At our June 2013 Annual Meeting, delegates approved a resolution urging divestment from fossil fuels. The resolution, out of respect for the integrity of God's Creation, called for the Conference to divest from fossil fuel companies over a 5 year period and to immediately abstain from making any new investments in fossil fuels. Since that time, the Board of Directors and Finance Committee have been seeking ways to best fulfill this commitment.

We are delighted to share that last month we signaled to United Church Funds, where the majority of our investments are held, that the Minnesota Conference UCC would be a founding investor in their newly announced Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund. This move will allow us to begin 'making good' on our prophetic commitment to fossil fuel divestment and to advance that same commitment within the wider United Church of Christ. We wanted you to hear the news! Check out this link to learn more about this new fund and our Conference's participation... and to hear one of our own congregations, Mayflower UCC (Minneapolis) reflect on the possibility.

You don't want to miss:

• Exciting worship designed by Art Clyde, editor of the New Century Hymnal;
• A keynote on Common Denominators of Thriving Churches from Rev. Rick Wagner;
• ...and best practices "speed-dating!"

Where: Pilgrim Congregational UCC, 2310 E 4th St, Duluth, MN
When: Saturday, September 20,  

9:30am Registration, 10:00am-3:00pm Program
Who: Lay leaders, authorized clergy, ministry teams
Cost: $20/person; includes lunch and materials

Register Now!  

Registration deadline: September 15 

When: September 25, 1:00pm - September 26, 3:00pm
Who: Lay leaders, authorized clergy, congregational staff, seminary students 

Register Now! 

Get yours in by September 12! 

 Need more information? Click here.

• We are pleased to welcome Annalese Wright to the staff of the Minnesota Conference UCC! Lese began her work as our new Development Officer on Tuesday, September 2 and she will be working twenty hours per week for the Minnesota Conference. We are excited to have her on the team - welcome, Lese!
   
• Rev. Donald Hadfield, a retired minister in the Minnesota Conference UCC and long-time member of Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis, died on August 25th. During his ministry career, Rev. Hadfield served Gaylord UCC from 1956-1963 and Clark Memorial UCC in South St. Paul from 1963-1967. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 6, 11:00am at Mayflower UCC (106 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis). Our prayers and sympathies are with Rev. Hadfield's wife, Martine and his family. A full obituary is available here.
   
• Rev. Arianna Arends will be installed as Pastor of St. Paul's UCC/ELCA in Lewiston on Sunday, September 7th at 10:15am. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Lunch will follow the service of installation. The church is located at 100 N Fremont St in Lewiston. Rev. Arends was serving a new church in American Canyon, California before accepting the call to serve St. Paul's.
   
• Rev. Dr. Peter Bagley, retired minister of United Protestant Church of Morgan Park, Duluth, will be installed as Pastor Emeritus of the church on Sunday, September 14, 10:30am. Rev. Dr. Bagley, who retired in 2012, served the church for 10 years. A reception will follow the service. The church is located at 830 88th Ave W, Duluth.
   
• Rev. Dr. Dana Mann will be installed as Pastor of First Congregational UCC in Mankato on Sunday, September 14, 4:00pm. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Rev. Dr. Mann has served First Congregational since February 2013. The church is located at 150 Stadium Court, Mankato.
   
• St. Paul's United Church of Christ, St. Paul, deepened its commitment this week to being an Earthwise congregation by bringing a 39.6 KW solar array on line. The $216,000 project involved no upfront cost to the congregation. Click here to read more.

• To churches who have international relationships with overseas churches: A request
  World Communion Sunday is fast approaching and will take place the first Sunday of October. Global Ministries, a common witness of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) receives many requests from US churches for materials and resources to share in worship throughout the year. But by far, the most requested time is just prior to World Communion Sunday, this year on October 5. Click here to keep reading.
   
• Minneapolis Fund Grants are available from the Minnesota Conference! The deadline to apply for a grant to have a ministry intern at your church for the 2015-16 program year is fast approaching! Click for more information.
   
• Clergy Clusters in the coming week:
• Northern Cluster: Tuesday, Sept. 9, 11:00am; Peace UCC, Duluth; *Please RSVP to Kathy Nelson at office@peaceucc.org or knelson@peaceucc.org.