NORTHWEST WORD OCTOBER 2021

While Rob MacDougall is on leave his responsibilities ar covered by other Conference ministers and Rev. Dale Bishop. Please reach out to Rev. Franz Rigert (frigert@wcucc.org; 414-704-2625) and Rev. Bishop (dbishop511@gmail.com; 715-891-5052) with your concerns and questions. Rob has passed on information to them, but feel free to initiate contact with them as they get acquainted with transitions and concerns in your church and the life of our pastors.

With One Body And One Spirit:

Returning to Church 3.0

We are still asking the question where are we as the church as we navigate COVID-19. The Wisconsin Council of Churches has produced the document

With One Body And One Spirit: Returning to Church 3.0

In it the Wisconsin Council of Churches seeks to expand on the theological basis of Christian life within the context of the continued pandemic highlighting Christian values and practices found with the following texts.

Living in and for community (1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 13:20-21)
Witnessing to the truth that sets us free (John 8:32)
Humble service and ministry to those in need (Matthew 22:36-40)
Self-sacrificial love for others (John 13:34-35)
Living the Christian identity even when it goes against the social grain (John 15:18, Romans 12:2)

The Wisconsin Conference website has many resources for congregational, leadership, and upcoming events. Under the Corona Virus resource tab is a link to: Tips and Ideas From Churches For Churches.

Grants/Scholarships/Stewardship

Leadership Scholarship

Scholarships are available for leadership development workshop events. The United Church of Christ and the Wisconsin Conference offer many day to week-long workshop opportunities for church administrators, faith formation educators, stewardship, church growth and renewal, etc. The Northwest Association offers these scholarships up to $150 per person/per event/per year.

Order UCC Stewardship Materials

The UCC provides coordinated stewardship materials for your congregation's annual stewardship efforts. The theme – “Rooted in Love” – draws inspiration from Psalm 1, “They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season."

Available from UCC Resources

Northwest Association Creation Care Grant Applications are still available

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. You will find the application form on the NWA website.

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR MISSION PROJECTS STARTED OR SPONSORED BY NWA CHURCHES

As the Covid restrictions change and you would like to help your community pick up the pieces but feel strapped by a tighter church budget, the Northwest Association’s Division of the Mission of the Church in the world (DMCW) has $200 grants to springboard your mission initiatives. Whether you need extra money to purchase food, shelving, for your food pantry/ food delivery system, racks or paint for a clothing closet, money to provide more storage for medical equipment that can be borrowed free of charge, money to refurbish furniture for families that need to resettle, to purchase equipment for church pollinator gardens, help buy software for virtual fundraisers, supplies for community meals that have a mission component, materials for quilt ministries, “hugs in mugs,” care packets or any other mission project you think up, you are welcome to apply to us for start-up money.

Grant applications can be found in the Northwest Association section of wcucc.org, “Church in the World” tab, https://www.wcucc.org/associations/northwest-association/what-we-do/mission-church-world/, and will be available as long there is still money for such grants in our budget.

How to Foster Deep Listening amid Political Difference

Teri Hanson, Association Moderator, offered this article from the Parish Paper as a resource in our continued political/pandemic times.

What Can Churches Do? . . . churches in our time confront a dilemma not faced by many previous generations: the divided nature of American culture. It affects how congregations order their life in worship, fellowship, study, and community outreach. Though church and state remain separate in American society, what happens in our divided society spills over into church life

Registration Page

Sometimes Clergy have a hard time making ends meet after they retire. They spent their lives pastoring without asking a lot financially from their beloved churches, providing for the needs of family and children on their salaries, but sometimes having not enough left over each week to save for a comfortable retirement. So when there is a sudden change in rent or utilities, unexpected car repairs, difficulties caused by Covid, medical emergencies or they need expensive medical equipment like hearing aids, life can get pretty scary for clergy/ lay retirees as well as low-income pastors.

We know that seeing the grateful relief expressed in letters thanking the Pension Boards for stepping in to help fill those gaps with the gifts we and our churches give to the Christmas Fund (this year December 19th.) “We don’t know what we would have done without your gift” is said over and over again. If you know a pastor/lay church worker that is in need, let our Conference Minister Franz Rigert (frigert@wcucc.org) know.

In 2019, nationally,

$1,347,419 was given to 350 persons to bring their household income up to minimum level so they can provide for basic needs
$123,727 was provided to 69 individuals and families that face unforeseen circumstances.
Health Premium supplements totaling $374,577 were provided to 144 persons.
And at Christmas time, $260, 500 in “Thank you” gift checks given to 521 retired UCC clergy/lay employees.

So if you had ministers who remind you of wonderful childhood memories or visited family members in the hospital or helped you through a difficult time or said something you didn’t like at first but now you realize made all the difference, perhaps a gift to the Christmas fund on December 19 would be the best “thank you” of all. You can find promotional materials for your church or give a gift directly at www.christmasfund.org.

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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With One Body And One Spirit:

﻿Returning to Church 3.0

Grants/Scholarships/Stewardship

How to Foster Deep Listening amid Political Difference

Returning to Church 3.0