Partnership

From Our United Reformed Guest-to-be:
My name is Rev. Stuart Nixon, I’m 39 years old and have been a Christian since I was 19.  I have a wife and 4 young children.  I am the Minister of two churches in the Plymouth area.  One is suburban and the other more rural.  Both are evangelical in their belief, relaxed in their worship style and are seeking to reach their communities with the love of Jesus.  This is done in practical ways through youth and children’s work, prayer and personal contact.  I have been minister of these churches for just over 5 years and have been in full-time ministry nearly 10 years.  I love preaching and am passionate about children’s and youth work.  My stay with you in Wisconsin will be as part of my 10 yearly sabbatical.  My study for this is to look at leadership and in particular leadership in a church that is suspicious of leadership invested in an individual.  I am hoping to have some conversations with you about how you “do” leadership in the UCC and see if there is anything we in the URC could learn.  My hobbies include swimming, railways, aircraft, food, rock n’ roll music and meteorology.
The dates of visitation for the Southwest association are October 15-23.
If you have interest in hosting Stuart, please contact Bob Mutton.

Twenty-fifth Anniversary of our German Partnership
To celebrate our 25 years in partnership with the Moers Church District, UEK, we have been invited to travel to our partners in Germany and then together travel to Egypt to meet with our partners, the Daughters of St. Mary and the Coptic Orthodox Church of Beni Souef to see the development projects of the Daughters.  The cost for the Egypt part is in the neighborhood of 330 euros.  This would not include the flight to Dusseldorf.  They dates are not nailed down yet, but it looks like late October or early November 2011.  If you have interest, please be in touch with Rev. Dr. David McDonald (608) 846-5731 or pastordave@windsorucc.org

BETHLEHEM PARTNERSHIP
Since 2004 Southwest Association, along with Memorial United Church of Christ in Fitchburg, has had a partnership with Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem.  Our goals include increasing awareness and support of Palestinian Christians, praying for and supporting the work of the Lutheran church in Bethlehem, and offering opportunities for people to travel to the Holy Land and meet people whose lives are affected by the ministry of the church.  In 2003 a nonprofit organization called Bright Stars of Bethlehem (BSB) was founded to promote and spread the word about the many outreach ministries of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem that work to build hope and a brighter future for Palestine.  Bonnie Van Overbeke, former pastor of Memorial UCC, and Nancy Baumgardner, a member of Memorial UCC, became members of Bright Stars of Bethlehem in order to strengthen our partnership by participating with other Christians in a common
effort to support the work of the Bethlehem church.
Mitri Raheb, pastor of the church in Bethlehem and president of BSB, was at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ.  He spoke passionately about the lives of his people and the life- giving ministries of Christmas Lutheran Church; he invited us to share in the work of his church as it serves the needs of children, youth, families and the elderly in the community.  It is our continued hope that congregations across the Conference will be interested in furthering their understanding of the Palestinian people and the ministry of Christmas Lutheran Church.
ADVENT RESOURCES: The season of Advent offers a liturgically appropriate time to remember the people who live in the little town of Bethlehem. We have written a bulletin insert for your use in worship (available electronically).
BETHLEHEM PRESENTATIONS: If you would like someone to talk with
your worship or mission committee or make a presentation to your congregation
about this ministry, contact Bonnie Van Overbeke (bonnievano@aol.com) or Nancy Baumgardner (nancybaumgardner@gmail.com).    We have a 45-60 minute presentation with video or slides for use with an Adult Education program, women’s group, or mission
committee.  We could provide a mission moment in worship; Bonnie is also available to preach highlighting the work of the Church in Bethlehem.
TRIP OPPORTURNITIES: If your church is interested in learning more about trip opportunities, please contact us. With Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison we plan to offer a yearly pilgrimage to the Holy Land focusing on the lives, faith, and work for peace of the people in Palestine and Israel.
Jesus is alive in the lives of his people living in Bethlehem.  We feel blessed to participate with them in the work of the church through Bright Stars of Bethlehem and we invite you to
join us in this ministry!  

PRISON MINISTRY PARTNERSHIP