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Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference
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from Kathy Stutzman, chair, Vitality Team
Vitality Team Annual Report
The Minnesota Conference UCC Vitality Team was authorized in August 2011 and is an off-shoot of the Vitality Initiative Project (VIP) as well as blending of several Conference teams that were re-purposed as Vitality. The purpose of the Vitality Team is to strengthen, inspire and revitalize congregations of the Minnesota Conference UCC. We believe that every church can be a vital church. The duties of the Vitality Team are to:
- Offer resources, trainings and activities for individuals and congregations in the conference;
- Refer individuals and congregations to appropriate resources, trainings and activities for individuals and congregations in the conference;
- Help congregations identify and build on their strengths;
- Help congregations identify and respond to their challenges;
- Encourage congregations to develop and deepen relationships with themselves, with their community and with God.
The Vitality Team has 4 areas of focus:
- Resources
- Trainings and workshops
- Activities and events
- Vitality assessment and development
The Vitality Team supports the "Healthy, Vital Congregations Goal" of Minnesota Conference of the UCC: "There is a welcoming, vibrant United Church of Christ community of faith accessible to all people of Minnesota. We envision a future where:
- Minnesotans' lives are changed and Minnesota communities are transformed by United Church of Christ leaders, communities, and partners.
- The Minnesota Conference is a role model for effectively nurturing new communities of faith into strength and life. Many new people and new populations have the opportunity to connect with the Stillspeaking God through a welcoming and accepting community.
- Across the geography and cultures of Minnesota, leaders are supported and congregations are connected through personalized and visionary ministry that builds a strong united "church of Christ" presence locally and statewide."
In support of that goal the Vitality Team was active in 2013-2014 beginning at last year's annual meeting by:
- Sponsoring and conducting a pre-Annual Meeting Vitality Workshop with Tony Robinson for 60 participants;
- Facilitating and planning a 45 minute plenary during the Annual Meeting on Bold New Practices complete with worksheets for every participant to use and then bring back to their congregations, table discussions and opportunities to share practices on wall boards during the Annual Meeting;
- A workshop on The Congregational Vitality Survey...Identifying and Sharing Best Practices of Vital Congregations during the Annual Meeting for 45 participants;
- Branded the concept of VRV with a new logo and brand mark - VRV stands for Vitality Renewal and Vision;
- Sponsored and provided hospitality for a number of workshops within the MN UCC Conference conducted by the Center for Progressive Renewal;
- Participated in the Fall Leadership Retreat for the Minnesota Conference;
- Planned 3 workshops which the Vitality Team will conduct at this year's Annual Meeting on June 13-14th 2014.
- The Team met 14 times in the 2013-2014 year; once in person and the remainder via conference call. Task forces within the Vitality Team concentrated on each of the areas of focus and met as needed, reporting back to the larger Team regularly, contributing over 525 hours of volunteer time on behalf of vitality for the MN Conference.
- The Chair of the Vitality Team served on the Search Committee for the Associate Conference Minister position currently being filled by Interim ACM Anita Bradshaw.
- This year (2014), during the Annual Meeting, the Vitality Team will be offering a workshop titled Worship Without Walls which will provide participants with opportunities to explore new and vital practices for worship with others;
- A pre-Annual Meeting Event on Friday June 13th from 9:00 - 11:45am titled "Igniting the Flame of Vitality." Join us for a fun interactive and exciting experience as we explore methods of lighting the fire of vitality in your congregation - there will be something for everyone! Participants will leave with tools and resources to bring back and share with others. You can register here.
One of the core values of the Vitality Team is that vitality is more than church growth, it is about going deeper in faith and this year the Vitality Team faced many opportunities to go deeper in faith with each other. Transitions abound, and faith perseveres. Associate Conference Minister Reverend Elena Larssen who was the mastermind behind the VRV branding left for California, Gail Trowbridge, our steady and gifted wordsmith resigned as did our faithful founding member and Secretary Reverend Sharon James Fazel. And despite her valiant efforts to remain a member of the Vitality Team during her illness, Reverend Deb Celley resigned from the team shortly before her passing.
All who left us this year gave so much not only to the Vitality Team, but also all of you in the MN Conference UCC and when you run into them, please be sure to thank them for their service. Deb's gifts to us were so many, and I would like to share one that remains in my heart; toward the end of her struggle, she wrote to tell us that although she could not speak because of her illness, that she wanted to be present with us in our planning, to be present with us in Spirit and she joined her last meetings that way...with us in Spirit. It is easy to imagine that she remains with us in Spirit - thank you Deb.
