COMMAntary

Volume 22, No. 24 | September 25, 2025

Equipping a courageous Church alive with Christ's transforming love

In work, rest, and worship God is with us.

Gathered and scattered God is with us.

Now and always God is with us.

God is with us!

–closing hymn for daily morning prayer at Iona Abbey

In early August, a group of 11 high school youth and five adults representing ten congregations of the Minnesota Conference traveled to Iona Abbey in Scotland. Every summer for more than 30 years, the Iona Community has hosted YouthFest, an event that brings together young people from the UK and beyond to share the daily rhythm of work, rest, and worship at the abbey; connect with young people from different places and experience; learn about the over 1,200-year history of spiritual pilgrimage to Iona; and explore the natural beauty and wonder of the island’s fierce landscape.

The trip to Iona provided our Minnesota group with a true experience of pilgrimage. Over two days, we boarded two international flights, rode a train through the Scottish highlands, stayed one night in the coastal town of Oban, took a long ferry ride to the Isle of Mull and a sometimes harrowing bus ride on a one-lane road across Mull, grabbed a second ferry ride to the Isle of Iona, and made a final half-mile walk to Iona Abbey. Although long and exhausting, the travel provided an abrupt transition from the regular rhythms and patterns of life, created opportunities to begin to form new relationships, and generated excitement for the week at the abbey. 

Upon arriving on Iona, our group met the two other youth groups coming for YouthFest, about 20 young people from two historically black congregations in London. The staff from the abbey and YouthFest coordinators provided a warm welcome and began the invitation (that would continue throughout the week) to join the daily routine and practices of the Iona Community: worship to bookend each day, shared meals and community conversation, morning chores to care for the spaces and people, and intentional rest and renewal. The daily routines of the community wrapped around the YouthFest program, which offered daily opportunities for learning, exploring, creating, playing, and simply being together with other young people. 

The actual content and structure of the YouthFest program created some confusion and consternation for our group – for both adults and young people. We had expected opportunities for structure conversation that helped young people from differing contexts, traditions, and backgrounds share their stories and intentionally learn about the diverse perspectives represented. Instead, the young people were invited into spaces to explore the rich spiritual heritage of Iona, to play together, and to create together through art, music, drama, dance, and other creative expressions. The focus of these collaborations was creating and leading the closing evening worship of the week for the entire community. 

The expectations that we brought into the week about opportunities for young people to intellectually engage one another across cultural, religious, and social differences gave way to an appreciation for opportunities to offer differing gifts, talents, and passions to create together a space for community prayer, confession, praise, and celebration. Disparate groups of young people came together over the course of a week to become multiple creative communities stitching together a beautifully rich space for the wider community to worship. 

In multiple conversations with our Minnesota group near the end of our time at Iona and on the long journey home, many of the young people named the experience of worship at Iona Abbey as the highlight or most meaningful part of their experience. Several of our young people commented that they have never experienced anything like these worship experiences before – simple, relevant, led by ordinary people with a spiritual passion, where they have been invited and encouraged to use their gifts to lead, centered on the prayers of the community and for the world. 

Also on the journey home, several of our young people were pondering the possibility of volunteering at Iona Abbey as part of their future and unfolding journey – as a summer opportunity post high school, during a gap year, sometime during their young adulthood as they discern career plans. Others wondered aloud how they would bring the experiences of prayer, worship, and creativity back to their local congregations and into their regular practices and routines. 

These ponderings about the unfolding journey of life ahead for our young people are why the Conference continues to sponsor these immersive experiences for young people from local congregations across Minnesota. 

Over the next several months, we are inviting our high school students and adults who participated in the trip to Iona to offer their reflections about the trip and the impact of the experience. Please look for these reflections in upcoming editions of COMMAntary. 

—Rev. Kevin Brown, Associate Conference Minister

Conference Youth Engage in a Summer of Advocacy

Youth from Peace UCC in Duluth, Creekside UCC in Minneapolis, and the Congregational Church UCC in Rochester took very different trips this summer but all focused on engaging youth in advocacy work.

