01/18/2022 - Inflation and Church Budget

Dear Colleagues,   A church leader recently asked me, “how do we create a budget given increasing inflation?” Many people wonder about the effect of inflation on church ...

01/14/2022 - The Role of Discernment - An Interview with Beth Estock

Karen Ziel, Assistant Director of The SNEUCC Center for Transformational Leadership conducted an interview with Beth Estock on the practice of discernment. As co-author ...

01/10/2022 - Our Whole Lives (OWL) - Holistic Sexuality Education for UCC Congregations

A healthy approach to one’s sexuality.

01/10/2022 - Take Heart, Take Part

The universe is bending, but we cannot leave all the work to God. We are not only invited, but compelled to take part in the work of building a universe where God’s love ...

01/09/2022 - Powerful Words

The powerful, positive affect saying thank you has is widely known; therefore, it isn’t surprising that it is also widely encouraged and taught. If saying thank you is so...

01/05/2022 - Prison Ministry: A Visit to the Re-Entry Welcome Center

First Church, Congregational in Guilford, CT has had a long relationship with Community Partners in Action in Hartford as part of its prison ministry. Charlotte White ...

01/05/2022 - Using the Church's Digital Presence to Support the Community

It’s no surprise that we’ve been navigating choppy waters.  However, as the Omicron variant surges, we are faced with opportunities to make the church’s presence more ...

01/01/2022 - Planning the Future by Appreciating the Past

January 2022—Volume 30, Number 1                   Copyright @ 2022 by Dana Horrell   First Church on the corner of Heritage and Main had been around long enough to ...

12/29/2021 - Happy New Year 2022: Hope Despite the Omicron Surge

What does New Year’s Eve mean to you, a time of reflection, resolutions, a chance for a new beginning, renewed covenant with God and each other? If you are like me, you ...

12/17/2021 - Yes, There is Hope! An Advent Message

This piece is adapted from a sermon Rev. Ross delivered at West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church (MA) on Sunday, February 12. One of actress Mabel King’s ...

12/15/2021 - Prevent Illness This Winter: COVID and the FLU

COVID-19 (Omicron, Delta), Influenza A, Influenza B, Rhinovirus (common cold)… yikes, so many viruses in the air! Do not fear, get vaccinated!    We have been hearing a ...

12/15/2021 - When Someone in Worship Tests Positive for COVID-19

What do I do when someone who attended worship tests positive for COVID-19 one to two days later? Notify your local health department to see what they recommend for your...

12/14/2021 - Called to Create a More Just and Equitable World

North Central Region Justice Organizing Gathering Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, 1-5 PM ~ First Congregational Church of Leicester (MA) 2 Tim 1:7: For God did not give us a ...

12/14/2021 - Fighting and Getting Arrested for the Build Back Better Act

On Monday, I joined the Poor People’s Campaign at the US Capitol, where we demanded passage of the Build Back Better Act and the protection of voting rights. The hundreds...

12/13/2021 - Communicating Your Vision

Communication. It is responsible for the exchange of ideas; the declaration of feelings; the formation and perpetuation of relationships. As leaders, the creation of a ...

12/13/2021 - Wellesley Hills Church Finds Energy in Sign Language

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, UCC (MA), finds new passion in using sign language for songs in church when vocal singing isn't safe due to Covid.

12/10/2021 - Lunch & Learn for Leaders

In just a few weeks, we will launch our 2022 programs, starting with our new monthly Lunch & Learn for Leaders series on Thursday, January 20 (see below). These programs ...

12/10/2021 - Together We Thrive News; Affinity Groups: Past and Future

Together We Thrive News Affinity Groups: Past and Future Have you heard about the Together We Thrive Affinity groups?  These year-long intentional learning communities...

12/07/2021 - Tasty Tidbits

Dearest Cojourners, Words are delicious! I love how they taste when they fall out of my mouth and into the atmosphere. I enjoy playing with my words as creatively as kids...

12/05/2021 - Generosity and Two Wolves

I suspect many of us have heard some version of the old Cherokee legend known as "The Story of the Two Wolves." I recently heard it again, and it occurred to me that this...

12/01/2021 - How to Plan a Community Project

December 2021—Volume 29, Number 12              Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   It’s time to start a project in the community. Where to start? Let’s begin with a ...

11/30/2021 - Disaster Readiness: Wintertime and Snowstorms

For our churches and their members from the Disaster Resource and Response Team Winter can bring extended periods of extreme temperatures and snowfall. Even short ...

11/24/2021 - Support Urged for Extending and Expanding Charitable Deductions

Members and friends of our churches consider many factors when deciding about whether and how much to contribute to their church. One is often tax deductibility.  (See ...

11/18/2021 - From Blah, Blah, Blah to New Life: A Message from Rev. James D. Ross II

This is adapted from a sermon that Rev. Ross delivered at Christ Church Dracut (MA) on Sunday, November 14. Greta Thunberg, the 18-year-old Swedish environmental ...

11/17/2021 - Community Engagement Fuels Small Church Revitalization

For nearly 200 years, North Greenwich Congregational Church has enjoyed a long and colorful history meeting the spiritual needs of its members and friends, while ...

11/17/2021 - Together We Thrive News

Together We Thrive News by Rev. Heather Ramsey-Mabrouk   Innovation, Vitality & Clergy Renewal You are probably wondering:  What do Innovation and Church Vitality have ...

11/15/2021 - Giving Nature a Reason to Sing: What can a Church Do?

 See new Green Congregation resources  In a very short time, it will be the first Sunday in Advent and the beginning of a new church year.  We’ll soon be hearing “Joy to ...

11/15/2021 - Looking for Congregations to Unite for Racial Justice

The First Church of Christ in Middletown (CT) Racial Justice Team is hoping to collaborate with other UCC churches in our region who have a similar interest in addressing...

11/10/2021 - FreeBee Market Start

The FreeBee Network and Market began as a way to support community members impacted by an apartment fire but quickly grew into a dynamic, family-oriented program that ...

11/09/2021 - Health Equity is Social Justice

“Health Equity is Social Justice.” This was the message from Tekisha Dwan Everette, Executive Director of Health Equity Solutions in Connecticut during her speech at the ...

11/09/2021 - Talking About Faith Begins With Listening

Evangelism. That is a word that makes many mainline protestants feel uncomfortable. Some are reluctant to talk about faith for fear of being judged as overbearing, or ...

11/07/2021 - Best Boundary Practices for Faith Formation Church Staff Members

With careful attention, each situation can be managed with successful outcomes.

11/02/2021 - Engaging Lapsed Donors

When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around. Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd. But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it ...

11/01/2021 - Thinking Flexibility about Our Buildings

November 2021—Volume 29, Number 11              Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   “Pastor, I love this building. It evokes a special memory every time I enter. It’...

10/29/2021 - Churches Should Inform Members of the Universal Charitable Tax Deduction for 2021

Congress extended and expanded the universal charitable tax deduction that became law as ...

10/27/2021 - “Weeping with Those Who Weep”—News from the Chile Partnership

For more than 30 years, the historic Massachusetts Conference and the Pentecostal Church of Chile have walked together in an ecumenical partnership and many ...

10/27/2021 - A Reflection on People vs. Fossil Fuels

These are parched days. We thirst for something to quench the chaos. Our waters, soils, and air are in turmoil. And we long for impactful ways to counter our climate’s ...

10/27/2021 - South Andover (MA) Church Champions Bail Reform

Submitted by the South Church of Andover, MA Social Justice Coalition (SJC) Is it justice that compared to white men charged with the same crime and having the same ...

10/26/2021 - Educational Series on Restorative vs Retributive Justice Begins Nov. 4

The SNEUCC Restorative Justice Task Team will present an educational series throughout the next year. The series begins on Thursday, November 4, at 6 PM, when the task ...

10/20/2021 - People vs. Fossil Fuels: A Reflection

Emma Brewer-Wallin, second from right, participates in the People vs. Fossil Fuels week of action in Washington, D.C. During the week of Indigenous Peoples’ ...

10/18/2021 - Don’t Beg On Stewardship Sunday

Dear Colleagues, Henri Nouwen’s reflection on A Spirituality of Fundraising informs my work and teaching around generosity.  When thinking of annual stewardship ...

10/13/2021 - Board of Ministerial Aid - We Are Here to Help!

The Board of Ministerial Aid, founded in 1869, provides confidential financial assistance and counseling both to clergy and their families who serve, or have served in ...

10/12/2021 - The Practice of Generosity

Just like prayer, service, and worship, generosity is a spiritual discipline. It is a practice that can be modeled and taught, it is a habit that, with intention, can be ...

10/11/2021 - Passing On the Faith Without Sunday School

Let us experiment - there can be no mistakes!

10/08/2021 - Establishing Parity Between Digital and In-Person Worship

Is it possible to create parity between worshipers who participate digitally versus being in-person?

10/07/2021 - Churches: Share Your Disability Advocacy Story

As your SNEUCC Disability Ministry Team, we seek ways to network with our churches and move our conference forward in the goal to become Accessible to ALL. As a step ...

10/05/2021 - Is Your Fall Stewardship Campaign Just SO-SO?

Dear Colleagues, Many years ago, my church choir director, Joel Johnson, taught me about the danger of doing anything that was just SO-SO. No, it wasn’t about the ...

10/05/2021 - Be a Lighthouse in the Storm: Mental Health Week

Be “a lighthouse in their child’s storm, the light that shines steadily in a predictable rhythm and doesn’t waver no matter how big the storm is.”  This is the advice ...

