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Wisconsin Conference Life Newsletter
Dec. 10, 2014
Lisa Hart Opening Doors at Knock Knock
by Lisa Hart, Coordinator for Youth Ministry

The weekend before Thanksgiving was an exciting and busy time. For many people in our congregations, it was the opening weekend of deer hunting. For 67 middle school youth and their adult leaders, it was the Knock Knock Retreat. This retreat is sponsored by the Conference Youth Ministry Team (CYMT) and is held at Pilgrim Center each November.

 

Knock Knock is designed to bring middle school youth together to experience the wider church while strengthening the bonds they have with the other youth and adult leaders from their congregation. During their time at Knock Knock, participants moved through five "Doors" (workshops) that focused on topics that affect middle school youth...Family, Friends, Hurt, Influence and Fun 'n Games. In each workshop, they were able to explore the ways in which their faith can play a role in these areas of their lives.
Read more

An Advent Call for Accountability

 

During an Advent gathering to envision the future of ministry in the 21st century, 140 leaders of the United Church of Christ -- national officers and staff, conference ministers and associates -- released a letter to the church addressing the racism they see in the Michael Brown case in Ferguson, the Eric Gardner case in New York and the Tamir Rice shooting in Cleveland. A message of outrage this holy season calling for accountability and justice for all people.

Read the letter

Christmas Blessings from the United Church of Christ

In unexpected places, the Christ Child is born. Blessings to you this holiday season, and peace in the New Year.
Christmas Blessings from the United Church of Christ
Illuminating the Word: The Saint John's Bible

Chazen Museum of Art, Madison
December 19, 2014 - March 15, 2015

 

Illuminating the Word: The Saint John's Bible will present 68 original pages from all seven volumes of The Saint John's Bible along with tools, sketches, materials, and rare books, which help to tell the story of this monumental creation. The exhibition was realized through the collaborative efforts of the Chazen and the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library (HMML) at Saint John's Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. The exhibition runs Dec. 19, 2014 through March 15, 2015.  
More information 
Jesus Core High School Retreat

Hurry! Registration ends after December 19, 2014.


Find your way to the core! Jesus Core is a 
retreat for high school students, individually or with their church groups, designed to help teens gain a sense of the direction God is leading them. In the Jesus Core community, teens with experience worship, music, prayer, rest and inspiration. Details can be found at wcucc.org/youth

Senior High Mission Trip to the Bahamas

 

The Wisconsin Conference UCC has limited space available to join First Congregational UCC in Appleton for a senior high mission trip to Nassau, Bahamas. The trip is scheduled for July 12th-18th, 2015. We are working on the final details, but expect that the trip will cost between $1200 and $1300/person. A passport is also required. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Lisa Hart, Coordinator for Youth Ministry, at [email protected] or 608-846-7880. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Turnaround Church Workshop
December is a busy time for churches, but don't forget to work on getting a team together for this exciting program!

 

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. In the Turnaround Church workshop, you'll learn how to turn your hopes and good intentions into action through planning, teamwork, and fun.

More information

Campital Campaign Update

 

United Church Camps, Inc., reports that the Campital Campaign Family Gifts Division total to date is $125,350.

Read the Camps report

Connecting through Our Whole Lives

 

This fall three UCC congregations--Lake Edge, Madison; First Congregational, Janesville; and McFarland--launched a collaborative effort for youth in grades 7-9 and 10-12. Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a faith formation program developed by the United Church of Christ's Justice and Witness Ministries and the Unitarian Universalist Association. It offers "comprehensive sexuality education, (including) anatomy, health,...values, respect, emotions and justice."

 

OWL helps to create a supportive relationship between families, who play the primary role in providing information to their children regarding topics relating to sexuality, youth, and the church. Lay leaders trained as OWL facilitators met with parents and guardians before the sessions began to lay the groundwork, including how to ask questions that help create a positive environment for talking to youth about issues or sexuality.

 

Seventeen youth are taking part in OWL, meeting for two hours every other Sunday. One youth stated that because of OWL, coming to church has given her a safe place to "be herself" and not be immersed in the cliques and gossip she experiences during the week at school.
More Our Whole Lives information

Lakeland New Logo
Upcoming Lakeland College Mission House Center Events

In January, the Mission House Center at Lakeland College in Sheboygan will feature Rev. Dr. Serene Jones at its Founder's Day Lecture on January 20, and will feature Rev. Dr. Deborah Krause at its Lenten Lectionary Workshop on January 23, 2015.

More information 

Diana Butler Bass to Speak: Save the Date!

 

The Wisconsin Conference Faith Formation/Christian Education Team is bringing Diana Butler Bass to Wisconsin in March.  Butler Bass is an author, speaker and scholar specializing in American religion and culture.  She explores and writes about the dimensions of religion and spirituality in today's world, with the aim to help people understand faith both analytically and personally. She seeks to educate both people of faith and the general public about the importance, the depth, and the complexity of religion and spirituality in history, culture, and political life.

 

Butler Bass holds a Ph.D. in religions studies and has authored eight books, including her most recent book, Christianity after Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening. She will appear in two locations -- March 21 in Eau Claire, and March 22 in Watertown. Don't miss the opportunity to hear this dynamic and engaging speaker! 

This newsletter is made possible by contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support.

Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
4459 Gray Road | PO Box 435 | DeForest, WI  53532

In This Issue
Advent Call for Accountability
Christmas Blessings
Saint John's Bible
Jesus Core Retreat
Senior High Mission Trip
Turnaround Church Workshop
Campital Campaign Update
Our Whole Lives
Mission House Events
Diana Butler Bass to speak
Church Spotlight

 
 Ebenezer UCC
Stratford
 
It's possible that this church in the Northwest Association is the only Wisconsin Conference church that had its building burned down...on purpose. A new building was built just north of the original in 2007, and in 2011, the original building was donated to the Edgar Fire Department for a training burn.

Save the date!
 
Courage in the Struggle
Annual Meeting 2015
June 12-14, 2015
Green Lake Conference Center

Is your church 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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