NORTHWEST WORD February 2022

Rev Rob MacDougall is on a leave of absence.

Watch for an email from Franz. In his absence, please feel free to contact

Moderator, Teri Hanson, christfirstpastor@gmail.com

Chair, Church and Ministry, Don Baumann, donbfishing@gmail.com

Search and call needs, Franz Rigert, frigert@wcucc.org

New Calls

Rev. Deborah Kunkel has been called as pastor at Hope UCC in Cochrane, and as pastor at St. Johns UCC in Fountain City, effective Jan. 1.

In memoriam

The Rev. Larry Treece died on Dec. 23, 2021. Obituary

Save the dates!

Northwest Association Hybrid Annual Meeting

April 23, 2022 (zoom link will be available with registration)

Our NWA Annual meeting will be Hosted by Plymouth UCC

2010 W. Moholt Dr., Eau Claire from 9:00-12:00p.m.

The following is a tentative layout for our gathering.

9:00 am Check in/Registration

9:30 am Welcome

10:00-11:00 Program Speaker Lisa Hart - WISE

11:00 Business meeting

12:00 Adjournment

Please watch for upcoming registration details

Lisa Hart will be joining us for our Annual Meeting introducing us to a program entitled ~ WISE ~ a program which helps to connect us emotionally in mind, body and spirit.

Lisa serves as Associate Conference Minister for Faith Formation and Justice Ministries, and Executive Associate to the Conference Minister.

Save the Date for the 2022 Annual Meeting: Building up the Beloved Community

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

Mark your calendars now for the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference, to be held June 10 to 12 at the Green Lake Conference Center.

This year’s theme, “Building up the Beloved Community,” acknowledges the toll that the pandemic has taken on congregations, pastors and lay leaders. We will focus on tending to individual and congregational wellness, lifting up best practices and good strategies for fostering healthy church dynamics, and challenging ourselves to think in fresh ways about the church. For additional details and registration information, make sure to check out February’s issues of Wisconsin Conference Life.

Technology Support Grant Application

The Northwest Wisconsin Association of the Wisconsin Conference UCC is offering grants up to $1000 for technical support to local congregations. Awards will be granted as applications are received and as funds remain available.

Grants are available for a broad definition of technology: hardware (computers, cameras, microphones, projectors, screens, recording equipment, etc.), software, and/or training (e.g., at your local technical college, seminars). We say broadly because each church knows its needs better than we do. For some churches this might be a first step into "technology" while others might be upgrading.

Any congregation of the NW Association may apply for a grant up to $1000.

Application can be found here

Association Creation Care Grants available

Application (here)

The Northwest Association of the Wisconsin Conference, UCC, in an effort to lift up the high calling of being faithful stewards of God’s creation, is making grants available to NWA Congregations that are taking steps to positively change their relationship with the environment. These changes can be small or large, they could focus on energy use levels, renewable sources of energy, conservation efforts, recycling efforts, resources management, etc. The NWA is trying to encourage churches to act out their calling to be faithful stewards of what God shares with us.

Creation Care in the Ladysmith Conrath churches

The 25th annual Great Backyard Bird Count will take place February 18th, 19th. 20th, 2022. This is an opportunity for Ladysmith and Conrath UCC members to participate in the Creation Care Birding initiative we started in May 2021, but this time it will be counting winter birds. It is as easy as sitting inside by your window and counting/identifying birds at your bird feeder outside for one 15-minute count on one of the 4 dates listed. Or, as fun as taking a hike outdoors alone or with a group of friends while counting/identifying the birds you see on your route.

You can report results on their website, https://www.birdcount.org/ and do as many counts as you like. Directions and registration are on same website.

from your smart phone, your PC, or your laptop. Results reported by all participants have been used for 24 years by professionals to help wild birds.

The more years we contribute to the database as Citizen Scientists, the more valuable and useful it becomes. A free zoom webinar with birding tips to

help you count and identify birds will be held by birding experts at 1:00 pm, February 16th. Register on the website noted above. It will also be recorded to access later.

Creation Justice Series from the Great Lakes

Creation Care Collaborative

Good Money After Bad: How to invest in Creation Care

6"30 to 8 p.m. Central time Feb. 10

More information and registration here.

Creation Justice from the Sanctuary to the Street: Linking Worship, Action, & Advocacy

6:30 to 8 p.m. Central time March 3

More information and registration here.

UCC immigration chief to host monthly time for reflection

The Rev. Irene Willis Hassan, the UCC’s minister for refugee and migration ministries, will host a monthly Zoom meeting for individuals and congregations engaged in ministry to refugees. The sessions will occur on the second Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m. Central time. Click here to participate.

Help Others - Donate Now

The General Fund of the Wisconsin Conference helps us connect, support, and resource pastors, leaders, and congregations. Your gift allows the Conference to provide relevant and timely help during the current pandemic and beyond. Donate to the General Fund.

