Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference
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from Rev. Howard Bell, Acting Conference Minister
Transition Greetings
I am writing these greetings to you on Monday, September 30, 2013, which is my last day in the Conference Office. By the time you are reading this, Rev. Sharon (Shari) Prestemon will be completing her second day as Conference Minister! My thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with Shari as she assumes the challenge of shepherding this organization/community of faith. Thanks to our more than 200 volunteer leaders, including our dedicated Board of Directors and members of our committees, work groups, ministry teams, and our Conference Minister Transition Team, I am confident of the future of this Conference. Everything that the Conference is able to accomplish now and into the future is also due to your gifts to Our Churches Wider Mission and to the many "Friends of the Conference" who give generously to our Annual Fund. Shari is entering into a strong, vibrant Conference and she will be bringing to the Conference her great gifts of executive leadership, development skills, passion for justice and ministerial excellence. Please join me in welcoming Shari to the Conference and in covenanting to continue to do our part to assure the success of her ministry with and among us.
In the nearly four months that I have had the privilege of serving as your Acting Conference Minister, I have come to appreciate the joys and challenges of conference ministry. There have been many highlights including being able to work collegially with the marvelous, hard-working, dedicated and gifted staff. Thanks to all of them for making my tasks manageable while offering me professional and personal support. The Minnesota Conference is deeply blessed.
I greatly enjoyed the times I was in our local churches for Sunday worship, my one-day visit to August Family Camp at Pilgrim Point Camp, my participation in ordinations and installations, and all the meetings (in person, by WebEx, and by conference call), phone consultations, email deluge, and personal interactions with so many of you. Thank you for your participation, your patience, your caring and your service. I particularly valued the time together at Pilgrim Point Camp for the Fall Leadership Retreat as well as the insights and vision offered to us during that retreat by our United Church of Christ General Minister and President, Rev. Geoffrey Black. It is my hope that each local church can more fully appreciate all that is provided by our National Setting and that we all might be encouraged to use those resources more fully. Finally, I was most fortunate to be able to participate in the Heads of Communion overnight retreat in September sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Churches. Our engagement, ecumenically and in inter-faith efforts, are significant ministries of the Conference not often witnessed by our members. It was a particular joy for me to experience more fully the call "That we might all be one" that is central to the mission of the United Church of Christ.
Thank you for this opportunity given to me to serve in this ministry. Thanks to Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers for her years of visionary leadership which brought us to this place in time, and for her guidance and wisdom which laid such a strong foundation for the transition process. Thanks be to God for all these blessings.
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Joys and Concerns
| 1. A Service of Closure and Farewell for co-pastors Rev. Deb Meyer and Rev. Kent Meyer will be held Sunday, October 6th at 9:00am at St. Luke's UCC in Eitzen. The church is located at 23995 Highway 76. Clergy are invited to robe and process.
2. Rev. Bridget Haefner will be installed as Pastor of St. Paul's UCC in Delano on Sunday, October 6th at 9:15am. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles.The church address is 201 Buffalo St. in Delano.
3. A Service of Closure and Farewell will be held for The Rev. Dr. Matthew Jackson on Sunday, October 6th at 10:00am at the Congregational Church of Excelsior. The church is located at 471 Third Street in Excelsior.
4. Dawn Carlson Conn will be commissioned as a Minister of Liturgical Art at a service on Sunday, October 6 at 3:00pm at Robbinsdale UCC (4200 Lake Ave., Robbinsdale). Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. All others may wear red or their favorite color.
5. Rev. Edward Reinhardt suffered a stroke on September 1 and is currently at St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault for therapy. Prayers for his recovery and for the devotion of his wife, Kathy, are appreciated. Greetings and good wishes may be sent to 2125 7th Street NW #212, Faribault, MN 55021.
