Service experiences are a way to embody faith, to go beyond abstract learning, and practice compassion in tangible and personal ways. Service helps youth to learn empathy...
UCC Boxborough strives to make an environment that is open, welcoming and safe for those with dementia and their families and caregivers by providing support and ways to ...
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When our ancestors wondered what gifts to bring before God, the prophet Micah replied that 'God has told you, O mortal, what is good. What does the Lord require of you ...
Are you among the 86 percent of Americans that believe that financial education classes ...
Where I came from was “church summer camp”.
Thank you! Your generosity so far this year is deeply appreciated, is never ever taken for granted, and does not go unnoticed!
The author, Rev. Ellen Petersen, in The Gambia Author's Note: Traveling to far off countries is in my DNA. A few months back, I went on the Center for Disease ...
Instead of waiting for a veteran Faith Formation leader to apply, why not cultivate one who may already be planted in your own backyard? We often look outside our church ...
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Rev James D. Ross II Last weekend wore me out. It wasn’t Independence Day festivities that did it. I am weary because of the dreadful news from the weekend, ...
I can’t stop thinking about a recent experience now that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling expands gun rights. While driving from my home in Boston to a more rural area as ...
For all my life I have believed that all people deserve equality of human rights, access to healthcare and fair, equal treatment under the law and basic humanity of our ...
New stories added! Clergy and lay leaders from several SNEUCC congregations traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Poor People’s Campaign Moral March on June ...
What this means for us, in a nutshell, is that churches using a narrative budge in addition to, if not as a replacement for, a ‘numbers only’ budget are in a much better ...
Completing Ministries Faithfully and Well. A church that completes its ministry well, a church that completes its ministry faithfully, does not fail. Indeed, a church ...
Lillian Steinmeyer, Environmental Justice Intern Nature & Neighbors is an ...
by Nancy Leckerling, Co-Chair of the Environmental Ministry Team of First Congregational Church of Guilford, CT The First Congregational Church of Guilford, CT – the ...
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….” I was introduced to a new way of referring to what we typically call a budget in a local church, Association, or Conference ...
June 2022—Volume 30, Number 6 Copyright @ 2022 by Dana Horrell Small groups are a significant part of the church’s past. In early Christianity, the ...
Covid-19, Monkeypox, and infant formula shortages are top news stories today. Congregations are praying, mobilizing resources, and considering what they can do to ...
Angry? Yes. Heartbroken? Yes. Shocked at violence like this? Yes. Not shocked that this violence continues? Yes. Wanting to turn away, to ignore the pain? Yes. ...
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If your body needs to rest it needs to rest. Listen to your body.
The Center for Transformational Leadership would like to introduce a new feature in our newsletter. As you may know, in addition to leadership development, innovation ...
“We need to plan for the long term” – I heard from the head of the Lutheran Diakonia in Poland – “Most of the refugees will stay here for years. The help from the UCC ...
The disruption caused by Covid has prompted us all to take stock and re-assess. This is a good time for faith formation leaders to step back from the day-to-day details ...
No one stands alone on one side of the bridge.
May 2022—Volume 30, Number 5 Copyright @ 2022 by Dana Horrell On a sunny Saturday, Pastor Reginald looks at the crowd in line for free hamburgers and hot dogs as the...
Poor mental health is alarmingly high among high school students during the pandemic and even higher among LGBTQ+ youth.
We are all living with the reality of uncertainty at this moment in time. Our world as we knew it has been turned upside down by the pandemic, social injustice, health ...
Vaccination, positivity, hospitalization rates, masking: what does this mean for my community? How do I decide what to do for myself, my family, my community, my ...
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One of the challenges for small churches is figuring out how much the congregation can do. Old programs you did when you had twice as many members seem to hang on. And ...
Rev. Dr. Sarah Drummond, Dean of Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School is ...
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The following is an update from the Rev. Kazimierz Bem, pastor of the First Church in Marlborough, MA, and a native of Poland. (More on his church's fundraising efforts ...
The Parish Care team at First Church of Christ in Old Saybrook, Connecticut launched a new program known as 'Wilderness Companions' - a time of spiritual growth and story...
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I went to the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Town after town where our churches are doing their best to be a witness to the love of Christ marched by: Holyoke, ...
April 2022—Volume 30, Number 4 Copyright @ 2022 by Dana Horrell Rachel Hildebrandt joined the priest-in-charge of Church of the Crucifixion in the ...
I love Easter. As I’ve often shared with folks, I adore much about it: Sunrise services, springtime pastels, Easter baptisms, and all of the pomp and circumstance that ...
