The newsletter will now be sent on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

Dear siblings in Christ,
 
At the All Saints Worship on Sunday, I learned a new song, “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God.” It has a sweet, sing-songy tune and some lyrics that don’t quite match our modern, American context (“one was a queen and one a shepherdess on the green;” you can meet them in trains, or in shops, or at tea”). It was very much a hymn of its own context; it was written as a children’s hymn in early 20^th century Great Britain.
 
And yet, its core message transcends time and culture. Saints are those who “love their Lord…follow the right…and love to do Jesus’ will.” They are not only those who did extraordinary things long ago. “The saints of God are just folk like me” who go about their ordinary lives loving and serving God and following in the footsteps of Jesus.
 
Saints, I give thanks for you. I give thanks for the radical love you show your neighbors, co-workers, strangers. I give thanks for the hospitality you extend to those the world ignores or derides. I give thanks for the justice you seek in how you spend your money and how you participate in civic life. I give thanks for the healing compassion and mercy you extend to others. I give thanks for your prayer lives. I give thanks for all the songs of your saintly lives. Sing, saints; sing!
 
In faith,

Rev. Elizabeth Garrigan-Byerly (she/her)
Area Conference Minister, North Central Region
(Central, MA & Windham, CT Associations)
Cell: 508-281-9776

Connect with your ACM

Whether you are a pastor, lay leader, MID or covenantal partner, I welcome the chance to meet with you virtually one on one. To schedule a time, click here and follow the instructions. If none of the times work for you, then please email Deb Holmes (holmesd@sneucc.org). 

Open Spirit: A Place of Hope, Health & Harmony Edwards Church 39 Edwards Street Framingham, MA Sunday, November 21st @ 4:00PM We will read from the UN Earth Charter, with reflections from spiritual leaders/students from Jewish, Christian, Baha'i, Buddhist, Muslim, traditional African spirituality and Christian Science. We will plant seeds as a symbol of hope.   We ask you to register for the program. There is a limit of 30 people in person (100 on zoom), so be sure to register early. We suggest a donation of $20--more if you can, less if you can't.   Register  here. Save the dates:  Sunday, December 12 at 1 pm Join us outdoors for a walk with Neela DeZoyso, botanist and Buddhist, who will reflect on Buddhist perspectives on nature and climate change.  Sunday, January 9 at 4 pm The Just Peace Players will present their play Hey! Save the Earth!

The United Church of Christ is pleased to award Franklin Federated Church in Franklin, MA with a matching grant for their fundraising efforts and commitment to assemble the following kits, to be distributed by Church World Service (CWS):
22 Emergency Cleanup Kits. These Cleanup Bucket kits provide supplies to families and communities affected by flooding, tornados and other disasters.
10 Hygiene Kits. These Hygiene kits mean the difference between sickness and health for struggling families facing natural disasters, violence, or poverty.
The grant check should arrive within the next few days.
We ask that you document your project with photos and/or a written account of your efforts.  Please use the online reporting form found at https://smr.to/p64879

Windham County Crop Walk, in which the Windham Association participated, raised over $6,000.

Fall and Winter Festivals are returning to our area churches, please let Deb Holmes know when you are planning your so that we can share the news with the rest of the region!

We love to share to the Good News that is happening in our region, please let Deb Holmes or Liz Garrigan-Byerly know if you have joy to share!

Do we have your church leaders listed correctly?

Please have your church administrator (or whoever handles your church's email account) visit the Church Dashboard (part of the Southern New England Conference's data base) to make sure we're connecting with all the current leaders in your church.

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

November 28, 2021
Ordination
Gary Gumuchian
Congregational Church of Littleton
330 King Street
Littleton, MA 01460
3:00PM
This is a hybrid event

Refugee Resettlement Grants Available

The Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum Task Team of the Southern New England Conference of the UCC has announced a small grant opportunity for UCC churches in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut that are working to sponsor refugee families and are helping them to resettle in the United States. This grant opportunity is initiated in response specifically to the resettlement of people from Afghanistan; however, it is open to congregations who are sponsoring refugees from any country.  Learn more here.

