Rev. Dr. Marc Ian Stewart

pic: dew covered fields outside Portomarin, Spain

how does the creature say Awe

how does the creature say Praise

how does the creature say Grace

how does the creature say Thanks

A favorite new hymn "God of the Sparrow, God of Whale" (New Century Hymnal #32) sets our souls to wondering how God's creatures acknowledge God. We might imagine expressions of awe, praise, woe, save, grace, thanks, care, life, love, peace, and joy. And at the last, the hymn wonders "how do your children say Home."  

In moments and seasons of life there is room for it all, and isn't it beautiful when there is a place where it can all be collected? For me, this is home at its best. I know this at times at 614 Burlington Avenue and other places I have lived. I have also been at home, like this, in relationship to certain people, family perhaps, but also friends and even an occasional stranger well-met on El Camino. Church has sometime been home for me, where the fulness of what it means to be looking for God is accepted among a congregation.

I am constantly gleaning through our church newsletters, eNews blasts, and Facebook postings to listen for what is acknowledged about God in the Conference. There are less stories than usual this month, but I do not believe it is because less is happening. Most of our churches are focused on stewardship and thanksgiving.  So many people have been invited to share in their Sunday morning worship, stewardship moments to express their thanks for church.

I know how God is acknowledged among us is as full as the hymn. Any one moment of how we know God in our lives is wonderful enough, but hear it together over seasons of life is such a blessing. It is like finding home. Thanksgiving is like that, and it is good that it is also stewardship season so that we can express commitment. Listen for what comes together and be prepared to recognize your soul calling it Home.

MT-NWy Conference Moderator

Search Committee working together

Greetings. I hope everyone is having a good autumn, which may feel like winter to some of us. Let me update you on our search progress for a Transitional Conference Minister. Our Search Committee has made great progress in our search. They have been ably assisted by Lee Albertson, the national UCC conference minister search coordinator. Final candidates were interviewed by the committee earlier this month. The Search Committee is on schedule to present their recommended candidate to the Board of Directors late this month. The Transitional Conference Minister position is not a permanent called position. Pursuant to Article X, Section C, the Board of Directors will vote to accept the candidate recommended by the search committee and enter into a covenant with that person in conformity with the budget approved at the annual meeting.

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I ask you to give thanks to our Search Committee for their invaluable service to our Conference. Of course, we are thankful for Marc Stewart’s service as our Conference Minister. We are planning to honor Marc’s service with a celebration in February. I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving.

Hank Branom

Conference Moderator

Conference Green Team

Finding Places for Green

Book Study

If you can’t attend the Green Team meetings, but would like to join our reading, we welcome you. We will begin Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, reading pages 1-30 before our next meeting.

Church Climate Justice News

On the Green Team part of the Conference website, we would like to include what you are doing in your church to care for our earth. Please call or email the Conference Office, telling us:

• What your church is doing
• How that project is going
• Whom to contact

The church projects that were reported during our meeting were that University Congregational UCC in Missoula and Pilgrim Congregational UCC in Helena are both exploring attaching solar panels to their church buildings. The Helena church is continuing to explore putting in a native garden and nature preserve on church property.

Legislators and Cranes

We formed an Advocacy Subcommittee to plan trips to Helena and/or Washington, D.C. this next year to visit legislators, taking each a beaded paper crane (with a prayer for the earth written inside) that they can hang in their office. We may also take bracelets made of sustainable material that say, “HTAP: How will This Affect the Planet?” We have been in touch with our UCC lobbyist in Washington, D.C., Michael Neuroth. If members of your church or youth group would be interested in distributing cranes to legislators, please contact the Conference Office so that we can include you in planning, deciding on dates.

Join us?

Our next zoom Green Team meeting will be December 20 at 2 p.m.

Donation Page

Disaster Response Team

The Disaster Response team is managing an $8000 Lowes Community Grant. Through the assessments of the Long Term Recovery Team in Red Lodge, chaired by Rev. Pam Peterson, we are able to offer Lowes gift cards to help families but repair materials, such as flooring and wall materials. 

MT-NWy Conference Outdoor Ministry

Assessment Meeting

An assessment meeting will be held on December 1, 3 - 5 pm to talk and gather information about the 2022 Outdoor Ministries program. The Board wants to assess the capacity of leadership within the Conference to continue offering outdoor ministry programing, especially as we do not have chairperson for the Committee for Outdoor Ministries and for the Faith Formation Committee. As we look towards the 2023 camping season the Board will decide the extent to which the conference can provide camp programing, or partner with camps that already offer programing.

Ballantine UCC

Thanksgiving Baskets

Ballantine UCC is putting together community food baskets for Thanksgiving. Here is the list of items sought as donations for the baskets.

Bozeman Pilgrim UCC, Billings Mayflower UCC

Climate-Themed Art

Some of our churches are participating in a national UCC contest: Children are invited to draw or paint about climate hope, environmental justice, or protecting the Earth. Winners will be selected in November.

The winning entries will go on thousands of postcards, some that are sent to the Congress and the White House! 

Colstrip Community Church

Pastor Appreciation

For October's Pastor Appreciation Month, the church gave thanks for Rev. David Murchie with a cake.

Columbus Community Congregational UCC

Blessing the Pastor's Home

Church members and friends have been invited to Rev. Kate's  and Terry Stulce's home blessing in Columbus.  Neighboring pastor, Rev. Meg Hatch will offer a ceremony that asks blessings on all events and people at the home.

Fairfield United Church of Christ

Fundraiser for Gavin

The church sponsored a local fundraiser for Pastor Phil Maxwell's grandson who was a recent liver transplant recipient, raising over $8500.  The 6th Grade of Fairfield Public Schools were the voluneteer set up crew.

Helena Plymouth UCC

First Thanksgiving with Afghan Refugees

Hands On Global will host a Thanksgiving meal at Plymouth UCC for 6 Afghan families, including 18 children and one newborn.

Red Lodge Community UCC

Completing flood restoration

Flood damage restoration to the Red Lodge Community Church basement is almost complete. It was able to be used for the Harvest festival serving over 350 dinners.

Sidney Peoples UCC

Lefse at Peoples

Kristan Haugen organizes a lefsle day at Sidney People's UCC.  Lefse for a freewill offering.