Sacred Calling, "Terrible Privilege"   

I was not at all expecting that particular phone call on that unseasonably warm Spring day. The caller was no one I knew, and had no connection with the United Church of Christ. But that conversation became a profound reminder to me that this ministry we share is a sacred and precious enterprise.

The gentleman on the other end of the phone line that day -- let's call him "Ed" -- had been referred specifically to me by the facilitator of his grief support group. Ed's 22-year-old son had died of cancer just one year ago, and Ed was tortured by questions of faith that left him little peace or comfort. I tried at first to steer him toward his own pastor or to counselors I could recommend. But it soon became apparent that what he desperately wanted was to talk to me, right then and there.

• Congratulations to Robbinsdale United Church of Christ (UCC) who have received a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Vital Worship Grants Program is generously supported by Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc.

• A Service of Farewell for Rev. Don Portwood will be held Sunday May 10 at 10:30am at Lyndale UCC (620 W. 28th St. in Minneapolis). Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Rev. Portwood has served Lyndale UCC since 1980.

• Clergy clusters in the coming week:
• Northern Cluster: Tuesday, May 12, 11am
    Peace UCC, Duluth
• MN Conference Interim Minister's Group: May 14th
  (2nd Thursday of each month) at Mayflower UCC, 10am-12pm

• Minnesota Conference Events 
• Church on the Move | Pilgrim Point | May 9, 2015
• General Synod Delegate Orientation | Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis from 10am-4pm on May 16, 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
• Youth Camp I (July 19-24, 2015) 
• Youth Camp II (July 26-31, 2015) 
• 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
• Quilting Service Retreat | May 29-31, 2015 | Register here 
• 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 info here.

•  eFormation 2015 is an ecumenical conference on ministry in a digital world;  hosted June 1-3 in Alexandria, Virginia. St Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis will offer the conference as a Webinar, for those who can't make it to Virginia, for a discounted rate of $20/person. Come and go between the three days as time allows and choose sessions that are of the most interest to you. Contact Mary Lusk at St Mark's if you plan to attend. Full details and program information here.

• Local Church Events