Make sure to "View Entire Message" to see all the August News! | | bringing Michigan Conference UCC pastors and churches closer together and closer to God | | Register Now For the 2025 Annual Meeting | | |
The 2025 Annual Meeting of the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ will be held on Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4, 2025 at the Westin Southfield Detroit with a theme of “A Justice-Seeking Conference.”
During the Annual Meeting, participants will vote on the regular business of the Conference, worship with Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, learn with and from our justice-focused Keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, AND engage in Church Vitality strategies and techniques with an additional presentation from Rev. Dr. Lawrence Richardson, Associate Conference Minister for Church Vitality and Transitions.
Workshops will include Older Adult Ministries, the Michigan Conference Mitten Project, training for Moderators and church leaders, a discussion about a Unified Association Committee on Ministry, and church finance with the Michigan Conference Foundation.
Clergy, delegates, and visitors are encouraged to register and attend one or BOTH days of this event. An optional fellowship event for early arrivals will take place on Thursday October 2 at 7:00pm.
We are honored to have Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, Pastor of Fellowship Chapel, United Church of Christ and President, NAACP Detroit Branch as our distinguished keynote speaker on Saturday morning. There will also be a Vitality Presentation on Saturday afternoon with guest speaker Rev. Dr. Lawrence Richardson in lieu of scheduling Vitality Day at another time.
Annual Meeting is THE annual opportunity for workshops, worship, and networking for the Michigan Conference UCC!! Additional information can be found HERE
Discounted lodging is available at the Westin in a block of hotel rooms for the Michigan Conference UCC until September 5, 2025
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Exhibit Tables for vendors are available Saturday from 7:30am - 3:30pm for a cost of $100.00 for the first table, $50.00 for each additional table. After registering for the event, vendors pay for tables HERE.
Event Sponsorship starts at $50.00 for name and logo promotion in event materials. $50.00 sponsorship available in event registration for individuals. Additional contributions and promotion amounts can be donated by sponsors HERE.
| | Learn About Annual Meeting - September 3 | |
Preparing for the Annual Meeting
Leadership Lunch
September 3, 2025 12:00 PM ET
September 3 Leadership Lunch: Preparing for the Michigan Conference Annual Meeting - Join members of the Annual Meeting Planning Team to learn about Annual Meeting in Detroit October 3-4, 2025
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Registration deadline for
Annual Meeting is September 15
Discounted hotel rooms available at the Westin through September 5
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watch LIVE on YouTube @12noon
and watch recordings ANYTIME!!
| | Clergy Cafe Lunch - Sept 17 | | |
Join Rev. Cheryl Burke, Associate Conference Minister of Clergy Care and Formation for lunch and conversation.
September 17
Grand Traverse Pie Company
1403 East Grand River Ave
East Lansing, MI 48864
(517) 203-3304
No registration or reservation required
Come as you are able, leave as you must anytime from 11:00am-1:00pm
| | Register for Online Media Training - Sept 19 | |
Online Media Training for Churches and Ministry Leaders Level 2
September 19, 2025 9:00 AM ET
This Online Media Training for Churches and Ministry Leaders Level 2 is for those interested in enhancing their skills in media messaging, interview techniques, social media content creation, digital storytelling, and online safety.
Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
In two hours, this course will provide learners with an enhanced overview of five essential areas: Media Messaging, Interview Techniques, Social Media Content Creation, Digital Storytelling, and Online Safety. By the end of the course, participants will have additional tools and confidence to effectively share their message in today’s digital landscape.
| | Please review Level 1 Training before attending Level 2 | | Boundary Training - Sept 30 | |
Online Boundary Training
September 1930, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm ET
Registration is open for Michigan Conference UCC Boundary Training with Associate Conference Minister Rev. Cheryl Burke for Active Authorized Ministers, Members in Discernment, Retired Clergy & Lay People. When registered, you will receive an email with preparation materials and a Zoom link for online participation.
Cost is $25.00 for MI and OH participants
$50.00 for Out-of-State participants
| | Mitten Project Worship Engagement Survey | |
Our Research BEGINS with the
This survey is intended for pastors, church leaders, parents, youth (ages 13-18), children (ages 3-12), and all others in Michigan Conference UCC congregations. We hope you will share your experience of worship in your local church setting, and ask everyone in your church to fill it out too! The survey includes a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions and should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
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Your responses are valued and will help shape our next steps in creating worship and ministry that reflect the gifts, voices, and faith journeys of all generations. Your responses are anonymous. Please be honest and know that there are no right or wrong answers. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey about the roles of children and youth in worship and congregational life.