And to all of the Vitality Team Members who have remained strong during these transitions - thank you. As a new team we already had many transitions to navigate and we will continue to do so, going deeper in faith on behalf of Vitality Renewal and Vision for the Minnesota Conference of the UCC.
Thank you to Nancy Swanson for joining us this year and we look forward to new appointments at the Annual Meeting! The Board of Directors opened 2 new positions on the Vitality Team so we currently have openings for four Team Members - if you are interested, please send an e-mail to the team and we will forward your information to the Nominating Work Group.
For all of you interested in learning more about the Vitality Team and what we are up to we have several special invitations for YOU!
- Hospitality - if you would like to attend a Vitality event as part of the team - you are welcome. We are seeking people who would like to help provide hospitality at any of our events and have several openings for the June 13th Annual Meeting pre-event, the plenary in the afternoon of the 13th of June and at the workshop on Saturday the 14th. Hospitality includes everything from helping participants get registered, helping hand out supplies, setting up the workshop, everything involved in having fun and welcoming others. You do not need to be a member of the Vitality Team to provide hospitality and all are welcome. We will cover the cost of the workshop you are working (although hospitality will not feel like work - promise!) We have limited openings for these volunteer positions and so if you are interested please let us know by writing to VitalityMatters@yahoo.com .We need to know if you are interested for the June 13th event by June 1st - thank you.
- Join us at a meeting of the Vitality Team or participate on a planning committee - you do not need to be a member of the Vitality Team to participate in our meetings - we conduct meetings via conference call and anyone is invited to participate - we have had several people join us this year this way and it was a great benefit for all. Just know that if you join us, we will encourage you to engage, participate and have fun! If you are interested in joining us - write to us at VitalityMatters@Yahoo.com All are welcome!
- Come, engage and experience the work of the Vitality Team at the Annual Meeting and at the pre-meeting Vitality Workshop Igniting the Fire of Vitality (register today!) We look forward to getting to learn about you and help you engage in, explore, and enhance vitality in your congregations, communities and within one another.
Most of the year's work continued to build upon the operational framework for the committee and strategizing methodologies and processes for future action. The Vitality Team has developed a "Vitality Survey" for use by congregations interested in developing and deepening relationships with themselves, with their community and with God/Spirit/Jesus. The "Vitality Survey" will be available at the Vitality Team's workshops during the 2014 Annual Meeting.
The Vitality Team consists of members appointed by the Conference Board of Directors. All members have two year terms and may serve up to three consecutive full terms. Your current Vitality Team members are; Bonnie Buckley, lay member, Linden Hills Congregational UCC
Reverend Eliot Howard, Linden Hills Congregational UCC
Ole Olson, Chaplain, Bethlehem UCC, Maple Lake
Kathy Stutzman, chair, First Congregational UCC, Austin
Reverend Anita Bradshaw, Interim Associate Conference Minister, staff liaison.
The Vitality Team will meet in summer for strategic planning and to further develop methods for supporting the purpose and duties with which we have been charged. We welcome all feedback, comments and input. For more information or to comment and provide feedback about the work of the Vitality Team please feel free to contact the team at VitalityMatters@yahoo.com. We thank you for your support and prayers.
We believe that every church can be a vital church and it is an honor to be working toward that vision in the Minnesota Conference UCC!
On behalf of the Vitality Team,
Kathy Stutzman, chair
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| Joys and Concerns |
1. This past week, several Twin Cities UCC clergy and congregations were featured in the St Paul Pioneer Press for their efforts to curb climate change as the cause is quickly picking up steam among people of faith. Cherokee Park United Church in St Paul was featured for their leading roll, speaking of how the solar panels that blanket the church's roof are a "billboard" for the community. Rev Beth Donaldson, lead minister at the UCC in New Brighton, said, "This is intrinsic to our faith. We are asked to be good stewards of our Creation." While Rev Amy Wick Moore, also from the UCC in New Brighton, spoke about how clergy have a place in politics to make a difference for our communities. Read the full article here.
2. A Service of Farewell for Rev. Jennifer Amy-Dressler will be held Sunday, June 1 at 9:30 am at The Federated Church in Morris (220 S Columbia Ave). Rev. Amy-Dressler has served as interim minister at The Federated Church since 2010.
