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Reflections on Being a Volunteer at Back Bay Mission
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-Submitted by Renee Pfenning following her recent trip to Back Bay
 If you can swing a hammer, push a mop, or dish up a meal (already prepared) there is an opportunity waiting for you at Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS. From Jan.31-Feb 6, 35 people from the Minnesota Conference and a few friends worked together with long-term volunteers and staff at what is known as a "work camp". It can also be called a fun, fellowship, and learning camp. For 94 years Back Bay Mission has served the poor in Biloxi. Founded in 1922 by an Evangelical church in Back Bay to provide shoes, clothing, medicine and education to the children of Back Bay fisher folk, it continues today as a ministry of the United Church of Christ. Our Conference Minister, Rev. Shari Prestemon, was the director of Back Bay for 13 years, including 2005 when the area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
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Minnesota UCC Pastor Part of Isaiah MN Delegation Meeting with Xcel CEO
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 On Tuesday February 9, First UCC Northfield Senior Minister Todd Lippert joined Lutheran pastors Steve Sylvester, Peter Weston Miller, and Isaiah organizer Matt Gladue for a 45 minute meeting with Xcel CEO Chris Clark and 3 of his staff. It was a very productive conversation. The Isaiah delegation presented Clark with two concrete proposals related to a specific, substantial increase in community solar garden project approval and two on bill financing, a tool that would allow low-income families and families with poor credit to finance energy efficiency improvements, weatherization, and community solar participation in a way that saves them money. |
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National Youth Event 2016
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Fly with the Minnesota Conference to NYE!
The Minnesota Conference UCC is providing subsidized, round-trip airfare to NYE for only $300. Seats are limited to 120 and will be assigned on a "first come, first serve" basis. Reserve your seat on the plane now!
Note: A $50 deposit is required at time of registration. Deadline to register, and submit final payment, is April 1, 2016.
Questions? Email Zac or call the Conference office at (612) 871-0359.
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Is Your Church Attending Youth Camp at Pilgrim Point?
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"Strengthen Your Youth Ministry -- Go to Camp Together!"
Whether you have one youth in your church or many, attend camp together (6th-12th grades) for an unforgettable ministry and life-changing week! Adult church leaders attend camp with their youth and serve as camp staff/counselors for the week. This program is designed to help get your church youth ministry going into high gear!
The theme for this summer is "Love One Another" - a theme focused on how we greet our neighbor and how we recognize and welcome the other among us. Always an important theme to lift up, it is especially important this year in response to the negative political rhetoric that will be ongoing throughout the summer and fall.
Please email Zac at zacn@uccmn.org no later than February 15 to let us know which Youth Camp week your congregation prefers to attend together: Week 1 (July 10-15) or Week 2 (July 17-22). Registration for Youth Camps to be opened shortly after this deadline.
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Congregations, Reserve Your Space at Pilgrim Point!
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Congregations of the Minnesota Conference UCC are invited to sponsor a week or weekend at Pilgrim Point Camp. Each day we provide two all-camp, cross-generational programs - and are willing to work with you to make them as meaningful as possible for your congregation. We offer worship planning and support for the Vesper's leadership (done once a day as all-camp), providing as little or as much of the worship or music you request. Don't worry - there will still be plenty of time for relaxing, playing at the beach on one of our new water slides, playing in the ball field or creating your own experiences!
Available Dates & Facilities to host your own Congregation Camp:
- May/Early June | Camp service opportunities that are open to ALL interested congregations! Contact Camp Director Gigi for more info.
- June 17-19, 2016 | All facilities available
- June 24-26, 2016 | Annex, North Shore, POEM Cabins, Campground
- July 8-10, 2016 | Annex, North Shore
- July 22-24, 2016 | Annex, North Shore
- August 5-7, 2016 | All facilities available
- August 12-14, 2016 | North Shore, POEM Cabins, Campground
- August 26-28, 2016 | Lodge, Annex, North Shore, Campground
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Upcoming Events
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- National UCC Events
- 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. The Minnesota Conference is arranging a delegation for this event.
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is a retreat offered by the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ at Oak Ridge Conference Center near Minneapolis/St. Paul, March 31 - April 3. Speakers are Rebecca Voelkel and Phil Porter.
- Come and meet Rev. Dr. Mary Schaller Blaufuss who serves in the UCC national setting as the Global Sharing of Resources Team Leader and Executive for Volunteer Ministries. Mary leads the staff team facilitating UCC disaster, sustainable development and refugee ministries with the funding of the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) special mission offering, designated appeals, and OGHS Endowment. Mary will be at Macalester Plymouth United Church (directions) on February 28 at 3:00 p.m. to talk about the 2016 OGHS theme of "Go the Extra Mile" and the Syrian Refugee Crisis as well as initiatives of UCC Disaster Ministries both in the U.S. and around the world.
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Joys & Concerns
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An Ecclesiastical Council for Anna Larson will be held Thursday, February 18 at 12:45 at Cherokee Park United Church (directions), with lunch at noon. After a period of examination, there will be a vote on a motion that Anna Larson, who currently serves Circles of Faith UCC in Waubun, be ordained into the ministry of the United Church of Christ. Voting will be by all clergy with standing and lay delegates from a minimum of seven churches with standing.
- Rev. Michelle Webber will be installed on Sunday, February 21 at 4 p.m. as Pastor of First Congregational UCC in Moorhead (directions). A light supper will follow the service of installation. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles.
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Notices
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- Are you interested in Social Media? Whether you are a very basic beginner or searching for advanced analytics, you may want to sign up for Get Social. You will get one email a week, guiding you through the ever-changing, sometimes exhausting, but always exciting, world of social media from staff at the UCC office in Cleveland.
- The United Church of Christ is looking for ways to support refugee-welcoming congregations across the wider church. The UCC is especially working to collect a list of congregations that have welcomed refugees who have been persecuted and fled their home countries for safety. In order to add your name to the list or to read the article, you can read the full story on the UCC website.
- Have you always wanted to "walk where Jesus walked"? Do the complexities of the situation in Israel-Palestine interest you? Do you long to experience the region that is cradle of three Abrahamic faiths...Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? Save the date and look for more information for a trip the Minnesota Conference is organizing for January 9 - 20, 2017. If you are interested in being part of this amazing experience, contact Conference Minister Shari Prestemon. Exact cost, itinerary, deposit deadline, and other details will be released at a later date.
- Input your annual changes to the UCC Yearbook & Directory. You can access the Data Hub for reporting 2015 information. If you are looking for helpful video tutorials and information sheets to guide your church through the process, they are available. Our goal at the Minnesota Conference is to have 100% participation in reporting this year so we need your help! If you have questions contact Sandy in the Conference Office.
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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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