Share the QR Code
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The Michigan Conference received a grant in May 2025 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. Contact Program Director, Jenn Ringgold, with questions or for additional information. Email: jenn@michucc.org Google Voice: 571.258.2165
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Application for 2026 Cohort Churches OPEN NOW thru November 14, 2025
Twelve Implementation Teams will be chosen from Michigan Conference UCC local churches to be part of the Mitten Project 2026 Cohort. Each team will design a year-long program in their local church setting and will be awarded $5,000 to assist with implementing their project to engage children in worship and prayer with adults. Local Church Implementation Teams must have a minimum of three adults, including the pastor, a children’s ministry leader (volunteer or paid), and a parent or guardian of a child aged 0-12 from the local church setting.
The calendar of events for 2026 Cohort participation can be found HERE.
| | Additional Conference News | |
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The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, Michigan Conference Minister
Upcoming Schedule & Worship Visits
September 7, 2025 Preach - Leslie Congregational UCC
September 14, 2025 Preach - Haslett Community Church
September 21, 2025 Preach - First Congregational Church, Kalamazoo
September 28, 2025 Preach - White Lake Congregational UCC, Whitehall
LINK TO 2025 - 2026 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 with commmunications@michucc.org
Searching Churches
- St. Paul United Church of Christ in Warren is searching for a part-time, intentional interim pastor Details
- First Congregational UCC in Alpena is searching for a full-time pastor Details
- First Congregational Church of Chelsea is searching for a part-time pastor Details
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For a complete list of searching UCC churches in Michigan click here
Ecclesiastical Council
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An Ecclesiastical Council is scheduled September 28 at 3:00pm for Rev. Bill Dodge at Haslett Community Church – 1427 Haslett Rd, Haslett, MI 48840. Bill is seeking Privilege of Call in the United Church of Christ through the Covenant Association.He is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Church and a member of Federated Church of Grass Lake, Grass Lake, MI. He received a Master of Religious Education from Cornerstone University.
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Michigan Conference Staff Update
Please join us in welcoming Karen Metcalf to the Michigan Conference Staff. Karen has been active in youth ministries in Michigan and Tennessee since 2008, and joined the staff of Salem UCC in 2023 as Minister of Children, Youth, and Families. Her passion is in building the bridge between modern media and ministry to meet the needs of the church today. She was recently hired to fill a part-time Communications role to allow Jenn Ringgold to transition into the Program Director Role for The Mitten Project.
Karen was onboarded earlier this summer, and now joins the staff to undertake online media, Conference communications, and social media content creation.
“It’s my joy to create content that resonates with people all across platforms and city lines, but more than that, it’s my aim to spread the good news and the worthy initiatives of the Michigan Conference to our churches.”
If there is something you would like advertised, you can send her the information directly at Communications@michucc.org
Please offer Karen a warm welcome to the Michigan Conference team!
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German Youth Partnership Event
From August 18 - August 29, 2025 the Michigan Conference hosted 13 German youth and 3 German chaperones. Check out our social media for trip highlights and watch for the Faith Formation Friday Fun Newsletter next week for a detailed recap of the entire trip!
Special thanks to Jenn Ringgold, Calandra Nevenzel, Deborah Kohler, Carolyn Beck, Jeffrey & Carly Hubers, Erin Heisler, Betsy Aho, Mak Kneebone, Sarah Schmidt-Lee, Mary Kay Schueneman, Barb Huitema, Jen Berg, Tracy Heilman, Mike Neuroth, and the teams of folks at:
UCC Office of Public Policy and Advocacy
Friends Place on Capitol Hill
St. John's UCC Grand Rapids
First Congregational UCC, St. Joseph
Haslett Community Church
Portage UCC and
Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center for the incredible hospitality!!
| | | Local Church, Mission Area Team, and Association News | |
Bertha Dayton STAR Grant Applications due September 15
Congregations within the Michigan Conference that serve rural and small-town communities (typically with populations of 15,000 or fewer) are invited and encouraged to apply for the Bertha Dayton Grant. This grant offers up to $2,000 per congregation to support a wide range of ministries, programs, and support.
Grant guidelines:
To honor the memory of her beloved son, John C. Dayton, Bertha C. Dayton entrusted funds to the Congregational Home Missionary Society upon her passing. Her will directed that the income be used to aid and uplift rural, small-town, and village churches throughout the state of Michigan, as well as to support their pastors and families. We give thanks for the vital contributions of smaller congregations to our shared spiritual journey and remain committed to nurturing your continued faithfulness, service, and inspired ministry.
