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A bi-weekly newsletter to keep you up-to-date and informed.
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Water Trouble
Troubled Waters is the name of a DVD produced by the United Church of Christ that depicts the troubles that arise when drinking water is contaminated, privatized or in any way compromised. This DVD was produced eight years ago and seems to predict the threats to fresh water that we have recently seen from "fracking", oil spills and water shutoffs. This DVD would be an excellent discussion starter for any church group. You may find out more about this resource at http://www.ucc.org/troubled-waters/.
The United Nations has declared that access to potable drinking water is a human right (http://www.un.org/es/comun/docs/?symbol=A/RES/64/292&lang=E ). Churches from Michigan travel to Central American countries to install water filtration systems so households and villages can have clean and disease free water. Other initiatives help to provide clean water in drought stricken regions of Africa and the Middle East. Typically, we think of clean water as an issue only for developing countries.
Imagine my surprise when I read that the United Nations had chastised the city of Detroit for shutting off water to some of its most vulnerable citizens - including the elderly, infirmed and children. The UN news release shared how the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has shutoff water to almost 3,000 customers per week who have not paid their bills for two months. UN officials had this to say about the shutoffs: "Disconnection of water services because of failure to pay due to lack of means constitutes a violation of the human right to water and other international human rights."
http://www.un.org/aps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48129#.U7xgC01OXmI .
In October of 2013, the Michigan Conference at its Annual Meeting passed a resolution calling for solidarity with the citizens of Detroit. Our Detroit Metropolitan Association (DMA) has done excellent work promoting opportunities to advocate on behalf of those in need in the city. The DMA is now working with a broad coalition of faith organizations to call attention to the human rights violations in regards to water shutoffs. There are two possible actions for your participation as well.
- A letter has been prepared to call attention to the Detroit water shut off crisis. A copy of this letter and signing instruction can be found HERE. I have signed this letter as well as Rev. Jim Moos, Executive Minister of Wider Church Ministries, and Rev. Linda Jaramillo, Executive Minister for Justice and Witness Ministries, at the National Setting of the UCC. You are invited to prayerfully consider standing with those in need and signing on.
- The DMA is encouraging people of faith to attend a major rally in Detroit on July 18th at 1:00 p.m. This will be an opportunity to visibly support the citizens of Detroit against disenfranchisement, privatization and water shutoffs. The rally will be held at Hart Plaza on the corner of Jefferson and Woodward - two blocks east of Cobo Hall.
Through our collective actions maybe we as people in the United Church of Christ can help to be a bridge over troubled waters. In the meantime, "let justice roll down like waters!"
Campbell Lovett
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SAVE THE DATES!
MI Conference Annual Meeting - October 10 & 11, 2014
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2014 Annual Meeting of the
Michigan Conference United Church of Christ
"Unexpected Places"
Jacob is assured of God's abiding presence and then reflects,
"Surely God is in this place - and I did not know it!"
Genesis 28:15 - 16
When:
October 10th & 11th, 2014
Where:
The People's Church of East Lansing
200 W. Grand River, East Lansing, MI 48823
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber
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photo courtesy of The Washington Post
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Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber is the founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, Colorado. She is an ordained pastor in the ELCA, a Mom, a gifted writer and bestselling author. She is honest and outspoken, insightful and hilarious; a deeply engaging pastor who just so happens to have sleeves of tattoos. She is ready to enlighten you in ways only she can.
Hotel/Parking Information:
We have contracted with four (4) area hotels. You may make your reservations at any time. Please note that each hotel has their own deadline for reserving a room at the discounted rate. Please be sure to make your arrangements before the designated deadline. There are many other options for lodging - if you prefer to search for those on your own.
Hotels - Michigan Conference UCC - 2014 Annual Meeting
Church Multi-person Discount: Eligible churches will have 5 or more people attending Annual Meeting from the same church and receive a $5.00 per person discount on up to 10 people. All participants must be registered at the same time to receive the multi-person discount - either online or a paper form. To complete the registration in full you must have the following information for each person registered: Full name, email address, status at the meeting, any special needs, workshop choice, and meal information. If anyone is in need of childcare, that information will also need to be completed as well. A credit card can be used to pay for all registration fees; if paying by check it must be mailed to our office within 1-2 business days from the day of registration. Payments are not being taken at Annual Meeting to avoid congestion at the registration table and lessen wait times for you and others checking in. We appreciate your understanding as we strive to make your Annual Meeting experience the very best.
