The Damascus Project has released a set of worship resources specially designed for small town and rural, or STAR, churches that rely on lay leaders to plan and preside at worship and share preaching responsibilities. The resources available now are for Revised Common Lectionary Year A, beginning with Advent 2025. The Fox Valley Community Foundation earlier this year provided a grant to the Damascus Project to develop easy-to-use worship resources in response to needs expressed by STAR churches in Wisconsin, Minnesota and beyond. The Advent resources were composed by the Rev. Marlea Gilbert, a Wisconsin Conference pastor. The Rev. John Roschen of the Minnesota Conference provided sermon seeds for Year A.

 

Check out the worship resources.

The Conference Catalyst Team earlier this month awarded grants totaling $41,500 to seven ministry initiatives. The total includes two multiyear grants. Recipients were Our Saviour’s UCC, Ripon; St. John’s, Monroe; St. Paul’s, Ellsworth; Immanuel, Darlington; First Congregational, Lake Geneva; First Congregational, Eau Claire; and Prescott UCC, Prescott. Catalyst’s purpose is to encourage congregations to try innovative, life-changing ministries that engage the wider community beyond the walls of the church building. Deadline to apply for the next round of Catalyst grants is Dec. 31.

More about the most recent awards.

Learn more and apply for a Catalyst grant.

The Conference Palestine Justice Working Group is voicing opposition to a bill currently before both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature that would require public bodies at the state and local levels to adopt the definition of “antisemitism” proposed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The PJWG opposes the legislation because of its potential to suppress advocacy for Palestine Justice by, for example, effectively making criticism of Israel grounds for adding a “hate crime” enhancement to any criminal charge. The concept of equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism has drawn opposition from more than 40 Jewish groups.



Read more.

“Waiting in the Stillness” is the theme of a Centering Prayer retreat scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at Cedar Valley Retreat Center. Facilitated by the Revs. Rachel Bauman and Tim Perkins, the retreat will provide a welcoming space for silent reflection and communion with God as you prepare for the One who is coming. This retreat is appropriate whether you are new to Centering Prayer or seeking to deepen your existing practice For more information, email Rachel or Tim.



Learn more and register.

November is Family Caregiver Month – a perfect time to reflect on how your congregation does when it comes to supporting individuals who care for family members who can’t manage by themselves. Does your church have a support group or know of some support groups in your community that you can refer a caregiver to? Does your church find ways to help care recipients and caregivers get to church? The Wisconsin Conference Older Adult Ministry task force has compiled resources to help you assess and improve your work with older adults. To learn more or join the task force, email Lisa Hart, Cathy Wille or Art Wille.



Read the latest Aging in Grace newsletter.

The 2026 Compensation Guidelines for all authorized ministers in the Wisconsin Conference are now available for download on the Conference website. There are two sets of guidelines, one for full-time ministers and one for part-time positions. The guidelines, which have been reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Wisconsin Conference Committee on Ministry and by the Conference staff, are designed to ensure fair compensation for pastors.

Access the Compensation Guidelines.

The deadline to submit workshop proposals for the 2026 Conference Annual Meeting has been extended to Nov. 30. Theme of the meeting is “Cultivating Community: Rooted in Christ and Bearing Fruit.” Learn more and submit your proposal. . . . . “Hope, Fears, and Realities: Religious Leadership and AI” is the theme of the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference of Churches, to take place Tuesday, Dec. 9, at First Congregational UCC in Appleton. Keynoter is Christian ethicist Kate Ott. . . . Dec. 15 is the deadline for all authorized ministers to complete the Annual Information Review form, one of five requirements for standing in the Wisconsin Conference. A letter outlining these requirements has been emailed to all authorized ministers. . . . There’s still room on the bus – that’s the bus we’ll be traveling on during the Wisconsin Conference Civil Rights Tour, scheduled for Feb. 1-6. Learn more and claim your seat today.

• Conference website homepage
• Online event calendar
• Facebook page

The General Fund of the Wisconsin Conference helps us connect, support and resource pastors, leaders, and congregations. Your gift allows the Conference to provide relevant and timely help during the pandemic and beyond. Donate to the General Fund