Peace UCC Travels to Pine Ridge

In mid-July, ten youth and four adults from Peace youth traveled to ReMember on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. During this intensive, nine-day cultural immersion trip, the group learned about Lakota history, culture, and spiritual teachings from Oglala-Lakota Elders; built community with Pine Ridge residents and volunteers; participated in service projects requested by the folks living there; and explored the unique character of the land.

"The purpose of the experience was to begin a process of relationship building with our Lakota relatives, while we continue to build relationship with our neighboring Anishinaabe relatives in the Duluth area," says Amanda McElray Hunter, Peace's children, youth and small group coordinator.

The Pine Ridge Reservation is the most economically challenged zip-code in the US. "Youth were impacted by the understanding that this poverty is a result of systemic violence and oppression perpetrated by the US government and many of our white-settler ancestors," says Amanda. "The youth were inspired by the joy and resiliency of the Oglala -Lakota people, their ethos of Mitakuye O’yasin (we are all related) and the work they are doing to reclaim the truth of the past and the reality of the present as they move toward a better future."

On September 21, the travelers shared their experiences a Peace's education forum and led worship. "We will carry this work forward with future trips to continue those relationships we made this summer and also as we continue to work to build equitable relationships of mutual aid and respect in our local context with our Anishinaabe neighbors," says Amanda.

Rochester Youth Participate in General Synod

The Congregational Church UCC sent eight youth and three adults to Kansas City for General Synod this past July. Much of the week was spent learning more about the UCC and their congregation's relationship to the national entity.

"We were lucky enough to participate in the youth@synod programming that provided opportunities to meet other young people from across the country, participate in ritual, and have conversations about our faith," says Rev. Shannon Smith. "Each day our group began by choosing someone in the group to pray for and in the evening we shared those prayers. It was a gift to see the youth start to understand the bigness of the Church and how their faith calls them into relationship with folks from many different places." Among the highlights of the trip was a meeting with the General Minister and President, Karen Georgia Thompson, says Shannon. "Her words inspired us all for the work of the Church. One youth offered this: 'The General Minister's got mad aura!'"

Creekside Youth Learn About Ocean Ecology

Eleven Creekside youth and four adults spent a week in July at Monterey Bay in Pacific Grove, CA, learning about ocean ecology and how protecting the earth’s waters connects to their faith. The group visited the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, helped out in the greenhouse at the Asilomar Beach Sand Dune Restoration Project, assisted with a citizen scientist project on mole crabs, visited a lab working to save the sunflower sea star population, cleaned litter off a beach, learned about how long it takes various types of garbage to decompose, wrote postcards to lawmakers, made banners to hang in the Creekside youth room, took a wildlife safari boat ride, and played a lot of beach volleyball in between, according to Bree McKee-Miller, Creekside's director of faith formation for children, youth, and families.

"We ended each day with a worship and reflection that tied our work to our faith. The youth report feeling much less helpless about environmental issues after seeing how the passion of a few people, and the collective efforts of the many, can make meaningful change happen."

Conference News & Events

Weaving Wild Spaces Into our Being

Our Women's Retreat earlier this month welcomed new, returning, and regular participants from 12 congregations. The facilitators, Paula Pedersen and Sara Thomsen, moved us through the theme "Weaving Wild Spaces into Our Being." Paula offered stories that embodied our connection to and through nature that is both experiences of wisdom and healing, while Sara's music engulfed us with rhythm and words that seep into the soul. Mark your calendars for the next Women's Retreat, September 11-13, at Camp Onomia. Registration will open in November.

Animating Antiracism for Faith Formation Open to All

This program is open to all church leaders who wish to expand cultural competency and examine the ways that race and power are present in ministry. This webinar and cohort series was developed for the United Church of Christ Network of Wider Church Youth Ministries (NOWCYM) by Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training. The program is sponsored by the Minnesota Conference and funded in large part through the Ashley Endowment. 

As we continue to build this program and reach more people with this content that is specifically designed for local churches and leaders in the UCC, we know that it has a direct impact on our communities, especially in how we form faith. We are grateful for your learning and your leadership.

Read more about the program, cost, format, and education credits.

