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All are invited to join!
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Shareable flyer
Click here to register to attend July 8th book group
Click here to register to attend August 12th book group
Click here to register to attend September 2nd book group
Resources for book purchases
One to One conversations with Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa
The Rev. Ogawa has been holding bi-weekly coffee house hours to meet with clergy for 30 minutes on Wednesday afternoons. These can be scheduled by clicking here. For the months of July and August she will be taking a break and resume them on September 1, 2021. Please contact her Program Support Associate, Deb Holmes if you have questions or problems signing up for a meeting.
Meet Global Ministries Partner Elena Huegel
Elena currently serves in Chiapas, Mexico and previously serve 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: https://www.globalministries.org/people/elena-huegel/
Conference Launches
Phillis Wheatley Fund
The Southern New England Conference has launched a new fund named in honor of Phillis Wheatley, who was the first African American woman to publish poetry, and who was baptized into and became a member of Old South Church in Boston in 1771, two years before she was manumitted (freed from slavery) by the Wheatley family.
In a letter announcing the fund, Executive Conference Minister the Rev. Darrell Goodwin writes: "During my first few months as your Executive Conference Minister I have found myself reflecting on the many blessings we share. I am especially moved by the value that you and the members of the Southern New England Conference place on opportunities for innovation and change."
"I am excited to share with you that it is in this spirit that we have created our newest fund: The Phillis Wheatley Fund for Innovation, aimed at sponsoring creative and innovative programs that help to further the missional imperative of the SNEUCC, that might otherwise not be possible with existing budgetary limitations."
More information on the fund, and information on how to donate, are available here.
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CONFERENCE & REGIONAL EVENTS
Please go to sneucc.org/events to see all posted events. |
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October 17, 2021
Hampden Association Annual Meeting
3:00PM, hoping for in-person meeting
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Appalachian Trail Mini-Mission Day Trips
Take One Day this Summer
Bring Four Volunteers to Sheffield
Sit 10:00AM to 3:00PM and
Make Magic!
Begun in 2018 as a shared ministry of two Sheffield churches, First Congregational Church, UCC and Christ Trinity Church (Episcopal and Lutheran), ‘Trail Magic” is back and we’re inviting you to share it with us.
We have all the supplies, we’ll guide the set up and clean up, we’ll even bring most of the day’s food. You simply pick a day, bring four people and a $50 Big Y gift card, sit in the shade, and create a corner of kindness in the world. It’s the easiest, most rewarding, least expensive, most volunteer inclusive mini-mission trip you’ll ever do!
Our 2021 Appalachian Trail Ministry will run from June 21st – August 14th. Guest Mission Days will occur on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during the season.
For more information, or to register for a 2021 one-day Mini-Mission Trip please contact Rev. Jill Graham at grahamj@firstuccsheffield.org.
Click here for a flyer to share.
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WEEKLY VIGILS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
The members of Center Church, UCC (First Congregational Church of South Hadley), One Church Street, South Hadley have been holding a weekly vigil for Racial Justice. The vigils take place every Saturday from 10:00 - 10:30 AM on the church lawn. People are asked to wear a mask and stand at least 6ft apart. Bringing a sign is also encouraged!
JOURNEY
Journey: a social and support group for trans and non binary individuals of all ages. The group is facilitated by Yohah Ralph. We will meet online using Zoom on the first and third Thursdays of the month.
If you have questions, or are interested in joining the group, please send an email to Yohah at journeynorthampton@gmail.com, and provide your phone number so we can have a brief conversation in advance.
Affinity Groups beginning in June:
An Affinity Group is one that gathers several times per year around a specific topic, learning goal or type of ministry work. The group is led by a topic expert who plans each gathering, resources the group and facilitates group conversations.
Click here for more information.
Tending the Fire
Tending the Fire is a Retreat Series focused on understanding church & organizations through the lens of Systems Theory. Human systems are complicated and churches are no exception. At their best, they draw out excellence in their people. At their worst, they become stuck--undermining and sabotaging even the most well-designed plans for change. Tending the Fire helps clergy "think systems" in their congregations and their personal lives, so they can lead change that lasts. Click here for more information.
Resiliency Time Capsule
We invite churches within the SNEUCC to contribute to the creation of this ground-breaking project by sharing their story of how their church responded to COVID-19, Racial Injustice, or both pandemic in their worship service, mission outreach, community engagement, Christian Education programs, Congregation’s connection to each other as a church family. Click here for more information.
Coaching Training
Together We Thrive is working with Coaching4Clergy to provide top notch coaching training. Coaches practice Deep Listening and ask Powerful Questions to help an individual or group to discover the insights they have within. Clergy trained in the skills and techniques of Coaching find them invaluable in any ministry setting and beyond.
Click here for more information.
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Subsidized Clergy and Congregational Coaching Resources
When working with individuals, a Coach uses Deep Listening and Powerful Questions to structure a process that helps draw out the wisdom within the client. The focus of coaching is to address tasks and performance so that the client's goals can be achieved.
Click here for more information.
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Many churches have been asking re. Covid Guidelines. It is difficult for the Conference to put out guidelines for the whole Conference because the situations vary so greatly across our region.
However, All guidance from the Conference is here.