Afghan Refugee Support: Churches Encouraged to Work Together There are currently 55,600 Afghans awaiting new homes in the United States, with a predicted 30,000 more due to arrive by the end of the year. Some of these individuals and families have and will continue to arrive in the SNEUCC area. Assistance will be needed for weeks and months to come. The Southern New England Conference plans to offer additional information and resource sessions for our congregation. In addition, we are offering better staffing to support congregations, resettlement agencies, and, ultimately, our new neighbors.  Read more here. November Environmental Ministry Team Calendar Don't miss this month's curated collection of events, resources, and climate action opportunities from the SNEUCC Environmental Ministry Team!  Read it here.  Has your congregation joined the '21 in 21' Green Congregation Challenge?  Learn more here:  Green Congregation Challenge

Faith in our Future Together: Informational Session (Second Round) This informational session is for churches considering applying for the second round of funding for the Faith in our Future Together grant.  We will provide a brief overview of the program, review the application process and timeline, and answer your questions. The session will be led by members of the grant committee.  Registration is required.  Register here.

The Massachusetts Convention of Congregationalist Ministers will be hosting its annual Fall Book Seminar on Monday, November 15th, 2021, via Zoom from 10 am to 12 pm. This year’s featured speaker will be the author and translator Dr. Sarah Ruden who will be discussing her most recent work -The Gospels - a new translation.   Her work has received much popular coverage and numerous positive reviews in a variety of publications, including The New Yorker and Christian Science Monitor. About the Speaker: Sarah Ruden is an author of poetry, essays, translations of classic literature, and popular works on Biblical philology, religious criticism, and interpretation. She has translated a number of ancient literary works, among them Vergil's Aeneid and Augustine's Confessions, and is the author of Paul Among the People: The Apostle Reinterpreted and Reimagined in His Own Time and The Face of Water: A Translator on Beauty and Meaning in the Bible. She is a past recipient of the Guggenheim and Whiting awards. Formerly a scholar-in- residence at Yale Divinity School, she is currently a visiting researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. About Us: The Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers (MCCM) is the oldest professional body currently meeting in the United States. It has met almost continually since 1691 and gathers Trinitarian and Unitarian ministers and laypeople in Massachusetts and beyond. This event is free and open to the public. However, a small donation is suggested. Registration is required. If you plan to attend, please register here: https://forms.gle/esj1tmfBAYHw861X6

Establishing Parity Between Digital and In-Person Worship

Is it possible to create parity between worshipers who participate digitally versus being in-person?  This is a key question for a few reasons.  Firstly, some people are not prepared to come back into our physical worship spaces because of the Delta variant and other potential variants of the coronavirus.  Secondly, over the last year or two of services in the digital space, many of our churches have gained members and friends who don’t live nearby and couldn’t participate in person on a regular basis even if they wanted to.  And thirdly, so much of life has moved, and continues to move, into the digital space. People’s spiritual lives are doing that, too.  Some may regret that fact or even resist it, but nothing can stop that.  We need to recognize and respond faithfully to this reality. If churches intend to continue to offer hybrid services (engaging worshipers simultaneously in-person and digitally), then there are several practices that can help the digital participants become more involved spiritually and emotionally in the service. Learn more here and watch a 30-minute presentation by Conference Digital Minister Eric Elley.

Pastoral Counseling Programs Available to
Authorized Ministers

Ministry is a demanding profession.  The great and small stresses of life and the give and take of parish ministry can be challenging.  The Southern New England Conference is committed to the well-being of its Authorized Minsters and to providing support for those who provide leadership to the church.  Thanks to the generosity of historic benefactors, we are able to provide Authorized Ministers with standing in an Association of the Southern New England Conference, and their spouses/life partners/significant others, with a short-term, three-session consultation for stabilization and referral. Please click here to learn more.

UCC Counsel Urges Caution Regarding Boy Scout Charters

United Church of Christ General Counsel Heather Kimmel is advising that churches speak to an attorney before taking any action regarding Boy Scouts of America charter agreements or renewals in light of the BSA’s bankruptcy filing.

Kimmel said churches that are chartering organizations are receiving documents related to the Chapter 11 plan which gives several opt-in choices and an opt-out choice.

“Each choice involves waivers of important rights,” Kimmel said. “A local church that is a chartering organization should consult with its attorney to carefully review its options in the context of its history with BSA and knowledge of potential abuse claims for the best advice on how to proceed.  I cannot advise local churches individually on this issue.” Click here to read more.

Save the Date! 

Small Church Summit

Date: Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022
Location: Edward's House, Framingham, MA

More info to come shortly!

