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OCWM and Special Grant Make Fall Clergy Convocation Possible
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 Over fifty clergy from the Minnesota Conference attended the Clergy Convocation held in Buffalo October 8-9. This annual event represents a unique and important opportunity for clergy to gather, enjoy fellowship and lean on their peers and Conference staff for support. Our theme was "Fearless Faith, Prophetic Church".
Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers, author and Distinguished Professor of Social Justice in the Philosophy department at Oklahoma City University, was our keynote speaker.
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Peace in Israel-Palestine: Imagining Ways Forward
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Join a conversation on Monday, October 26, 11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. at the Conference office.
 What happens when two friends - one Israeli and one Palestinian - decide they want to make a difference for the cause of peace? On October 26, come hear the story and learn about the tremendous work of two such friends who created an organization called Shades in pursuit of peace in Israel-Palestine. Lior Frankenstayn (Israeli) and Ihad Khatib (Palestinian), both under the age of 30, developed Shades on the birlliant premise that teaching mediation skills to mid-level government officials in the Israeli and Palestinian governments and business people in both societies would result in a change of policy and the tapestry of relationships.
You're invited to meet with this pair of peace-making friends for informal conversation over lunch (available for purchase at the Franklin Cafe) on Monday, October 26 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Minnesota Church Center (directions). This is an opportunity to live into our commitment as a Conference to study issues of Israel-Palestine over a 2-year period beginning with Annual Meeting this past summer.
Let us know you're attending by emailing Sandy Peterson, Administrative Assistant in the Conference Office.
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A Full Communion Celebration Aligns American, Canadian Churches
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 Love thy neighbor.
When the United Church of Christ and the United Church of Canada gathered in Niagara Falls in mid-October for worship to celebrate a full communion agreement, the two North American denominations lived out that call to love thy neighbor. The governing bodies of both denominations approved the full communion agreement this summer, setting the stage for the churches to formalize their new relationship on October 17 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, at St. Andrews United Church (of Canada).
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Employment Opportunity in the Minnesota Conference Office
| The Conference is now searching for a Director of Finance and Operations. Deadline for applications for this 30-hour per week position is Saturday, October 24, and review of applications will begin soon. See the full job description here.
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Joys & Concerns
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- Rev. Ilo Madden, a retired minister with standing in North Dakota, died Saturday, October 10, 2015. She was a chaplain in California and served UCC churches in Hankinson, Headinger, and Dickinson in North Dakota before retiring in 2008. A memorial service will be held at Union Congregational UCC in St. Louis Park (directions) on Friday, October 23rd at 11:00 a.m. with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and a luncheon to follow.
- Rev. James Nelson, retired UCC minister and United Theological Seminary faculty member for 32 years until 1995, died October 15, 2015 in Tucson, Arizonia, where he had lived for several years. A native of Minnesota, Rev. Nelson served churches in Connecticut and South Dakota before joining the UTS faculty. Rev. Nelson registered Black voters in Mississippi, protested the Vietnam War, worked with the American Indian Movement, and championed the rights of the LGBT community. He was an advocate for the right to die with dignity. A full obituary is available. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 7, at 10:00 a.m. at First Congregational Church of Minnesota (directions).
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Upcoming Events
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- Minnesota Conference Events
- 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
- 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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Clergy Clusters
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- Northwest Cluster - Tuesday, October 27 at 10:00 a.m. at First Congregational, Moorhead.
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Notices
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- St. Catherine University is having an open house on Thursday, October 22 from 5:15 until 8:30 p.m. at Whitby Hall (St. Paul Campus) so that you can learn more about their Spiritual Direction Certificate. You are invited. Please RSVP your presence.
- Table Talk, Table Walk - Seeking God Always in ALL Ways will take place at Robbinsdale UCC (directions) 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.
- Registration for Boundary Training is closed. Power and Boundaries training scheduled for November 12 is now full. Watch this space for future training sessions.
- Judson Press and Joy Skjegstad, author and consultant, will be offering FREE webinars this fall. Register for each webinar that you are interested in so that you can receive login information.
- Minnesota Faith Summit to Prevent Gun Violence - Thursday, November 12 at 6 p.m. at Richfield Lutheran Church in Minneapolis (directions). Join leaders of all faiths across Minnesota to learn, discuss, pray, and act to prevent gun violence. Please preregister for this event.
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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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