To equip, empower, connect and celebrate the churches of the Michigan Conference UCC | |
Make sure to "View Entire Message" to see all the July Michigan Conference UCC News! | |
Get Ready for Annual Meeting Nov 1-2, 2024 | |
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June 29, 2024
Hello beloved colleagues,
It’s our pleasure to announce that our 2024 Annual Meeting of the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ will be held on Friday and Saturday, November 1-2, 2024 at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Michigan. This year’s Annual Meeting will be very exciting on several fronts.
First, we are excited to have Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and
President of our National United Church of Christ, as our keynote speaker. She will be
sharing the National Board’s vision for the United Church of Christ and encouraging us on how our Michigan Conference can engage to help fulfill this vision.
It’s also exciting to be extending our meeting schedule by an extra day. This will provide the opportunity to attend optional workshop and breakout spaces on Friday during the day. For those who want to arrive even earlier, on Thursday, October 31, there will be a Halloween-themed get together to help you get your “boo” on.
We are equally thrilled to be hosting our Annual Meeting at a beautiful resort. Crystal
Mountain Resort offers a variety of amenities including two restaurants, a small grocery store, a spa, and a workout room. Additionally, an assortment of room types are available. Those who prefer lodging in a group with others will have the opportunity to do so in condo-style settings. Those who wish to room solo can choose a hotel room.
Our Annual Meeting planning team has been working with an eye towards providing
resources that will benefit you, your church, and even family members who might want to travel with you. Our desire is that the Annual Meeting will be a time for engaging conversations and tapping into new ideas. We also hope to provide a way to have a fun and relaxing weekend. We sincerely hope it reminds you of the importance of our commitment to our covenantal relationships and to good self-care.
Finally, the feedback from last year’s Annual Meeting served to guide our work to make this year’s event full, meaningful, and invigorating. Please know that we have
heard your ideas and hope you’ll notice them incorporated into our meeting plans.
Please share this information with your congregations and continue to watch
Conference communications and/or the Michigan Conference website for the latest
information and updates.
We hope you will join us!
In God’s bountiful love,
Rev. Dr. Diane Baker
Senior Pastor, Bethel UCC, Waterford
Moderator, Michigan Conference UCC BOD
Antoinette McGarvin
Fellowship Chapel, Detroit
Secretary, Michigan Conference UCC BOD
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Resolution Preparation
At least one resolution proposal is being drafted with input from many UCC members and community partners from a radically diverse range of backgrounds.
If you would like to participate in conversations related to Psychedelics, the Michigan Conference of the UCC, and the Michigan Senate please follow this link and sign up, or
email Rev. Nathan Dannison
This group is hosting regular forums on Zoom to discuss this ongoing work throughout the summer on a regular basis. READ MORE
Join the Leadership Lunch with Lillian Daniel on October 2, for early preview and discussion about resolutions and budget for Annual Meeting.
Resolution Guidelines and Deadlines for proposal submission to the Prophetic Integrity Mission Area Team can be found HERE
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Lodging at Crystal Mountain
You can book and reserve lodging at Crystal Mountain.
• Call the Reservations Department at 1-855-520-2974 and reference group number 46L8YR
• Book online using this link Book Online Here
The group number and the dates of the event will automatically populate.
Arrival and departure dates may be altered as needed
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Early Arrival October 31
Come early for some festive fun! Music, dessert, and prizes for best costumes in the following categories:
Most Michigan
Most Biblical
Most Original
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A Look Back at Annual Meeting Locations
2024 - UNA Thompsonville, Crystal Mountain
2023 - GWA Grand Rapids, Plymouth UCC
2022 - online Zoom
2021 - online Zoom
2020 - online Zoom
2019 - SWA Kalamazoo, First Congregational Church
2018 - COV Charlotte, First Congregational UCC
2017 - COV Lansing, St. Stephen's CCUCC
2016 - COV Flint, Woodside Church
2015 - GWA Grand Rapids, First Park CUCC
2014 - COV East Lansing, The Peoples Church
2013 - DMA Detroit, Fellowship Chapel
2012 - SWA Battle Creek, First Congregational
Let the Board of Directors know if you have a suggestion for a future location.
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UPDATE from the President of Our Board of Directors | |
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Rev. Liz Larrivee, M.B.A., M.Div.,
President Michigan Conference BOD
In partnership, the Michigan Conference UCC Board of Directors (Oversight) and Staff (Management) have selected Rehmann to provide strategic and operational bookkeeping, payroll, accounting, finance, and investment support and advice.
