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Barth Study Group: A Tale of 27 Years
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Karl Barth
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by Rev. David Moyer
A recent note from our former Conference Minister, Frederick Trost, highlights a remarkable achievement among clergy of the Conference, primarily centered in the Southwest Association, one that should be recognized and celebrated.
Fred recalls that in May of 1986, the Conference held a colloquy at Pilgrim Center exploring the theology of Karl Barth. Clergy and laity from the Wisconsin Conference and from the upper Midwest attended, and major presenters included Professor Douglas Meeks and the late Professor Eugene Wehrli, both teaching at Eden Theological Seminary at the time. The colloquy was in honor of the 100th anniversary of Barth's birth.
Read more
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Something to Celebrate!
Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting
June 6-9, Green Lake
Last Chance! Come for a day or for the weekend.
- Great music and worship development with the talented SHIFT quad of Bryan Shirchio, Andra Moran, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan and Christopher Grundy
- Much to celebrate at the Saturday evening concert and social gathering
- Terrific workshops
- Connect with friends old and new
Register now!
Information
Registration
Thursday workshop
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 Renew Your Congregation!
What can you do to help your congregation make the turn toward vitality and renewal?
Most congregations we know need help finding a way to make the turn toward revitalization, and so we offer the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations program as a resource for church renewal.
Everyone comes together for two gatherings where we are inspired by an excellent speaker, encouraged by hearing one another's stories, and motivated to keep trying by learning how to create an effective action plan. Participating churches also spend six weeks at home assessing five critical areas of church life and then creating an action plan.
"I think the best impact Five Practices had was on our collective attitude. There is now more of a sense that our church can continue to worship and serve Christ...and to even thrive." - Five Practices participant
For more information, go to wcucc.org/fivepractices or contact Rev. Joanne Thomson at jthomson@wcucc.org.
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 Rev. David Moyer Honored
The Wisconsin Conference is blessed to have two United Church of Christ colleges in our state. In honor of Rev. David Moyer's retirement and in recognition of his long service to the United Church in Wisconsin, both Lakeland College and Northland College gave David Moyer honorary degrees.
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Mercy in a Place of Darkness
by Sally Averkamp
The recent arrest of Bishop Bruce Burnside has suddenly put the Dane County Jail Ministry, usually invisible to most of us, in the spotlight. The critical assistance that Bishop Burnside received - that all inmates receive - was a huge gift to him and his family.
Read entire article
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Ruth Robeson and Rev. Wallace Robeson
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Robesons Honored in Turkey
The Rev. Wallace and Ruth Robeson were honored recently in Intanbul,
Tarsus and Izmir, Turkey. In Turkey, they had served as Christian teaching missionaries of the United Church of Christ for 44 years from 1952 to 1996. Seventeen years after becoming residents of Fairhaven Retirement Center in Whitewater, the Robesons returned to be re-united with school teachers, staff and students.
At a dinner party in Istanbul, 77 colleagues, students and friends gathered to give recognition to the Robesons for their four decades of teaching service in administration and the classroom.
Over 90 persons honored the Robesons in Tarsus at a dinner party arranged by alumni.
"We found it hard to remember the names of so many grads, especially since we knew them when they were 18 or 19 years old and now they are 55 to 70 years old," said Robeson. "The memories of those eleven days do not fade quickly or easily. They will be with us forever."
Since retirement at Fairhaven, Rev. Robeson has been teaching a weekly Bible Study Class. Currently he serves as a member of the Fairhaven Board of Directors, and with his wife is active in other leadership capacities at Congregational United Church of Christ, Whitewater, Fairhaven, and in the Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ.
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God's Vision: The Great Dinner is Open to All 
Fourth National UCC Widening the Welcome
Pre-Synod Event
June 27, 2013
Renaissance Long Beach Hotel
Long Beach, California
Widening the Welcome is a pre-synod, one day national gathering about developing the life of congregations to include persons with disabilities and persons with mental illnesses/brain disorders and their families. The event is hosted by the UCC Disabilities Ministries and the UCC Mental Illness Network, and the keynote speakers are Susan Gregg-Schroeder, author of In the Shadow of God's Wings: Grace in the Midst of Depression, and Kathy N. Reeves, coordinator of the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN) North America. For more information and to register, go to the Widening the Welcome website. |
Summer Was Made for Camp and S'Mores 
Summer camp season for the UCCI ministries is just around the corner. Have you registered for camp yet? If you haven't, register today; we would love for you to come and join us! There is a camp that will satisfy everyone in the family. We have a great summer staff that is prepared to provide you with everything needed for an unforgettable, exciting experience.
At the upcoming UCC annual meeting make sure to stop by our booth to learn more about outdoor ministry opportunities! You can also donate to our 2013 summer s'mores fund while you're there. We want to make sure that we can provide a s'more to every camper; what's camp without s'mores?
Please take time to visit our website at www.ucci.org to register for upcoming camps and to donate to the s'mores fund!
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David Moyer Retirement Celebration
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The Rev. David S. Moyer Endowment for Outdoor Ministries
Help others experience the joy of God's natural world. In honor of Dave's retirement, an outdoor ministries endowment has been created. Give today!
InformationOnline giving
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Register for Lay Academy
Registration is available for Lay Academy Faith Foundations (Year 2) and Lay Ministry Skills (Year 4). For more information and to register, view the Lay Academy webpage.
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Marilynne Robinson to speak
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Interim Educator Sought
Union Congregational UCC in Green Bay is seeking an interim staff person for a program portfolio with a strength in education for 18-24 months. Interested persons may respond to Steve Hartman, Union Congregational United Church of Christ, 716 S. Madison Street, Green Bay, WI 54301. Inquiries may be made to Steve@unionucc.com or by phone at 920-347-3765. |
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Need Space?
Seeking space sharing partner, religious group or nonprofit agency. First Congregational UCC,
715 Wisconsin Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. Contact Gary Hougen at 262-903-3403. |
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Kent Ulery's Blog
Interim Associate Conference Minister Kent Ulery writes a blog: Rooted in Faith and Practice.
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Conference Events Calendar
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Got News?
Let us know! If you have something you'd like considered for publication in Wisconsin Conference Life, please send it to Nola at nrisseconnolly@wcucc.org. |
PO Box 435
DeForest, WI 53532 |
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