1. Rev. Dr. Kent Meyer, pastor of Zion UCC in Le Sueur, was recently featured in the Le Sueur News-Herald. See the full article here. 

2. Two Minnesota Conference Military Chaplains, Chaplain

Beth (left) & Tara (right)

(Commander) Beth Stallinga and Chaplain (Captain) Tara Bauer, joined 30 other UCC and UU Military Chaplains in a joint training on April 22-26 in New Mexico. The event focused on "moral injury" and Rev. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, founding co-director of Brite Divinity School's Soul Repair Center, was the keynote speaker. 

3. Once a week in May, First United Church of Christ in Northfield is expanding the lunchtime choices available to city residents by inviting food trucks to their parking lot. Read the full article.

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. Paul Bauch - May 1987
Rev. Henry Hendricks - May 1991
Rev. Jeanine Dorfman - May 2002
Rev. Deris Rice - May 2006
Rev. Garth Schumacher - 01 May 2003
Rev. Arthur Merrill - 02 May 1954
Rev. Sara Lund - 03 May 1981
Rev. Wendy Ward - 03 May 1987
Rev. Brooke Fisher - 04 May 1986
Rev. Don Britt - 07 May 1972
Rev. Shuji Moriichi - 08 May 2010
Rev. Désirée Gold - 09 May 2003
Rev. Carol Joyce - 10 May 1975
Rev. Beth Stallinga - 10 May 1998
Rev. Philip Ramstad - 15 May 1953
Rev. Rosanna Walker - 15 May 1983
Rev. Jeanne Bringgold-Pro - 15 May 2011
Rev. George Coy - 16 May 1962
Rev. T. Michael Rock - 18 May 1996
Rev. David Badgley - 19 May 1985
Rev. Robert Broeder - 27 May 1973
Rev. Howard Tobak - 27 May 1990
Rev. David Hohmann - 28 May 1972
Rev. Diane Stelter - 28 May 1980
Rev. Cindy Mueller - 31 May 1987

Our best wishes for continued and flourishing ministry to all celebrating their ordination anniversaries in May! 

The 2014 Annual Meeting is coming up!

You won't want to miss it - June 13-15, 2014 

Registration is now open.

Important information:

• Take a look at the Call to the Meeting materials that were sent out at the beginning of March - just click here.

• Does your church have 100 members or fewer? If so, the first registrant from your church qualifies for a Small Membership Church discount! Just use this form to register the first person from your church.

Three items that will be up for vote at the Annual Meeting have been sent out and are now posted. Click here for the 2014 packet materials. As items are ready, they will be added to the gallery. 

The gallery currently includes:

• 2014 Resolution in support of an end to the DHS/ICE daily detention level mandate
• 2014 Resolution to support dismantling racism and creating diversity in the MN Conference
• Proposed change for the 2015 compensation guidelines 

Questions? Contact Alison Bents in the Conference Office at alisonb@uccmn.org or 612-871-0359.

Catch Fire: The Great Vitality Rally

June 13, 2014 - 9am to 11:45am

College of St Benedict, Alumnae Hall, St Joseph, MN 

An annual gathering on vitality before the Annual Meeting, Catch Fire will be an interactive, energetic morning of a panel of experts from within our own Conference speaking on what they have learned about revitalizing congregations and you sharing what you have learned.  The morning will feature idea exchanges, networking, making new friends, and creating sustainable vitality for your congregation. 

Register Now!

Registration is $25 per team member and includes the workshop, a continental breakfast, materials, and a vitality goodie bag. For every four team members that attend from your church, the fifth team member can join for free!

Unfortunately, the Annual Gathering of the Coalition and the ONA movement in Minnesota prior to the Annual Meeting has been cancelled.

2. Grant Writing - June 24 - Noon CDST 

Learn strategies for finding and obtaining grant funding for various projects your congregation wants to engage in to provide stronger ministry.  Cameron Trimble is the Executive Director of the Center for Progressive Renewal.

Register Here!

Each webinar is $9.99

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.

Who: Clergy and Lay Leaders

When: Tuesday, September 30 

Where: UCC New Brighton (1000 Long Lake Rd, New Brighton)

Register: Registration is open! Space is limited. To register, click on link and event listed as "Living the Sacred Trust." Choose "other" for district and church. 

Download the flyer for more information.