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A bi-weekly newsletter to keep you up-to-date and informed.
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"One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God"
Jesus uses this verse from Deuteronomy to counter the tempter. Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, and, as you can imagine, he was famished. He was tempted to use his power to turn stones into bread so that he might eat. Jesus is able to affirm, even in the midst of his hunger, that his true sustenance comes from a deeper source - the word of God.
Lent is that period of 40 days leading up to Easter during which we are able to assess from where our true sustenance comes? There are a variety of spiritual and educational opportunities provided by local churches to assist during these weeks of discernment. I want to add a few additional possibilities for your consideration:
If you have not signed up to receive the Stillspeaking Daily Devotional - a daily email with scripture, message and prayer - Lent is an excellent season to begin a time of reading and reflection. Sign up using this link: http://www.ucc.org/daily_devotional.
If you prefer a more active discipline for Lent, check out the Lenten Carbon Fast promoted by our New England Conferences. This is an opportunity to put your faith into action by learning more about climate change and making some practical adjustments to your lifestyle to reduce your carbon footprint. This too involves a daily email for your consideration. Find more information at: http://www.macucc.org/carbonfast.
Another possible Lenten discipline relating to faith and American culture is to read Michelle Alexander's, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. In the midst of a national dialogue and debate about racial injustice, this is a helpful book for better understanding the political agendas and governmental policies that have led to the disenfranchisement of generations of African Americans. This book will challenge your world view.
Even though we don't live by bread alone, I'm hoping that you have a very yeasty season of Lent.
Campbell Lovett
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Annual Lenten Carbon Fast
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To fellow Christians, Pastors, and Denominational Leaders,
Make Lent an opportunity to enter into a spiritual discipline of fasting from carbon.
Over the past few years, thousands of people the world over have welcomed a day-by-day opportunity to fast from carbon as their Lenten discipline. Initiated by the UCC and endorsed by Episcopalians, people of every Christian perspective - and people who are not Christians - have benefitted from this opportunity to become more conscious and conscientious in their daily lives.
If you're a pastor - SIGN UP... and:
email this invitation to the people in your parish, tell them you'll be participating, AND
- convene a weekly Lenten discussion focusing on the Carbon Fast. MAKE THIS YOUR CHURCH'S LENTEN PROGRAM!
- And if you're part of a local clergy association, email it to your colleagues, too.
If you are a denominational leader - SIGN UP... and:
- email this invitation to the pastors in your region, AND
- email this invitation to your regional colleagues who lead other denominations.
AND FOR ALL WHO MAY PARTICIPATE:
For hundreds of years, Ash Wednesday (February 18, 2015) marks the beginning of a time when Christians engage in spiritual disciplines involving repentance, fasting, prayer, study and works of love. Living as we are at a time when our actions - along with the actions of only a few generations - have threatened creation as we know it by the excessive burning of fossil fuel, it is fitting to engage in a spiritual discipline of fasting from carbon.
Click below or paste the link in your browser to sign up to fast from carbon during Lent: www.macucc.org/carbonfast
Here's how it works:
Beginning Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, participants will receive a daily email with the day's suggested carbon-reducing activity.
Make this your congregation's Lenten activity:
Organize an opportunity within your congregation for members to meet each week during Lent to discuss their own experience with this fast, AND specifically to discuss the weekly themes which focus on how the church can engage this issue.
Please forward this invitation - to others in your congregation and to other pastors.
CLICK BELOW TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 18, each day's activity will be cumulatively posted on this page: https://www.facebook.com/carbonfast
Let's make protecting God's creation by reducing our carbon footprint as fundamental a spiritual discipline as prayer.
The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal * Conference Minister and President * Massachusetts Conference, UCC and founder of NEREM
AN INITIATIVE OF: NEREM - New England Regional Environmental Ministries
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The Brown Scholarship:
Application process has changed
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The Brown Scholarship has changed its application process for Members in Discernment. In addition to opening the scholarship to MIDs on multiple paths for all forms of authorization, an online application process has been instituted. Applicants can initiate the process directly and, for expanding inclusion and diversity, others can also nominate candidates. There is a FEBRUARY 15 DEADLINE for initiating the application; links to the online nomination and application forms can be found at http://brown.ucfunds.org.
Any questions should be directed to: Rev. Nelson R. Murphy, Brown Endowment Administrator United Church Funds 212-729-2620
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VITALITY DAY 2015
Saturday, March 7th, 2015
Conflict Transformation
Speaker: Thomas K. Chu, Esq.
