Resiliency Time Capsule Project

Resiliency Time Capsule Project

This project was funded by a Louisville Institute 2021 Pastoral Study Project Grant

"It is our hope that this project will encourage churches to explore transformative and creative ministry that is relevant and more agile in meeting contemporary and social needs of its social location and community context." - Rev. Dr. Audrey Price
 

The preamble to the Constitution of the United Church of Christ proclaims, “[The UCC] affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God.” 

The year 2020 brought about substantial changes to the realities of worship within our conference, with regard to both thought and expression. The turbulence of a year marked by a deadly pandemic and a collective outcry against racial injustice forced each congregation to investigate the question of how to make its faith its own reality of worship, and how to express this worship. The challenges, triumphs, and innovations of this era provide a valuable testament to the resilience of congregations' faith and the adaptability of the modern church. This Time Capsule project seeks to capture these experiences for posterity. 

Select a Topic Below to Begin Exploring the Southern New England Conference's Digital Time Capsule!

Project Overview

In this section, we offer an overview of the Resiliency Time Capsule project. We describe Rev. Dr. Audrey Price's vision for this project and reveal how staff of the Southern New England Conference set about organizing the work and compiling artifacts. 

Video Documentary Segments

In this section you can view up to 4 15-minute video documentaries that capture the stories, struggles, and innovations of churches throughout the Southern New England Conference during the pandemic of 2020. 


Photo Gallery

Peruse images from throughout the Southern New England Conference to see how other conferences in our region put their innovations to practice during the 2020 pandemic!


Church Testimonials

Visit pages for each individual church that participated in our Resiliency Time Capsule project! Watch church pastors' full interviews, read about their innovations and projects, and view pictures capturing the spirit of 2020.

Resource Items

Booklet

This booklet provides a glance into 2020 from the perspective of over 20 UCC churches. 

 

Watch Party Guide 

This short guidebook provides recommendations on how churches can organize watch parties and support their church members to engage in meaningful reflection. 

Project Contributors
 

This project was funded through the Louisville Institute 2021 Pastoral Study Project Grant. We are thankful for the Louisville Institute for giving us the opportunity to explore and share the stories of churches in our conference.

Additionally, we would like to take this space to acknowledge those who have contributed to this project through both their ministries in their churches and their communication with SNEUCC project staff members. We are pleased to share their voices through this documentary project and celebrate their resilience and stewardship during the COVID era. 

Video Interview Contributors: 

Rev. Matthew Carriker, Agape Spiritual Community
Rev. Dr. Candice Ashenden, Athol Congregational Church
Rev. Christopher Solimene, Avon Congregational Church
Nora Howard, Avon Congregational Church
Rev. Lori Souder, Center Church of South Hadley
Rev. Erick Olsen, Church of Christ Congregational of Norfolk
Rev. Dr. Ruth E. Shaver, Congregational Church of Mansfield
Rev. Dr. Debbie Clark, Edwards Church, UCC of Framingham
Joelle Murchison, Faith Congregational Church of Hartford
Rev. Vicki Kemper, First Church Amherst
Rev. David Jones, First Congregational Church of Ashfield
Rev. Dawn Adams, First Congregational Church of Brimfield

Rev. Donald Remick, First Congregational Church of Randolph
Rev. Julie Cedrone, First Congregational Church in West Boylston
Rev. Cathlin Baker, First Congregational Church of West Tisbury
Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett, Hope Central Church
Rev. Timoth Sylvia, Newman Congregational Church
Rev. Karen Halac, North Greenwich Congregational Church
Rev. John Hudson, Pilgrim Church
Rev. Deborah Rundlett, Ridgebury Congregational Church
Rev. Dr. Debra Pallatto-Fontaine, Storrs Congregational Church
Rev. Rona Tyndall, West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church, UCC
 
 

Narrative Interview Contributors: 
First Congregational Church of Georgetown, MA
First Congregational Church of Ridgefield, CT
Holly Brauner, Northeast Association Executive Council
Jane Willan, Paxton Congregational Church, MA

Interviewers for Round One:
Rev. Joe McGarry, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Rev. Dr. Todd Yonkman, First Church in Saybrook
Rev. Cheryl Larsen Lawing, St. Matthew Trinitarian Lutheran Church
Rev. Kurt Walker, Deerfield Community Church
Rev. Corey Sanderson, Union Congregational Church 
 
Interviewers for Round 2:
Rev. Joe McGarry, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Rev. Kurt Walker, Deerfield Community Church, UCC
 

Additional Credits:

We would also like to thank Rev. Peggy O’Connor, Rev. Dr. Susan Cartmell, and Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly for their support of this project.

Subscribe to our emails
Massachusetts Office

1 Badger Road
Framingham, MA 01702

Connecticut Office

805 Old Main St.
Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Toll Free Phone: 866-367-2822
Fax: 866-367-0860
General Email: friends@sneucc.org