Wisconsin Conference Life Newsletter
May 18, 2022
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Catalyst Grant Helped Propel Pulitzer-Winning Composition |
Navajo composer Raven Chacon has won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in music for a composition made possible in part by a Catalyst Grant from the Wisconsin Conference UCC.
The piece, “Voiceless Mass,” written for organ and ensemble, was commissioned by the Wisconsin Conference, Plymouth Church UCC in Milwaukee and Milwaukee ensemble Present Music. The piece premiered in November at Present Music’s annual Thanksgiving concert, performed at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee. In his Pulitzer entry, Chacon wrote that he waived a self-imposed rule for the Milwaukee premiere.
“As an Indigenous artist, I make a point not to present my work on this holiday, but in this case I made an exception,” he said. In an interview with NPR after his Pulitzer victory, Chacon said he was drawn to the project by the opportunity to write a piece for the organ, something he had never done before.
Raven Chacon image by Samer Ghani
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In This Issue: Scroll Down to Find These Articles |
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Rachel Bauman to Become ACM for Southern Wisconsin
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The Rev. Rachel Bauman will serve as associate conference minister for the southern region starting in September. Her primary responsibilities will be to support congregations and pastors in the Southwest Association and the Burlington and Waukesha districts of the Southeast Association.
Since 2019, Rachel has served as pastor of St. John’s United Church of Christ on Madeline Island. Rachel earned a master of divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion in 2012 and served for seven years as minister of community life at First Church Berkeley, United Church of Christ, in Berkeley, California. Before discerning a call to ministry, Rachel worked for 15 years in higher education student affairs administration. Her partner, Joe Scarry, is active in several Wisconsin Conference social justice initiatives.
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ACM Rob MacDougall to Retire at Year's End |
The Rev. Rob MacDougall, associate conference minister for the Northwest Association, announced in a letter to the association that he will retire at the end of 2022. He has served as ACM for seven years after previously spending 27 years at First Congregational UCC in Menomonie.
“I am deeply grateful for all the people I have served with,” he wrote. “You have been the face of God to me. I cannot begin to tell you how miraculous each of our churches is, inhabited as they are by so many faithful, committed, courageous and loving people.”
Conference Minister Franz Rigert said the search for the next ACM will begin by the end of June, led by a search team composed of authorized ministers and lay people. “We look forward to savoring the next seven months with Rob on staff and will plan a farewell celebration to take place later in the fall,” Franz said. Read Rob’s letter here.
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Being Church in a World Shaped By Technology: A Damascus Project Book Group |
Register now to join a virtual book group to discuss “Grace and Gigabytes: Being Church in a Tech-Shaped Culture” by Madison author Ryan Panzer. “Grace and Gigabytes” invites us to explore the opportunities for the church in a culture being shaped by technologies like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. The discussion group will be hosted by the Damascus Project.
The group will gather weekly by Zoom at noon on Tuesdays June 14, 21 and 28 and July 12 and 19. On July 26, the group will participate in a live virtual discussion with the author from noon to 1:30 p.m. Cost to participate in the discussion group is $15. Register here. The book is available at a 30 percent discount at the Fortress Press website. Use discount code PANZER30.
Panzer has spent his career in the worlds of church leadership and technology. He received master or arts from Luther Seminary while simultaneously working for Google. He serves as a learning and leadership development professional in the technology industry, as a speaker and writer on digital technology in the church, and as a lay leader at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Madison, where lives with his wife and two children. For more, visit ryanpanzer.com.
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UCCI Taps Schleif as Interim Executive Director |
The Rev. James Schleif has been named interim executive director of United Church Camps Inc. In a message to UCCI stakeholders, Schleif said he is "hard-wired to serve outdoor ministry and honored, humbled and excited to be stepping into this role for an organization that connects you to each other and God through the sacred places of Moon Beach, Daycholah Center, and Cedar Valley."
In announcing Schleif's appointment, UCCI said it "is grateful for those who love and work tirelessly on behalf of outdoor ministry. It is a blessing to have a strong and supportive community. The team is deeply committed to the mission and ministry of the work ahead and asks that you pray for them as they lean into a new era of leadership."
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Matching Gift Challenges
A major gift from a single donor, or a small group of donors, can be leveraged to inspire gifts from a wider circle of donors. Learn practical ways to use a gift to issue a “challenge” to your congregation to support your own ministry or that of a partner organization of your congregation.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Date: May 25
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Help Others by volunteering at Camp AweSum This Summer |
Camp AweSum provides summer camp opportunities for children ages 9-15 on the autism spectrum, along with four Family Camps for children on the autism spectrum along with their siblings, parents and grandparents. All camps are supported by experienced professionals, including autism specialists, speech pathologists, special education teachers and occupational therapists.
Volunteer opportunities are open to adults 18 and over and to individuals 14 and over with an adult. Training is provided. For more information, contact Sophia Svetnicka, UCCI’s Camp AweSum coordinator, by email at sophia@ucci.org or by calling
715-891-5517.