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Joys and Concerns
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On the day of an ordination, the people of God gather together to celebrate the call of an individual into ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ. In that ceremony, the people pledge to uphold and support the new Reverend's ministry in and with the church. As such, you are encouraged to celebrate the following ordination anniversaries this month with and in honor of these individuals:
Rev. Marguerite Voelkel - October 1982 Rev. Deborah Hasdorff - October 1986 Rev. Scott Curfman - 01 October 1986 Rev. Nancy Anderson - 04 October 1991 Rev. Christopher Fazel - 04 October 1992 Rev. Nancy Giese - 04 October 2008 Rev. Amy Wick Moore - 04 October 2009 Rev. Orville Sauter - 05 October 1986 Rev. James Slocum - 08 October 1967 Rev. Rebecca Parkhurst - 09 October 1994 Rev. Susan Burns - 11 October 1992 Rev. Sara Morse - 12 October 2003 Rev. Richard Eick - 13 October 1968 Rev. Sarah Campbell - 13 October 1991 Rev. Chester Olsen - 15 October 1980 Rev. Clarion Olsen - 15 October 1980 Rev. Cynthia Huse - 16 October 1993 Rev. Shirley Cox - 17 October 1982 Rev. Robin Raudabaugh - 17 October 2002 Rev. Monica Powers - 17 October 2004 Rev. David McMahill - 18 October 1970 Rev. Jane McMahill - 18 October 1970 Rev. Glenn Barth - 21 October 1984 Rev. E. Anni Stedman - 22 October 1989 Rev. Teresa Roberts - 24 October 1984 Rev. Doris Ruben - 26 October 1986 Rev. N. Charlene Johnson - 26 October 1997 Rev. David Lindsey - 26 October 2003 Rev. Barbara Martin - 26 October 2008 Rev. G. Dean Goebel - 28 October 1963 Rev. Kathleen Burns - 28 October 2006 Our best wishes for continued and flourishing ministry to all celebrating their ordination anniversaries in October!
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Taiz� 2014
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Taiz� 2014
The Faith Formation Team of the Minnesota Conference UCC is sponsoring a 2014 Pilgrimage to the Taiz� Community in France from April 3-14, 2014. The pilgrimage is for those age 29 and younger working with children and/or youth, either as volunteer or staff. The low cost of the pilgrimage is made possible by an Ashley Endowment Grant from the MN Conference UCC Board of Directors.
Criteria include:
- Age 29 or younger at the time of pilgrimage due to the restrictions from the Taiz� Community
- Involvement at a MN Conference UCC congregation in faith formation or youth ministry, either as staff or a volunteer
- Provide a letter of recommendation from the minister where you are involved in faith formation and/or youth ministry
- Completion of the application
Date: April 3-14, 2014
Cost: $750 (includes flights, transportation, registration)
Registration: There are 25 spaces available with a rolling application through November 1, 2013. Applications will be reviewed by members of the Faith Formation Team.
Download the application to apply or for more information.
If you have any questions or want more information, please contact Wade Zick at [email protected].
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News from the Emmaus Team
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The Emmaus AntiracismTransformation Team recommends the following events and resources in our continuing quest to achieve racial justice:
October 11-13, 2013
Alternative Prayer Resources for Worship preceding Columbus Day
October 11-13 is the weekend before Columbus Day. The Saint Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN) and its Healing Minnesota Stories initiative is offering three alternative prayers to congregations to share with your worshippers in the worship just before Columbus Day (click here to see text of prayers). Many churches and religious organizations of all kinds are becoming more aware of the effect of the European immigration to the New World, As the awareness grows, so does the desire to address the situation in public worship. In the spirit of providing resources to congregations and promoting healing and reconciliation among all peoples, we encourage you to use or revise any of these prayers in the most appropriate way in your services. SPIN also encourages you to talk about the European discovery of the Americas, the impact it had on indigenous peoples, and the need for learning and reconciliation about this important issue. (More resources for this at SPIN/HMS website.)