Advice for churches on how to ensure resources reach the people who need them.
A cut-out card made by one of the refugees in the Reformed congregation in Łódź. First Church in Marlborough will be using it as our bulletin cover for Easter. ...
If you’re reading this newsletter about justice for people in UCC churches, you probably won’t be surprised to know that I spend a lot of time in meetings. Meetings to ...
Given the rising tensions about the possibility of a nuclear attack by Russia, we citizens and church members of Massachusetts and the Southern New England Conference, ...
The following is a letter from the Rev. Kazimierz Bem, pastor of the First Church in Marlborough, MA, and a native of Poland. A dozen churches sent contributions through ...
Is it possible to, at one and the same time, both love the church and hate it as well? I am an ordained clergyperson in the United Church of Christ. Having been raised ...
We can help volunteers to gain confidence and move to what John Westerhoff calls “owned faith,” by offering discipleship development in small bites.
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In order to strengthen the ministry and advance the mission of SNEUCC, individual Area Conference Ministers (ACMs) will assume responsibility for shepherding particular ...
March 1, 2022, COVID Update We are making progress in the pandemic. More people are vaccinated, the Omicron surge is subsiding, and mandates are being relaxed, as we ...
March 2022—Volume 30, Number 3 Copyright @ 2022 by Dana Horrell The world experiences its share of problems—hunger, joblessness, crime, environmental ...
Each one of us has the ability to offer some support.
I’ve been reflecting on a news segment from a few years ago in which reporters interviewed restaurant owners about “meat-like” options for people who practice the ritual ...
Everybody’s got a right to live is one of the anthems the Poor People’s Campaign uses when engaging in direct action and other activities. The verses go on to proclaim ...
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“If you are seeking a single, comprehensive guide to church finance, look no further. This is it. Lovett H. Weems Jr. and Ann A. Michel have written a practical guide ...
"I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope." Jeremiah 29:11 At a recent ...
What does Faith Formation look like in post-pandemic era? We struggle with how to build relationships and make personal connections when contact is so limited. The ...
Welcoming children and families into worshipping as the Body of Christ together!
Through collaboration with UCC Wellness Ministries, SNEUCC Health and Wellness Ministry ...
Thank you all for your generous financial support! You contributed $3,484,442 to support the work of the SNEUCC and the national setting through Proportional Giving in ...
As we begin the third year of the pandemic I recognize that congregational life has morphed many times over since the pandemic began. I invite you to take the following ...
February 2022—Volume 30, Number 2 Copyright @ 2022 by Dana Horrell Community engagement requires action, but does it require study as well? Standing ...
Remember the days of old, consider the years long past; ask your father, and he will inform you; your elders, and they will tell you. Deuteronomy 32:7 As February ...
A reflection by Brenda Nolan, SNEUCC Restorative Justice Task Team Paula Blumenthal and I are pleased to serve the SNEUCC Restorative Justice Team (I as Chair, she ...
“It’s very much a part of our tradition, as Christians, to be engaged in the public square….When people say, ‘Let’s not get political in the church,’ [it helps to ...
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 ...
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 ...
A healthy approach to one’s sexuality.
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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...
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...
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 ...
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.
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 ...
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...
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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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Together We Thrive News by Rev. Heather Ramsey-Mabrouk Innovation, Vitality & Clergy Renewal You are probably wondering: What do Innovation and Church Vitality have ...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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“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 ...
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 ...
With careful attention, each situation can be managed with successful outcomes.
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 ...
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’...
Congress extended and expanded the universal charitable tax deduction that became law as ...
For more than 30 years, the historic Massachusetts Conference and the Pentecostal Church of Chile have walked together in an ecumenical partnership and many ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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’ ...
Dear Colleagues, Henri Nouwen’s reflection on A Spirituality of Fundraising informs my work and teaching around generosity. When thinking of annual stewardship ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
Let us experiment - there can be no mistakes!
Is it possible to create parity between worshipers who participate digitally versus being in-person?
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
October 2021—Volume 28, Number 10 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell Walking the neighborhood offers an unparalleled chance for church leaders to ...
“I’d like double shots please!” For those who are eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine ...
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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...
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 ...
Would you like to find some lost treasure? Could your church use some unexpected money? Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island all have “Unclaimed Property” ...
What would you like your world to look like 5 years from now? How about 10 or 20 or 50 years from now?
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, ...
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 ...
“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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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“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 ...
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 ...
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...
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...