1509 E. Court Street
Flint, MI 48503
Conflict is unavoidable in any organization, but it doesn't have to create irreparable rifts. Join us as Thomas K. Chu leads a workshop on conflict transformation. Learn proactive practices to avoid pitfalls, how to embody active and passive withdrawals, and learn basic conflict knowledge that will enable you with the resources to identify and cope with conflicts as they arise. With the right environment, healthy conflict will enable the growth and transformation that so many of our churches are seeking.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Festival of Faith
Keynote Speaker: Lillian Daniel
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Lansing, MI 48912
In preparation for the Festival of Faith, participants are encouraged to read our keynoter's most recent book. Lillian Daniel's book, When "Spiritual But Not Religious" Is Not Enough, is available through your local library, your favorite bookstore, or your favorite on-line retailer, including:
Barnes & Noble
Books A Million
Indie Bound
Registration information will be available soon!
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REMINDER
Attention Churches: It's Yearbook Reporting Time!!
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It's time again for Yearbook data input!
This year churches will input their own information directly into the UCC Data Hub.
The Data Hub is open for church data input as of January 5, 2015. We must have your information submitted prior to March 9th, 2015.
For online instructions (UCC Data Hub - Church Users) and video tutorials for inputting your church's information, follow this link: http://www.ucc.org/research_yearbook.
Information we must have for yearbook purposes:
- Annual Church Membership
- Annual Worship Attendance
- Annual Church Financial Data
- Annual Ministerial Support
You can also update any church contact information at this time as well.
Accessing the Data Hub
Your username is your five or six digit conference church ID#. The first two (2) numbers signify the conference you are affiliated - MICHIGAN is 32 - followed by your church number. For example, if your church number is 1450 - then your login number would be 321450. If your church number is a two or three digit number then you would use zeros in place of empty spaces to make up your login number. For example if your church number is 25 your login number would be 320025. If you are unsure of your church's church ID# click on the link below to find your Church Name and Number on the chart.
Church Name & ID #
Your default password is password. After you log in to the system for the first time you should change your password. Click on "Change Password" at the upper right side.
Last year Michigan was ranked 10th (out of 38 Conferences) with a 77% return rate in Yearbook Reporting - can we have your help and cooperation in a higher percentage of Yearbook Reporting for 2015?! I think we can do it! Maybe it will push us into the top 5%!
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Michigan UCC
Open & Affirming Coalition
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The next meeting of the Michigan UCC Open and Affirming Coalition will be held on Saturday, February 21 from 10 - Noon. Edgewood United Church
in East Lansing will be the host church. All are welcome at this meeting to continue developing resources for local congregations studying Open and Affirming. Regina Calcagno of Michigan for Marriage will be the guest speaker at this meeting. For more information, please contact Wayne Burling, wburling@gmail.com
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Mark your calendar:
Annual Pasty Sale!
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Winter Pasty Sale
First Congregational Church, UCC, New Baltimore
First Congregational Church, UCC, New Baltimore will hold the first of two pasty sales February 18 - March 3. The hours are Monday thru Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm, Sunday 12:00-3:00p.m. The cost is $5.00, fresh or frozen. Because of the pre-orders, they are often sold out early in the day. Call 586/725-0909 to order or for more information.
Dozens of members and friends from the community work tirelessly for nearly two weeks. Each pasty starts with fresh vegetables and beef and then the dough is molded and filled with the loving care of individuals for baking. Last year nearly 10,000 pasties were prepared and sold. In 2014, over $40,000 profit was contributed to the church with ten percent going to local families in need.
Winter Pasty Sale Flyer
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Acting in Faith:
Understanding Child Sexual Abuse, Prevention, & Effective Response to Suspected Abuse
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Saturday, March 7, 2015
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.
Cost: $30 (per person to cover meals)
Deadline to register: February 27, 2015
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The Shower of Stoles Exhibition
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The Shower of Stoles is a collection of hundreds of liturgical stoles representing the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of faith. These religious leaders have served in thirty-two denominations and faith traditions, in six countries, and on three continents....
The Shower of Stoles Exhibition
Held at: Affirmations - 290 W. 9 Mile Rd., Ferndale, MI 48220
Opening Reception Event
March 1 Sunday 3 - 5 pm Light Refreshments
Closing Event
March 14 Saturday 3 - 5 pm Light Refreshments
Regular Dates
March 2 - 13 10 - 7 pm
See attached flyer for more information about this fascinating project.
The Shower of Stoles - Flyer
Happenings 2.0 & Growth Committee
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Innovative Ideas:
Congregational Vitality
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For Members in Discernment (MIDs):
Midwestern Regional Gathering
SAVE THE DATE
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March 11 - 13, 2015
Members in Discernment of the Midwestern Region are invited to a MID Gathering in Cleveland, Ohio, hosted by the Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA) Ministry Team of the United Church of Christ, for networking, mutual support, sharing resources and information, and inspiring worship.
