Reading, Praying and Listening
by Rev. Rebecca Johnston
One of the gifts of traveling around the Northern Associations is having time to listen to audio books. Recently I was captured by "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving. The gift in this is that I get to catch up on some reading; the downfall is I get caught up in the book and never turn on the news. Amazingly, I can go all week without hearing any news, as I drive all day in my car listening to a book, I get to a hotel at night and crash just to get up the next morning and travel on. I don't watch TV or turn on the radio, I just get lost in my book. It creates a nice little world for me to live in as I converse with the different characters in the book, but it leaves a hole in my soul as I lose the ability to converse with the real world in which I live.
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 First Congregational Church in Platteville Celebrates 175 Years
Congratulations to the First Congregational Church in Platteville for their 175th anniversary!
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Last Chance to Register for a Community of Practice
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Youth Faith Formation Retreat
Faith Formation #ConfirmationChallenge 2014-15
October 10-12, 2014, Moon Beach
Is your faith fully formed? Are you on the journey? Where have we come from? Where are we going? How do we get there?
All these questions, and more, will be explored during the Faith Formation Retreat for confirmation classes and their adult leaders/mentors. Don't have a confirmation class? That's okay! Bring your youth who want to explore their faith with other youth and supportive adults.
More information and registration
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How Can the Wisconsin Conference be a Catalyst for Congregational Renewal?
In mid-October at different locations around the state, the Conference Church Development and Renewal Team is inviting you to participate in an upcoming conversation gathering to talk about this question.
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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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Turnaround Church
Is your congregation ready for something new? Do you believe that your church has the potential for revitalization, if only you knew what to do? The key to growing a church is to build relationships with people in your community by offering a genuine welcome to your congregation. Many of us have forgotten the simple, practical ways that members reach out to new people that used to be a natural part of church life. In this workshop, you'll learn how to turn your hopes and good intentions into action through planning, teamwork, and fun. February 27-28, 2015
Wisconsin Conference Trost Center, DeForest More information
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Diana Butler Bass is coming to Wisconsin
Saturday, March 21, 2015: First Congregational UCC, Eau Claire
Sunday, March 22, 2015: First Congregational UCC, Watertown
Be on the lookout for more information about this event with author Diana Butler Bass! Full details will be available soon. In the meantime, you can check her out on YouTube.
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National UCC Minister of Economic Justice to Speak
On Sunday afternoon, October 26, Edith Rasell, national staff member and Minister of Economic Justice, Justice and Witness Ministries will speak at an adult education forum at Lake Edge UCC in Madison. Time to be determined. Everyone is invited to attend.
Edith Rasell is a UCC layperson and has a PHD in economics. Prior to her work at UCC she worked for 12 years as the Economic Policy Institute a highly regarded progressive think tank in Washington DC,
The UCC website states, "She works with UCC congregations around the country as well as national and international organizations to bring greater economic justice to people in the US and around the world especially the poor and marginalized. Rasell is known for her ability to make economics more understandable, relevant and interesting."
Economic Justice and income inequality is an issue critical to all of us. More information will be available soon. Please put this date on your calendars.
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Back Bay Mission Seeks Executive Director
Back Bay Mission, a community ministry of the United Church of Christ in Biloxi, Mississippi, is seeking an Executive Director.
Interested candidates should review the complete job description on the Mission's website. All applications are due by September 19, 2014.
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Upcoming Events of Interest
Voices for Peace and Justice in the Holy Land
On November 7-8, the local Sabeel group (an ecumenical peace and justice organization based in Jerusalem) will have regional conference entitled "Voices for Peace and Justice in the Holy Land." Bright Stars of Bethlehem, our Southwest UCC Partnership organization, as well as several local UCC churches are sponsoring organizations. For more information, contact Bonnie Van Overbeke or go to the Friends of Sabeel North America website.
"Habits of the Heart" for Healthy Congregations with Parker Palmer Pastors and lay leaders throughout Wisconsin are invited to join together this fall to explore Parker Palmer's "Habits of the Heart" - tools and methods for building bridges across our differences and building up the body of Christ. This event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Churches.
More information
Best of the Midwest Gospel Workshop
Join the Wisconsin Gospellers and the Westend Gospel Singers on September 20 for a gospel workshop featuring Robert Robinson, "the Pavarotti of Gospel." Those attending the workshop may sing with Robert in concert songs learned during the day. More information Registration
Westend Gospel Singers
The Wisconsin Gospellers will join the Westend Gospel Singers to culminate their two-week tour at Trinity UCC in Chicago. The groups will sing at Trinity in worship on Sunday, September 27, performing songs both on their own and together with one of Trinity's renowned gospel choirs. Complete tour schedule
Interim Ministry Training Institute Offered by Sand Bur Consulting. This 8-session training program begins in October.
More information
Everything Belongs: Holding Life's Challenges in Balance Have you become weary with the growing tension between peoples and nations and liberals and conservatives? On a personal level, are you longing to manage stress within your family or your community because of differing perspectives? If so, you may be interested in this retreat with Rev. Holly Whitcomb.
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Parables: A Still Speaking Worship Event Experience a vital, inspiring model of collaborative worship and faith formation! Join pastors, faith formation directors, worship leaders, disability ministry volunteers, and other lay leaders for this national gathering. October 26, 2014, at the Wayzata Community Church in Wayzata, Minnesota. More information
God in a Digital World
GLAUCE/GLAPCE Fall Conference
Techny, Illinois
Keynote Speaker: Bruce Reyes-Chow
More information
Leading from Within: The Spirituality of Leadership October 29, 2014
UW-Madison Continuing Education, Pyle Center, Madison More information
Clergy Day Away Authorized ministers and members in discernment are invited to the Illinois Conference's Clergy Day Away with Lauren Winner on November 11-12, 2014. For more information, please see the brochure linked below or visit www.clergydayaway.com . Clergy Day Away brochure
Women at the Well Retreat Come to Pilgrim Center November 14-16 for a great weekend: relishing the beauty of Green Lake, relaxing in nature, talking with friends, and filling your soul. The theme is "Shaped and Watered by God." Retreat leaders are Rev. Colleen Kwong and Rev. Holly Whitcomb. Workshops and sessions include: surviving transitions with grace, throwing clay, and living into your purpose and call. Register today at www.ucci.org or contact Pilgrim Center at 920-748-6750.
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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 
For 156 years, this church has served congregants in Tomah. Music and Sunday school, along with mission, have always been important parts of this church's mission. The current pastor of this Northwest Association church is Rev. Ed Stigen.
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Are there churches considering an Open and Affirming Process? The Wisconsin Conference has a committee to help! Please feel free to use us as resources for your discussions and preparations. Contact Micah Schlobohm or Rich Fluechtling of the Wisconsin Conference UCC Committee on Ministry with LGBTQ Persons.
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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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