Changing the Narrative: Moving from “Decline, Failure, Closure, and Death” to “Maturity,...
On October 5, 2022, churches from across the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ gathered at Edwards House in Framingham, MA to view...
Mindfulness education was provided to children and youth in need of tools to ground them in the beauty of the present moment amidst the chaos of daily stressors resulting...
Henry, from Uganda, was a pastor’s son. When his father discovered that he had a boyfriend, the family and church ‘sentenced’ him to conversion therapy. Henry suffered ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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 ...
March 2022—Volume 30, Number 3 Copyright @ 2022 by Dana Horrell The world experiences its share of problems—hunger, joblessness, crime, environmental ...
February 2022—Volume 30, Number 2 Copyright @ 2022 by Dana Horrell Community engagement requires action, but does it require study as well? Standing ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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’...
Let us experiment - there can be no mistakes!
October 2021—Volume 28, Number 10 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell Walking the neighborhood offers an unparalleled chance for church leaders to ...
“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 ...
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 ...
September 2021—Volume 28, Number 9 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell On the two-hour drive back from the federal penitentiary, Pastor Eduardo ...
August 2021—Volume 28, Number 8 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell When church leaders survey the surrounding community, its urgent ...
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 ...
July 2020—Volume 28, Number 7 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell In the 2020 season of pandemic restrictions a number of churches found ...
June 2020—Volume 28, Number 6 Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell Typically the question of whether to relocate is precipitated by a building ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
"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 ...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Vital congregations reach out to strengthen the communities where they are located. Different denominations give different names for this ministry, including mission and ...
"Churches need to be more innovative. Clearly, the old way of doing things is not working, as demographic studies will show." — Susan Page Townsley
"As the Spotlight editor, I hear about individuals and church groups doing amazing things every day."— Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane
“How often, making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia!”[1] The worship band represents a way of ...
"In the midst of an occupation by a repressive foreign power, where religious authorities were collaborators, where the economic system was unjust and income inequality ...
"What if legacy thinking guided all our church decisions?" — Rev. Jonathan New
Some neighborhoods feel more secure once neighbors have become acquainted. Church leaders wanting to get to know their community could organize a block party. It can be a...
"It truly is a life changing experience being a counselor." — Rev. Ryan Gackenheimer
"The magic is in connecting their hearts and minds with wonder and beauty of the planet..." — Pam Arifian
Part Two of Dan Smolnik's look at church growth patterns.
"Across America, the Church is not disappearing at all." - Dan Smolnik
"One of the fundamental lessons of that road is liminal space. It is learning how to become comfortable with having more questions than answers." —Rev. Don Remick
At First Church, the newly arrived pastor faced a question over whether to continue holding its evening service, which utilizes a rock band, praise songs, and emphasizes ...
"What makes Christian Community different, however, is that in Christian Community we believe in reconciliation, the restoration of relationship, and welcoming folks back...
"A minister needs time to think creatively and playfully." — Susan Page Townsley
Seminaries and social work programs often ask their students to create a self-care plan. Not only does this send a message about self-care while pursuing a degree, ...
"The interconnectedness of justice issues and climate impact means that your action at every level matters." — Pam Arifian
"The stewardship committee often is placed in the church trustee/finance budget constellation of people. It belongs in the deacon/faith formation constellation of ...
"And churches stay on the ground, involved in helping people find their way into a new normal, long after the news crews have moved on to the next disaster or lead ...
The church is no stranger to controversy. Chapter 15 of the Book of Acts describes a ...
"Churches are closing and it’s time to break the silence." — Rev. Jonathan New
Many people feel called to their work and respond to job demands in ways that reflect a sense of vocation. But do we expect clergy to perform their calling with even ...
Rev. Jeff Lukens created a communion liturgy to address the "healing and wholeness" needed in a time when news about immigrants and their families is often disturbing and...
In the 1950s, a new church start pastor challenged every member to invite two newcomers each month. Members enthusiastically committed to such a plan and the pastor’s ...
"High touch—paying attention—reduces these anxieties." —Martha Goodman
"When have you been uncomfortable, but did/said/stood up for [your work] anyway?" —Michele Mudrick
"We can talk until the cows come home about structure, process and strategy and get stuck in the weeds missing the fundamental nature of what is truly important in ...
“Where is the nursery?” That is often the first question when young parents visit a new church. At a minimum, they expect their question to be answered with confidence, ...
"Our response to each new challenge has come from that core mission: intentional Christian community." —Jennifer Kronholm Clark
"Because we have been born in a time such as this, we have this opportunity to bear witness to the truth." —Rev. Jim Antal
"The blessing of a caring community will be realized in countless ways." — Debby Kirk
"As with all charitable giving, church people are inspired to give when they understand and believe in the church's mission, know how it's making a difference, and have ...
When Jack picked up his car after repairs at the local dealership, he noticed instructions securely taped on the main desk where all customers could easily read it. "What...
"For them, preserving and maintaining the church is not an end in itself. And it never has been."— Rev. Don Remick
Carbon dioxide emissions have been implicated as a key factor in rising global temperatures. Because all church buildings use energy, much of it derived from carbon-based...
"Love one another. It is finished. He is Risen!" — Rev. Kent Siladi
"Our congregations and our wider church need to look outward and shout to the world that Jesus Christ is Sovereign without being judgmental or formulating value judgments...