10/04/2021 - The Awkwardness of Regathering

Warning: This memo does not have any answers or deep wisdom about the state of the church. If you need that I am sorry. If you are okay with my mushing around in the ...

10/01/2021 - Get to Know the Neighborhood with a Community Tour

October 2021—Volume 28, Number 10                  Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   Walking the neighborhood offers an unparalleled chance for church leaders to ...

09/29/2021 - Get Vaccinated So You Don’t Have to Ask: Is it the Flu or is it COVID-19?

“I’d like double shots please!”   For those who are eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine ...

09/24/2021 - This Year's Annual Pledge Campaign

We continue to live in unprecedented times. Economic uncertainty and social turmoil continue to abound. Hence, it is reasonable to ask: How are we supposed to conduct our...

09/24/2021 - Work for Justice Fundamental to Call of Christianity

A Message from the Minister of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion I’ve recently become obsessed with Netflix’s “Fastest Cars,” in which people who have transformed junkers ...

09/22/2021 - Reuniting Churches With Their Lost Treasure

Would you like to find some lost treasure? Could your church use some unexpected money? Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island all have “Unclaimed Property” ...

09/21/2021 - Mission Clarity = Missional Generosity

What would you like your world to look like 5 years from now? How about 10 or 20 or 50 years from now?

09/15/2021 - Pastoral Counseling Programs Available to Authorized Ministers

We are able to provide Authorized Ministers with standing in an Association of the Southern New England Conference, and their spouses/life partners/significant others, ...

09/14/2021 - Where Do You Worship?

Eighteen months of Covid has taught us that the church is not the building, and that physical distance does not necessarily mean spiritual distance. We have found sacred ...

09/13/2021 - Coaching: A Transformational Tool

“We all have within us a deep wisdom, but sometimes we don’t know we have it.” ~ Shakti Gawain   Some of the most rewarding experiences since adopting our three children ...

09/13/2021 - Sharing Leadership: a UCC Way of Being in Community

Sharing Leadership is important in today’s UCC now more than ever. Our denomination is known for its stance on inclusivity and justice, which has attracted cherished new ...

09/09/2021 - Measuring Church Vitality

This message originally appeared in the Northwest Region newsletter. Click here to subscribe to your region's newsletter, or here to read previous issues. I just came ...

09/08/2021 - Green Congregation Testimony: First Congregational Guilford (CT)

The SNEUCC Environmental Ministry Team invites 21 congregations to commit to the Green Congregation Challenge - having an initial conversation or taking a first step by ...

09/08/2021 - Patience Increases Well-Being

“Patience is a virtue. Virtue is a grace. Grace is a little girl who would not wash her face.”   Maybe you have heard this little poem by Dick King-Smith. My mother ...

09/08/2021 - Small Church Collaborative: What’s In a Building?

  In my church’s case, there is (or rather was) a lot of stuff in our building. We’ve filled a dumpster with trash, donated to area non-profits, recycled more paper than ...

09/07/2021 - Socially Responsible Investing and Spending

Socially Responsible Investing and Spending What motivates you to make a charitable donation? Do you want to make a positive difference in the world? Perhaps you want to...

09/07/2021 - A Look at Socially Responsible Investing and Spending

What motivates you to make a charitable donation? Do you want to make a positive difference in the world? Perhaps you want to better the world by touching a person’s life...

09/01/2021 - Bringing the Power of Groups to Prison Ministry

September 2021—Volume 28, Number 9               Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   On the two-hour drive back from the federal penitentiary, Pastor Eduardo ...

08/31/2021 - September is Suicide Awareness Month: Be Aware, Show You Care

We can all play a role in preventing suicide! That’s the message from the The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, which has designated September as Suicide ...

08/30/2021 - Green Congregation Spotlight: Church of the Covenant

The SNEUCC Environmental Ministry Team invites 21 congregations to commit to the Green Congregation Challenge - having an initial conversation or taking a first step by ...

08/26/2021 - 21 in 21: A Green Congregation Challenge

The Southern New England Conference UCC is launching 21 in 21 this fall, challenging 21 congregations to commit to creating a greener world by joining the Green ...

08/26/2021 - Faith Formation and the Delta Variant

As followers of the Jesus who welcomes children, let us not forget to protect them.

08/25/2021 - A Labor Day Prayer

Churches are welcome to use this prayer as part of their Labor Day service (Sept. 5) O God of Labor and God of Rest, we turn to you this Labor Sunday. We remember that ...

08/24/2021 - Afghan Refugees Need Our Support

This week, our hearts have been broken watching the disintegration of a nation. We have cried watching the desperation of people trying to leave their home country as it ...

08/17/2021 - The Fatigue of a Fundraiser

Dear Friends and Colleagues, It is appropriate that I am writing this on my last day of work before a much anticipated and much needed weeklong vacation. Why is it much ...

08/17/2021 - Covid Guidance for Church Offices

Several inquiries have been received regarding maintaining safe workplace practices for church office staff vaccinated and unvaccinated. The resources listed here offer ...

08/10/2021 - The Climate Crisis: How Churches Can Respond

Perhaps you, like me, woke up Monday morning to every news outlet alerting you to the latest IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report on the catastrophe ...

08/10/2021 - The Constancy of Change

The edge of the ocean is different every day and there is always some remarkable beauty to discover. It made me think of the quote from Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher ...

08/10/2021 - Trained Faith Formation Leaders Needed for Post-Pandemic Times

The SNEUCC Faith Formation Leadership Program offers adaptive skills for faith formation.

08/05/2021 - Resources for Coping During the Lingering Pandemic

From your Faith Community Nurse, Minister of Health & Wellness Deborah Ringen   Wow, it is August already! Summer days bring fun, family, vacations, and the realization ...

08/03/2021 - Confrontational Generosity

Confrontational Generosity Dear Colleagues,  At General Synod in July, a new initiative called "Join the Movement" was launched across all settings of the UCC. The Rev....

08/01/2021 - Build Lasting Strength through Community Development

  August 2021—Volume 28, Number 8                     Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   When church leaders survey the surrounding community, its urgent ...

07/26/2021 - Giving USA 2021 Report

Giving USA, which issues the oldest and most comprehensive report on charitable giving in the U.S., recently released its report for last year. The report contains mixed ...

07/22/2021 - Pray for Those Affected by DACA Ruling

Millions of Americans who came to the United States as children, including many whose only memories are of life in this country, are again uncertain whether they will be ...

07/20/2021 - Ensure All Voices are Heard

Beloved Church, I love rules. I like to think that my affinity for technical details and procedures is harmless, even charming. But I have recently been reminded that ...

07/20/2021 - Open and Affirming Ministry Team Decides to Boycott Boston Pride

Boston Pride didn’t happen this year, or last year for that matter, and we need to tell you what’s going on. The Southern New England Conference ONA Ministry Team was ...

07/17/2021 - #UCCSynod: Finally, the Business Begins

This General Synod is spread out across more days than in-person Synod editions generally have been. Much of this is due to the many time zones in which Synod has to ...

07/16/2021 - #UCCSynod: Connecting With People Who Look Like Me

July 13th On Sunday the 11th, the delegates had a long day! Our first plenary was exciting, a bit boring, funny at times, and well put together for us to be together ...

07/15/2021 - #UCCSynod: Ubuntu

I urge all of us to be builders. To develop, organize, and implement ideas, practices, people, and resources in service of a collective vision.

07/15/2021 - Assassination Means More Turmoil for Haiti

Assassinated Haiti President Jovenel Moise When Haiti President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home early on the morning of July 7, Southern New England ...

07/14/2021 - A Liturgy for the Removal of the American Flag from Sanctuaries

Emily Carle responds to a tweet from Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber: "Someone should write a beautiful liturgy for the removing of national flags from Christian sanctuaries."

07/13/2021 - Charitable Society Assists Clergy in Need

Do you know there is an organization that exists to assist retired pastors and their families with situations like these? Bug infestations - then getting scammed. ...

07/13/2021 - Fancy Tools

Which tools do we need to use for true innovation to take place?

07/13/2021 - Small Church Collaborative - Sunday Worship

For many small churches there is a painful journey of dwindling resources—less time, less money, fewer volunteers. Pastors travel this path with congregations, trying to ...

07/13/2021 - The Transformational Work of God

As people called to serve to God, it is easy to lose sight of our own woundedness yet spending some time with our doubts and pain brings greater self-awareness which ...

07/11/2021 - #UCCSynod: Empowered to be the Best Me I Can Be

I'm waiting for the SNEUCC to begin our first caucus and I am ready and excited to be energized to work with fellow delegates and to do God's work. I hope today to be ...

07/11/2021 - #UCCSynod: Tweeting a Virtual Synod…

This is a confession to cover me for the whole week: I am a UCC Twitter nerd. I will be live-tweeting almost every Synod event (#UCCSynod) I attend, except the Committee ...

07/09/2021 - An Interview with Katie Howe

Emily McKenna, Program Support Associate, interviews Katie Howe. Katie is a Masters of Divinity student at Chicago Theological Seminary, a Woodridge Congregational Church...

07/07/2021 - Take Your Faith Formation Leadership to New Heights

The work of faith formation is challenging. It takes more than purchasing the perfect curriculum or implementing the hottest new lesson plan. We are called to bring the ...

