God makes grace abound, more than enough, so you may do every good deed abundantly - 2 Corinthians 9:8

We invite you to visit our website and view the latest agenda. Please check back often for exciting updates!

Has your congregation held a virtual fundraiser, started a no-contact food bank or connected with isolated members during the pandemic? We would love to feature stories that highlight how congregations are practicing generosity within and beyond their congregation walls. Visit our website for participation details.

A new pool of Catalyst grant funds is available for 2021 to support innovation in your congregation and community. What is innovation, you ask? Catalyst defines innovation as anything that stretches your congregation out of its comfort zone, opens you to new community partnerships, engages your ministry resources in a different way or enlarges your impact in your community. Have an idea you’re not sure about? Contact Tisha. She is happy to consult with anyone in the conference who is percolating ideas but might need support in discerning their viability or developing a plan.

The Catalyst Team looks forward to partnering with you as you explore new ideas in ministry. Contact Tisha Brown today to start a conversation about your innovation ideas and whether or not your project would be eligible for Catalyst funds. Proposals received by March 31, 2021, will be considered for funding in May. Proposals received by September 30, 2021, will be considered in November.

Find out more about the Catalyst Grant process here

Click Here to learn about the projects that have received funding recently.

Rev. Allie Scott (Peace UMC, Brookfield) shared about vaccines in her church newsletter and had an overwhelming response. "In the week since the newsletter went out to our congregation, I've had no less than a dozen conversations with members who had been struggling to learn about their county's vaccine distribution plan and are now connected to the right channels. Beyond just gratitude, I've had even more joy-filled texts, prayer meetings, and phone calls with the many seniors in my congregation who have been - or are scheduled to be - vaccinated. And beyond me, having this information in their hands has encouraged them to help their friends get vaccinated, too. Certainly, they're motivated to get vaccinated so that we can again worship together in person, but I believe it goes deeper than that - they have been empowered to love their neighbors in a new way. In the midst of a complicated and confusing time, it has been so wonderful to see the church doing what it does best: be agents of healing in our community, assisting in God's work in the world."

One tool that churches can use for this work is the Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Registry, which the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is launching March 1. This will help connect individuals with sites offering vaccine by providing a central place let people know where and when they can they can get vaccinated and let them schedule an appointment. The Wisconsin Vaccine Registry will be used by those who opt in. While not a comprehensive resource for all vaccination options, it can be a valuable tool as we work towards community vaccination rates that will make it safer to gather in groups again.

At the Wisconsin Council of Churches, we are committed to helping Churches equip their congregations and communities with current, factual information which connects science with our faith-based context. Check out our webpage for webinars, links, statements, sample articles and more with information on vaccines.

The things that the Wisconsin Conference, which receives around 75 % of our gifts to Our Church’s Wider Mission basic support, has done for us in the face of the Covid and climate crises has left a powerful impact on me because it reminds me of that conversion experience. Why? Continue reading article

Stewardship in any season can be stressful for pastors. It can feel awkward – “I’m asking people to pay me!” It can feel unspiritual – “Jesus chased the money changers out of the temple!” 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 May 19th through June 23rd, 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. By the end of the seminar, pastors and leaders will be equipped to lead effective fundraising and you will have a strategy to guide your success moving forward.

Be sure to recruit at least a team of two from your congregation for this program. The CGC Seminar is $150 per participant. The Wisconsin Conference will cover $100/participant if requested – email Andrew Warner to make this request. Register here by April 21.

March 12-13 | Only $49 |  More information and registration here. Register by March 10.

We will gather under the theme: Rooted in Love, July 11-18, 2021. You can expect the vibrancy of Spirit-led worship with prophetic preaching, music- and art-filled experiences that will anchor us. You can expect the same Spirit-filled energy in an engaging meeting of the General Synod that tends to the business and forward-momentum of the United Church of Christ. And, you can expect to learn more and connect with the UCC by attending workshops and other opportunities being prepared for you.

A virtual General Synod presents a significant opportunity for this body of Christ to join together in full participation at General Synod. This is an exciting opportunity for those who have always wanted to attend General Synod, or those curious about this gathering of members of the UCC. Thousands of people can join in full virtual participation. We look forward to welcoming you across the miles.

