News - Southern New England Conference of the UCC

11/24/2021 - Go Tell it On The Mountain: Saugatuck Congregational Church of Westport, CT

In the most recent episode of the Go Tell It On The Mountain series, Executive Conference Minister the Rev. Darrell Goodwin interviewed the Rev. ...

11/24/2021 - Thanksgiving Message from Rev. Goodwin

Executive Conference Minister: "Thank you for the opportunity to welcome me and my family to Southern New England, to walk alongside you in ministry."

11/23/2021 - UCC Disabilities Ministries Board Calls for Nominations

Justice and Witness

The UCC Disabilities Ministries Board (UCCDM) has launched a search for applicants to fill three positions on our Board of Directors. The application ...

11/23/2021 - WGBH: Brookline Church Paying ‘Royalties’ When it Sings Spirituals Composed by Enslaved Africans

Local Buzz

Those “royalties” will be donated to a nonprofit youth music program in Roxbury called Hamilton-Garrett Music and Arts.

11/22/2021 - December Environmental Ministry Calendar

By: Victoria Guest - Conference programming Environment

Curated by Victoria Guest for the SNEUCC Environmental Ministries Team November 30, 2 PM Lakota People’s Law Project invites you to enjoy and participate in their first annual Wopila Gathering — a special, live-streamed event to celebrate Indigenous culture together ...

11/17/2021 - November Covid Update for Churches: Singing!

By: Deborah Ringen - Coronavirus

As congregations across the Southern New England Conference return to varying levels of in-person worship, laments are rising, becoming louder: We want to sing! Some have thrown open the doors, gathering, and singing together, while others are remaining online only. ...

11/16/2021 - Go Tell It On The Mountain: First Congregational Church, Danbury, CT

By: Andrew Page - Church History and Identity

Executive Conference Minister The Rev. Darrell Goodwin talks with Rev. Pat Kriss, pastor of First Congregational Church of Danbury, CT.

11/10/2021 - God Talks: Interview with Rev. Dr. Michael Ciba

By: Andrew Page - Conference staff

In a recent God Talks video conversation, Executive Conference Minister the Rev. Darrell Goodwin spoke with Senior Area Conference Minister the Rev. Dr. Michael Ciba about his work as an ACM, influences on his work, and his wife’s impact on his call to ordained ...

11/10/2021 - Survey Responses Needed Regarding UCC Credit Union

Stewardship

In response to a General Synod Resolution, the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ is working to create a credit union for UCC clergy, lay church workers and local church members across the denomination. The 2017 resolution identified a non-profit, member ...

11/10/2021 - UCC Counsel Urges Caution Regarding Boy Scout Charters

United Church of Christ General Counsel Heather Kimmel is advising that churches speak to an attorney before taking any action regarding Boy Scouts of...

11/09/2021 - New Human Resource Director Begins

Conference staff

SNEUCC has hired a new Director of Human Resources and Staff Engagement: Irma Reyes began working on Nov. 8.

11/08/2021 - SNEUCC Board Approves $100K Grant to Help Connecticut Communities Welcome Afghan Refugees

By: Tiffany Vail - Justice and Witness

Afghan children like these, now in the U.S., are among those who will be helped by a UCC gift in Connecticut. Photo by Zeenie Malik, courtesy of...

2021 Certified Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Leaders

11/07/2021 - Eleven Faith Formation Leaders Achieve Certification

By: Debbie Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making Disciples

The SNEUCC Faith Formation Leadership Program presents certificates for 2021

11/03/2021 - Faith in Our Future Together Grants Assist a Variety of Local Church Programs

By: Andrew Page - Church Innovation Justice and Witness

Early this year, The Southern New England Conference awarded several recoverable grants to churches through the Faith in Our Future Together program. ...

11/03/2021 - Go Tell It On The Mountain: Spring Glen UCC, Hamden, CT

Rev. Darrell Goodwin and Rev. Jack Perkins Davidson In another episode of Go Tell it On The Mountain, Executive Conference Minister, the ...

11/02/2021 - Churches Receive Insurance Offer Appearing to be From Conference

By: Tiffany Vail

The Southern New England Conference has been made aware that numerous local churches received a letter (see image below) bearing the Conference logo ...

10/27/2021 - Afghan Refugee Support: Churches Encouraged to Work Together

There are currently 55,600 Afghans awaiting new homes in the United States, with a predicted 30,000 more due to arrive by the end of the year. Some of...

10/25/2021 - Refugee Resettlement Grants Available

Conference programming Justice and Witness

Small grants are bein offered to churches working to sponsor refugee families and helping them to resettle in the United States.

10/20/2021 - November Environmental Ministry Calendar

By: Victoria Guest - Conference programming Environment

Take the challenge to begin “greening” your congregation or step up to the next level. Each of the four levels of the SNEUCC Green Congregation Challenge has many options so that you can choose the right path to match your circumstances. Discover ideas and resources ...

10/20/2021 - SPOTLIGHT: Illuminated Faith

By: Andrew Page - Church Innovation Spotlight Worship & Spirituality

First Church in Windsor Illuminates Their Faith

10/19/2021 - Go Tell It On The Mountain: First Parish Lincoln, MA

By: Andrew Page - Church History and Identity

Executive Conference Minister The Rev. Darrell Goodwin talks with Rev. Jenny Rankin, Interim Pastor, and Sarah Klockowski, Ministerial Intern, at ...

10/13/2021 - UCC Open and Affirming Webinars Announced

Conference programming

The Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC is offering four webinars this Fall for present and hopeful ONA congregations.

