One of my favorite Easter sermon illustrations is from Taylor Branch's book, Pillar of Fire, America in the King Years 1963 - 1965. Branch describes the work of a freshly minted lawyer, Jack Pratt, with bond money from the United Church of Christ, scouring Mississippi prisons in search of civil rights activists who had disappeared from their appointed places of incarceration. After staring down angry armed guards at the notorious Parchman Penitentiary and winning the release of thirteen prisoners, Pratt, moved on to the Leflore County Work Farm. "Trouble came this time," Branch writes, "not so much from the guards as from the forty-four prisoners themselves
who were reluctant to accept release into the custody of a white stranger after dark... All the prisoners deferred wordlessly to two frail women well into their seventies. They questioned Pratt, pondered his story and perhaps his (New York)accent, then announced a decision. 'Praise God!' one of them called out. 'The church has come and set us free!'"
I am proud of the United Church of Christ and the National Council of Churches in this great effort of freedom. It is a testament to the Easter freedom witnessed in God's power over death, "even death on a cross." Once we have been set free, moved beyond our own fear of death, and claimed new life in Christ Jesus, we are able to stand with those long imprisoned by the forces that deny life: injustice, bigotry, poverty, greed, addiction, hunger, suspicion and hate. The daily news has countless names of places in this country where the work of freedom must continue - Ferguson, Indiana, Cleveland and even Detroit, Muskegon, Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids and your town.
We live in times that need new champions of freedom. I hope that you will get caught up in the Easter spirit of new life in Christ and contemplate on whose behalf you just might use your new life.
Easter blessings,
Campbell Lovett
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| | Photo courtesy of www.lilliandaniel.com |
Festival of Faith
Keynote Speaker: Lillian Daniel
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Cost: $30 per person (includes lunch)
1001 Chester Road Lansing, MI 48912
Join the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Michigan Region and the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ as we welcome pastor, writer, and teacher, The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel. Dr. Daniel has served as senior minister of the First Congregational Church, Glen Ellyn, IL since 2004. She is featured in Mark Oppenheimer's recent New York Times article Examining the Growth of the 'Spiritual but Not Religious'. In addition, Dr. Daniel also serves on the Board of Directors at Chicago Theological Seminary.
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 online retailer, including: Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, & Indie Bound.
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Southwest Association:
Offering Members Registration Reimbursement
to those who attend Festival of Faith
Any participant in a Southwest Association church can have the registration fee for Festival of Faith reimbursed!
The Southwest Association Council will reimburse the $30 registration fee for anyone from a church in the Association who attends Festival of Faith on Saturday April 18. The featured speaker for this day of learning, worship and fellowship together is author and preacher Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel. Daniel's most recently published book is When Spiritual But Not Religious Is Not Enough.
Join this valuable gathering, planned in cooperation with the Michigan Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We will meet at First Christian Church, 1001 Chester Road, Lansing, MI from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on the 18th. Online registration is available through the Michigan Conference website; you can also download paper registration forms from that site. Registration fees include lunch.
If you register for this event and want reimbursement please contact Howard Tejchma, treasurer for the Southwest Association, with your contact information. Email him at howard@kazoofcc.org
Thank you, also, for your congregation's annual dues to the Association that have made it possible for us to offer this opportunity to all our members.
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Marriage Equality: Is Your Congregation Ready?
Monday, April 27, 2015
10a - 2:30p
469 N. Hagadorn Rd.
East Lansing, MI 48823
*Location change - larger venue needed.
Cost: $10 (includes lunch)
Register by April 21, 2015
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IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN
Sponsored by the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ
"Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her." MARK 14:9
Sunday, May 17, 2015
11:00 - 3:30 p.m.
A day to remember and appreciate women (ordained and lay) who have strengthened the Michigan UCC over the past 50 years.
7301 Curtis Street
Detroit, MI 48221
Come for the whole day or just the afternoon program!
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 Needs your help.
For seventeen years we have stood with the Lakota, first as visitors, and more recently, tenants. We are now ready to become true neighbors.
After purchasing 160 acres on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Re-Member is now positioned to construct our own facilities far more suited to assisting Lakota families and educating our volunteers and visitors about the injustices that have been dealt our Native American population. Our new home will be called Feather II.
This is no small step for Re-Member. Never before have we reached out to our friends, supporters and volunteers in this way. Our Feather II campaign has raised $500,000 to date toward the total project cost of $1.5 million. Attached is a literature that explains the details surround Feather II and the impact it will have on Re-Member's capacity to serve and assist the residents on the reservation.
Please consider a commitment to support Feather II - donations can be made online by visiting: www.re-member.org or mailed to: Re-Member - P.O. Box 8278, Grand Rapids, MI 49518
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 Joys & Concerns
Please continue to hold in your prayers the Rev. Gene McCornack and his wife Mariann. Gene suffered a stroke on January 27. After extended time at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, he was moved to the UCC Pathways program at Evangelical Homes of Michigan. Cards of encouragement can be mailed to his home: 14750 Lakeside Circle #112, Sterling Heights, MI 48313.
Please hold in your hearts and continued prayers, the Rev. Sherry Schacht and her family(Eastern Association; retired pastor). Please continue to lift her up in your prayers filled with strength and courage - determination and faith - love and comfort. |
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Boundary Tending and Border Crossing
703 E. Main Street, Dewitt, MI 48820
Sessions are available:
April 3, 2015
September 10, 2015
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Are you looking for employment?
Check out our list of available positions!
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UCC Women of Michigan proudly present:
The Gathering 2015 "Dance in the Spirit"
June 12 - 14, 2015
Kettunen Center, Tustin, MI
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Ginny Titus
Join us for a weekend of retreat, renewal, relaxation and recharging. It is a time to greet old friends and make new ones!
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YFX Physical Theatre Announces:
Company Auditions
Gods, Genies, & Giants
By appointment - please contact: Todd (626)475-4543
Rehearsals: June/July (TBA)
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The Parish Paper
"Finding God's New Call in the Same Place"
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New Items!
Items for Sale or Donation
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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Get the latest camp information and links for registration - CTRNC News
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 Young Fenix Fellowship
with YFX Physical Theatre presents
Stories of Reintegration
Stories of PTSD
Admission is free -
donations accepted
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The Dream of Justice (DOJ) Calendar & "Issue of the Month"
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.
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