COMMAntary E-Newsletter, Vol. 11, No. 09  
March 4, 2015
In This Issue
MISSION BITE: from across the Minnesota Conference
from Rev. Dick Fylling, Annual Meeting Planning Work Group 
We Are All Children of God 
Sports Heroes
I was thinking about our Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Conference late one night last week and its theme - Going Deeper: Trusting in Sacred Covenant. At that gathering, we will be examining the issue of racism and how it affects all of us one way or another - how it divides us and challenges our ideals as Christians and as citizens of this country and God's world.

Literally out of the night, I suddenly thought of a line from an old Willie Nelson song: "My heroes have always been cowboys." I still don't know why that line suddenly came to mind; but it took me a long way back. 
This Sunday: Commemoration of 1965 Selma March
1965 Selma March
50 years ago, members from diverse faith communities marched against racism, segregation, and for civil rights.

Join us in an interfaith march on Sunday, March 8 commemorating the 1965 Selma March that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Meet at the State Capitol at 2pm. The half-mile march will end at Central Presbyterian with a program to follow.
Back Bay Mission Trip 2016
from Bob Peterson, OCWM Subcommittee
Back Bay Mission Trip 2016
Back Bay Mission Trip 2014
After a great trip with 23 volunteers who traveled to Biloxi the last week in January to work at the Back Bay Mission, it is time to think ahead to 2016. This year the 23 volunteers represented 13 different UCC churches in Minnesota. It was a great opportunity to get to know members of a wide range of churches and our new associate conference minister, Steve Boorsma.

We have reserved the week of January 31 - February 6, 2016 for our mission trip. We have reserved 25 slots, and already have 13 people who have indicated they want to go in next year's trip.

If you are interested in being a part of the trip next year, please let me know of you interest, as soon as possible. The cost is $100 plus travel and lodging.
This Tuesday: Day on the Hill 2015
Day on the Hill 2015
Come be a part of faith-based commitment to social justice and prophetic witness at this year's Day on the Hill with our partners Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC).

 

JRLC's Day on the Hill is an interfaith annual policy briefing and lobby day. Last year over 850 concerned Minnesotans from Protestant-Jewish-Muslim-Catholic faith backgrounds attended. 

Joys and Concerns
  • Merlin Gesing, brother-in-law of Conference Minister Shari Prestemon, died Saturday February 28. Services were held this morning (March 4) in Waukon, Iowa. Please hold the Gesing and Prestemon families in prayer.
     
  • Margaret Sartain, mother of Rev. Jeff Sartain of Plymouth Congregational Church, died Monday March 2. Her funeral will be Saturday March 7 at 11 AM at Plymouth Congregational Church (1900 Nicollet Ave. S. in Minneapolis), with visitation one hour before the service and a luncheon to follow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
     
  • Rev. Barbara Martin will be installed as Pastor of Union Congregational UCC on Sunday March 8 at 3 p.m. Clergy are invited to robe, wear red stoles and process in together. A reception with light refreshments will follow the service. Please RSVP for the reception to info@unionslp.com by Thursday, March 5. The church is located at 3700 Alabama Ave. S. in St. Louis Park.
     
  • Cecilia Baxter will be ordained Saturday March 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Falcon Heights UCC (1795 Holton St. in Falcon Heights). A reception will follow. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Cecilia serves Christ UCC in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as Pastor of Faith Formation.
     
  • Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe will be installed as pastor of Living Table UCC on Sunday, March 15 at 3pm. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Conference Minister Shari Prestemon will preach. A reception will follow. Living Table is located at 3805 E. 40th St. in Minneapolis.
Notices
  • Register Now for BOUNDARY TRAINING - April 2015! 
    The cost is $50. Space is limited. Follow the link below to register:
    • Tuesday April 14 at First United Methodist Church of St. Cloud Region (1107 Pine Cone Rd. S. in Sartell)
  • March Forth for Literacy
    March Forth for Literacy will be a day for a concentrated focus on literacy awareness throughout the UCC. It will offer congregations the opportunity to share with the wider church their involvement in literacy issues locally and nationally, and will give individuals the chance to share their experiences, either as volunteers with literacy organizations or persons who have struggled with literacy themselves.     Please take a few moments to read about and to share this opportunity with your church and wider community. Learn more here.
  • Cuba Today and Tomorrow: How Changes in U.S. Policy Affect Cubans and U.S. Citizens
    The Mayflower Global Justice Advocacy Team, in partnership with Witness for Peace, is hosting Carmen Nora Hernandez Chavez. Carmen is a founding member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Havana, Cuba and an advisor to the United Nations. Sunday, March 22,  9:45-10:45am at Mayflower UCC (106 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis)
     
  • Making Peace Through Understanding
    Lenten series exploring interfaith relationships that build bridges of good will, mutual trust and cooperative action and featuring speakers from the Abrahamic traditions, who are known throughout the Twin Cities for their work in interfaith efforts. Series runs on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm through Lent at First UCC in Anoka (1923 Third Avenue in Anoka).
  • Last Supper Drama
    This year marks the 53rd year of the presentation of the Last Supper Drama - a depiction of the DaVinci painting & drama written by Pastor W. Rasche. The performance will take place at St. John's UCC (19086 Jacobs Ave. in Faribault) on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 8pm.
  • Clergy clusters in the coming week:
    • Northern Cluster: Tuesday, March 10, 11am
      Peace UCC, Duluth
Upcoming Events
  • Minnesota Conference Events 
    • Local Commemoration of '65 Selma March | March 8, 2015 | Meet at the State Capitol at 2pm (more info)
    • Church on the Move | Pilgrim Point Camp | May 9, 2015
    • Environmental Justice Training | Pilgrim Point Camp | May 27, 2015
  • Regional Opportunities
    • How Do Photographs Form Us? Workshops with documentary photographer Wing Young Huie, United Theological Seminary's artist-in-residence on Wednesdays: March 11, 18 & 25, 1- 3pm. Register to participate.
    • UNITE on the National Day of Prayer: Throughout history, movements of God have birthed through united prayer. We believe this is such a time in the Twin Cities. We are asking you and your church to consider joining for the UNITE Pastors Gathering where we will pray, worship and eat together. Come on March 11 from 11:30-1PM at Substance Church in Roseville, MN, to hear about how your church can be involved in the vision of UNITE on the National Day of Prayer on May 7 in the Twin Cities. RSVP by March 6. 
Employment Opportunities
Check out the employment opportunities portion of the Minnesota Conference website. Click here to see the listings. 
Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ | www.uccmn.org
122 W Franklin Ave, Suite 323, Minneapolis, MN 55404

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.

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