3. A Service of Farewell will be conducted for Rev. Davis Lindsey Sunday, June 1 at 10:00 am at Lynnhurst Congregational UCC (4501 Colfax Ave S, Minneapolis). Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Rev. Lindsey has been pastor of Lynnhurst Congregational since 2007.
4. Olivet Congregational UCC, as part of its 4-way covenant with member Rev. Grace Anderson, will conduct an installation-in-covenant ceremony as part of the service on June 1 at 10:00 am. Rev. Anderson serves as a chaplain for HealthEast in St. Paul. 5. 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.
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Staff Leave
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Alison Bents is out on leave and will return immediately following the Annual Meeting on June 16, 2014. Her tasks are being covered in-house, so we thank you for your patience as we cover the gaps. Generally, questions should be directed to Marita Karlisch at maritak@uccmn.org. Questions specific to the COMMAntary should be directed to Zac Norenberg at zacn@uccmn.org. |
2014 Annual Meeting - Strangers no more
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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.
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| DON'T MISS OUT! | |
from Rev Howard Bell, Annual Meeting Planning Work Group
27 Outstanding Workshops at the Annual Meeting
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Equip yourselves and your churches for an exciting and vital future by attending a selection (two per attendee) of outstanding workshops being offered at the Annual Meeting this year. Learn from: World Leaders, National UCC staff members, published authors, our Conference Minister and two of our Associate Conference Ministers; our Prophetic Witness Ministry Teams; authorized ministers in our conference and beyond, lay leaders in our conference and beyond, and more! We are publishing the list of workshops today at the conference website so you can plan ahead for your choices.
See the full list of workshops with descriptions
There is a rich diversity of offerings and all of them will offer development of our Annual Meeting theme: Strangers No More. This annual meeting is offering an opportunity to broaden our understanding of, to expand our appreciation for, and to deepen our engagement with the Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ. It will also add to our Faith Formation resources to become better global citizens and will serve as a catalyst for us, as justice-seeking communities of faith, to respond faithfully to a world in need of our care, services and ministries. Hear the "Sill Speaking" voice of God calling us, and our communities, into vital mission in the world!
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| The Great Vitality Rally (Pre-Annual Meeting) |
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!
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| ONA Annual Gathering CANCELLED |
Unfortunately, the Annual Gathering of the Coalition and the ONA movement in Minnesota prior to the Annual Meeting has been cancelled.
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| UCC Young Adult Service Internships! |
Two positions have just opened up in the UCC Young Adult Service Communities! YASC is a national network with host churches located throughout the United States. YOU could be the right person for one of the them.
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Carol Howard Merritt coming to Minnesota
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 Save the Date!
Rev. Carol Howard Merritt
coming to the Minnesota Conference
We are delighted to bring Carol Howard Merritt back to the Minnesota Conference on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Carol is the author of Tribal Church and Reframing Hope, as well as a regular columnist to in the Christian Century. She has pastored churches in Louisiana, Rhode Island and Washington, DC. Developing Vision--When a picture is developed, we employ reactions of light and chemicals, so that a personal vision can become a shared vision. As church leaders in a rapidly changing cultural landscape, we also have personal visions of what the church ought to be. How do we discern and articulate that vision? How to do we share it? During Vitality Day, Carol Howard Merritt will talk about some of the generational shifts, cultural evolutions, and innovative ministries that are taking place. Then, we will work together to envision what might be on the horizon for your church. Rev. Howard Merritt comes to us as part of our work with the Center for Progressive Renewal. Registration details will be available in late May.
CHURCHTRACK - Try it free for six months.
ChurchTrack is an online trend tracking system that helps your church understand its growth dynamics. The system tracks key vitality indicators such as attendance, members, people served, donations, volunteers, events and much more. You can view your church trends in a dynamic dashboard that shows you how your congregation is progressing individually and in comparison to other churches in your area and across the nation.
Here is how it works: Every Wednesday, a leader in your congregation will receive an email with a link. This link takes them to a reporting page on the website. Enter your information, press submit and view your trends. It is that easy.
If you are interested, contact Anita Bradshaw at anitab@uccmn.org or call 612.871.0359 for more information.
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Volunteer at Pilgrim Point in 2014!
