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Annual Meeting 2015: Our Calling Then - Our Calling Now
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 - As we prepare for the June 12-14, 2015 Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Conference of the UCC, let us consider how far we have come and how far we have left to go in the battle against racism and discrimination. Rev. Dick Fylling, member of the Annual Meeting Planning Work Group, reflects.
A Day to Remember  On New Year's Day, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Until then, The War Between the States - The Civil War - had been about the resolve to save the Union.
That day, the Civil War became a war for freedom.
On April 9, 1865, at Appomattox, Virginia, General Robert E. Lee shook hands with General Ulysses S. Grant following Lee's surrender after completing the formal terms of that surrender.
Five days later, on Good Friday, April 14, John Wilkes Booth fired the shots that killed President Lincoln...
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Save the Date: Fall Clergy Convocation - October 8-9
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 SAVE THE DATE:
Fall Clergy Convocation
October 8-9
We have just confirmed Rev. Dr Robin Meyers as our key-note speaker for Convocation. Robin is the senior minister of Mayflower Congregational UCC in Oklahoma City and has written several books, including The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus and Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus. You won't want to miss this!
Registration will open this summer.
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Learn the New UCC Profile System - May 6 & 7
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May 6: "Searching for Change and Changing the Search: New Tools & Terrain" 1:30-4:30pm at UTS
May 7: "Conversations on Ministry Opportunities in the UCC" 9am - 12pm at UTS
Explore networking and self-presentation together with colleagues. Join the Rev. Malcolm Himschoot, UCC Minister for Ministerial Transitions, for a hands-on demonstration and workshop on the new Snapshot and Profile tools. Bring questions and expect interaction.
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Environmental Justice Training
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How can people of faith work for environmental justice for all? How can we create Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s beloved community - one that is sustainable, healthy, and inclusive? This train-the-trainer workshop will explore these questions with the goal of empowering conversation and actions around environmental justice that will continue far beyond the initial workshop. Download & share the flier for this training!
When: Wednesday, May 27 at 5PM until Friday, May 29 at Noon
Where: Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreats, 2059 Pilgrim Point Rd NW, Alexandria, MN 56308 (directions )
Cost: $90.00 (includes six meals, housing and training/program)
Register: Online Registration Here!
Deadline to register: May 13, 2015
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How Accessible Is Your Church?
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 In preparation for the Annual Meeting on June 12-14th, your Justice and Witness Team would like updates on church's that have become accessible in the past year.
Click here for the accessibility criteria.
Please email the following information to raydaniels@aol.com:
* church's name and location
* what the church did to make itself accessible
* how and when did you celebrate your accomplishments
* photos of the project or church so we can celebrate at the Annual Meeting.
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Joys and Concerns
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- Dwight Wagenius will be ordained Sunday, April 19 at 1pm at Mayflower Community Congregational Church (106 E. Diamond Lake Rd. in Minneapolis). Clergy are invited to robe and wear the stole of their choice. Dwight has been called to serve Mayflower as Community Minister.
- Rev. Deb Meyer will be installed as Pastor of St. Paul's UCC in Henderson on Sunday, April 26 at 2pm. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red sashes. The church is located at 111 S. 6th St. in Henderson. Rev. Meyer has served St. Paul's since 2014.
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Notices
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- 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 Events
- Fourth Thursday | April 23 from 11:30am - 1:30pm | "Change & Conflict" with Anita Bradshaw
- UCC Profiles Workshop | May 6 + 7 | Learn more here
- Church on the Move | Pilgrim Point Camp | May 9, 2015
- Minnesota Conference Youth & Faith Formation Events
- 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 6-July 8
- 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
- Save the Date: Quilting Work Weekend | May 29-31, 2015
- Save the Date: Youth Ministry Training | August 28-30, 2015
- Save the Date: Women's Retreat | September 25-27, 2015
- National UCC Events
- Unexpected Places! General Synod 30, Cleveland, OH, June 26-30, 2015
- National ONA Gathering,Cleveland, OH, June 24-25, 2015
- Widen the Welcome Conference hosted by UCC Mental Health Ministry + UCC Disabilities Ministry, Hartford, CT, Sept 24-26, 2015
- Regional Opportunities
- "Faithful Leadership in a Multifaith World" at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, on Thursday and Friday, May 14 & 15. Workshop topics include Bonhoeffer on leadership, black lives matter, the arts and interfaith dialogue, pastoral care or spiritual care?, and immigrant/religious communities in Minnesota. More information here.
- An immigration symposium featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas entitled "Out of the Shadows: The Future of Immigration Policy for Undocumented Americans" will take place Tuesday, April 14 at Cowles Auditorium at the University of Minnesota. More information here.
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