To support and care for those engaging in ministry with children, youth, and families

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More than 20 people are already registered!!

Youth in grades 6-12 will gather along with adult chaperones from their local churches for the opportunity to connect with one another and the wider church on January 31 - February 1, 2026 at Haslett Community Church in the Lansing Area. Cost is $30.00 per person.

"Peacemakers" Retreat starts at 10:00am on Saturday and ends after worship on Sunday.

Includes: meals from lunch on Saturday - lunch on Sunday, opportunity for service learning with local organizations, programming and games, Bible study, roller skating, overnight lodging at Haslett Community Church, Communion, worship, and boxed lunch to go.

Registration Deadline is 9:00pm on Sunday, January 11, 2026

2026 Resource Kits will be arriving at local churches this week!! Special thanks to the volunteers at UCC, Midland who helped us sort and pack over 1400 books!!! Be on the lookout, and share some love when your box arrives by tagging us (@michiganucc) in a selfie or unboxing video. We can't wait to hear what you think about the 10 books included in the Resource Kit for 2026 Worship and Prayer with Children in Nature. Download the 2026 Welcome Letter to read about each resource, as well as find ideas for how to use them in your congregation.

During the five years of the Mitten Project, 48 churches will have the opportunity to receive $5000.00 in funding for local church program implementation.

We are excited to share that 11 churches have applied for and been invited to receive funding and support as the 2026 Cohort. These cohort churches will design and implement programming to engage children ages 0-12 in worship and prayer and intentionally connect with the daily lives of children and families.

It is with great joy and excitement that we share the churches who have been invited to participate in the 2026 Mitten Project Cohort:

Kalamazoo First Congregational Church (UCC)

Hope United Church of Christ

First Congregational Church of Battle Creek

St. Paul United Church of Christ, Chelsea

Cadillac First Congregational Church UCC

Salem United Church of Christ - Farmington

Trinity United Church of Christ Northport

First Congregational Church of Rockford

Fellowship Chapel UCC

St. Stephens Community Church UCC

Bethel United Church of Christ, Manchester

The 2026 Mitten Project Cohort is a diverse representation of churches from across the Michigan Conference UCC. The expansive innovation present in each program proposal is incredible. It will be an exciting year to watch their work unfold and directly impact the children in their communities and churches.

Letters of Agreement have been sent for congregational approval and funds will be sent to congregations in January 2026.

2027 Cohort Applications will open in July 2026

Worship Highlight from Kalamazoo First Congregational Church on 10.05.2025

Children learning the words and actions for the ritual of communion.

A bold proclamation that all are gifted for ministry!!

The Michigan Conference received a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for $1,250,000.00 for the Michigan Conference Mitten Project: Knitting together children and adults in worship and prayer. The Michigan Conference Mitten Project is a 5-year program that invites congregations to engage children in worship, so that all of us, in each generation, can leave church more deeply connected with the spiritual and ready to find the sacred in our everyday lives.

The National Setting is building up a supportive network to sustain the work of children's ministry leaders and to support them with continued learning and resources to more effectively serve their children and families.

Read the December Newsletter HERE

You can find out more about their work and shared resources HERE

Networking Zoom Meetings for Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Leaders in the Great Lakes Region

1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 11:00 am ET click here

Upcoming Meetings:

December 18, 2025

NO MEETING January 1, 2026

January 15, 2026

links for meetings can also be found on the Michigan Conference UCC Calendar via the website