To equip, empower, encourage and connect the churches of the Michigan Conference UCC

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Make sure to "View Entire Message" to see all the June and Pride Month News!!

"Pronouns in the Church" Zoom at noon June 5

June 5, 2024

12noon - 12:45 PM

HELP! PRONOUNS IN CHURCH It’s Pride Month and special guest pastor JM Richardson will be joining us in conversation. No question is off limits as we try to understand the changing new world of pronouns.

watch LIVE

on YouTube @12noon

and watch recordings ANYTIME!!

Leadership Lunch Line Up:

July 3: HELP! OUR CHURCH BYLAWS ARE KILLING US with special guest pastor and author Rev. Dr. Sarah Drummond, Dean of Andover Newton Seminary

August 4: HELP! OUR CHURCH BUILDING BUDGET IS KILLING US with guest speaker Patrick Duggan from UCC Church Building & Loan Fund.

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

We Want to Hear from YOU!

Use THIS FORM to share your joys, concerns, news, events, and resources

with the Michigan Conference UCC!

Conference News

International Intentionality

May 31 - June 2, 2024

German Ministry Partner, Dr. Gerrit Marx, shared time with Conference staff and local churches in Southwest and Grand West Associations.

Agenda included sunset bonfire at Tower Hill Camp & Retreat Center, luncheon at Zion UCC in Baroda, Music Sunday at East Church in Grand Rapids, plus communion and friendship over food at New Holland Brewing Company and the Amway Grand.

Caring Clergy Community - On Retreat

May 13 -16, 2024

Clergy Retreat at Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center featuring "The Best Of" The Festival of Homiletics.

22 Michigan Conference Clergy bonded over 4 days featuring 10 sermons/lectures for learning, time at the beach building sandcastles, hikes in the woods, visits to the labyrinth, kayaking, worship, fantastic food, fellowship and more.

Next year's dates are May 12 - 15, 2025

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.

Drop In Zoom Links are on the Conference Calendar

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

Shelby Congregational UCC in Shelby is searching for a part time pastor. Details
St. Paul United Church of Christ in Saline is searching for a part time Pastor Details
Douglas Congregational UCC in Douglas is searching for a full time pastor. Details
For a complete list of searching UCC churches in Michigan click here

New Calls

The Rev. Julia DiFiore was called as Pastor at First Congregational Church UCC in St. Clair MI on May 26. She will begin her ministry in St. Clair on August 7, 2024

Installations and Ordinations

A service of Ordination is scheduled June 23, 2024 at 3:00pm for Rev. Kristen Metcalf at Salem UCC, Farmington MI
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

In Memoriam

Stan Dole died on May 6, 2024. Stan was a generous contributor to the Michigan Conference UCC in a myriad of ways. A Memorial was held in Grand Rapids on May 16. Our prayers continue for his wife Betsy, extended family and friends.

Retirement Celebration

June 30, 2024 will be a Celebration of the Ministry of Pastor Don Mason as he retires from First Congregational UCC, Union City. Worship at 10:00am and special coffee hour will be followed at 4:00pm with a catered meal and activities at Riverbend Park. Details

The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, Michigan Conference Minister

2024 Preaching Schedule & Worship Visits

June 2, 2024 Preach - First Congregational Church, Grand Blanc, MI

June 9, 2024 Preach - First Congregational, Kalamazoo, MI

June 9, 2024 Preach - Phoenix Community Church, Kalamazoo, MI

June 16, 2024 Preach - First Congregational, Wyandotte, MI

June 23, 2024 Preach - First Congregational UCC, Charlevoix, MI

June 30, 2024 Preach - First Congregational UCC, St. Joseph, MI

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

LINK TO ALL upcoming 2024 DATES

Contact lisa@michucc.org to schedule a visit

Prophetic Integrity Mission Area Team

Solar Panel Webinar Recording

Watch this 54 minute webinar learn about how your congregation can get solar panels through a new initiative called Solar Faithful. Solar Faithful is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit collaboration founded by Michigan Interfaith Power & Light, the Climate Witness Project, and Chart House Energy.

