Lake Edge UCC and Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church Form Partnership
by Roger Brooks
Lake Edge UCC, Madiso
n, is happy to announce an alliance with Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church. Formal votes of approval by both churches followed approval by the joint negotiating teams of the churches.
At a joint worship service on July 28 there was a formal signing of a covenant document and lease agreement in which Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church will be sharing Lake Edge's building.
In the meantime, the Baptist church will place their current building up for sale, and the United Vision Team will complete plans for the reception of the Baptist congregation into Lake Edge's church building.
The alliance will create a unique coupling of black and white progressive churches on Madison's east side. It represents the culmination of several years of discussion and a process of careful consideration of the many facets of such a partnership in which members were thoroughly involved.
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 3 Great Loves Video Inspires
3 Great Loves was the Lenten emphasis at Hope UCC in Sturgeon Bay earlier this year. Congregation member and high school student Nalani Bicoy undertook a project to highlight how members of Hope UCC are living out the 3 Great Loves in their congregation and community. In this inspiring video Hope congregation members share their ministries and their passion for helping others.
Nalani was also a Youth Steward at General Synod this year. Nalani is the daughter of Bret and Cari Bicoy of Sturgeon Bay. Bret is a Wisconsin Conference UCC board member, and has been instrumental in the visioning and creation of the conference's new Legacy Initiative. Thanks to both Nalani and Bret for your contributions in service to the Church.
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Wisconsin Conference Directory Available Online
The Wisconsin Conference UCC directory is available from your computer or by using a smartphone. The online directory provides the most up-to-date information available. Do you ever need to find a phone number or email address for a pastor at another church? Or look up someone who's on your committee? It's quick and easy to find this information with the online directory.
To log in you will need to use the same email address and password that you use when registering for Conference events. Don't have an account for that? Contact Deb Simon in the Conference office at
[email protected] or 608-846-7880.
On your computer: Go to
www.churchlife.mobi and log in with your email address and password. You may want to bookmark this link so you can quickly find it in the future. Also there is a DIRECTORY button at the very top of our web pages in red type, which will bring you to an information page and the directory link.
On your smartphone: Go to either the Apple Store or Google Play Store and search for the "ACS Technologies
Church Life" app. Install the app, then log in with your email address and password.
You can find more detailed information about accessing the directory on our website at
wcucc.org/directory
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Youth Climate Movement as a Moral Force
Webinar, August 15, 2019, at 12:00 CDT
On Fridays throughout the world this past year, students walked out of classrooms and went into the streets to compel action in addressing the climate crisis. What started as a one-person protest by Greta Thunberg has grown to a movement of millions in over 160 countries and at least 2000 locations. Youth are now calling upon adults to join them for a week of action in September. This month's
Creation Justice Webinar will prepare us for action by featuring Jamie Margolin, the 17-year-old who has been at the forefront of the youth climate movement in the United States. She led the call for last year's youth climate march, and she is a co-founder of the youth organization Zero Hour. The webinar will be held on August 15th at 1 pm ET, but a recording will be sent out to all who register. Register today!
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Kindling Our Light
A Wellness Retreat for Authorized Ministers and MIDs and their spouses/partners
October 6-8, 2019
Moon Beach Camp
Join the Wisconsin Conference and the Pension Boards at Moon Beach camp for this wellness retreat, focusing on Spiritual, Physical, Financial, and Ministry Wellness.
Be refreshed and renewed in your life and ministry through:
- inspiring and creative worship
- workshops on health and wellness, personal fitness, and work/life balance
- reconnecting with colleagues and friends
- personal time for reflection, prayer, and self-care
The retreat begins with dinner at 5:30pm on Sunday, October 6, and concludes at 11:30am on Tuesday, October 8. The cost for participants, which includes meals and accommodations, is $50.
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 A Solar Celebration
Dedication Ceremony
Tuesday, August 13, 1:00pm
Join us live at the Trost Conference Center in DeForest, or live on Facebook through the wonders of technology, for a 30-minute service to commission the solar array that was installed on the Trost Center's roof in March. Partners in this project will speak briefly about their contributions to the project, with a ribbon-cutting to follow.
We hope you can join us either in person or on Facebook for this event! No registration or RSVP is necessary.
Partners include:
- Wisconsin Conference UCC
- Creation Care Team
- RENEW Wisconsin
- Arch Electric
- Donors to the Solar Project
- Wisconsin Council of Churches
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Stewardship Skill-Building Opportunities
Don't miss these opportunities to learn how to create a more successful annual pledge campaign.
Annual Campaigns 101 Webinar - NEW SESSION
August 28th, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Due to high interest, we are offering this webinar again on August 28. We will explore ways to create an effective annual pledge campaign using the resources provided by the national setting of the UCC.
