COMMAntary E-Newsletter, Vol. 12, No. 26 
June 29, 2016
In This Issue
The Liddle Family is on Their Way to East Timor  
Following their commissioning during Sunday morning worship at the Minnesota Conference 2016 Annual Meeting, Tom and Monica Liddle and their children are on their way to East Timor.  They will be keeping a blog so that we can hear about all they are doing as they serve as missionaries.  We, the people and congregations of the Minnesota Conference, contributed financially to help make their work happen and that need will be ongoing, but we can also contribute by holding them up in prayer.  Their blog is one way for us to know the joys and obstacles they will face.    
This Week's Spotlight -  Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul 
Macalester Plymouth United Church is an Open and Affirming, Just Peace, and Earthwise congregation located in the heart of St. Paul, adjacent to the campus of Macalester College. Their history mirrors that of the United Church of Christ: four congregations joining together as one. They carry the history and traditions of Macalester Presbyterian Church (1887), Plymouth Congregational Church (1858), Merriam Park Presbyterian Church (1884), and Lexington Parkway Presbyterian Church (1911), and they delight in creating new traditions and experiences together.

They are passionate about community engagement and social justice. Their Caring for Creation group, racial justice book study, and regular service projects in and around St. Paul are just a few ways their congregation seeks to grow God's love in the world.
Are You Looking for a New Youth or Children's Minister? 
Minnesota Conference is sponsoring a "Job Fair" booth at NYE!

During National Youth Event, July 26 - 30, the Minnesota Conference will have a booth to advertise positions available in children and youth ministry from any and all of our churches.  WE NEED YOUR INFORMATION!  Please email Zac Norenburg a one page sheet on your position opening.  This is a great opportunity to get your message out to literally hundreds of potential applicants. 
The Search is On for an Associate Conference Minister of Faith Formation
 
The Minnesota Conference UCC is searching for a full-time Associate Conference Minister of Faith Formation for Children & Youth who will plan and support faith formation ministries with children and youth throughout the Conference. The ACM in this position also helps shape the outdoor ministry of the Conference at Pilgrim Point Camp, in cooperation with the Camp Director and Pilgrim Point Camp Committee.

This is a strategic leadership position that in most cases empowers others to carry out the tactical, hands-on elements of the ministry. Significant priority is given to equipping those doing faith formation with children and youth in congregational settings and strengthening those ministries across the life of the Conference. Position is open to both authorized ministers and lay persons with relevant experience. Generous salary and benefits. Application deadline is July 29.  
 
Find out more & read the full Opportunity Profile here.
Highlighting Camp Opportunities at Pilgrim Point 

"Strengthen Your Youth Ministry -  
Go to Camp Together!"

Whether you have one youth in your church or many, attend camp together (grades 6-12) for an unforgettable ministry and life-changing week! You won't want to miss out on our fun activities, Lake Ida water slide, day of mission experiences, vespers and excellent food! 
 
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! 
 
 
When:July 10 - 15, 2016 
Where: Pilgrim Point Camp, Alexandria, MN (directions)
Who: Youth (individuals and church groups; exiting 6th-12th grades) and their adult leaders (21 and older)
Cost: Youth cost - $370; Adult Leader cost - $100 
Forms: All campers must submit a health and medical release form


Check out other camp & retreat opportunities at
Pilgrim Point on our website.
Church Secretaries and Church Support Staff Annual Conference
The UCCOSSN is holding it's Annual Event this year on August 4 - 6 in Gaithersburg, MD. It is for all church support staff.   

The theme this year is Balance ~ Work & Life...something we all strive for and hopefully something this conference will help you reach.  Workshops include Body Balance and Finding your Spiritual Geography, and keynote Marchae Grair, who is newly UCC and loving it.  She is the Social Media Associate for the national setting of the UCC in Cleveland.  Registration is available online. Please let the Conference Office know via email if you are going so that we can see who will be representing Minnesota at this Conference. 
Upcoming Events
  • Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreats Events
    • Deaf First Family Camp | Thursday, June 30 - Tuesday, July 5
    • Taize Meditation Retreat | 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
    • Women's Retreat | Friday, September 23 - Sunday, September 25
Notices
  • The UCC has released the Stillspeaking 2.0 Toolkit which offers resources and materials for use in social media, websites, and bulletins. 
  • The Denominational Leaders Summit will gather on November 9-11 in Washington D.C. to engage your leadership and ideas as well as help offer tools along the way for you in your ministries.  Tracks include: Engaging Racial Justice, Media Training, Generational Conversations, and Coalition Building.
  • What's a narrative budget... and how can it inspire giving? Is your church looking for fresh ways to motivate members to be generous with their pledges?  A narrative budget inspires giving by telling your church's story with pictures and text, in addition to presenting the necessary page-of-numbers documents. This hits home for church members and inspires generosity. Of course presenting your church with financial information is a necessity, but it doesn't have to be the only way you communicate the budget.  Learn more about narrative budgets and see sample narrative budgets from other UCC churches! 
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