|
Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference
|
From Rev. Jeanne Bringgold-Pro, chair, OCWM Subcommittee
The Christmas Fund
Grace to you and peace in the name of our Savior, the Light of the World!
As we enter Advent and the season of light, our thoughts naturally focus on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was God made flesh, who lived and worked on earth to alleviate suffering and oppression.
As Christians, we seek to follow the way of Jesus. One way for us to become good disciples is to generously support the Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund. In this way, we help to share the love of Christ with those faithful servants of the church who have selflessly worked for the UCC and who now face uncertain financial futures.
This special offering, collected during Advent, is a special mission offering of the UCC. It provides direct financial assistance to individual UCC clergy and lay church employees - these funds are not used to fund institutions. This offering directly helps PEOPLE. Last year's offering totaled $1,465,437.55 and our goal for this year is $1,700,000. This is eminently possible and to the recipients of this assistance, it can mean so much.
Thank you for your generous support of this vital offering. May the love and light of this season fill your souls with joy!
In Christ,
Reverend Jeanne Bringgold-Pro
Chair, OCWM Subcommittee
|
Joys and Concerns
|
1. The benefit for Rev. Deb Celley, held on November 17 at First Congregational UCC in Mankato was very successful. Without the Modern Woodman match of $2,500, donations exceeded $16,500.00. The congregation and community were very forth coming with their concern for Pastor Deb and her family and their generosity was overwhelming. We served over 230 people during the benefit and the silent auction was also a big draw. Everything went with several bidding wars taking place. Pastor Deb was able to attend for most of the event. I know she will enjoy reading the cards and notes of support from people throughout the state. Many thanks to all who supported this benefit and Rev. Celley! 2. An Ecclesiastical Council for Karl Jones, who is seeking ordination, will be held on Thursday, December 5 at 11:30am at Plymouth Congregational Church (1900 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis). To ensure a quorum for the council, please RSVP directly to the church - LaVonne Leih at lavonnel@plymouth.org or 612-977-1762. Anyone who wishes to have lunch following the Ecclesiastical Council is requested to so indicate with the RSVP. 3. An Ecclesiastical Council for Adam Westrich, who is seeking ordination, will be held on Tuesday, December 10 at 11:00am at Cottage Grove UCC (7708 Lamar Ave S, Cottage Grove) with lunch to follow. To ensure a quorum for the council, please RSVP to the church at 651-459-1501 or office@cgucc.org and also indicate wheter you will stay for lunch. 4. The Conference Office has learned of the death this morning of Rev. Rod Slessor, pastor of Community UCC in Biwabik, where he served since 2010. Rev. Slessor previously served St. Paul's UCC in Welcome and First Congregational UCC in Sherburn, the yoked congregations of St. John's UCC in Norwood Young America and Zoar UCC in Chaska, and at Falcon Heights UCC in Falcon Heights, as well as churches in Iowa and Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and two children. Services are pending. |
Clergy Housing Allowance Receiving
Legal Scrutiny
|
A federal court in Wisconsin issued a ruling last week that declared the law that allows ministers to receive a tax-exempt housing allowance to be unconstitutional. The ruling will not go into effect unless the decision is upheld during the appeals process, a process which is likely to take months. The UCC's Office of General Counsel issued this press release with further information: Click here to read on.
|
Give to the Max Day Success: Thank You!
|
Give to the Max Day Success: Thank You!
 Thank you so much for giving to the max last week. Donors like you gave $4,975 on Give to the Max Day, the day when Minnesotans come together to raise as much money as possible for nonprofits in 24 hours.
Plus, we won our Board of Directors' matching gift of $1,200, bringing the Conference's Give to the Max Day total up to $6,175!
Those donations will support our essential 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.
Thank you for making all of that and more possible by giving to the max!
|
5 for 5 Deadline set for 2013 Contributions
|
Five for Five 2013
deadline set for Wednesday, January 15
Checks with gifts for UCC Basic Support (Our Church's Wider Mission), One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, and the Christmas Fund will need to be received at the Conference Office by Wednesday, January 15 to be counted toward your 2013 Five for Five tally. Offerings we receive after Wednesday, January 15 will be credited, with gratitude, to your 2014 giving. Please help us with your understanding and your support, and by meeting this deadline for 2012 Five Funds gifts. If you have questions, please contact the Business Office at business@uccmn.org. Pastors and Moderators: please make sure this information gets passed on to your church treasurer.
|
New Authorized Minister Profile Portal!
| |
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.
|
Habitat for Humanity Trips Coming Up!
| |
 This will be the 25th year Minnesota Conference UCC members and friends will travel to Coahoma County Mississippi, to help build houses for those most in need. Coahoma County is one of the poorest counties in the USA and Jonestown Mississippi is one of the poorest towns in Coahoma County. We will be working on three houses this year: finishing and dedicating one house, continuing the work on a second and starting with a cement slab and framing a third house. We can use volunteers of any age or skill, as there will be plenty of work for all. We hope to have 20 volunteers helping each week. Questions? Contact Bob Peterson at rpeter446@aol.com. An application and more information is available here. We look forward to having you join us!
