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. 23

11 June 2014

Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference 

 

It's Annual Meeting time! 

"Strangers No More" | June 13-15, 2014
See you at the College of St. Benedict

We will be live streaming the Annual Meeting!

 

Just hop over to:

http://www.csbsju.edu/libraries/library-staff/library-departments/livestream

 

You will need Adobe Flash Player installed to watch the stream; you can find a schedule of the stream in the right-hand column.

 

Important information:

Here is what will be in ALL packets in hard copy:

  1. Campus map
  2. Rules and Procedures
  3. Glossary of terms
  4. Summary Agenda (schedule)
  5. Nominating slate
  6. Proposed 2015 Budget
  7. Worship Booklet
  8. Workshop schedule
  9. Celebrating God's Goodness booklet 
  10. Evaluation
  11. Skill Bank form

Only available by download or in a reserved supplemental packet:

  1. 2013 Annual Meeting minutes
  2. Resolution to support dismantling racism and creating diversity in the MN Conference
  3. Resolution in support of an end to the DHS/ICE daily detention level mandate
  4. 2014 Annual Reports booklet
PLEASE NOTE: The Conference Office will be closed Monday, June 16th following the Annual Meeting. 

Last minute questions? Contact Marita Karlisch at the Conference Office, [email protected] or 612-871-0359!
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.

 


 News and Information


Joys and Concerns

1. In 2011, the Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Conference UCC passed a resolution supporting the CTUL (Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha) cleaning workers struggle. The Justice and Witness Team of the Conference - along with a number of individuals and congregations - have continued supporting the low wage cleaning workers of CTUL. Though there are supporters in the broader faith community, the Minnesota Conference 2011 Annual Meeting endorsement of the CTUL workers is unique. Now we have a victory to celebrate! Read the full article (including background info, videos, information about the victory and an invitation to a celebration) here.

 

2. Rev. Laurie Crelly has accepted a call to serve St. John's UCC in Brighton, Illinois as their settled pastor beginning June 16th, 2014. She is grateful for the many years of being part of the Minnesota Conference  UCC and her involvement in the conference over the years. She is excited about this new chapter of her life and ministerial calling.

 

3. For years, the Resource Center for Churches (located at 122 W Franklin Ave, Room 2, Minneapolis, MN 55404) has been closed through June and July. This year in June and July they will be open on Tuesdays from Noon-4PM, and by appointment. Read more about this change. 

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]
June Ordination Anniversaries

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. James Parker - June 1954 - 60 years

Rev. James Koch - June 1956

Rev. Truman Stehr - June 1957

Rev. James Dahlgren - June 1958

Rev. Clark Miller - June 1959 - 55 years

Rev. Willard Albertson - June 1960

Rev. Clem Wagstrom - June 1964 - 50 years

Rev. Jerry Barnhart - June 1965

Rev. Marcus Cox - June 1966

Rev. Gary Kasten - June 1966

Rev. Lyle Norris - June 1966

Rev. Gary Stoos - June 1970

Rev. Ruth Beck - June 1970

Rev. Richard Gerber - June 1972

Rev. John Pegg - June 1973

Rev. Allan Vrieze - June 1974 - 40 years

Rev. Helen McEvoy-Freese - June 1980

Rev. Rick Wagner - June 1982

Rev. Dan Batson - June 1984 - 30 years

Rev. Elizabeth Mahan - June 1998

Rev. Daniel Schmeichen - 1 June 1958

Rev. Ruthann Magler - 1 June 1980

Rev. Norma Rae Hunt - 3 June 1984 - 30 years

Rev. Donald Storm - 3 June 1957

Rev. Joanne Williamsen - 3 June 1984

Rev. Tim Berg - 4 June 1978

Rev. David Crum - 4 June 1978

Rev. Ronald Hunt - 5 June 1988

Rev. Kathleen Remund - 5 June 2011

Rev. Charlotte Frantz - 6 June 1975

Rev. Doug Allen - 7 June 1964 - 50 years

Rev. Thomas George - 7 June 1970

Rev. Tim Johnson - 8 June 1980

Rev. Victor Vriesen - 9 June 1953 

Rev. Jerry Hankins - 9 June 1963 

Rev. Keith Tussing - 9 June 1974 - 40 years

Rev. James Pennington - 9 June 1985

Rev. Ray Ahrens - 10 June 1955

Rev. Daniel VanderPloeg - 10 June 1962

Rev. Deb Celley - 10 June 1990

Rev. Marion Pocker - 10 June 1960

Rev. Lanny Kuester 10 June 1979 - 35 years

Rev. Jeff Palmer - 10 June 1984 - 30 years

Rev. Allen Hilton 12 June 2005

Rev. Glen Herrington-Hall - 13 June 1982

Rev. Abigail Henderson - 13 June 2010 

Rev. James Clausen - 14 June 1979 - 35 years

Rev. Bonnie Forsman 15 June 2008 

Rev.Walter Koch - 16 June 1963 

Rev. Richard Waters - 17 June 1973 

Rev. Muriel Hachfeld - 18 June 1978

Rev. Arthur Rouner - 19 June 1954 - 60 years 

Rev. Harold Spann - 19 June 1977

Rev. Kathy Itzin - 19 June 2010

Rev. Douglas Federhart - 19 June 2011

Rev. David Martens - 20 June 1965

Rev. John Longley - 21 June 1953

Rev. David Hottinger - 21 June 2013

Rev. Tom Lammers - 22 June 1969 - 45 years

Rev. John Roschen - 23 June 1963

Rev. Paul Burgess - 23 June 1985

Rev. Jane Millikan - 23 June 1987

Rev. Bob Griggs - 24 June 1973 

Rev. Catherine Duncan - 25 June 2010

Rev. Richard Scheerer - 26 June 1966

Rev. LaDonna Benes - 26 June 1988

Rev. Keith Weber - 28 June 1970

Rev. Shari Mason - 30 June 2002

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:

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. 

 

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. 

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. 
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.

 

View or download the registration form

 

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!

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
There are no clergy clusters in the coming week. 
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.

 

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.
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 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.

Webinar for Grant Writing 

Grant Writing - June 24 at NOON

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. You will have the opportunity in registration to sign-up for already archived webinars. 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
Pre-Annual Meeting Vitality
ONA Gathering Cancelled
Joys and Concerns
Staff Leave
Meet Philippines Guests!
ISAIAHMN
Volunteer at PPC in 2014!
Mission Trip to Back Bay Mission
YASC Internship
Clergy Clusters
Boundary Training - May 2014
Youth Camps at PPC!
Carol Howard Merritt - back in MN!
Webinars
Local Church Events
Employment Opportunities

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