|
Annual Report from Shari Prestemon, Conference Minister
|
An enormous amount of time was dedicated this year to discerning future possibilities at Pilgrim Point Camp and more broadly in the Conference. Utilizing the invaluable services of Ackley Consulting Group (which later became Lindahl Consulting), we engaged in an intensive time of listening and learning through focus groups, one-on-one interviews, and larger group discussions at a leadership retreat and at meetings of the Board of Directors. A vision was crafted and a "case for support" developed to lift up two dreams: 1) major facility investment at Pilgrim Point Camp, and 2) significant new efforts regarding leadership development in the Conference.
|
|
Annual Report: Personnel Committee
|
from Amanda Arnold, Personnel Committee, Chair
The committee met quarterly at Mayflower UCC in Minneapolis and we again thank them for their continued willingness to provide meeting space for us.
Our committee accomplished the following:
|
Big UCC Welcome to Sandy Peterson!
|
The Minnesota Conference UCC is delighted to welcome our newest member of staff, Sandy Peterson, who is serving in the role of Administrative Assistant to the Conference Minister. Sandy comes to us having served 14 years as Office Administrator at Bethel Lutheran Church in Northfield, MN. We're excited to benefit from her vast administrative gifts!
Please be sure to show Sandy the extravagant welcome & hospitality the UCC is known for at the Annual Meeting (June 12-14), or the next time you call the office or stop by. Sandy can be reached at sandyp@uccmn.org.
Please send all future COMMAntary pieces to Sandy!
|
|
Mark Your Calendars!
|
Come celebrate with us at....
Wade's Farewell Open House
June 16th from 11-2PM at the Minnesota Church Center
 Wade Zick's ministry among us has brought leadership and innovation in Faith Formation across the state. Many lives have been touched; whether through camp, Conference Youth Events, Fourth Thursday gatherings, Taize trips, or the multiple ways in which he served as a resource for churches by phone calls, emails and visits. Please come and celebrate Wade with a Farewell Open House at the Minnesota Church Center (directions) on Tuesday, June 16th from 11am-2pm. ALL are welcome to come give Wade a great send-off to the next step in his ministry. Food and drink provided!
|
|
Annual Meeting Notices
|
- Annual Meeting Weekend Worship Resources: Each year the Annual Meeting Planning Work Group creates resources, tied in with the theme of Annual Meeting, that local church can decided to use while their pastor and other congregation leaders are away at Annual Meeting. These resources include a worship outline and sermon for the weekend of Annual Meeting. We hope these will be helpful and meaningful to congregations.
-
White Fragility
The theme of this year's Annual Meeting is "Going Deeper: Trusting in Sacred Conversations." The keynote presenter, Dr. Jennifer Harvey, will be inviting us into conversations about racism and what it means to be white.
The question is how does one have a sacred conversation when, as for many of us, our first response is to feel defensive or guilty about having whiteness named and racism addressed? Robins DiAngelo's article on "White Fragility" helps us understand some of those reactions that can keep us from going deeper with conversations that are truly sacred.
- "Just Peace in Israel and Palestine" Resolution at Annual Meeting
Want more information on the Just Peace in Israel and Palestine resolution that will be coming up at the Annual Meeting? The Minnesota Conference UCC "Just Peace in Israel and Palestine" Working Group would love to talk to you. We'll gladly take meetings with congregations and/or delegates from now until Annual Meeting. Please email Don Christensen or call (651) 690-2609 to schedule a meeting. Thank you!
- Green Justice Congregation Awards
God's work in creation is too wonderful, too ancient, too beautiful and too good to be desecrated. The challenge is to confess our sins, to take seriously our role as stewards of the Earth and to work for the renewal of creation. Humans, as responsible stewards of the Earth, are called by God to restore its natural habitat where it has been damaged and to maintain its sustainable vitality.
- Consider packing:
* Your own mug - to save paper, plastic and dishwashing
* A yoga mat - if you're going to the yoga workshop
* An extra blanket - it can get cool in the dorms
|
|
Pre-Annual Meeting Vitality Event
|
Dreams of a Vital Church
Friday, June 12 | 9am to 11:45am
College of St Benedict, St Joseph, MN
The Vitality Team presents: "Dreams of a Vital Church." Join us immediately before the 2015 Annual Meeting for a morning of panels, discussion groups and presentations that will focus on:
- Weaving tradition and innovation in worship
- Listening to the dreams of young pastors and lay leaders
- Power is not a dirty word. Thriving by the Power of the Spirit
- Embracing what makes a community of faith quirky or distinctive congregation
Register Now!
Registration is $25/team member. Bring a team of five and your fifth joins
for free! All participants will be served a light continental breakfast and
leave with a vitality goodie bag.
|
|
Notices
|
-
Pilgrim Point Walkway
A special thank you to the following people who helped build a new walkway, with a handrail, from the lodge to the beach front at Pilgrim Point Camp. It looks great and will be a much safer way to get to the beach - especially for older users of the camp. Tom Lammers, Paynesville; Cindy Lemke, Wadena; Bob Galkiewicz, Roseville; Robin Raudabaugh, Harris; Russ Hagen, New Brighton; Mike Steiner, Brooklyn Park; Steve Wilke, New Brighton; Don Fancher, Lino Lakes. The project was led and coordinated by Bob Peterson. Thank you, Bob!!
-
Baby Grand Piano
There is a 1920's baby grand piano that is looking for a new church home. It is about 5 feet 7 inches and has a wood case. It is being offered free-of-charge to an interested church group and will come with up to two free tunings. If you are interested, or would like more information, please email Marilyn Burns.
-
Rev. John Guttermann, a MN Conference pastor in covenant with the UCC in New Brighton, leads Conversations With Friends, a program that visits and supports immigrants being held in civil detention for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As part of this work he also does presentations, leads trainings, and has a film library on immigration issues. Having done this work since 2009, John brings with him a deep well of knowledge, relationships, and experience in immigration reform advocacy and immigrant support. John was recognized for his work at the 29th General Synod by the UCC Justice and Witness ministries. Email John or call (651) 485-3104 for more information on getting him to your setting.
- Clergy clusters in the coming week:
- Southwest Cluster: Thursday, June 4, 11:30am at First Congregational UCC, Mankato
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
- Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreat Events
- Summer Youth Camp, Pilgrim Point Camp, Alexandria MN
- Wayzata Children & Youth Camps | June 6 - July 8
-
-
- 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
- More than a Story: Summer Institute in Spirituality and the Arts will be a four-day retreat for clergy and church leaders to vitalize creative ministries and for artists to encounter the sacred in their work. June 23-26, 2015 at United Theological Seminary. CEUs are available. More information here.
- March for the Climate: Keep Tar Sands Out of MN!
Join Mayflower UCC, Lyndale UCC, the many congregations of MN Interfaith Power and Light and thousands of others from all over the Midwest to send a clear message against toxic tar sands and to fight for clean water, clean energy, and a safe climate! We'll stand together, people of many faiths, cultures and nations, to protect our water, climate and communities! Faith based groups will march together. March begins at Noon at Lambert's Landing in St Paul and ends at the Capitol with a program featuring speakers including Bill McKibben, Winona LaDuke, and Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges. To find out about carpooling, contact Emily at Mayflower Church in Minneapolis.
|
|
Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ | www.uccmn.org
122 W Franklin Ave, Suite 323, Minneapolis, MN 55404
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
