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July 1, 2021 

  A Note from the Interim ACM

 

     I’ve had an earworm for the past several weeks, not the kind that needs medical attention, the kind of short tune or phrase that keeps spontaneously surfacing. For me it’s not the whole spiritual or even a full verse but the refrain “Give me Jesus.”

     It’s become a bit of a prayer mantra and I’m fairly sure that it is speaking to a much deeper need within my soul. I need Jesus.

     If I were to take a deeper dive into my subconscious I think this longing is part of how I am experiencing a post (or almost post) COVID world.

     In Jesus the Divine did the unthinkable of taking on human flesh in the form of a vulnerable child. In Jesus the Divine did the equally audacious act of sacrificing that same fleshy form upon a cross. Our liturgical hinge points of advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter focus on the bodily acts of our Savior. Our shared sacrament of communion too reminds us of the centrality of the tactile nature of Christ’s ministry.

     This longing for the presence of Jesus is both a longing for the sense-driven aspects of communal worship: the reverberation of the organ, the heft of the pews, the familiar smells of altar flowers and dog-eared hymnals, the taste of the cup, the sun arching through stained glass… and a longing for Jesus himself. I’m hungry not only for the broken bread of a common loaf but hungry for the daily embodiment of Jesus in my life and in the world.

     We get a lot of God talk, I get it, it’s more universal, gender expansive, it helps us bridge ecumenical and interfaith divides. I need God. But I also need Jesus. I need to know Jesus not just in an intellectual or aspirational way, I need to know Jesus in the pulsing of my veins, in the mitochondria of my cells, in the depth of my diaphragm. I need the lived experience of my faith to be shared with the one who took on human form who reminded the world that love and justice are not abstract or hypothetical but physically demonstrative.

     After 18+ months of physical distancing I want to make my spiritual distancing from Jesus a whole lot less that 6 feet. I want to feel his yoke upon my shoulders, his wounds with my fingers, to smell the sea-salt on his garments- Give me Jesus-In the morning when I rise- Give me Jesus- His love eternal as the skies- Give me Jesus- as I lay to close my eyes- Give me Jesus.

Holly

Rev. Holly MillerShank
Interim Area Conference Minister
Northeast Region (Metropolitan Boston and Northeast Associations)

Rev. MillerShank can be reached at millershankh@sneucc.org

Alex Shea Will Called to Northeast ACM Post

 

Rev. Alex Shea Will, the Associate Pastor of South Church in Andover, MA, for the past six years, has been called to serve as the Area Conference Minister for the Northeast Region - comprising the Metropolitan Boston and Northeast Associations - beginning Aug. 2.

Rev. Will also serves as moderator of the Northeast Association, which under his leadership developed a catalyst grant program to help churches adapting during the pandemic, launched new cluster groups to enhance covenant partnerships, piloted a new stewardship model to bring the association into alignment with the vision of the Conference, and assisted churches in moments of transition and hardship. Read more here. 

Northeast Association 

The NEA board of Directors are prayerful of the need for folks to connect with and learn from each other. To that end, we would like to invite you to connect with the wider UCC through participation in General Synod 33, July 11-18th - the NEA board of directors would like to extend an offer to cover the registration cost of the official General Synod delegates who are members of churches in our association and and up to two other registrations from each association church (youth, young adults, or visitors)...Please read more and register. 

    Save the Date!

Metropolitan Boston Association

  • Tiffany Spigarolo ~ Service of Ordination, in person at United Church, Walpole on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 3:00pm

  • Domenik Ackermann ~ Ecclesiastical Council Via ZOOM on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 7:00pm

  • Rev. Christopher Dodge, Bethany Congregational Church, UCC, Foxborough ~ Service of Installation, in person on Sunday, October 3, 2021

Northeast Association

  • Jennifer Murray ~ Ecclesiastical Council Via ZOOM on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 7:00pm

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Upcoming Events

 

October 2021 Super Saturday Workshop Proposals Now Being Accepted

SNEUCC invites you to share your gifts as a workshop presenter at our virtual Super Saturday on October 2nd and/or 9th.  Super Saturday is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the new conference programs and offerings.

October’s keynote speaker is Monica A. Coleman, Award-Winning Scholar, Writer and Minister.  The theme is: Building on God’s Promises:  A Time for Personal Renewal - 3 John 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.  Super Saturday will focus on personal renewal – spiritual, emotional, psychological, physiological, and overall health. 