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Building a Just Peace in an Unjust World: Learning with and from Our Anabaptist Colleagues |
The Penn Central Conference PCC-UEK Partnership Ministry Team is pleased to invite you to the pastoral colloquy, July 24 to 29. This is an opportunity to join pastors from our German (UEK) partnerships, along with pastors from other Conferences that have UEK partnerships. The Rev. John Dorhauer will join the colloquy to discuss the UCC's "Just Peace Church" position. The Rev. Franz Rigert plans to attend this colloquy and would welcome having other Wisconsin Conference pastors join him.
Who?
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Pastors from all the church bodies listed on the flyer
What?
- A week of learning, discussion, and fellowship
Where?
- Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
When?
- Sunday, July 24, through Friday, July 29. Weekend visits before and after the colloquy are available for our German guests.
Why?
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“All we are saying is ‘Give peace a chance!’” ~John Lennon, 1969
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Mental Health Awareness Month |
It is Mental Health Awareness Month and the UCC MHN wants to make sure you have resources to best equip you for a Mental Health Sunday. We are sending our newest PDF for Worship Resources for your Mental Health Sunday created by the UCC, UCC MHN, and United Church of Canada, as well as two videos to use during this time.
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A New Turn: Hybrid Faith Formation |
Join the Association of United Church Educators (AUCE) for a virtual conference on hybrid faith formation. Click here to learn more about the workshops and program.
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Clergy and lay leaders who plan to offer an Our Whole Lives program in their congregations are invited to three days of facilitation training from Aug. 26 to 28 at the Daycholah Center in Green Lake. Our Whole Lives, or OWL, is a comprehensive human sexuality curriculum for elementary-age children through older adults, developed by the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association. The August training is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin and Minnesota conferences, in partnership with the national setting of the UCC.
Cost is $375 for a shared double-occupancy room, meals and training for UCC participants and $350 for non-UCC participants. A limited number of private rooms are available for $475 for UCC participants and $550 for non-UCC participants. Registration is open at this link.
Facilitator training will be offered at the elementary, youth and adult levels. Each participant may participate in training for just one age level, so consider sending a team to be trained to start or expand the OWL program in your church. Registration information will be available soon. Questions? Contact Lisa Hart, associate conference minister for faith formation and justice ministries.
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Poor People's Campaign Monday Morning Prayers Invitation |
All are invited to participate in Monday Morning Prayers of the Movement at 8:30 a.m. each Monday before June 18, when the Mass Poor People's and Low-Wage Workers' Assembly Moral March on Washington will take place. The movement is also known as the Poor People's Campaign.
The PPC will continue after June 18 to continue to bring national attention to the many issues facing the poor.
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Help Others by Donating 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 pandemic and beyond. Donate to the General Fund
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Searching Churches
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Union Congregational UCC in Green Bay is searching for an associate pastor. Details
New Calls
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Rev. Tiff Bates has been called as interim pastor at St. John's UCC in Monroe, effective May 9.
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Rev. Stephen Davis has been called as interim pastor at Zwingli UCC in Paoli, effective May 16.
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Rev. Sonja Ingebritsen has been called as interim pastor at First Congregational UCC in Platteville, effective May 16.
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Rev. Robert Van Ess has been called as pastor at Pilgrim UCC in Fond du Lac, effective May 16.
Installations and Ordinations
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Rev. Deb Kunkel was installed as pastor at St. John's UCC in Fountain City and at Hope UCC in Cochrane on May 15.
In Memoriam
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Vivian Verna Darmody Bartelt, mother of the Rev. Deborah Bartelt, died on April 21. Obituary
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Everett Edgar Henning, father of Rev. Kim Henning and grandfather of Nicole Herda, died on May 12. Obituary
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.
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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.
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Tending the Soul of the Beloved Community is a communication dedicated to sharing resources and tools, wisdom and insight for congregations and individuals navigating these challenging days. Created by the Conference Supportive Ministries Team, this publication will highlight resources to aid in steering your path forward.
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Ignite Your Fire, Feed Your Soul,
Build Your Faith... In Nature's Sanctuary
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Join the Conference-wide Creation Care Team!
Are you passionate about Creation Care? Want to connect with others who are taking action to care for the earth? The Creation Care Team's primary focus is to encourage, support and provide resources to congregations in the Wisconsin Conference as they do what they can to care for creation. If you would like to be a part of this team, or for more information on the Creation Care Team, contact John Helt. You can also go to the Creation Care webpage to learn more.
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Is your church considering an Open and Affirming Process? The Wisconsin Conference has a committee to help! Please feel free to use us as resources for your discussions and preparations. Contact Laura McLeod of the Wisconsin Conference UCC Committee on Ministry with LGBTQ Persons.
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Get Involved! A Conference-wide Racial Justice Task Force gathers resources and encourages congregations to engage in conversations around race. If you and your congregation are interested in participating in this group, you are welcome. Contact Lisa Hart get involved.
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Raven Chacon image by Samer Ghani
This newsletter is made possible by contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support.
Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
4459 Gray Road | DeForest, WI 53532
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