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Michigan Conference
United Church of Christ
www.michucc.org
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1006
East Lansing MI 48826-1006
Physical Address:
5945 Park Lake Road
East Lansing MI 48823
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30a-4:30p
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Email Bulletin
May 11, 2012
Next issue scheduled for: May 24, 2012
Content Deadline: May 22, 2012
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Conference Staff
Conference Minister (beginning June 15)
Rev. Dr. S. C. Campbell Lovett
Acting Conference Minister
Rev. Cheryl Burke
Acting Associate Conference Minister
Rev. Dr. Deborah Kohler
Acting Associate Conference Minister
Rev. Sameerah Shareef
Business Manager
Bob Heisler
Executive Administrative Assistant
to the Acting Conference Minister
Lisa Soulliere
Administrative Assistants to the
Associate Conference Ministers
Merrilyn Vaughn-Hoffman
Barb Paff
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Whoever you are, where ever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!
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Brought to you by your generous contributions to
Our Church's Wider Missions
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National Youth Event
2012
One church. Four days to Imagine. More than 2,000 Stillspeaking Youth.
IMAGINE
Go ahead. Dare to Imagine!
July 10th ~ July 13th
www.ucc.org/nye
Follow us on  and  !!
Waltrina Middleton
United Church of Christ
Minister for Youth Advocacy
and Leadership Foundation
Congregational Vitality and
Discipleship/Local Church Ministries
(216)736-3871
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Words from Acting Conference Minister
Rev. Cheryl Burke
Only Thirty-six Days
Only thirty-six (36) days until our new Conference Minister, the Rev. Dr. S.C. Campbell Lovett, joins us in the Michigan Conference UCC. Not that anyone is counting! He will begin his ministry with us on June 15, 2012.
This past Tuesday, the Board of Directors and the Personnel Committee honored the staff of the Michigan Conference UCC for its dedication, faithfulness, and "hanging in there with all of the transition". We reminisced about all of the people and situations that have changed over the past 5+ years. We laughed at our own missteps and celebrated the ways that significant ministry has gone on in the midst of it all.
We are looking forward to this next transition with a sense of relief that a bit more stability will ground our work together. We also know that you, our churches and authorized ministers, have struggled at times with all of our changes in staffing. Thank you for being patient and kind and flexible.
Help us celebrate and welcome Campbell to the conference at the open house RECEPTION being held on June 16th at the Conference Office from 3:00-5:00. There will be light refreshments, time to greet Campbell and mingle with your colleagues in ministry from around Michigan. Feel free to bring or send greetings in creative ways.
A number of people have asked me what I will be doing after Campbell arrives. It has been an honor to serve you as Acting Conference Minister for the past 9 ½ months. My immediate plans are to go back to/continue my ministry as an Associate Conference Minister in the conference. I have already shifted much of my responsibility to the eastern and northern parts of the state and imagine that this will remain for a while. As always, I am open to serve where I am needed and sense God's call. Thank you for your support and encouragement during the last six and a half years.
Peace,
Cheryl
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Support Michigan:1
Help our youth get on the bus! MICHIGAN:1 Your donation means that transportation & scholarships toward the $475 registration fee can be provided - If 111 churches and/or individuals send $111 we can cover the buses and scholarships for registration.
- Or - pass an offering plate during your spring Christian Education Sunday and ask each person in worship to contribute $1.
- Or - come up with your own great idea how to participate in Michigan:1.
We are one in Spirit as we support our young people in this great adventure. Together we can do what we could never do alone. Just another way to connect our blessings. NEW! BULLETIN INSERT Rev. Dr. Deborah Kohler Acting Associate Conference Minister Michigan Conference United Church of Christ www.michucc.org To make a donation online click the 'DONATE' button above! Checks should be made payable to: Michigan Conference UCC Mail to: Michigan 1 P.O. Box 1006 East Lansing MI 48826-1006  |
A Mother's Love
On Sunday, honor the women in your life who mother you. Share this greeting with family and friends.
 | | A Mother's Love Is A Gift From God - Mother's Day 2012 |
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SAVE THE DATES!
October 5th & 6th
Michigan Conference United Church of Christ
2012 ANNUAL MEETING
Location:
McCamly Plaza Hotel and First Congregational UCC,
Battle Creek
Guest Speaker:
Dr. Diana Butler Bass
More information will be shared over the next several months as the Annual Meeting Planning Team works out the details. We are very excited about our guest speaker, Dr. Diana Butler Bass and the wonderful location secured for this year's event!
