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Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference
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from Barbara Peterson, Member of the Board of Directors
Liaison to the Development Committee
Tomorrow Only: Give to the Max!
 Mark your calendar. Tomorrow, November 14, is Give to the Max Day, the day when Minnesotans come together to raise as much money as possible for nonprofits in 24 hours. New this year, you can schedule your donation early to be counted on Give to the Max Day!
Click here to schedule your donation today to be counted on Give to the Max Day tomorrow.
Why You Should Give
We're raising money for our 2014 ministries, which include leading a group of young adults on a trip to the monastic community of Taizé, France; expanding clergy leadership development and support groups, and strengthening our programming at Pilgrim Point Camp. Your gift today will support these vital ministries.
Double Your Impact
Our Board members have pledged to match all donations up to a total of $1,200. That means that every dollar you give will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000. Every dollar you donate will go twice as far!
How to Donate
- Go to www.razoo.com/story/Minnesota-Conference-United-Church-Of-Christ
- Enter your donation amount
- Check the "Make my gift count for Give to the Max Day" box
- Click "Donate Now"
- Follow the instructions until you get to the confirmation page
Bonus: Get $1,000 Added to Your Donation
Each hour, the folks at Give to the Max will add $1,000 to one randomly chosen donation. That donation could be yours!
Last year we raised over $5,000 on Give to the Max Day. Let's do even better this year. Thank you in advance for your support!
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Joys and Concerns
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1. The Conference Office has received word of the death on October 25, 2013 of Rev. Dr. Eugene Jaberg. Rev. Dr. Jaberg was a founding faculty member of United Theological seminary and an authorized minister in the Minnesota Conference UCC. A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, November 13th in the Bigelow Chapel at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, 3000 5th St NW, New Brighton, MN. You may read a full obituary here.2. The collection of antique Japanese art and artifacts belonging to Rev. Timothy Forester, pastor of First Congregational UCC, Winona, is on display at the Winona County Historical Society until the end of November. Tim spent twelve years of his childhood and early teen years in the Tokyo/Yokohama area with his Cumberland Presbyterian missionary parents, and one year as an adult teaching English in Tokyo. Eighteenth- and nineteenth- century woodblock prints and ink sketches (sumi-e) depicting Samurai warriors, landscapes, Kabuki theater and everyday life are featured. So are Buddhist devotional items and artifacts from the 250 years during which the Tokugawa-era government persecuted hidden Catholic converts. The Historical Society building located at 160 Johnson St. 3. Rev. Sarah Campbell, pastor of Mayflower UCC in Minneapolis was recently returned from Busan, South Korea where she was a delegate representing the United Church of Christ at the World Council of Churches 10th Assembly. She documented her experiences in a blog that you are encouraged to take some time to read. United Church News also had a piece featuring Rev. Campbell and her journey. Read that here! 4. St. Paul's UCC in Minnesota Lake recently celebrated their 125th anniversary and sent along a few photos from their celebration!  Front: Rev. Judith Hambleton, Rev. Lisa Bodenheim, Rev. Dr. Anita Bradshaw. Back: Pastors Patrick Slessor, Dean Stille, Dennis Secrease, David Cave.
 Council President, Ardis Grunzke and Rev. Dean Stille, Council Member and longtime former pastor of Peace UCC, accepted the plaque on behalf of the congregation.5. In February, Oak Meadows entered a contest sponsored by the Saint Paul Chamber and Brandography, www.brandography.com for being "The Worst Website." We won... not a great claim to fame! The team at Brandography rebuilt our website and designed a new logo for us. We then entered a contest through www.retirementhomes.com for "best website." After judge's deliberations, and 10,000 votes received,  we are proud to announce that Oak Meadows is the "Judges Choice" for the MOMBA Awards (Mature Online Marketing Business Achievement) recognizing the best and most creative marketing programs used by senior living communities in 10 distinct categories. Nearly 200 entries were received from senior living communities across North America, as well as South America, and Asia. Nominees were selected by a team of expert judges. |
New Resources Available
| Thanks to grants from the Ashley Endowment right here in the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ, two new publications from the national United Church of Christ are now available to congregations across the denomination!
 An Invitation to Peace Village: Faith Formation in a Multifaith World is based on models of inspiring ministry in the United Church of Christ. An Invitation to Peace Village is a DVD resource that lifts up the work of one powerful and effective model of interfaith, faith formation ministry from the Congregational Church of San Mateo in California. The accompanying handbook offers an engaging and helpful "how-to" framework for cultivating a Peace Village in your own congregation and community. You can order this new resource for $6.99 plus shipping by clicking here.
 The Homegrown Faith & Justice resource just came out in print last week! It offers Biblical reflection and age-appropriate activities and conversations for families with children and youth age 3 to 18. It includes four themes: God's Vision of Shalom; God and Love; Love and Neighbor; and Courage to Do the Right Thing. Starting November 22, a faith formation conversation can be accessed life (and will be archived following the event. Just click here to learn more! You can also order this resource for $6.99 with free shipping by clicking here.