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
YWCA It's Time to Talk: Forums on Race
The YWCA 11th Annual It's Time to Talk: Forums on Race will feature keynote speaker Andr�s Tapia. You are invited to join a group of diverse community leaders -- from business, education, arts and community service -- to move Minnesota forward. Corporations, nonprofit organizations, religious groups and schools have found participating in It's Time to Talk to be thought-provoking and inspirational. Based on feedback from attendees at previous events, you will leave inspired to personally take action to improve race relations at work, in the community, and with family and friends. Click for more information.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Calvary Baptist ASDIC Antiracism Dialogue Circle begins
You are warmly invited to be part of the Calvary Baptist Church's ASDIC Circle this fall, as we seek to more fully understand the ways race and racism are operating in our lives. While the majority of the participants will be from Calvary, at least 5 spots are reserved for others as part of Calvary's outreach.
The purpose of an ASDIC circle is to foster wholeness, spin webs of relationship, and untangle knots of oppression. ASDIC Metamorphosis, Calvary's circle partner, is committed to dismantling racism by bringing people together across racial and cultural boundaries to explore the very thing that divides us - the structures of racial domination that create our different life experiences and that deeply shape us individually and collectively.
Reflective and highly interactive, the award-winning ASDIC Circle experience follows a carefully designed sequence of shared study, dialogue, exercises and action planning. Over twelve weeks we read selected writings by leading scholars and examine the particular nature of our personal, organizational and community settings. As a result of our shared work, we develop greater clarity of thinking, strength of relationship, and effectiveness of action to address systemic racism. ASDIC Circles are widely described as transformative by participants.
Would you consider being a part of the circle?
- Unfunded individual participation - $150. (For those who need it, we offer scholarships, partial or full. If a scholarship is needed, please contact us.)
- Staff Development - non-profits or governmental agencies: $350/person for this 36-hour training.
- Staff Development - corporations: $600/person for this 36-hour training.
- A $20 deposit (part of the tuition fee) is required upon registration for the Circle.
- Couples who study together receive a discount of $20 each.
- Continuing Education Units (CEUs) may be possible for participants. Contact us for further information.
- Childcare will be available at no extra cost.
All are welcome to participate regardless of financial circumstances; no one turned away. Register early to ensure attendance. Registration is now open. SPACE IS LIMITED.
[email protected]For more information on the Circle at Calvary please contact C. John Hildebrand (612-270-2224;).
November 15-16, 2013 Overcoming Racism Conference
The Emmaus Team annually co-sponsors the Overcoming Racism Conference organized by the Facilitating Racial Equity Collaborative (FREC). Our sponsorship is one way we help make racial justice training available to the members of the Minnesota Conference. This year's theme is Truth Telling As A Means To Overcome Racism. The conference will be held at Metropolitan State University, 700 E. 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55106. To register, click here. Only three weeks left - through October 15 - for 'Early Bird' discounted registration rates! Check out the growing but incomplete list of workshops to whet your appetite!
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A Good Year for Justice, and Your Justice & Witness
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from Ray Daniels, Chair, Justice & Witness Team
Your Justice & Witness Prophetic Witness Team is busy. We have suggestions, for the short term, and the long term:
- Schedule a showing of "Gold Fever" on or about Global Screening Day, October 17, or attend the showing at the Riverview Theater on October 24 - it's about justice actions we can take here with global implications
- Pay attention to announcements from Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light - they have a Be The Spark campaign that just might fit your congregation's plans for environmental justice
- Schedule a Peace Fund collection during this year, or just put it in your budget-the Justice & Witness Team makes grants to individuals and congregations for justice work
- Justice & Witness Team supports an intern who will work with congregations on justice organizing
- Keep an eye out for our upcoming trainings - LED (Leaders Engaging and Developing) training in February or March, UCC pre-training for Joint Religious Legislative Coalition's Day on the Hill; we'll have fun, break bread together, and get over those legislative presence jitters
- And-(more to come!)
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2013 Children's Sabbath
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What is your congregation doing for Children's Sabbath this year?
On this year's Children's Sabbath, October 18, 19 and 20, congregations of many faiths all across our nation are committing to take action to end gun violence and child poverty. Won't you join them?
