He will be ordained in his home church, Trinity UCC in Morengo, Iowa, on Saturday, July 24, at 3:00 pm.  Click here for directions to the church — [...]]]> Our 2007-08 Seminary intern, Damen Heitmann, has been called to serve at First United Church of Little Falls, Minnesota.  Click here to learn about his new church.

He will be ordained in his home church, Trinity UCC in Morengo, Iowa, on Saturday, July 24, at 3:00 pm.  Click here for directions to the church — and to learn about the congregation that has nurtured and supported Damen along the way.

To that end, let us enter into that process together, as a congregation.  You may submit nominations for the permanent call search committee in writing to the Council moderator, Tracy Fossum. Anyone you [...]]]> The work is well underway to secure an interim minister.  The next step, of course, is to find our permanent call minister.

To that end, let us enter into that process together, as a congregation.  You may submit nominations for the permanent call search committee in writing to the Council moderator, Tracy Fossum. Anyone you nominate (and it doesn’t have to be you personally) must be a full or associate member of the congregation.  Please include the nominee’s name and a 3-5 sentence explanation of what that person would bring to the search.  You may also offer suggestions as to what general qualities the Council/nominations committee should be seeking when composing the call committee.  Send your nominations to tracy.fossum@gmail.com or leave your completed pink nomination form (located in the Fellowship Hall on the search bulletin board) in the moderator box in the office.  The deadline is August 1.  Serving on the committee is a big job, so as you put yourself up for nomination, prayerfully consider that, if asked, you would be fully prepared to answer the call to serve.

The nominations committee will begin selecting a permanent call committee in September, with the counsel of the Interim minister and Elena Larssen, the conference minster.   On average, the call process can take anywhere from 12-18 months.  The important thing is that we let the nominations committee know we have faith that they will construct an outstanding call committee and let the call committee know that they have our support to take the time needed to find the minister that will lead the church the next 10-15 years.  There is absolutely no reason to rush.  What is most important is that we all work together,  have input in the process and move through this next phase of our spiritual journey at an even pace.  If we allow ourselves this time, we will be a better and stronger congregation in the long-run.

After several months of build-up, the United Church of Christ is releasing its new 90-second commercial, titled “The Language of God,” this upcoming Friday, April 16.

Unlike past ad campaigns, where traditional television outlets were utilized as the delivery method, this message is being [...]]]> Click HERE to watch the UCC Ad.  What is the Language of God?…

After several months of build-up, the United Church of Christ is releasing its new 90-second commercial, titled “The Language of God,” this upcoming Friday, April 16.

Unlike past ad campaigns, where traditional television outlets were utilized as the delivery method, this message is being released in an online format. Seeking to virally spread the message across its diverse constituent base, the UCC is asking its 60,000 email newsletter subscribers and nearly 31,000 Facebook fans to use social networking to distribute the ad to their online friends and communities.

“I love it – it’s so inclusive,” said the Rev. Linda Jaramillo, executive minister of the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries, who previewed the message at a meeting of the UCC’s five-member Collegium of Officers last week. ” ‘The Language of God’ is a great theme. It visually tells all about who we are.”

Describing herself as a person who is “not a technocrat,” Jaramillo said she embraces the Internet-based message and the use of technology, saying of the viral marketing strategy, “It’s so exciting that thousands – and possibly hundreds of thousands – of people will see it within a few hours.”

The video message was produced by Think Media, a national advertising firm known for its edgy, innovative video work. Its household-name clients include the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cleveland Clinic, Progressive Insurance and Nestle, among others.

Leveraging the existing graphic identity established by the Stillspeaking campaign, the UCC will purchase targeted ads – directing people to the video message – on Facebook and the most widely trafficked blogs.

A culmination of many efforts and events, the weekend also sees the UCC releasing its new publication called StillSpeaking Magazine, the debut of Stillspeaking Voices, a fundraising dinner commemorating the UCC’s decision to relocate to Cleveland 20 years ago, and the installation of its new General Minister and President, the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, on Saturday.

Commenting on the consistent visual theme presented in the new commercial and magazine, Jaramillo said, “I love that the magazine and the commercial go together and keep the message going.”

In preparation for the launch, a webpage with instructions on how individuals can help spread the word April 16 has been posted. “We want the excitement of this new ad, and its potential for invitation and awareness, to reach every corner of the church – including cyberspace,” says Connie Larkman, the UCC’s strategic media coordinator. A DVD copy of the ad is also available for purchase.

For more details, and a link to make donations online, click here.

Our policy is to follow the lead of the School district:  if school is canceled, so are our programs.

See you next week!

We must [...]]]> Civil Rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer coined the phrase: “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!”  She was talking about a system that was oppressive, racist, discriminatory and unjust.  Fannie Lou Hamer died from heart failure brought on by cancer, hypertension and diabetes.  Fannie Lou Hamer did not have health care!

We must continue to move together though weary we may be.  We must steadily advance the cause that health care must be realized for all in this country.

Click here to send a letter to your elected official asking them to support the public option. It is especially important to contact the following Representatives. If you see your elected official on this list, please be sure to take action!