To apply, please follow these steps:
Visit the Michigan Conference website at michucc.org
Click on the Resources tab.
Select Scholarships/Grants from the dropdown menu.
Scroll down to the Michigan Conference STAR Grants section.
Complete the brief Unified Grant Form found there.
All applications must be submitted by September 15. If you have any questions or need assistance at any point, please contact Rev. Greg Watling of the Vital Growth Ministries Team at (920) 472-9172 or pastorg@firstuccgaylord.org.
For more information regarding the Bertha Dayton STAR Grant and other Grants offered by the Michigan Conference UCC, please visit https://michucc.org/scholarships-grants/
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A Trip with a Mission to Remember
This past summer, members from the youth group at UCC Midland visited Washington D.C. led by Pastor Rev. Roger Pancost, Director of Educational Ministries Erica Meyer, and volunteer Youth Group leader Amy McDonald. They partnered with the UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy in Washington D.C. to create a meaningful and memorable experience for their youth.
Reflecting on their trip in June 2025, Erica Meyer writes:
"[We] engaged in two foundational advocacy workshops with the UCC Office of Public Policy and Advocacy. Our group of 8th and 9th graders prepared personal stories and an “ask” for members of Congress.
The next day, we visited Senator Slotkin’s office…, got a Capitol tour, and even sat in the Senate gallery during a vote—spotting Senators Booker, Sanders, Klobuchar, Schumer, Peters, and more. We wrapped up our advocacy day with meetings in Senator Peters' and Rep. McDonald-Rivet's offices. The next day brought joy and discovery at the National Zoo (we saw a panda!) and the National Museum of African American History and Culture before heading home. It was a trip none of us will forget!
I hope many more groups get to have an experience like we did!”
When are students able to see for themselves what our representatives and senators do?
OR craft personal requests to urge their congresspeople to advocate for them?
Or partner with the UCC DC Office staff to learn to “walk the walk” of what they believe?
If you would like additional information about how to take a group to visit Washington D.C. and the UCC Office of Public Policy and Advocacy, contact Jenn Ringgold, Program Associate for Youth Ministries (Google Voice: 517.258.2165 Email: jenn@michucc.org)
Stay tuned for additional information about the 2026 Summer of Advocacy and new resources being created to help local churches engage youth in faith-based advocacy! Resources will be available May 2026. Thank you UCC Midland for helping to inspire us all!!
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OWL Training at Tower Hill
General Synod 35 just affirmed the faithful stewardship of sexuality education in the church and celebrated 25 years of using Our Whole Lives to do so.
Read More HERE and then register for the upcoming OWL Training at Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center!
7-9/10-12 Grade
November 7-9, 2025
Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center
Register 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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Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
and TAG us @michiganucc
so we can like and share your posts!!
| | Wider-Church UCC News, Events, and Resources | | |
Book of Worship Update Survey
Who is the UCC - today and tomorrow?
Pilgrim Press
The UCC's identity—our history, our ways of being, our sense of community—is expressed uniquely through the Book of Worship.
Our collective identity grows & shifts with every new church start or merger, with every service of ministerial authorization by an Association, and with every General Synod vote to affirm a full communion agreement.
So who are we as the UCC today?
What kind of community do we want to be tomorrow?
And how should our Book of Worship reflect our evolving identity?
We seek your input!
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Surveys are available now on bookofworship.org for all users of the Book of Worship and will remain open for feedback through December.
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Information is also available on bookofworship.org about the submission of new content for potential publication in the updated Book of Worship.
- We look forward to your input, with great appreciation!
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Does your church need a website? Or maybe you have one, but it’s outdated?
UCC Everywhere (UCCE) is a program at the national setting of the United Church of Christ that builds easy-to-use, affordable, and modern websites for local churches. Their team helps you get everything set up so there’s no hunting for the tools and programs you need. Knowing that many churches have tech-savvy members, you can either put in the content yourself or work with our team for an additional fee to finish the setup. They also have tutorial videos to teach you how to make changes and offer ongoing customer support.
Check out the UCCE website for First Congregational UCC of Onekama then visit ucceverywhere.org to learn more or reach out to Customer Support Specialist, Aidan Spencer, via email at ucceverywhere@ucc.org or phone at 216.736.2185
| View learning opportunities for the Fall and Winter from the Center for Transformational Leadership of the Southern New England Conference of the UCC HERE | | |
equipping pastors and congregational leaders
through ministries of support, guidance, and leadership development
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Basic Support
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