Download the 2013 Children's Sabbath Manual. This manual serves as a guide for you and your faith community to engage in year-round child and family advocacy work and to celebrate the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths weekend. We are very grateful to our good friends at Children's Defense Fund-MN for providing such great resources.
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Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week
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Northern Cluster: Tuesday, October 8, 11:00am Community UCC, Biwabik (carpool from Peace UCC, Duluth departs at 9:45)
Twin Cities West Cluster: Wednesday, October 9, 12:00pm Parkway UCC, Minneapolis
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Fall VRV Events!
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Social Media, Websites
and Technology for Congregations
The tools of technology both fascinate and frustrate many of us. This fall VRV presents four webinars to help congregational leaders to better use these tools to promote and communicate your congregation and its story.
You may register for the webinars separately, but we encourage you to sign up for the whole package (and you get a price break!). Those who complete all four seminars will qualify for a short-term CoachShare group with Bruce Reyes-Chow, one of the foremost authorities on social media and internet use in the church.
Each webinar is $9.99. If you register for all four, you get four webinars for the price of three at $29.97.
Register here!
Once you register with the Conference, we will send you information on connecting to the Center for Progressive Renewal for the webinars. If you are unable to participate on the day and time listed, not to worry. Each webinar will be archived and you can listen to it at your convenience. The advantage to being on the live webinar is you can ask questions, but you can still get the information, whether you are on live or not.
Here are the details:
Webinar #1 Social Media: The Biggest Pulpit of Today, Part 1
October 17, 2013 - 12:00pm CDT
Facebook and Twitter are the biggest pulpits of today. It's not just about reaching kids or Millennials (though you will!), but about everyone. This webinar will introduce you to a model of curatorial leadership take your social media use from point A all the way to point Awesome.
Take-aways:
- Understand the big picture change happening in the world for organizations in a networked world
- Learn a new theoretical/theological framework for digital clergy leadership
- Get a wide-angle view of the possibilities for how you might incarnate your new role online
Webinar #2 Social Media: The Biggest Pulpit of Today, Part 2
October 29, 2013 - 1:00pm CDT
Now that you understand the big picture of how to lead using social media as a pulpit, it's time to practice. We'll walk through creating your online clergy profile and curating your church's content for the biggest impact.
Take-aways:
- Quick review of the big picture changes mandated for church by a networked world
- Create your clergy online profile
- Learn to curate your sermons, prayers, music and social justice actions so they win Facebook and Twitter
Presenter for Webinars #1 and 2: Ashley Harness is a communications strategist with almost a decade of experience in non-profit media work. Currently, Ashley works with the digital organizing team at Auburn Seminary and provides confidential media training and counsel to clergy seeking to use media as a pulpit of the 21st century. Previously at Fenton Communications, the largest public interest communications firm in the country, she consulted for a range of non-profit organizations across issue, from international human rights to electoral political campaigns to progressive religious groups. Some of her clients included MoveOn.org, Women for Women International, Rabbis for Human Rights, United Methodist Women and the One Nation project to diversify perceptions of American Muslims. Ashley received her Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in 2012 and her Bachelor of Arts at Brown University in 2005.
