06/26/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Together
By: Kent Siladi - Church History and Identity Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"So now we move forward in faith together." — Rev. Kent Siladi
Blogs
Blogs
06/19/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Ready, Set, Go
By: Emily McKenna - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Our faith as Christians reminds us that for everything there is a season." —Emily McKenna
06/12/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: From the Inside
By: Charles Ericson - Conference programming Conference staff Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"There is an easy, sometimes playful energy of collegiality among us that can escalate into laughter or occasionally bring forth a tear. "— Rev. Chuck Ericson
06/05/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Partners
By: Karen Ziel - Conference programming Making Disciples Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"The best and most effective partnerships are formed in the context of communities, organizations, and families within whom these values and this way of being are deeply ...
05/29/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: It's All About Relationship
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Conference programming Making Disciples Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Faith is more caught than taught." —Debbie Gline Allen
05/22/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: A Community of Colleagues – and Colleagues in Community
By: Mary Nelson - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Sure, I can connect with *more* people online than I can in person, but these connections...
05/15/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Being Open to a New Way
By: Martha Goodman - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"I don’t know about you, but the simpler way isn’t always obvious to me." — Martha Goodman
05/08/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Innovate and Create
By: Susan Townsley - Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Churches need to be more innovative. Clearly, the old way of doing things is not working, as demographic studies will show." — Susan Page Townsley
05/07/2019 - It’s a New Thing!
By: Cleo Graham - Board of Directors Together, As OneThis is one of a series of reflections on the joint gathering of the board members of Together, As One Board with the members of the boards of the historic Connecticut, ...
05/06/2019 - A Bittersweet Day
By: Timoth Sylvia - Board of Directors Together, As OneThis is one of a series of reflections on the joint gathering of the board members of Together, As One Board with the members of the boards of the historic Connecticut, ...
05/06/2019 - A Both/ And Moment
By: Lauren Ostrout - Board of Directors Together, As OneThis is one of a series of reflections on the joint gathering of the board members of Together, As One Board with the members of the boards of the historic Connecticut, ...
05/06/2019 - We've Arrived
By: Richard Maxwell Grant - Together, As OneThis is one of a series of reflections on the joint gathering of the board members of Together, As One Board with the members of the boards of the historic Connecticut, ...
05/01/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Extraordinary Things
By: Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane - Church History and Identity Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"As the Spotlight editor, I hear about individuals and church groups doing amazing things every day."— Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane
04/24/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Common Bond
- Conference programming Environment Many Voices, One Mission Outdoor Ministries Together, As One"Once a pair identifies the common bond on their cards, they share with each other to discover a common bond between themselves." — Jennifer Kronholm Clark
04/17/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Redefining Social Matter in America
By: Toyan Harper - Conference programming Justice and Witness Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"So often, people fail to realize the interconnectedness of our struggle, because individual liberties are mistaken as the liberation of all people." — TJ Harper
04/10/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Hope
By: Charles Kuchenbrod - Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"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 ...
04/09/2019 - Making God’s Love and Justice Real at Lighthouse Shops
By: Marilyn Kendrix - Together, As OneSince coming to the Rhode Island Conference in July, I have traveled around the state, visiting with RICUCC churches, meeting folks and sometimes preaching the Word. ...
04/03/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Legacy Beneficiaries
By: Jonathan New - Church History and Identity Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"What if legacy thinking guided all our church decisions?" — Rev. Jonathan New
03/27/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: The Backbone of Silver Lake
- Church History and Identity Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Outdoor Ministries Together, As One"It truly is a life changing experience being a counselor." — Rev. Ryan Gackenheimer
03/20/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Cultivating Connections
By: Pamela Arifian - Church Innovation Conference programming Environment Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"The magic is in connecting their hearts and minds with wonder and beauty of the planet..." — Pam Arifian
03/20/2019 - Together As One: Catching a Breath and Watching the Winds Blow
By: Donald Remick - Together, As OneIn the midst of this season of Lent there is a calling to pause, listen and watch for the movement of the Spirit and breathe deeply the presence of God. In those ...
