500 campers and volunteers playing, singing, praying and washing dishes this season - that is doubled participation in just the past 3 years! There were 21 MN Conference congregations sponsoring camps and retreats this year - up from 16 last year! And we had over 100 youth from 30 congregations that attended the two weeks of conference-sponsored youth camps with 16 adult leaders. The site has also seen improvements that included a new outdoor bread oven for homemade pizza & bread, 8 new kayaks, a new patio to the Rec Hall entrance, additional rocking chairs and an enlarged PPC farm that includes a vegetable garden, goats, sheep, chickens and rabbits.
Programming was centered around the theme of "Radical Hospitality" that invited campers to think about how they are hospitable to one
 another, visitors at church and individuals that may be different than themselves either in ability, sexual orientation or race. Other programming included use of the challenge course at Luther Crest Bible Camp, campers making bread together, volunteer projects around the site, a "Spirit Dash" at a youth camp week, lake activities with a new slide, and lots of fun games on the playing field. Camp continues to be the best time of the year for many of our campers!
We also celebrate Wayzata Community Church's amazing camp ministry at PPC in June and early July. They had 311 campers & 57 staff that were impacted by their high-energy and engaging ministry.
 Hilary Flynn, Wayzata Camp Director, and all their summer ministry staff did great work.
We give many thanks for the hard work of the PPC staff: Co-site & Program Managers - Gigi Nauer & Robin Raudabaugh, Youth Program Director - David Becker, Head Cook - Sheila Johnson, Registrar - Zac Norenberg, and the maintenance crew from Luther Crest Bible Camp.
Last but not least, we give thanks to the many financial contributors of Friends of Pilgrim Point Camp that help make the ministry of PPC possible. Gifts have totaled more than $25,000 this year helping us get in reach of our $35,000 goal for fiscal year 2013 ending September 30. Please consider supporting this great ministry of the MN Conference UCC and donating to Friends of Pilgrim Point Camp fund today.
Blessings and Peace,
Wade Zick
Associate Conference Minister of Faith Formation for Children & Youth
|
Joys and Concerns
| |
1. On Sunday, August 18 at 2pm, the newly created Memory Garden at Oak Meadows Senior Living will be dedicated. Oak Meadows, a UCC-related facility, recently celebrated its 15th Anniversary and all are invited to attend the Dedication, which will include entertainment and refreshments. Oak Meadows is located at 8133 4th Street N, Oakdale.
2. Rev. Lisa Johnson, pastor of the yoked congregations First Congregational UCC in Zumbota and the Presbyterian Church in Oronoco, will be installed Sunday, August 25 at 3:00 p.m. The service of installation will take place at the Oronoco church (located at 20 3rd St. SW). Rev. Johnson was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 2012.
3. Rev. Larry Pray has a number of watercolor paintings on exhibit at Hosmer Public Library (4th Avenue and 36th Street) in Minneapolis. Painting has been a mainstay of Larry's healing journey. The show is up at the library through August 31. Find library hours at www.hclib.org
|
Enduring Fund Grants Available
|
Dear Applicant,
The Enduring Fund was established by Chapel Hills of Edina in 2003. The stated mission of the endowment is to provide supplemental financial support to organizations, individual and projects that work in concert of our mission as a community of faith. The process for completing an application is linked here.
The following is a high level review of the process:
- Organization completes an Enduring Fund Application Form. A member of the Enduring Fund Committee is assigned to each request and performs necessary research on the organization, proposal, etc.
- The Enduring Fund Committee reviews all requests. Depending on the nature of the request, the committee may ask the applicant to meet with the committee, or visit the organization for more discussion to ensure a proper understanding of the request.
- Recommendations on each request are made by the Enduring Fund Committee and submitted to the Church Council for final approval. All individuals and organizations making requests will receive notification in regards to the final status of their application.
For more information or to receive this application form in an electronic format, please contact the church office at 952-935-3025 or by email at chapelhillsucc@gmail.com. The application deadline is August 31 for 2013 grants.
Sincerely,
The Enduring Fund Committee
|
2014 Heritage Grants Available!
|
2014 Heritage Grants available from St. Paul's Family Resources Foundation
The St. Paul's Family Resources Foundation is happy to announce that Heritage Grants will be awarded this fall for programs in 2014. We invite UCC congregations in the 7-county Twin Cities Metro area to submit applications for funding of innovative programs for seniors and/or their caregivers. As UCC congregations revitalize, we would like to help support the revitalization of their programs for seniors.
The Heritage Grants were offered for 4 years in a row, from 2008 to 2011. We took a leave of absence for 2 years and are now happy to be back.
Please note that changes have been made in the way the Heritage Grants are offered. We have moved the deadline for receipt of applications to one month earlier (September 30th) so that we can announce the awards while churches are doing their 2014 budgeting. We also are making the grants available only for UCC churches in the 7-county Metro Area, so that we have an opportunity to get to know congregations and their programs for seniors. Our maximum award will be $5,000.
Application materials are available on the Conference website.
More information regarding this announcement, please contact:
- Eric Kehle, President, St. Paul's Family Resources Foundation, 651-770-5127, emkehle@msn.com
- Rebecca Galkiewicz, Secretary, St. Paul's Family Resources Foundation, 651-490-0316, rebeccag@usfamily.net
|
Peace Village
|
 Peace Village is only two months away! I hope you are encouraging others who have a passion for children, youth, and family ministries to attend this exciting event (and you will also be attending!!).
Here are the details:
October 3-4, 2013
Congregational Church of San Mateo, San Mateo, CA
All information can be found here: www.ucc.org/peacevillage
Registration is only $50, and scholarships are available for travel and other needs. Please locate the scholarship form on the website and share it with others-there are funds available.
Come experience an intergenerational, transformational model of ministry for children, youth, families, and whole congregations!
|
Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week
| |
There are no clergy clusters in the coming week.
|
|
Registration Now Open!
| |
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.
|
|
Boundary Training - Register Now!
|
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.
|
PPC&R Summer Camps
| |
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. |
|
Local Church Events
|
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, August 15: Farmer's Market, Cottage Grove UCC
- Wednesday, August 21: GLBT Marriage Issues, Parkway UCC, Minneapolis
- Thursday, August 22: Farmer's Market, Cottage Grove UCC
- Sunday, August 25: GLBT Marriage Issues, Parkway UCC, Minneapolis
- Thursday, August 29: Farmer's Market, Cottage Grove UCC
- Sunday, September 1: Evensong Service, St. Paul's UCC, St. Paul
Would you like your events to appear on this calendar? Just email Alison Bents at alisonb@uccmn.org. Simple as that!
|
Employment Opportunities
| Check out the Employment Opportunities portion of the Minnesota Conference website. Click here to see the listings.
|
|
|
|