Registration will be available on July 31st.
Cookies: A Michigan Conference Annual Meeting tradition; we invite folks from any of our UCC churches in attendance, to bring 3 - 4 dozen cookies of your favorite kind to share during our break times at Annual Meeting. We love all different kinds of cookies or dessert bars! Please try and eliminate nuts; if your cookies or bars do contain nuts or fruit of any kind please mark your container well. If you have a favorite vegan or gluten free cookie/dessert bar that would be wonderful as well! Thank you in advance for all of your baking efforts - we look forward to trying your creations!
Childcare: Childcare is available during Annual Meeting - with the exception of during meal time - lunch and dinner children will be with parents. Please plan to bring along some snacks for your child(ren); please do not brings snacks that contain nuts of any kind. If you require childcare, please fill out the childcare section of the registration form (either online or paper form) as well as, the Childcare Authorization form. This form will also be available on our website soon
Bring your own Coffee Mug or tumbler: In our efforts to be more 'green' we encourage you to bring along your own coffee mug or tumbler. Fresh coffee and water will always be available during the Annual Meeting.
Please check the Michigan Conference UCC website periodically for new information as it becomes available! Stay tuned!
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Michigan Conference UCC 2014 Innovation Awards
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Innovation: Think - new, invention, advancement, creation, design, imagination, ingenuity, original, inspirational, resourceful, revitalizing, energizing!
What innovative ministry, worship, outreach, mission or other program would you initiate if money was not a barrier, but an opportunity for meeting a profound need in your community? What if you used this money as matching funds for your congregation and doubled the impact? What if you applied for other grants and added this award to accomplish your hopes for a world transformed by God's love?
We are inviting you to dream and to listen and to imagine what God is doing in your midst. Put that dream into an innovation plan and you are ready to apply for this award.
Applications will be ranked by: "innovation", completeness of "Innovation Plan" (see below), the potential for others to replicate the idea, reasonable likelihood of being accomplished, and commitment to send in a report to the 2015 annual meeting on success and learnings.
Applications will be evaluated by the Vital Growth Mission Area Team of the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ. The total funds available are $10,000. Awards will be given to the best proposals submitted by two to five congregations.The largest award available is $5,000.
Deadline for application is September 1, 2014 with notification and presentation of awards at the Michigan Conference UCC Annual Meeting, October 10-11, 2014 at Peoples Church, East Lansing.
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Submitting a Resolution: 2014 MI Conf UCC Annual Meeting
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Dear Colleagues,
The Annual Meeting of the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ will be October 10th & 11th 2014 at The People's Church of East Lansing. The Prophetic Integrity Mission Area Team is charged with the task of calling for resolutions. They may be submitted for consideration at the Conference Meeting by a local church, an Association, a voting delegate or the Board of Directors. In compliance with our bylaws, please find attached a copy of the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ 2014 Guidelines for Resolutions. The deadline for submitting a resolution is July 25, 2014.
Be sure to mark the date on your calendar and, if you have not already done so, now would be a good time to recruit the delegation from your local congregation. Ordained and Commissioned Ministers with standing in one of the six Associations of the Michigan Conference, as well as Licensed Ministers who have been given voting privileges by one of the six Associations of the Michigan Conference, are considered delegates. Additionally, every local church is entitled to be represented by two lay delegates plus one youth delegate (younger than 22 years old).
Blessings for the Journey,
Rev. RJ Hronek
Facilitator, Prophetic Integrity Mission Area Team
Call for Resolutions (Copy ready)
RESOLUTION GUIDELINES
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2014 Annual Meeting: Workshops
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2014 Annual Meeting
Michigan Conference United Church of Christ
Theme: Unexpected Places
The theme scripture for Annual Meeting is Genesis 28:15 - 16. Jacob is assured of God's abiding presence and then reflects, "Surely God is in this place - and I did not know it!" We too find God in unexpected moments and places. How can your workshop help participants reflect upon the presence of the Stillspeaking God in their life and work? Priority will be given to workshops that clearly relate to the theme of Unexpected Places.
