As we close out the books on 2020, we want to consider lessons learned about the finances of our congregations and the generosity of our community. Join Andrew Warner to talk about the financial situation of your congregation, identify options and opportunities for promoting generosity in 2021, and develop a plan for the new year. Register here

An Orientation for Lay Leaders: Treasurers, Financial Secretaries, and Stewardship Chairs

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

All three courses drew people from a range of professions, church settings, and even locations around the country. Here are a few of their stories:

Jean Ostrom of New Journey UCC in Hutchinson has served in many leadership roles — in her church and community and at work —but a desire to develop more faith-based leadership skills led her to The Damascus Project. “I would definitely encourage others to take the Leadership Skills course, as well as others through The Damascus Project,” she says. “The skills learned in this course will help anyone who takes it to become not just a better church leader but also a leader in their life outside the church.”

In particular Ostrom says she enjoyed learning about different personality types as well as different leadership types. “We have all different God-given gifts. Learning to balance our strengths and weaknesses with others with whom we serve will make us better leaders.”

The Creation Care Team is pleased to announce nearly $10,000 in grants are being awarded to 10 Wisconsin congregations and our United Church Camps, Inc. to begin implementing the Conference’s Kairos Call to Action adopted at this year’s Annual Meeting. We are most grateful that these churches and our camps have stepped forward with a variety of faithful actions for the sake of God’s creation and our common home. Our team is also grateful to the Wisconsin Conference Catalyst Fund for making these grants possible. 

We hope these projects inspire all churches to become “Kairos-Covenanted” congregations to sustain our earth. Below is a list of the grant recipients. To learn about each project read the full article.

Emergency Grants are still available through The Wisconsin Conference Emergency Response Fund, which was created to provide resources as congregations experience financial hardship, meet crucial needs in their community, and adapt to new ways of ministry at this time. Funds can be used for a wide range of purposes, including but not limited to leadership education, programming, outreach, and technology (both equipment and consultants to make the best use of the tech). Through the generosity of our donors, we can offer unrestricted grants of $500 to $2000 to congregations. To date, grants have provided critical help to 44 congregations and United Church Camps Inc. That's 20% of the congregations in our conference! Click here for more information and to apply.

Sermon Camp is fully online, runs from January 11 to February 19, 2021, and costs $299. Experience what participants describe as "the class I wish I had in seminary," "the exact sermon-writing refocus I needed for this time in my ministry," and "salve for my soul."

More details and registration here. Please direct questions to info@the-damascus-project.org or 507-222-0194.

The Sound of Music is one of my favorite Julie Andrews films. Andrews' character Maria sings the Rodgers and Hammerstein song “My Favorite Things” to the Von Trapp children after they’re frightened by a thunderstorm in the middle of the night. This pandemic is the ultimate thunderstorm in the middle of the night! United Church Camps, Inc. (UCCI) doing business as Cedar Valley, Moon Beach, and Pilgrim Center had some beautiful momentum and sunny skies building as we entered 2020. We were coming off a successful Campital Campaign, expanding our ministry at Cedar Valley, and enjoying all-time highs of registrations. Then the great storm of 2020 … worldwide pandemic. While we are proud to report that no one was infected, nor did anyone die, as a result of our decisions to suspend operations, the economic fallout has been rough.

Conference Ministerial Staff is working on two worship services for pastors to use – an Epiphany Service and a Lenten Service. The Epiphany Service will focus on the lectionary scriptures for January 10^th (Baptism of Christ Sunday) but it could also be used on January 3rd or 17th. This service will include all the usual worship pieces plus music and a children’s time. Pastors will receive it via email later this month. The Lenten service will come to you by early February and will be appropriate for any of the Sundays of Lent.

The Christian community begins a New Year on November 29, the First Sunday of Advent. One of the dominant themes of Advent is hope. For most of its history, the church has interpreted this Advent hope as the hope of entering heaven after we die. But Advent hope is the hope proclaimed by Jesus, for whose birth the Advent Season prepares Christians. The hope Jesus offers is not just hope for life in heaven after we die but hope for new life together here and now on earth.

Continue reading article in the Interfaith Peace Working Group Newsletter

If this sounds interesting, we would love to have you learn more about the Ulrich Scholars Program. You may apply for the opportunity at lakeland.edu/portal. The full-tuition competition is set to take place on January 29, 2021. Applicants must submit their materials by January 22, 2021.

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about this opportunity! Contact Dr. Karl Kuhn at kuhnka@lakeland.edu or admissions@lakeland.edu.

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 latst issue here. 

This month's Parish Paper is "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.