07/06/2021 - God’s Creation: The Joys and Concerns of Summer

Sunshine, heat, outdoor activities, flowers, birds, and bees, ticks, heat waves, humidity, and hurricane season, all are the joys and concerns of summer!  Are you ready? ...

07/01/2021 - Is Drive-In Church a Good Idea?

July 2020—Volume 28, Number 7                          Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   In the 2020 season of pandemic restrictions a number of churches found ...

06/27/2021 - 7 Ways to Support Your Faith Formation and/or Youth Ministry Leader

Updated handbooks/guides are now available for search and call as well as support.

06/24/2021 - A Call to Confront Lies

Dear Beloved, As I have sought to make meaning of both the public discourse about “critical race theory” and the ongoing effort to restrict voting rights, I have been ...

06/24/2021 - As Followers of Jesus, We Are Called to be Political

Join the SNEUCC Advocacy Corps to Make Your Voice Heard! I am often asked by church leaders and members: Should we be involved in “politics”? My answer is always the same...

06/23/2021 - Today's Open and Affirming is More Than Just Queer

An SNEUCC Annual Meeting Conversation led by the Rev. Dr. Fran Bogle and Kathie Carpenter Holy One, we are working for justice. Fill us with your love each day.  Amen ~ ...

06/22/2021 - Colombia Partnership's Virtual Pilgrimage for Peace

During the last week of September 2020, scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Peace observed around the world each year on September 21, 20 Disciples and ...

06/22/2021 - Just Peace Players: We're Still Here!

Nancy Reed, Martha Crawford, and Fran Bogle Just Peace Players is a liturgical drama troupe committed to sharing its many visions of peace and justice through the ...

06/15/2021 - Philanthropic Autobiography

Philanthropic Autobiography   Dear Friends, Have you ever stopped to think about what inspires you to be generous?  Do you have a plan for how and where you donate your ...

06/10/2021 - An Interview with Jenn Kronholm Clark

In this month's Discipleship Matters newsletter, Emily McKenna interviews Jennifer Kronholm Clark, Silver Lake Conference Center’s Program Director. Learn what's ...

06/07/2021 - In Celebration of Faith Formation Leaders

The last fifteen months have been stressful for you, your families, and your work as faith formation leaders. Everything shifted, and EVERYTHING related to your work had ...

06/01/2021 - Is it Time to Relocate?

June 2020—Volume 28, Number 6                         Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell   Typically the question of whether to relocate is precipitated by a building ...

05/27/2021 - 100 CT Clergy Urge Governor to Support Health Care Initiatives

Thank you to the over 100 Connecticut SNEUCC clergy who signed a letter to Governor Lamont and Legislative Leaders urging them to support the following legislative ...

05/26/2021 - What is the Bottom Line for Coronavirus Safety?

Wow, keeping track of new guidelines in the pandemic response can be very confusing! How can we decide the best way to move forward? How do we balance caution and caring ...

05/25/2021 - Don't Miss Out! Join Summer Staff Now!

We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in 2021 to make an impact on campers that will stay with them their entire lives. You have never been more needed. This is your ...

05/18/2021 - Generosity: That's What My Mother Taught Me

In a compilation of stories from over 100 interviews with people who had been identified by their pastors as generous givers, Herb Mather in That’s What My Mother Taught ...

05/14/2021 - Our Divided Self

Does the following ring true in your experience? Is it generally the case at your church? Here is what we say through our stewardship practices: 10% belongs to God; the ...

05/13/2021 - An Interview with Judi Wallace

Emily McKenna, Program Support Associate, sits down to interview Judi Wallace. Judi shares how she kept youth engaged with a special service project that took place in ...

05/10/2021 - Should We Gather or Not?

Excitement is growing, the desire to, “resume life as normal, pre-pandemic,” is strong, but is it safe? Southern New England Conference UCC states are beginning to ease ...

05/10/2021 - What Is the Best Age for Confirmation?

OR: Is Our Confirmation Model Still Valid for the 21st Century?

05/04/2021 - Why Online Giving?

Before serving in my present capacity, I served as an Associate Conference Minister for the New York Conference.   During that time, I coordinated worship services for ...

05/03/2021 - Opportunities to Learn are Part of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (https://asianpacificheritage.gov/). ...

05/01/2021 - How Can We Overcome Barriers to Vaccination?

May 2021—Volume 28, Number 5                          Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   The end of the COVID-19 pandemic and a return to normal life requires that a ...

04/29/2021 - Faith and Mental Illness: Mental Health Sunday, May 16, 2021

Mental health conditions are on the rise. Before the pandemic it was reported that one in five adults in the US experienced a mental health condition. Now researchers ...

04/29/2021 - Justice and Love

“Justice is what love looks like in person.”  You likely have heard that oft-repeated adage by Dr. Cornell West. As West notes, Jesus urged his disciples to love their ...

04/26/2021 - How Congregations Can Support Nuclear Weapons Ban

If you have not yet heard, World War III surreptitiously has begun. Our enemy is not a singular nor cluster of nations, but the insidiously deadly COVID 19 in all its ...

04/20/2021 - The Gift of God’s Presence During the Covid-19 Pandemic

I don’t know about you, but years from now when we are finally all vaccinated and the Covid-19 pandemic is a memory within our collective conscience, there are some ...

04/16/2021 - Supporting Programs for Equitable Vaccine Distribution

We can all pitch in to advocate for communities of color and vulnerable populations by publicly distributing information from the CDC and local public health officials ...

04/13/2021 - Thank You For Your Generosity!

I want to publicly and enthusiastically thank the churches that have financially supported the mission and ministry of our Southern New England Conference (SNEUCC) and ...

04/06/2021 - Grant Funding Opportunities

Dear Friends and Colleagues,                At this moment it is clear that there is a great amount of need throughout our country. As development professionals, we are ...

04/06/2021 - Each of Us Has a Role to Play in Changing the Narrative About Guns

I want to begin with a thank you to the Biden Administration for focusing special attention on the dramatic increase in crimes committed against people of Asian descent ...

04/06/2021 - Let Anyone with Ears To Hear — Sowing the Seeds of Faith

Some [seeds] fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold. (Luke 8:8, NRSV)

04/01/2021 - Readiness Is the Key to Congregational Change

April 2021—Volume 28, Number 3             Copyright @ 2021 by Lauren W. Swanson   These are difficult days for the church, but also days of real opportunity. The ...

03/31/2021 - Compassion: A Response to Racial Injustice and Health Disparity

April 2021 National Health Observances include National Minority Health Month, and World Health Day, timely topics in the context of the coronavirus pandemic racial ...

03/30/2021 - Whatever the Outcome of The Chauvin Trial, the Need for Racial Justice Work Will Continue

We must continue our work together to bring forth a United States of America in which each...

03/27/2021 - Platform-Shaped Digital Ministry

In this article rather than defining digital ministry as a broadcast of your Sunday service, your church might consider creating a worship service that has been designed ...

03/25/2021 - Rev. James D. Ross II: Living the Love and Justice of Jesus

I am honored to serve as your new Minister for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Southern New England Conference. In this role, I am charged with leading our ...

03/25/2021 - Saturday Meals for Asylum Seekers

by Dawn Adams SNEUCC Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum Task Team You all have probably seen and heard about the growing humanitarian crisis at our southern borders. There...

03/24/2021 - What We've Learned from the Pandemic - Moving Forward

What will be the best ways to be the Body of Christ post-pandemic?

03/23/2021 - Strategically Generous?

Ever find yourself thinking, "too many nonprofits ask me for money!" Or, "why does the church have so many offerings?" The number of ways that we can make a difference in...

03/23/2021 - Board President's Report to the 2021 Annual Meeting

Board President’s Report SNE UCC Annual Meeting May 2021    The months since our last Annual Meeting in September 2020 have been eventful ones for our Conference and for...

03/23/2021 - Treasurer's Report to the 2021 Annual Meeting

Treasurer’s Report to the Annual Meeting March 11, 2021   As I write this report, we are just over two months into our second year of operations as a new Conference. Our ...

03/17/2021 - COVID-19 Vaccination: The Inside Story of a Nurse Vaccinator

Recently, I began volunteering to give COVID-19 vaccinations at a drive-through mass vaccination site in Connecticut.  Currently my job consists of writing and teaching ...

03/17/2021 - Opening Our Doors to a Vaccine Clinic

This past year has been difficult for so many of our churches. I serve as the Pastor of the Federated Church in Colchester, Connecticut and we formed a Reopening Team in ...

03/08/2021 - Confirmands Engage in Interfaith Exploration

The Interfaith Exploration was offered as an opportunity for SNEUCC youth to hear various stories of call. “God is persistent, even though we sometimes push God away.” ...

03/08/2021 - Post-Pandemic - The Many Faces of Faith Formation

The question to ask is, "How do we pass on the faith knowing what we know now?"

03/01/2021 - How Can We Build Trust in a Vaccine?

How Can We Build Trust in a Vaccine? March 2021—Volume 28, Number 3                      Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   The development of a vaccine for the ...

02/19/2021 - Email Security Tips for Churches and Pastors

Drew Page offers some tips for churches and pastors to protect against email scams.

02/17/2021 - Generous Thoughts: Development Professionals Launch Stewardship Newsletter

This inaugural issue of Generous Thoughts features the Rev. Kent Siladi, Director of ...

02/11/2021 - Lean Into Lent

This is an invitation to plan for the upcoming season and it's important themes with your whole heart and first and foremost, for you! This season is an invitation to ...

