Wisconsin Conference This Week | | Special appeal supports flood relief efforts | |
The Wisconsin Conference has launched a special appeal for contributions to support relief efforts in areas of the state affected by flooding in recent weeks. Gifts received from congregations and individuals will be funneled to local organizations in areas where UCC churches are playing a key role in assisting families displaced by flooding. If you have questions or know of volunteers who want to assist with the relief effort, please email the Rev. Bridget Hill, Wisconsin Conference disaster coordinator, or call her at 262-388-5896.
Read Franz Rigert’s letter to the Conference.
| | Register by April 30 for STAR church boundary training | | |
Thursday is the deadline to register for Boundary Awareness Training 3.0: Small Town and Rural Settings, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 7. The session will explore what makes serving in a rural or small town setting unique and the professional boundaries required for strong, healthy ministry. The training, offered by the Southern New England Conference UCC, meets boundary training requirements for the Wisconsin Conference.
Register today.
| | Annual Meeting videos now online | | |
If you didn’t make it to Annual Meeting 2026 but want to see some of the high points, you can now watch Conference Minister Franz Rigert’s State of the Conference Address and Edith Guffey’s keynote online. In his speech, Franz highlighted ways in which local congregations are reorganizing for maximum impact. Edith, who is president of the board of PFLAG and former conference minister for Kansas and Oklahoma, challenged attendees to grapple with why the UCC remains an overwhelmingly white denomination.
| | Summer program to explore connection of faith, freshwater | | |
The Wisconsin and Minnesota conferences have teamed up to offer a new two-part intergenerational care-of-creation experience this summer called Freshwater Faithworks, which will explore the intersection of freshwater ecology and faith The first part is a three-night family camp scheduled for June 28-July 1 at Daycholah Center. A four-night service and learning trip to Minnesota designed for middle schoolers will take place from July 29 to Aug. 2.
Register now for family camp.
Register now for the middle-school trip.
Download the flyer.
| Signup open for 2026 Great Lakes Collaborative gathering | |
Among all the great opportunities available in the Conference in coming months, don’t overlook the 2026 Great Lakes Collaborative Retreat, scheduled for Aug. 23-25 at Five Oaks Retreat Center in Paris, Ontario. The event is expected to draw participants from the United Church of Canada and from UCC conferences in the Great Lakes Region. Theme of the retreat is At Waters’ Edge: Sacred Relations. Attendees will hear from Adrian Jacobs, senior leader for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation with the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Questions? Email Kathy Douglas of the United Church of Canada or Lisa Hart, associate conference minister for faith formation and justice ministries.
Learn more and register.
| Mukwonago church offers UCC items for free | Mukwonago UCC will hold its final worship service on May 3. As it prepares to close, the congregation is offering to donate some UCC-related items to a church willing to give them a good home. The items are an “Extravagant Welcome” doormat, a “Be the Church” banner, and a variety of hymnals, songbooks, and Bibles. Interested? Email Jan Bewer. | | The monthly meeting of the Palestine Justice Working Group will take place by Zoom at 7 p.m. today. Sign up to attend. . . . The Conference-wide virtual book study of Nice Racism, Robin DiAngelo’s book about the ways in which well-meaning white people perpetuate racial harm, will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays May 5, 12 and 19. Register for the book study. . . . The Wisconsin Conference Racial Justice Ministry Team will host Unlearning Othering: Building Community and Breaking Barriers, a training event open to everyone in the Conference, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 12, at Daycholah Center. Participation will qualify as required antiracism training for authorized ministers. Learn more and register. | | Help others by donating now | 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. Donate to the General Fund | | |
This newsletter is made possible by contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support.
The Wisconsin Conference UCC is an Open and Affirming Conference, WISE for Mental Health Conference and an Immigrant Welcoming Conference.
Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
W1000 Spring Grove Road, Ripon, WI 54971
mail@wcucc.org
www.wcucc.org
| | | | |
