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Wisconsin Conference Life Newsletter
August 19, 2015
Lisa Hart image
Hope...in Unexpected Places
by Lisa Hart

This summer I was blessed to have the opportunity to travel to Nassau, Bahamas on a youth mission trip. First Congregational UCC in Appleton invited the Wisconsin Conference to join them to work at the All Saints Camp through Next Step Ministries. This was an opportunity to engage in the typical mission trip construction work, as well as relational ministries with residents at the All Saints Camp. It was also an opportunity to experience hope in the most unexpected places...
Don't Miss Diana Butler Bass! Diana Butler Bass image
September 19 in Eau Claire
September 20 in Watertown

Don't miss the opportunity to hear this dynamic and engaging speaker!

Join the Wisconsin Conference's Christian Education/Faith Formation Commission for this great event featuring author Diana Butler Bass. Bring a group from your church! Diana Butler Bass is a well-known 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.
Communities of Practice image Communities of Practice Groups Now Forming

It has helped me feel more confident, more supported, and better resourced. --Communities of Practice 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 area 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. Please register by September 1, 2015.

More information and registration

Mutton Lectureship and Bible Study

 

Come hear Rev. Dr. Deborah Krause at the Trost Center in DeForest in November, and engage in a six-week bible study on her lecture topic.

More information

National Youth Event logo
National Youth Event: Believe
July 26-30
Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Detailed information about National Youth Event is now available.  Click here and scroll down to learn more. Youth leaders and pastors should watch for more information from Lisa Hart as it becomes available. 
2015-2016 Youth Events

Detailed information about this year's youth events will be coming your way soon! Keep your eyes open for information about:

Youth Faith Formation events

October 9-11, 2015, at Moon Beach

February 26-28, 2016, at Pilgrim Center

March 4-6, 2016, at Pilgrim Center

 
Knock Knock Middle School Retreat

November 20-22, 2015, at Pilgrim Center

Jesus Core High School Retreat
January 8-10, 2016, at Pilgrim Center

National Youth Event
July 26, 30, 2016 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Come-Down-to-the-Lakeshore Writer's Retreat
October 16-18, 2015
Pilgrim Center

Come down to
the shores of Wisconsin's Green Lake for a weekend of writing in a relaxed and Spirit-filled setting. Whether you are just starting out or have been writing for years, you are welcome!
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
Boundary Training

The Boundary Training hosted by the Southwest Association Division of Church and Ministry is October 23 from 10:00am-2:30pm at the Wisconsin Conference Trost Center in DeForest. The charge is $10.00 to cover lunch. 
Living an Undivided Life: Finding Wholeness in your Life and Work
October 4-6, 2015
Pilgrim Center

As leaders and deeply involved participants in our spiritual communities, how can we nurture 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 at the center of our life and work and the challenges of being whole - and wholehearted - in what we do.
Reviving Justice

A day of inspiration, education and action for change

Saturday, September 19, 2015
Plymouth Church UCC, Milwaukee 
$15 for youth, $40 adults (early bird $30 thru 7/31)

Reviving Justice offers a re-commitment to Justice Work through deeper learning, music-filled worship, and unique opportunities to build new connections here at home and on a national level. Part of our goal is to re-ignite action needed to address inequalities in our communities. For many, our faith calls us to this work - to be a Good Samaritan, to feed the poor, to be the change we want to see.  
More information and registration
Messy Church image Inspiring Models of Ministry Event

The United Church of Christ's "Inspiring Model of Ministry" series will feature a "Messy Church" learning event at McFarland UCC on November 8 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. This event is being sponsored by the Faith Formation Team of the United Church of Christ and McFarland UCC. McFarland UCC is one of several churches across the country that has been selected for an IMM event.

Inspiring Models of Ministry are hands-on learning events where we invite churches to come and observe the model in action. Attendees actually participate in the model activity rather than just hearing about it. 
GLAUCE Fall Conference: Write It On Your Hearts

Festival Gathering of Christian Educators, Great Lakes Region
October 20-22, 2015, Potawatomi Inn, Angola, Indiana
 
Presenters: Ivy Beckwith, David Loleng, Rev. Dr. Thom Bower, Deborah Payden
More information
Flag of Germany image Sing with the Gospellers in Germany
June 29 - July 14, 2016

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!
For more information, see the Gospellers website.
Wisconsin Gospellers logo image
Fall Gospellers Workshop
September 18-19, 2015
Pilgrim Center

Like to sing, laugh and meet new people? Join the Wisconsin Gospellers and musicians from across Wisconsin for our fall workshop at Pilgrim Center, Sept. 18-19, 2015. No auditions, just passionate singers led by professional musicians. The weekend kicks off preparation for our summer 2016 trip to Germany, but all are truly welcome as we also participate in worship and workshops throughout the state.
For more information, check out the Gospellers website or contact Rev. Fritz West at 651-433-4058 or [email protected]
New Sanctuary Movement

For the past year, a small group from across the Wisconsin Conference UCC has been meeting via conference call to discuss the immigration situation in the United States, the "New Sanctuary Movement" and how Wisconsin Conference UCC congregations might get involved.  We have had the opportunity to connect with leaders in our denomination and with Church World Service who are actively engaged in this work.  If you are interested in knowing more about the situation, click here to read some communication that has been exchanged. If you are interested in being a part of the conversation, please contact Lisa Hart.
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

In This Issue
Diana Butler Bass Events
Communities of Practice Groups
Mutton Lectureship and Bible study
National Youth Event
2015-2016 youth events
Writer's retreat
Interim Ministry Training Institute
Boundary Training
Living an Undivided Life
Reviving Justice Event
Inspiring Models of Ministry
GLAUCE Fall Conference
German gospel tour
Fall gospel workshop
New Sanctuary Movement
Church Spotlight

Ebenezer UCC image
 
Ebenezer UCC, in the Northeast Association, has Roger Mealiff as pastor. The church has six ministry areas where teams form around shared passions and may undertake ongoing or short-term ministries. These areas are: Inviting, Involving, Inspiring, Educating, Equipping and Embracing.
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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.  

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.