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UCC Chaplain Group Welcomes Guest Speaker, Sponsored by OCWM Contributions
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 This month, United Church of Christ chaplains, Rev. Shari Prestemon and Rev. Rick Wagner gathered together at the Minnesota Church Center.
Together, they listened to Rev. Stephen Boyd, Minister for Chaplains and Ministers in Specialized Settings from the national United Church of Christ. He spoke on ecclesiastical endorsements, the process that is involved, and how chaplains in specific settings can become certified. Rev. Boyd offered the group encouragement, information, and specific next steps for them to follow in their journey.
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Annual Meeting ~ June 10 - 12, 2016 College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN
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The Proposed Compensation Guidelines document that will be voted on at the Annual Meeting is now available on the Annual Meeting page. Take a look at this document in advance of our gathering.
Registration is now open. Be sure to register for the Annual Meeting BEFORE May 4 to get the early bird rate. |
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This Week's Spotlight - Living Table UCC, Minneapolis
|  Living Table UCC is located in the Longfellow community of South Minneapolis. Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe leads this church that has an average attendance of 65. Living Table is four years old. It is a merger of Minnehaha UCC, which was 104 years old, and Spirit of the Lakes, which was 26 years old.
Living Table is a vibrant, welcoming community offering true hospitality to all. Members take seriously the mandate to be Christ's hands and feet in the world and they are at their best when they are caring for members, friends, and strangers who are in need of a longer term spiritual home or a shorter safe harbor. They really are about seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God.
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National ONA Gathering June 7-9 in St. Joseph, MN
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 Join us for a unique opportunity for ONA congregations in Minnesota. With inspiring worship and music, unforgettable preaching, informative workshops, and opportunities for rest and play, an ONA Gathering is an opportunity to renew a congregation's passion for ONA ministry and mission. To learn more, visit the ONA Coalition's website. |
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Justice & Witness Peace Fund Grant Program
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Did you know the Justice & Witness Peace Fund Grant program...
- awards grants all year long
- has given $1,000s in the past five years
- wants your congregation to consider how it might benefit from a Peace Fund grant
The Justice & Witness Team graciously accepts your generous Peace Fund offerings anytime and they are being put to good use:
- to attend Ecumenical Advocacy days in Washington, D.C.
- to promote Open and Affirming ministry
- to welcome transgender members into the church community
Find out more about the requirements and download an application form.
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Pattern of Giving
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The United Church of Christ is taking a fresh look at the "pattern of giving" we have had in place since 1984. Your input is invaluable to this review process as our church studies how individuals, congregations, Conferences,  and the national setting can best prompt generosity in giving and thus multiply ministry. Please consider completing this survey provided by the Giving Task Force of the UCC. Your feedback is a critical piece of this process that could change the way we practice stewardship and giving in the UCC for many years to come. The deadline for this survey is April 22, so please take it TODAY. Thank you for your perspective and participation. |
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Upcoming Events
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- Minnesota Conference Events
- On Sunday, April 24th, preachers around the country will proclaim from their pulpits a simple message: Keep It in the Ground. The UCC has a great website to help you join them in sharing this message about fossil fuels.
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Sacred Journey to Israel Palestine informational meeting Saturday, April 30, 1:30- 3 pm at St. Paul's UCC, 900 Summit Ave., St. Paul. A draft itinerary for the trip will be shared along with some other early details. Certainty about participation is not necessary to attend this meeting. Just bring your questions and your curiosity!
- Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreats Events
- Taize Meditation Retreat (Open to ALL) | May 18-20, 2016
- Young Adult Camp (for those aged 18-29 who do not qualify for Youth Camp) | June 12-27
- Taller & Smaller Camp (for parents and their young children in the K-4 grade) | June 19-24
- Intergenerational Mission Week (Open to ALL) | June 26-30, 2016
- Taize Meditation Retreat (Open to ALL) | July 5-8, 2016
- Youth Camp - Week 1 (Youth leaving the 6-12th grade and their adult leaders 21 and older) | July 10-15, 2016
- Youth Camp - Week 2 (Youth leaving the 6-12th grade and their adult leaders 21 and older) | July 17-22, 2016
- Youth Mission Week | August 7-12, 2016
- Camp AweSum (for families with members on the autism spectrum) | August 14-19, 2016
- Youth & Faith Formation Events
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4th Thursday - "Hard Conversations with Parents and Youth: Exploring the Limits of Confidentiality" with Rev. T. Michael Rock | Thursday, April 28, 2016 from 11:30-1:30 at the MN Church Center
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Spring Middle School CYE - "Be the Good News!" | May 13-15, 2016 at Pilgrim Point Camp in Alexandria, MN.
- Our Whole Lives (OWL) Facilitator Training for Elementary Level (K-1 and 4-6) and Adult/Young Adult Level | May 20-22, 2016 at Pilgrim Point Camp in Alexandria, MN
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Notices
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- Trauma and Its Aftermath: Moral Injury and Moral Meaning Making will be held on May 13 -14 at SpringHouse Ministry Center in Minneapolis.
- Scholarships for UCC Students at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities are available. Is someone in your congregation considering seminary? UTS has scholarships available for UCC students who are intending to serve in congregations and ministries of the United Church of Christ and are enrolled as full-time students at UTS.
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Employment Opportunities
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- The Cornerstone Fund of the United Church of Christ is seeking a new CEO. The ideal candidate would be a mission-driven banking executive who is looking for a new challenge on a much broader scale.
- There are also many other opportunities within the Minnesota Conference.
Check out the employment opportunities portion of our website for all open positions.
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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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