In today's Faith For Thought, Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Cheryl Burke talks about how new ministries can help reshape the church in the best of ways.

In sadness we share the news of the passing of Virginia Wenstrom , age 90; who passed away Saturday, August 9, 2014 at her residence - Burcham Hills Retirement Center in East Lansing, MI. She was surrounded by the love of her family who she so dearly loved. Virginia was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing where she met and later married Rev. Donald Wenstrom (Covenant Association) on June 14, 1947. After moving to Grand Blanc where Rev. Wenstrom became the minister of the First Congregational Church; Don and Virginia returned to Lansing in 1971 when he was called to be the minister of Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC, Lansing. Virginia was an active member of Pilgrim Church of 43 years. She also volunteered at the Michigan Conference office helping with mailings, filing, and with any other task that someone needed help. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, in 2007 and infant daughter, Mary Faith, her sister, Mildred (Boehler) Evans, and her brother, Paul Boehler.

The visitation/funeral schedule is as follows:  Memorial visitation on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 10 - 12:30 p.m. at Burcham Hills Retirement Center, 2700 Burcham Drive, East Lansing; Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 900 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing; and on Friday, August 15, 2014 from 11 - 12:00 noon at Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC, 125 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing. A funeral service will follow at 12:00 noon (Friday, August 15th) at the church with Pastor Peter Robinson and Rev. Herman Haller officiating. Virginia's final earthly resting place will be at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte, MI . Memorial contributions may be made to: Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC Memorial Fund, 125 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing, MI 48912 or Burcham Hills Memorial Fund, 2700 Burcham Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823 in memory of Virginia. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.grlansing.com.  OBITUARY

Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite, former president of Chicago Theological Seminary, and a popular writer and commentator, will be coming to Detroit on September 10th to share in a special day for clergy and laity. At 10:00 a.m., Dr. Thistlethwaite will lead a workshop on "Reading the Bible from the Streets" at Plymouth, UCC, 600 Warren Avenue, Detroit. ("Reading the Bible from the streets means changing your perspective, literally, by being with those who are struggling to bring the vision of the Kingdom of God into reality.") This workshop expands upon her popular book, #OccupytheBible: What Jesus Ready Said (and Did) about Money and Power.

 

At 12:00 p.m., Dr. Thistlethwaite will preach at Plymouth's noon-time worship service. Worship will be followed by a light luncheon and panel discussion with Dr. Thistlethwaite and the new president of Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Dr. Stephen Murray - and other guests.

 

For those attending the 10:00 a.m. workshop, Thistlethwaite's book may be read ahead of time. Copies of Dr. Thistlethwaite's book, #OccupytheBible, are available from the Conference Office for $12.50 (shipping and handling included!).

 

While there is no cost for this event (free will offering at worship and at lunch), we need a count. Please RSVP - and order copies of #OccupytheBible - to lisa@michucc.org by Friday, September 5th.

 

The time is here - you can now register for the 2014 Annual Meeting of the 

MIchigan Conference UCC!