COMMAntary: e-newsletter of the
Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ
  

brought to you by generous contributions
to Our Church's Wider Mission

Vol. 10, No. 22

4 June 2014

Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference 

from Jessica Allen, chair, Global Partnership Team


Global Partnership Team Annual Report 

As I write this, the most important event of the year for Global Partnerships is in full swing: the delegation from our sister conference in the Philippines just arrived yesterday! They'll be with us for three weeks and we're all chomping at the bit to show them Minnesota and our work here, and to learn more about their home conference in the Philippines.

Pictured (left to right): Rev. Barb Martin, Rev. Dr. Anita Bradshaw, Rev. Shari Prestemon, Jessica Allen, Thom Haines, Nazel Corro Navarra, Bishop Modesto Villasanta, Rev. Jesse Pagalan

One purpose of the Global Partnerships Team is to nurture and strengthen the Minnesota Conference's relationship with our partner conference is the Southeast Mindanao Jurisdiction (SEMJur) of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, located on the large southern island of Mindanao. We do this through person-to-person contacts, travel to each other's jurisdictions, the sharing of liturgies, and mutual support for each other's issues and concerns. Global Partnership also maintains the Minnesota Conference's relationship with Don and MaryJane Westra, our missionaries in Honduras.

 

Over the past few years, a number of MN Conference members, plus United Theological Seminary students, have traveled to SEMJur and other parts of the country under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Eleazar Fernandez, professor at UTS. One member and one good friend of our committee, Rev. Kathy Nelson and Tom Liddle of Peace UCC in Duluth, went on such a trip last summer and brought home a detailed and photo-rich report to us in September 2013.

 

In October, we received an update from MaryJane and Don Westra, who were settling well into their new mission assignment into Honduras, where they had recently relocated when the Zimbabwe government failed to renew their work visas. They are working with youth at risk through programs in craft skills, computer skills, welding, and other trades, as well as helping to develop a farm with coffee planting and raising chickens.

 

In November and December, we focused on typhoon relief to the Philippines, in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Yolanda. At least $19,000 dollars were raised, most of them funneled through the Global Ministries Board directly to the areas in greatest need.

 

In January, we began planning in earnest to invite a delegation from Mindanao. The invitation went out, and we began doing everything we could to help them obtain entry visas into the U.S. (Note: Americans are used to being able to travel nearly anywhere they like in the world.  But entry by foreigners into the United States, even on temporary tourist visas, can be excruciating, requiring expensive application fees, long wait times to get an interview, and seemingly capricious U.S. embassy interviewers). Fortunately, all three of our guests were given visas.

 

The delegation, which includes Bishop Modesto Villasanta, the Rev. Jesse Pagalan, and Ms. Hazel Corro Navarra, have a full schedule of activities both in the Twin Cities and in several non-Metro communities, including attending Annual Meeting, visiting churches, meeting with ecumenical and interfaith groups, attending cultural events, touring a mine near Duluth, and engaging in dialogue with Minnesota Conference members and with other representatives of Minnesota's civil society. It is the Global Partnerships team's profound hope that other members of the Minnesota Conference, besides ourselves, will be engaged and enriched by this visit from our friends.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Global Partnerships Team, 

Jessica Allena, chair - Plymouth Congregational Church, Mpls

 

Current members of the Global Partnership Team:

Rev. Kathy Nelson - Peace UCC, Duluth

Rev. Glen Herrington-Hall, St Paul 

Rev. Barb Martin, First Congregational UCC, Cannon Falls

...and the incomparable Rev. Dr. Anita Bradshaw, our staff liaison

 

Active, contributing friends without whom our work would not be done nearly as well: 

Tom Liddle - Peace UCC, Duluth

Thom Haines, Mayflower Congregational UCC, Mpls

Josephine Fernandez, Mayflower Congregational UCC, Mpls

Clare Gromoll, United Theological Seminary 

Rev. Emily Goldthwaite Fries, Mayflower Congregational UCC, Mpls

Philippines Delegation

Interested in meeting our guests 

from the Philippines?

 

There are several events where you can meet and hear from the delegation from the Philippines!

 

Take advantage of one of these possibilities:

Thursday, June 5 at 7PM
Join our guests at Mayflower Community UCC for a showing of the film Dakota 38 and a discussion afterward. More information here.
Sunday, June 8 at 10AM
Bishop Modesto Villasanta preaching at Mayflower Community UCC, followed by lunch and a discussion with our partners. More information here.
June 13-15
Our guests will be at Annual Meeting and there will be lots of opportunities to greet them, get acquainted and hear from them.
Monday, June 16 at 7PM
Join our guests at First Congregational UCC in Mankato for a discussion.
Sunday, June 22 at 10AM
Rev. Jesse Pagalan will be preaching at First Congregational UCC in Cannon Falls. Join him and other guests for worship and greeting after the service. 

