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Ministry Together
Clergy Resources from the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest
April | 2025
| | Celebration of Jerry & Linda Wolf | | |
Come celebrate Jerry & Linda's time as the interim co-directors on May 3 at 3p, at the Christian Conference Center. Come all day to help prepare the CCC for summer, or come just for the celebration! Please RSVP to Crystal at reservations@newtonccc.org so we can have a count for food.
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Have a passion for the Christian Conference Center? We are looking for your help to get the CCC ready for spring and for summer camp on May 2-4. Come for all or come for some. Many hands make light work! For more information or to volunteer, email Eric at eric@newtonccc.org.
There will be a separate celebration for Jerry & Linda's ministry as co-interim directors of the CCC on May 3 at 3p. Please RSVP for an accurate food count.
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What does it take to offer meaningful and faithful prayers about hard things? Our Upper Midwest region will offer an online class where worship leaders, elders, ministers, and others can explore three things: personal preparation, praying in private places (like a hospital room), and praying in public worship about hard things.
“Praying in Hard Times” will be held online via Zoom on Saturday, May 10 from 10am-12noon. The class will include presentations by folks from the Upper Midwest region and facilitated small group discussions. Register here.
| | Decolonizing Prayer - The Stable Study Church | | |
Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown is excited to share a Bible Study that focuses on a variety of current events and relevant themes - with decolonization and liberation in mind. In these trying times, it is more needed than ever. Join her for Decolonizing Prayer. This session will meet online on Thursday, May 29th, from 7p-8p. Find The Stable Study Church's website here. Go here to register.
| | Important News and Resources | |
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Celebrations for Clergy Colleagues
Congratulations to Emily Steeples on becoming a Board-certified chaplain. Emily serves as Chaplain at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids.
Congratulations to Teresa Kim Pecinovsky, associate of FCC St Paul, on the publication of new children’s book, Sparking Peace. https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513813707/sparking-peace/
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Prayers for Clergy Colleagues
There is a holy and sacred responsibility for each of us to hold one another in prayer. Colleagues of all ages experience health issues, life-altering experiences filled with concern and joy, as well as the fatigue and energy of ministry. Take a moment to offer prayer for one another.
Prayers for the continued healing of John Sowers, who now continues outpatient therapy at home and has resumed some working hours at FCC, Albia, IA.
For Jim Wakelin and his family as his daughter, Amanda Wakelin, passed into eternal life. Read the obituary here.
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General/Ecumenical Church Jobs
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CPE
- Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN is accepting applications for the summer 2025 intensive unit. The program no longer has tuition charges. For more information.
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Congregations in Transition
Friends, these are the congregations in the Upper Midwest in the search and call process. Please keep them in your prayers during these transitions.
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Bondurant Christian Church is in the search process.
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Highland Park Christian Church is in the search and call process and has called Arlene Johnson as interim.
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First Christian Church, Adel has called Tim Johnson as interim.
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Lennox Christian Church is in the search and call process.
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Trinity Christian Church, Bridgewater, will enter the search and call process.
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Hedrick Christian Church is seeking pulpit supply.
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Union Church, Ira, is in the search process.
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Central Christian Church, Marshalltown has called Michael Carlson as interim.
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Pleasantville Christian Church is in the search process.
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Mitchellville Christian Church is seeking pulpit supply.
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First Christian Church, Newton has called Alan Berneman as interim.
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Elkhart Christian Church is in the search and call process. They have called Lisa Grace as interim.
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United Protestant Church, Silver Bay will enter the search process.
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Looking to Serve?
Each month we list the congregations in the Upper Midwest who are in the search and call process. This month there are 20 congregations in the search and call process. It is challenging to identify enough pulpit supply, interim, and settled ministers for these many congregations to consider.
Please contact Josh or Liz to learn more or share your ideas.
| | | Clergy Book Study Resumes in March | | |
The clergy book study will read and discuss Richard Rohr's newest book, available March 5. The group will meet the fourth Thursday of March, April and May, 2 pm via zoom. Please let Liz Woodward, liz@uppermidwestcc.org know your desire to participate. Richard Rohr offers insights, challenges and hope to this time. I look forward to the conversations.
The chapters for each month: March 27 - Introduction through chapter 3
April 24 - Chapters 4 through 7
May 22 - Chapters 8 through Good Summary
| | Continuing Education Opportunities | | |
National Benevolent Association
Building Community Through Storytelling
April 30, 11a-12p Central
For more information.
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Insurance Board
How to Plan for Emergencies in Your Church
April 29, 1p Central
Webinar on equipping your ministry for effective response and recovery during any emergency. To register.
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Bethany College
Oreon E. Scott Lectures
Apr 28-29, in person and online
For more information.
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Festival of Homiletics
May 12-15, 2025
For more information.
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Convergence
Preaching & Worship
May 19-22, online
For more information.
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Lexington Theological Seminary
DOC History & Polity 1
May 5-31, 2025
Taught by Rev. Dr. Jon Barnes. Contact admissions@lextheo.edu for more information.
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Proclamation Project
Preaching Conference
Nov 10-12, Phoenix, AZ
More information to come.
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Continuing Education Requirement
All Upper Midwest clergy are expected to complete continuing education each year in order to be granted ministerial standing in the following years. Details on our regional website.
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Christian Church in the Upper Midwest | www.uppermidwestcc.org | | | | | |
