NORTHWEST WORD | MAY 2021
Conference Annual Meeting|Camps|Reopening|Job Postings|Strengthen the Church|Pulpit Supply
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Register now!
May 11-16
Wisconsin Conference UCC
Annual Meeting


UCCI Events
CAMPS 2021
Scholarships available

A SPECIAL VIRTUAL GENERAL SYNOD 33
Join us July 11 – 18

Registration opens on May 1, 2021.

Join one of the churches in the NW Association in virtual worship 
(please help us update this list)
2021 Wisconsin Conference UCC
Annual Meeting
May 11-16, 2021
Powered by Generosity

Register today to take advantage of our low registration rates.
 
Meeting Highlights
  • Videos and photos from churches around the state showing how they are practicing generosity both within and beyond their congregational walls
  •  Opening Worship on Tuesday, May 11, featuring messages from Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer, Rev. Tracy Blackmon, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson and Rev. Franz Rigert.
  • Original virtual choir piece, performed by musicians from all over the Conference.
  • Presentation by Conference Minister Rev. Franz Rigert titled Stewarding God’s Abundance on Saturday morning, May 15
  • Social Hour on Tuesday evening, May 11, to allow participants to reconnect and have casual conversations.
  • An inspirational opening session by Keynoter Rev. William Lamar on Rethinking Generosity
  • Guidance from Melissa Spas of the Lake Institute as we move our congregations from a “mindset of scarcity” to a “mindset of abundance”
  • Practical workshops on a variety of generosity initiatives you can implement in your congregation
  •  Business Meeting on Saturday morning, May 15
  • A Sunday Conference-Wide Worship Service lifting up generosity as a spiritual practice with Rev. Andrew Warner preaching

"Bearing with One Another in Love"
Updated Returning to Church Recommendations Released
From the Wisconsin Council of Churches

Last week we released our latest Returning to Church supplement, "Bearing with One Another in Love" with updated guidelines around:
 
  • Vaccine ethics: congregational vs. community statistics, herd immunity, gatherings of the vaccinated, requiring vaccines for church attendance, implications of availability of vaccines for children
  • Hybrid Church and Inclusion: how best to engage a broader vision of the church
  • Considering COVID variants and adjustments to benchmarks/allowances for risk
  • Church music: singing, wind instruments and mass speaking
  • Layering risk mitigations
  • Developing and working through a checklist for re-gathering

Job and Volunteer Opportunities!

WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES 
COVID OUTREACH OUTSTATE FIELD DIRECTOR
Job Posting

The Wisconsin Council of Churches (WCC) is gathering a coalition of faith-based organizations working collaboratively to improve COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-safe behaviors by (1) deconstructing barriers of information distribution, reducing clutter, misinformation, and embedded polarization; and (2) addressing issues of limitations in internet access, transportation, and time that prevent communities from accessing the vaccine. This project will equip faith communities in adapting existing tools to disseminate information, assist those with low technology fluency, and increase transportation options. Staff, sub-grantees, and volunteer allies will work together on all elements of the project. Using empathetic listening and motivational interviewing, they will identify persistent barriers and adapt methods as the project continues. Funding for this program is being provided by the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The anticipated project duration is five months.
Conference Half-time Communications Lead
Job Posting
The Wisconsin Conference UCC is seeking a Communications Lead to fill a half-time position that will drive the overall communications strategy and implementation for the Conference. The primary purpose of this position is to design and execute communications that increase awareness of and engagement with Conference programs and resources. An understanding of how to deliver communications to support organizational mission and goals is key to this position, as is the ability to build awareness and engagement through communications tactics and messaging.
 
Requirements include a Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or a related field, and a minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar role. We’re seeking a candidate who possesses a strong command of communications practices, methodologies and technologies who can effectively managing multiple concurrent initiatives. The ability to view opportunities and interrelationships with an organization-wide perspective is important, as is the ability to achieve goals working both independently and with teams.
 