The deadline for receiving applications is July 25, 2014
Workshop Application Form
To write on the form click "sign" on the upper right corner - then "add text". Be sure to SAVE your form; attach to an email and send to cheryl@michucc.org.
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Michigan 2 x 2
Concludes with Great Record of Partnership and Service
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Many of our local churches in the Michigan Conference participated in this year's Michigan 2x2, a program that promotes mission partnership with service organizations in the community or around the world. Most churches either host or support a food pantry, while many others support a local shelter or feeding site. Many churches participate in CROP walks and prepare CWS kits. In addition to these great service projects, here are some of the more unique ones that others might want to emulate:
- At Second Congregational Church UCC in Grand Rapids a group gathers twice a week to make quilts that are given to homeless children. In the last year they have shared more than 336 quilts.
- Midland UCC provides volunteers for Shelterhouse of Midland both in the retail shop and providing resources for survivors of domestic abuse.
- Salem UCC in Farmington and St. John's in Jackson both host All Church Baby Showers for their communities. These efforts provide all that young parents might need for their newborns. This year tens of thousands of dollars worth of supplies were donated!
- "Re-Member," a program at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, benefitted from mission trips by many of our Michigan churches.
- First Congregational UCC in Alpena provides its facilities for dozens of community group meetings: League of Women Voters, Quilters, AA and Al-Anon groups, Navigators, Boy Scouts to name just a few.
- East Lansing's Edgewood United Church sent a work crew to Rippling Hope in Detroit on June 7 for painting and home repair. This effort was in conjunction with our partners in the Christian Church - Disciples of Christ.
- First Congregational Church UCC in Muskegon serves a community breakfast to more than 200 people every Saturday morning.
Thank you to all who participated in this extraordinary effort of partnership and changing lives. Plans are already underway for expanding Michigan 2x2 to include not only the Disciples of Christ but also the churches of the London Conference, United Church of Canada.
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UCC Chaplains in Michigan - Save the Date
November 3rd is the Next Chaplains' Day Away
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All UCC Chaplains in Michigan are invited to attend the "Chaplains' Day Away" on Monday, November 3. Rev. Stephen Boyd from the Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA) team in Cleveland will again be leading the program. Topics to be covered will be PTSD, mental health, and issues related to military veterans returning to their communities.
The event will be held at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, Michigan. Please save the date and look in future E-Newsletters for more information.
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Michigan Pride - August 23, 2014
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Enhancing the lives of Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay & Transgender People
If your church would like to have a booth during the event visit the miPRIDE website to sign up. Maybe you would like to volunteer at the event or March to the Capital! Lot's of activities for everyone including the kids - bring them down for family activities, food and fun!
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UCC Disaster Ministries Matching Grant project
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The UCC Disaster Ministries Matching Grant project is aimed at helping to restock Church World Service School Kits. Conferences and congregations support these efforts by pre-assembling various types of Church World Service kits that are stored and can be shipped at a moments notice. UCC Disaster Ministries was recently notified that stock supplies of CWS School kits were very low due in part to the on ongoing situation in Syria. In an effort to support congregations in restocking these essential kits, UCC Disaster Ministries is offering matching grants totaling up to $50,000 for congregations assembling CWS School Kits. Grants will be awarded at $250/congregation on a first come first serve basis.
For details and guidelines about the project, click on UCC Disaster Ministries Grant Request/Report Form below. Thank You!
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Calling All Parish Nurses!
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The Michigan Conference is trying to find out how many of our local churches have a volunteer or paid parish nurse. Some of our congregations have health teams, while others have a designated parish nurse. If your church has a parish nurse, please send an email to Lisa@michucc.org. This will assist the Conference in providing resources and networking our nurses!
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Discounts still available!
National Church Leadership Institute: NCLI 2014
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Do you like to sew and have time to volunteer?