As a Certified Public Accountant-staffed finance and accounting solutions firm, Rehmann has extensive experience working with faith-based non-profits. With over 1,000 associates located in Michigan, Ohio and Florida, they are uniquely positioned to support the financial and accounting administrative needs of our Conference.
READ MORE
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"HELP! Our Bylaws are Killing Us" Zoom at noon July 3 | | |
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July 3, 2024
12noon - 12:45 PM
HELP! OUR CHURCH BYLAWS ARE KILLING US with special guests pastor and author Rev. Dr. Sarah Drummond, Dean of Andover Newton Seminary, and Rev. Toby Jones 1st Congregational UCC, in Charlevoix
watch LIVE
on YouTube @12noon
and watch recordings ANYTIME!!
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August 7: HELP! OUR CHURCH BUILDING BUDGET IS KILLING US with guest speaker Patrick Duggan from UCC Church Building & Loan Fund. | |  |
September 4: ANTIRACISM IN THE CHURCH with special guests from local and the wider-church settings to discuss Join the Movement for a more just world. Antiracism Training INFO | |
if you have registered previously, you will automatically receive a copy of your unique Zoom link via email on the first Wednesday of every month | | | |
Online Boundary Training
September 30, 2024
Register now for online Boundary Training with Associate Conference Minister Cheryl Burke.
One Day Training is based on Ordained Minister's Code and costs $25.00 for those in the Michigan Conference UCC
Registration Link
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Conference Staff offers four monthly drop-in Caring Clergy Community Groups
These groups meet on Wednesday from 12:00noon - 1:00pm
Pastors and MIDs may join these Caring Clergy Communities on Zoom any time.
First Wednesday Leadership Lunch with Lillian Daniel
Second Wednesday Book of the Month with Jenn Ringgold
Third Wednesday Clergy Cafe with Cheryl Burke
Fourth Wednesday Spiritual Practices for Pastors with Lawrence Richardson
Member in Discernment (Second Thursday and Third Monday) and Retired Clergy Cafe (First Thursday) are also available for drop in.
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The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, Michigan Conference Minister
2024 Preaching Schedule & Worship Visits
July 14, 2024 Preach - Old Mission Congregational Church, Old Mission, MI
July 21, 2024 Preach - Zion Evangelical UCC, St. Joseph, MI
July 28, 2024 Preach - Mayflower Congregational Church, Detroit, MI
August 4, 2024 Preach - First Congregational Church, Constantine
August 11, 2024 Preach - The United Church, Ovid
August 18, 2024 Preach - White Lake Congregational UCC, Whitehall
August 22 - 26, 2024 Women in Ministry Colloquium, Yale Divinity School
LINK TO ALL upcoming 2024 DATES
Contact lisa@michucc.org to schedule a visit
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Conference Transitions
The Conference Transitions feature appears in the monthly Michigan Conference Newsletter. Please share your transition information, including church anniversaries, with commmunications@michucc.org
Searching Churches
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Shelby Congregational UCC in Shelby is searching for a part time pastor. Details
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St. Paul United Church of Christ in Saline is searching for a part time Pastor Details
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Douglas Congregational UCC in Douglas is searching for a full time pastor Details
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For a complete list of searching UCC churches in Michigan click here
Installations and Ordinations
- A service of Installation is scheduled July 14, 2024 at 4:00pm for Allison Young at First Congregational UCC, Onekama MI
- A service of Ordination is schedule July 21, 2024 at 3:00pm for Rev. Aaron Rieder at First Congregational UCC, Cheboygan MI
Anniversary
- First Congregational Church UCC, Gaylord MI will celebrate their 120th Anniversary on July 21, 2024 with a service of worship at 10:00am followed by a catered luncheon
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Prayer Request
Please hold Pastor Kathy Schuen in prayer and support as she has recently received a diagnosis of breast cancer, the fast-growing kind, in early stages. With gratitude for mammograms, faith and a church family to help bear the burdens. Your continued prayers are needed and appreciated.
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Faith Formation Mission Area Team | |
Our Churches and The Americans with Disabilities Act
~portions excerpted from the “A Man Who Helped Us Think Differently about Disabilities”
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed on July 26, 1990. One justice champion of the ADA was Rev. Dr. Harold H. Wilke (1914-2003), a UCC pastor who offered the invocation at the White House signing of the ADA.