If you know of anyone with the experience and education indicated, who might be interested in this position, please pass this along to them. The detailed job description and application requirements can be found at wcucc.org/CommLead. We will be interviewing candidates in early to mid-May. The application deadline is May 14, 2021.
Volunteer Opportunities at Camp AweSum

We invite volunteers to camp to help support our mission!
Registration is now open and Camp AweSum Family Camp 2021 date are:
  • Camp AweSum Family 1: June 13-19, 2021
  • Camp AweSum Family 2: June 20-26, 2021
  • Camp AweSum Family 3: August 1-7, 2021
  • Camp AweSum Family 4: August 8-14, 2021

A few things to consider:
  • In order to make Camp AweSum sustainable, we have a suggested donation of $290.00 to cover food and lodging costs of volunteers on-site. PLEASE note that we do not want cost to be preventative in participation and that it is only a suggested cost.
  • Volunteers 14-17 need to be supervised by a chaperone.
  • Mobility: All volunteers need to be able to walk around camp in order to ensure the safety of campers and volunteers.
  • With COVID in mind, UCCI has non-negotiable policies, safety practices, and procedures in place that will help keep our community safe. This will look like: masks, decreased capacities, health screenings, enhanced cleaning, and more.


Strengthen the Church Offering
Pentecost Sunday
May 2021
The Coming of the Holy Spirit

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.  And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Par′thians and Medes and E′lamites and residents of Mesopota′mia, Judea and Cappado′cia, Pontus and Asia,  Phryg′ia and Pamphyl′ia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyre′ne, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:1-11, RSV)

This passage from Acts tells us that the Church is not “homogenous,” and never was. God calls us from all nations, tongues, and races, and unites us in the Body of Christ. As the great old hymn by John Oxenham puts it:
In Christ there is no east nor west,
In Him no south or north;
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.

 And in every generation, God calls the church to respond in new ways that meet the needs of its members and the world it serves.
 
The Strengthen the Church offering is one way that we can support the growth of UCC local congregations, as well as aid in the expansion of denomination’s ministry to people who might not otherwise be reached, and to places where there is no church presence. Your support of this offering will help the UCC fulfill its commitment to creating a just world for all by investing in new ministries and practices that meet the emerging needs of local communities.
 
Please prayerfully consider giving to this vital ministry!


Tending the Soul of the Beloved Community

This issue attempts to answer the questions:
What are you anticipating as you think about post-COVID re-entry? For yourself? For your congregation? What other questions are you bringing to this time of transition?

What will you and your congregation need to reorient to? What might feel different and strange? What questions do you think your people will have?

What can you imagine might lie ahead for you? For your congregation, in your Galilee, the place where you learned from and learned to follow Jesus and to serve the world God so loves?



Sign up for Tending the Soul of the Beloved Community newsletter
SPECIAL VIRTUAL GENERAL SYNOD 33
Join us July 11 – 18, 2021

Registration opens on May 1, 2021. Read a welcome message from General Synod 33 leaders.
Northwest Association Pulpit Supply List    April 2021
Churches should be fair and forthright in agreeing upon honorarium and travel expenses for persons
they invite to provide pulpit supply. The WI Conference Division of Church and Ministry suggests a minimum of $125 plus mileage reimbursed at the IRS rate for 2020: 56 cents per mile.
Where a church has two points and two services, consider a minimum of $175 plus mileage.
Conference staff persons serve local congregations in a variety of ways. Honoraria are not accepted,
and travel costs are covered by the Conference travel budget. Except in emergencies, Conference staff cannot provide pulpit supply; however, the staff welcomes opportunities to preach for special occasions or to meet with members of the congregation.
Please note: Persons licensed to the NW Association and ordained pastors are authorized to administer the Sacraments.
 
EAU CLAIRE TO TWIN CITIES AREA:
Jill Christopherson 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825
*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed
 or posted or something else. 
 
Rev. Bill Clyma       834 Hazel Street North, Apt. 305, St. Paul, MN 55119           763-415-0779
pastorbill111@outlook.com (will travel 75 mi.) Land line: 651-330-5958.
*Note: I would be happy to provide “virtual” pulpit supply.
 
Rev. Elizabeth Hazel, 1060 Marian Lane, Park Falls, WI 54552 (will drive 3 hours)
715-744-2373 morrinhazel@pctcnet.net  *Note: I’m willing to share “virtual” worship services.
 
Rev. Carol J. Heckmann, 1789 County Road EE, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-269-4950 cj.heckmann@yahoo.com (willing to travel)
*Note: Just wanted to let you know that after November 1, 2020, I will be available to do Zoom  
 worship supply if a church is in need. I do not have a Zoom account, so prefer someone else be 
 the host and I join in on the Zoom. Or, if it’s within a reasonable distance, I could do a  
 YouTube worship if there’s someone to do the technical part.
 