Cohort G is October 6–November 10, Mondays 4:00–5:00 pm CT

REGISTER

Cohort H is Thursday, October 23, from 3:30-7:30 pm CT and Friday, October 24, from 12:30-3:30 pm CT

REGISTER

Chapel Hills UCC Accepting Applications for Grants

Chapel Hills is now accepting applications for its 2025 external grant cycle. For more than 20 years, Chapel Hills has made grants to a broad range of local, regional, and international organizations as an important part of its mission of "living and serving in the light of God's love." Grants can vary in amount and range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. While there is no specific requirement on what the grant can be used for, special consideration will be given to well-defined projects that support children/youth, address food/housing insecurity, or strengthen communities. DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION

Applications are due no later than 11:59 pm October 31 via email at chapelhillsucc@gmail.com, or by mail (must be postmarked by October 31) addressed to: External Grant Committee, Chapel Hills UCC, 6512 Vernon Ave S, Edina, MN 55436-1823.

Partner News & Events

Join the UCC Webinar on the EPA’s Dismantling of Environmental Protections

At a time when the head of the EPA is dismantling the protections that safeguard our environment and public health, the UCC is hosting a national webinar featuring some of the best legal and policy experts on the EPA in the country. They will address not only what has happened but also what can be done to take moral action in this moment. Speakers will include Ann Carlson from the UCLA School of Law, Jen Duggan from the Environmental Integrity Project, and Chitra Kumar from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Even if you can’t make it for the scheduled time of Wednesday, October 8th at 1 pm ET/10 am PT, still sign-up and a link to the recording will be sent to you. REGISTER

Church. Organize. Neighbor. Love.

These are liminal times. The church is uniquely positioned to voice difficult truths, shape difficult decisions, and move toward God’s preferred future. Yet prophetic presence in our communities can feel dangerous and action can feel hopeless. You are not alone!

The Ministry Lab’s four-panel series invites you into conversation with:

• CHURCH leaders to ground us in our unique doctrines and social statements as they invite us into Christ’s shared call to love our neighbors in new ways;
• urban and rural faith-based leaders who will equip folx to ORGANIZE, partner, and collaborate rooted in the Way of Jesus;
• diverse community leaders who inspire redefining NEIGHBOR as collective action amidst a more expansive sense of community; and
• ecumenical clergy serving in diverse settings whose examples of LOVE in action will empower new and deeper relationships with non-traditional community partners.

Four Tuesdays: October 7, 14, 21, 28, at 2:00 pm CT via Zoom



REGISTER

United Days at UTS are October 23-24

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities will host its annual United Days event, “Interpreting Texts for the Liberation and Flourishing of Our World,” October 23–24. The event will feature three accomplished theologians: Dr. Jen Maidrand, Dr. Kenneth Ngwa, and Dr. Pamela (Ayo) Yetunde. LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Joy & Concerns

You are invited to a Service of Installation celebrating the covenantal relationship of Rev. Cynthia Riggin as Lead Minister with the United Church of Christ in New Brighton on Sunday, October 5, at 3 pm. All clergy are invited to process with red, or rainbow stoles. A reception will follow the service.

You are invited to a Service of Installation for Rev. Steve Tyykila on October 26 at 2 pm at the Associated Church, 800 Havana Rd, in Owatonna.

The Committee on Ministry will host an Ecclesiastical Council for Kiely Todd Roska on Sunday, November 2, at 3:00 pm at UCC New Brighton (1000 Long Lake Road, New Brighton, MN) and via Zoom. This is an opportunity for our member churches to participate in the Conference’s discernment for our candidates for ordination. We must have a quorum for this candidate to move forward in their process. Read Kiely’s ordination paper and learn more about Kiely here.

More Resources & Opportunities

EMPLOYMENT: Check out the employment opportunities page on the Conference's website for all open positions.

STORY IDEAS: Have a story or idea to share in COMMAntary? Send an email to communications@uccmn.org. COMMAntary is published every other Thursday. Submissions are due Tuesday prior to publication at noon.

PROGRAMS & SUPPORT: Check out the wealth of resources available on the Conference's website for authorized ministers, local churches, and faith formation leaders.