News - Southern New England Conference of the UCC

09/27/2021 - Discussion Series- A Better Future for Israelis & Palestinians

Wednesdays, October 6, 13, 27 and November 10, 2021 ~ 7:30-9 PM ~ via Zoom Co-Sponsored by the Southern New England Conference, UCC REGISTER The ...

09/24/2021 - October Environmental Ministry Calendar

By: Victoria Guest

Curated by Victoria Guest for the SNEUCC Environmental Ministry Team Step up to the Challenge! Wildfires, droughts, flash floods and heat domes are no longer reported as isolated incidents. Public opinion is shifting from skepticism about climate change to broad-based ...

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...

thumbnail_ucc national crop hunger walk.png

09/22/2021 - Walk to End Hunger on Oct. 16

Church World Service invites individuals and churches in the SNEUCC to join in the 2021 National CROP Hunger Walk on World Food Day, October 16th. Help end hunger in the U.S. and around the world! Walk on your treadmill, in your neighborhood, in a park with friends – ...

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 ...

09/08/2021 - September Environmental Ministry Calendar

By: Victoria Guest - Environment

The climate crisis is in the news. Wildfires, droughts, flash floods and heat domes are no longer reported as isolated incidents. Public opinion is shifting from skepticism about climate change to broad-based acceptance that the climate emergency is human caused. ...

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 ...

640px-phillis_wheatley_frontispiece_(cropped),_1834[1].jpg

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 ...

07/15/2021 - #UCCSynod: Conference Recognized for Wellness Ministry

General Synod

The Southern New England Conference - in particular Minister of Health and Wellness Debbie Ringen and her team of volunteers - was recognized at ...

07/13/2021 - Registration for Tending the Fire is Now Open! Three Retreats. One Goal: A More Effective You!

Church Innovation Leadership Development

Pastors, do you long to lead your congregation with less anxiety? Would you like to better understand how internal and external anxieties are ...

07/13/2021 - Together We Thrive Event Preview: Tod Bolsinger Zooming to New England this Fall!

Church Innovation

Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains, in his most recent books, reveals much of what today’s pastors and congregational leaders need to ...

07/07/2021 - Go Tell It On The Mountain: Immanuel UCC is Doing the Work of Love and Justice

By: Tiffany Vail - Church History and Identity

Executive Conference Minister The Rev. Darrell Goodwin talks with Rev. Kari Nicewander, Senior Minister of Immanuel Congregational UCC in Hartford, ...

07/06/2021 - Faith Formation Communities of Practice: A Lifeline of Support

By: Deborah Kirk - Conference programming Leadership Development

Faith Formation Communities of Practice (FF CoP) have continued to meet via zoom during this season of pandemic and they have been a key to resilience...

07/02/2021 - Rev. Goodwin Interviewed on WPRO Radio

Executive Conference Minister The Rev. Darrell Goodwin was interviewed on June 27th by Bill Haberman, morning news anchor for News Talk 630 and 99.7 FM WPRO in Providence, RI. Listen to that interview here

06/23/2021 - SPOTLIGHT: Juneteenth Signs

By: Andrew Page - Church Innovation Justice and Witness Spotlight

Sandwich Church Educates The Community about Juneteenth and its Local History

06/23/2021 - Church Leaders Help Bring About Legislative Victories for Justice

By: Michele Mudrick Andrew Page - Justice and Witness

Thanks in part to the combined efforts of Southern New England Conference staff, church leaders, congregations and our ecumenical partners, the 2021 ...

06/23/2021 - Rev. Goodwin Installed as First Executive Conference Minister

By: Tiffany Vail - Conference staff

The Rev. Darrell Goodwin was installed as the first Executive Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference on Saturday, June 19 - ...

06/23/2021 - Virtual Synod Open to All

General Synod

General Synod will be held online this year, making it a unique opportunity for anyone in the denomination to attend activities, worship, and workshops

thumbnail_south church andover pride2.jpg

06/22/2021 - Andover Pride Car Parade Inspires Two Area Towns To Celebrate!

