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COMMAnts from the Conference Minister | March 2015
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from Rev. Shari Prestemon,Conference Minister
What Makes a Church?
I kept thinking about that question recently while sitting in a nearly empty church building in Maple Grove. The building was the site of our former congregation, Pilgrim UCC, in that community. More than a year ago now, the faithful remnant of that congregation's membership determined that it no longer had the energy or capacity to continue as a church. Filled with grief, they turned the deed over to the MN Conference and walked away.
In the many months that followed, as we managed a continuing tenant relationship and cared for mounting needs of the building, we considered many options for how to move forward with some form of ministry at the Maple Grove site.
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March 2015 Board of Directors Report
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from Chelle Lyons Hanson, Board Member At Large
March 2015The Board of Directors of the Minnesota Conference met on Saturday, March 7 at Mizpah UCC in Hopkins, MN. Rev. Garth Shumacher, interim minister at Mizpah welcomed us warmly and shared some information about the congregation. He described the church as a welcoming congregation and we certainly found that to be true. Thank you to Mizpah UCC for the hospitality.
The Board is continuing to consider a financial campaign to support the current and future work of the conference.
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Attend Youth Camp at Pilgrim Point!
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Register by Sunday, March 15 to get a FREE 2015 T-shirt!
"Strenghten Your Youth Ministry -
Go to Camp Together!"
Whether you have 1 youth in your church or many, attend camp together (grades 6th-12th) for an unforgettable ministry and life-changing week! You won't want to miss out on the adventure course, our Lake Ida beach front and water slide, 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 is designed to help get your church youth ministry going into high gear!
July 19-24, 2015 (Sunday - Friday)
July 26-31, 2015 (Sunday - Friday)
When: Ask your youth leader which week your church is attending
Where: Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreats, Alexandria, MN ( directions)
Who: Youth (individuals and church groups) and their adult leaders
Cost: $315 early registration for youth; $100 for adult leaders
Find answers to common questions by reading the FAQ. Questions? Email the PPC&R Registrar, Zac Norenberg, at zacn@uccmn.org or call the Conference office at (612) 871-0359.
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Global Ministries Mission Update - Honduras
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from MN Conference members Don and Maryjane Westra
Subirana Clinic - HondurasGreetings from Don and Maryjane Westra, Global Ministries Mission Personnel in Honduras. Our tenure with Global Ministries began in 2009 in Mt. Selinda Mission Station, Zimbabwe. In 2013 we moved to Honduras where we now serve with Global Ministries' partner, Evangelical and Reformed Church. We work in the social service branch of the church Synod, AIEH, which oversees schools and clinics. Specifically, we are assigned to a vocational school, CEVER, in Yoro in the state of Yoro, Honduras. I work alongside the administration and Don is working on sustainable projects to provide financial security into the future.
Our most exciting assignment is the reopening of a clinic in an indigenous community.
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Joys and Concerns
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- 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.
- Terese Tomanek will be ordained Saturday March 21 at 1:00 P.M. at Peace UCC (1111 N. 11th Ave. E. in Duluth). A reception will follow. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Terese serves as a chaplain at Essentia Health and at Woodland Hills Juvenile Residential Treatment Center.
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Notices
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2015 FACT Survey
444 UCC churches have participated in the 2015 Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey. As the largest multi-faith survey of congregational life, participating will help provide greater insight into what's been happening within/among our local UCC churches during the past 5 years (since the 2010 survey). In addition, the FACT survey allows us to compare our data and trends with 25 different Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Bahai faith groups that also participate in this large survey. Here's a recent UCNews story on FACT. The survey will remain open through March 31 and is available online at www.ucc.org/factsurvey.
- Transform Network - National Gathering
2015 National Gathering on Urban Transformation, April 23-25, in Washington, D.C.! You can save $50 when you register now using coupon code CHALICEPRESS.
- Human Rites Conference
National conference focused on engaging conversation and celebrating the reconciliation of faith and the LGBTQ Community. May 15-17, 2015 in Calgary, AB. For more info visit, www.humanrites.ca.
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Youth Back Bay Mission Trip - Openings
Mizpah UCC, Hopkins has 7 openings for youth on a mission trip to Back Bay Mission leaving July 3 returning July 12. If you are interested, as an individual or a group, contact Nancy Johnsen at Mizpah 952-935-5509.
- Clergy clusters in the coming week:
- There are no clergy clusters in the coming week
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Upcoming Events
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- Minnesota Conference Youth & Faith Formation Events
- 4th Thursday Leader Gathering - "Genderqueer-friendly Ministry", MN Church Center, Minneapolis, MN | March 26, 2015
- Spring Middle School Youth Event - "Why?", Pilgrim Point Camp, Alexandria, MN | May 15-17, 2015
- OWL Facilitator Training, Levels K-1/4-6/Adult/Young Adult, Pilgrim Point Camp, Alexandria, MN | May 29-31, 2015
- Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreat Events
- Environmental Justice Training | May 27-29, 2015
- OWL Facilitator Training, Levels K-1/4-6/Adult/Young Adult, Pilgrim Point Camp, Alexandria, MN | May 29-31, 2015
- Summer Youth Camp, Pilgrim Point Camp, Alexandria MN
- Wayzata Children & Youth Camps | June 2015
- July Family Camp hosted by Union UCC in St Louis Park | July 12-17, 2015
- August Family Camp hosted by St Anthony Park UCC | August 2-7, 2015
- Mission Service Week | August 9-14, 2015
- Save the Date: Quilting Work Weekend | May 29-31, 2015
- Save the Date: Youth Ministry Training Retreat | August 28-30, 2015
- Save the Date: Women's Retreat | September 25-27, 2015
- National UCC Events
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Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ | www.uccmn.org 122 W Franklin Ave, Suite 323, Minneapolis, MN 55404 |
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