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Rev. Kent Ulery
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Sticks and Stones Can Break my Bones, but Words Will Never Hurt Me
by Rev. Kent Ulery
When I was in elementary school, my grandmother would repeat those lines whenever she found my little sister and I taunting one another. I didn't believe her then. In this age of advertisement and sound bites, ideological pundits and talking heads, instant communication and social media, bullying and broken relationships, half-truths and church fights, I still don't.
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Youth Say Send Me
Send Me, the theme song from the Great Lakes Regional Youth Retreat, was written by Andra Moran and a songwriting workshop of about 30 highschool students. The video is of the song they came up with, shared in the closing worship service of their worship gathering, and featuring a highschool senior named Clayton Michener tearing it up on electric guitar. As Andra says, "Pretty spectacular group of young people we have in the UCC and DOC, isn't it? Let's continue to invest in our youth programming-- it makes a difference!" The Send Me sheet music is also available. Note: the rhythms were simplified a bit for the sheet music. Looking for youth events? The next Conference youth event is the Youth Faith Formation retreat, October 10-12, 2014, at Moon Beach. More details will be available shortly.
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 Lay Academy Blessed with a Record Number of Participants
This fall, the Wisconsin Conference Lay Academy will welcome 82 people from 53 different congregations in the Wisconsin Conference, and two participants from congregations in Illinois! This means approximately one-fourth of all the congregations in the Wisconsin Conference have at least one member participating in Lay Academy in 2014-2015. This is an incredible blessing! |
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Upcoming Conference Events: Register Now, or Mark Your Calendars!
Summer may be winding down, but there's lots to do in the next months. Plan now for any of these great options: Online UCC History and Polity ClassWeekly on Wednesdays, September 10 - October 29 Registration deadline: September 3 More informationCommunities of Practice Peer Learning GroupsSeptember - May Registration deadline: September 8, 2014 More informationYouth Faith Formation Retreat
October 10-12, 2014 Moon Beach More information
Knock Knock November 21-23, 2014
Pilgrim Center A retreat for middle school youth groups and their leaders. Knock Knock is designed to help groups bond as the youth explore some of the many issues they will encounter during their middle school years...and beyond. More information
Second Annual Mutton LectureshipFeaturing Cornelius Plantinga Jr. November 22, 2014 Wisconsin Conference Trost Center, DeForest More informationTurnaround ChurchPlan now to get this valuable program into your church's budget! February 27-28, 2015 Wisconsin Conference Trost Center, DeForest More information |
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Training or Common Sense?
by Kandy Keuler, agent for the United Church of Christ Insurance BoardSo often we hear the expression, usually after some calamity, "Well, it's just common sense." The words are spoken as if common sense just IS. As if all are equally endowed with all of the necessary means to deal with all of life's contingencies. We challenge you to think for a moment, exactly what is "common sense?" Where does it come from?
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Neal Plantinga Featured at Second Annual Mutton Lectureship
Cornelius Plantinga Jr. will give the Second Annual Robert Mutton Lecture on November 22, 2014. Dr. Plantinga will discuss his latest book, Reading for Preaching, as well as explore the topic "Preaching Sin and Grace in a No-Fault Culture." Plantinga is Senior Research Fellow at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and president emeritus of Calvin Theological Seminary.
Time: Saturday, November 22, 2014, 9:00am - 3:00pm; registration and coffee 8:30
Place: Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ Trost Center
4459 Gray Road, DeForest, WI 53532
Register here for the event, which includes morning coffee and lunch for a total cost of $15.
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Outdoor Ministry Matters
 The Wisconsin Conference UCC together with the United Church Camps, Inc.'s (UCCI) CAMPITAL CAMPAIGN is underway!
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Rev. Carroll Olm and Rev. Phil Milam
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Rev. Carroll J. Olm Celebrates 65th Ordination Anniversary
You are invited! The 65th Anniversary of the Ordination of the Rev. Dr. Carroll J. Olm as a minister of the United Church of Christ will be acknowledged at a worship service on Sunday, August 24th, at 10am at the Congregational United Church of Christ, Whitewater, Wisconsin. The Rev. Olm will preach the sermon titled "If I Had a Thousand Lives to Live" focusing on the Call of the Ministry. The Rev. Phil Milam, pastor, will conduct the liturgy.
More information
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Upcoming September Events of Interest
Haiti Allies BenefitWilly Porter, a nationally-acclaimed musician, is performing at the Haiti Allies benefit on Saturday, September 6, at 7:30pm. Haiti Allies is an outreach of Madison Christian Community. More informationGovernance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership with Dan Hotchkiss Workshop for your church leadership
September 11-13, Madison First Congregational
Half price for members of Wisconsin Conference UCC with $75 scholarship
More information
Register
Parker J. Palmer to speak at Madison Civics Club
September 13, 2014
Registration deadline: September 5, 2014
Westend Gospel Singers Tour
September 15-29, 2014
The tour is a joint ministry of the Wisconsin Conference, United Church of Christ and the German Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Schlesische-Oberlausitz. Concert Schedule
The Unfolding of Self: Detours, Destinations and Discoveries Along the Way
Holy Wisdom Monastery biennial Benedictine Retreat
September 19-21, 2014
Registration deadline: September 5
More information
Best of the Midwest Gospel Workshop
An event of the Wisconsin Gospellers. Led by Robert Robinson. September 20, 2014
First Congregational UCC, Appleton
More information
Register
Did you Hear That? Listening for God in Our Lives
An event for confirmation-age youth, teachers, and mentors
Wednesday evening, September 24
Lakeland College, Sheboygan
More information
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Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ | 4459 Gray Road | PO Box 435 | DeForest, WI 53532
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Church Spotlight 
Trinity United Church of Christ is located in the country in the Northeast Association about 20 miles north of Appleton. Rev. Moira Finley is the pastor of the church, and she shares her pastoral duties with the congregation at St. John's in Cecil. Jointly with the nearby Ascension Lutheran Church, the church sponsors and supports the work of the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. Trinity also has a strong women's fellowship group and Christian education program for children and youth.
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Pipe Organ Available
St. Peter's UCC in Saukville has a pipe organ available. Contact Rev. Brian Damrow for more information at 262-284-0588.
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Director of Faith Development Position open
United Congregational Church is seeking a Director of Family Faith Development. Contact Kimberly Porter at 715-220-1339 for more information.
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Got News?
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Let us know! If you have something you'd like considered for publication in
Wisconsin Conference Life, email Nola at the Wisconsin Conference.
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