Dear Friends, 
Just like prayer, service, and worship, generosity is a spiritual discipline.  It is a practice that can be modeled and taught, it is a habit that, with intention, can be developed over time. And, in addition to impacting those on the receiving end, it can be a doorway to deeper spirituality for the giver. In a society that focuses on wealth accumulation as a means to happiness, we would do well to celebrate the counter-cultural benefits of giving mentioned in Isaiah 58: If you share your bread with the hungry… your light shall break forth like the dawn...your bones shall be made strong, and you shall be like a watered garden.”  Read the 3 min. reflection by Debby Kirk

To hear more, join us for the Faith Formation Idea Lab: The Practice of Generosity on Thursday, October 21 at 4 PM.  Register here  

Passing On the Faith Without Sunday School

by Debbie Gline Allen

It’s time to move away from Sunday School. 
Wait, hear me out on this. 
I’m not saying that we should throw the baby out with the bathwater. I’m not saying that we should abandon the teaching office, or stop offering faith-forming activities for our children (and youth and adults), or stop paying attention to the growth in faith of our children. But....Read more (4 min)


 

Share your reflection or story of innovative ministry with Discipleship Matters! Be our next featured writer! E-Mail Debby Kirk

Meet our new team member!

Sean Amato joins the Faith Formation Team on October 12

Greetings – my name is Sean Amato, and I’m a new part time employee of the SNEUCC! I will be working alongside the Faith Formation team of Debby Kirk and Debbie Gline Allen as a support staffer, providing administrative assistance and reinforcing the work of our team. 

Prior to my engagement with the SNEUCC, I worked in Rhode Island’s social service field for about ten years; since then, I have acted as a mission co-worker in Egypt with Global Ministries. Most recently, I’ve begun a Master of Divinity (MDiv) program at Chicago Theological Seminary.  

I am proud to be a part of our Conference – and I hope to make you, as someone who cares about our conference, proud too. Please do not hesitate to contact me at amatos@sneucc.org if I may be of any assistance to you!

Read about other recent hires at SNEUCC.

Congratulations!
 Congratulations to Sherie Roberts, winner of our Super Saturday Book Raffle.  Sherie serves on the Nurture Ministry Team at Newtown Congregational Church in Newtown, CT.  She will receive a free copy of Faith Formation With a New Generation by John Roberto. 
Happy reading!
Resources

Compensation Guidelines-- updates from our siblings in the Unitarian Universalist Church

Intergenerational Worship Resources-- found on the Worship and Spirituality section of our webpage

Look for more helpful materials and curated links under Make Disciples
 on www.sneucc.org
 
Upcoming SNEUCC Events & Programs
Join the Faith Formation "Idea Lab" on Zoom to share best practices for forming generous humans.
Thursday, October 21 from 4:00 to 4:45

 Implementing Intergenerational Worship
with Rebecca Steven-Walters
Thursday, October 28 at 7:00 PM via Zoom
Learn how to infuse your worship with elements of story, song, and prayer that are accessible for all ages. Invite your worship team and register now.

The SNEUCC Faith Formation Leadership (Certificate) Program can be engaged either as a Certificate program or as a series of stand-alone classes. Please sign up at least two days prior to the class date. Read more about the program and be sure to share this information with leaders in your congregation.
For more information, contact Debbie Gline Allen 

For youth in grades 9-12 on November 5-7  
Go to silverlakect.org for information about upcoming events. 
$140 per person. Scholarships are available to defray cost.   

    SNEUCC Confirmation Retreat Schedule

Register your group for a Facilitated Retreat in 2022. Choose from five dates and three great locations! Your youth will have amazing worship and learning experiences together with teens from other congregations.

We have overnight and weekend options. Register now to reserve a spot for your group.  Download the info sheet and select the date and location that meets the needs of your class to register.  Note that space is limited to 65 attendees for each date.

Partner Events
Symposium on Children's Spirituality on October 21 and 22 featuring keynote presentation by Jerome Berryman, founder of Godly Play. Presented by Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary
Yale Youth Ministry (YMI) Lunch & Lecture Series continues  on Wednesday,  November 3 at 12 noon. Free on Zoom.
Dr. Margaret S. Clark, presents: Belonging
  YMI Series, Thriving, Not Surviving: Building a Toolkit for a Flourishing Youth Ministry in 2021-2022.

Practical Resources for Churches (PRC) has excellent resources for faith formation.  PRC has archived materials on their website and offer live  webinars most every week.  SNEUCC underwrites PRC so these programs available to our congregations for free. Look for them on our conference events calendar


 Save the Date for NEAUCE 2022

New England Association of United Church Educators (NEAUCE) Returns in 2022!  Plan to attend this regional retreat for faith formation leaders at Pilgrim Pines in Swanzey, NH on May 3-5, 2022. Scholarships are available. Contact Kristin Putney for more information. 


Do you have a student at U Conn?  Here's news about the Storrs Congregational Church which is right on campus. Stop in for breakfast and worship on Sunday mornings.  Contact Lisa Haupt for more information
SNEUCC Classified Ads

The SNEUCC Classifieds page has job postings as well as items for sale.  Church administrators are welcome to use the online template to submit information.

 
 

Faith Formation Team:

Debbie Gline Allen, 508-603-6601
Debby Kirk, 860-377-2675