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09/08/2021 - Patience Increases Well-Being
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff“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 ...
Blogs
Blogs
08/31/2021 - September is Suicide Awareness Month: Be Aware, Show You Care
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffWe 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 ...
08/17/2021 - Covid Guidance for Church Offices
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff CoronavirusSeveral inquiries have been received regarding maintaining safe workplace practices for church office staff vaccinated and unvaccinated. The resources listed here offer ...
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08/05/2021 - Resources for Coping During the Lingering Pandemic
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffFrom your Faith Community Nurse, Minister of Health & Wellness Deborah Ringen Wow, it is August already! Summer days bring fun, family, vacations, and the realization ...
07/13/2021 - The Transformational Work of God
By: Deborah Ringen - Church InnovationAs 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 ...
07/06/2021 - God’s Creation: The Joys and Concerns of Summer
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffSunshine, 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? ...
05/26/2021 - What is the Bottom Line for Coronavirus Safety?
By: Deborah RingenWow, 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 ...
05/10/2021 - Should We Gather or Not?
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffExcitement 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 ...
04/29/2021 - Faith and Mental Illness: Mental Health Sunday, May 16, 2021
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffMental 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 ...
04/16/2021 - Supporting Programs for Equitable Vaccine Distribution
By: Deborah Ringen - Justice and WitnessWe 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 ...
03/31/2021 - Compassion: A Response to Racial Injustice and Health Disparity
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffApril 2021 National Health Observances include National Minority Health Month, and World Health Day, timely topics in the context of the coronavirus pandemic racial ...
03/17/2021 - COVID-19 Vaccination: The Inside Story of a Nurse Vaccinator
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffRecently, 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 ...
01/12/2021 - COVID-19 2021: Prolonged Uncertainty
By: Deborah Ringen - Justice and WitnessHere 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 ...
12/22/2020 - Substance Abuse Addiction: Help is Available
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffChristmas 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
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffFrom 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
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffHolidays 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 - Longest Night Liturgy Available
By: Peggy Matteson Deborah Ringen - Conference staffLongest 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
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffConnecticut, 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 ...
11/18/2020 - A Thanksgiving Prayer for Those Who Are Weary
By: Jessica McArdle Deborah Ringen - Conference staffGrateful 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 ...
11/04/2020 - Dying With Dignity Legislation Update
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffOver 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
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffOh 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 ...
10/26/2020 - Congregations Can Support Mental Health
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffLast 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 ...
09/23/2020 - When Clergy Face Depression We Can ALL Help
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffAll 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 ...
09/02/2020 - Masks Are More Important Than Ever: Slow the Spread
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffPeople 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 - Pilgrimage Through the Pandemic
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffThis 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
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffFaith 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
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Disaster ReliefHow can clergy juggle family caregiving and the stress of serving their flock during a pandemic, racial injustice, hurricanes, and the divisive political climate? Even ...
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07/23/2020 - Care for One Another- Immunize!
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff“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 ...
07/09/2020 - The Conversation Continues: Update on Death with Dignity Legislation (MA)
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Justice and WitnessThe importance of conversation with loved ones surrounding one’s end of life choices for ...
06/17/2020 - It’s Hurricane Season: “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit.” - Luke 12:35
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Disaster ReliefHurricane season 2020 has begun; amidst the coronavirus pandemic and racial injustice we ...
05/22/2020 - Tips for Pastoral/Spiritual Care in Nursing Homes During Quarantine
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Disaster Relief Justice and WitnessAs 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 ...
05/13/2020 - Bottom Line: Maintain Your Health - Mind, Body, and Spirit
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Disaster ReliefAs 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
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Disaster ReliefExperts 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 ...
04/24/2020 - What do Worry Time and a Good Meltdown Have to Do with Well-Being?
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Disaster ReliefHour, 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 ...
04/17/2020 - Domestic Violence: What You Need to Know
By: Deborah Ringen - Disaster ReliefAdvocates 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
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Disaster ReliefEveryone in the world is experiencing the COVID 19 pandemic to varying degrees depending on your geography, but we all are undeniably experiencing change, uncertainty, ...
04/08/2020 - How to Care for Someone who is Sick with COVID-19
By: Deborah Ringen - Disaster ReliefFor 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 ...
04/03/2020 - Wear Face Coverings, Not Masks, in Public
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Disaster Relief Justice and WitnessExperts 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...
03/25/2020 - Loving our Neighbor as Ourselves During a Pandemic: Stop Stigma
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Disaster Relief Justice and WitnessAre 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...
03/18/2020 - Self-Care for Clergy: Prevent Burnout
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Justice and Witness“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 ...
03/10/2020 - Stress and Coronavirus
By: Deborah Ringen1 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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02/26/2020 - Death With Dignity Act (MA)
By: Deborah Ringen - Justice and Witness“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 ...
02/12/2020 - Faith, Common Sense and Reducing Panic
By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staffNews 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 ...
01/28/2020 - Our Faith and Heart Health
By: Deborah Ringen - Justice and WitnessEvery 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 ...