COMMAntary
Equipping a courageous Church alive with Christ’s transforming love
| | First Annual UCC Earth Day Summit is this Saturday, April 22 | | |
"There is no greater power on Earth than Story." – Libba Bray
Saturday, April 22
Mayflower UCC, 106 E. Diamond Lake Road
The National Setting of the United Church of Christ is coordinating a First Annual Earth Day Summit with Mayflower UCC in Minneapolis and the MN Conference. Plan to attend all or part of a special day filled with inspiring stories of hope!
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM CDT
National UCC Summit (virtual on Zoom) featuring renowned climate activist, theologian, and author Jim Antal as the keynote speaker and a panel of expert Minnesota organizers
REGISTER
Saturday 1:30 - 3:00 PM CDT
A program held at Mayflower Church, both in person and live-streamed; 106 E. Diamond Lake Road, Minneapolis
Music, prayer, a call to Action and a Readers’ Theatre presentation “Hope From the Front Lines," personal stories of courage and hope from rural, small town and urban Minnesota. LIVESTREAM LINK
DOWNLOAD A PROMOTIONAL FLYER to share with your congregation, friends, neighbors, and colleagues!
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Welcoming in Spring with Disastrous Record Flooding around the State
Greetings everyone from the Richfield desk of your Conference Disaster Coordinator, Cris Phillips.
Though our calendars and some parts of the state’s weather indicate that it is springtime, other parts of our great state are still blanketed with what seems like a never-ending winter. With what seems to be the never-ending snowfall in the northern parts of our state, and kisses of summer in other parts of the state with 70- and 80- degree days along with recent rains, I would like to remind everyone that it is imperative to stay abreast of local weather conditions as we get out and travel about on those phenomenal sunny days.
As a large part of our state is bracing for record flooding from the large amounts of snowfall, currently we can expect to see the major rivers beginning to rise, crest, and flood as the ice packs begin to melt over the next few weeks.
As with any all disasters, a large part of someone making it though in good condition remains in your own/family’s preparedness. We suggest families should have access to enough water, food, and other emergency supplies for at least three (3) days and medications for at least seven (7) days. Families should also gather important documents, a battery-powered or hand crank radio, and supplies for pets.
Please know that if your church/congregation experiences any kind of disaster, there is assistance that could be available to you. Please feel free to contact me at 952-412-3503 or feel free to email me at sonoma566995@hotmail.com.
Some resources that you can always check for information would be:
May God travel with you and add safety to your toils.
Sincerely,
Crispin A. Phillips
Conference Disaster Coordinator MN UCC
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Healing MN Stories: Sacred Sites Tour April 29 to Explore Indigenous Experience in Minnesota
REGISTER
Minnesota Conference UCC members are invited to experience a sacred sites tour with Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs of the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC) on Saturday, April 29th. The tour is part of the MCC’s “Healing MN Stories” program, an effort to create understanding and healing between Native American and non-Native people, particularly those in faith communities.
As the Healing Minnesota Stories webpage states: “We believe in the power of healing stories. Stories heal because they make invisible pain visible. The listener and storyteller are both healed by their acts. Churches and all faith communities can play a key role in promoting and experiencing healing by opening ourselves to our own history and listening to the stories of Native people. Through the sharing and retelling of old traumatic stories, we can create new positive ones.”
This opportunity is offered as part of the Conference’s commitment to racial justice and equity. All sites visited in the sacred sites tour are located in the Twin Cities, around the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, what the Dakota refer to as Bdote, or “meeting place of rivers”. Registration is required and limited to 30 people. Per person cost is $40; registration fees will be donated to the Healing Minnesota Stories program.
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Anti-Racism/Diversity Training is June 8 Prior to Annual Meeting
Thursday, June 8, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm (check-in begins at 9:00 with coffee)
$65 (lunch included with a light afternoon snack)
Training leader: Rev. Jia Starr Brown
REGISTER
Every two years, authorized ministers of the Minnesota Conference are required to take a workshop on Anti-Racism and Diversity. We are offering a training prior to the Annual Meeting and hope that those who are planning to come to the Annual Meeting can combine these opportunities.
LEARN MORE ABOUT REV. JIA STARR BROWN & REGISTER
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Opening Up "Heart Spaces": Register for Spring 2023 Youth Gathering
April 28-30, 2023 | Camp Onomia, Onamia
For youth in grades 6-12
REGISTER
Lori Alford, a licensed marriage and family therapist and long-time faith formation leader in the Minnesota Conference UCC, will guide youth through activities and experiences that help them listen to their bodies, practice stillness and quiet, open up “heart spaces” for connection, and tap into their innate capacity to know, love, and connect.
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New Link! Give Your Input about Forming Communities of Practice in the Minnesota Conference
The Minnesota Conference is hoping to form Communities of Practice this year for authorized ministers. These Communities provide opportunities for peer support and learning with a trained facilitator to engage around the challenges and blessings of doing ministry and living in this pandemic-informed world.
To begin this program, we need input. Please fill out this brief survey so we can begin to assess the needs and interest of the Conference.
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Power & Boundary Training Offered Prior to Annual Meeting
Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 4 pm (check-in begins at 9:30 am with coffee)
Cost: $65 (lunch included with a light afternoon snack)
Facilitator: Anita Bradshaw
REGISTER
Every three years, authorized ministers of the Minnesota Conference are required to take a workshop on Power and Boundaries. We are offering a training prior to the Annual Meeting on June 8. Come for the training, stay for the Annual Meeting! LEARN MORE
| | Marilyn Stille, wife of The Rev. H Dean Stille, died on Saturday, April 1. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, April 26, at 1:00 pm at Woodland Hills Funeral Home, 1605 Woodland Ave, Mankato, MN. Visitation is from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Read her full obituary. | | Upcoming Conference Events | | More Resources & Opportunities | |
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Send story ideas, insights and more to communications@uccmn.org. COMMAntary is published on Wednesdays; submissions are due the Monday prior to publication at noon.
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The Conference website offers a wealth of resources related to faith formation, racial justice, and more.
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This newsletter is brought to you by generous contribution to Our Church's Wider Mission.
The Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ (UCC) equips a courageous Church alive with Christ’s transforming love. Through advice, support, and resources, we strengthen the 126 congregations throughout the state to do the redemptive work of God in the world.
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