 


 News and Information


Joys and Concerns

1. Robbinsdale UCC will celebrate its 125th anniversary on Sunday, June 8th at 10:00 a.m. A picnic potluck will follow. Local dignitaries and other honored guests are expected to attend. The church is located at 4200 Lake Ave in Robbinsdale. 

 

2. On Sunday, June 8th Chapel Hills UCC (6512 Vernon Ave S, Edina) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Doug Allen. Doug will lead worship at 10:15 a.m. A reception in Doug's honor will follow the service.

 

3. Rev. Beth Benson will be installed as pastor of First Congregational Church in Grand Marais on Sunday, June 8 at 10:30am. Lunch will follow. Anyone in the area is invited to attend. The church is located at 300 W. 2nd Street in Grand Marais. 

 

4. A memorial service for Rev. Dr. Wayne B Robinson will be held Sunday, June 8th at 2 p.m. at Robbinsdale UCC. Rev. Robinson, who served as Pastor of Robbinsdale UCC from 1974 until 1990, died in California in April. 

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 more than 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/

_______________________________________________________

 

Catch a Bus for Justice!

 

A bus will leave at 12:15PM from Mayflower UCC on June 28th to transport people to the Convention Center and you are invited to join some 70 people from Mayflower in this ISAIAH-organized event. Mayflower is inviting folks from other congregations to join them and has reserved a seat on their bus for you!  Contact Dan Quillin ([email protected] or 651.357.4538). Mayflower is located at 106 East Diamond Lake Rd., Minneapolis.

 

For those in SE Minnesota interested in attending the Isaiah event, First UCC in Northfield is sponsoring a bus and invites you to join! The bus will depart from the church parking lot at 11:45AM and will return around 5:30PM. To reserve a spot on the bus, sign up at this link. First UCC is located at 300 Union St in Northfield. 

Staff Leave
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 [email protected]Questions specific to the COMMAntary should be directed to Zac Norenberg at [email protected]
2014 Annual Meeting - Strangers No More

The 2014 Annual Meeting is almost here!

June 13-15, 2014  

Important information:

  • Take a look at the Call to the Meeting materials that were sent out at the beginning of March - just click here.
  • The Annual Meeting summary agenda and the full list of workshops are now available. 
  • 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: 

  • 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 
PLEASE NOTE: The Conference Office will be closed Monday, June 16th following the Annual Meeting. 

Questions? Contact Marita Karlisch at the Conference Office, [email protected] or 612-871-0359.

Annual Meeting Workshops

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!

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!

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.

 

Mission Trip to Back Bay Mission

 

Minnesota Conference UCC Mission Trip to

Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi

January 25-31, 2015

 

We are now accepting registrations for volunteers to who want to travel to Biloxi, MS during the last week in January 2015 to do work with Back Bay Mission. What a great opportunity to do valuable mission work AND miss a bit of the Minnesota winter.

 

Here are the details:

Who: Open to everyone age 14 and older. 20 spaces are available. 
 
What: Back Bay Mission provides a variety of services to the community. We will be working on projects connected with construction, either building new or rehabbing. Skills are not necessary, but a willingness to learn and help others is key!

 

Accommodations: We will be staying in dorm-style rooms and will prepare all of our own meals. Everyone will be asked to pitch in with meal prep and/or cleanup.

 

Leaders: Bob and Barb Peterson; for 25 years they have led groups of volunteers from Minnesota UCC churches to Coahoma County, Mississippi to help build houses through Habitat for Humanity. They will continue that mission next year, as well as this mission to Back Bay.

 

Cost: Each person will be responsible for raising the following amounts of money for their share of the trip. It is hoped that churches and others will help cover the costs:
  1. $75 for housing per person
  2. $50 Back Bay materials fee per person
  3. $50 per person for food, paper products, washing detergents, and gas to travel to the various work sites while at Back Bay (This assumes that members will bring snacks/cookies/bars to share at break times and after our meals).
  4. In addition, each person will need to pay for their travel cost to Biloxi, which can include airfare, hotel, food and gas expense for those who drive. Help will be given to participants looking to make car pool arrangements. Estimated cost for participants who drive down and back (including one stop each way at a hotel) is about $250, assuming 4 people per car. Estimate for round trip flight: $625.
  5. Optional: $20 for a Minnesota UCC Conference Mission Trip Sweatshirt.
  6. Additional Mission Goal: To raise $10,000 for Back Bay Mission. It is hoped that the Churches in the Conference will support this mission project of the conference with additional gifts to Back Bay Mission.

If you have questions, contact Bob Peterson at [email protected] or call 715-549-6798.

 

Stop by the Back Bay Mission Booth at the annual meeting to pick up additional information and registration forms!