The MID Gathering is for anyone who is a Member in Discernment (MID) with a local association for any form of authorized ministry - licensed, commissioned, ordained - in the United Church of Christ. Seminarians, graduates in discernment, participants in UCC Regional Education Programs, and other MIDs are welcome. This regional gathering happens every three (3) years; a MID may attend only once during the process of discernment
The Midwestern Region includes the following conferences: Illinois, Illinois South, Indiana-Kentucky, Iowa, Kansas-Oklahoma, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri Mid-South, Nebraska, Northern Plains, Ohio, South Central, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Calvin Synod. MIDs studying in other regions under the auspices of an association in the Midwestern Region are also welcome. The MESA Ministry Team underwrites this event (including travel, lodging, meals, and program) through the church's support of OCWM. Associations and MIDs are asked to contribute $100 each (totaling $200) for each attending MID.
If you have questions, please contact Kathy Clark at clarkk@ucc.org. |
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Breaking the Chains:
Incarceration and Systems of Exploitation
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Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice
Friday, April 17 - Monday, April 20, 2015
Doubletree Hotel
Crystal City | Washington, D.C.
A group from Michigan Conference UCC, coordinated by Jay Cummings and Roger Pohl, will participate in this large national ecumenical gathering, featuring workshops, networking, and lobbying on Capitol Hill. Information about Ecumenical Advocacy Days and registration may be found at: http://advocacydays.org/2015-breaking-the-chains Each person is responsible to register on his/her own; hotel rooms will fill quickly. This action is based on the Proclaim Release to the Captives Resolution, adopted first by Church of the Good Shepherd, then passed at the Michigan Conference Annual Meeting, October, 2013. Questions - contact Roger Pohl rnpohl@gmail.com (734) 274-1108 or Jay Cummings jhcummings109@gmail.com (517) 392-0209. Participants may either fly or drive (car-pooling may be possible).
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SAVE THE DATE!
In Celebration of Women
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A day to remember and appreciate women (ordained and lay) who have strengthened the Michigan UCC over the past 50 years
"Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done sill be told in remembrance of her." MARK 14:9
Sunday, May 17, 2015
11:00 - 3:30 p.m.
7301 Curtis Street
Detroit, MI 48221
COME FOR THE WHOLE DAY OR JUST THE AFTERNOON PROGRAM
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NEW Employment Opportunities:
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Are you currently looking for employment?
Check out our list of employment opportunities!
Newest opportunity: Director of Music Ministries - First Congregational UCC, Kalamazoo
Click the blue link below for a current list of available employment opportunities! |
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The Dream of Justice (DOJ) Calendar and "Issue of the Month"
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DOJ Newsletter - February 2015
WE ARE THE DREAM OF JUSTICE ("DOJ") group of the Michigan Conference of the UCC ("MCUCC"). Last Fall the MCUCC passed a resolution to help put an end to the "racialized" Criminal-Justice/Mass-Incarceration system. The DOJ is the group formed by the Michigan Conference UCC to implement the resolution. This racialized criminal justice system impacts disproportionately on people of color; the impact is intentional and has racist roots. Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration In The Age Of Colorblindness, provides important information about this latent but real racism in the U.S. This book has opened-the-door so we can clearly see the ongoing racism.
Read more about the on-going work of the Dream of Justice Team and learn how you can get involved.
Follow the link below to read the resolution and sign the Statement of Support.
Resolution and Statement of Support
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Activities that reflect VITALITY!
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The Vital Growth Mission Area Team is requesting photos of your congregation participating in activities that reflect vitality. These photos will be collected throughout the year to be displayed at the next Annual Meeting.
Please send high resolution photos to pastorpegf@gmail.com and include your church's name and the activity. Thank You!
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Church World Service
Employment Opportunity
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Dear Colleagues and Supporters:
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UCC Women of Michigan proudly present
The Gathering 2015
"Dance in the Spirit"
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SAVE THE DATES! June 12, 13, 14, 2015
Tustin, Michigan
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Boundary Training - Sessions available in 2015!
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Boundary Training sessions are available in 2015! To register for upcoming sessions click on REGISTER.
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Camp Talahi Retreat and Nature Center 6458 Richardson Road Howell, MI 48843
Registration for summer 2015, A Call in the Wilderness is now open! Early registration ends on April 15, 2015 so sign up today and save!
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"How to Avoid the Potholes on the Road to Retirement"
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Items for Sale or Donation: NEW ITEMS!
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You never know, you just might find something you have been looking for! Check out our list of items for sale or donation from local churches.
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Please hold in your prayers the Rev. Steven Lashbrook (former pastor, First Congregational UCC, Manistee) who has had some recent health problems.
* ***
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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