Rev. Sandee Kosmo, 3214 Chasewood Lane, Eau Claire, 54701
715-834-2112 skosmo14@msn.com
 
Rev. Norm Luecke, street address: 301 Alvey St, Bruce, WI 54819
925-639-1652   normluecke@yahoo.com (Available June-Sept: willing to travel 2 hours.)
*Note: I would be glad to provide zoom pulpit supply.
 
Stephen P. Ottman, 733 First Street, Plum City 54761
715-495-2017 cell     s.ottman53@gmail.com
 
Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449
715-650-1761 patti-steevens@hotmail.com
*Note: I am willing to do in-person or virtual. Do not have a zoom account, will need to work
 with local ‘tech’ to do zoom or YouTube. Will travel throughout the state, generally not
 available in Jan or Feb.
 
Rev. Charles Wolfe, 715-441-7362   chaswolfe411@gmail.com
 
LA CROSSE AREA:
Jill Christopherson 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825 Licensed to the NWA
*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed
 or posted or something else. 
 
Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449
715-650-1761 patti-steevens2@hotmail.com
*Note: I am willing to do in-person or virtual. Do not have a zoom account, will need to work
 with local ‘tech’ to do zoom or YouTube. Will travel throughout the state, generally not
 available in Jan or Feb.
 
Rev. Tom Uphaus, 2650 N Pine Creek Rd, La Crescent, MN 55947                                      507-895-2152 tuphaus@acegroup.cc
 
SUPERIOR-ASHLAND AREA:
Jill Christopherson 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825, Licensed to the NWA
*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed
 or posted or something else. 
 
Rev. Bill Handy, 715-682-0168
 
Rev. Elizabeth Hazel, 1060 Marian Lane, Park Falls, WI 54552 (will travel 3 hours)
715-744-2373           morrinhazel@pctcnet.net
*Note: I’m willing to share “virtual” worship services.
 
Rev. Norm Luecke, 301 Alvey St, Bruce, WI 54819
925-639-1652  normluecke@yahoo.com  (Available June-Sept: willing to travel 2 hours.)
*Note: I would be glad to provide zoom pulpit supply.
 
Rev Robert Rice, 5695 Hunter Cove, Conover, WI 54519
405-642-6118    robertsrice@msn.com  (Eagle River area; available mid-June through Fall.)
 
Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449
715-650-1761 patti-steevens2@hotmail.com
*Note: I am willing to do in-person or virtual. Do not have a zoom account, will need to work
 with local ‘tech’ to do zoom or YouTube. Will travel throughout the state, generally not
 available in Jan or Feb.

 
WAUSAU AREA:
Jill Christopherson 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825, Licensed to the NWA
*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed
 or posted or something else. 

Rev. Dale Bishop, 511 Sundstein Rd., Eagle River, WI 54521                                       
715-479-1152   dbishop511@frontier.com
 
Rev. Wayne C. Drueck, 1811 Perry Drive, Schofield, WI 54476 (temporarily unavailable)
715-355-8895 home 715-212-8376 cell     retiredrev@gmail.com
 
Rev. Elizabeth Hazel, 1060 Marian Lane, Park Falls, WI 54552, (will travel 3 hours)
715-744-2373 morrinhazel@pctcnet.net  *Note: I’m willing to share “virtual” worship services.
Rev. Norm Luecke, 301 Alvey St, Bruce, WI 54819                925-639-1652         normluecke@yahoo.com      *Note: I would be glad to provide zoom pulpit supply.
 
Rev. James Mohr, 35 Hewett St., Neillsville WI 54456,
715-743-7626    jmohr13@outlook.com     *Note: I would be available to drive to anyplace South of Wausau, East of La Crosse, and Southeast of Eau Claire. I’m willing to do some
in-person pulpit supply, as well as virtual pulpit supply.
 
Rev. Robert Rice, 5695 Hunter Cove, Conover, WI 54519
405-642-6118     robertsrice@msn.com (Eagle River area; available mid-June through Fall.)
 
Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449
715-650-1761 patti-steevens2@hotmail.com
*Note: I am willing to do in-person or virtual. Do not have a zoom account, will need to work
 with local ‘tech’ to do zoom or YouTube. Will travel throughout the state, generally not
 available in Jan or Feb.
 
Rev. Pat Tucker, 511 Sundstein Rd., Eagle River, WI 54521
715-479-1152           cell: 715-891-5051          ptucker511@frontier.com
 
Mary Wright, 7010 Evergreen Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
bmw@tznet.com  or 22bowzer@gmail.com          715-325-3602