Info and registration
Extravagant Generosity as a Spiritual Practice Webinar Series
4 sessions 10:00-11:30 a.m. - Oct 8, 15, 22, 29
Generosity doesn't just touch our wallet but engages our soul. We can more deeply consider the spiritual implications of giving, moving beyond a short blessing in worship. We will discuss the Book of Ruth and John 10 in order to plan an off-lectionary sermon series for a stewardship campaign. Info and registration
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Dive Deeper into your Faith with these Damascus Project Offerings
The Crux: Engaging the Wisdom of the Wilderness for Today's Changing Church
This course will offer rich opportunities for reflection on the metaphor of the wilderness in scripture and in our lives personally as well as within our congregations. Any church leader (lay and ordained) grappling with the future of their congregation would benefit from this course. Any person of faith grappling with their own future in this rapidly changing world will find something to hold on to in this wilderness time in which we live. More information
Exploring God's Call in a Changing World
This is a course in spiritual discernment. Anyone who is wondering about their life's next steps, musing over God's call to them, longing to develop strategies for listening for God's voice or desiring to learn how to guide others in spiritual discernment will gain something from this course. More information
A Flavor of the Old Testament
This is an introductory scripture course for anyone seeking to develop a deeper connection with scripture or to develop tools for reading. It could also be a fruitful refresher course for Clergy as they engage the text from a fresh perspective. More information
What Does it Mean to Be UCC? Theology, History and Polity
This course is for anyone who is interested in learning more about our unique denomination from someone who has lived the history, theology and polity of the United Church of Christ. Rev. Dr. Clyde Steckel will delight with first person stories and a deep love for our denomination. Deepen your understanding of what it means to be UCC. More information
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Intrinsic Hope: Living Courageously in Troubled Times
Kettlewood Retreats
October 4, 2019
Cedar Valley
Expanding social inequality. Unprecedented climate disruption. Powerlessness, grief, despair. We are living in a time of uncertainty in which we fear for our children and grandchildren and for the future of humankind and for our planet. Now more than ever, maintaining hope is an emotional and spiritual necessity. This retreat will focus on the insights of Kate Davies, author of the book Intrinsic Hope, offering practical tools for discovering and cultivating an abiding hope in troubled times. Together, let's explore those insights and hopeful habits. (Registration deadline is Sept. 28.)
Our retreat leader: We welcome back Rev. Bob Ullman, retired United Church of Christ pastor, popular retreat leader, and co-chair of the Wisconsin Conference UCC Creation Care Team.
More information
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Communities of Practice for Clergy and for Christian Educators
Registration now open for groups starting in September
Note: Previous COP participants need to register again each year to continue in a group
Communities of Practice (COP) clergy groups provide the sustenance that your ministry needs in order to be effective well into the future! COP groups are designed to be peer learning groups, focused both on the practice of ministry and your growth in your role as a pastoral minister. Previous participants need to re-register to continue on in a group.
More information
Register for a clergy COP group
COP groups are available for people who work in Christian Education and Faith Formation (CE/FF), too!
Register for a CE/FF COP group
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 Register for Lay Academy
Lay Academy is a ministry of the Wisconsin Conference that forms a transformative learning community that engages lay people in spiritual growth and development through theological education. Anyone who longs to grow in faith, discover new ways to serve God and their community, and deepen their knowledge of Christian tradition, ministry, and mission is welcome.
More information
Register for Faith Foundations Year 2
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Conference Transitions
Searching Churches
- St. Stephens UCC in Merrill is searching for a full-time pastor. Details
- Saron UCC in Sheboygan Falls is searching for a part-time Faith Formation Coordinator. Details
To see all searching churches, click here.
Wider Church Searches
- The Council for Health and Human Services is searching for an Associate for Advocacy & Leadership Development. Details
- The UCC Mental Health Network is searching for 3 new Board members. Details and Application
- The United Church of Christ has several open positions. Details
New Calls
- Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros has been called as Associate Conference Minister for the Wisconsin Conference, effective August 1, 2019. Lorraine is new to the Conference. Welcome!
- Rev. Kelly Volk has been called as pastor at Washington Reformation UCC in Monticello, effective August 1, 2019. Kelly is new to the Conference. Welcome!
In Memoriam
- Diana Kapitz, mother of Rev. Tim Miller and mother-in-law to Rev. Missy Miller, passed away on July 16, 2019. Obituary
- Timothy B. Wiese, son of Marion Wiese, the United Church Camps Director of Finance & Administration, passed away on July 25, 2019. Obituary
The Conference Transitions feature appears monthly in the Wisconsin Conference Life. Please share your transition information, including church anniversaries, with the newsletter editor by emailing Nola.
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Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
4459 Gray Road | DeForest, WI 53532
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Check the Conference
calendar
for upcoming events.
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Is your church considering an Open and Affirming Process? The Wisconsin Conference has a committee to help! Please feel free to use us as resources for your discussions and preparations. Contact
Laura McLeod of the Wisconsin Conference UCC Committee on Ministry with LGBTQ Persons.
Also: check out the
Facebook page for ONA churches!
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Got News?
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Let us know! If you have something you'd like considered for publication in
Wisconsin Conference Life, email
Nola at the Wisconsin Conference.
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