COMMAntary E-Newsletter, Vol. 10, No. 29
July 23, 2014
A message from the Conference Minister

July 23, 2014

 

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ:

 

Grace and peace to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ. I write today to share a pastoral note of collective concern and to lift a prophetic word of hope.

 

Along with so many of you, my heart has been heavy these last few days. So much in our world leaves us shaken and fearful. The violent end for those aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 one week ago serves as a sobering reminder of both the fragility of life and the instability of our world. Events of these last few days in Israel and Palestine likewise frighten and discourage us, as we watch the number of lives lost escalate amid a long and seemingly intractable socio-political situation, in a land that three Abrahamic faiths call holy.

 

And along our nation's southern border yet another complex and devastating reality unfolds, as thousands of children flee from violence, poverty, and desperate futures and cross into the United States seeking safety and opportunity.  

 

The Council of Conference Ministers and the Collegium of Officers of the United Church of Christ, have jointly penned a pastoral letter addressing the plight of these refugee children from our neighboring countries to the South. We do so out of an abundance of faith... a faith that calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves and a faith that compels us to seek justice in all circumstances. I commend the letter - and its call to action - to you.

 

When it comes to such complex matters as Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine, or Central American refugee children, there are always multiple and sometimes conflicting viewpoints, in our halls of Congress and in our church pews. But on this one thing we must agree: God calls each of us - each individual, each congregation, each nation and government - to a better way of living and being in the world............a way of peace characterized by justice, a way of love that is bold and compassionate. May God grant each of us the wisdom and will to seek that way forward.

 

Follow this link to the pastoral letter from the United Church of Christ Collegium of Officers and the Council of Conference Ministers.


Blessings and Peace,

Reverend Shari Prestemon, Conference Minister
________________________________________

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Make a secure online donation noting "Unaccompanied Child Refugees" in the comments section. Gifts may also be made at your local UCC congregation noting support for "Unaccompanied Child Refugees." Gifts should then be sent through your Conference Office on to Wider Church Ministries/Justice and Witness Ministries. Donations may also be made out and sent directly to Justice and Witness Ministries/Wider Church Ministries, Financial Services - 6th Floor, 700 Prospect Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115. Click here to donate.
Mission Bite:
Committee on Ministry Retreat Recap
The Committee on Ministry held its annual retreat at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo, Minnesota on July 17 and 18. The theme for the retreat was "Strangers No More, Making Connections and Being in Covenant." The featured speaker at this year's retreat was Rev. Kathryn Clark, from the UCC headquarters in Cleveland. Rev. Clark is the Minister for Members in Discernment for the Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization Ministry Team (otherwise known as MESA).

Notices
  • Save the Date! On Saturday, September 20, Pilgrim Congregational UCC in Duluth will host the very first Church on the Move event! Registration and details will be announced soon - stay tuned. You don't want to miss this!
     
  • The September 30th "Living the Sacred Trust: Boundary and Ethics Training" is now full. Future Boundary Training dates will be announced when they have been scheduled. Questions? Contact Marita Karlisch: [email protected] or 612-871-0359.  
     
  • We have a new website! If you haven't stopped by lately, hop on over to www.uccmn.org to take a look around our brand new site! 
     
  • There are no clergy clusters in the coming week.
They're All Our Children: A Faithful Response to Unaccompanied Children
The Border-Children-Refugee Crisis: Can You Help? 
With funding from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), the Minnesota Community Support Initiative (CSI) works to provide a variety of legal and social services to immigrants in detention and removal (deportation) proceedings. Its Minnesota partners in this effort include Conversations With Friends - ending isolation by visiting and supporting detained immigrants (CWF), whose lead is UCC pastor, Rev. John Guttermann. Click here to keep reading

Resources from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition 
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) is one of the national interfaith organizations leading on an interfaith response to the child refugee crisis at our southern border. IIC is supported by the UCC. Click here to view resources.

Urgent: Call the Senate and House Today!

Demand that Congress REJECT Rollbacks to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Proposals to "deport children more quickly" would return unaccompanied children to exploitation, trafficking and unsafe situations. To read more and find out how you can help, click here.

 

Children Fleeing Violence: They're Knocking On Our Door 
It's in the news - children fleeing violence in Central America. Meet these children. Learn about their journey; show Which Way Home in your congregation and/or community. Which Way Home shows the personal side of immigration through the eyes and stories of children. These are stories of hope and courage, disappointment and sorrow. To set up a free screening, contact Rev. John Guttermann, 651-485-3104 or [email protected]
Upcoming Events
Employment Opportunities
Check out the employment opportunities portion of the Minnesota Conference website. Click here to see the listings.

In This Issue
Quick Links
New Conference Website!
Have you visited the Conference website lately? Now's the time to hop on over to check out the brand new site! Visit us at www.uccmn.org.
Take Action
Get involved in the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ!

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The Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ (UCC) is the state-wide organization that equips UCC pastors to lead, supports congregations, engages in transformative mission and witness, and guides youth and adults on their faith journeys. Get involved.