COMMAntary E-Newsletter, Vol. 12, No. 23 
June 8, 2016
In This Issue
Annual Meeting | THIS WEEKEND June 10 - 12, 2016
College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN 
Annual Meeting Inspires Our Ministry Year-Round 
At the 2015 Annual Meeting we focused on "Going Deeper: Trusting in Sacred Conversation".  Our keynote speaker, our worship, and our small groups all helped us look at racism with a whole new lens.  And that was just the beginning.  Many of our attendees took this information back to their churches and took action on what they had heard and experienced.  We asked for your details on some of the things you were inspired to do following last year's Annual Meeting and we compiled a list to share.  

That's what Annual Meeting is all about.  It's not only seeing everyone from the Conference or getting a weekend away from your church or shopping with all the vendors or sleeping in a college dorm room or the delicious meals in the cafeteria(although those are great reasons to attend).   It's really all about how we can be moved to go out and follow God's call in our churches.  Come be moved this weekend as we continue our topic of race, economics, and faith!

Annual Reports, Agenda, & Other Items
Find Annual Meeting event documents, Annual Reports, resolution documents, and other resources pertaining to the Annual Meeting on our website

Annual Meeting Weekend Worship Resources 
Each year the Annual Meeting Planning Work Group creates resources, tied in with the theme of Annual Meeting, that local churches can decide to use while their pastor and other congregation leaders are away at Annual Meeting. These resources include a worship outline and sermon ideas. We hope these will be helpful and meaningful to congregations.

Miss the Registration Deadline? 
We will be able to accommodate some new registrations during Annual Meeting, but cannot guarantee housing availability. Please email Sandy Kellen, or call the Conference office at (612) 871-0359, if you have not registered but are still hoping to attend. 

We look forward to seeing you June 10-12 at Annual Meeting!!

It's Not too Late to Register for the MN ONA Event This Week! 
 
There is also still time to register for the Thursday night banquet and MN Conference event on Thursday night and Friday morning before the Minnesota Conference Annual Meeting this weekend. If you would like to take advantage of this amazing opportunity, please call Kim Graff at 651-283-0962 for more information. There has been a change to the MN Conference keynote speaker and we are excited to welcome poet and public speaker Andrea Jenkins. Ms. Jenkins will speak on her experiences with the intersection between race, gender, and sexuality. 
 
Highlighting Camp Opportunities at Pilgrim Point: 
Intergenerational Mission Week
June 26 - 30

Mission work is one of the most important ways we learn our Christian faith.  If you have a group of adults from your congregation who want to be a part of giving back to the community around Pilgrim Point, now is the time.  If you have youth in your congregation and some adults to join them, now is the time.  Share in mission opportunities around Douglas County (where camp is located) to do work around clothing justice, food justice, housing justice, and more!

If there are several youth coming from your faith community, make sure there is a ratio of at least one adult to every youth aged 13-18.  Parents or an authorized guardian must attend with children younger than 13.  Otherwise, this will be the most easily planned mission experience you've had.  You get the best of both worlds...mission and camp! 
 

When: Sunday, June 26 through Thursday, June 30
Where: Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreats, Alexandria, MN (directions)
Who: All ages.  Youth 13-18 must be accompanied by an adult.  Children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or authorized guardian.
Cost: 13 and older - $320; Children under 13 - $200
Registration Deadline: June 17, 2016
Check out other camp & retreat opportunities at
Pilgrim Point on our website.
Back Bay Mission Trip 2017 
 
Registrations for the Back Bay Mission trip for 2017 are coming in and we have tentatively already registered 27 for week #1, January 29 - February 4, 2017; and registered 17 for week #2, February 5 - 11, 2017. We can take at least 30 volunteers each week. If you want to participate in either week, it is recommended that you submit your registration as soon as possible. If you have questions and are attending the UCC Minnesota Conference Annual meeting, please stop by the Back Bay table and we will be glad to answer your questions and accept your registration. Here is the link for the registration form or for additional information the link to Back Bay Mission infoEmail Bob Peterson to answer your questions or accept your registrations.

Joys & Concerns  
  • Rev. Dr. Barbara Holmes, President of United Theological Seminary, has announced her retirement from that position effective August 31, 2016.  "Dr. B", as she is affectionately referred to by many, has served as UTS President since 2012.  We celebrate the incredible leadership she has brought to UTS in a time of great change and re-visioning.
Upcoming Events
  • Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreats Events
    • Taller & Smaller Camp (for parents and their young children in the K-4 grade) | Sunday, June 19 - Friday, June 24 
    • Intergenerational Mission Week (Open to ALL) | Sunday, June 26 - Thursday, June 30
    • Taize Meditation Retreat (Open to ALL) | Tuesday, July 5 - Friday, July 8
    • Youth Camp - Week 1 (Youth leaving the 6-12th grade and their adult leaders 21 and older) | Sunday, July 10 - Friday, July 15
    • Youth Camp - Week 2 (Youth leaving the 6-12th grade and their adult leaders 21 and older) | Sunday, July 17 - Friday, June 22 
    • Youth Mission Week | Sunday, August 7 - Friday, August 12
    • Camp AweSum (for families with members on the autism spectrum) | Sunday, August 14 - Friday, August 19
  • National UCC Events
    • 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.
    • Under Construction: Building Our Faith Together helps you to see and experience how one church builds intergenerational relationships.  This is open to all children's ministry/youth faith formation staff or volunteers.
Notices
  • The UCC has released the Stillspeaking 2.0 Toolkit which offers resources and materials for use in social media, websites, and bulletins. 
  • FREE Practical Webinars for Our Churches! The New York Conference UCC, along with the UMC and Presbyterian area churches, are sponsoring a valuable resource for our ministers and lay leaders. Webinars are ongoing throughout the year and cover subjects like: how to do Sunday School differently, intergenerational worship 101, embracing stewardship, seeking God via Google, and much more. 
  • Come meet your Muslim neighbors as they prepare for the sacred month of Ramadan beginning in June (June 6-July 5). The Minnesota Council of Churches is excited to invite you to a series of open houses at area mosques. Coordinated in partnership with the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, open houses provide an opportunity to learn about Islam, observe Muslim prayer, and share food and conversation at the meal breaking the fast, called an Iftar. You are cordially invited to meet your neighbors, share an Iftar meal, and learn about each other. All events are free and open to the public, but registration is required.
  • New CPE Offering in Hospice: The Allina CPE Center and Allina Hospice announce the inauguration of Clinical Pastoral Education in their hospice setting.  In the fall of 2016 they will begin a "super-extended" CPE internship, lasting 32 weeks, from October 3 - May 12.
Employment Opportunities

There are many opportunities within the Minnesota Conference.

Check out the employment opportunities portion of our website for all open positions.

Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ | www.uccmn.org
122 W Franklin Ave, Suite 323, Minneapolis, MN 55404