From National some of the latest guidance is here.
And their general pandemic page is here.
Our Executive Conference Minister’s video statement and explanation of why our offices are remaining closed at least until Labor Day is here.
CT released this graphic to explain the new guidelines on masking for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Here’s a discussion of how different churches are responding to the new mask guidelines.
And on May 25, EMA is offering a webinar to help faith organizations cope with stress as we emerge from the pandemic. Register at this link. We are certainly keeping you in prayer as you consider how to best reopen.
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Additional information can be found by clicking on these links:
Silver Lake Worship Videos Available
The Silver Lake Conference Center has made a complete virtual worship service available for churches that may be used - in whole or in parts - to celebrate your church's participation in outdoor ministry.
Click here for more information.
Tech Deacons Meetups -
morning and evening options.
You are invited to join Rev. Eric Elley, Digital Minister, and other local church colleagues for weekly Tech Deacons Roundtable Discussions. During these gatherings we will provide an arena for churches to support one another by sharing ideas, bringing questions, and identifying new trends and opportunities in digital ministry. In these videoconferences, we will recognize that there won't be one expression of digital ministry to fit all churches. Yet now is the season for the sharing of ideas and experiences -- we all are endeavoring to figure out the coming season of digital ministry.
Every other Tuesday at 11am (7/13, 7/27...), and alternate Tuesday evenings at 7pm (7/6, 7/20...) Click here to find more information and ways to register for these ongoing discussions on the ever evolving landscape of digital ministry in the Southern New England Conference.
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DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNIES AT A GLANCE
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Youth @ Synod
This summer the United Church of Christ will host a virtual General Synod gathering on July 11-18. Delegates from all over the country will convene for worship and discussion of resolutions. Planners have also been busy preparing special parallel programs for youth and young adults. Youth @ Synod is a life-changing experience of the wider church for teens ages 13-18 and past participants name the powerful impact of the event. Read more here.
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Faith Formation Summit
Resilience, Relationships, Re-Entry
Save the date of Saturday, September 18 when we will host the Virtual SNEUCC Faith Formation Summit: Relationship, Resilience, and Re-Entry. This program will offer an array of items for your leadership toolkit:
- Connect with some of the new SNEUCC staff members and learn elements of adaptive leadership.
- Practice skills for nurturing relationships with all of your constituents—children, youth, parents, and church leaders.
- Develop tools to help you innovate and build a thriving ministry in the upcoming program year.
Mark your calendar and plan to be with us from 9 am to 1 PM on September 18.
Audience is local church Pastors and Faith Formation practitioners, including members of the Faith Formation Leadership Certification Program, and Faith Formation Communities of Practice. Click here to register!
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The Southern New England Conference engages in Outdoor & Retreat Ministry with the following sites:
Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham, MA
Edwards House offers fully-equipped meeting space for working gatherings both large and small as well as a warm, intimate setting for small overnight retreats.
Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI
Nestled in the northwest corner of Rhode Island and where you can still see the stars at night, Irons Homestead offers religious and educational groups a sacred space to lean into nature and connect more deeply with God and one another.
Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR IN-PERSON CAMP
This is a traditional summer day camp with over 50 years of experience in providing children safe, summer fun. PDC is located on 113 acres of sprawling fields and woods at the SNEUCC Framingham property. The camp ensures fun, and emphasizes a warm welcome for each child, care for the natural world, and respect for the differences among us.
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR IN-PERSON CAMP
With more than 60 acres of wooded land on lakeside shores, Silver Lake offers many opportunities for young people to take risks and try new things with the support of an intentional Christian community.
PULPIT SUPPLY INFORMATION
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Please email Deb Holmes at holmesd@sneucc.org for an updated copy of the regional pulpit supply list.
ACTIVE FOOD PANTRIES AND OUTREACH MEALS
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South Congregational
in Pittsfield
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The attached list is an updated list of churches in the Northwest Region that currently have active food pantries and outreach meals for people in need. Please email Deb Holmes at holmesd@sneucc.org to have your church information included or updated. Northwest Region List.
July Anniversaries
There are no anniversaries this month.
Please contact Deb Holmes if we have missed your anniversary.
Anniversaries are listed from 5 years and forward in increments of 5.
Is your church celebrating a milestone anniversary?
Let Deb Holmes (holmesd@sneucc.org) know so that the entire Northwest Region can celebrate with you!
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Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Transitions.
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The Rev. John B. Wilcox passed away peacefully at his home in Brooklyn, CT on Saturday June 26, 2021. He was predeceased by his parents; his first wife Beatrice (Bardeen); his second wife Susan (Ennis); his brother Frank; and his sister Mary Louise. He is survived by his sister Nancy Martin of Woburn, MA, sons: John and partner Nancy of Brooklyn, CT, Robert and wife Nancy of Bothell, WA, and Jeffrey and wife Janice of Chelmsford, MA; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Federated Church of Christ UCC at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in John’s honor to the Federated Church of Christ UCC, PO Box 204 Brooklyn, CT 06234.
To read more please go to: https://www.tillinghastfh.com/obituaries/John-B-Wilcox?obId=21562384#/obituaryInfo
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Please click here to view of the SNEUCC Obituaries.
Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Classifieds.
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