02/10/2021 - Connections & Common Bonds in a Sacred Space for Young Adults

Millennials’ Ministries is a great space for connections and common bonds for young adults who are looking for a Christian community of friends to engage with.

02/10/2021 - Digital Ministry in 2021

As we enter the second year of the pandemic’s effects, we are blessed with the increasing availability of effective coronavirus vaccines. As vaccinations become more ...

02/09/2021 - Youth Ministry in Pandemic Times (and Beyond)

Walking alongside teens on their spiritual journeys remains our focus.

02/08/2021 - Embrace the Questions

Though they sometimes feel like a rejection of faith, adult mentors are called to honor the questions, to respond with openness, to testify to the mystery and the truths ...

02/01/2021 - Connect with Spiritual Seekers through the Arts

February 2021—Volume 29, Number 2                 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   Sandra Lommasson rediscovered the value of art in response to violent trauma. In its...

01/20/2021 - Faith Formation Classes Offer Adaptive Skills During the Pandemic

How do we navigate uncertainty while ministering to our congregations?

01/12/2021 - Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Can Benefit Churches

Information is available on how the CAA law relates to churches and religious groups.

01/12/2021 - COVID-19 2021: Prolonged Uncertainty

Here we are a little over a week into the new year. Our nation and our world continue to struggle under the COVID-19 pandemic. As of January 12th all three states in the ...

01/12/2021 - Creativity and Spiritual Formation in a Time of Pandemic

"The past ten months of pandemic can either be lost time or the time of our lives, or a mixture of both."

01/01/2021 - Build A Robust Network

January 2021—Volume 29, Number 1                   Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell   Whatever else it did, the COVID-19 health crisis forced congregations to consider ...

12/29/2020 - Farewell Thoughts

Rev. Marilyn Kendrix shares her farewell thoughts as she finishes her time serving as Bridge Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference.

12/28/2020 - Farewell Reflections

Rev. Don Remick share his thoughts as the year and his time serving as Bridge Conference Minister come to a close.

12/22/2020 - The Birth of Love: A Christmas Message

A message from Bridge Conference Ministers Rev. Marilyn Kendrix and Rev. Don Remick

12/22/2020 - Substance Abuse Addiction: Help is Available

Christmas is the season for joy, right? Maybe, maybe not. For many it is the season for depression and stress. Expectations of happy family get togethers even in the ...

12/16/2020 - COVID -19: Clergy Are Trusted Community Messengers

From the CDC: "Community- and faith-based organizations, employers, healthcare systems and providers, public health agencies, policy makers, and others all have a part in...

12/15/2020 - Joy and Grief this Christmas

Holidays are usually a busy, joyous time to celebrate. Our religious and secular traditions provoke memories of years past spent with family and friends. Every year there...

12/09/2020 - Adaptation in the Season of Advent

Music is such an important part of the holiday season and church worship planners are going to great lengths to incorporate favorite carols. Some have made use of radio ...

12/09/2020 - Longest Night Liturgy Available

Longest Night services bring the opportunity of pastoral care to those experiencing loss, grief and pain even in the joyous time of Advent and the coming of Christ. This...

12/02/2020 - The COVID Pandemic and Opioid-Related Mortality: The Church Can Help

Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are among 40 states that have reported an increase in overdose deaths during 2020 as compared to 2019. The pandemic is ...

12/01/2020 - Tending the Light: An Advent Spiritual Practice

Spiritual practices take many forms. For Rev. Dawn Adams and family, one form is to "babysit as flame."

12/01/2020 - Using Surveys to Guide Decision Making

December 2020—Volume 28, Number 12              Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell   In A Field Guide to U.S. Congregations, Cynthia Woolever points out the many factors ...

11/25/2020 - Communications: One More Covid-19 Casualty

Co-vid 19 is a tough go for me and all those who have hearing challenges. God bless us that we are wearing masks for everybody’s safety, but my do they wreak havoc on ...

11/18/2020 - A Thanksgiving Prayer for Those Who Are Weary

Grateful for this sheltered place With light in every window Saying, "Welcome, welcome, share this feast Come in away from sorrow"  ~ from the Thanksgiving Song, by Mary ...

11/17/2020 - Budgeting in a Time of Uncertainty and COVID-19

Historically, a church’s budget should have served at least three purposes: 1) provide financial guidance for the upcoming year; 2) place a limit on spending; and 3) be a...

11/16/2020 - 400 Years of Colonization, Doctrine of Discovery and Manifest Destiny

From an address given by Rev. Kelly Gallagher for the Oct. 18 event 400 Years: Truth & Healing for the Next Seven Generations   I stand in what is called today ...

11/16/2020 - Following Copyright Rules When Pairing Music with Virtual Worship

Copyright law has easily been the biggest challenge for my church to overcome

11/12/2020 - Covid Update: Is your Church in the High Risk Zone?

Friends, This past week has had records set in the current Covid surge. We keep seeing new records across our region and across the country in terms of daily new cases, ...

11/12/2020 - The Survey Says...

The survey says: Last month we sent a survey our to all of our churches.  We were checking in on what you were doing, what you needed, what was helpful and what you were ...

11/11/2020 - On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

My hope is built on the love of God and the ever-present reality of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

11/10/2020 - Inspiring Gratitude

We know that gratitude is central to spiritual well-being, but recently, social scientists in various academic settings have affirmed that this practice enhances mental ...

11/10/2020 - The Twelve Days of Christmas - At Home This Year

Perhaps the biggest Christmas gift was can give ourselves will be the gift of experimentation, and being allowed to fail at designing “the perfect Christmas.”

11/06/2020 - Discipleship is Not A Paint-by-Number Project

Discipleship is not a paint-by-numbers! We might wish for clear instructions, a formula to follow, to encourage others to follow Jesus. But our faith is so much bigger ...

11/04/2020 - Dying With Dignity Legislation Update

Over the past months, I have written to you about the importance of advance healthcare directives and end-of-life care planning. These critical conversations with our ...

11/04/2020 - Thanksgiving During a Pandemic

Oh God, how we long for a traditional holiday table where many extended family and friends have gathered in the glowing warmth of a feast and holiday decorations.  We ...

11/03/2020 - Church Leaders are Feeling Excitement over Major Adaptive Change Opportunities: A Look at Financial Survey Data

Last week Don Remick shared with us the results from the SNEUCC’s most recent COVID ...

11/01/2020 - Building Relationships in Livestream Worship

November 2020—Volume 28, Number 11              Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell   Livestreaming a worship service extends its reach far beyond the physical gathering of...

10/28/2020 - Covid Survey Results, Continued

  Word cloud created from most frequently encountered words from the survey. The larger the word appears, the more often it occurred. We received nearly 300 ...

10/28/2020 - Election Exhaustion / Election Resilience

1 John 2: 15  “Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; 16 for all that is in the world—the desire of ...

10/27/2020 - Spreading the Word About the 'Super Cool Love of God'

Have you seen the United Church of Christ in the news this week? We announced on Sunday that the Southern New England Conference had abolished $26.2 million in ...

10/26/2020 - "Wait. You did WHAT?!?!?" A Reflection of Joy

Wait. What? You just got rid of my medical debt? Yep. How much? All of it. Are you SERIOUS? Yep. But...I'm not even a part of your church. That's not the point. This will...

10/26/2020 - Congregations Can Support Mental Health

Last April, I wrote a blog titled Mental Health and Suicide Resources discussing the unique circumstances of the pandemic such as isolation, loss of a job, uncertainty ...

10/21/2020 - Election 2020: A Lot of Folks Are Nervous

Its on every news channel.  It is all over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram .  It pops up on your cell phone notifications.  It is an election year unlike any other.  ...

10/21/2020 - What Churches Are Doing Now During the Pandemic

This October our Conference sent out a survey to all of our Conference’s churches.  We asked about many aspects of church life from worship to fellowship to ...

10/15/2020 - Just Breathe: Weaving Together the Creation Narrative and Communities of Color

by Katherine Schofield, Old South Church On October 11, Old South Church in Boston hosted...

10/14/2020 - Virtual Super Saturday is Almost Here!

We know you may be Zoom weary and treasuring days away from little boxes on computer screens. But if you are desiring community and a chance to come together with ...

10/13/2020 - What To Do with the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower Landing

This fall is a perfect opportunity for confirmation programs to look back at our history.

10/07/2020 - A Library With A Rich Menu for Disciples

In a recent interview, Jennifer deSimas, Director of the JP Webster Library related her work to faith formation. "One of my roles is to organize events that explore not ...

10/07/2020 - Breathing Life Into Theories and Practices

How will you most effectively walk the path of faith with your congregation?

10/07/2020 - Innovations in Youth Ministry -Two Stories

Kristin Putney shares two stories of effective youth ministry in RI Congregations during the time of CoVid 19. Youth connections are sustained and deepened through ...

10/01/2020 - How to Foster Deep Listening Amid Political Difference

October 2020—Volume 28, Number 10                  Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell   Honest conversation about all matters, even politics, must be part and parcel of a ...

10/01/2020 - Important Documents – Does Your Church Know Where They’re Kept? (Part I)

by Jonathan Guest and David Cleaver-Bartholomew   For many churches these are challenging and stressful times.  Church members are concerned about worship, programs, and ...

10/01/2020 - Important Documents – Does Your Church Know Where They’re Kept? (Part II)

by Jonathan Guest and David Cleaver-Bartholomew   In our previous article published on ...

