The Advent and Christmas seasons are an opportune time for congregations to tell their story to the wider community. Holiday concerts and social gatherings draw people from the neighborhood. Community meals and coat drives pique the interest of individuals looking for connection and the opportunity to give back. And people who don’t worship regularly slip into the pews on Christmas Eve, drawn by the beauty and mystery of the night’s liturgy.

Each of those encounters is a chance to explain your congregation’s role in the community, and the Wisconsin Conference can help you do just that. Check out our Identity Campaign Toolkit, a package of resources to help you introduce your congregation to people outside the church, reintroduce yourself to those for whom the original message and mission have dimmed over time, and tell the ongoing story of your church’s impact in your community.

Download the toolkit.



The toolkit includes an explanation of what it means to be a “Still-Speaking” church, a variety of worship resources, and the five keys to telling your story. New resources are being developed all the time.

The Wisconsin Conference Older Adult Ministries task force has prepared two new resources for congregations looking for ways to enhance their ministry to and with seniors.

Church Building and Program Accessibility contains dozens of questions designed to help congregations determine how well they are meeting the needs of older members and address shortcomings. The resource addresses challenges across a range of abilities, including mobility, vision, hearing and sound sensitivity. Download the resource.

Mental Wellness and Older Adults offers tips for supporting individuals facing mental health challenges and neurological disorders and their caregivers. The goal is to help all feel welcome and engaged in the congregation at all stages of life. Download the resource.

Has your church switched to solar energy? If so, you’re an environmental leader.

That’s the word from Marketplace, whose coverage of business and the economy is heard on hundreds of public radio outlets across the country. Marketplace reported last month that houses of worship are three times more likely to install solar panels than the typical nonresidential building since passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which made money available to help homeowners, businesses and nonprofits make their buildings more environmentally friendly. The report cited data from the Department of Energy.



The environmental impact of the panels extends far beyond an individual church’s energy use. Yale environmental economist Kenneth Gillingham told Marketplace that solar panels tend to cluster in neighborhoods, a phenomenon known as “social contagion.” So if your congregation is considering whether to go solar, think beyond the money you might save and the reduction in your own carbon footprint: You might be planting the seeds for a shift by your wider community.

Read or listen to the entire Marketplace report.



Want to learn more about how your congregation can get involved in combating the climate crisis? Email John Helt or Bob Ullman of the Wisconsin Conference Creation Care Team for more information.

Are you concerned about the future of the Great Lakes? Plan to attend the third annual gathering of the Great Lakes Collaborative Aug. 24-26 at Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center in Sawyer, Michigan, to continue the work of protecting these incredible resources. The 2024 gathering drew representatives of the United Church of Canada and six conferences of the United Church of Christ.



Details will be available in early 2025.

In this Advent-Christmas season, consider joining others from the Wisconsin Conference in supporting Seeds of Hope, a project of Church World Service that equips refugee farmers in developing countries with the tools and skills they need to support their families and grow sustainable futures. Every dollar given plants more than seeds in the ground—it plants hope in the lives of people seeking a better life for their children and a way to give back to their communities. By empowering these farmers, you help to build resilience and create generational change. Please consider making a gift today. Click here to give.

The Wisconsin Conference will host high schoolers and college-age young adults for the annual Winter Soulstice Retreat from Jan. 24-26. The retreat will take place at Daycholah Center. Discounted registration is available though Dec. 8. Learn more and register.

The German Protestant Church is not a state church. German churches are supported by a membership fee that is collected in the form of a tax from their members. Clergy members are paid by the churches but receive benefits as “beamte,” or civil servants. The description of German church finances may have been unclear to some readers in the Nov. 20 of Wisconsin Conference Life.

Ministry Roundtable: Christmas Eve worship and preaching ideas

Christmas Eve worship planning and preaching can be stressful for pastors who feel pressure to make these worship services special for everyone. December’s Ministry Roundtable will be a chance to support one another in planning by sharing, imagining, and listening to ideas for Christmas Eve worship and reaching this year. 

Time: 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Date: Dec. 4

Register now

Supportive Ministries conversation

The Supportive Ministries Team offers two opportunities each month to join a discussion on topics raised in its monthly Becoming the Beloved Community newsletter. The next conversations will take place by Zoom at noon and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5. Subscribe to the newsletter.

Register here for the noon discussion

Register here for the evening discussion

Palestine Justice Working Group

The Wisconsin Conference work group educates UCC members about the state of Israeli-Palestinian relations and advocates for justice for all Palestinians. The group meets by Zoom on the fourth Monday of each month. Meetings are open to all.

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Dec. 23

Register now

Pastoral Support Committee training

Pastor-Parish Relations Committees provide essential leadership in the life of a congregation. And the name has led to some confusion about the focus of their role. In this virtual workshop, the Rev. Tara Barber, UCC minister for ministerial support and accountability, will explore what it means to become a Pastoral Support Committee and share best practices from around the denomination. Open to pastors, lay leaders and judicatory staff.

Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Date: Jan. 8

Register now

Faith Formation Retreats

Registration is now open for the two Youth Faith Formation Retreats planned for winter 2025. Retreats will take place at Daycholah Center on the weekends of Feb. 21-23 and Feb. 28-March 2. We offer the same retreat both times so that more young people can participate. Our planning team is creating a retreat that focuses on sacred space, sacred rituals and worship. We will have opportunities to explore Daycholah Center, engage in some fun and games, and hang out with old and new friends.

Register for the Feb. 21-23 retreat

Register for the Feb. 28- March 2 retreat

Save the date

Annual Meeting 2025: June 6-7 at Green Lake Conference Center