03/13/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Justice Is Local
By: Wendy Vanderhart - Conference programming Justice and Witness Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Our most vital churches have a pulse on their neighborhood and are actively serving God’s people..." —Rev. Wendy Vander Hart
03/06/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: There Are No Easy Answers
By: Tiffany Vail - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"It’s never easy to admit you don’t have the answers." —Tiffany Vail
02/27/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: What Will Be
By: Michael Ciba - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"John the Baptist may be the right patron for 'Together as One.' " —Rev. Michael Ciba
02/20/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Liminal Space – The Road is Made by Walking
By: Donald Remick - Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"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
02/13/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Collaboration and Communication
By: Andrew Page - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Through all this advanced communication – this collaboration – stuff gets done." — Drew Page
01/30/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Ever Flowing Streams
By: Karen Methot - Conference programming Justice and Witness Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"I find myself looking forward to working with people from our future tri-conference as we get to know each other and begin reaching out with resources shared, offers of ...
01/25/2019 - Ever Flowing Streams - Together as One!
By: Kelly Gallagher - Justice and Witness Together, As OneA message from Kelly Gallagher, ACM for Justice and Witness, Massachusetts Conference Greetings Ever Flowing Streams readers! It is with great joy that I announce to you ...
01/23/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Sequined and Ready To Serve
By: Emily McKenna - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"God always sees us as sequined, so let’s get out there, sparkle, and get things done! " —Emily McKenna
01/16/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: This In-Between Time
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Outdoor Ministries Together, As One"What do we do in this in-between time where the answers are not readily apparent, let alone within reach?" —Debbie Gline Allen
01/09/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Community
By: Mary Nelson - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Outdoor Ministries Together, As OneRev. Mary Nelson reflects on a day spent in support of a long-time Silver Lake friend as she waits at a hospital.
01/02/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: Love Knows No Borders
By: Kelly Gallagher - Conference programming Justice and Witness Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"As we look to acknowledge that the borders we have created may not be serving God’s call for us as church, it opens our hearts to consider other borders and boundaries ...
12/26/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Where Two or Three Are Gathered
By: Karen Ziel - Conference programming Making Disciples Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"While leaders form bonds within their congregations; healthy relationships of mutual support among peers are essential."— Karen Ziel
12/19/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Filling The Pages
By: Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane - Church History and Identity Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"They are more than just balance sheets and income statements; they tell the story of the Conference and how our local churches have helped better the world over the past...
12/12/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Intentional Christian Community
- Church History and Identity Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Outdoor Ministries Together, As One"What makes Christian Community different, however, is that in Christian Community we believe in reconciliation, the restoration of relationship, and welcoming folks back...
12/05/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Ministry As Art
By: Susan Townsley - Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"A minister needs time to think creatively and playfully." — Susan Page Townsley
11/28/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Advocate Together
By: Michele Mudrick - Clergy Transitions Conference programming Justice and Witness Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Would you be willing to work with CTUCC in our efforts to promote environmental, racial and economic justice in our state?" — Michele Mudrick
11/21/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Doing Our Homework
By: Martha Goodman - Clergy Transitions Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"The church’s profile thus becomes first a tool by which a congregation understands itself and, then, a means by which it honestly reveals itself to a potential pastor." ...
11/14/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: It Happens Outside
- Conference programming Environment Many Voices, One Mission Outdoor Ministries Together, As One"God gave Creation over to humans as stewards, and it seems we’ve forgotten our duty to care for it." — Jennifer Kronholm Clark
10/31/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Actions Matter, Now
By: Pamela Arifian - Church Innovation Conference programming Environment Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"The interconnectedness of justice issues and climate impact means that your action at every level matters." — Pam Arifian
10/31/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Exciting Stewardship
By: Charles Kuchenbrod - Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Stewardship Together, As One"The stewardship committee often is placed in the church trustee/finance budget constellation of people. It belongs in the deacon/faith formation constellation of ...
10/24/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: We Do Jesus Differently
By: Wendy Vanderhart - Conference programming Justice and Witness Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"As the United Church of Christ...we do Jesus differently." —Rev. Wendy Vander Hart
10/17/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Irrelevant?
By: Toyan Harper - Conference programming Justice and Witness Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"There seems to be, in many cases, a disconnect between what one’s perception of God is and how that perception aligns with the beliefs and actions of the Church." — TJ ...
10/10/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Cultivating Collaboration
By: Deborah Kirk - Conference programming Justice and Witness Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"As we dedicate ourselves to building God’s kingdom, we must define what it looks like in the local community." —Debby Kirk
10/03/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: More Frequent, More Intense
By: Donald Remick - Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"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 ...
09/26/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Called and Sent
By: Michael Ciba - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"When the mission of the institution becomes sustaining the institution itself, the institution falls apart." —Rev. Michael Ciba
09/19/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: The Sometimes Difficult, Always Important, Evolution of Language
By: Tiffany Vail - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Language – and the evolution of language – is a fascinating thing. It can also be a ...
