Michigan Conference UCC:
E-Bulletin
new MI Conf logo

September 4, 2015
From Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Campbell Lovett
The Michigan Conference is pleased to introduce Rev. Jody Betten as the Interim Southwest Area Minister. Rev. Betten is a native of Grand Rapids and is no stranger in four of the six Michigan Conference Associations. Jody has served as an intentional interim pastor at Edgewood United Church UCC in East Lansing and First Congregational UCC in Rochester, and as a settled pastor at East Congregational UCC  in Grand Rapids. She is currently assisting with a new church start in Traverse City. 

Rev. Betten brings many gifts and skills to this interim position:
  • a student of Family Systems Theory and has attended many classes and workshops on this subject.
  • participated in Center for Progressive Renewal leadership gatherings
  • received interim training with Interim Ministry Network
     
  •  served as Director of Church Relations with World Vision
     
  •  a member of the Vital Growth Mission Area Team

Jody will work closely with the Southwest Association and the Grand West Association executive teams and Committees on Ministry. She will also assist churches in the Search and Call process. Jody will lead both Associations in discerning how best the Michigan Conference can resource the Associations and Local Churches.
2015 Annual Meeting of the 
Michigan Conference UCC

"We Are Overjoyed"

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced"                                      
Psalm 126:3 

Friday, October 23, 2015
First Park Congregational Church
10 East Park Place, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 

Saturday, October 24, 2015
L.V. Eberhard Center
301 West Fulton
Grand Rapids, MI  
Keynote Speaker: 
Rev. Cameron Trimble
Center for Progressive Renewal

DRAFT AGENDA 
Subject to change

REGISTRATION is open! Please click 'REGISTER NOW' below to get registered for the Annual Meeting. 
We look forward to seeing you there!
godly-enter-key.jpg Dream a Bigger Dream
Facebook Party

Great minds think alike! And this is true for the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ and the Ohio Conference United Church of Christ - we will both feature as our keynote speaker, Rev. Cameron Trimble of the Center for Progressive Renewal - at our upcoming Annual Meetings!  

In honor of her upcoming visit the Ohio Conference UCC has put together a Facebook party with Rev. Trimble as their special guest - and everyone is invited to attend!   Never been to a Facebook Party? It's easy! Just click over to their page at 9 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 10. They will be online, along with Rev. Trimble. They will post a question for conversation about once every 10 minutes. You respond with your ideas and stories in the comments section under each post. It's that easy!

Please remember that if you haven't registered for the Michigan Conference Annual Meeting to please do so today!   REGISTER
 
Boundary Tending and Border Crossing
 
703 E. Main Street, Dewitt, MI 48820

Sessions are available:
September 10, 2015



 
Celebrating 28 years - Please Join Us!
September 27, 2015
10:00 AM   Sunday Service
"We Shall Rise Like A Phoenix"
wheat-stalks.jpg Association
Fall Meetings

Covenant Association: 
OCT 10, 2015
Location To Be Determined

Detroit Metropolitan
Association:
OCT 3, 2015
Location: St. John-St. Luke UCC, Detroit

Eastern Association:
OCT 24, 2015
Informal gathering - sitting together at lunch during the MI Conf Annual Meeting

Grand West Association:
OCT 11, 2015
Location: Hudsonville Congregational UCC

Southwest Association:
SEPT 26, 2015
Location: First Cong'l UCC, Coloma

United Northern Association:
SEPT 26, 2015
Location: First Cong'l UCC, Benzonia 
tree-banner.jpg Joys & Concerns

Please keep in your prayers Paul von Oeyen and his family as they mourn the loss of their sister Barbara Joy von Oeyen. Barbara passed away Friday, August 28, 2015. No details of a memorial service are available at this time. 

The Michigan Conference asks for continued prayers for Rev. Deborah Dean Ware, Pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd in Ann Arbor. Deborah has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is receiving medical treatment this month. Deborah is blogging about her experience at: 
We also pray for a speedy recovery for Deborah after recent surgery. 

Please continue to lift up the Rev. Sherry Schacht (Eastern Association; retired pastor) and her family with prayers filled with strength and courage - determination and faith - love and comfort.
In This Issue
From the Conference Minister
2015 Annual Meeting of the Conference
Dream a Bigger Dream
Boundary Training
Celebrating 28 years!
Association Fall Meetings
Joys & Concerns
DOJ Calendar/Newsletter
NEW Employment Opportunities
NEW Items for Sale/Donation
The Parish Paper
Camp Talahi
UCC Women of Metro Detroit
CPR News
CALENDARS
Ministry Quick Links

 

Dream of Justice: 

The Dream of Justice is a group within the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ working to end mass incarceration.


  August Newsletter

 

 Sign the Resolution: 

Proclaim Release to the Captives

This resolution was passed by the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ, and then sparked a broader resolution that was submitted and adopted by the UCC General Synod in June, 2015. Sign this resolution to show your support and to get involved.

 http://tinyurl.com/signreleasetothecaptives

 

Contact Emily (emilyhamstra@gmail.com) to have email addresses added to or removed from the Dream of Justice Newsletter list.

 

 
Are you looking for employment? 

New Opportunities -
Updated 8/5/15!
 
Check out our list of available positions!

Items for Sale or Donation
UPDATED (9.2.15)

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.

 

 
The Parish Paper

"Can Congregations Attract Young Adults"
 


Get the latest camp information and links for registration
 


UCC Women of Metro Detroit
Fall Meeting
September 26, 2015
8:30 AM - 2:00 PM 

Theme:
The Hand That Rocked the Cradle: Challenging Roles of Women in the Church

Special presentation of Laywomen of the Year

 
ctr for progressive renewal

 

CALENDARS



 
Contact Us:
Michigan Conference
United Church of Christ
P.O. Box 1006 | East Lansing, MI 48826-1006
517-332-3511
conference@michucc.org