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 How do you plan to spend your summer? Does being of service, doing vital volunteer ministry in community with others in a gorgeous outdoor setting sound appealing to you? Our volunteer hospitality ministry makes all the difference to these events at Pilgrim Point and we invite you to fill out the 2014 volunteer application and background check form to become engaged in hands-on work with this vital ministry. You are a blessing to PPC&R, your ministry of hospitality for those who come to camp helps strengthen our community as a camp and as a Conference. Thank you in advance for your work, your time and your heart!
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Oak Meadows at your church!
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 Are you or your congregation interested in having someone come to your church to speak about senior housing? Kim Prayfrock of Oak Meadows, our UCC-affiliated senior living facility located in Oakdale, Minnesota, would love to hear from you! Drop her an email or give her a call at kim@oak-meadows.org or 651-578-0676.
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| Want a discount? |
When you register for events with the Center for Progressive Renewal, use the code MINNROCKS to receive a 10% discount on all online courses (not webinars), coaching, and NCLI 2014.
Visit their website for more information: www.progressiverenewal.org
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Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week
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Northwest Clergy Cluster: Thursday, May 27, 10:00am, First Congregational UCC, Moorhead
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| Register now for Boundary Training |
Living the Sacred Trust:
Boundary and Ethics Training
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.
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| Faith in Minnesota's Future: An Invitation from the Conference Minister |
 On June 28 you have an opportunity to join with many others in the faith community to seek greater justice in the state of Minnesota. On that day ISAIAH (http://isaiahmn.org) will host Binding the Covenant: Faith in Minnesota's Future at the Minneapolis Convention Center, convening a statewide, ecumenical gathering of 1500 people and prominent elected officials in Minnesota. This is a moment when you can join your voice and your efforts with others to seek economic and racial justice for all God's children, working to build a Minnesota where the dignity of each person is respected, where healthy communities and residents are the norm, and where everyone has a pathway to greater opportunity.
1,500 people of faith working together to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God?" That sounds like a pretty phenomenal opportunity to me. I'll be there; I hope you will be too!*
Shari Prestemon, Conference Minister
*Find out more and register at:
http://isaiahmn.org/2014/04/faith-in-minnesotas-future-2/
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Youth Camps at Pilgrim Point
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Strengthen Your Youth Ministry -
Go to Camp Together!
Whether you have one youth in your church or many, attend camp together for an unforgettable ministry and life-changing week! You won't want to miss out on the adventure course, our Lake Ida water slide, (NEW) day of mission experiences, vespers and excellent food. Adult church leaders attend camp with their youth and serve as the camp staff/counselors for the week. This program shift is designed to help get your church youth ministry going into high gear!
Youth Camp Week 1 | July 20-25, 2014
Youth Camp Week 2 | July 27-Aug 1, 2014
Youth cost: $350
Adult Church Leader cost: $100
Find answers to common questions: FAQ for 2014.
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| Webinars: Grant Writing and Appreciative Inquiry |
1. Appreciative Inquiry - June 3 - Noon CDST
Learn about the process of Appreciative Inquiry and its value in congregations, especially in making changes. Mark Lau Branson is a Professor at Fuller Seminary and the author of Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change.
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.
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| Financial Management Training for Clergy |
Financial Management Training for Twin Cities Clergy
June 2-4, 2014 (8:30AM - 12:00 Noon)
United is holding a financial training workshop this summer covering the fundamentals of nonprofit finance, budgeting, and cash flow/reporting. This is the first of several such workshops United is offering over the next couple of years. As the recent recipient of a Lilly Grant intended to help prepare and educate students and clergy in financial management, part of our work includes offering free training for local churches and clergy.
Dates: Monday-Wednesday, June 2-4, 2014
Time: 8:30AM - 12:00 Noon
Location: United Theological Seminary, Strobel Room ( directions)
Cost: FREE
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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. Just click on the title of the event in the calendar to get more details. - Wednesday, June 4: Exploring Spiritual Practices - Chant, Lectio Divina and Examen, St Paul's UCC in St Paul
- Wednesday, June 11: Labyrinths - Peaceful Paths of Prayer, St Paul's UCC in St Paul
- 2nd Sundays, ongoing: Evensong Services with Folk Harp & Dulcimer, St Paul's UCC in St Paul
- 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, ongoing: Transgender Support Group, Peace UCC, Rochester
Want to see your event listed on this calendar? It's simple! Just email Alison at alisonb@uccmn.org. Thank you!
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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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