To support and care for those engaging in ministry with children, youth, and families | |
Faith Formation Funday Monday
August 2026 Newsletter
| | Mitten Project Worship Engagement Survey LIVE | |
NEW 2026 Worship Engagement Survey!!
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey about the roles of children and youth in worship and congregational life. Your responses each year are valued and will help shape the UCC Michigan Conference’s next steps in creating worship and ministry that reflect the gifts, voices, and faith journeys of all generations. Your responses are anonymous. Please be honest and know that there are no right or wrong answers.
This survey is intended for pastors, church leaders, parents, youth (ages 13-17), children (ages 3-12), and others in Michigan Conference UCC congregations to share how they experience worship in a local church setting. It includes a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions and should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. If you took it last year, please take it again this year (and next year!!) to help us see what is growing, changing, and transforming in your church!
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Share the link and QR code widely in your congregations between now and October 11, 2026 so that we get the most current and updated data. Congregations with the highest number of surveys completed AND the highest percentage of participation with be reimbursed for Annual Meeting registration costs!!
If you have questions about this survey or the Michigan Conference Mitten Project, please visit https://michucc.org/mittenproject/, talk with your pastor, or contact Jenn Ringgold at jenn@michucc.org or 517.258.2165.
| | Mitten Project 2027 Cohort Application | |
Interested in the 2027 Mitten Project Grant and Cohort Opportunity?
Up to twelve Implementation Teams will be chosen from Michigan Conference UCC local churches to be part of the Mitten Project 2027 Cohort. Each team will implement a year-long program in their local church setting.
Local Church Implementation Teams selected to participate in this cohort will receive support to finalize their program design, move forward with implementation, and evaluate their own program. Each of the cohort teams will be awarded $5,000 to assist with implementing their project. Additionally, expenses to attend two onsite cohort trainings will be covered for Cohort Church Congregations, and all expenses for Implementation Team adults will be covered for the overnight celebration retreat.
To get started on your program proposal here are the PROGRAM PROPOSAL GUIDELINES. Application deadline is November 13, 2026 at 5:00pm
2027 Mitten Project Calendar
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It is with deep sadness that we share the news that the Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund passed away very early the morning of August 17, with her son, Brian, at her side. BBZ, as she was known by so many, was a brilliant scholar, minister, and trailblazer, but most importantly she was also a friend to many, a mother, a grandmother, and loving wife to her husband, Joe, for almost 65 years.
Please hold the Zikmund family and all who knew and loved BBZ in your prayers.
Obituary and funeral arrangements will be shared as they become available.
| | Leadership Lunch - September 2, 2026 | |
Leadership Lunch: Preparing for the Annual Meeting
September 2, 2026
12:00 PM ET
ALL THINGS Annual Meeting!! Join Lillian Daniel in conversation with members of the Annual Meeting Planning Team and Resolutions Committee to discuss the upcoming Annual Meeting at First Congregation Church UCC of Grand Blanc, MI. Find out about schedule, meals, workshops, hearings, worship, keynote, plenary and more!! Folks who are registered will receive a copy of the recording.
| | | Sensory Resources for Churches | |
Big Faith Resources
Big Faith Resources began in the fall of 2024 after receiving a grant to empower churches to support neurodiverse children (and their families) with innovative resources for worship and Christian education. Download free resources and see lists of recommended items on their website. https://bigfaithresources.com/
| | | Fall Retreat for Faith Formation Leaders | | |
You are invited to attend the 2026 Faith Formation Leaders Fall Retreat hosted by the Great Lakes Association of United Church Educators (GLAUCE)
Please register online by September 15, 2026
We will gather for three days of fellowship and learning at Waycross Camp and Retreat Center, 4879 Richards Rd, Morgantown, IN 46160
Lodging option are:
Double occupancy for $300 OR Single occupancy for $400
All rooms have a private bath.
Meals from dinner on Tuesday - breakfast on Thursday are included.
October 6, 2026 4:00pm - October 8, 2026 11:30am
2026 Theme: Neurodiversity and Ministry with People who are Neurodiverse
Keynote Speaker and Worship Leader: Rev Dr Karen-Marie Yust, Professor of Christian Education at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia
Payment questions or concerns: Ken Rose revkenrosejr@gmail.com
Registration questions or concerns: Jenn Ringgold jenn@michucc.org
| | 2027 Youth Winter Retreat | |
2027 Youth Winter Retreat
Join us for our conference-wide
Youth Winter Retreat on Jan 30-31, 2027
This is a wonderful opportunity for youth in 6th-12th grade to connect across the Michigan Conference UCC. Mark your calendars and invite your friends and family! Registration coming Fall of 2026. Can't wait to see you there!
| | | 2027 Regional Youth Event | | | |
2027 Regional Youth Event
The Great Lakes.West Central Regional Youth Event will be held July 21-24, 2027
at St. Cloud State University in
St. Cloud, MN. Details related to cost and transportation will be available soon!
| | Love of Children at the National Ministries | | |
The National Ministries of the UCC is building a supportive network to sustain the work of children's ministry leaders and to support them with continued learning and resources to more effectively serve children and families.
Read the August Newsletter HERE
for thoughts about inclusion, neurodiversity, disability & ministry, upcoming webinars...
| | Networking and Resource Sharing | |
Networking Zoom Meetings for Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Leaders in the Great Lakes Region
1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 11:00 am ET click here
Upcoming Meetings:
August 20, 2026
September 3, 2026
September 17, 2026
links for meetings can also be found on the Michigan Conference UCC Calendar via the website
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FIND A LIBRARY of Searchable Faith Formation Resources
- Choose "Join" then use your Google, Facebook or other email to create a free account in the Damascus Project Network.
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JOIN the Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Leaders Cohort
- Type any topic into the Search Bar to see recommended and verified resources from other CY&F Leaders
- Networking Zoom meetings are the 1st and 3rd Thursday at 11:00am EST
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The Michigan Conference received a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for $1,250,000.00 for the Michigan Conference Mitten Project: Knitting together children and adults in worship and prayer. The Michigan Conference Mitten Project is a 5-year program that invites congregations to engage children in worship, so that all of us, in each generation, can leave church more deeply connected with the spiritual and ready to find the sacred in our everyday lives.
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Director of Faith Formation &
Mitten Project Program Director
Jennifer Ringgold (she/her) Why are pronouns important?
Office Hours: M-F 10am-3pm
Google Voice (517) 258-2165
jenn@michucc.org
"To believe is to care; to care is to do"
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