The Damascus Project is excited to bring pastors and church groups a Lenten opportunity that we hope speaks to this critical moment. Learn more about the course and its designer and instructor by watching a short (1:30 min) video here.

If your church is interested but cost is a barrier, please contact The Damascus Project at 507-222-0194 or info@the-damascus-project.org.

More information and registration can be found on the Damascus Project website.

Stewardship in any season can be stressful for pastors. It can feel awkward, unspiritual. The Cultivating Generous Congregations Seminar for pastors and lay leaders offers an opportunity to explore faithful, practical, and tested ways for promoting generosity in our congregations. We will draw on current research, seek guidance from the wisdom of scripture, and discuss the best practices in church-based fundraising.

This seminar will help pastors and leaders engage generosity as a spiritual practice, and will improve the “bottom line” of your congregation – mission and ministry. Six online sessions run on Tuesdays at 5:30-7:00 pm, from Feb. 9th through Apr. 27th, and will be taught by the Rev. Andrew Warner, Wisconsin Conference Director of Development and the Rev. Andy DeBraber, Generosity Officer of the national setting. Between class sessions, Andy and Andrew will provide materials to help you analyze the culture of your own congregation and learn how to create change. Invite at least one other person to achieve the most impact. By the end of the seminar, pastors and leaders will be equipped to lead effective fundraising and will have a strategy to guide success moving forward.

The CGC Seminar is $150 per participant. Register by January 31

This webinar reviews basic aspects of the treasurer, financial secretary, and stewardship chair roles. Please complete the Congregational Economic Evaluation (CEE) Survey from CARDD before the webinar. The CEE Survey will inform our conversation. We focus on how to organize and lead an effective year-around practice of storytelling (or testimonials) related to generosity, effective ways to record and thank donors for their gifts, and creating a “financial dashboard” to help fellow board members understand the finances of the congregation. Register here

Complete the Congregational Economic Evaluation Survey here

The Wisconsin Council for Health and Human Service Agencies (CHHSM) wants to remind everyone that Sunday, January 31, 2021 is CHHSM Sunday. This is the day we set aside to honor all those who serve, and are served, in our care agencies. Many churches celebrate this day with a blessing of hands, a special liturgy or just take a moment to honor these folks and the important work they do with prayer.

In the best of times these people do important work; with Covid they are doing heroic work. Please consider holding a special celebration on January 31 to celebrate the important work our agencies are doing. The CHHSM website provides downloadable resources for celebrating CHHSM Sunday, including a Litany of Gratitude for Essential Workers, a Prayer of Remembrance for those lost in the coronavirus pandemic, and more. In addition, CHHSM recently released an article about Health and Human Service Sunday. 

Information about the CHHSM agencies is available on the Wisconsin Conference website.

We also invite you to Worship with Emmaus, using this digital resource kit (links below). This is Emmaus’ gift to the church because of our partnership in ministry together. This resource kit includes an all-in-one video, as well as each worship element separately. This gives you flexibility to edit it or add your own touches, like music and prayer, as desired. There is a Table of Contents below. We at Emmaus hope these resources will bring some fresh content that you can use during this time of virtual, and/or modified worship. The kit can also be used to hold an Emmaus Sunday if desired.

“Love God and your neighbor as yourself.” Upon these commandments depend our mission and vision as covenant congregations in the ‘United’ Church of Christ. Since our unity isn’t uniform, what holds us together? What essential, core values serve the church when times are tough? Let’s talk! Join our Conference Conflict Transformation Team for a Zoom workshop on Sunday, February 21 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm to discuss the role of core values when dealing with church conflict. The cost is $50 per church (up to four participants) or $15 for individuals.

NOTE: All attendees from a church must be registered at the same time in order to take advantage of the $50 per church price. Please be prepared with email addresses for all attendees, as these are needed to send the meeting link to every participant.

Register Here> by Monday, February 15.

Register here> or call 920-565-1023 ext. 2151

All churches are required to submit their data online. To avoid potential delays please be sure to enter your information as soon as possible. For instructions and all pertinent and helpful documents, click here.

If you have any problems or questions, please email Susan Taylor. Please do not contact the National Office. Deadline for reporting: March 3, 2021. 

Again this year! The church officer data form can now be filled out online. Access this new link here!

The Mission Team of the Southeast Association has enjoyed hearing of all the ways our congregations are still “Being the Church” in these difficult times. We now offer another opportunity for the congregations in the Southeast association to be united in mission, even as we maintain our unique identity as individual churches. In the winter, using the UCC’s Three Great Loves emphasis, we invited congregations to share under the heading “Love of Neighbor.” Now through Easter we invite congregations to share around the “Love of Children” emphasis. We hope you will share your efforts with us through the association newsletter or Association Facebook page. This video, less than 2 minutes long, explains it well.

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 pandemic and beyond. Donate to the General Fund

The Conference Transitions feature appears monthly in the Wisconsin Conference Life. Please share your transition information, including church anniversaries, with the newsletter editor by emailing Nola.

The Kairos Call to Action Newsletter was created to support the efforts of congregations, families and individuals who want to be a part of the UCC’s Kairos Call to Action. Through this newsletter the Conference Creation Care Team will provide resources for study and worship, encourage advocacy on behalf of climate justice, and help congregations find and connect with partners who share this common concern and commitment.

Sign up for this newsletter here, and check out the first issue here. 

Last month's Parish Paper was "Using Surveys to Guide Decision Making." Access this issue and archived issues here!

The Wisconsin Conference UCC is an Open and Affirming Conference, and an Immigrant Welcoming Conference.