Something Essential...Right Now

by Rev. Rob MacDougall

I met Rev. Suzie Craig at the national meeting of UCC Conference staff called AM21. Suzie isn't currently on staff, as she is retired, but she did serve in the Maine Conference and they wanted her to attend this meeting on their behalf. Suzie has a passion for small churches and Maine has an ample number of them. She and a colleague have been doing a study of about ten small churches in Maine and she is hearing some fascinating stories about their life and ministry. The stories and their learnings about vital ministry in small churches are being compiled and will hopefully be published this year.

 

One of the key learnings that Suzie spoke of in my conversation with her is that small vital churches are engaged in some essential ministry, a ministry deeply engaging and energizing to the church's members. This ministry is often a great benefit to the community and people where the church exists.

 

When Suzie said this it reminded me of a recent conversation with a member of Union Congregational Church in Three Lakes.  

I am officially calling all delegates, visitors, and friends of the United Church of Christ to join us in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the 32nd  General Synod, June 21-25, 2019!

The 32nd  General Synod promises to be an inspiring and engaging event in the life of the Church. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Matthew Desmond, professor of Sociology at Princeton University and Pulitzer Prize winner for the book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.

We have inspiring preachers for the worship services. During Friday's Opening Worship Service, The Rev. Kaji Spellman Doua; Sunday's Community Worship Service, The Rev. Traci deVon Blackmon; Monday's Worship Service, The Rev. Sharon Mei-Shem MacArthur and for the Closing Worship Service, The Rev. Dr. Amy Butler.

We will also celebrate the ministries of retiring Associate General Minister for Global Engagement and Operations, Co-executive of Global Ministries, The Rev. Dr. Jim Moos and Mr. Don Hart, President and Chief Investment Officer, United Church Funds.

We will re-elect the General Minister and President and elect a new Associate General Minister for Global Engagement and Operations, Co-executive of Global Ministries.

I invite you to bring a spirit of love, of compassion, of openness and of hope with you. I look forward to seeing you in Milwaukee! Until then, let the light of the living Christ shine in and through you, and be known to all whom you meet along the way.

John C. Dorhauer
General Minister and President

National UCC Synod webpage

Bring your confirmation class or other interested participants and join us for a weekend of faith and team building. We will explore what it means to be the church and how that commitment continues to evolve. Our focus this year will be on General Synod and its role in the polity of the UCC. Participants will form committees to research, consider faithfully, and vote on several relevant resolutions. Check-in begins at 7pm on Friday. The retreat ends after worship on Sunday, between 11:00 and 11:30am.
More information and registration links

Registration process instructions

Jesus Core Update

January 9-11, 2019
Pilgrim Center

There's just one more day to register! The deadline for Jesus Core registration is Friday, January 4, 2019!
More information and link to registration

The Wisconsin Council of Churches is hosting a youth summit on gun violence at Pilgrim Center on January 26th. The Wisconsin Conference can send 9 middle or high school youth to the event. If you know someone who would be interested in participating in this one day, ecumenical event, please share this information with them and have them send a brief email to Lisa Hart. In their email they should provide a brief paragraph about why they would like to be a delegate to this youth summit, as well as their name, grade, email address, parent/guardian name and contact information. They also need to include the name of their church and their pastor. If you have questions, please contact Lisa Hart. Deadline: contact Lisa by January 10th.
More information

As the United Nations observed International Migrants Day on December 18th, it reported that some 258 million international migrants worldwide are on the move, including over 25 million refugees and asylum seekers. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres states that "Climate change, demographics, instability, growing inequalities, and aspirations for a better life, as well as unmet needs in labour markets, mean" that mass migration "is here to stay."  

 

Though Wisconsin relies on a growing immigrant workforce to meet its own labor needs, the State currently seems immune from a world of people on the move. That will change dramatically as domestic climate migration grows to include potentially millions of Americans by mid-late century, according to multiple studies. The social, economic, and racial justice issues of today's migration patterns may be but a harbinger of challenges to come.

Ed has also been active with and arrested in Witness Against Torture actions in Washington, DC. Ed is now active with the local grassroots group Beyond War and Militarism.
More information

March 2, 2019
Oakland, CA

Here's a New Year invitation. The UCC WISE conference on mental health is coming up March 2 in Oakland, CA and we want you to consider attending and letting your constituents and colleagues know about it. This will be a rich time together of learning about mental health, how congregations can be welcoming, inclusive, supportive and engaged on mental health, share practical steps that can be taken. We hope to see you. If you cannot make the conference due to geography, continue to pray for this mental health movement in the UCC.

The conference is conveniently located close to the Oakland airport and hotels.

 

And registration is open now.  

Led by Professor Karl Kuhn
Lakeland University, Plymouth, WI
February 12, 2019, 9:00am-2:30pm

Penises and Pollution: the reframing of maleness and dirty people in Luke's Gospel

Searching Churches

• St. Paul's UCC in Marshfield is searching for a 3/4 time pastor. View details

New Calls

• Rev. Bryan Sirchio has been called as pastor at McFarland UCC in McFarland, effective Dec. 5, 2018
• Rev. Rachel Bauman has been called as pastor at St. John's UCC in LaPointe, effective Jan. 1, 2019
• Rev. Stephen Gifford has been called as interim pastor at St. Paul's UCC in Menomonee Falls and at Calvary Memorial UCC in Wauwatosa, effective Jan. 2, 2019 
• Christine Wilke has been called as interim pastor at New Horizon UCC in Kewaskum (Farmington), effective Jan. 2, 2019