09/30/2020 - The Tech Behind the Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting for the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ was held on September 26th remotely via a Zoom webinar.  I moderated the meeting...

09/29/2020 - Our Faith, Our Vote

There was a time when leadership was chosen by casting lots.  Our scripture tells stories of this.  But in our time that decision is up to us.  But it is no less an act ...

09/28/2020 - Celebrating Disability: A Step  Forward to Creating A Community of Belonging

Access Sunday is October 11 Each year, the second Sunday of October is designated on the ...

09/25/2020 - Pastor Appreciation Day - October 12, 2020

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching“ 1 Timothy 5:17  (NRSV)   Each year a day is ...

09/23/2020 - I Don’t Want to Talk About It…Depression in the Wake of Covid-19

“In the middle of the journey of our lives, I found myself upon a dark path” ~ Dante   I don’t want to talk about it.[1]  Having served some years in parish ministry, I ...

09/23/2020 - When Clergy Face Depression We Can ALL Help

All human beings experience feeling “blue” or “down in the dumps” sometimes. It may come as a surprise, but clergy are human too! It can be hard to admit that one might ...

09/21/2020 - Covid, Heating, Ventilation and New MA Regulations:  Winter is Coming

Friends, There is that fall chill in the air.  It is the change of seasons.  And with it comes new decisions we face in our church life.  The current state of this ...

09/18/2020 - Learn How to Become a Just Peace Church at Super Saturday

by Rev. Dr. Robert Loesch   Greetings to you in the name of the God of Light and the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.  In their names, I invite you and your local church to...

09/17/2020 - Planning Annual Fall Pledge Campaigns

In today’s unprecedented context, when churches cannot worship in person and there is great economic uncertainty and social upheaval, it is quite reasonable to ask: How ...

09/17/2020 - Playlists! An Exciting Innovation

Playlists! What are they? An introduction to the concept of Playlists as a new format for shaping faith.

09/16/2020 - An Image of Hope

Alexa Odoy, a ninth grader at Congregational Church of Marlborough shares her creative talents. "The design is inspired by the story of Noah's arc, but the rainbows also ...

09/16/2020 - Boundary Training for Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Leaders

Blurred boundaries can result for lay staff who are also members of that congregation.

09/15/2020 - COVID and the Church

Three. Deaths. Related to…a wedding.

09/14/2020 - Youth Join Race Equity Work at Newman

Christy Wynveen of Newman Congregational shares reflections on her new position as Minister of Faith Formation and recent youth study group on the book The Hate U Give.

09/02/2020 - Masks Are More Important Than Ever: Slow the Spread

People are getting out more as local restrictions ease allowing restaurants, businesses and schools to open with specific guidelines to reduce the threat of coronavirus ...

09/01/2020 - Getting Started with Livestreaming

September 2020—Volume 28, Number 9               Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell   Livestreaming an event, whether a worship service or Bible study, can seem like a ...

09/01/2020 - Pilgrimage Through the Pandemic

This interview captures the reality of the experience of COVID-19 and the theological reflection required to make sense of the world in the pandemic.   The Rev. Karen ...

09/01/2020 - Use Your Voice to Promote Flu Vaccination this Season

Faith Community Nurses, clergy and lay ministers of health are trusted by the people of the congregation and community. The foundation of our faith encourages caring for ...

08/31/2020 - When the Pastor is the Caregiver at Work and at Home

How can clergy juggle family caregiving and the stress of serving their flock during a pandemic, racial injustice, hurricanes, and the divisive political climate? Even ...

08/24/2020 - Universal Charitable Tax Deduction for 2020

As part of the CARES Act that became law earlier this year, the government provided a new universal charitable tax deduction. The deduction allows taxpayers to deduct up ...

08/20/2020 - An Adult Education Model for Churches, with a Twist

In this time of polarized opinions and beliefs, an attitude of humility toward our approach to the Bible and to each other is surely what God is desiring of us.

08/20/2020 - Congregation Climate Justice Voter Pledge

I was delighted to see that Rev. Traci Blackmon, UCC Associate General Minister for Justice and Local Church Ministries and Pastor of Christ the King UCC in Florissant, ...

08/18/2020 - Get Up, While We Hold You Down

As horrific as the video-taped murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis was, it was the orders shouted to Mr. Floyd that pierced my heart as I foolishly watched that video ...

08/17/2020 - Lifelong Faith Formation Thrives with Trained Leaders

We owe it to our congregations to offer high quality faith formation and youth ministries, particularly during these uncertain times.

08/17/2020 - Stewardship, Choice, and Discipleship

One aspect of stewardship that struck me afresh the other day is that biblically speaking, stewardship is not presented as optional for us. In Genesis 1.27-28 we are told...

08/17/2020 - This is What Discipleship Looks Like

Both my church and Silver Lake have had an influence on my involvement with racial justice work. In 2018, upon entering freshman year I felt the need to be doing ...

08/16/2020 - Love Thy Neighbor

I started my first semester as a Master of Divinity Student at Chicago Theological Seminary in February. Less than a month later I began working long hours at the Rhode ...

08/11/2020 - Flawed or Human?

It's comfortable to identify ourselves with the ‘good people’ in the Bible. But what does it mean to identify ourselves with the flawed figures? As humans, we’re not ...

08/11/2020 - God Is Always With Us

Before quarantine I found my days were full of school, sports, and homework. I barely had time to hangout with friends, let alone a minute for myself.

08/01/2020 - Hospitality: Offering a Third Place to Gather

The emergence of a novel coronavirus has led in some regions to measures such as social distancing guidelines and prohibitions against physical gathering. Whether meeting...

07/28/2020 - Reflecting on the ADA After 30 years

I was thinking about the journey. Many of us did our advocacy alone...little victories each day along the way that you will probably never read about. In most cases in ...

07/27/2020 - Carrying One’s Faith onto the Public Square: Voting and Faithfulness

“​ Whoever is faithful in a very little, is also faithful in much...” Luke 16:10 When serving in the parish, I quickly learned that the chief task facing a Stewardship ...

07/24/2020 - A Few Final Thoughts

Rev. Kent Siladi offers some final thoughts before his departure.

07/24/2020 - Dare To Be

Rev. Joy Utter shares thoughts on the late Congressman John Lewis.

07/23/2020 - Care for One Another- Immunize!

“Dear children, let us love not with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” ~ 1 John 3:18   The novel coronavirus pandemic has caused uncertainty, fear, and loss ...

07/23/2020 - Giving young people an opportunity to thrive

Camp Ruggles and Irons Homestead. For 46 years now the sounds of children enjoying summer mark the flow of a long friendship.

07/22/2020 - Phasing Forward into the Fall

When the pandemic first began your Bridge Conference ministers recommended the suspension of In Person inside worship for two weeks.  As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, ...

07/09/2020 - The Conversation Continues: Update on Death with Dignity Legislation (MA)

The importance of conversation with loved ones surrounding one’s end of life choices for ...

07/07/2020 - Goo

I was raised on the butterfly metaphor.  From kids’ books to Easter symbols.  I’ve preached it.  I watched it unfold in grade school terrariums.  And I’ve used it as ...

07/07/2020 - Millennials’ Ministries Goes Virtual

Where is my place in the United Church of Christ after confirmation class? This is a question that I continue to ask myself as a young adult. I have noticed that young ...

07/06/2020 - How Does Your Garden Grow?

At Silver Lake, campers have the opportunity to tend the community garden. Environmental justice is one of the elements of the mission statement and we teach about the ...

07/02/2020 - Bethany House in Chile Requests our Prayers

Bethany House is part of the social ministry of the Pentecostal Church of Chile, long-term ecumenical partner of this historic Massachusetts Conference. Known in Spanish ...

07/02/2020 - COVID-19: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?

In the winter of 2020, the Southern New England Conference of the UCC was just beginning as a new legal and ecclesial entity.  It was in this moment that news of a new ...

07/01/2020 - Care, Leadership, and Self-Renewal in Uncertain Times

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, it ushered in a prolonged period of uncertainty. Since that day it has appeared that ...

07/01/2020 - Dad and Maps

Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord ~ Judges 18:6 My husband always laughs that I will almost never say that I am lost.  I may say ...

07/01/2020 - Don't Be A Goat!

I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you ...

06/30/2020 - Economic Justice and Stewardship

At its core, stewardship is countercultural. It raises up God’s vision and economy for the world, an economy of abundance that tilts toward “the poor, the widow, the ...

06/24/2020 - Council of Conference Ministers Launch Webinar Series

This is an extraordinary time.  The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly reshaped how we live, move and have our being in the world.  And we are still learning, adapting ...

06/23/2020 - Ensuring the Journey of Faith for Young Adults Continues

Dear Pastors, Youth Leaders, and Parents, As you celebrate graduates in your congregations, I join you in offering praise for the youth and young adults achieving this ...

06/17/2020 - It’s Hurricane Season: “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit.” - Luke 12:35

Hurricane season 2020 has begun; amidst the coronavirus pandemic and racial injustice we ...

06/12/2020 - EMPATHY

It’s Impossible to be a true disciple of Jesus without empathy.    As I sat these past two weeks watching the peaceful protesters all across America marching out their ...

06/10/2020 - I Don’t Want To Do This Anymore!?

I don’t want to do this anymore!?   In the last several weeks I’ve heard this phrase several times.  Sometimes it comes directly from individual clergy.  More often is ...

