Worship resources are now available for congregations whose pastors or other worship leaders will be absent on Sunday, April 12, to attend Annual Meeting 2026. The resources include a liturgy, the text of a sermon by the Rev. Nicole Herda, and the music to accompany the liturgy. Embedded in the liturgy is a link to a video of Nicole’s sermon.

Access the liturgy and sermon.

Access the music.

Annual Meeting – the theme is “Cultivating Community: Rooted in Christ and Bearing Fruit” -- is set for April 10-11 at Green Lake Conference Center. The deadline to register is coming up fast on Thursday, March 26.

Register today for Annual Meeting 2026.

And don’t forget about the Intensive Worship that will take place on Thursday, April 9, at Daycholah Center. Theme of the workshop is “Rooted and Reaching: Connecting Within and Beyond the Local Church.”



Register for the Thursday Intensive Workshop.

April 1 is the deadline to sign up for “Youth Voices: Bold Faith,” the program that will send 10 high school students from the Wisconsin Conference to Washington, D.C., to learn the ins and outs of faith-based advocacy. The trip, scheduled for July 12-17, will let students engage with leaders on Capitol Hill and beyond and explore how our faith calls us to speak truth to power. Cost of the trip is $550 per participant and includes airfare from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – you’ll be traveling with peers from the Minnesota Conference. To register, email Lisa Hart, associate conference minister for faith formation and justice ministries.

Click for more information.

The Conference Creation Care Team has compiled a list of suggested activities for congregations and individuals participating in the 2026 Earth Day Challenge. The list includes personal, local, and even international activities. Once your planned activity is complete, let the Creation Care Team know what you did by emailing a concise report to Susan Webb, editor of the team’s Kairos Newsletter. Earth Day is April 22.

See the list of suggested activities.

Download the bulletin insert.



And remember: You can make any day Earth Day. So consider contributing to the Conference-wide donation to Heifer International or signing up for the Creation Care 5K, a virtual event to take place in September.

April 20 is the deadline for authorized ministers and members in discernment to register for “Exploring Implicit Bias,” a Damascus Project course that introduces participants to the ways in which implicit bias is present in our lives. The course will meet virtually from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays April 27, May 11, and May 18. Learn more and register. Meanwhile, authorized ministers who have already taken “Exploring Implicit Bias” and are due to renew their anti-bias standing requirement have two options this spring, both offered by the Damascus Project. “Continuing the Journey: A Faithful Approach to Addressing Racism and Bias” will use the lens of faith to help students move from a focus on individual bias to include an analysis of institutional prejudice. The course will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays April 27, May 11, and May 18. Learn more and register. The Committee on Ministry also has approved “We Are Still Here: Native Americans in the UCC” for those seeking to maintain their standing. The course will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays April 28, May 5, and May 12. Learn more and register.

The Interfaith Peace Working Group, a longtime ally of the Wisconsin Conference, will host a day of conversation and learning on the role of nonviolence in the life of people of faith on Thursday, April 23, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison. Theme of the event is “Nonviolence in Action: An Interfaith Conversation on Building the Beloved Community.” Keynoters will be Shane Claiborne, an activist and founder of Red Letter Christians, and longtime peace advocate Kathy Kelly. Participants will be able to choose from eight workshops. Cost to attend is $20, which includes lunch. Learn more and register.

If you’re looking for ways to make a positive impact on planet Earth, check out Sustainability Saves, a retreat to be hosted on Saturday, May 2, at Daycholah Center by the Wisconsin Conference Creation Care Team. The event is designed for church leaders responsible for buildings and grounds, infrastructure and green teams and will focus on practical steps your congregation can take toward sustainability. Plus, meet the Rev. Daniel Cooperrider, UCC pastor and author of the forthcoming book “Live Each Season as it Passes.”

Learn more and register.

Download the flyer.

The Palm Sunday Path is expected to bring together Christians across Wisconsin and the nation on Sunday, March 29, to stand up against rising authoritarianism and Christian nationalism. Find your local Palm Sunday Path gathering. . . . “Understanding Your Why” is the topic of the next UCC Generosity webinar, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25. Learn how your “why” is an essential step toward building a culture of generosity in your church. Sign up for “Understanding Your Why.” . . . The next deadline to apply for a Catalyst Grant from the Wisconsin Conference is March 31. These grants are designed to help churches get innovative new ministries off the ground. Learn more about the Catalyst program.

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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

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