Faithful Fridays, May 31

May 31, 2024

Stewardship Materials Now Available

United Church of Christ

The new United Church of Christ stewardship materials are now available from UCC Resources to help congregations tell their story while making a request for financial support. The theme for 2024 is “Imagine Together.” This package of materials helps people understand the impact congregations can make in communities when they are supported. The materials include eight complete worship services, hymn suggestions, sermon starters from eight different authors, plus additional faith formation sessions for children, youth, and adults. “Imagine Together” provides practical tools such as logos, commitment cards, bulletin inserts, and letters. Campaign guidance for every step of a year-round or seasonal effort helps leaders make the best use of these robust materials for their specific context and size.

Get the Materials Here

Online Learning Page for Ministries

UCC Insurance Board

Faith may be rooted in beliefs and theologies that are many centuries old, but preserving the future requires staying informed on the latest developments in technologies and initiatives that can help protect your church. Insurance Board is proud to present the Online Learning Page featuring live, interactive webcasts that address a wide variety of topics essential to keeping churches and ministries safe; these trainings are led by industry experts from Insurance Board and its partners, including our denominational partners. Click here to watch the Online Learning video featuring Jamila Brown, Marketing Administrator.

UCC Pride Worship Service

& Pride Worship Resources

Join us in-person or virtually for a special Love is Louder: Love Your Neighbor OUT LOUD Pride Worship June 2nd. This collaborative partnership begins Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries’ Love is Louder: Love Your Neighbor OUT LOUD campaign.

With more than 547 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills in this year’s (2024) legislative session, our proactive response, now more than ever, needs to be love OUT LOUD. Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries is excited to release our Love is Louder: Love OUT LOUD Pride resource kit for Pride Month! Our resource kit will release June 1st featuring liturgy, prayer, our 2nd Love is Louder Toolkit focusing on Queer Theology & Expansive Language, June event offerings and more! Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries prophetically brings to life a new campaign rooted in the spirit of Christ’s call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Learn more here.

Raising Kids Beyond the Binary

Jun 5, 2024 11:00 AM Central

Jamie Bruesehoff, author of Raising Kids Beyond the Binary: Celebrating God’s Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children, joins us to discuss her book, in which she helps us dream of a church and a world transformed by the bold celebration of all children. Jamie Bruesehoff is an award-winning LGBTQ+ advocate, speaker, and mother of three, including a transgender child. Jamie has twenty years experience working with youth and adults in and outside the church, she strives to create a world where LGBTQ+ people thrive.

Your Hosts: Rev. Amy Johnson is the UCC (United Church of Christ) Minister for Sexuality Education & Justice and part of the Gender and Sexuality Justice Ministries Team in the National Ministries of the UCC. Dr. Melanie Davis is the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) OWL Program Manager within the Lifespan Faith Engagement in the UUA. Register online here.

Regional Youth Event

Registration is open for the Great Lakes/West Central Regional Youth Event this summer, July 17-20 at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois! The theme for the event is "Love is Greater Than Fear." The Many will be providing music and worship leadership, along with a special appearance by Flamy Grant! The event is open to youth who will have completed 6th grade through 12th grade in 2024. Groups are required to bring one chaperone for every 1-5 youth. Click here to download the flyer.

Generative Artificial Intelligence for Churches

UCC Insurance Board Webinar

Unveil the potential and pitfalls of AI in faith-based communities. Join us for an enlightening presentation on the risks and rewards of using generative artificial intelligence in churches and gain valuable insights into policy development for mitigating potential risks. Register now to equip your church with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the evolving AI landscape. Register online here.

UCCMA 2024 Conference

Conference 2024, the national biennial gathering of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association (UCCMA), will take place July 10-13, 2024 at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich, Connecticut. Designed for church musicians, choral and handbell choir members and worship leaders, the three-day event includes workshops, plenary sessions, worship services, evening entertainment and networking opportunities. The conference’s theme, “A place at the table,” inspired the planning for the entire conference experience. Our goal is to send participants home reenergized with lots of new resources and ideas to use in their local congregations. This conference is open to all. Learn more here .

Castañeda-Jennings Lecture

Chicago Theological Seminary is excited to announce the 2024 Castañeda-Jennings Lecture and Award, to be held virtually on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 7:00pm CDT. Click here to register now! This year, CTS is proud to present Dr. Xochitl Alvizo, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, California State University Northridge, to deliver a lecture entitled, "Church: A Queer, Feminist, Antiracist, Decolonial Listening to the Gospel According to Mark." Xochitl Alvizo is Associate Professor of Religious Studies in the area of Women and Religion and the Philosophy of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality. She dedicates her work to bringing a feminist and queer focus to theology and to the study of religion and does research in congregational studies, ecclesiology, and the emerging church.

Politics, Polarization, and Prophetic Ministry

UCC Webinar

As the attention of the world focuses on the 2024 elections, what will be the role of churches that embody the prophetic tradition of the Christian faith? What will preachers say from the pulpit? How will justice-centered ministries be called to act? These can be difficult questions to answer in the context of church cultures in which there is a fear of political conflict and polarization. In this webinar, we will address these critical issues and questions with the help of our featured panelists. Dr. Obery Hendricks has authored both "The Politics of Jesus" and "Christians against Christianity," while the Rev. Dr. Leah Schade has authored both “Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide" and “Creation-Crisis Preaching.” Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on June 12th at 1 pm ET, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!

Conference/Local Church News & Events

Flamy Grant Concert

Pilgrim Congregational Church in Oak Park

Pilgrim Congregation Church UCC is excited to present the amazing singer Flamy Grant – in concert – on June 1st, 2024, at 6 pm. Flamy Grant is a powerhouse vocalist, intrepid songwriter, and acclaimed drag queen from western North Carolina who blends folk, gospel, and roots, transporting audiences with therapeutic, theatrical storytelling and song. Raised fundamentalist evangelical herself, much of Flamy’s music centers on the queer spiritual journey. She tells stories of resilience and recovery from religious trauma in a world where LGBTQ+ people are frequently ignored by, harmed in, or ejected from religious spaces. With a bold lip, a big lash, and a blistering voice, Flamy takes audiences to a soulful, uplifting church of her own making. This family-friendly show is free (NO TICKETS REQUIRED, optional donations accepted) to be presented at Pilgrim Congregational Church located at: 460 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois.

Donuts, Faith & My Coming-Out Stories

United Church of Hyde Park

“Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” -- John 11:43-44

A breakthrough in your life, a new experience, a story in your heart, or your questions of faith are all welcome to share here. Donuts and coffee are provided. Suggested $5 donation to support our LGBTQ+ Ministries. All are welcome! No matter where you are on your life and faith journey, this is the place for exploration and support.

Date/Time: Saturday, June 8th, 10 am to 11:30 am

Location: United Church of Hyde Park (1448 E 53rd St Chicago, IL 60615)

There will also be selected stories from Queer Clergy - A History of Gay and Lesbian Ministry in American Protestantism, selected stories from Young Queer America - real stories and faces of LGBTQ+ Youth, and more! RSVP online here.