A Collective Community Worship with Five Congregations

On a beautiful Sunday in July, five churches — St. John's UCC (Norwood-Young America), St. Paul's UCC (Plato), First Congregational UCC (Glencoe), Frieden's County Line (Norwood-Young America), and Zoar UCC (Chaska) – gathered to celebrate and worship. This was the second year the congregations came together and the churches note that attendance increased significantly this year. Clergy from all five churches led worship and Brian Brosz provided music. A freewill offering benefited 2B, which advocates Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Outreach. Members of each church brought delicious food to share after worship.

"Gathering together reminds us that we are not alone as the body of Christ, and that we don’t all have to agree on everything to be in covenant together," said Associate Conference Minister Rev. Kelly Gallagher, who joined the gathering. "Sharing music, worship and the love of God helps bring us together across our differences, offering community and hope."

The churches plan to continue this wonderful tradition in the coming years!

UCC Webinar: Defending the Sacred—An Apache Holy Site under Threat

Wed, Aug 14, noon CT

For the Apache and other Indigenous peoples, Oak Flat is a sacred site akin to Mount Sinai. It is currently under threat of being mined for copper by Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of the multinational mining companies Rio Tinto and BHP. A legal effort to block the transfer of public land for the project was denied by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The case is now being appealed to the Supreme Court. Join us to hear from those who have been engaged in the struggle to defend Oak Flat as it enters this crucial stage. Even if you cannot make it at its scheduled time on Wed, Aug 14, still sign-up and you will be sent a recording. REGISTER

Living Faith: Confirming Your Beliefs and Walking in Community

The Damascus Project is pleased to announce the launch of Living Faith: Confirming Your Beliefs and Walking in Community, an online confirmation curriculum for youths in eighth grade and up in the Wisconsin and Minnesota conferences of the United Church of Christ. This program is designed especially for congregations with just one or two young people of confirmation age and for churches that don’t have a resident pastor or lay leader available to teach confirmation. Financial support is provided by a five-year Thriving Congregations Grant from Lilly Endowment.

We are offering a single online confirmation cohort in 2024, capped at 16 learners. This year’s course will run from September to May and will consist of weekly individual asynchronous content – readings, videos, worksheets and other homework assignments – plus twice-monthly group Zoom sessions. The Zoom meetings are scheduled for 2 to 4 pm on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, though the schedule may be adapted based on cohort needs. Rev. Uriah Williams is the instructor. Materials and program fees are $75.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Clergy Family Retreat: What Do You Mean We Don't Have to Plan Anything?

The Minnesota Conference recognizes the demands that are placed on clergy and their families. There has been an extra learning curve since the pandemic that includes becoming tech-gurus, Zoom meeting facilitators, and marketing specialists to get people back in the pews. It’s exhausting!

So, this year we are excited to offer this Clergy Family Retreat at Camp Onomia, where you can rest and relax. Meals are included—with no dishes to wash. No worship planning, no sermon prep, no meetings. Just you and the family swimming, canoeing, playing games, and so much s’more. And, if you like to hike, Kathio State Park is just two miles down the road.

This retreat is for all MN Conference clergy (ordained, licensed, and lay) and their families. Grandchildren are welcome, too! Vespers and a short worship will be offered by Rev. Kevin Brown and Rev. Sheri Nelson. The cost is just $75 adult/ $50 child (ages 4-18); free for children age 3 and under.

REGISTER

COMMAntary is on Summer Schedule

COMMAntary will go to an every-other-week publication schedule now through Labor Day. Publication dates are Wednesdays, July 24, August 7, August 21. The deadline remains the Monday before the Wednesday publication date. Send story ideas, insights and more to communications@uccmn.org.

Partner News & Events

Registration is Open for the 2024-2025 ACTION Cohort

Although the average BIPOC household discusses race 6-18 times each day, the standard anti-racism training requirements in organizations are limited to an average of 4 hours…each year. That only allows time to scratch the same, annual, narrow surface - over and over and over again.  (“The definition of insanity…”)

This is the RACISM of anti-racism education. Effective anti-racism education creates movement - not stagnancy. Are you ready to MOVE? 

The ACTION Project is a three-year program designed to reflect the critical intersections of learning, accountability, and praxis that are necessary for racial justice. Utilizing non-traditional frameworks, participants learn from the authority, wisdom, and experiences of BIPOC educators. LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Deadline Extended to Aug 1 for Continuing Education Cohort at UTS

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities’ Leadership Center for Social Justice has extended the deadline for those who want to join the 2024–25 continuing education cohort. Pastors who wish to earn a free certificate in leadership for social justice now have until August 1 to apply. Visit www.unitedseminary.edu/lcsj/ today to access the application form and 2024–25 schedule!

Be an Overcoming Racism Satellite Site on November 8

Every year the Facilitating Racial Equity Collaborative holds a November conference with keynote speakers focused on advancing racial justice. In its 16th year, MCC Co-Directors of Racial Justice Rev. Pamela Ngunjiri and Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs will offer the morning keynote on “Reparations in Action.” The Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC) is in the midst of a ten year focus on Truth and Reparations. MCCl is a sponsor of this year's Overcoming Racism Conference. While the conference is held at Metro State, you don’t need to drive to Saint Paul to attend. You can host a satellite site!

Satellite sites livestream the morning conference and invite in local resources for afternoon presentation and conversation. In exchange for the morning content and co-promotion, satellite sites agree to use Overcoming Racism materials, develop an afternoon workshops, and provide a post-conference summary.

Satellite sites are already planned in Wright County, Rochester, Bemidji, Marshall and Moorhead but we hope to add more. If your congregation is in Duluth, Winona, Mankato, Grand Rapids, Faribault, or anywhere else and you’re ready to help overcome racism, email us at info@overcomingracism.org.

Joys & Concerns

Rev. Neil Ellingson's installation will be held July 28 at 3 pm, First Congregational UCC in Mankato. You can join the installation service via Zoom.

Rev Sheri Nelson's farewell service at Union Congregational UCC in Elk River will be held July 28 at 10 am.

Upcoming Conference Events

• August 11-13: Clergy Family Retreat
• September 13-15: Women's Retreat: You Are a Story
• October 11-13: Fall Conference Youth Event

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