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Inclusive Justice:
Together in Faith
2012 Conference -
"Reaching the Moveable Middle"
Inclusive Justice, a state-wide faith-based coalition, will be hosting a conference on Reaching the Moveable Middle with the message of inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people in faith communities. The Reachable Middle are those people of faith that are trying to be supportive of LGBT people in their faith communities. The conference will be held May 14th, 2012 from 1:00p to 8:30p at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ 125 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing MI 48912.
Register Now!
REGISTRATION
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 CAMP TALAHI Retreat & Nature Center Rejoice in a new beginning! |
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National Gathering:
a unique opportunity for Open and Affirming Churches!
Register today for a historic event: a special National Gathering of the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns to celebrate 40 years of LGBT ministry in our church and to welcome our newest Open and Affirming congregations - including ONA church number 1,000! Join us June 25-28 at Elmhurst College near Chicago for inspiring worship, powerful preaching, joyful music, and workshops that will feed your mind and your soul. Preachers are the Rev. DaVita McCallister and Bishop Yvette Flunder. Keynoter is the Rev. J. Bennett Guess.
A special invitation to leaders of ONA churches: workshops will focus on supporting ministry and mission in local churches.
Scholarships are available for young adults who need financial assistance. Contact gathering@ucccoalition.org for more information.
Registration and a complete schedule of National Gathering events is at http://ucccoalition.org.
Information Flyer |
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United Northern Association area
Insurance Summit scheduled for May 26th
ATTENTION Trustees, Financial Personnel, Treasurers, Moderators, and Clergy - anyone who makes or influences financial decisions at your church; we would like to invite you to participate in a session with our insurance carrier and other UCC Churches to see how a new program may benefit your church.
Join our UCC Insurance representative, Mark Lambert, on May 26th at First Congregational Church 218 W. Second St., Gaylord MI 49735, from 11:00a - 1:0op. We will have discussion and presentation on the possible benefits for you, during a working lunch provided by hosts Rev. Susan Webeler and Mark Lambert.
We anticipate holding other sessions in other Association areas in the near future. We will notify you once those dates and locations have been decided.
Please confirm your participation by calling Lisa at 517.332.3511 ext. 204 or email her at lisa@michucc.org.
We look forward to seeing you there, if you have any questions, please contact Jeffrey T. Wardford, Conference Treasurer, at 313.610.6814 or email him at consulttaylar@aol.com.
INSURANCE SUMMIT FLYER
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This man and his daughter live in a camp for people displaced by the earthquake that ravaged Haiti's southern coast in January 2010. Since then, CWS has provided both emergency food and shelter and long-term assistance that includes helping rebuld permanent homes for earthquake survivors - more than 500,000 of whom still remain in encampments.
Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance |
This Father's Day Honor Dad - Build hope
Always a dilemma - what to get Dad for Father's Day. This year surprise him with a gift in his honor to the Church World Service Blankets+ Program. Besides blankets, the CWS Blankets+ Program provides seeds, education, small business loans and other resources to help fathers feel empowered - and encourage their families. On Father's Day host a Blanket Sunday in your church and help Dads the world over - BUILD hope for their families - BUILD a feeling of pride - BUILD a brighter future. By honoring DAD with a gift to the CWS Blankets+ Program you will also be helping families in need around the world.
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Shepherding the Shepherd 2012
In Pursuit of Green Pastures
June 5-7, 2012
Boston University
School of Theology
Calling all UCC Clergy in your 20's and 30's: Join us for three (3) days of fun, fellowship, faith-filled learning, and fantastic worship!
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Recently honored:
Gladys Kapenga says Thank You!
Gladys Kapenga was recently honored for her contributions to the Bentley Historical Library with a special tea given in her honor. She wanted to share her gratitude and appreciation for everyone who attended or sent a special note or call of support - please read her note below: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for attending the tea hosted by the Bentley Historical Library on May 1st at Pilgrim Manor in Grand Rapids. It was important for me to donate my collection of religious and other papers, spanning five (5) decades, as I could no longer keep them with me. The Bentley Historical Library, located at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, is a well respected permanent home for them, and I am grateful for their acceptance and processing of them. I never realized the importance of the work we all had done for so many years, focusing on just being able to help when needed - and for that, I am very proud of all of us. I am also deeply touched by the outpouring of love from those attending, and others in their notes, calls, and visits. It was indeed a special day for me, including the Mayoral Proclamation, as well as Letters from Church Women United and Michigan UCC. When asked "Over the years, which project I enjoyed the most?" My response was "I loved them All, otherwise I would not have done any of them." I most of all enjoyed visiting with my friends and we relived thousands of miles, and hundreds of meetings, and thousands of dreams in our travels that afternoon. I would like to leave you with one of my favorite sayings - "Well behaved women rarely make herstory." Thank you to each of you, from the bottom of my heart, for being a part of my life. I love you all." Gladys M. Kapenga |
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 Global Ministries
has openings on P2P Pilgrimage to Cuba
August 2012
Global Ministries is excited to announce a People-to-People Pilgrimage to Cuba in August 2012 that seeks participants! Check it out: Global Ministres PO Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206-1986 |
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Sustaining Pastoral Excellence:
Time with Marcus Borg ~
Thursday, May 31: Clergy Day with Marcus Borg
Kindling the Flame: Leading Congregations to experience the Heart of Christianity
Thursday, May 31: Fundraising Dinner with Marcus Borg
Deep, Transforming Joy: Spiritual Practices and Passionate Faith
Friday, June 1: Open Day with Marcus Borg for all God's People
Seeing with New Eyes: Meeting Familiar Bible Leaders for the Very First Time.
