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.

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 20^th, 22^nd, 23^rd or 29^th. 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

FOR SMALL CHURCHES

September 19, 2021
Installation
Rev. Charley Eastman
Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC
15 Common Street
Southborough, MA 01772
3:00PM

September 26, 2021 at 3:00PM
Central MA Association Annual Meeting

October 17, 2021
Installation
Rev. Jen Munroe-Nathans
Congregational Church of Littleton
330 King Street
Littleton, MA 01460-1253
3:00PM 

October 24, 2021
Installation
Rev. Marilyn Wilcox
The United Church of Clinton
109 Haskell Avenue
Clinton, MA 01510-2735
3:00PM

November 14, 2021
Installation
Rev. Candice Ashenden
Athol Congregational Church
1225 Chestnut Street
Athol, MA 01331
3:00PM

October 2021 Super Saturday Workshop Proposals Now Being Accepted   You are invited to share your gifts as a workshop presenter at our virtual Super Saturday on October 2nd and/or 9th.  Workshops are 90 minutes or 120 minutes depending on your preference.    October’s keynote speaker is Monica A. Coleman, Award-Winning Scholar, Writer and Minister.   The upcoming October Super Saturday 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 a personal renewal – spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, physiologically, and overall health.    Our goal is to have submissions in before the end of summer, so if you are interested, please complete the workshop proposal form by July 15, 2021, sending it to Andrea Bellarosa, Events Coordinator.    Thank you for considering to present a workshop at Super Saturday.  Please feel free to pass this link to others who you think would be a great presenter.  And remember to send your proposals and your questions, comments to Andrea Bellarosa, Events Coordinator by July 15, 2021. CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP Click here to visit the webpage 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. 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.

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.

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.

Additional information can be found by clicking on these links:

Sample of a local church's plan to move forward

Faith Formation Summit

Resilience, Relationships, Re-Entry

• 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!

Click here to view the Faith Formation Newsletters.
 

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. 

Fueling Inclusion, Voice, and
Opportunity for All

WAMS Works with individuals and community partners to inspire economic and education equity through social change. 

Click here to learn more about WAMS.

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