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Northeast Update - Quite Early September 2017
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Via the Wisconsin Conference:
Dear friends in the Wisconsin Conference UCC,
Hurricane Harvey is the first Category 4 Hurricane to make landfall in the US since 2004. According to forecasters, the worst of Harvey's destruction is yet to come from flooding as it stalls over Texas, dropping upwards of 40 inches of rain. Harvey's full impact is yet to be determined, but history tells us that the need will extend beyond the capacity of local, state, and federal government. There will most definitely be a need for helping families recover after initial emergency response efforts have ceased. This is one of the main reasons the United Church of Christ continues to focus our efforts on recovery. We recognize walking with families and communities is what we are called to do.
The UCC Disaster Ministries is already gearing up for long-term recovery work in the area and your contributions for Harvey survivors means providing community support for holistic recovery, repairing homes for families, and restoring dignity for the most vulnerable who have lost everything in the wake of this catastrophic event. 100% of funds designated for disaster relief to the United Church of Christ are used for disaster relief and rehabilitation programing.
Financial gifts may be made at your local UCC congregation marked for "Hurricane Harvey" with the request they be sent through the Conference Office or to Wider Church Ministries. Donations may also be sent directly to UCC Wider Church Ministries, Financial Services-6th Floor, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115. Or you can donate directly through the UCC website.
Should you have questions about giving or the recovery efforts, please contact Christina Schoenwetter, Wisconsin Conference Disaster Ministries Coordinator, at chris_schoeny@hotmail.com, or visit the new Harvey link on the UCC website: http://www.ucc.org/disaster_hurricane_harvey
Wisconsin Conference Disaster Ministries Coordinator:
Christina Schoenwetter
chris_schoeny@hotmail.com
608-445-8305
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Fun
Paper flower making in September
Would you like to learn how to make paper flowers out of recycled paper? Would you like to help make paper flowers out of bulletins for a special project? Do you just like to be creative? In September, we will meet from 4:30 - 6 on Wednesday nights. Join Kelley Green and I to learn how to make these flowers and to work on the special project. If you'd like to learn but Wednesdays aren't good, let Kelley or Sandie know.
First Congregational, Oshkosh
JUST FOR FUN!! Couch Races!!
Sunday, September 10th , Noon - 2:00 p.m. We will meet at church at noon for lunch and then ... LET THE RACE BEGIN! We need at least 2 drivers with trucks (for the couches) and we need to know exactly how many people are participating so that we have room in vehicles for all participants.
Teamwork is the word of the day for the couch races! Adult help is also needed for each of the sites (you just need to hand out envelopes, witness of the efforts of each "team" as they get their couch off the truck and take a picture of each team as they pile all their team members and drivers on it ... and then load the couch back on the truck and their people in vehicles and head for the next location). Please make sure you sign up for this event so we can prep lunch and recruit drivers. Friends are welcome.
Ebenezer, Sheboygan
Outdoor Worship
September 10: 10:15
Outdoor Dixieland Band Worship Service
5th Graders Receive Bibles
Teachers Dedicated
Social picnic immediately following worship
Saron, Sheboygan Falls
Mission
Mission Sunday
Our first Mission Sunday is Sunday, September 17th when we Take Worship on the Road to Terrace Place. This will be the third time visiting this location, and the residents have come to look forward to our worshiping with them. Please join us at 9:15 am at Terrace Place as we worship with the Bell Choir, enjoy a time of fellowship, and share our church with Terrace Place as they share themselves with us.
St. John's, Schwarzwald
Food Pantry
We are grateful to receive donations to our food pantry. In September, we could use: Spam. [There's a first time for everything.-Ed.] Non-food items include dishwashing liquid and toilet paper.
Coupons Needed-our shopper asks the congregation to drop off any coupons that you do not use. These help with the cost of items for the pantry. Thank you!
Church of Peace, Fond du Lac
Community Garden
Social Justice Maintains FCC Community Garden Growing Fresh Vegetables for Pantry
In an effort to address hunger issues, Social Justice Ministry Group has planted and tended a 40-ft.x40 ft. garden plot this summer, which has grown produce that has been delivered to the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry. To date 345 pounds have been donated.
Greg, MB, Zoe, and Max Bossert, Joe Wiedenmeier, Ron and Jody Harrell have tilled, weeded, watered and worked with getting the produce from the garden to the pantry. Greg designed some unique trellises and we have been battling the weeds.
Last year the gardens yielded 758 pounds and the year before over 900 lbs. If you have an abundant garden this year, you might want to share extra produce with the pantry.