Justice and Witness

Submitted by Rev. Dana Allen Walsh, South Church in Andover, UCC (MA) ~ dana@southchurch.com A bright blue sky was the backdrop for the joy-filled ...

06/17/2021 - Conference Staff to Observe Juneteenth

Conference staff Justice and Witness

The SNEUCC is observing Juneteenth as a holiday, and giving the staff the day off on Friday June 18.

06/16/2021 - Churches Invited to Ring Bells for Juneteenth

Justice and Witness

A number of churches of varying denominations in southern Rhode Island are inviting churches across the Conference to join them in ringing their bells on Saturday, June 19, at 8 PM in commemoration of Juneteenth, and in memory of George Floyd and the many others who ...

06/14/2021 - You're Invited! Chronicle Your Church’s Resiliency

By: Bridget Johnson - Church Innovation Coronavirus

Are you looking for a fresh, new inter-generational program this summer that will engage your youth and benefit your congregation? One that will make the concept of “resiliency” come alive? We invite you to proclaim your resiliency! Join us in this ground-breaking ...

06/11/2021 - Learn, Reflect & Connect with 4 New Affinity Groups - Expert-Led Learning Journeys That Foster Deep Colleague Connections

Church Innovation Leadership Development

Learn about the four Affinity Groups being offered this spring through the Together We Thrive program.

06/10/2021 - ONA Sunday Worship Resources Now Available

Justice and Witness

National Open and Affirming Sunday is June 27! The UCC Open and Affirming Coalition has released new liturgies and other worship resources for the 2021 celebration. Find these resources here. Links to music and videos on the worship page were written/assembled by ...

06/09/2021 - SPOTLIGHT: Justice Partners

By: Andrew Page - Justice and Witness Spotlight

Church of Christ in Norfolk Works With Redeemer's AME Zion Church to Combat Racism

06/09/2021 - Conference Launches Phillis Wheatley Fund

By: Tiffany Vail - Conference programming

SNEUCC has launched the Phillis Wheatley Fund for Innovation to support creative and innovative programming.

06/09/2021 - Go Tell it On The Mountain: Love Comes First at First Congregational Church of Stratford

By: Andrew Page - Church History and Identity Church Innovation

Rev. Darrell Goodwin, Executive Conference Minister for the Southern New England Conference, speaks with Rev. Ed Rawls and Rev. Meg Williams at First ...

06/08/2021 - "Rooted in Love" Stewardship Theme Materials Now Available

Stewardship

New stewardship materials are now available from UCC Resources to help congregations tell their story while making a request for financial support. ...

06/08/2021 - The Small Church Collaborative

By: Elizabeth Magill - Church Innovation

The Small Church Collaborative is an experiment in sharing resources so that congregations can focus their energy on being a vital presence in their community. This experiment of the Central Association of Massachusetts, in collaboration with the Center for ...

06/07/2021 - Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Resources at Your Fingertips

By: Debbie Gline Allen - Making Disciples

Making disciples of Jesus through best practices and resources.

06/04/2021 - One-Day Camp Event at Irons Homestead

By: Kristin Putney - Making Disciples Outdoor Ministries

Three RI Churches plan an Outdoor Faith and Outdoor Fun One-day Camp Event at Irons Homestead!

06/02/2021 - Go Tell it On The Mountain: Out of The Box Thinking at North Stamford Community Church

By: Andrew Page - Church History and Identity Church Innovation

Rev. Darrell Goodwin, Executive Conference Minister for the Southern New England Conference, speaks with Rev. Jacki Gilchrist in his latest "Go Tell ...

06/02/2021 - New Clergy Affinity Group to Encourage Play

Leadership Development

Brother Luke Ditewig Registration is now open for four affinity groups for clergy that are launching this month, including one that encourages play. Touched by Jesus: Playing with Prayer encourages clergy to "come get out of your often overly-serious and ...