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Equipping, empowering, connecting, and celebrating the churches of the Michigan Conference |
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New and improved content and layout at the SAME address, utilizing UCC Everywhere. UCC Everywhere gives your church the opportunity to have a modern, easy-to-manage and custom website so that faith-seekers and current members alike can learn and engage in what your church has to offer.
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Staff Person for Communication and Resources
Jenn Ringgold has an expanded roll as Program Associate for Communication and Resource Ministry. She is available to help support and equip local churches.
jenn@michucc.org
communications@michucc.org
Google Voice (989) 607-1220
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Online Boundary Training
Clergy and MID Boundary Training being offered
by Michigan Conference ONLINE
June 20, 2023
9:30am - 3:30pm
REGISTER NOW
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2 SPACES LEFT for MI youth in High School or Middle School to travel together June 30 - July 4, 2023 for special Youth@Synod programming.
$185.00 covers registration, programming, transportation, lodging, and meals - including dinner with Ibram Kendi, lunch with Bryan Stevenson, and Keynote with Nadia Bolz-Weber!!!!
Scholarship funds available
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We Want to Hear from YOU!
A priority for the Michigan Conference Monthly News
is connecting local churches with one another and sharing YOUR stories.
Use THIS FORM to share with the Conference!
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Disc Golf Course Dedicated to Michigan UCC Pastor
When Pastor Don Mason and his wife Kelly moved to Union City in 2017, their passion for Disc Golf was evidenced. They drove 40 minutes after the neutral pulpit sermon to make sure the nearest course was an appropriate venue.
Over the next three years, they discovered many more high quality disc golf courses within an hour’s drive of Union City, but still none in Branch County. They continued playing as often as possible for fun and exercise.
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One beautiful fall afternoon when Don didn’t have enough time to drive to a course and play, he decided to do some research about local parks. He found that a recent plan from Branch County Parks Recreation had a goal of providing a disc golf course at Riverbend Park in Union City!! After contacting a County Commissioner and being redirected to email the Road Department, he thought he reached a dead end.
A few weeks later, while playing a course near Hastings, he got a call from the director of the Road Department, who offered to meet with him at Riverbend Park. Over the course of a year, pandemic notwithstanding, serious conversations yielded a plan to put a nine hole course at Riverbend park. Larry Leonardi was hired to design the course, and a workforce was recruited to install it in April of 2021. Union Circle Disc Golf Course opened May 15, 2021 and is opening for its third season.
|  | When the leaders and congregation of First Congregational Church in Union City were planning to honor Pastor Don on the joint occasions of his 40th anniversary of ordination and his 5th year serving in Union City, they chose to celebrate his love for disc golf at the same time. They commissioned a plaque honoring his contribution to the community which will be installed near the first hole of the Union Circle course. | |
The congregation is planning an outdoor worship service in Riverbend Park to celebrate at 10am on July 2, 2023. There will be a picnic, games, and the First Annual Mad Vicar Open.
Pastor Don would like to encourage us with the first words of disc golfers everywhere: “Most Fun Wins”.
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Local Church and Camp Events | |
Our Whole Lives Facilitator Training
All Souls Community Church in Grand Rapids, MI In partnership with Berrien UU Fellowship, are offering an in-person OWL facilitator training for middle school/high school levels in July. O.W.L. is a comprehensive, age appropriate, life-span sexuality education curriculum. O.W.L. was created and continues to be supported by UCC and UUA.
Registration Deadline July 7, 2023
Training Friday, July 14, 2023, 2:00 pm - Sunday, July 16, 2023, 3:00 pm
Registration Information
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Great Lakes Creation Care Planning Retreat
August 14-16, 2023
Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center
UCC people and churches of the Great Lakes Region are starting a movement. Join in this retreat to plan actions advocating for climate justice and healthy waters to bring healing to the world's largest freshwater basin. The Great Lakes Creation Care Collaborative is made up of representatives from Conferences in the region. Key organizers are from MI, MN, and WI. GLCCC encouraged Earth Day participation in "Stop Dirty Banks" this past Spring.
Printable Registration Flyer
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National UCC News and Events | |
National UCC Offering for Retired Clergy June 21, 2023 5:00-8:00pm EST
Rev. Stephen Boyd and Rev. Tara Barber from N will offer this focused Boundary Awareness Training for those entering and living in retirement. "A Sure Foundation", "The Ministerial Code" and Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly's new book, "The Jubilee Years" along with case studies, will provide the content of this training.
Zoom Registration
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Meet your General Synod Delegates and Staff attending Synod 34
June 29 - July 5, 2023, Indianapolis
generalsynod.org
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Rev. Rachel Bahr, GWA
Rev. Dan Barnum-Steggerda, GWA
PL Cross, SWA
Abbie Goerg, DMA
Vita Green, EA
Rev. Dr. Susan Greenwood, SWA
Rev. Patty Higgins, UNA
Stephen Johnson, DMA
Rev. Jacoba Koppert, COV
Rev. Liz Larrivee, COV
Angela McCarroll, DMA
Rev. Dr. Laura Miller Purrenhage, COV
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Pastor Aaron Rieder, UNA
Rev. Salvatore Sapienza, GWA
Ralph Sims, COV
Sandy Swayman, GWA
Rev. Lily Tinker-Fortel, COV
Pastor Danielle (Dani) Veenstra, SWA
Dr. Paul von Oeyen, DMA
Lisa Young, DMA
Rev. Cheryl Burke
Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel
Rev. Calandra Nevenzel
Jenn Ringgold
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2023 UCC Stewardship Resources
2023 stewardship materials feature this year's slogan, “Because of You, Our Church Changes Lives” drawing the connection between donor generosity and the ministry and mission of your congregation.
Purchase Here
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National UCC Grants for Individuals and Churches
The 2023 Justice and Local Church Ministry Common Application is NOW OPEN. Individuals and local churches who may be interested in applying for Operational support in grants from Neighbors in Need, CASA New and Renewing Church, and Pension Board New Church Start Benefit Support grants can now complete process with one application.
Common Application Form
This convenient link allows applicants to either print the application or start filling out the common application for any of our four grant offerings. Please note that all applications will require a reference from the Conference Minister.
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The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, Michigan Conference Minister
Upcoming Preaching Schedule & Worship Visits
June
4th: Preach - First Congregational Church, Belding, MI
11th: Preach - First Congregational Church, Harrison, MI
18th: OFF
25th: Preach - First Congregational Church, Benzonia, MI
30th: First Day of General Synod, Indianapolis, IN
July
1st - 4th: General Synod, Indianapolis, IN
9th: Preach - St. Paul UCC, Saline, MI
16th: Preach - The United Church, Big Rapids, MI
23rd: Preach - First Congregational Church, New Baltimore, MI
LINK TO ALL 2023-2024 DATES
Contact Lisa@michucc.org to schedule
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Rev. Ruth Fitzgerald, Area Conference Minister Retires
It is with best wishes and LOTS of love that we send Ruth off for retirement on May 31, 2023 Ruth, you have been an inspiration, confidant, wise counsel, encouragement, and beacon of God's love to many. You will be missed!
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Senior Services Organization in Saline seeking Board Treasurer
EHM Senior Solutions is a full-service senior service organization based out of the Saline/Ann Arbor area and is searching for their next Treasurer. All board members have ties to UCC churches in some form. Meetings are mostly virtual and approximately 6 times a year. Interested parties please contact Thom Hosinski, President & CEO
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Rev. Ruth Moerdyk
Sabbatical
April 16 - July 13
Rev. Calandra Nevenzel
Sabbath and Synod
June 12 - July 9
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