06/09/2020 - Can Children Be Racist?

Children can exhibit racist behavior as early as the age of five.

06/05/2020 - Stewardship, Racism, and Justice

For those struck by the juxtaposition of stewardship, racism, and justice, and are asking what they could have in common and how they are related, I respond: they have ...

06/01/2020 - Six Tools for Managing Volunteers

At its most basic level, managing volunteers means supporting their work in order to sustain their activity over time. The apostle Paul urges leaders “to equip the saints...

05/31/2020 - There Are Precious Few Good Police

There are precious few good police. I know that this is a provocative statement.

05/30/2020 - Pay Attention. And Act

Friends, During our weekly Bridge Conference Minister ZOOM last Thursday I offered some words related to the killing of George Floyd.  Several folks asked that I make ...

05/29/2020 - How can we do camp if we can't be together?

When we come together in the summer for fun and friendship, we do all of the camp things as a way to practice our faith, to learn and grow through our experiences with ...

05/28/2020 - A Reflection on Ahmaud Arbery’s Murder and Racism

I avoided reading detailed accounts about it. I decided long ago that I won’t watch the videos. I couldn’t take one more painful thing in the midst of this pandemic; I ...

05/26/2020 - All God's Children: Providing for the Lost Sheep

Author’s note: All God’s Children will be a regular feature as congregations navigate moving forward with new challenges. The purpose will be to address the issues of ...

05/26/2020 - Caterpillars to Butterflies

Photo by Angela Menke Ballou. A few weeks ago, my colleague, Don Remick wrote about Resurrection and in his blog, he referred to the metamorphosis that takes ...

05/26/2020 - Not One Is Lost

"Our goal and mission should be to ensure that no one among us is lost." — Rev. Chuck Ericson

05/22/2020 - A Call to Stop and Pray Daily at 1:11

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."  Psalm 23: 4   There ...

05/22/2020 - Guidance for Returning to In-Person Faith Formation

Many faith formation and youth ministry leaders are wondering just how safe it will be to gather the children and youth in person.

05/22/2020 - Tips for Pastoral/Spiritual Care in Nursing Homes During Quarantine

As a faith community nurse I can relate to pastoral concerns around providing spiritual care during the pandemic. We are used to being with a person or family during ...

05/20/2020 - Following Jesus in Times of Uncertainty

I hope I’m not alone when I describe the sinking feeling in your chest after another bad day, wondering if God is really listening, and wondering if it’s okay to really ...

05/19/2020 - COVID-19: How Will We Vote in November?

by Lisa Chandler, First Church of Glastonbury (CT) Covid has changed everything. It shocks the senses when we realize that our normal routines and expectations are no ...

05/15/2020 - For the Long Haul

We are over 8 weeks into our pandemic requirements to Stay Home and Stay Safe.  There is an often-used phrase: this is a marathon not a sprint.  However, you have been ...

05/13/2020 - Bottom Line: Maintain Your Health - Mind, Body, and Spirit

As we all focus on trying to prevent the spread of COVID 19, caring for our general health and well-being is sometimes neglected. Mental health concerns, chronic disease ...

05/13/2020 - Pediatric Healthcare During the COVID 19 Pandemic

Experts are learning more every day about the novel coronavirus.  There are two issues to be aware of that impact parents and children in particular. While it was once ...

05/12/2020 - Zoombombing: It's Worse

King Street UCC in Danbury, CT, this weekend seemed to have done everything right. Someone still got in.

05/11/2020 - Renting Your Church Facilities: Planning Now for the Future

Isaiah 43:19: Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.   While all of ...

05/11/2020 - The Good Samaritan - The Good Steward

The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10.25-37) is one that many of us have heard at least a dozen times. But I wonder how many have heard it through the lens of ...

05/06/2020 - Riverside UCC Continues to Spread Light in the Dark

Just about a year ago, I wrote about the Riverside Church making God’s love and justice real with the creation of their Lighthouse Shops. I wondered what the pandemic had...

05/04/2020 - PHASING FORWARD:   NOW What Do We Do?

What will phasing into worship and life as a community of faith be like for you? One more time: take a deep breath.  Let it go.  Notice where God is present to you in ...

05/01/2020 - Ideas for Supporting Mental Health and Faith Formation in Children: A Guide for Parents

by Wendy Parker As the world and this country struggle to cope with the upsetting and ...

05/01/2020 - Living More Deeply Into Who We Were Created To Be

Last weekend, I discovered two writings that intrigued and excited me. They did so because they reveal generosity as a point where our scientific and religious worlds ...

05/01/2020 - Yes, Congregations Can Learn New Habits

A regional church officer told of visiting a church with a puzzling worship practice. Whenever it came time to recite the Apostle’s Creed, worshippers turned toward the ...

04/30/2020 - How Might You Extend an Offer of Prayer in Your Community? Here Are Resources & Ideas

Have you noticed neighbors and strangers requesting prayers on social media?

04/28/2020 - Resilience in the Face of Stress

Last week, the Bridge Conference Ministers extended their recommendation to suspend in person worship through the month of May.  By now, after being safe at home for ...

04/24/2020 - What do Worry Time and a Good Meltdown Have to Do with Well-Being?

Hour, by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month… how long will it take for life to return to some kind of normal or new normal? The federal, regional, and local ...

04/24/2020 - When I Was Hungry, You Fed Me

"But princess, the peasants are starving. They have no bread."   "Then let them eat cake." - Marie Antoinette (according to legend)   During the Great Depression, it was ...

04/22/2020 - We’ve Dipped Our Toes in the Water, Now What?

This period of no public worship has forced a great many of our churches to dip their toe in the water of online digital worship, and their experiences have ranged from ...

04/19/2020 - It's Hump Day

It is that midpoint in the week when folks are…let’s just say it…crabby.

04/17/2020 - Domestic Violence: What You Need to Know

Advocates for people experiencing and surviving domestic violence agree that abuse related to physical distancing is on the rise. Calls to domestic violence hotlines have...

04/17/2020 - Mental Health and Suicide Awareness and Resources

Everyone in the world is experiencing the COVID 19 pandemic to varying degrees depending on your geography, but we all are undeniably experiencing change, uncertainty, ...

04/16/2020 - Creation Care E-News: 50th Earth Day Edition

by Margaret Bullitt-Jonas Missioner for Creation Care This special edition of Creation Care Network e-news is brought to you in honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth ...

04/16/2020 - Inescapable Lessons Offer Invaluable Opportunities – Earth Day 50th & COVID19

This is not a dress rehearsal. The entire world is immersed in unrelenting, ...

04/16/2020 - Unexpected Money Can Become Unexpected Generosity

Dear Partners in Ministry, As you have probably heard, the federal government started distributing CARES Act stimulus checks of $1,200 per adult and $500 per dependent ...

04/14/2020 - Discipleship in the Time of Pandemic: This Too Shall Pass

This past Sunday was Easter Sunday and like many folks around the Conference, I was feeling despondent because it was not going to be the Easter that I am used to.  I was...

04/14/2020 - Spiritual Growth in a Time of Pandemic

I have found that my greatest spiritual growth has often occurred during dark nights of the spirit, brought about by personal and professional crises. In such times, I ...

04/13/2020 - It's "RESURRECTION"

This past week, on Maundy Thursday I had an interesting conversation with Rev. Ken Orth, my spiritual director.  He gave me a phrase that echoed with an interesting ...

04/13/2020 - The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and the Challenges Before Us

A note from your SNEUCC Bridge Conference Ministers: This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.  And for the first time since that date we have seen evidence of ...

04/08/2020 - How to Care for Someone who is Sick with COVID-19

For many of us the Coronavirus pandemic has meant preparation, hand washing, covering your cough, social distancing, changes in daily routines of life.  For some it has ...

04/08/2020 - Worship Is Not The Point

The first surveys that came out to pastors asking “how are you doing” in this Coronavirus age asked about what help we needed with worship. And during Lent, to not have ...

04/07/2020 - Dear Beloved Clergy

Dear Beloved Clergy:   This Sunday, via some electronic means, you will be proclaiming the mystery of the resurrection.   You will do this, even though you may have only ...

04/07/2020 - Discipleship in a Time of Pandemic – Finding Your Purpose

On this past Thursday, we had Rev. Matt Crebbin, Pastor of the Newtown Congregational Church as a guest on our weekly COVID-19 Webinar (recording is here).  Matt brought ...

04/07/2020 - Holy Week in the Pandemic: Journeying in a Time Not Our Own

“I go to the altar of God, to God who gives joy to me.” Why an altar?  It marks the meeting place with the Holy.  Whether a stone cairn or marble table, a mound of earth...

04/07/2020 - Holy Week: The Same, and Different

HOLY WEEK It will be the same. It will be different.  This week in our sacred story we encounter the whole range of human emotion.  The events of Holy Week are powerful ...

04/06/2020 - Look at the Birds of the Air

Jesus gives us instruction for anxious times in the comforting words found in Matthew 6:25-34, reminding us to let go of worries about the future and suggesting instead ...

04/03/2020 - Wear Face Coverings, Not Masks, in Public

Experts are speaking out in favor of a public advisory to wear protective face coverings when in public. They emphasize maintaining physical distancing, keeping our hands...

04/01/2020 - Enlist Specialists to Improve Outreach Ministry

Leading a congregation often demands the skills of a generalist, whether it’s the pastor or a team of lay leaders. Yet expert knowledge has its place. Specialists such as...