The Wisconsin Conference is partnering with the creators of Picture the Bible (PTB), the outstanding Faith Formation resource, to provide a 4-week, post-Easter mini-series of PTB free to all congregations in the Conference. Each church will receive a packet in the mail by mid-March with four weeks of Christian education, featuring four Bible stories: The Sermon on the Mount; Jesus Blesses the Children; Jesus Feeds 5,000; and Let Justice Roll.

Picture the Bible is a set of original art collages depicting individual Bible stories, with corresponding education resources offering a creative approach to Bible study that fosters biblical literacy and interpretation, and encourages people to see connections between their lives and the biblical story. These multi-generational resources can be used in virtual formats or in-person. PTB resources require minimal preparation, and can be used in a variety of ways in your educational and worship ministries.

The Wisconsin Conference is seeking to increase our emotional, spiritual and financial support of our Members in Discernment (MID). The Wisconsin Members in Discernment Cohort (a committee of members from our four associations) would like to inform MIDs of churches who have scholarship money available to those who are following a path to authorized ministry.

When I attended Seminary, a church in the Association where I held my In-Care (MID) status gave me a scholarship for three years. There was also an individual in the Conference, a retired pastor, who had an endowed scholarship thatI received. Their gifts made a difference in my being able to complete my theological education. Your church and members can also make a difference to our Members in Discernment today. Helping our MIDs fund their education is essential to supporting the development of future leaders. 

Thank you for helping us put together a list of available financial support. Please email me, Pastor Jacoba Koppert, with your information about scholarships or loans of which you are aware or your questions. Thank you for your assistance.

As a sign of support for Conference clergy and the extraordinary efforts they have put forth this past year for their congregations, Rev. Dr. Karl Kuhn and Rev. Dr. Julie Mavity Maddalena of Lakeland University are preparing a complete service for use on Sunday, Apr. 11. The service, “Doubting Thomas/Faithful Questioning” will be based on John 20: 19-31, the Lectionary reading for that day. It will be recorded at First Congregational UCC in Plymouth and the link to the service will be available the week of March 22, so clergy have time to review it in advance of their final Lent preparations. The Conference will send the service out to all churches and pastors once it is ready.

UCC Creation Justice Ministries offers a Lenten Calendar to download. “This tool will guide you to deepen your Eco-spirituality throughout this holy time. Visualize yourself smiling and feeling fulfilled on Easter Sunday because you made commitments to strengthen and schedule your daily spiritual practices during Lent. Prayerfully reading this Daily Reflection-Action Calendar is a powerful tool to do Creation Justice and connect more fully with our God. 

Our Conference Creation Care Team is stumped by this question from Orchard Ridge UCC in Madison! Do any of our congregations have an answer? Does anyone have an Electric Vehicle charging station yet? We know they are coming, and we know that many of you are "cutting edge" when it comes to Care for God's creation. If you have a charging station and could share your knowledge and experience, please reply to John Helt. Thanks!

The Wisconsin Gospellers had our virtual choir debut in December, singing a Christmas/Epiphany anthem, “How Great our Joy!”

Now, we invite ALL singers to join our next virtual project: “This is the Day!”

With support from a Catalyst Grant, this virtual choir recording will include singers from across the state, the country, and the ocean! We provide sheet music, practice tracks & step-by-step instructions. No special software needed. We even offer tech support! Ready to sing? Just curious? Email wisconsingospellers@gmail.com.

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. The form that was included in the mailing had an error in the link. Please use this link for data entry. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Access this new link here!

Join us for a conversation with Rev. Dr. Emily Carrington Heath (they/them/theirs) and Rev. Heidi Carrington Heath (she/her/hers), married members of the queer community and ordained clergy in the United Church of Christ. The Revs. Heath will be sharing their stories of their faith journeys and answering questions about what it means to be queer Christians. Rev. Dr. Julie Mavity Maddalena, Lakeland University chaplain, assistant professor of philosophy and religion and Ulrich Ethicist in Residence, will facilitate the conversation.

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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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 latest issue here. 

This month's Parish Paper is "Connect with Spiritual Seekers through the Arts." Access this issue and archived issues here!

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