From the Conference Minister

When I visit churches of the Michigan Conference, I often share about the three core values of the United Church of Christ: Continuing Testament, Extravagant Welcome, and Changing Lives. In my visits, I have become aware of a fourth core value - faith in action.

I have been so impressed with the many ways our churches are putting their faith into action. Through food pantries, in soup kitchens, at Habitat and shelter sites, and with countless number of programs, our churches are involved to help care and advocate for the 'least of these our brothers and sisters.'

The Michigan 2x2 initiative is a Conference-wide program to further encourage our churches to put faith into action with a community mission partner. From Easter until Pentecost, the Michigan 2x2 program will be keeping track of the number of items donated, hours volunteered, dollars donated, and lives changed by our Conference churches. All your church needs to do is identify a community mission partner, make a special effort on their behalf during those fifty days, and communicate your effort to the Conference Office.

We will be sending out special press releases informing the general public of the mission commitment of United Church of Christ churches in Michigan, and tallying all efforts on the Conference website.

We hope that mission partnerships will be built, people in need will be served, and our core values will be lived out locally, state-wide, and around the world.

To date, almost one-third of our churches have indicated they will take part in this program. It is not too late to participate. Simply identify your church's mission partner and get ready to put your faith into action.

May God bless you and your church during the Easter season with new life, renewed hope, and a successful Michigan 2x2 partnership.

The Rev. Penny Lowes is the Chair of the Executive Council of the United Church of Christ. As the national setting of the church prepares to reconfigure its leadership structure, Penny has played a key role in moving along that process. At the recent joint board meetings of the United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Penny delivered a powerful sermon about the UCC and the Mission 4/1 Earth initiative. Here is a link to that special sermon: http://uccfiles.com/pdf/SowingCommaSeeds.pdf  Penny, thank you for your service to the wider church.

Save the date: All UCC Chaplains serving in Michigan (college, hospice, hospital, military, CPE, etc) are invited to a special 'day away' at Albion College on Thursday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Conference and Albion chaplain, Dan McQuown, will be hosting this special gathering that will include fellowship, refreshments, lunch and a special program about the variety of settings for chaplaincy in the United Church of Christ. For more information, please contact Lisa Soulliere at the Conference Office.