|
Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week
| |
Southeast Cluster: Tuesday, December 3, 11:30am
Peace UCC, Rochester
Twin Cities East Cluster: Wednesday, December 4, 12:00pm
Community UCC, St. Paul Park
Northeast Cluster: Thursday, December 5, 11:30am
First Congregational UCC, Brainerd
|
Upcoming VRV Workshop: INSPIRING LEADERS
|
Mark Your Calendars
VRV Workshop - February 5, 2014
INSPIRING LEADERS
Developing Effective Congregational Leadership
Facilitator: Rev. Glenna T. Shepherd,
Center for Progressive Renewal
 Congregations will see increased commitment and vitality when we recruit leaders who can inspire others to be passionately involved in the ministries of the church.
But we often think that we must find someone - anyone - to fill established roles in the structure of the congregation. What if we change our approach and tap into the interests, skills, and passions of our people, if we instead listen deeply to the lives of the congregation and look for leadership qualities?
In this practical workshop that includes underpinning goals of faith formation and service to communities, we'll consider strategies for recruiting, training, nurturing, and developing ministry leaders.
INSPIRING LEADERS will focus on:
- Connecting ministries to the life of the whole church
- Building adaptive leaders
- Using imagination to build ministries
- Equipping leaders with the resources they need
- Inspiring vision and moving to action
We will also consider basic, but pivotal issues about qualities to look for in ministry leaders, about leadership and vision, and about building systems of communication using a variety of media. More details to follow, but mark your calendars now!
|
National Church Leadership Institute
|
National Church Leadership Institute
August 2014 is closer than you think! Mark your calendars for August 7-10, 2014 for the National Church Leadership Institute 2014. The theme is Finding Our Way Again and the primary speaker all four days is Brian McLaren. It promises to be a great time and members of the Minnesota Conference can get a discount on registration. Up to 10 leaders can receive a 10% discount on registration and groups of 3 or more from the same church will receive a 25% discount on registration. Watch this space for more details as they become available.
|
No More Silence
|
No More Silence:
A Call for Remembrance and Resolve
As mothers, we believe that there has been too much silence in this country about gun violence. On December 14, we will honor the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary, as well as the thousands of Americans lost to gun violence, with a moment of No More Silence. We will gather for a short program culminating in a bell-ringing, both to remember the victims and show our resolve to continue speaking out until meaningful action is taken to make our country safer.
TIME: 9:30 AM Central Time
DATE: Saturday, December 14, 2013
LOCATION: Westminster Presbyterian, 1200 Marquette Ave, Mpls.
We encourage you to bring a bell from home so that you can participate in the bell-ringing.
Note: This is a simple and solemn event; not a political rally. Please refrain from bringing signs, buttons or other items of a partisan or political nature. Please feel free to contact Rev. John Guttermann with any questions: intpasj@mac.com.
Sponsored by the Protect MN Coalition of which the Minnesota Conference UCC Justice and Witness Team is a partner.
|
Faith Action Vigil
|
Faith Action Vigil
Faith Action Vigil #51 Sunday, December 1, 2013
"Moving Toward Hope"
The quest for immigration reform shall continue
Dignity not Detention
December Host:
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA), Minneapolis. For more information, www.htlcmpls.org or 612-729-8358.
Sponsored by Interfaith Coalition on Immigration (ICOM)
Faith Action Vigil 2:30 - 3:00 PM At
Ramsey County Adult Detention Center
425 Grove Street, St. Paul MN
Information: Interfaith Coalition on Immigration
interfaithcoalitionimmigration@gmail.com
Faith Action Vigils are the First Sunday of Every Month,
Rain, Snow, Cold, or Shine.
|
Christmas Open House
|
Make sure to stop by the Conference Office on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, 11:00am - 2:00pm
for our annual Christmas Open House!
We'll have treats, punch, coffee and all sorts of merry to get you in the holiday spirit. Hope to see you there!
122 W. Franklin Ave. #323, Minneapolis, MN
|
|
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.
- Wednesday, November 27: All Our Relations: An Ecumenical Service of Remembrance, Lament and Communion, First Congregational Church of MN, UCC, Minneapolis
- Sunday, December 1: Evensong Service with Harp & Dulcimer, St. Paul's UCC, St. Paul
- Wednesday, December 4: Fare for All Express, Hazel Park UCC, St. Paul
- Wednesday, December 11: Noel at Noon, Parkway UCC, Minneapolis
- Sunday, December 15: German Christmas Service, St. Paul's UCC, St. Paul
- Sunday, December 15: Chorus Polaris Holiday Concert, 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.
|
|
|
|