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Typhoon Haiyan
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Dear friends:
It has been sobering to watch the stunning devastation that Typhoon Hayian has wrought in the Philippines these last several days. News reports tell us that perhaps as many as 10,000 have died in the disaster; the loss of homes, whole communities, and a sense of safety will add to their profound sense of grief in the coming weeks, months, and years.
In the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ we feel a special connection to the Philippines given our partnership with the Mindanao Jurisdiction of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) since 1987. Many of us have traveled to the Philippines and been graced by their hospitality; others of us have hosted Philippine friends here in Minnesota. Our hearts break with them and we want to respond meaningfully and swiftly.
It would appear that the Mindanao Jurisdiction of the UCCP was not directly impacted by the typhoon. Nonetheless, others in the UCCP and beyond are suffering immensely. Our dear friend, Rev. Eleazar Fernandez, who is arriving back in the Twin Cities from a scheduled trip in the Philippines reports: "It's difficult to leave the Philippines this time, especially that Leyte (my home province) was the one hit by the super typhoon. We have no direct contact with [my wife,] Josephine's mother and siblings. Communication lines are down." How can we most effectively and appropriately extend our help?
The information shared below comes to us from our disaster ministries office at the national setting of the United Church of Christ and provides information about how to best respond at this time. Our national setting will ensure that the money you give through the special appeal will get to our UCCP partners to address particular needs our partners have identified.
I can offer personal testimony from my own experience after Hurricane Katrina that the gifts we make when such appeals are issued after a disaster really do get to those who need them most and are in a position to use them most effectively. I also know from experience that sending a large amount of collected goods is not always the best immediate response, when there is little capacity to properly manage and receive such items on the front lines of a disaster area. Those opportunities may indeed come and we will invite those responses when it seems right. The recovery process will continue for months and indeed years; our friends in the Philippines will be best served by our ability to accompany them over the long haul of recovery, not just in the immediate aftermath.
So for now I invite you to give generously to this UCC appeal for disaster assistance to the Philippines. And I encourage your prayers for our brothers and sisters caught in the inescapable horror of this disaster experience. We give thanks for a Resurrecting God who will indeed be with them and blaze a path toward renewal and recovery.
Grace and peace,
Reverend Shari Prestemon
Conference Minister
The United Church of Christ has issued an appeal for $250,000 for Typhoon Haiyan response.
Typhoon Haiyan has killed as many as 10,000 people in the Philippines, with the devastation it caused being described as "absolute bedlam," the BBC reported.
Hardest hit is the central Philippine city of Tacloban, which is said to be flattened and where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. The damage to communications, airports and roads is hampering initial relief efforts, according to Ric Jontarciego, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Disaster Coordinator.
While much focus has already been put on Tacloban, the UCCP reports that cities and towns in other parts of the Philippines are also facing huge losses.
The UCC will support early response and recovery efforts of partners in the ACT Alliance and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Initial response activities will likely include material resource provision, emergency shelter items, drinking water and cash for work programs.
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New Authorized Minister Profile Portal!
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Same Purpose. New Path. The United Church of Christ Ministerial Profile is changing! New technology was developed this year to better meet the needs of authorized ministers, conferences and calling bodies. The new profiles portal goes live on January 31, 2014, already winning praise for being responsive, timely, strategic, and user-friendly. If you have an approved profile as of January 31, 2014, (heretofore known as a vintage profile), it will continue to be honored until the criminal background check expires. Anyone with a current criminal background check may choose to incorporate it into a brand new profile instead. All authorized ministers are invited to add information as a searchable "Snapshot" in the profiles portal during the first quarter of 2014. For more information on the new Profile and Snapshot, see: www.ucc.org/ministers/profile.
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New Faith Forming Five Churches!
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 Congratulations to the first three 2013-14 Program Year Faith Forming Five Congregations!
Peace UCC, RochesterFirst UCC, NorthfieldFalcon Heights UCC, Falcon Heights
Here are some of these churches Faith Forming practices
Involving children & youth in worship through...
- children's choirs, youth working with sound, liturgists
At home faith practices include...
- @ home faith magazine, seasonal faith formation activities for families @ home
Intergenerational ministry programs have been...
- Church musical includes all ages, meals with all ages intentionally sitting together sharing stories, 1:1 story sharing across generations
Theological reflection for service & mission happens with...
- TAG (Time Alone w/ God) mission trip journal, end-of-time talk back around senses; where have you seen, felt or heard God
Lay and clergy leadership development have been...
- VRV & CPR trainings for lay & clergy, Fourth Thursday gatherings, ConNext Summit
You too can be a Faith Forming Five Congregation!
Simply download the Implementation Form and share how you are being a Faith Forming Five Congregation.
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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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VRV Webinars!
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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.
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.
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.
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. 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!
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Benefit for Rev. Deborah Celley
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First Congregational UCC invites you to a
Chili Feed!
Benefit for Pastor Deb Celley as she wages
her battle against lymphoma
Sunday, November 17
11:00am - 2:00pm
First Congregational UCC
150 Stadium Court, Mankato, MNJoin us for the chili, stay for the silent auction!
A free will donation will be collected. If you are not able to attend but would still like to donate, please contact the Pastor Deb Celley Benefit at First Congregational UCC, Mankato - 150 Stadium Court, Mankato, MN 56001.
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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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