10/11/2021 - New Faith Formation Leadership Classes Slated for 2021-2022

By: Debbie Gline Allen - Church History and Identity Conference programming Leadership Development Making Disciples

Register today to start honing and adapting ministry skills with best practices.

09/29/2021 - Conference Staff to Resume Travel; Offices to Remain Shut

Conference staff

Southern New England Conference staff will once again be able to attend in-person gatherings when both they and the host congregation feel it is safe ...

09/29/2021 - Encuentros Latinx offers Pastoral Coaching Tailored to Individual's Culture

Justice and Witness

by Connie Larkman, United Church of Christ A year ago Encuentros Latinx began a “culturally appropriate” pastoral coaching program. It has made a ...

09/29/2021 - Three Program Support Staffers Hired

Conference staff

Three new part-time program support associates have been added to the Southern New England Conference staff. Elisa Wilson Elisa Wilson, who began work last week, is supporting the Center for Transformational Leadership. Wilson has done support work with The ...

09/23/2021 - Gathering Will Help Churches Assist Afghan Refugees

By: James Ross - Conference programming Justice and Witness

As churches within the Conference seek to respond to the humanitarian crisis concerning the resettlement of Afghan refugees, many are facing difficult...

09/21/2021 - September Covid Updates for Churches

By: Deborah Ringen - Conference staff Coronavirus

1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of us a gift from the great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. The Southern New England Conference UCC region has reached approximately 67% of the population fully vaccinated! This is good news; however a ...

09/15/2021 - Rev. Goodwin Featured in Vaccinate CT Campaign

Executive Conference Minister the Rev. Darrell Goodwin was recently featured on both billboards and a video ad as part of the Vaccinate CT campaign being run by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. In the video, the Rev. Goodwin says: "In the third letter of ...

09/08/2021 - Climate Change, Addiction, and Spiritual Liberation

By: Margaret Bullitt-Jonas

Climate scientists have sounded the alarm: The only way to preserve a planet that is generally habitable for human beings is to carry out a ...

09/01/2021 - Video: A Look at Upcoming Racial Consciousness Clergy Groups

Executive Conference Minister the Rev. Darrell Goodwin recently sat down with Rev. Dr. Diane Schmitz, who will be leading a series of affinity groups ...

08/25/2021 - Affinity Group to Focus on Becoming More Racially Conscious

Conference programming Justice and Witness

Together We Thrive is hosting three more Affinity Groups this fall, including Becoming More Racially Conscious: A Learning Journey for White ...

08/25/2021 - Donors Invited to Join Rev Crew

Conference programming

Executive Conference Minister the Rev. Darrell Goodwin is inviting the first 40 donors of $100 or more to the Phillis Wheatley Fund for Innovation to join the "Rev. Crew". Those donors will receive a ball cap that says "Rev" on the front and has a Southern New England ...

08/25/2021 - Go Tell It On The Mountain: Brimfield Pastor's Journey to Ministry

By: Andrew Page - Church History and Identity

Executive Conference Minister The Rev. Darrell Goodwin talks with Rev. Dawn Adams, pastor of First Congregational Church of Brimfield, MA.

08/25/2021 - Retired Clergy Affinity Group to Launch in September

Conference programming

A Season of Jubilee, a new affinity group for newly retired (within the past 3 years) and nearly retired (exploring idea of retirement) SNEUCC clergy,...

08/22/2021 - Message from the Executive Conference Minister: Wading Through the Wilderness

Coronavirus

In a video message released Thursday, Executive Conference Minister the Rev. Darrell Goodwin acknowledged how difficult and tiring it is to navigate ...

08/19/2021 - Helping Our Neighbors in Haiti

Disaster Relief Justice and Witness

The United Church of Christ has launched an effort to raise $100,000 to support immediate needs in Haiti following Saturday’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake. In addition, Southern New England Conference congregations and members who have been working in Haiti for several ...

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08/18/2021 - Four Local Black Women Leaders Reflect on Phillis Wheatley's Work on the 250th Anniversary of her Baptism

Justice and Witness

Ten years after her enslavement and arrival in America, African-American poet Phillis Wheatley chose to be baptized in what is now the Old South ...

08/11/2021 - New UCC Resource Helps Congregations Address Youth and Trauma

Covenant Partnerships

The United Church of Christ Mental Health Network is pleased to offer a new set of resources to help congregations and other community-based ...

07/29/2021 - Rev. Goodwin Addresses General Safety for SNEUCC Churches

By: Andrew Page - Coronavirus

In a message to the Southern New England Conference posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Executive Conference Minister the Rev. Darrell Goodwin addresses ...

07/23/2021 - ACM Called for South Central Region

By: Tiffany Vail - Conference staff

A familiar face in the Hartford area has accepted a call to serve as the Area Conference Minister for the South Central Region: the Rev. Isaac Lawson will step into that role beginning Oct. 4.

07/21/2021 - Go Tell It On The Mountain: Niantic Community Church Embraces Its Middle Name

By: Andrew Page - Church History and Identity

Executive Conference Minister The Rev. Darrell Goodwin talks with Rev. Stephanie Haskins, pastor of Niantic Community Church, in Niantic, CT.

07/21/2021 - UCC Boxborough Shares Fire Response Story at Synod

Disaster Relief General Synod

Rev. Cindy Worthington-Berry shared a story about UCC Congregational of Boxborough (MA) responding to a local fire that displaced 24 families.

07/18/2021 - Announcement from Silver Lake!

By: Ryan Gackenheimer - Outdoor Ministries

Dear friends of Silver Lake, We have amazing news to share with you! As of January 1st, 2022, we will officially become Silver Lake Camp and Retreat Center. Silver Lake is an amazing green place where all kinds of people gather to grow, play, and learn ...