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Michigan Conference UCC:
E-Bulletin
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| From Conference Minister, Campbell Lovett: |
Safe, Affordable, Life-Sustaining Water for All
A Resolution Update by the Prophetic Integrity Mission Area Team
What We Can Do to Help in the Detroit/Flint Water Crises
At the October 2014 Annual Meeting of the Michigan Conference, delegates adopted a resolution entitled: Safe, Affordable, Life-Sustaining Water for All. In light of the water crises in our "Great Lakes State," including water shut-offs in Detroit and lead-poisoned water in Flint, PI-MAT wanted to provide this update and call to action to our Michigan Conference church members. This update is guided by these words from the original resolution: "Water is the Gift of Life and that which sustains all Life. No one can live without water. To deny access to water is to deny access to Life in that place. What was freely given by God as something essential to Life should not be commoditized. Water is part of the Commons, an essential resource for our common life together." READ MORE
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| Council of Conference Ministers meeting this week in Cleveland join in a statement with the College of Bishops of the Episcopal Church:
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 SAVE THE DATES!
Saturday, April 23, 2016 Festival of Faith - Vitality Day! Edgewood United Church, UCC, East Lansing The Festival of Faith is a shared day of celebration and encouragement for church members of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) here in Michigan! This year's theme is:Being Church: 21st Century Landscape for Mission. The morning begins with a time of worship. Rev. Dr. Richard Lowery will be the preacher. Dr. Lowery is a Biblical scholar and professor at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Worship is followed by a "musical buffet" which features a variety of church musicians introducing us to new expressions of music. Following lunch, an inspirational keynote address will be delivered by Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Dr. Watkins is a renowned church leader and speaker. You and members of your church will be blessed by this festival day of celebration, encouragement and challenge.
A paper registration is available on the Conference website ( www.michucc.org).
Friday & Saturday, October 14 - 15, 2016 Michigan Conference UCC Annual Meeting
Woodside Church, Flint Be sure and mark your calendars! We are in the planning stages; stay tuned!
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 We Are Present
During my recent visit to the Middle East, our delegation had the opportunity to visit a refugee camp in Jordan on the border with Syria. This visit was planned by one of our global mission partners, the Orthodox Initiative that works on a variety of refugee issues. Their current theme is, We are Present. I invite you to view this story about our visit to the border - and while you do, please be thankful for the Our Church's Wider Mission and One Great Hour of Sharing funds that support this partnership.
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Is New Life Really Possible?
An Easter sequel
reVision
Casting a New Vision for Your Church
Saturday, April 2, 2016
9:30 - 12:00 noon
145 Capital Ave., NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017
Come join others in the Michigan Conference UCC as we discuss this new CPR program for revitalization in Your Church. Please pre-register with number of people attending to sasha@michucc.org
No Cost. Light snack will be provided.
Offered to you by the Vital Growth Mission Area Team
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Still Speaking Worship Event:
Common Ground, A Farm-to-table Dinner Ministry Retreat
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Salem UCC, Albion presents:
A Musical Journey Through Holy Week
Saturday, March 26th: 4 - 5:15p
Easter Sunday, March 27th: 10:30 - 11:45a
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 Church Views:
News and updates about a variety of churches in the Michigan Conference
Church Views: |
 UCCDM Newsletter
The UCC Disabilities Ministry has launched a monthly newsletter which is forwarded below. I hope you will sign-up to receive it and share it widely with your contacts and networks.
To subscribe to the newsletter click HERE
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Alternative Spring Break
in Louisville
Help is needed in March & April.
Calling all skilled and unskilled workers! Your help is needed!
There's a new partnership brewing, and you're invited. UrbanSpirit, a DHM Mission Affiliate, is joining up with Plymouth UCC in Louisville, KY, to create a great new space for UrbanSpirit's powerful decade-old program of poverty education. Before the move, however, renovations must be made at their new host site. Disciples Volunteering is calling on mission teams to come this spring and help get the new digs ready for summer service. We'll build showers, add a couple of walls, paint and repair a few things, and generally spruce up a 100-year-old Settlement House in Louisville's Russell Neighborhood. Volunteers will be housed in UrbanSpirit's staff house, just 2 miles away, complete with beds, showers, linens, fully-equipped kitchen, heat and a/c, wireless internet and on-street parking. Just bring your own groceries. Or memorize this number: (502) 776-6400. That's the local pizza parlor. They deliver! Cost is $50 / person. To register, contact Steve Huston at hustons74@gmail.com or by cell at 580-399-4686.