03/31/2020 - PPE - Help for the Helpers

It is a remarkable time.  Compassion and generosity are bubbling up nearly everywhere we turn.  I keep picturing the Holy Spirit as kind of like my small children, years ...

03/31/2020 - Protect Incarcerated People in CT from COVID-19

I was on a webinar last week hosted by ACLU Connecticut and the Smart Justice Team, and since then there has been the first positive COVID-19 test of an adult ...

03/30/2020 - Anticipatory Grief

Given this pandemic, there is much about which I am sad. I miss my dog park friends, as the park was closed when too many younger people were found to be congregating. I ...

03/30/2020 - Discipleship in the Time of Pandemic

As I sit reading the Sunday paper’s special sections on the third Saturday of the coronavirus shelter-in-place order, I can’t help but think about discipleship in this ...

03/30/2020 - It is to Grieve

Grief is complicated enough. It is even more difficult during this pandemic when we can’t say goodbye.

03/29/2020 - What’s Next in the Pandemic: Phases of Disaster

In this moment, we will either confirm that we are irrelevant or we will demonstrate that we are essential.

03/27/2020 - Transition or Transformation?

I frequently hear people express their strong desire for us to transition out of this pandemic and return to basically what life was before it struck. They just want to ...

03/26/2020 - Six Lessons Coronavirus Can Teach Us About Climate Change

by Margaret Bullitt-Jonas and Leah D. Schade, co-editors of the book Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis Earth Day 2020 comes at a ...

03/25/2020 - Communicating Coronavirus: Best Practices for Churches

This isn't the first time humans have faced a pandemic. After studying previous outbreaks like SARS and Avian Flu, the World Health Organization put together a thick ...

03/25/2020 - Communication: Messaging and Media in this phase of Pandemic

As we are Staying Home and Staying Safe we are discovering new ways of being church.  And we are discovering again the most essential elements of being the Body of ...

03/25/2020 - Loving our Neighbor as Ourselves During a Pandemic: Stop Stigma

Are you feeling scared, sad, disappointed, concerned you may become ill with COVID-19?  Are you watching the news or scouring websites to find out how many new cases have...

03/24/2020 - What Can I Do? Outreach in the Time of Corona

Churches are invited to copy this post, add their own information, and disseminate it in their congregations. As the Coronavirus spreads from town to town and schools ...

03/24/2020 - You’ve Been Innovating!

Churches are quickly adapting to online and electronic forms of giving, moving pastoral care to phone and Zoom, and making food collections available via drive-through.

03/23/2020 - Beware of Zoombombing

According to a New York Times article, there’s a new type of malicious behavior proliferating called Zoombombing. This is when people find publicly posted links to Zoom ...

03/23/2020 - Essentials

Essentials. In this time of a global pandemic we are using terms that attempt to characterize where we find ourselves in this challenging time.  “Social or physical ...

03/23/2020 - Scarcity or Generosity?

As the Coronavirus and its effects on people’s livelihoods has become more severe, I have been struggling with the question of how we can talk about giving to the One ...

03/22/2020 - Stay Safe. Stay Home

As of this morning, four states have issued a Stay Safe, Stay Home instruction. Some call it Shelter In Place. It is the more stringent guidelines to reduce the spread ...

03/21/2020 - How To Improve Sound in Your Video

A brief guide to improving sound in your online videos.

03/20/2020 - What Do I Do About Pastoral Care?

What do I do about pastoral care during a time of pandemic?   What do I do about wedding and funerals?   These are challenging questions in a challenging time.  One of ...

03/19/2020 - 'Be Not Afraid' About Church Finances During This Time

In the Bible, Angels, God’s messengers, often arrive saying, “Be not afraid!”   Some people may be anxious about the financial viability of their church as economic ...

03/19/2020 - Considering Our Legacy: Native American Boarding Schools

Jesus called the children to him, saying to his disciples, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.’ ~ Luke 18:16   ...

03/18/2020 - Lessons From Ministry in the Midst of a Disaster

Beloved Colleagues in Ministry, This is a message I wish I didn’t have to write. I do not want to know what I know. Because I learned my lessons about disaster ministry ...

03/18/2020 - Self-Care for Clergy: Prevent Burnout

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and ...

03/17/2020 - Learning to Be The Church Virtually

Let me just start by saying: I know this is hard. And frustrating. And exhausting. For the vast majority of our churches, providing worship or otherwise "being the ...

03/16/2020 - Discipleship

“The local church exists to make disciples of Jesus” says our mission statement. Simon Peter, “Do you love me?” And of course, Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I...

03/13/2020 - Creating Online Media for Worship

With the prospect of shutting down churches the obvious question arises: how do we worship now? Below are some helpful guidelines for creating video that may be put ...

03/13/2020 - That Hard Place

That Hard Place I don’t like pain.  I read a situation, analyze all the trajectories and options and work overtime to figure out how to get through things without causing...

03/12/2020 - Faith Formation Leadership Training Is For Today’s Congregations

I have been wrestling with the term “Sunday School” for almost as long as I’ve been a Christian educator. I sometimes even take issue with being called an “educator” in ...

03/10/2020 - Stress and Coronavirus

1 Corinthians 1:4-9 Revised Standard Version (RSV) 4 I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every ...

03/10/2020 - What To Do For Church

Friends,   Are you wondering what to do for church? This week the Governors of all three Southern New England states have declared a state of emergency related to the ...

03/02/2020 - Church and the Coronavirus

It's been a busy week since we sent out a blog (below) on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). In that time we have received a lot of resources and guidance. We’ve seen the impact...

03/01/2020 - What is the Emerging Church?

In a pub in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Peter Rollins and a group called the Ikon collective organized a religious event for visitors in town for a conference called ...

02/26/2020 - Death With Dignity Act (MA)

“Every moment involves the divine call and human response. Although we believe that God is not the source of illness, divine wisdom is revealed in illness as well as in ...

02/20/2020 - Considering Our Legacy: Doctrine of Discovery

As we continue through this year of 2020, as the Mayflower once again plans to sail into Boston Harbor, as we revisit the 400-year-old history that brought European ...

02/20/2020 - Explorers in Uncharted Territory

It goes by many names: Uncharted Territory, Wilderness Wanderings, Liminal Space. None of them evoke feelings of fun and frolic. We don’t like uncertainty.  We long for ...

02/17/2020 - Why Must We Grieve? Because We Love Another

Grief: the sad and sharp feeling of losing someone that you love. We all grieve. It is inescapable, like the chill winds of February.

02/12/2020 - Faith, Common Sense and Reducing Panic

News reports are filled with reports about the spread of illness and death due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-n CoV).  As I listen, I cannot help but see the ...

02/06/2020 - Environmental Ministries Team Demonstrates Against Proposed Compressor Station

by Barbara Darling and Ted Wade, Co-Chairs Historic Massachusetts Conference Environmental...

02/01/2020 - Get to Know the Community through Mapping

When Pastor Alexis was hired to do community outreach for the church in a racially diverse, economically struggling neighborhood, church members told him, “This is a high...

01/28/2020 - Our Faith and Heart Health

Every February we see media messages about American Heart Month: Go Red for Women®, Know your Numbers, Warning Signs of a Heart Attack and more. We are told to eat lots ...

01/23/2020 - Why We Require Our Deacons to Attend Super Saturday

Super Saturday Inspires Dreams at Central Square Congregational Church in Bridgewater, MA

01/14/2020 - Updates from Puerto Rico, Australia and others

We have seen the news of ongoing disaster challenges around the globe.  And folks have been wondering how to respond.  We received an update from our UCC National ...

01/08/2020 - Changing Our Destiny

Given the recent actions of our country – the assassination of a foreign leader justified as necessary to stop a feared attack – it is more important than ever to reflect...

01/07/2020 - Youth Can Thrive in the Southern New England Conference

We are fortunate in the Southern New England Conference to have a wide variety of support for local church youth ministries.

01/01/2020 - Repurpose Worship Space, Don’t Rebuild

January 2020—Volume 28, Number 1                   Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell   Having to deal with poorly designed or ill-suited worship space can be ...

12/22/2019 - We Need to Share the Magic

We have got to reach out into our communities – to people who have been hurt or shunned or ignored – and spread the light to them.

12/19/2019 - A Christmas Cry

  I did not expect this. The angel had warned me in a dream. We had to leave. I packed us up in the night. Herod’s men were coming with their swords drawn. We were barely...

12/19/2019 - Be Not Afraid

"Yet again we need to hear the angel’s message. 'Be not afraid.'" — Rev. Kent Siladi

12/10/2019 - I Have Work To Do. So Do You

Early in November, the Conference Ministers gathered in Birmingham for our fall meeting. But it was more than a meeting. We had been encouraged to read articles and books...

12/10/2019 - Wake Up, Turn Around, Enbridge

Today stirred some theology in my mind and spirit. Here’s a spiritual essay. I write out of my faith tradition with full respect for those of different faiths or no ...

12/01/2019 - Writing as a Tool for Community Engagement

December 2019—Volume 29, Number 12 Copyright @ 2019 by Dana Horrell Writing can help church leaders in their efforts to reach out to the community. Typically seen as a ...

11/21/2019 - Seizing the Opportunity to Re-Imagine

You’ve probably been reading about church decline and the rise of the Nones, Dones and SBNRs (Spiritual But Not Religious) in the news.  Here is just one such article: ...

