How has your congregation engaged in anti-racism work since last year's Annual Meeting? 
It was an emotional weekend of discussions, speakers, and activities.  As the 2015 Annual Meeting came to a close, church members were asked to return to their congregations and continue the dialogue.  We are now looking for input from throughout the Minnesota Conference.  We have heard about some wonderful things that have already taken place or are being planned.  Please let us know about these events and conversations so that we can share them with others at the 2016 Annual Meeting and generate new energy and ideas.  Tell your church's story in 250 words or less by submitting the information to Sandy Kellen in the Conference office.  Include the name and email address or phone number of a contact person.  Sandy will compile a collection of these documents so that we can see the impact  and share your ideas with others. 

There are several ONA events happening at St. Benedicts in St. Joseph in early June.  Here are the details: 

1. The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ chose Minnesota as the location of their national Gathering (conference) this June. It is scheduled for the week before the Minnesota Conference Annual Meeting from June 7th - 9th (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). The theme of their event is ONA Next and the keynote speaker is Rev. Traci Blackmon, who will be speaking on a different theme than at the Minnesota Conference meeting. You can register for it here. The cost is $200.00 plus lodging. There is an additional registration cost for the Thursday night banquet (please see that information below). To register for lodging, please contact the College of St. Benedict at 320-363-5791 or use this online form to reserve housing. You can reserve a room for Monday through Thursday nights.
2. On Thursday evening, the Coalition will host their annual fundraising banquet. The cost is $35 and it is not included in any of the other registration costs. You can register for it here, but if you are registering for the conference and the banquet, you will have to use the registration link twice. (This is being evaluated and may change just know that the full cost for the conference and the banquet is $235 plus lodging and additional meals.
3. On Thursday afternoon, the Open and Affirming Team of the Minnesota Conference will begin host our pre-annual meeting event starting at 5 pm. You can register for that event here. It is at the bottom of the registration options and you can register for this event even if you are not attending the Coalition event or the MN Conference annual meeting. The cost is $20 plus lodging and food (which can be reserved at the same link). This fee includes a Thursday evening late evening social time (again - not the banquet) and Friday morning events including a plenary session with Andrew Lang on intersectionality of justice work, worship, and networking. We encourage attendees to consider attending the UCC coalition's annual banquet by registering on the Coalition website, but it is not required. Please note - if you are attending the Coalition event and already signed up for a room and food, you do not need to duplicate it here. You may also arrive Friday morning to attend the plenary and networking times.
4. The Minnesota Conference will host their Annual Meeting from lunchtime on Friday through lunchtime on Sunday. You may register for that event here. If you are attending multiple events, you may request to have the same room through all of them.

• Rev. Henry Hendricks died on April 21 in Roseville.  Rev. Hendricks was pastor of St. Paul's UCC in Minnesota Lake from 1999 until 2007.  He had been on leave of absence from ministerial duties and then retired due to health problems since then.  He is survived by two sons.  Our sympathies to the family.
• Aaron Lauer will be ordained on Sunday, May 8, at 3 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Minnesota in Minneapolis.  Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles.  A reception will follow the service of ordination.  Aaron has accepted a call to serve Coral Gables Congregational UCC in Coral Gables, Florida.

• 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 

• National UCC Events
• Join the UCC in St. Joseph, MN for the National ONA Gathering on June 7-9, 2016.  You can register online for this event. 
• For more information on Global Ministries,  connect to their weekly update. 
• Shepherding the Shepherd brings together UCC clergy in their 20's and 30's from all over the nation for renewal, connection, and growth.  Check out the details of their next gathering June 21 - 23 in Wallingford, PA.

• Local Church Events