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 Association Spring Meetings
Covenant Spring Meeting April 23, 2016 @ 2:30p Edgewood United Church, UCC, East Lansing
Detroit Metropolitan Spring Meeting
April 16, 2016 @ 9:00a Mayflower Congregational UCC, Detroit
Grand West Spring Meeting April 17, 2016 @ 3:00p (registration begins at 2:30p) Nueva Vida UCC, Wyoming
Ecclesiastical Council: Andy DeBraber @ 6p
Southwest Spring Meeting April 16, 2016 (Time to be determined) Transformations Spirituality Center, Kalamazoo
United Northern Spring Meeting
April 30, 2016 (Time to be determined)
First Congregational UCC, Harrison |
 Needed ASAP: Skilled Carpenters, Electricians & Plumbers
Young Fenix Fellowship UCC, a new church start in Detroit, is developing an exciting new ministry called Young Fenix House. It is a place where artists live and create together, inspire each other, engage in meaningful dialogue and share fellowship in life's journey: all who live here intentionally encourage a collaborative creative process.
Space for this new ministry (3800 square feet on the 3rd floor of an existing building) is being renovated right now on Gratiot, overlooking Eastern Market.
Please contact Rev. Dr. Todd Farley (626-475-4543 or todds.farley@gmail.com) if you would like to volunteer some time and your expertise to make this project a reality (sooner rather than later). Also needed: gently used kitchen appliances: refrigerator, electric oven, and washer/dryer.
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Joys & Concerns
Upcoming Events
Full Communion Celebration:
April 24 @ 3p
Trinity-St. Mark's UCC  9315 West Fort St., Detroit
The Essex Presbytery & the
Detroit Metropolitan Association Churches
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Pentecost Celebration:
May 15 @ 3p
Zion UCC
68 New Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043
To participate contact: Rev. George Bozanich
call 519-990-8551
call 586-463-0069
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Please keep the Rev. Jean Winther and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Jean's brother David King passed away Monday, March 14th, 2016 at the age of 68. Cards or notes are welcomed: 4608 S. Isabella Rd., Apt 202, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858.
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News from CUE (Chicago, United, Eden Seminaries)
Scholarships for UCC Students at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
Is Someone in Your Congregations Considering Seminary? United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has scholarships available for UCC students who are intending to serve in congregations and ministries of the United Church of Christ and are enrolled as full-time students at United. Eligible students may qualify for a $5,000 renewable scholarship. For more information, please contact Michelle Turnau at 651.255.6117 or
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Bertha Dayton Fund
The Bertha Dayton Fund is available for aiding and assisting rural, small town or village churches in the state of Michigan and in the support of their pastors and families.
for an application. |
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Save The Date!
Boundary Training 2016!
May 5th, 2016 9:30a - 3:30p
Paw Paw Presbyterian Church
120 Pine Street
Paw Paw, MI
Early registration fee by April 5th - $75
Includes materials & lunch
Regular registration fee $85 - due by April 25th.
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UCC Women of Michigan:
The Gathering June 10, 11, 12, 2016
The Gathering is a weekend of retreat, renewal, relaxation, and recharging. It is a time to greet old friends, and make new ones. It offers workshops, music, singing, and this year lots of laughter and joy. There will be Friday evening entertainment and vespers. Saturday's activities give you many opportunities to either stay busy or simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Kettunen Center. Sunday offers a Sunday school class and a very meaningful worship service. Of course, we must add a business meeting somewhere in all the activity. Kettunen Center is located in the woods on a beautiful lake in Tustin, Michigan. The accommodations are "luxury in the woods" and the food is scrumptious and abundant. In short, it's your weekend. Come and enjoy!
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Woodside Church, Flint
WATER: Keep up with info, needs and actions HERE |
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Zach Wolgemuth, Executive, UCC Disaster Ministries, with Marcia & Harold Beer - Michigan Conference Disaster Co-Coordinator's
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Harold & Marcia Beer
Disaster Co-Coordinators' Corner
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Are you looking for employment?
Check out our list of available positions!
Updated: February 17, 2016
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 Does your church's to-do list include any of the following?
- Become accessible
- Expand our facilities
- Refinance an existing loan
See what's possible for your church. |
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Items for Sale or Donation
Updated: March 11, 2016
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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The Parish Paper
"What Numbers Matter for Congregations"
"How to Deal with Church Conflict"
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| Contact Us: | |
Michigan Conference
United Church of Christ
P.O. Box 1006 | East Lansing, MI 48826-1006
517-332-3511
conference@michucc.org
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