If you are interested, please complete this proposal form by July 15, 2021.  Thank you for considering presenting a workshop at Super Saturday.  Pleases pass this link to others you think would be great presenters!

Millennials Ministry Retreat

July 16-17, 2021, Killam's Point, Branford, Connecticut
Come the whole time, come for part of it, whatever works in your schedule! 
We will be gathering around 7pm to allow people a chance to arrive after work on Friday.  RSVP here.  Join the Millennials Ministry on Facebook.
For questions or more information contact Katie Howe.  

Meet Global Ministries Partner Elena Huegel

Elena currently serves in Chiapas, Mexico and previously served with the SNEUCC Chile Partnership. She will be visiting New England in July and is open for zoom meetings or events with local congregations on July 20th, 22nd, 23rd or 29th. To schedule a meeting with her, please contact Rev. Beverly Prestwood-Taylor at b.prestwoodtaylor@gmail.com.  You can learn more about Elena’s ministry here.

The Resiliency Time Capsule:  Stories of Adaptation, Lessons for the Future

  

Are you looking for a fresh, new program this summer that will engage your youth and benefit your congregation? One that will make the concept of “resiliency” come alive?  Join us in this ground-breaking project. Read more....

 

 

It's almost here!  General Synod

 

July 11-18, 2021  

Youth @ Synod  July 11- 18

A great leadership opportunity for youth in your congregation! 
This will be an opportunity to worship and gather with other youth and young adults across the UCC. Read more… Scholarships available for SNEUCC youth, please contact Debby Kirk (KirkD@sneucc.org), Faith Formation Team Leader for the Southern New England Conference UCC.

UCC Webinar—False Solutions: Climate Policies That Fail

Some proposed climate policies have been described as false solutions by climate activists and policy analysts because they fall short in meeting the moral demands of science, equity, and justice. Learn what faith communities need to know in this webinar that will feature Leah Stokes, who authored of the acclaimed book Short Circuiting Policy, and Gabriela Sarri-Tobar, who serves the Center for Biological Diversity as the Energy Justice Campaigner. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1 pm ET on Thursday, July 22nd, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!

Read with the North Central Region Summer Book Group

Tap into the deep river of life with others and explore the journeys of these fellow sojourners.  Led by ACM Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly and held virtually. 

Please register to receive the Zoom link. 

Helpful Information 

 

Your Conference Staff - Southern New England Conference of the UCC (sneucc.org) 

We have an updated directory of the Southern New England Conference staff.

 
Does your church need help with online meetings, worship, websites?  We have resources for you!  Eric Elley is the Digital Minister for the Southern New England Conference.  Check out the Digital Ministry Resources page.  Questions?  You can contact Eric here. 


Stewardship Resources - Are you familiar with the three-legged stool of stewardship?  Find out more at the Stewardship, Generosity, Fundraising & Financial Management web page of the Southern New England Conference.  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~ Matthew 6:21

SNEUCC Health Ministry -  Find out what a health ministry is and read the latest health ministry blog.

Faith Formation - isn't just for kids.  Check out these resource pages for your church 's Faith Formation Leaders.

FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-Related Deaths - UPDATE - April 21, 2021:Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 -related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. 

Coronavirus Resources - from the SNE Conference, updated May 10, 2021, including Vaccination Resources and Re-Opening Guidance.

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 Let us know!

You are doing great ministry! Let us help make sure others know about it. Tell us about your stories, news and event information. Increased visibility can help to grow investments in your work, attract new people, and enhance your success. Don’t be modest!  We’re waiting to hear from you. Email Lynn at varneyl@sneucc.org.

Called to Serve

SNEUCC Classifieds

Administrative Assistant- Old South Church, Boston, MA

 

Supply Pastor - Nahant Village Church

Sabbatical Supply Pastor - Andover MA

 Sabbatical Supply Pastor - Melrose, MA

  

 This week we pray for: 

  

    The First Parish in Lincoln:  Rev. Jenny Rankin

Centre Congregational Church (Lynnfield):  Rev. Nancy Rottman

First Church Congregational of Methuen:  Rev. William Ingraham

Forest Street Union Church (Methuen):  Rev. Carrie Burnap 

  
   

 

UCC Opportunities 

Find opportunities online.

Search by keyword, Conference, or type of position:

Volunteer - Missionary - Musician - Summer camp staff - Pastorate - Chaplaincy. The Spirit moves in many directions!    

Take a look!  

  

M O

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Northeast Region of
The Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ
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