Webinar #3 Website Basics for ChurchesNovember 7, 2013 - 7:00pm CSTYour website is truly the front door to your church. People will have visited your website before they visit your building. Learn the basics you need to have to make your church website attractive, informative and easily found. Webinar #4 Live Streaming Worship Services for ChurchesNovember 21, 2013 - 12:00pm CSTIt used to be only mega-churches with million dollar budgets could live stream their worship services over the web. A lot has changed recently and this webinar is designed to show you inexpensive (even free) tools that will help you stream your worship services to the world. Presenter for Webinars #3 and 4: Mike Mitchell has significant experience doing media & communication in the corporate world. Most recently he had founded Progressive Church Media which develops media resources for progressive, accepting and affirming congregations. An increasing number of progressive-minded churches are using video and multimedia to make their worship services more engaging and seeker-friendly. Until now, the options for these churches to obtain high-quality video resources generally meant they had to purchase content from companies and organizations that do not necessarily share their theological views and beliefs. But Progressive Church Media is here to change that. Each webinar is $9.99. If you register for all four, you get four webinars for the price of three at $29.97. Register here! __________________________ Taking Your Church to the Next Level: Where Do You Want to Go? November 2, 2013, 9:00 am-3:00 pm Registration at 8:30 am United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities Cost: $30.00 (includes lunch, breaks, all materials, and access to archived videos of all presentations) Teams of three or more from a congregation get to bring their pastor for free. We often talk about taking your congregation to the next level and that is great. Of course, this assumes you know where your congregation is and where you want to go in terms of your life cycle. Come and explore the life cycle of a congregation and strategize how you move your congregation to a place of vitality for your congregation. Presenters: Michael Piazza and Glenna Shepherd from the Center for Progressive Renewal Rev. Michael Piazza currently serves as President of Hope for Peace & Justice and the Executive Director of Church Multiplication for the Center for Progressive Renewal. He is also the Senior Pastor at Virginia-Highland Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Rev. Glenna Shepherd has served as senior minister of two congregations, as a church planter, music minister, interim minister, and as the equivalent of a conference minister for Metropolitan Community Churches, where she worked with congregations in Europe and Africa. Presently, she is Senior Minister of Decatur United Church of Christ in Decatur, Georgia. Can't attend on November 2? You can still access the presentations by registering for the virtual participation option. Each of the presentations will be recorded and streamed over the internet. Your virtual participation registration will get you each presentation for the cost of $15.00. You will also be able to receive the handout materials electronically.
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FourTHursdays
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We hope you can join our gathering of faith formation leaders to eat together, share resources, and learn fresh ways to engage ministry.
Justice-Minded & Jesus-Following Thursday, October 24th, 11:30-1:30p.m. Minnesota Church Center, Assembly 2 122 West Franklin Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55404 RSVP Today!
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Fall High School Conference Youth Event!
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Fall High School CYE
"GOD'S BIG TABLE: CONVERSATIONS ON RACE"
Guest Speaker: Dr. Barbara Holmes,
President of United Theological Seminary
October 18-20, 2013
Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreats
Alexandria, MN
Registration is now open!
$85/youth and $60/adult
Deadline for all registrations is October 14.
Please also be sure to complete the authorization form.
YOUTH | ADULT
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Questions? Email Zac at [email protected] or call 612-871-0359.
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Church Women United of MN Annual Meeting
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Church Women United of Minnesota 2013 Annual Meeting
Saturday, October 19, 2013 9:00-2:00pm
Plymouth Presbyterian Church
3755 Dunkirk Lane North, Plymouth, MN
Invite a Friend!
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Gold Fever Screening
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Justice & Witness Team & Mayflower UCC
to host Gold Fever: Global Screening Day Event
at Riverview Theater Minneapolis
Documentary film screening part of a
worldwide discussion on mining harms
On October 24, Minneapolis will join dozens of communities worldwide to screen Gold Fever, an "eye-opening and inspiring" documentary about the arrival of Goldcorp Inc to a remote Guatemalan village.
The screening, presented by G Project and co-hosted by the Minnesota Conference Justice and Witness Team, Mayflower UCC's Global Justice Advocacy Team, Witness for Peace, and many other organizations will take place at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis at 7:00pm on October 24. Admission is $10, and the public is welcome. Following the screening of the film, Thom Haines, Executive Director at G Project, will host a discussion of the film.
"We believe that resource extraction is an underreported issue," said Haines. "By hosting a screening of Gold Fever as part of Global Screening Day we hope to shine a light on the harms to health, community and environment brought by transnational industrial mining and the connections to our own communities. As part of a global action, we hope to raise visibility of these issues here in Minnesota and show our support, alongside dozens of other communities worldwide. We are particularly standing in support of the Ecumenical Christian Council of Guatemala, our United Church of Christ partner who is actively engaged in mining resistance."