Jean grew up in a large Methodist church in Ohio—confirmed there, active as a young adult, and married there. To accept a part-time job at the church, and later to go ...
Tim Shapiro, from the Indianapolis Center for Congregations, believes that vibrant congregations exhibit a commitment to increasing congregational capacity. As demands on...
Those of us in Christian Education work hard to provide our children and youth with information and experiences which we hope will lead them to have a lifelong faith. ...
Serving a church without a written job description is like embarking on a long trip without a road map.
"When we join in joyous music and faithful worship, our spirits are fed." — Persephone Hall
I challenge everyone to think about their “not that it matters" moments and find out why it matters to say those words… to get to the root of it and ask yourself, does ...
As a church pastor and parent of two millennial daughters, I recognize some growth areas that our church and I need to be more attentive to regarding this often ...
Sociologist Joshua Packard describes an emerging population he calls the “dones.” They are “spiritual refugees” from organized religion who were once long-time members, ...
Do we see a snake or a rope? In this metaphor, the snake is fear, disappointment, discouragement, despair, anxiety, distrust, bitterness, or dejection. What is the rope? ...
“Please do not laminate our new vision statement and put it on the wall,” a member quipped...
A new church member—a recent African immigrant—described what his Christian mother taught him: “When someone comes to you and needs food and shelter, you give it to them....
On Friday, August 7, 2015, Vermont state employees left work and made their way to the parking lot together. There, a former client confronted and killed Lara Sobel, a ...
Even though they are not members, Bill and Dorothy go to a church in their neighborhood once or twice per month. They are fond of the pastor and proud of the ...
Friends, We are frequently getting requests about resources for individuals and churches around skills to help transform conflict into health choices, conversations and...
A reflection and details on the MBA leadership's decision to change the venue and program for the MBA spring meeting.
Although megachurches garner a great deal of attention, these supersized congregations comprise only a small fraction of all worshiping communities in the U.S. The ...
After months of meetings, the long-range planning committee of Epiphany Church submitted a report to the congregation’s board. The report highlighted three important ...
It is more important than ever for us as people of God to welcome all into the safety and embrace of our church communities. Our LGBTQ friends are hungry for a place to ...
While Christian-Jewish may be most people’s first association for “interfaith,” as the population of “nones” grows, the most common pairing is actually a Christian and a ...
Mission Insite has a way for you to economically acquire a list of folks who are new to your community.
December 2016—Volume 24, Number 12 Copyright @ 2016 by C. Jeff Woods God sparks innovations, but only on God’s terms, and those terms usually involve ...
We discovered that many who attended our post-election vigil were looking for a safe place in the midst of uncertainty.
November 2016—Volume 24, Number 11 Copyright @ 2016 by Cynthia Woolever The church governing board gathered with a consultant for their much-publicized first...
October 2016—Volume 24, Number 10 Copyright @ 2016 by Cynthia Woolever Forces large and small affect how best to answer the question: “What should we pay...
September 2016—Volume 24, Number 9 Copyright @ 2016 by Cynthia Woolever All individuals and organizations struggle with change. Implementing new ideas ...
The brave, faithful members and leaders of Sanctuary United Church of Christ revealed what it means to be church this weekend in an article beautifully written for the ...
When asked, “How did you first find out about this congregation?” visitors give surprisingly diverse answers. Because not all visitors are seeking the same thing, their ...
April 2016—Volume 24, Number 4 Copyright @ 2016 by Cynthia Woolever The governing board met to make their final decision about hiring a new ...
Several years ago, the Rev. Dr. Freddy Hayes III, pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, noticed storefront payday lenders popping up like mushrooms, ...
See how the Dudley UCC connects to church and community through PJ’s Place email communication, yoga, theater, and Bible reading.
Increasing membership in a small church means having to empower the members and helping them dig deep into their faith.
In this current era of life and culture, one of the realizations is a return to an ancient concept of relationships. How do we get to know our neighbors? How do we ...
There is a church in Haverhill embarking on a path towards a new rebirth for this generation. Who is this generation? These are the children who heard a splintered and ...
The Rev. Jane Willan talks about the ideas behind her new book, Jump Start This Church!
Eighteen people from the Massachusetts Conference UCC went to the National Church Leadership Institute August 7-10 in Atlanta GA. Donna Spencer Collins, a member of the ...
Church on the Hill, UCC in Lenox organized a community communion service where church-goers and non-churchgoers sat at the same table and shared music, scripture, ...
One of your sister churches, First Church Somerville UCC, where I have pastored since 2003, has enjoyed a remarkable degree of growth during the last decade: from 30 to ...
“What if your church suddenly disappeared overnight? Would anybody notice?” First Congregational Church UCC of Saugus believes it can no longer count on the tradition of ...
Jesus’ words about the need to be born of the Spirit and born anew resonate with the current happenings at Foster Memorial Church in Springfield. The pastor – along with ...
God might be knocking on our church doors with opportunity! With parenting centers located in Arlington, Boston, Needham and Hanover closing, I immediately thought about...
Upon his return from a sabbatical, the pastor of West Parish of Barnstable, UCC, was astonished to see that the church had suffered a marked decline in attendance by ...