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Your help is appreciated:
D. Min. Study Project
My name is Jeff Brinks, and I am a D. Min. student at Lancaster Theological Seminary conducting a survey of congregations of the United Church of Christ in regards to membership in congregations. My email address is jbrinks@lancsterseminary.edu. My advisor is Dr. Frank Stalfa and his email address is fstalfa@lancasterseminary.edu. You may contact either of us at any time if you have questions about this study. The purpose of this survey is three fold:
- I want to discover what types of vows, promises or covenants are made between an individual and a congregation across the U.C.C.
- I want to discover if membership vows, promises or covenants are periodically renewed, and if so, how often are they renewed and in what context they are renewed.
- I want to discover if any of our congregations include any type of structured reflection, self or peer evaluation or other means of accountability by members peer groups of members with regards to their membership in the congregation.
The survey should take from five to ten minutes to complete. Thank you for taking the time to aid me in this research. Click the word SURVEY below to go to the survey. SURVEY |
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The Pilgrimage:
in the United Northern Association
The Pilgrimage, a spiritual development retreat movement in the United Church Christ, provides you with a background that can prove helpful in the leadership you and others can provide.
The Pilgrimage has as its purposes the following:
to praise God;
to help us discover the presence of God in our lives;
to develop disciplines that enhance and deepen our sensitivity to God's presence;
to encourage us to share our spiritual journey with others; and
to renew and transform us spiritually for our discipleship in the world.
The Pilgrimage begins with three (3) retreat experiences; these three retreats will take place within the time span of one (1) year, most likely within a nine-month period.
The next session will take place in August - if you are interested in taking part, please contact the Rev. Keith Titus by emailing him at keithstitus@gmail.com.
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Joys & Concerns ~ | |
Please remember in your prayers, Mable Adamson (Michigan Conference Board of Directors member, Registrar & Secretary of Detroit Metropolitan Association Church & Ministry Committee) and her family on the passing of her daughter Lynn Council, 48. Lynn passed away as a result of complications from Crohn's Disease. She is survived by her mother Mable, and two sons. A memorial will be held on Monday, May 14th at 1:30p at the Andrews and Hardy Funeral Home 13841 Gratiot Avenue, Detroit. A reception will follow at St. Paul UCC 31654 Mound Road, Warren. Donations to help defray funeral costs can be made to St. Paul UCC.
Cards-notes can be sent to:
Mable Adamson
2670 Capitol Ave.
Warren MI 48091
Please remember in your prayers, the Rev. Walter Balk (Southwest Association), who is recuperating at home after spinal surgery. He expects to be out of work for about three (3) months.
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MI Conf Office
Associations
S.T.E.M.
Mission Area Teams
SING Groups
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WELCOME to the
Michigan Conference!
R. Michael Sanders
Zion UCC, Brutus
Wolverine Cong'l UCC
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Association News
Covenant:
Detroit Metropolitan
Service of Ordination/Installation for: Wallace Tatara
June 3rd @ 3p
St. James UCC
Saline
Eastern:
Spring Meeting:
May 31 @ 6:30p
St. John's UCC
Port Huron
Grand West:
Southwest:
Service of Installation for:
Rev. Gail Holman
May 13th @ 2p
St. Peter's Church
St. Joseph
United Northern:
May 12, 2012
2012 Clergy (& spouse) Retreat
May 26, 2012
Insurance Summit
11:00a - 1:00p
First Congregational UCC
Gaylord
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Area
Employment
Opportunites
Midland UCC
Dir. Educational Ministries
Grace UCC
Grosse Pointe Park
Part-Time Youth Pastor/Director
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"How To Turn Bystanders Into Active Disciples"
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CLASSIFIED
FOR SALE -
Well maintained Kimball Baby Grand Piano. Excellent for a home, school or church. Click link above to see pictures. |
Disaster Recovery Volunteers |
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Consider a Gift
(click on logo) |
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