First Congregational, Oshkosh
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Educational Opportunities & Retreats
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Cultural Competency Conversation
As our relationship grows with COMSA, the community service organization working to help Somali community members integrate into Green Bay, it makes sense to start out with some Cultural Competency Conversations.
Join Mahamed Rage and other Somalis on Wednesday, August 16 at 6 p.m. in Pilgrim Hall to learn about Somali culture, the Muslim faith, an d how we can be culturally sensitive as we welcome these new neighbors to the Green Bay community.
All are welcome! RSVP to the church office. Light refreshments will be served. What is COMSA? Community Services Agency, Inc., or COMSA, is an organization that aims to help Somali refugees find services and build a more integrated community in the Green Bay area. The organization officially opened on July 2 with an open house at Trinity Lutheran Church on Broadway where it has an office.
Union Congregational, Green Bay
Northwest and Northeast Associations 2017 Fall Clergy Retreat
Sabbath as Resistance
Sunday, October 1 - Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Moon Beach Camp
St. Germain, Wisconsin (715) 479-8255
Join UCC clergy colleagues from the Northwest and Northeast Association at Moon Beach for a time of Sabbath. We will experience Sabbath as Resistance as Pastor Julie Garber, Spiritual Director/ Licensed Minister invites us to "refresh" our faith and ourselves. She will lead us in practices to "remember" and "reconnect", individually and as a community. Rev. Dr. Karl Kuhn will lead us in bible study rooting "Sabbath as Resistance" in the scriptures. In addition he will help us prepare for preaching in Epiphany 2018.
Register On-Line!
(Deadline: September 15, 2017)
Cost is $175 per person
($50 is nonrefundable;deposit is required at registration)
The cost includes meals and lodging.
Register at www.ucci.org
Retired clergy and clergy new to the Association are invited to attend as guests of their Association. Scholarships assistance is available. Contact your Association Church and Ministry Committee for details.
Healing Ourselves: Pathways to Emotional Well-Being and Spiritual Renewal
Friday, October 6, 2017
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
We are all wounded in this life, whether by loss, betrayal, trauma, tragedy, poor choices, or other misfortunes. Just as the body strives to heal our physical injuries, so do psyche and soul seek to heal emotional and existential wounds and to restore well-being. Drawing from practices, both ancient and modern, this interactive retreat will focus on identifying healing pathways that nurture our renewal.
Our retreat leader: Philip Chard is a widely traveled speaker, a practicing psychotherapist, and the author of the popular and award-winning weekly column "Out of My Mind" featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He is also author of the books The Healing Earth and Nature's Ways.
Kettlewood Retreats invites you to this fall retreat at Cedar Valley. Come join us in the countryside of the Kettle Moraine on 100 spectacular acres (an outdoor labyrinth too!) near West Bend. The noon meal is included.
To register for this retreat, please write a check for $50.00 to Rev. Holly Whitcomb and send it to: 2095 Elm Tree Ct., Elm Grove, WI 53122. This retreat will fill quickly. Please register as soon as you can. Include your name, address, e-mail, and phone number(s). Upon receipt of your registration, you will receive a map. For more information, call (262) 784-5593.
Jesus Seminar on the Road
Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 535 Stow St., Fond du Lac, WI
October 6-7, 2017
CHANGING PERCEPTIONS: EARTH, SELF, GOD
Presenters: Clayton Crockett, Ph.D. and Susan (Elli) Elliott, Ph.D.
Members of the Jesus Seminar
Jesus' vision of a divine domain subverted and transformed everyday life in the first century. It incorporated insights from the great sages of his time, but the church imprisoned the iconoclast in an iconic creed. Centuries later, creedal Christianity died in the arms of Copernicus, Newton, Darwin, and Einstein. A new scientific story about life now demands a new religion. What are the elements of that religion?
The titles for each session are: Friday evening, Changing Perceptions of Earth, Saturday morning, Ancient and Modern Self and A Postmodern Self, Saturday afternoon, The God Question. The leaders will welcome questions.
All events will be held at Pilgrim United Church of Christ. The seminar is being cosponsored with Open Circle Fellowship Unitarian Universalist, Fond du Lac. Complete details of the seminar and registration information can be found online at westarinstitute.org/events. Some scholarships are available. Please contact Peg Bradley, 920-922-0731 for information.
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About the Northeast Update: Published twice per month. Rev. Daniel Schultz, Editor Mike Mathes, Assistant Editor
Digital Submissions can be sent to Rev. Schultz, or paper copies to 270 Laurel Lane, Fond du Lac WI 54935
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