September 2021—Volume 28, Number 9 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell On the two-hour drive back from the federal penitentiary, Pastor Eduardo ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
As followers of the Jesus who welcomes children, let us not forget to protect them.
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
Several inquiries have been received regarding maintaining safe workplace practices for church office staff vaccinated and unvaccinated. The resources listed here offer ...
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 ...
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 ...
The SNEUCC Faith Formation Leadership Program offers adaptive skills for faith formation.
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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 ...
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....
August 2021—Volume 28, Number 8 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell When church leaders survey the surrounding community, its urgent ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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 ...
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I urge all of us to be builders. To develop, organize, and implement ideas, practices, people, and resources in service of a collective vision.
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 ...
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."
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. ...
Which tools do we need to use for true innovation to take place?
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
Emily McKenna, Program Support Associate, interviews Katie Howe. Katie is a Masters of Divinity student at Chicago Theological Seminary, a Woodridge Congregational Church...
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 ...
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? ...
July 2020—Volume 28, Number 7 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell In the 2020 season of pandemic restrictions a number of churches found ...
Updated handbooks/guides are now available for search and call as well as support.
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 ...
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...
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 ~ ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
In this month's Discipleship Matters newsletter, Emily McKenna interviews Jennifer Kronholm Clark, Silver Lake Conference Center’s Program Director. Learn what's ...
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 ...
June 2020—Volume 28, Number 6 Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell Typically the question of whether to relocate is precipitated by a building ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
OR: Is Our Confirmation Model Still Valid for the 21st Century?
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 ...
May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (https://asianpacificheritage.gov/). ...
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 ...
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 ...
“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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Some [seeds] fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold. (Luke 8:8, NRSV)
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 ...
April 2021 National Health Observances include National Minority Health Month, and World Health Day, timely topics in the context of the coronavirus pandemic racial ...
We must continue our work together to bring forth a United States of America in which each...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
What will be the best ways to be the Body of Christ post-pandemic?
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...
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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...
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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.” ...
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The question to ask is, "How do we pass on the faith knowing what we know now?"
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 ...
Drew Page offers some tips for churches and pastors to protect against email scams.
This inaugural issue of Generous Thoughts features the Rev. Kent Siladi, Director of ...
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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 ...
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.
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 ...
Walking alongside teens on their spiritual journeys remains our focus.
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 ...
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...
How do we navigate uncertainty while ministering to our congregations?
Information is available on how the CAA law relates to churches and religious groups.
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 ...
"The past ten months of pandemic can either be lost time or the time of our lives, or a mixture of both."
January 2021—Volume 29, Number 1 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell Whatever else it did, the COVID-19 health crisis forced congregations to consider ...
Rev. Marilyn Kendrix shares her farewell thoughts as she finishes her time serving as Bridge Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference.
Rev. Don Remick share his thoughts as the year and his time serving as Bridge Conference Minister come to a close.
A message from Bridge Conference Ministers Rev. Marilyn Kendrix and Rev. Don Remick
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 ...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
Spiritual practices take many forms. For Rev. Dawn Adams and family, one form is to "babysit as flame."
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
Copyright law has easily been the biggest challenge for my church to overcome
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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, ...
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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 ...
My hope is built on the love of God and the ever-present reality of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
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 ...
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.”
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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Last week Don Remick shared with us the results from the SNEUCC’s most recent COVID ...
November 2020—Volume 28, Number 11 Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell Livestreaming a worship service extends its reach far beyond the physical gathering of...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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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. ...
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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 ...
by Katherine Schofield, Old South Church On October 11, Old South Church in Boston hosted...
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 ...
This fall is a perfect opportunity for confirmation programs to look back at our history.
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 ...
How will you most effectively walk the path of faith with your congregation?
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 ...
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 ...
by Jonathan Guest and David Cleaver-Bartholomew For many churches these are challenging and stressful times. Church members are concerned about worship, programs, and ...
by Jonathan Guest and David Cleaver-Bartholomew In our previous article published on ...
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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...
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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 ...
Access Sunday is October 11 Each year, the second Sunday of October is designated on the ...
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“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 ...
“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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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...
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 ...
Playlists! What are they? An introduction to the concept of Playlists as a new format for shaping faith.
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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 ...
Blurred boundaries can result for lay staff who are also members of that congregation.
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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.
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
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, ...
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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 ...
We owe it to our congregations to offer high quality faith formation and youth ministries, particularly during these uncertain times.
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
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...
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 ...
“ 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 ...
Rev. Kent Siladi offers some final thoughts before his departure.