Solar Faithful Interest Form

Summer Cohorts for Antiracism Training

Upcoming Trainings:

*Thursday, June 13 from 4:30-8:30pm and Friday, June 14 from 1:30pm-4:30pm ET

*Every other Monday June 17, July 1, 15, 22, Aug 12, and Aug 26 from 12 noon-1:15 pm ET

"Animating Antiracism in Faith Formation" is a webinar series developed for the United Church of Christ Network of Wider Church Youth Ministries by Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training. Affordable, flexible scheduling, and designed specifically for UCC, this program has practical application for anyone in ministry. Learnings are designed to impact practices and policies directly at the local church level. Contact Jenn Ringgold for $60 reimbursement to engage in this training.

Faith Formation Mission Area Team

Regional Youth Event

July 17-20, 2024

Augustana College,

Rock Island Illinois

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER

Registration Deadline is June 15, 2024

Content from The Many, Flamy Grant, Project NOW, Church World Service, Center for Youth Ministry Training Holy Disruptions, Amy Johnson Our Whole Lives, Bekah Anderson Disability Ministries, Danielle Hickman Volunteer Engagement, Rachael Keefe Mental Health Network, Tyler Ung Love of Children, UCC DC Office, Global Ministries and more...

The Problem of Loneliness

~excerpts from article by Susan H. McFadden

How often do you feel that you lack companionship?

How often do you feel left out?

How often do you feel isolated from others?

Vivek Murthy, the Surgeon General of the US published a book about loneliness in 2020 and stated that its health risks are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, yet research and public policy leaders seldom pay attention to the role of congregations.

When faith communities intentionally adopt a culture of congregational care, they can address what some are calling the “epidemic” of loneliness, and also support better health for everyone who participates in worship and other social gatherings.

Local Church News

Partnership Place

The congregation at St. John’s UCC in Jackson has a history of being committed to unique building use and community partnerships. Located in the Partnership Park neighborhood of Jackson, their building already houses seven additional non-profit service organizations. Over the last 18 months, they have also been dedicated to an intentional process about collaborating to house another church.

This creative vision in Partnership Place invites one building, one worship service, one collaboration for mission, and also maintains separate identities and finances.

Vote for Climate Hope

Michigan Conference UCC had several local churches submit artwork for this year's 2024 Vote for Climate Hope postcard contest. Artists from Cadillac First Congregational Church UCC, Pinckney Community Congregational UCC, and UCC Midland participated and four individuals were part of 75 finalists (Congrats Eleanor, Liam, Niko, and Quinn!!)

The National Setting of the UCC will also be employing a young adult intern from the Michigan Conference for this summer's Vote for Climate Hope efforts. Charlotte Ault is a student at the University of North Carolina who's home base is in Midland, MI. Charlotte will be contacting and visiting Michigan churches and organizations throughout the summer to collect voter pledge cards.

In 2023, over 8000 postcards and signatures were collected and delivered to the Environmental Protection Agency by our staff in the UCC Washington D.C. Office.

ONA Church #1877

Ada Congregational Church

Congratulations to Pastor Rick Dykema and the congregation at Ada Congregational Church UCC.

The church celebrating 175 years of ministry in 2024, and they also voted in April to accept an open and affirming covenant.

Who Moved My Steeple?!

How do you make roof repair underneath a 30 foot tall, 4000 pound steeple? Very carefully! Worry number one; will the steeple hold together when it is lifted? Worry number two; how to keep the steeple upright in case of wind gust? Worry number three; can the job be done in one day with the rented crane?

Community Congregational UCC in Pinckney covered all the bases with a great crew that even power washed and repainted the steeple while it was on the ground. Thank God for capital funds and experts willing to take on jobs like this!!