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If you have good sewing skills and time to volunteer, the Sewing Guild of St. Stephen's Community Church UCC in Lansing, Michigan invites you to apply for membership. The Guild is becoming well known for its beautiful and artfully-done aprons which have been sold in arts and crafts shows throughout the mid-Michigan area since 2009. Proceeds support the Carol J. Greer Community Learning Center of St. Stephen's which offers computer classes with healthy lunches to youth, as well as adults in a variety of programs; after school programs, summer day camps, and in Christmas tennis camps. The youth programs include Lego robotics, computer animation, film making and editing, video game design, golf and tennis. Emphasis is placed on reaching limited-resource youth and their families.
To apply for membership please click on "Sewing Guild of St. Stephen's Community Church UCC" below for all of the details.
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Planning the Fall Financial Enlistment Campaign
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What: An online worship for local church stewardship committees
We will review,
A letter-writing appeal
Witnessing Stewards in worship
Narrative Budgets
UCC Stewardship materials
The Stewardship Sermon
Our Church's Wider Mission
When: Wednesday, August 6 from 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.
Where: At your church or on your laptop!
How: Gather your church's Stewardship Committee at the church and join in via WebEx (instructions will be provided). This can be projected onto a screen if your church has a video projector. Or you can access the workshop via your home computer.
Who: Conference Minister, Campbell Lovett and special guests will present the material during the first hour. After Q & A, committees will meet themselves to plan the details of their fall campaign. Planning materials will be provided to those that pre-register.
Register: Please send an email to Lisa Soulliere at the Conference Office (lisa@michucc.org) if you or your church would like to participate. Full WebEx video conferencing set up instructions and planning materials will be sent by the end of July.
This workshop will make a positive impact upon your stewardship drive!
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Author of "My Descent into Death" speaking at
Pilgrim Cong'l Church in Lansing
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August 16th, 2014
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Lansing, MI 48912
Pilgrim Congregational UCC will be hosting the Rev. Howard Storm, retired UCC pastor from Covington UCC in Covington, Ohio, will talk about his near death experience. He wrote about his experience in his book entitled,
My Descent Into Death: A Second Chance at Life. He was an art professor at a University in Kentucky and an avowed atheist before his hellish experience. His life was so immensely changed after his near-death experience, he resigned as a professor and devoted his time attending the United Theological Seminary to become a United Church of Christ minister.
Rev. Storm will also preach on Sunday, August 17th at the 10:00AM service.
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"Acting in Faith"
training for faith leaders, staff, and volunteers of faith-based organizations on child sexual abuse
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Acting in Faith
Understanding Child Sexual Abuse, Prevention, & Effective Response to Suspected Abuse
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Cost: $30 (includes lunch)
9:00 AM - Registration
9:30AM - 3:00PM Program & Lunch
Serenity Christian Church
24120 N. Chrysler Dr., Hazel Park, MI 48030
Kids-TALK Children's Advocacy Center, a program of The Guidance Center, in partnership with the Interfaith Health and Hope Coalition (IHHC) is offering a teach-in for faith leaders, staff, and volunteers of faith-based organizations in the Detroit-Metro area who work with children to address child sexual abuse and mandated reporting.
For more information contact Anne McCauslin
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NEW Employment Opportunities:
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First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Romeo, MI has the following staff openings. It is possible that two positions may be filled by one qualified candidate.
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Covenant Association: Higher Education Grants Available
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The Covenant Association of the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ invites applications for grants that advocate for the support of students in Higher Education settings. Please submit a 1-2 page description of the plans for ministry in a specific setting. How will the funds be used? If you have received a grant within the last year, please include an additional page indicating how ministry was impacted in that setting by the gift. Be sure to include the ways outreach includes ecumenical diversity and specific UCC involvement of students, faculty and staff.
Grant applications must be submitted to the Higher Education Advocate, Rev. Dr. Julie J. Kilmer at jj_kilmer@msn.com by September 1, 2014. Please note that grants are limited to one gift per setting per year. Amounts of each grant will vary, depending upon number of applications, need and previous funding patterns. Amounts generally range from $500-$3,000.
