Faithful Fridays, February 16

February 16, 2024

UCC Yearbook - March 6 Deadline

United Church of Christ

Did you know? Your church's 501(c)3 status is dependent on a current updated listing in the UCC Yearbook. It is important for you to update your listing every year. This information is also used for the 11 year reports. Linked below are documents from the National UCC office to help you get started:

Data Hub closes to churches at midnight Eastern Time on March 6th. Thank you for all your hard work in collecting and reporting. If you need help, please contact Naomi in the Conference Office (708-344-4470).

Sense of Wonder

Women's Retreat

During the weekend retreat, women of all generations will explore what it means to be embodied in themselves and as the communal Body of Christ. This spiritual journey will be marked by accessible and interactive practices such as storytelling, music, movement meditation, and silence. This gathering is expansive to include all women, trans and cis, as well as non-binary people comfortable in a space that centers on the experience of women. Our retreat leader is The Rev. Dr. Elyse Wagner Berry. The cost is $275 for double occupancy, $325 for single. The fee includes meals and materials.

Brush Harbor Retreat

for Clergy of Color

Now is the time to connect with your tribe. Come join us Thursday, May 2 - Saturday, May 4 at the Tower Hill Retreat Center in Sawyer, Michigan. As Clergy you constantly pour into others - our job is to pour into you. Come to connect deeply with your peers surrounded by the healing power of nature. Learn, write, release, and laugh out loud. Leave reinvigorated to make your mark on the world. Give yourself the gift of renewal and remembrance. The Brush Harbor Retreat for Visionaries of Color is led by Rev. Michelle Hughes and Eyvette Jones-Johnson. The cost is $150/person and includes meals and lodging.

Messy Church Conference

You don’t want to miss the Messy Church USA National Conference “Celebrate the Mess” coming April 18-20, 2024 in the greater Chicago area! Celebrate the Mess Conference begins at 3:00 p.m on Thursday, April 18th and ends with a take away lunch at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20th at Northfield Community Church, a UCC church, in Northfield, IL. The conference will include workshops, large group sessions, and Messy Church sessions with worship, music with Music Makes Community that all will: help Messy Churches start, create, and grow; share wonderful successes and fantastic failures; and connect old and new friends. Check out messychurchusa.org for more conference info, workshops and keynote speakers, discount rate to the Renaissance Hotel, and more.

Scholarship & Grant Opportunities

The Brown Scholarship

Potential Brown Scholars must have official MID status with a Committee on Ministry, demonstrate at least a year of active membership in a local UCC church, and maintain a minimum GPA of 3 .0. The application for the Brown Endowment is on the UCC website of scholarships. The deadline to apply is March 1st.

The Lopez Scholarship

The Reverend Dr. Héctor E. López Scholarship is intended to prepare future Latina, Latino, Latine ministers educated in the socially and theologically progressive seminaries related to the UCC. Click here to learn more about the scholarship and apply online. The deadline to submit your application is March 1st.

Climate Grants

The Environmental Justice Ministry of the UCC is allotting grants of $2,500 to churches, conferences, associations theological schools and non-profit organizations for the purposes of developing and furthering the work of youth and young adult leaders in the movement for climate justice. Apply online here by March 1st.

UCC Clergy Women Leadership Event

Registration is now open for the 2024 UCC Clergywomen Leadership Event. “Weaving our Tapestry” takes place April 16-18, 2024 in Charleston, SC, with the 2023 Antoinette Brown Awardees as the keynote presenters. This event is open to all authorized UCC Clergywomen. Please share this with all the clergywomen in your Conference.

Regional Youth Event

Save the Date! Make plans to attend the the Regional Youth Event this summer for the West Central and Great Lakes Regions July 17-20 at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois! Join hundreds of United Church of Christ Youth for worship, service, learning, and fun. The theme for the event is "Love is Greater Than Fear." The Many will be providing music and worship leadership. More information including how to register is coming soon!

One Great Hour of Sharing

The UCC's One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) special mission offering involves you in disaster, refugee/ immigration, and development ministries throughout the world. When disaster strikes or people are displaced by violence or poverty, you are part of the response and recovery. This year's suggested offering date is March 10. Order your free OGHS materials here.

Rural Ministry Conference

The 43rd annual Rural Ministry Conference will be held on March 3-5 at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center in Dubuque, IA. This year’s conference theme is the Creation Groans, the Creation Waits, the Creation Hopes, the Creation Sings: Congregations Responding to Climate Change. Keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Schifferdecker from the Lutheran Seminary. Learn more here.

Open and Affirming Webinars

Registration for the upcoming Spring and Summer ONA Webinar Series is now live! There are the usual helpful webinars for not-yet-ONA churches (ONA 101, ONA and the Bible), but also several that could be helpful for any church including Using the Bible to Unpack Attraction (a deep dive into bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality), and Navigating Ethical Non-Monogamy and the Bible. They are offering a special for folks that buy all six webinars but they are all also available a la carte. Individual and church pricing is available. Learn more and sign up here.

Local Church News & Events

NIU Steelband at Abundant Grace UCC

On Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., a concert of the Northern Illinois University Steelband will take place at Abundant Grace United Church of Christ. The building is accessible, and parking is on the east (ramped) and west sides of the building at 18200 Dixie Highway, Homewood, IL. Formed in 1973, the Band has performed throughout the United States and internationally.

NIU alumni - and of the Steelband - are especially welcome.

Tickets: $15.00 (Adults); $10.00 (Students)

First Congregational of Western Springs Receives Grant!

First Congregational Church of Western Springs has received a grant from the Global H.O.P.E. Team of the United Church of Christ in the amount of $7000! The funds will be used to co‐sponsor a Syrian family.

Pilgrim Congregational in Oak Park was in the News!

Pilgrim Congregation Church in Oak Park is celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. Part of their anniversary celebration includes several events through Black History Month. Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest highlighting their two-day extravaganza themed "Showcase of Black History, Culture and Entrepreneurship" on February 24th and 25th. You can read the article here.