Webinar: Year-Around Stewardship

Stewardship campaigns last for just a few weeks, but we hope that people will make gifts throughout the year. This webinar with the Rev. Andrew Warner focuses on practical steps to move from a brief annual campaign to a year-around plan that continually engages and inspires. Feb. 23rd, 6:30pm - 7:30pm.

An idea from First Congregational UCC, River Falls

Free Money for Church Ministries: The church has created an Amazon Smile account through which the church can receive a portion of the price of each purchase you make though Amazon. It is important to know that you need to do two things for the church to receive this money. First, go to Amazon Smile by typing in smile.amazon.com and then add First Congregational Church River Falls to your Amazon Smile. Second, every time you order you must order through your Smile account by going to smile.amazon.com. Once you do this, the church will receive 0.5% of each eligible order.

Registration for 2022 camps and events is open

United Church Camps Inc. will open registration for 2022 camps and events at 9:09 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8. New and exciting events are planned at the three UCCI campuses: Moon Beach, Daycholah Center, and Cedar Valley. Check out the full event list.

OUR CHURCH’S WIDER MISSION

What It Means to Us

Love. You see the word everywhere—from the Bible to sweat-shirts and charm bracelets. But what does it mean to convey love through the administrative structure of an organization—especially love that shows that we have truly listened to the words of Jesus and seek to follow as best we can his unstoppable love? I used to think we’d experience that happening only when we got to the Kingdom of Heaven. Then I came across the United Church of Christ, especially the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ. It’s a source of love we can all plug into by contributing our talents and/ or by contributing to Our Church’s Wider Mission offering. Seventy-seven percent of our gifts stay in Conference and 23% goes to the wider church thereby supporting local churches as well as helping them work through issues that affect our whole society climate change, racism, abuse of individuals or groups. But enough of pretty words—here is how an organization like the Wisconsin Conference-- can be the source of Christ’s love right down to its structure.

The Wisconsin Conference is an umbrella organization that has many spokes and it is its careful attention to those many spokes—including the financial end of things-- that gives us practical proof God-influenced love can not only protectively shelter us but surround us right where each of us is and help us deal with situations that are ours alone. Now, each member of the Conference Staff could concentrate on their own specialty and when we call say, “I know nothing about that, it’s not my area.” But our Conference staff knows both how the spokes of their particular specialty come together to make the overarching organization as well as the ins and outs they are assigned to, all the better to help us find the particular safety net or support we’re looking for.

Sometimes organizations are inflexible, caught in iron-clad procedures, but our Conference knows how to move in and out of situations as they change and concentrate support when and where it is needed, again because our leaders are not too afraid to understand the complexities of real life, especially that brought on by Covid. The most caring rather than the most convenient option holds sway in this organization. The Conference could have sought out the easiest, one size fit’s all method of dealing with the painful, frightening situations we face or think of our churches as face-less blocks of people or find the one thing the means most to the most people. But,especially when dealing with Covid, that would be like directing a stream of water at the door of a burning building and letting the rest of it collapse. Instead they listened to all our terror, pain, heartbreak, fear for the future, yes even anger induced by Covid. After looking at the difficulties our churches were facing from all angles, they worked to design practical ways of providing spiritual, health- inducing, financial, technological support--for example coaching/conflict-resolution conducted by staff as well as trained local people who understand what goes on in specific communities. Personalized love conveyed by an organization to every church large or small, country or city, so that during this troubled time, we know in practical terms that the wider church genuinely cares what happens to us.

So if you want to spread love that’s inspired by God, support Our Church’s Wider Mission church offering.

News from the Churches

St. Johns UCC, Madeline Island

Nekoosa UCC

First Congregational UCC, Menomonie

Mission Statement Community UCC Medford.jpg

Pulpit Supply list avail on NWA webpage, https://www.wcucc.org/associations/northwest-association/

Churches should be fair and forthright in agreeing upon honorarium and travel expenses for persons they invite to provide pulpit supply. The WI Conference Division of Church and Ministry suggests a minimum of $150 plus mileage reimbursed at the IRS rate for 2021: 56 cents per mile. Where a church has two points and two services, consider an additional $75 plus mileage.

Conference staff persons serve local congregations in a variety of ways. Honoraria are not accepted, and travel costs are covered by the Conference travel budget. Except in emergencies, Conference staff cannot provide pulpit supply; however, the staff welcomes opportunities to preach for special occasions or to meet with members of the congregation.

Please note: Persons licensed to the NW Association and ordained pastors

are authorized to administer the Sacraments.

EAU CLAIRE TO TWIN CITIES AREA:

Jill Christopherson 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825

715-514-7361 christopherson.jill@gmail.com

*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed or posted or something else.

Rev. Bill Clyma 834 Hazel Street North, Apt. 305, St. Paul, MN 55119 763-415-0779 pastorbill111@outlook.com (will travel 75 mi.) Land line: 651-330-5958.

*Note: I would be happy to provide “virtual” pulpit supply.

Rev. Elizabeth Hazel, 1060 Marian Lane, Park Falls, WI 54552 (will drive 3 hours)

715-744-2373 morrinhazel@pctcnet.net *Note: I’m willing to share “virtual” worship services.

