News - Southern New England Conference of the UCC

02/07/2023 - Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal

Justice and Witness

The news continues to unfold about the devastating earthquake on the border of Turkey and Syria. The death toll continues to rise – numbers are pointing to over 47,000

01/26/2022 - Safe and Secure Church Resources Offered by Homeland Security

Covenant Partnerships

From the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Team Department of Homeland Security Resources to Support the Safety and ...

08/05/2020 - Responding to Hurricane Isaias

Disaster Relief

We are reaching out to all the members of our Conference to check in and invite you to check in with each other.

10/24/2018 - Conference and Local Churches Respond to Gas Explosions in Merrimack Valley

How Our Local Churches Were Affected AND Helped Their Communities

09/14/2018 - Letter from the MA Conference Minister: Of Fire, Water, and Wind

Disaster Relief

I am sure you have seen the news from the gas related explosions and fires in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence this past Thursday. Your staff ...

01/12/2018 - SPOTLIGHT: A Fire Sparks Covenant Among UCC Churches

By: Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane - Spotlight

Weymouth and Saugus UCC churches become real-life examples of how our vision statement is being lived out throughout the Conference

08/27/2017 - Responding to Hurricane Harvey

Our national UCC is already at work offering and planning for short and long term relief and recovery.

01/21/2016 - Bring the Water of Relief and of Justice to Flint

Disaster Relief Environment Southern New England Collaboration

The following letter was issued by the leaders of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences.

09/09/2015 - UCC Responds to crisis in Syria

Disaster Relief

Working with partners inside the country of Syria, and in surrounding countries, the United Church of Christ is providing emergency assistance to the million of refugees who are trying to flee the conflict there. Through One Great Hour of Sharing and through specially...

07/07/2015 - UCC Responds to Burned Churches in the South

Disaster Relief

July 06, 2015 Written by Phyllis Richards UCC Disaster Ministries People across the United Church of Christ are stepping up to support recovery and rebuilding of burned African American churches and communities. Be part of the UCC’s response. Funds raised will be ...

04/15/2013 - Resources to help churches respond to bombings; report from Old South

Disaster Relief

News coverage: The Boston Globe: Two Back Bay churches begin road to recovery April 29, 2013 CNN: View over Boylston Street: Bostonians ...

12/20/2012 - Churches donate 500 Emergency Clean-Up Buckets in wake of Sandy

Disaster Relief

Update: In at least two Massachusetts Conference churches, it was the youth who led the way in the effort to gather Clean-Up Buckets in the wake of ...

11/15/2012 - Deadline nears for Emergency Clean-up Kits

Disaster Relief

The following update was sent to MACUCC churches on Nov. 14 by the Conference Disaster Resource Team. As the stories, images and needs continue to emerge from New York and New Jersey, our hearts go out to all the folks trying to manage through the crisis as they head ...

11/02/2012 - Conference offices, Edwards House, have re-opened

Conference staff Disaster Relief

Update Nov. 2: Power has now been restored to the Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center in Framingham, so all Confernece facilities are now back in operation. Update Oct. 31: Power has been restored to the Craigville Retreat Center. New: A message from Conference ...

09/05/2012 - Disaster Resource Team reports on long term recovery efforts

Disaster Relief

Following is an update from the Massachusetts Conference Disaster Resource Team It has been over a year since the June 2011 tornado cut its path ...

08/07/2012 - Churches invited to form Sister Church relationships with earthquake damaged churches in Chile

Conference programming Disaster Relief

The Mission Partnership Committee has launched a new project inviting local congregations to enter into Sister Church relationships with Chilean ...

06/25/2012 - 2012 Annual Report now available

Annual Meeting Annual Report Conference budget Conference programming Conference staff Disaster Relief

The Massachusetts Conference's 2012 Annual Report is now available. It can be downloaded here, or printed copies can be obtained by contacting Karen Methot. Download the 22-page report here. A message from the Minister and President, from the report: Do not be ...

05/21/2012 - Tornado aid detailed as anniversary approaches

Disaster Relief

An update from the Rev. Don Remick, co-chair, Disaster Resource Team of the MA Conference, UCC We are approaching the first year anniversary of the devastating tornado that tore a scar through the center of our state. Long term recovery often takes at least two years ...

04/17/2012 - Closing church brings hope to Tropical Storm Irene victims

Disaster Relief

Seven months after Tropical Storm Irene devastated portions of Northwest Massachusetts and Vermont, the situation remains difficult for many victims ...