Rev. Joy Utter shares thoughts on the late Congressman John Lewis.
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“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 ...
Camp Ruggles and Irons Homestead. For 46 years now the sounds of children enjoying summer mark the flow of a long friendship.
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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, ...
The importance of conversation with loved ones surrounding one’s end of life choices for ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Hurricane season 2020 has begun; amidst the coronavirus pandemic and racial injustice we ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
Children can exhibit racist behavior as early as the age of five.
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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 ...
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...
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There are precious few good police. I know that this is a provocative statement.
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 ...
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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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
"Our goal and mission should be to ensure that no one among us is lost." — Rev. Chuck Ericson
"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 ...
Many faith formation and youth ministry leaders are wondering just how safe it will be to gather the children and youth in person.
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
King Street UCC in Danbury, CT, this weekend seemed to have done everything right. Someone still got in.
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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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 ...
by Wendy Parker As the world and this country struggle to cope with the upsetting and ...
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 ...
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 ...
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Have you noticed neighbors and strangers requesting prayers on social media?
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 ...
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 ...
"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 ...
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 ...
It is that midpoint in the week when folks are…let’s just say it…crabby.
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...
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, ...
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 ...
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This is not a dress rehearsal. The entire world is immersed in unrelenting, ...
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 ...
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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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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“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...
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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 ...
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 ...
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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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 ...
Grief is complicated enough. It is even more difficult during this pandemic when we can’t say goodbye.
In this moment, we will either confirm that we are irrelevant or we will demonstrate that we are essential.
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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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 ...
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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.
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
A brief guide to improving sound in your online videos.
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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 ...
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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
“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 ...
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 ...
“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...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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...
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 ...
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“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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Grief: the sad and sharp feeling of losing someone that you love. We all grieve. It is inescapable, like the chill winds of February.
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 ...
by Barbara Darling and Ted Wade, Co-Chairs Historic Massachusetts Conference Environmental...
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...
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 ...
Super Saturday Inspires Dreams at Central Square Congregational Church in Bridgewater, MA
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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 ...
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...
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We are fortunate in the Southern New England Conference to have a wide variety of support for local church youth ministries.
January 2020—Volume 28, Number 1 Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell Having to deal with poorly designed or ill-suited worship space can be ...
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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.
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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...
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"Yet again we need to hear the angel’s message. 'Be not afraid.'" — Rev. Kent Siladi
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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: ...
What do we do with the parts of our congregational history that include colonialism and slavery?
"Our dependence on fossil fuel, if left unchecked, will eventually render much of our world uninhabitable." — Rev. Lois Happe
A Pray-Ground in a service of worship allows children to feel connected to the rest of the Body of Christ.
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Choosing to actively engage in a community of faith is a lot like childbirth. It is about pushing and breathing. Constantly. Consistently.
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 ...
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 ...
When you work at partnerships, you build relationships... and through that you build community.
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 ...
The classes offered through the Faith Formation Leadership Training Program are open to ANYONE who wishes to further their education of the Church.
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 ...
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 ...
Ridgebury Congregational Church’s pastor, Debbie Rundlett, invited Charlie Kuchenbrod, Executive Associate Conference Minister, to share some stewardship wisdom and a ...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Associate Conference Minister Ellie Richardson reflects on the difference between change and transformation and asks which is happening for the Southern New England ...
I started my ministry as the Racial Justice Team Leader with the soon-to-be Southern New England Conference just six weeks ago...
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 ...
"I wonder why I came to church today? I couldn't hear a thing." There were no microphones; or they weren't used properly.
Rev. Cleo Graham commemorates the 400-year anniversary of African slaves first coming to America by sharing stories about her own ancestors.
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 ...
Rev. Cleo Graham commemorates the 400-year anniversary of African slaves first coming to America by sharing stories about her own ancestors.
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.
Chance Dixon shares lyrics from a song he created about the inclusive community that is fostered at Silver Lake
Rev. Cleo Graham commemorates the 400-year anniversary of African slaves first coming to America by sharing stories about her own ancestors.
The fire in Notre Dame – literally, “Our Lady” – is over. But the fire on Mother Earth rages on.
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
Rev. Carla Dietz shares her recent experience in Washington D.C. advocating for new immigration policy.
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 ...
Rev. Carla Dietz recaps the Lights for Liberty event held at First Church of Christ Congregational in Glastonbury on Friday, July 12.
What does it sound like when voices of over 625 churches in the new TA1 Conference come ...
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 ...
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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 ...
"So now we move forward in faith together." — Rev. Kent Siladi
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...