Make sure to "View Entire Message" to see all the October Monthly News! | |
To care for the UCC clergy and churches in Michigan | |
Annual Meeting Preview
Wednesday 10/2 at Noon on Zoom
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REGISTER Now for Annual Meeting | |
Optional Workshops for Annual Meeting Participants
*final schedule to be determined
Three workshops will be offered from 10:00am - 11:30am
Three additional workshops will be offered from 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Participants will be able to choose one morning workshop and one afternoon workshop. Workshop presenters will have additional information available in Exhibit Hall spaces on Saturday.
Antiracism in the Church - Prophetic Integrity Mission Area Team
Facing the Future Faithfully - Legacy & Vitality with Conference Staff
Investing in Your Future and the Future of the Church - Cornerstone Fund Rep
Ministry for Older Adults - Faith Formation Mission Area Team
Poetry as a Spiritual Practice - Keynote Karen Georgia Thompson
Reproductive and Sexual Justice Theory - Rosemary Gibson
The Michigan Legacy Art Park at Crystal Mountain will be available for Crystal Mountain guests for an Art Hike during workshop times or other free time during Annual Meeting.
See Workshop Descriptions Here
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Conference Staff offers four monthly drop-in Caring Clergy Community Groups
These groups meet on Wednesday from 12:00noon - 1:00pm
Pastors and MIDs may join these Caring Clergy Communities on Zoom any time.
First Wednesday Leadership Lunch with Lillian Daniel
Second Wednesday Book of the Month with Jenn Ringgold
Third Wednesday Clergy Cafe with Cheryl Burke
Fourth Wednesday Spiritual Practices for Pastors with Lawrence Richardson
Member in Discernment (Second Thursday and Third Monday) and Retired Clergy Cafe (First Thursday) are also available for drop in.
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The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, Michigan Conference Minister
2024 Preaching Schedule & Worship Visits
October 6, 2024 Preach - First Congregational UCC, Harrison
October 13, 2024 Preach - The United Church, Big Rapids
October 20, 2024 travel to Cheshire, CT
October 27, 2024 Preach - Salem UCC, Albion
October 31-Nov 2, 2024 Annual Meeting
November 10, 2024 Preach - Fellowship Chapel UCC, Detroit
November 17, 2024 Preach - Hope UCC, Clinton Township
November 24, 2024 Preach - First Congregational UCC, Lowell
LINK TO ALL upcoming 2024-2025 DATES
Contact lisa@michucc.org to schedule a visit
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Conference Transitions
The Conference Transitions feature appears in the monthly Michigan Conference Newsletter. Please share your transition information, including church anniversaries, with commmunications@michucc.org
Searching Churches
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Shelby Congregational UCC in Shelby is searching for a part time pastor. Details
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Douglas Congregational UCC in Douglas is searching for a full time pastor Details
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Trinity Church of the UCC in Northport is searching for a part time pastor. Details
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For a complete list of searching UCC churches in Michigan click here
Installations and Ordinations
- A service of Installation and Ordination took place September 15, 2024 at 3:00pm for Rev. Nina Trump at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Dearborn Heights MI
- A service of Ordination will take place October 13, 2024 at 3:00pm for Rev. Anthony Carter at Shrine of the Black Madonna Pan-African Orthodox Church, Detroit MI
- A service of Installation will take place November 10, 2024 at 3:00pm for Rev. Julia DiFiore at First Congregational Church UCC, St. Clair MI
Ecclesiastical Councils
- Two ecclesiastical councils will take place at the Grand West Association Fall Meeting, October 20, 2024. One for Stephanie Rodriguez for ordination and the second for Rev. Ricardo Tavarez for Privilege of Call. The meeting will be held at En Vivo Church in Grand Rapids, MI and begins at 2:00pm
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Youth Invisibility
Michigan Conference Associate for Youth Ministries, Jenn Ringgold, was invited to write a blog post for Our Faith Our Vote in late September to bring awareness around High School Voter Registration week.
