The National Office of the UCC has chosen the PARABLES Worship Service at Wayzata Community Church as an "Inspiring Model of Ministry" for churches across the country! To celebrate this honor, on Sunday, October 26th, WCC, the National Office and the Minnesota Conference of the UCC will be hosting a day long event inviting pastors, worship leaders, Christian educators, lay leaders and seminary students to experience the PARABLES ministry first hand. This will include attending the worship service, fellowship with families, reflection over lunch and time to consider how to bring a Parables-like service out to other churches.

Is your church thriving?

Thriving churches make a difference in people's lives. How has your church made a difference in your life?  

Come to Church on the Move at Associated Church in Owatonna on November 8 to hear some of the stories that thriving churches are proud to share! Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Rick Wagner will provide a compelling keynote address. 

Cost: $10/person; includes lunch. Bring a team of 5 and your fifth person comes at no cost!  

Register Now!  

• Gaylord UCC will conduct a Service of Farewell for Rev. Hank Campbell on Sunday, October 19 at 9:00am. The church is located at 318 4th Street in Gaylord. Rev. Campbell has served with Gaylord UCC since February 2010.
   
• Rev. Kent Meyer will be installed as Pastor of Zion UCC in Le Sueur on Sunday, October 19 at 2:00pm. Rev. Meyer began his service at Zion UCC in October 2013. The church is located at 240 S. Elmwood Street in Le Sueur.
   
• A Service of Farewell for Rev. Hank Campbell will be conducted Sunday, October 26 at 9:00am at UCC New Ulm. The church is located at 301 South Minnesota in New Ulm. Rev. Campbell has served the church in New Ulm since November 1995.
   
• Chapel Hills UCC in Edina was recently featured in an article about its organist in the Star Tribune. It is an excellent story of the inclusive nature of the church! Click here to read the article.

• Unexpected Places! The Call to the 30th General Synod of the United Church of Christ has recently been issued, and registration is now open! Make plans to head to Cleveland this June with thousands of your fellow UCCers! Read the call now, and sign up!
   

• Need a Kick-Start on $tewardship? The Center for Progressive Renewal (CPR) is providing an Intensive Online Stewardship Workshop for up to eight Minnesota Conference Churches. Click here to learn more!
   

• Open and Affirming Team Event Planning Meeting: Please join the Open and Affirming Team as we begin to plan 2015 events. We will gather at Mayflower UCC (106 E Diamond Lake Rd, Mpls) Saturday, Oct. 11, 10:00-12:00. Click here for more details.
   
• Give to the Max Day is quickly approaching. As GiveMN.org is working with a new vendor, there are some organizations that didn't transfer over. The Minnesota Conference was one of them, and your church may have been as well. To ensure that your church is active on GiveMN.org in time for Give to the Max day, send these 3 items to help@givemn.org or fax to 651-800-4910.
  • Church's letter from the IRS stating their EIN number.
  • A letter, on the church letterhead, requesting inclusion on GiveMN.org. The letterhead must include organization name, physical address, mailing address (if different), phone number, email address, and website. It needs to be signed by an elected officer of the church
  • Some kind of proof that the church is in good standing with the MN Conference. The church can use the Conference directory or a letter from the Conference affirming their good standing.

  If a church was on GiveMN previously, their web age will be restored. All organizations have until Oct. 31st to restore their pages. Otherwise they will not be able to participate on Give to the Max. The Conference Office will happily assist with these items if necessary. Contact Alison Bents at alisonb@uccmn.org.

   
• There are no clergy clusters in the coming week.