Rev. Carol J. Heckmann, 1789 County Road EE, White Bear Lake, MN 55110

651-269-4950 cj.heckmann@yahoo.com (willing to travel)

*Note: Just wanted to let you know that after November 1, 2020, I will be available to do Zoom worship supply if a church is in need. I do not have a Zoom account, so prefer someone else be the host and I join in on the Zoom. Or, if it’s within a reasonable distance, I could do a YouTube worship if there’s someone to do the technical part.

Rev. Sandee Kosmo, 3214 Chasewood Lane, Eau Claire, 54701

715-834-2112 skosmo14@msn.com

Rev. Norm Luecke, street address: 301 Alvey St, Bruce, WI 54819

925-639-1652 normluecke@yahoo.com (Available June-Sept: willing to travel 2 hours.) *Note: I would be glad to provide zoom pulpit supply.

Stephen P. Ottman, 733 First Street, Plum City 54761

715-495-2017 cell s.ottman53@gmail.com

Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449

715-650-1761 patti-steevens@hotmail.com

*Note: I am willing to do in-person or virtual. Do not have a zoom account, will need to work with local ‘tech’ to do zoom or YouTube. Will travel throughout the state, generally not available in Jan or Feb.

Susan Vornholt, 301 Oak Street, Neillsville, WI 54456

715-797-4031 sjvornholt@yahoo.com

Rev. Charles Wolfe, 715-441-7362 chaswolfe411@gmail.com

LA CROSSE AREA:

Jill Christopherson, 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825 Licensed to the NWA

715-514-7361 christopherson.jill@gmail.com

*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed or posted or something else.

Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449

715-650-1761 patti-steevens@hotmail.com

Rev. Tom Uphaus, 2650 N Pine Creek Rd, La Crescent, MN 55947 507-895-2152 tuphaus@acegroup.cc

Susan Vornholt, 301 Oak Street, Neillsville, WI 54456

715-797-4031 sjvornholt@yahoo.com

SUPERIOR-ASHLAND AREA:

Jill Christopherson, 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825, Licensed to the NWA

715-514-7361 christopherson.jill@gmail.com

*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed or posted or something else.

Rev. Bill Handy, 715-682-0168

Rev. Elizabeth Hazel, 1060 Marian Lane, Park Falls, WI 54552 (will travel 3 hours)

715-744-2373 morrinhazel@pctcnet.net

*Note: I’m willing to share “virtual” worship services.

Rev. Norm Luecke, 301 Alvey St, Bruce, WI 54819

925-639-1652 normluecke@yahoo.com (Available June-Sept: willing to travel 2 hours.) *Note: I would be glad to provide zoom pulpit supply.

Rev Robert Rice, 5695 Hunter Cove, Conover, WI 54519

405-642-6118 robertsrice@msn.com (Eagle River area; available mid-June through Fall.)

Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449

715-650-1761 patti-steevens@hotmail.com

Susan Vornholt, 301 Oak Street, Neillsville, WI 54456

715-797-4031 sjvornholt@yahoo.com

WAUSAU AREA:

Jill Christopherson 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825, Licensed to the NWA

715-514-7361 christopherson.jill@gmail.com

*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed or posted or something else.

Rev. Dale Bishop, 511 Sundstein Rd., Eagle River, WI 54521

715-479-1152 dalebishop511@gmail.com

Rev. Wayne C. Drueck, 1811 Perry Drive, Schofield, WI 54476

715-355-8895 home 715-212-8376 cell retired.rev@gmail.com

Rev. Elizabeth Hazel, 1060 Marian Lane, Park Falls, WI 54552, (will travel 3 hours)

715-744-2373 morrinhazel@pctcnet.net *Note: I’m willing to share “virtual” worship services.

Rev. Norm Luecke, 301 Alvey St, Bruce, WI 54819 925-639-1652 normluecke@yahoo.com *Note: I would be glad to provide zoom pulpit supply.

Rev. James Mohr, 35 Hewett St., Neillsville WI 54456,

715-743-7626 jmohr13@outlook.com *Note: I would be available to drive to anyplace South of Wausau, East of La Crosse, and Southeast of Eau Claire. I’m willing to do some in-person pulpit supply, as well as virtual pulpit supply.

Rev. Robert Rice, 5695 Hunter Cove, Conover, WI 54519

405-642-6118 robertsrice@msn.com (Eagle River area; available mid-June through Fall.)

Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449

715-650-1761 patti-steevens@hotmail.com

Rev. Pat Tucker, 511 Sundstein Rd., Eagle River, WI 54521

715-479-1152 cell: 715-891-5051 ptucker511@frontier.com

Susan Vornholt, 301 Oak Street, Neillsville, WI 54456

715-797-4031 sjvornholt@yahoo.com

Mary Wright, 7010 Evergreen Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494

bmw@tznet.com or 22bowzer@gmail.com 715-325-3602

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