03/06/2012 - Donations, prayers, sought in response to storms

Disaster Relief

In response to the severe storms that have swept across various part of the country, Minister and President Jim Antal yesterday sent out the following letter to churches: As you are aware, the recent tornado outbreak has caused severe damage in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, ...

02/06/2012 - Disaster Recovery: The Unprecedented Year Proceeds

Disaster Relief

An update from the Rev. Don Remick, co-chair, Disaster Resource Team of the MA Conference, UCC For many of us this seems like old news. Tornado damage, snow laden trees and flooded homes are almost a distant memory. For others this is a new daily norm as they continue ...

12/15/2011 - An Unprecedented Year for Disasters

Disaster Relief

An update from the Rev. Don Remick, co-chair, Disaster Resource Team of the MA Conference, UCC This has been an unprecedented year of disasters. There have been three federally declared disasters since last winter's snow melted. With families displaced, homes ...

10/31/2011 - Disaster Response Team outlines concerns in aftermath of storm

Disaster Relief

We know some of you won't receive this message for a while - either because of no power, no Internet or both. But we want to reach out to our ...

09/12/2011 - Churches threw open doors to help storm victims

Disaster Relief

During and after Tropical Storm Irene, a number of Massachusetts Conference churches threw open their doors to help their neighbors in need. While the storm raged, Charlemont Federated Church hosted 75 neighbors evacuated from low-lying areas. New Bedford's Pilgrim ...

09/02/2011 - Church World Service kits headed to Vermont, New Hampshire

Disaster Relief

Associate Conference Minister Peter Wells delivered about 20 Church World Service cleanup buckets that had been collected at Christ Church ...

09/01/2011 - Disaster team suggests making donations, sending help to Vermont

Conference staff Disaster Relief

An uprooted trees in front of the Church of Christ Congregational UCC in Millis. The MACUCC Disaster Resource Team issued the following ...

08/26/2011 - Disaster Resource Team urges preparation for Hurricane Irene

Disaster Relief

The Massachusetts Conference Disaster Resource Team is urging individuals and congregations to make preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Irene. ...

07/18/2011 - Massachusetts Conference UCC Joins Church World Service In Urgent Call For Clean-Up Buckets

Disaster Relief

Due to the frequency and severity of the storms and flooding that struck communities across the United States this spring - conditions that continue ...

06/28/2011 - MACUCC staff give update on tornado relief needs, and where money raised will go

Disaster Relief

Members of the Massachusetts Conference Staff involved with the tornado relief effort sent out the following email update on June 28: Dear Brothers ...

06/22/2011 - "Amazing outpouring": $48,000 collected for tornado relief

Disaster Relief

The Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, has received over $48,000 in donations to aid in tornado relief for the western Massachusetts ...

06/17/2011 - Pentecostal Church of Chile bishop sends letter of support following tornadoes

Disaster Relief

Bishop Ulises Muñoz Moraga of the Pentecostal Church of Chile - long-time mission partners of the Massachusetts Conference - has sent a letter of ...

06/10/2011 - How UCC Churches Can Provide Tornado Relief - from MACUCC Disaster Relief Coordinators

Disaster Relief

Following is an update from the MACUCC Disaster Relief Coordinators. NOTE: The MACUCC has established the Mass. Tornado Relief Fund. 100% of your ...

06/09/2011 - Minister & President calls on churches to take special collection this Sunday

Disaster Relief

Massachusetts Conference Minister and President Jim Antal is calling on churches to take a special collection this Sunday for the people in Western ...

06/09/2011 - Tornado Recovery: A Marathon, Not A Sprint

Disaster Relief

By Don Remick, Associate Conference Minister Disaster Resource Committee Chair Massachusetts Conference, UCC Disaster recovery has a life of its own. It’s predictable even as it is never the same. There is the disaster itself that sweeps through in its own time frame. ...

06/03/2011 - Monson, Brimfield churches respond to immediate needs; Conference calls on churches to think long-term

Disaster Relief

Sign outside the First Church of Monson UCC the day after the tornadoes hit. Photo by Peter Wells. The First Church of Monson, UCC, lost ...

06/01/2011 - Responding to the tornadoes in the Springfield area; Monson church severely damaged

Disaster Relief

In the wake of the tornadoes that devasted sections of Western Massachusetts on June 1st, the MACUCC Disaster Response Coordinators issued the ...

05/31/2011 - How To Help Survivors of Tornadoes and Flooding

Disaster Relief

In response to the suffering in our country in the aftermath of recent tornadoes and flooding, the United Church of Christ, through its Wider Church Ministries, has organized ways for individuals and churches to aid in recovery efforts. The UCC has issued a $250,000 ...