Read More Here
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Fall Event for Children and Families
Autumn Paws is hosted by Gathering of Our Imagination, a group of Southwest Association UCC Churches in Berrien County, joining together to serve local youth and families, with a particular focus on students in K-6th grade.
On Sunday October 6, 2024 from 3:00pm-6:00pm Elementary school children and their families will have the opportunity to "pause", and have some Fall Fun with Paws for Humanity.
Find out more and message your RSVP
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Our Faith Our Vote - Weekly Zoom
The Detroit Metropolitan Association Social Justice Team continues to host a weekly Zoom at 10:00am on Tuesdays to promote dialogue and the vision that as Christians, it is our responsibility to work in coalitions with people of similar values in a non-partisan way to make plans to get out the vote and preserve democracy.
You can find the Zoom link on the Conference Calendar, and you can also read the DMA Social Justice Team Voting Letter HERE .
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United Northern, Detroit Metropolitan with Eastern, and Covenant Associations will gather onsite at Crystal Mountain for Fall Meetings starting at 3:00pm on Friday November 1, 2024 | |
Local Church and Other News | |
UCC Disabilities Ministries has an excellent and broad-based accessibility resource with definitions and a checklist | |
Access Sunday
This Year October 13, 2024 is recognized as Access Sunday
Find Worship Resources HERE
A special perspective from Older Adult Ministries and FFMAT:
Ask an older person what their greatest challenge is about being at church, and you may be surprised. Lois commented her church’s entrance doors were too heavy for her to open. John moved to a different church which had an updated sound system linking to his hearing aids. What does building accessibility mean for older adults and those who are physically
challenged?
For a specific outline of first steps for low-cost, or less-costly action toward accessibility for Older Adults download the flyer linked below
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visit FellowshipChapel.org for more information | |
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Fellowship Chapel's
Women's Christian
Fellowship Ministry
is celebrating its 50th Women's Day on Sunday, October 27.
It will be preceded by a
month of activities
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Animating Antiracism
Michigan Conference staff, Board of Directors, and members of the Antiracism Task Force are all currently participating in Animating Antiracism.
We invited you to consider joining us in the work of living into Antiracism as a way of being.
New Fall and Winter Cohort dates have just been released.
Find Out More HERE
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We Want to Hear from YOU!
Use THIS FORM to share your joys, concerns, news, events, and resources
with the Michigan Conference UCC!
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2024 resources include regular liturgical elements; Litany of the Advent Candle, Prayer of Confession, Words of Assurance, Invitation to the Offering, Prayer of Dedication, and a children’s moment. Additionally, this year’s resource set includes weekly Advent spiritual exercises for adults and teens. All elements are based on Advent lectionary readings.
Download Free Resources
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The Mess In The Messiah
The Mess in the Messiah:
'Far from a delicate porcelain creche or a pristine Hallmark card, the Christmas message of "God with us" is messy—and the writers of this year's Advent-Christmastide Devotional invite you to join them in that mess! Order The Mess in the Messiah today for daily reflections to inspire your spirit from Advent through Christmas.'
The Pilgrim Press has resources available for pre-order to get you started. Paper and PDF options, along with bulk pricing on the website.
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Wider-Church UCC News, Events, and Resources | |
Project 2025 is a compilation of policy proposals that would have far-reaching implications for environment justice. Learn more in this webinar with panelists from the Union for Concerned Scientists, the Sierra Club, and the United Church of Christ: bit.ly/Project2025Webinar | 2024 Stewardship Resources are available HERE | |  |
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gather for a time of study, reflection, leadership development, worship and mutual support for all attendees. The cost for the virtual gathering is only $10
online registration deadline is November 15th
REGISTER HERE
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This Monthly Newsletter Communication
is made possible
by your contributions to
Basic Support
of Our Church's Wider Mission
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