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Minnesota Conference UCC Core Values and Strategic Priorities
|  This Fall, our Associate Conference Ministers will be sharing their take on our Core Values and Strategic Priorities adopted by the Board of Directors on August 18, 2012. Today, Garth Schumacher speaks to "Faith Formation for All". Minnesota Conference members are well-equipped to grow in faith throughout their lifetime.
What's with this new term "Faith Formation" instead of Christian Education? Why are we changing terms now? These are a couple of questions I've personally heard from parishioners and other clergy in my various interim settings. There are important differences between the two terms that resonate throughout each and every church.
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Church on the Move! SIGN UP BY MONDAY at the latest!
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How do we express an extravagant welcome within our diverse culture? Come find out at this Fall's Church on the Move event!
What: Church on the Move Extravagant Welcome
When: Saturday, October 24 (9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
Where: Peace UCC, Rochester
Keynote Speaker: Jin S. Kim, founding pastor of Church of All Nations in  Minneapolis, will have two main messages. He will speak about "Welcoming All Nations" in his keynote session and "Radical Hospitality in an Age of Radical Individualism" in his breakout session.
Workshop Leaders: Rev. Norma Rae Hunt of St. Paul's UCC in St. Paul discusses the "Turnaround Church!" How did they do it? Discover. Rev. Steve Boorsma, ACM of our Minnesota Conference presents "Who Do You Say I Am?" A discussion on developing positive first impressions for your congregation from the web to the narthex.
Cost: $10/person includes lunch
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Employment Opportunity in the Minnesota Conference Office
| The Conference is now searching for a newly created position, Director of Finance and Operations. Review of applications for this 30 hour per week position will begin soon. See the full job description here.
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Joys & Concerns
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- Congratulations to Rev. Abigail Henderson, Associate Minister at First United Church of Christ in Northfield and Will Callahan, who were married Saturday, October 10. Rev. Jane McBride of First Congregational of Minnesota UCC in Minneapolis officated. Rev. Henderson was Associate Minister at First Congregational of Minnesota 2008-2010.
- Rev. Ilo Madden, a retired minister with standing in North Dakota, died Saturday, October 10, 2015. She served UCC churches in Hankinson, Headinger, and Dickinson in North Dakota before retiring in 2007. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at Union Congregational UCC in St. Louis Park, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and a luncheon to follow.
- Rev. Thomas Porter will be installed as Pastor of Congregational Church of Excelsior (directions) on Sunday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles.
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Upcoming Events
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- Minnesota Conference Events
- Church on the Move: Join us at Peace United Church of Christ in Rochester on October 24 from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. as we look at Extravagant Welcome.
- New Beginnings: Join us for a free two-hour Come and See event that is designed to inform congregations about the process and schedule for the New Beginnings Program. Meetings will be on October 31 at 9:00 a.m. at Sandstone United Church of Christ and 3:00 p.m. at First Congregational UCC in Austin.
- Back Bay Mission Trip: The Minnesota Conference UCC is sponsoring a mission trip to Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi January 31-February 6, 2016.
- Youth & Faith Formation Events
- Fall High School Youth Event - "Sexuality & Our Faith" with national OWL Coordinator, Amy Johnson, October 16-18, 2015 at Pilgrim Point
- 4th Thursday - "Ancient-Future Paths for Today's Faith Formation" with Rev. Dr. Rhonda Pittman Gingrich from United Theological Seminary, October 22 from 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. at the MN Church Center
- Regional UCC Events
- Messy Church helps brand churches as welcoming places for children and families who are unchurched or unable to attend regularly on a Sunday morning. This Inspiring Models of Ministry Event will be held at McFarland United Church of Christ in MacFarland, WI on November 8, 2015
- National UCC Events
- Facts on UCC Congregations: Join us for a webinar event on Wednesday October 21, from 9-10 a.m. to discuss the findings from the 2015 faith communities today national survey of congregations.
- Creating Sacred Space: A Discussion: this panel discussion will be live streamed from Cleveland on October 27.
- National Youth Event (NYE) is scheduled for July 26-30, 2016 at Walt Disney World in Florida. Mark your calendars! We encourage local churches to begin the fund raising process early. Registration to open in the coming months.
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Notices
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- Table Talk, Table Walk - Seeking God Always in ALL Ways will take place at Robbinsdale UCC on Sunday, November 1 from 3 - 7 p.m. This event will be filled with learning, sharing and fellowship, including an ecumenical panel discussing their observations of our day and the impact of communion on our spiritual lives. Advance registration is required.
- Living the Sacred Trust: Boundary and Ethics Training is being offered on Thursday, November 12 at Hylands United Methodist, 9920 Normandale Blvd, Bloomington. Space is still available but is filling quickly. This training satisfies the requirements of the Minnesota Conference Committee on Ministry for clergy. If you are unsure whether your boundary training is due for renewal, please contact Marita in the Minnesota Conference office.
- Judson Press and Joy Skjegstad, author and consultant, will be offering four FREE webinars this fall. Register for each webinar that you are interested in so that you can receive login information.
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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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Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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