Equipping, empowering, connecting, and celebrating the churches of the Michigan Conference

Trauma Informed Church

Thank you to Dr. Mary Crnobori

for leading participants through an informative presentation, and to Rev. Jo Bahr, Rev. Lawrence Richardson, and Rev. David Wheeler, for offering thought-provoking conversation about how to be aware of trauma and its effects on the people we care for in our church communities.

The April 27 Michigan Conference UCC Webinar - Trauma Informed Church - was recorded and is available to watch HERE

A Resource Sheet was provided by Dr. Mary Crnobori and notes from the chat and conversation can be found HERE

MORE INFORMATION HERE

only 2 spots remaining

YOUTH@SYNOD

2 SPACES LEFT for MI youth in High School or Middle School to travel together June 30 - July 4, 2023 for special Youth@Synod programming.

$185.00 covers registration, programming, transportation, lodging, and meals - including dinner with Ibram Kendi, lunch with Bryan Stevenson, and Keynote with Nadia Bolz-Weber!!!!

Scholarship funds available

Association Spring Meetings

SUNDAY MAY 7, 2023

3:00p

Grand West

Douglas UCC

56 Wall St, Douglas MI

This year’s spring gathering of GWA clergy and laity will be a

“Liturgy of Release and Farewell”

for Rev. Ruth Fitzgerald

who is retiring as

Area Conference Minister

All clergy are invited to robe and wear a stole as they feel so moved and join in a Processional at the beginning of the service. Following the ceremony, light refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall. No RSVP is needed.

The event will also be streamed live online at YouTube.com/DouglasUCC

SATURDAY JUNE 3, 2023

9:00a - 12:30p

Detroit Metropolitan

Zoom Registration

Coming Soon

DMA is delighted to have Rev. Dr. Velda Love, as Keynote Speaker

Rev. Love serves the United Church of Christ as Lead for Join the Movement and Minister of Racial Justice, Education for Faithful Ministries, Justice and Local Church Ministries.

There will be a Q & A session at the end of her presentation.

CALL TO MEETING FLYER

Members and friends of local churches in SWA gathered together for a potluck and grilled meal at Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center on April 29, 2023

" It was a wonderful gathering where people had the opportunity to enjoy fellowship with old and new friends, play games, hike, catch up, plan, and dream together for the future of our mutual ministry work! "

~ Rev. Calandra Nevenzel

SWA Association Minister

" It was a treasure to be able to meet new people, break bread and sing together, and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation around Tower Hill’s campus."

~ Rev. Caroline Keeney Meyers

SWA Council Clerk

Michigan Church Stories

Educate 2 Eradicate Hate

Churches have an opportunity to reach the greater community and display God's love by tackling difficult topics in new ways. Rise UCC began their newest outreach ministry "Educate to Eradicate Hate" on April 26. The topic for the first event was Transgender Awareness. Rise UCC partnered with Macomb County Pride and hired a panel of three speakers to engage in education and discussion: Dr. Daniel Shumer, a pediatric endocrinologist from U of M, Stephanie Lange, a social worker that specializes in LGBTQ youth, and Joni Genovesi, a transgender individual.

It was decided to rent space at an activity center located in a beautiful park as a neutral location. The event was purposefully marketed to the entire county with a goal to educate as many people as possible on the topic. The focus of the event was to highlight the medical, physiological, sociological, and psychological impacts that the transgender community is currently facing due to misinformation. 48 adults and 3 children attended, with over 50% being from the greater community.

Christianity and religion were not part of this specific conversation because it wasn't necessary in order to display the love of God and the values of the Rise UCC congregation. Rise UCC has received an enormous amount of positive feedback, and many individuals from the community have begun to engage with the church for the first time. The E2EH team at Rise UCC will enter the planning phase for the next event in this outreach ministry the first week of May.

~submitted by Rev. Kim Newport

Rise UCC Romeo, MI

RIP Medical Debt

Medical debt is the number one reason for 66.5% of Bankruptcies.

At the start of 2022, approximately 1.3 million adults in Michigan had medical debt in collections. The impact of this financial burden on so many individuals is the reason Bethel UCC in Waterford, MI chose to partner with the Prophetic Integrity Mission Area Team and RIP Medical Debt to raise $40,000.

Through RIP Medical Debt, On average, $1 is leveraged to abolish $100 in medical debt. Every donation is spent directly on abolishing medical debt in Michigan. $40,000 would eliminate $4 million of the $181 million of medical debt for Michiganders.

Bethel UCC pastor, the Rev. Dr. Diane Baker says, “I saw it as a way for our small church to have a big impact. I also wanted to create a link that would bring UCC churches together to work on a project. There's power in covenant and collaboration, I'm thankful for all those who have helped."

We Want to Hear from YOU!

A priority for the Michigan Conference Monthly News

is connecting local churches with one another and sharing YOUR stories.

Use THIS FORM to share with the Conference!

Local Church Events

Non-binary & Trans Workshop

Come learn more about the “T” in LGBTQ

and the term “non-binary.” Discover practices that are helpful in creating an inclusive environment, especially for churches. Opportunity to discuss why this matters for people of faith.

Co-sponsored by the Phoenix Community Church Open and Affirming Team and the Queer Beloved Community

Thursday, May 11, from 6:30 to 8:00pm

ZOOM LINK

Meeting ID: 828 3143 0557

Passcode: 907997

OPTIONS for Summer Camp

Camp Talahi

website

Facebook

Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center

website

Facebook

National UCC News and Events

Volunteer at Synod

Agenda at a Glance

Proposed Resolutions

Proposed Bylaw Changes

In the United Church of Christ,

Mental Health Sunday is May 21

MAY is Mental Health Awareness Month

Check out Mental Health Sunday resources HERE

AND toolkits HERE to become a W.I.S.E. Congregation or Organization for Mental Health

Welcoming

Inclusive

Supportive and

Encouraging

2023 Stewardship Theme Materials Available

2023 stewardship materials feature this year's slogan, “Because of You, Our Church Changes Lives” drawing the connection between donor generosity and the ministry and mission of your congregation.

LEARN MORE HERE

MAY STEWARDSHIP WEBINAR

May 24 – 7:30p - 8:30p EST

Building an Endowment

An endowment can support a congregation and its wider mission. But where do you start? Get ideas and policies for creating and growing an endowment for your congregation. Discuss how to raise, manage, and use endowment funds.

ZOOM REGISTRATION