We know many of you are interested in getting involved in the Conference Immigration Working Group in the wake of the Trump administration’s recent anti-immigration policies and rhetoric. The next meeting of the working group is set for 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. All are welcome. Meanwhile, Church World Service, We Are All America, and Refugee Council USA will host a webinar at noon Wednesday, Dec. 10, to provide an update on how the asylum system has changed since the Trump administration took office in January. And the UCC’s Refugee and Migration Services has compiled a list of resources congregations can use to inform their communities and counter the anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric coming from the White House.



Join Tuesday’s meeting of the Immigration Working Group.

Register for Wednesday’s We Are All Americans webinar.

Here’s a gentle reminder that the deadline for all authorized ministers with standing in the Wisconsin Conference to complete an Annual Information Review form is Dec. 15. The form is one of five requirements for standing in the Conference. A letter outlining these requirements was sent to authorized ministers in October. The form takes about five minutes to complete.

Read the letter to authorized ministers.

Access the Annual Review form.

Looking for a slice of calm amid the hurly-burly of the holidays? Consider attending “The Sound of Peace,” an interfaith celebration of music from around the world, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Edgerton Congregational UCC. Half a dozen musicians with roots in Asia, South and Central America, Africa and the Middle East will perform. The concert is free, but proceeds of a freewill offering will be given to Open Doors for Refugees, which helps refugees create homes in the Madison area. The church is at 114 N. Henry St. in Edgerton.



Download the flyer.

Do you wish your congregation were better at getting the word out about the good work you do in your community? If the answer is yes, sign up for Media Training for Church Leaders, a course offered by the Damascus Project to help church leaders, staff and volunteers develop the skills they need to share the church’s message. The instructor, Michigan Associate Conference Minister Lawrence Richardson, will explore topics including media messaging and interview techniques, print and electronic communications, social media content creation, and digital storytelling. The course will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 and March 3.

Log on at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 10, to hear from three panelists about how people of faith can play a vital role in challenging authoritarianism. Maria Stephan, co-author of "Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict," will provide an overview of international resistance movements. Brother Rodrigo Peret from Franciscans International will discuss his experience under the Bolsonaro regime in Brazil. The Rev. Jorge Bautista will speak about his practice of faithful solidarity after a U.S. immigration officer shot him in the face with a pepper ball while attending a prayer vigil.

Register today.

Please help the finance office as the year draws to a close. Individual year-end gifts to the Wisconsin Conference are due by Dec. 31 for credit in 2025, and gifts from churches are due no later than Jan. 9. Access the remittance form. . . . If you’re a high school student or college-age adult, make plans today to attend the Winter Soulstice Retreat, set for Jan. 16-18 at Daycholah Center. An early-bird rate is available through Dec. 12. . . . Mark your calendars for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, when St. Peter’s UCC in Kiel will host the choirs of four UCC congregations for the annual Sing Joy holiday concert. . . . The Wisconsin Conference has begun the search for the next Associate Conference Minister to serve the Northwest Region. Details and the job listing can be found on the UCC Ministry Opportunities website.

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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