11/19/2019 - What To Do with the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower Landing

What do we do with the parts of our congregational history that include colonialism and slavery?

11/12/2019 - "Unless" - Looking at an alternative to Fossil Fuel

"Our dependence on fossil fuel, if left unchecked, will eventually render much of our world uninhabitable." — Rev. Lois Happe

11/12/2019 - What's a Pray-Ground?

A Pray-Ground in a service of worship allows children to feel connected to the rest of the Body of Christ.

11/04/2019 - Breathe and Push and Breathe and Push

Choosing to actively engage in a community of faith is a lot like childbirth. It is about pushing and breathing. Constantly. Consistently.

11/04/2019 - Community Accountability in Restorative Justice

Free public presentation on restorative justice and dialogue with Lauren Abramson, 1-3:30 PM Saturday, November 16, in Boston. For more information and to register, go ...

11/01/2019 - Learning to Love Variety in Worship Song Selection

Andrea, music director at The Blue Note Church, straps in and prepares to select song ideas for the worship team to consider as it prepares for Sunday. She decides to ...

10/30/2019 - The Power of Partnership

When you work at partnerships, you build relationships... and through that you build community.

10/28/2019 - Three Things I Wish Every Church and Pastor Knew About Being Prepared

Friends, every fall emergency services focuses on disaster preparedness and fire prevention.   For years I have spent part of my ministry in the field of Disaster ...

10/23/2019 - Faith Formation & Youth Ministry for All

The classes offered through the Faith Formation Leadership Training Program are open to ANYONE who wishes to further their education of the Church.

10/23/2019 - Step up, Step up!

Youth gathered at Silver Lake on October 11-13 for the annual Shine 4 Justice retreat. This retreat is a component of the 'Thinking About Working For God' program that ...

10/16/2019 - Getting Personal - A Devotional on Race

by ivy tillman “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captive and ...

10/15/2019 - Can You Become a Better Church?

Ridgebury Congregational Church’s pastor, Debbie Rundlett, invited Charlie Kuchenbrod, Executive Associate Conference Minister, to share some stewardship wisdom and a ...

10/10/2019 - Working to Dismantle Homophobia

This past weekend, I traveled from New York City to Framingham, Massachusetts to give my second-ever presentation at Super Saturday. Its purpose: answering God’s call for...

10/09/2019 - Youth Help Super Saturday Attendees Assemble 275 CWS Hygiene Kits

Twenty-three youth from five Southern New England UCC churches and their leaders gathered for a Youth Program at the Super Saturday event on October 5th ready to put ...

10/04/2019 - National Youth Event Impact

I remember my first National Youth Event in 2008. I was working as a youth leader at a local church and had gathered a group to go to University of Tennessee. After an ...

10/01/2019 - Let's Take a Walk: The Ministry of Accompaniment

Walking alongside someone in a time of need can be vastly reassuring. The ministry of “accompaniment,” often provided by churches in support for immigrants facing ...

09/24/2019 - No Longer Can We Put Off This Work

I’ve never felt particularly called to focus my activism on climate change. I’ve tried to be mindful of my use of resources, but the movement itself, while obviously ...

09/22/2019 - Are We Changing or Transforming?

Associate Conference Minister Ellie Richardson reflects on the difference between change and transformation and asks which is happening for the Southern New England ...

09/18/2019 - Envisioning Racial Justice Brings Pain, Promise

I started my ministry as the Racial Justice Team Leader with the soon-to-be Southern New England Conference just six weeks ago...

09/18/2019 - Get Up High!

    In the very midst of their destruction, the prophet Isaiah empowers the people of God. The people in exile feel abandoned by God because they have been severed ...

09/10/2019 - Hearing is Beautiful

"I wonder why I came to church today? I couldn't hear a thing." There were no microphones; or they weren't used properly.

09/03/2019 - Facing the Rising Sun Part 4: The Legacy of Judy Simmons

Rev. Cleo Graham commemorates the 400-year anniversary of African slaves first coming to America by sharing stories about her own ancestors.

09/01/2019 - A Team Approach to Worship Design

Audrey Wells, director of Under the Tuscan Sun, describes how the use of non-professionals enriched the film crew’s effort to tell their story. For scenes in the town’s ...

08/29/2019 - Facing the Rising Sun Part 3: Slave, Midwife, and Legacy

Rev. Cleo Graham commemorates the 400-year anniversary of African slaves first coming to America by sharing stories about her own ancestors.

08/27/2019 - And Now For Something New

Here we are at the end of August, and there is indeed a plan for something new. I thought I'd share it, and I invite your feedback.

08/21/2019 - Goodbye

Chance Dixon shares lyrics from a song he created about the inclusive community that is fostered at Silver Lake

08/12/2019 - Facing the Rising Sun Part 2: Searching for Milo

Rev. Cleo Graham commemorates the 400-year anniversary of African slaves first coming to America by sharing stories about her own ancestors.

08/02/2019 - Our Planetary Cathedral on Fire

The fire in Notre Dame – literally, “Our Lady” – is over. But the fire on Mother Earth rages on.

08/01/2019 - Facing the Rising Sun Part 1

Rev. Cleo Graham commemorates the 400-year anniversary of African slaves first coming to America by sharing stories about her own ancestors who were slaves in America. ...

08/01/2019 - Learn More about Your Congregation through Focus Groups

For church leaders seeking to better understand their congregation, it pays to listen. Everyone knows the value of one-on-one conversations, yet it might not always be ...

07/30/2019 - LGBT Asylum Seeker at the Border Released to UCC Church

In the middle of May, I received an email from Paralegal Erin Anderson from Al Otro Lago, an agency that works at the border to free folks in detention and provide ...

07/16/2019 - Value Our Families: Reuniting Families Act

Rev. Carla Dietz shares her recent experience in Washington D.C. advocating for new immigration policy.

07/11/2019 - Celebration and Pride

Celebrate, Agitate, Activate - ONA35 On June 15, supporters of Open and Affirming gathered from around the Mass Conference to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the ...

07/11/2019 - Lights For Liberty Event Re-Cap

Rev. Carla Dietz recaps the Lights for Liberty event held at First Church of Christ Congregational in Glastonbury on Friday, July 12.

07/09/2019 - Standing Up and Speaking Out for our Neighbor: Becoming an Immigrant Welcoming Church

What does it sound like when voices of over 625 churches in the new TA1 Conference come ...

07/01/2019 - Team Talk Can Strengthen Volunteer Ministry

Team talk can build a strong ministry team. Of course, some may not think of conversation as an important task, viewing it as getting in the way of work and slowing it ...

06/26/2019 - #UCCSynod Table

Photo Credit - Peter Sylvia Table The word itself, spoken without context, allows those who hear it to see with their mind’s eye that with which the mind ...

06/26/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Together

"So now we move forward in faith together." — Rev. Kent Siladi

06/24/2019 - #UCCSynod: Break the Silence

Today I spoke in front of the entire gathered body of General Synod 32, a body of about 700 delegates and a few hundred more gathered onlookers. I spoke in favor of ...

06/24/2019 - #UCCSynod: Catching Clicks is Really, Really Hard

Some 750 or so General Synod delegates are gathered in the “well of the House” at the Wisconsin Center. And, being the United Church of Christ, that means 751 different ...

06/24/2019 - #UCCSynod: Challenges to Light a Fire

There have been many references to fire during Synod. Pentecost. The burning bush. Challenges to light a fire for this cause or that cause - all deserving our serious ...

06/23/2019 - #UCCSynod: Let’s Get To Work!

I was so excited for today. I was excited because it was Traci Blackmon day! She was coming to speak with us, the Together As, One group, over our breakfast caucus AND ...

06/22/2019 - #UCCSynod: Healing and Community at the National Open and Affirming Gathering

Greetings from Milwaukee! My General Synod experience begins a few days before Synod ...

06/22/2019 - #UCCSynod: Less-Visible Gatherings

I’m not a breakfast person. (Yes, there are tribes that revolve around which meals are “us.”) So the prospect of hauling my tired, talked-out bones out of bed at O’Dark ...

06/22/2019 - #UCCSynod: We Have Everything We Need

Today started early with our first Tri-Conference Caucus at 6:30 in the morning. We are off to a great running start though, despite the sleepy eyes and coffee groans, ...

06/22/2019 - #UCCSynod: What If We Held a Banquet?

Busy day, workshops just wrapped up…three plenaries into Synod 32…leaves many ‘lookin’ for the heart of Saturday night’. Today we heard from Matthew Desmond, personally ...

06/21/2019 - #UCCSynod The Serious Work Before Us

It’s travel day…or yesterday was for me. Long, long…long, long…long, long… story short; ask some of the CT delegation how their connection in Chicago went. Two of us ...

06/21/2019 - #UCCSynod: Rise and SHINE!

The morning brought a buzz that resounded from the lobby of the hotel. I didn’t have anything scheduled for my time this morning but there was still so much to do. It was...

06/21/2019 - #UCCSynod: Welcome to Milwaukee!

My taxi driver and I  made a surprising connection this morning en route from the airport. His name was Mustafa and he talked while driving and smiling about all of the ...

06/20/2019 - #UCCSynod: Blessings

The 8 o’clock hour here in Milwaukee offers a quiet excitement as I sneak by the check-in tables and make my way to the counter for my room key. It’s easy to avert ...

06/19/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Ready, Set, Go