09/12/2018 - Many Voices, One Mission: Face To Face
By: Andrew Page - Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"I find that face to face communication can save time and improve the clarity of a discussion." — Drew Page
09/05/2018 - Many Voices, One Mission: Viability
By: Jonathan New - Church History and Identity Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Churches are closing and it’s time to break the silence." — Rev. Jonathan New
07/18/2018 - Many Voices, One Mission: Let's Not Keep God Waiting
By: Kelly Gallagher - Church History and Identity Conference programming Justice and Witness Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One Tri-Conference Annual Meeting"Now is the time to get at it." — Rev. Kelly Gallagher
06/07/2018 - Covenant
By: Amy Lignitz Harken - Together, As OneIn the crucible of a collective — be it a family, a village, or a denomination — we learn who we are. We learn what drives us bonkers and what makes us happy, how we are ...
06/06/2018 - Many Voices, One Mission: Beyond The Vote
By: Ellie Richardson - Church Innovation Conference programming Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One Tri-Conference Annual Meeting"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 ...
05/31/2018 - “Melt Me, Mold Me, Fill Me, Use Me”
By: Kurt Walker - Together, As OneThis is the third in a series of four blog posts looking at the Vision, Mission and Purpose statement drafted for a new, unified Conference. Delegates from the ...
05/17/2018 - Setting Aside Old Boundaries to Offer an Unconditional Welcome
By: Richard Maxwell Grant - Together, As OneThe word that gets me in the proposed vision statement for the new, unified Conference is “unconditionally.” — Max Grant
01/30/2018 - Meeting of RI, MA & CT Boards of Directors Saturday
By: Barbara Libby - Board of Directors Together, As OneYour prayers are requested for a gathering of the three Southern New England (RI, MA, & CT) Boards of Directors this Saturday in Woodstock, CT. This gathering will bring...
06/09/2017 - Don't Call it Messy; Call it Hard
By: Amy Lignitz Harken - Together, As OneThat questions about structure and other administrative matters will be answered as we go may feel messy, even chaotic, to some of us. Our faith, however, calls us to ...
05/23/2017 - Unity in Diversity
By: John Hargrave - Together, As One Tri-Conference Annual Meeting"We do not have to agree on everything, except one: that we are one." —John Hargrave
05/15/2017 - What Might We Do Together?
By: Keith Marzilli Ericson - Together, As One"I find the merger idea exciting because we don't have to do this, but we are choosing to make a bold change." — Keith Marzilli Ericson
05/11/2017 - The Disconnect
By: Kent Siladi - Together, As OneWe talk about covenant a lot in the United Church of Christ ... However, many among us spend a lot more time living as if we are not connected to one another
05/02/2017 - Let's Journey Together
By: Kurt Walker - Annual Meeting Together, As One Tri-Conference Annual Meeting" If we are able to faithfully remember that with God all things are possible, than we will find strength for the journey. And, the journey is really what it’s all ...
04/18/2017 - Let's Go To The Meeting
By: Nancy Taylor - Annual Meeting Together, As One Tri-Conference Annual Meeting"You gotta be there. I mean, you really gotta be there." —Rev. Nancy Taylor
04/12/2017 - Sitting in the Tomb and Practicing Resurrection: An Easter Theology for the Formation of the CT-RI-MA UCC
By: Kaeley McEvoy - Annual Meeting Southern New England Collaboration Together, As One"In the forming of a new conference in New England there is a chance to actually live the ...
04/05/2017 - Many
By: Alison Buttrick Patton - Annual Meeting Together, As One Tri-Conference Annual Meeting"Achieving oneness is not as simple as it sounds..." — Rev. Alison J. Buttrick Patton
03/21/2017 - Can We Embrace Death and Resurrection?
By: Barbara Libby - Together, As OneThe Rev. Martin Luther King wrote a sermon called “I have a dream!” and that MLK did not call it “I have a plan!”
03/21/2017 - What is Possible When People Work Together for a Common Purpose
By: Ellie Richardson - Together, As OneThis past Saturday over 700 people came together at Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham. We worshiped together, sang together, learned together, shared ...
03/15/2017 - A New Holiday for the UCC
By: John Hargrave - Annual Meeting Together, As One Tri-Conference Annual Meeting"Like the early American colonists, together we can do amazing things." - John Hargrave
02/21/2017 - God calls us into a new future – a future with a new vision and some new ways!
By: Barbara Libby - Together, As OneI have a favorite quote from French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de ...