Volunteer at Pilgrim Point in 2014!

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!   

 

Read Camp Co-Director Gigi's full message to volunteers

Please contact Gigi ([email protected]) with any questions about volunteering. 
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.

 

 

YASC at First Parish Church United of Westford, MA (position with the Wish Project or Minute Man ARC)

 

YASC at Old First Reformed UCC, Philadelphia, PA (position with P.O.W.E.R. or Broad Street Ministry)

 

To apply, begin here: www.ucc.org/volunteer/yasc

Rolling deadline; ages 21-35 years old only. 

 

Serve September 2, 2014 - August 2, 2015

-Intentional Community

-Community Service-Justice Advocacy

-Congregational Service

-Faith Conversations


~Housing, health insurance and living stipend provided~

Questions: Please contact Rev. Mary Schaller Blaufuss, Executive, UCC Volunteer Ministries at [email protected] or Diane Dicken at [email protected] 216-736-2810

 Upcoming Events


Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week
Southwest Clergy Cluster: Thursday, June 5, 6pm, Yu's Chinese, Mankato

Carol Howard Merritt coming to Minnesota
 
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.

 

Registration is now OPEN!

 

Time: Registration at 8:30AM; Workshop from 9AM-3PM

Place: Wayzata Community Church, UCC (directions

Registration: $35/person (includes workshop, materials, lunch)

 

Feel free to contact Anita Bradshaw, Interim Associate Conference Minister, or call 612.871.0359 for more information.

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.

 

Summer Institute in Spirituality and the Arts
 
Summer Institute in Spirituality and the Arts
June 10-13, 2014
Full or half days (morning and/or afternoon sessions)
CEUs available

The Summer Institute, presented by United's Center for Arts, Faith & Culture, provides a 4-day retreat that explores the intersection of art and religion. Participate in one-of-four or two-of-four 4-day workshops designed to promote spiritual growth and reflection and to reveal new ways of engaging the arts in your vocation, place or worship or community.  Talented artists guide participants through building a diverse musical repertoire, dance and movement, community building and telling stories. Sharpen leadership skills, critical thinking capacity, and unleash your imagination!

  • Emily Jarrett Hughes, director of Wisdom Dances, uses dance to awaken the creativity of people of all ages in "Moving with the Spirit"
  • Tom Witt, United music coordinator, is part of the acclaimed musical ensemble Bread for Journey. "How Can We Sing a New Song?" is designed to achieve transformative worship
  • Nicole M. Smith is a community-based artist of many talents who seeks to integrate leadership, the arts, social change and justice in "Building Community: Using Theatre to Bridge, Breathe and BE"
  • Lynette La Rue works with In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, where she recently stage managed the popular MayDay Parade & Festival. "Visual Proclamation: Telling Sacred Stories" uses techniques to create puppets that can be used in ministry settings 

Learn about instructors and their classes and register at: www.unitedseminary.edu/initiatives/center-arts-faith-culture/summer-institute 

 

Questions? Contact Renee Flesner or call 651.255.6138.

Youth Camps at Pilgrim Point
Strengthen Your Youth Ministry -  
Go to Camp Together!
 
Last Day to Register: July 2, 2014
 
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

Download the required health form: YOUTH | ADULT

Want to participate in the challenge course? You'll need to submit a Challenge Course Waiver and Transportation Release.

Find answers to common questions: FAQ for 2014.

If you have questions, please contact the PPC&R Registrar,
Zac Norenberg at [email protected] or 612-871-0359.
Webinar: Grant Writing 

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!

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.


 Local Church Events


Local Church Events
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.

Want to see your event listed on this calendar? It's simple! Just email Alison at [email protected]. Thank you


 Classifieds

Employment Opportunities
Check out the Employment Opportunities portion of the Minnesota Conference website. Click here to see the listings.

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In This Issue
Mission Bite
Meet Philippines Guests!
Joys and Concerns
ISAIAHMN
Staff Leave
2014 Annual Meeting
Annual Meeting Workshops
Pre-Annual Meeting Vitality
ONA Gathering Cancelled
Mission Trip to Back Bay Mission
Volunteer at PPC in 2014!
YASC Internship
Clergy Clusters
Carol Howard Merritt - back in MN!
Boundary Training - May 2014
UTS Event
Youth Camps at PPC!
Webinars
Local Church Events
Employment Opportunities

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Right now: The United Church of Christ - continuing to be a bold public Christian voice for  justice, peace and inclusion of all people. 

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UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns 

 

Right now: Are you a future ONA Church? 

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Right now: Jon Barnes was recently appointed as Mission Interpretation Executive in Indianapolis. 

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Congregational Vitality 

 

Right now: Remember and pray for our brothers and sisters in the Philippines. 

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Council for Health and Human Services Ministries 

 


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