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Books by Rev. Dr. David Moffett-Moore, DMin, PHD
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 The Spirit's Fruit: We are called together as Christians to a fruit-filled life. While God blesses us with one or more gifts as He wills, none of us receive all the gifts. But all of us are encouraged to live a Christ-led life in which all the fruit of the Spirit may grow in abundance. With a personal beginning, Dr. David Moffett-Moore escorts each student into their own personal study of The Spirit's Fruit: A Participatory Study Guide. Dr. Moffett-Moore gives us wonderful tools for discussion and prayer to break up any hard ground and pour Christ's LIving Water into our spirits in the study itself aids more fruitful growth.
 Creation in Contemporary Experience: What we believe about God as creator impacts our theology and action in many ways. In this book, Dr. David Moffett-Moore will examine some of these implications by looking at topics as diverse as quantum physics and chaos theory, hermeneutics, ethics, and how we tell stories of faith. This volume looks at contemporary scientific findings through the eyes of faith and applies them to how we live in this, God's world.
These and other titles are available by Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Energion Publications, or your favorite bookstore.
BOOKS BY REV. DR. DAVID MOFFETT-MOORE, DMin, PhD |
Camp Talahi Retreat and Nature Center 6458 Richardson Road Howell, MI 48843
Upcoming Events June 29: Mini Camp July 6: Adventure Camp July 13: Junior Camp July 18: Senior High Camp July 27: MADD & GAS Camps August 1: Family Camp
Employment Opportunities: Camp Talahi is also hiring staff for the summer season. They are in need of a Program Director, cooks, maintenance staff, Lifeguards, and a Health Officer. Applicants must be 18 yr of age, responsible and able to commit to working from June to the end of August.
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United Church Funds invites you...
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TO A LIVE PRESENTATION ABOUT A
FUND FREE OF FOSSIL FUELS COMPANIES!
Join us for a special webinar event on July 23 at 2pm EDT to learn more about plans and progress toward our new fund.
The panel discussion, led by United Church Funds' President Donald Hart, Chief Investment Strategist David Klassen and Director of Social Responsibility Kathryn McCloskey, will stream live from the offices of UCF and feature a Q & A following.
We'll discuss -
- fund composition
- the manager selection process
- our timeline for meeting the December 31, 2014 goal
- how you can make a commitment to the new fund
Want to know more? Join us on July 23 at 2pm EDT!
EVENT FLYER
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Discover Spiritual Awakening in Bay View!
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Rumor has it that many people from our Michigan churches head north in the summer! If you are in the northwest region on a Sunday morning, here is a listing of the summer preachers at the internationally renowned Bay View in Petoskey.
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"What Type of Follower Attends Our Church"
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Donation - St. Paul UCC in Saline, Michigan has a choir director's stand. It is wooden, lightweight, and on rollers. SEE PHOTO. Contact the church office if interested: 734/429-7716.
Edgewood United Church, UCC in East Lansing, Michigan has 110 plastic communion cups and six (6) wooden cup holders (35 slots in each).
St. James United Church of Christ in Casco Michigan has 20 Seafoam Green used Choir robes that they no longer can use - includes directors robe also - ALL are in great shape. Price is very negotiable. Please contact Kim LaDuke at (586)727-3651 for more information.
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Please hold in your prayers:
Rev. Dr. James (Jim) Harwood - retired pastor in the Grand West Association, who has been dealing with recent health issues.
Please lift up in your prayers the family of Rev. Maynard Golden (Associate Pastor, Fellowship Chapel UCC, Detroit) on the death of his sister, Dorothy Gale Golden. A funeral was held Friday, July 11th, 2014 at Fellowship Chapel UCC, Detroit.
Please hold in your hearts and in your continued prayers, the Rev. Sherry Schacht and her family (Eastern Association; retired pastor). Please continue to lift her up in your prayers of strength and courage -determination and faith - and for LOVE and comfort.
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SING Groups - Meetings have concluded for the summer; we will let you know when groups set dates in the fall.
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5945 Park Lake Road | P.O. Box 1006 | East Lansing, MI 48826-1006
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