Dozens of groups, large and small, will screen Gold Fever around the world on or about October 17. For a map and details of the campaign visit: www.goldfevermovie.com/screening-day
For trailer, screenings and more information: www.goldfevermovie.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/goldfevermovie.com
Contact: Thom Haines [email protected]
Executive Director, G Project
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Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimage of Ireland
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Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimage of Ireland
May 6-16, 2014
Explore an ancient spiritual tradition that embodies care for creation, embraces differences, provides seeds of resistance to empires, and finds the sacred in all that is.
Led by Rev. Kiran Young Wimberly & Rev. Dr. Tim Johnson. $300 deposit due by November 24, 2013. For complete itinerary, description, cost and registration information go to www.CherokeeParkUnited.org.
For questions or to have information mailed, contact Rev. Tim Johnson, pastor of Cherokee Park United Church, St. Paul at 651-227-4275 or [email protected].
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Spiritual Direction Training
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Special Invitation to UCC Clergy:
Spiritual Direction Training
If you have thought about getting trained in Spiritual Direction but found the cost and time requirements beyond your limits, please consider this Clergy Seminar Series offered by UU MidAmerica Region and co-sponsored by Plymouth Congregational Church of Minneapolis.
The Clergy Seminar Series in Congregation-Based Spiritual Direction is designed especially for ordained clergy, ministerial interns, and theological students. The goal is to start with the skills clergy already possess through their experience and training (such as Clinical Pastoral Education and pastoral counseling courses), and increase their competence as spiritual directors in three specific areas: brief spiritual direction, group spiritual direction, and supervision, both peer supervision and supervision of lay leaders of spiritual direction groups. While designed with the parish in mind, this training would be equally useful for many other ministry settings, such as chaplaincy and counseling. The dates for the three sessions are:
- October 28-30, 2013
- January 27-29, 2014
- May 19-21, 2014
Sessions will run from 1 pm on Mondays through 4:30 on Wednesdays, and will be held at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. The full tuition is $975.00, but we're offering a special discount for this inaugural series of $325.00, bringing the cost down to $650.00. The seminars will be led by myself, the Rev. Phillip Lund, Congregational Life Consultant in the MidAmerica Region, and the Rev. Sue Sinnamon, former Program Consultant in the Southern Region. Sue has a graduate certificate in Spiritual Direction from the RUAH School at Richmond Hill, and Phil is completing his certification in Interspiritual Counseling at One Spirit Learning Alliance in New York.
To find out more about the Clergy Seminar Series or to register online, click here. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Rev. Dr. Paul Northwood at 612-977-1263.
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Healing the Divide
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United Church of Christ authorized minister, Amos Smith, has written a book calling to understand Jesus through the early Christian mystics Rev. Smith notes that Healing the Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots is of general interest to both members and pastors of UCC churches. Read more about it and visit the author at www.amossmith.org.
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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.
- Wednesday, October 2: Fare for All Express, Hazel Park UCC, St. Paul
- Thursday, October 3: Farmer's Market, Cottage Grove UCC
- Thursday, October 3: Reading Rilke (with Mark Gustafson), Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis
- Sunday, October 6: Evensong Service, St. Paul's UCC, St. Paul
- Thursday, October 10: Farmer's Market, Cottage Grove UCC
- Thursday, October 10: Reading Rilke (with Mark Gustafson), Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis
- Saturday, October 12: Big Woods Run, St. John's UCC, Faribault
- Saturday, October 12: Living with Dimentia, Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata
- Saturday, October 12: Pig-Out Pork Roast & Silent Auction, Hazel Park UCC, St. Paul
- Thursday, October 17: Reading Rilke (with Mark Gustafson), Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis
- Saturday, October 19: Elder Law Series: Estate Planning, First Congregational Church of MN UCC, Minneapolis
- Sunday, October 20: Bauman Fine Arts Concert Series: Barra!, Hazel Park UCC, St. Paul
- Sunday, October 20: Yesterday Once More: A Tribute to the Carpenters, Living Table UCC, Minneapolis
Would you like your events to appear on this calendar? Just email Alison Bents at [email protected]. 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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