 Instruments of God's Love
by Rev. Tisha Brown
"Most church boats don't like to be rocked; they prefer to lie at anchor rather than go places in stormy seas..."
I admit it, I love the church. I love the hymns and the rituals. I love the habits and patterns of life formed and shaped by church involvement. I love the little girls who sit in front of me and sing their hearts out on Sunday morning. I love the fellowship of coffee hour and the sense of being known and loved by a community. In so many places in my day to day life this sense of familiarity, of belonging and of community is absent or hard to come by. In my church, I can count on it and it fills my heart.
But I am also aware that if I love these things too much, if I'm not willing to reach out beyond what I know to share God's love with the wider world I am missing out on a major component of the Gospel call to all believers. Read more
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 God's Still-speaking Spirit Present at General Synod
by Dale Stohre
General Synod 30 is over, and (despite my eight pages of notes) let this delegate simply give witness to the God who was at work at our gathering in Cleveland.
Early in General Synod, in Saturday's worship service, our prayer included these words:
Uniting God, you have gathered us together from the west, the east, the south and the north. We pray that today, as we build new relationship and renew longstanding friendships, we might be more fully transformed into your living body. God of unexpected places, hear our prayer.
I believe God heard, and God's still-speaking Spirit was present. We were challenged by speaker after speaker to live out the Gospel boldly; I love the earthy admonition columnist Connie Schultz learned from her mother: "Love everyone God loves. That be everyone. No exceptions." Read more
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 General Synod Boycott Resolution
by Rev. Bonnie Van Overbeke
At General Synod, delegates overwhelmingly voted to boycott, divest and sanction (BDS) companies that profit from Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands. Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, traveled to Cleveland for the synod as a resource person on life as a Palestinian Christian and an advocate for this resolution. In a statement following the vote in favor of BDS, Pastor Mitri thanked the synod, saying "the UCC has demonstrated its commitment to justice and equality. For Palestinians living under occupation or facing systematic discrimination as citizens of Israel, enduring the destruction of their homes and businesses, the theft of their land for settlements, and living under blockade and siege in Gaza, this action sends a strong signal that they are not alone, and that there are churches who still dare to speak truth to power and stand with the oppressed."
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Delavan Church Feeds the Children
Andy's breakfast club was created to meet the need for children to have a good breakfast during the summer. Read about the genesis of this church initiative, and how the community came together to make it happen. More>
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Last Call!
Have you ever been a Lay Academy student? You are welcome to come to the Lay Academy Alumni event, July 31-Aug. 1, 2015. Register by July 21, 2015.
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Communities of Practice Peer Learning Groups
"It has helped me feel more confident, more supported, and better resourced." --COP participant
Don't go it alone! Communities of Practice Peer Learning Groups provide the sustenance that your ministry needs in order to be effective well into the future. There are groups for geographic areas as well as specialty, such as pastors nearing retirement, licensed pastors, or newly ordained pastors. Groups are led by trained facilitators and run from September through May. More details: www.wcucc.org or 608-846-7880. |
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Living an Undivided Life:
Finding Wholeness in your Life and Work
A retreat for clergy, congregational leaders and spiritual seekers
October 4-6, 2015 - Pilgrim Center
As leaders and deeply involved participants in our spiritual communities, how can we find and sustain wholeness in our life and work? Living an Undivided Life is a three-day Circle of Trust®
retreat where we will explore the personal and spiritual touchstones that at the center of our life and work and the challenges of being wholehearted in what we do. The retreat facilitators are Albert Bellg, PhD, Barbara Hummel, and Rev. Winton Boyd. Flyer
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 Wisconsin Conference UCC 2014-15 Annual Report
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 Widening the Welcome: Inclusion for All
The 5th National UCC Widening the Welcome: Inclusion for All Conference will be September 24-26, in Hartford, Conn. These Conferences have been a sign of the movement in our UCC to address concerns and issues around disabilities, mental health challenges, and cognitive/developmental disabilities. Our hope is for our congregations to be inclusive of persons who are living with these life experiences. Along with theological insights there will be practical applications and networking with others from across the country. There will be inspiration through worship, music, and storytelling. You are invited to attend and to send the information along to others. This Conference is hosted by the UCC Disabilities Ministries and the UCC Mental Health Network. |
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Interim Ministry Training Institute
The Interim Ministry Training Institute (IMTI) is an intensive training program that is offered inter-denominationally at a location in Wisconsin. It will run October, 2015 through May, 2016. Led by Sand Bur Consulting, the rigorous program spans an eight-month period with monthly full-day sessions, reading and practicum assignments, and personal coaching. IMTI is designed for pastors considering or currently serving as interims, as well as settled pastors who wish to build skills and confidence in leading a congregation through an intentional time of transition. Attention is paid to various models for this ministry, including full-time/fully-supported, part-time/bi-vocational, and for those geographically-bound.
"All pastors are interim and temporary at some level. Some are more aware of this than others. All congregations are in transition. Some are more aware of this than others." See brochure for more information.
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 Sing with the Gospellers in Germany
June 29-July 14, 2016 Please share this opportunity in your church bulletin and newsletter. Join The Wisconsin Gospellers on tour. Share the joy of gospel music in worship and concert. Make new friends staying with welcoming host families. Upon invitation from the Westend Gospel Singers of Eberswalde, a city an hour north of Berlin, the tour will sing throughout eastern Germany in 11 different locations. Register now! The 35 places on this tour are filling up! |
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This newsletter is made possible by contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support.The Wisconsin Conference UCC is an Open and Affirming Conference
Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
4459 Gray Road | PO Box 435 | DeForest, WI 53532
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Church Spotlight 
The First Congregational Church in Watertown, in the Southeast Association, is among the Conference's oldest Churches. Currently served by interim pastor Rev. Steve Welch, this church serves the community and wider church through many missions and ministries, and provides active youth and adult faith formation programs.
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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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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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