Born without arms, Wilke grew up on a farm in Washington, Missouri. He fought
discrimination throughout his life. In 1975 Wilke founded “The Healing Community Project” to help churches change their attitudes and architecture to welcome persons with disabilities. Wilke was instrumental in promoting legislation prohibiting workplace discrimination that culminated in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The UCC Disabilities Ministries Board of Directors has created a guide to help local Congregations, Associations, and Conferences become Accessible to ALL (A2A) This guide is designed to be used in conjunction with the Accessibility Audit and A2A checklist.
~ submitted by Mary Ann Martin, Jonathan Riedel, Jan Aerie
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Our Faith Our Vote
The National Setting of the United Church of Christ Public Policy Advocacy Guide contains advocacy organizing tools to help UCC members and churches become better informed on key issues and to organize for justice and peace in concrete ways
The Detroit Metropolitan Association Social Justice Team advocates that the Fall 2024 Election is very important, not just for the Presidential Office, but for all offices which are to be filled. We believe that as Christians, it is our responsibility to work in coalitions with people of similar values in a non-partisan way to make plans to get out the vote and preserve democracy. READ MORE
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Grand West Association Lends a Hand
After having to cancel services on June 30, 2024 due to severe storm damage, White Lake Congregational UCC had volunteers from Park Congregational, Hudsonville UCC, and Lebanon Lutheran on site to help with debris clean up. Thank you to all who volunteered to share love and labor, and showed up to be the church!! Continued prayers for our ministry partners in Whitehall are appreciated as they recover alongside members of their community.
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Onsite Mental Health First Aid
Free Training in Chelsea, MI
In partnership with Trinity Health & Chelsea Community Hospital, St. Paul UCC will be offering a Mental Health First Aid training & certification program on July 11th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This event will be offered free of charge and with lunch provided. Training is open to clergy and lay people across the Michigan Conference.
Registration is required
and closes July 5 at 5:00pm
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The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven
On Saturday June 22, Portage UCC hosted Scottish playwright Jo Clifford at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church to perform her play. The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven portrays Jesus’ return to earth as a trans woman.
Organizing this event involved a collaboration between leaders at Portage UCC along with the pastor and members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Queer Theater of Kalamazoo. More than 80 people attended Jo's performance!
My deepest hope is that those of us involved in this event will be able to creatively discern how to carry forward the message of Queen Jesus to help others know the safety and goodness of Holy Love.
READ MORE
~submitted by Mary Kay Schueneman
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A Fourth of July Reflection
Eternal Lord God, how easy it would be to change the title of Frederick Douglass’ speech, delivered by the former slave and prominent abolitionist on July 5, 1852, to "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Black American.”
~submitted by Pamelajune Banks-Anderson
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Interfaith Exploration at East Church
With hope to discover new understanding and experiences regarding prayer and the shared common ground among different religions, East Church is hosting a three month series inviting diverse faith leaders to share their perspective on prayer for "Teach Us How to Pray."
You are invited for remaining onsite events to explore, contemplate, and learn together.
Wednesday, July 31, 7pm. – Dr. Sahibzada from the First Islamic Center West Michigan
Wednesday, August 28, 7pm – Rabbi Krishef from Congregation Ahavas Israel
RSVP for the event is helpful but not necessary. Email eastchurchgr@gmail.com
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Paraments and Stoles for Sale
Portage UCC
Several options and sets available for different seasons of the liturgical year.
Contact Stefanie Janowicz,
Church Administrator
stefaniejanowicz@portageucc.org
Portage United Church of Christ
See Flyer for options and prices
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We Want to Hear from YOU!
Use THIS FORM to share your joys, concerns, news, events, and resources
with the Michigan Conference UCC!
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Wider-Church UCC News, Events, and Resources | |
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Tuesday July 16 on Zoom
3:00pm ET
An Indigenous Translation of Scripture
REGISTER HERE
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Wednesday July 24 on Zoom
7:30p ET
Narrative Budgets: Telling your Story by the Numbers
REGISTER HERE
| United Church Funds recently released a new logo. This image represents UCF's identity as a faith-based organization and its collaborative approach to working with diverse stakeholders toward creating a more sustainable world. The vibrant colors reflect our commitment to diversity, which has always been a top priority but has taken on even greater weight in recent years. | | |
2024 Stewardship Resources are available HERE | | |
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