Contact Center for Transformational Leadership for details.

We have recently launched our new website: The Center for Transformational Leadership - Southern New England Conference of the UCC (sneucc.org) to make it easy for you to access the resources you need to do the transformative work you and your congregations are called to do!

The Center for Transformational Leadership was created to equip clergy and lay leaders, congregations, and covenantal partners of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ with resources, tools, and support to do the transformative ministry they are called to do in the church, local community, and the world. To learn more, contact:

• Director – Bridget S. Johnson, johnsonb@sneucc.org
• Assistant Director – Karen Ziel, zielk@sneucc.org
• Program Support Associate - Elisa Wilson wilsone@sneucc.org 

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  Clergy Renewal Programs

  
  National and Indiana Clergy Renewal Programs provide an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for drinking again from God’s life-giving waters, for regaining enthusiasm and creativity for ministry.
  
    Details and application materials for the 2022 programs are now available. Eligible congregations will be able to apply for grants of up to $50,000 each to support a renewal program for their pastor. Up to $15,000 of the grant may be used for congregational expenses associated with the renewal program.
  Applications are open now through April 27, 2022
   
  Newsletter Article: CTS Clergy Renewal Program - Christian Theological Seminary (cts.edu)
  Homepage: Clergy Renewal - Christian Theological Seminary (cts.edu)

DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT A GLANCE PRC Webinar: Children's Ministry Post Vaccine Thursday, Nov 18 2021 - 2:00 PM   Yale Youth Ministry Institute Lunch & Lecture: "I Hear You: Creating Listening Spaces" Wednesday, Dec 01 2021 - 12:00 PM   2021 Christmas at the Lake Family Day Saturday, Dec 04 2021 - 10:00 AM Visit the Faith Formation webpage for more information. OUTDOOR MINISTRIES & MISSION OPPORTUNITIES 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. Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA This is a traditional summer day camp with over 50 years of experience in providing children safe, summer fun.   Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT. With more than 60 acres of wooded land on lakeside shores, Silver Lake offers many opportunities for young people. 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.   Worcester Fellowship Please check their website for updated information.   PULPIT SUPPLY INFORMATION   Please email Deb Holmes at holmesd@sneucc.org for an updated copy of the regional pulpit supply list.  If you are interested in being included on the North Central region pulpit supply list please contact Deb Holmes. ACTIVE FOOD PANTRIES AND OUTREACH MEALS The attached list is an updated list of churches in the North Central 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. North Central Region List. TRANSITIONS   Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Transitions.   CELEBRATIONS  November Anniversaries 40 Years The Rev. Carol Ahlstrand Smith The Rev. John Zehring 35 Years The Rev. Stephanie Flynn 25 Years The Rev. John Shaw Please contact Deb Holmes if we have missed your anniversary.  Anniversaries are listed from 5 years and forward in increments of 5. If your church is celebrating a mile anniversary please let Deb Holmes know so that entire North Central Region can celebrate with you! OBITUARIES The Rev. Gary L. Marks died peacefully surrounded with the love of his family in his home in Plymouth on October 28, 2021. He is the beloved husband of Kathy (Mayhew) Marks of 57 years.  He is also survived by three sons, Jonathan Mayhew Marks and his wife Joanne D. of Wakefield, James David (JD) Marks and his wife Betsy of Plymouth and John Robinson (Robbie) Marks and his wife Lisa J. of East Boston. Gary was Pastor 40 years for The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth until his retirement in January 2011. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday November 13th at 10:30 am in The Church of the Pilgrimage, 8 Town Square, Plymouth MA 02360. Internment will follow at the church’s Memorial Garden. In honor of Gary’s love for his church, the family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Church of the Pilgrimage Organ Fund, 8 Town Square, Plymouth Ma 02360. Click here to read more.   Please click here to view all SNEUCC obituaries.   CLASSIFIEDS Part-Time Church Administrative Assistant - Acton, MA Christian Education Director - Part Time Position - Ashland, MA Administrative Assistant - Northborough Church Treasurer - Paxton, MA Music Director - Woodstock, CT Church Musician (Part time) - Worcester, MA Please click here to view all SNEUCC Classifieds    ASSOCIATION MEETING INFORMATION   Central Mass Association Meeting Information: The Committee on Authorized Ministry: Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 9:30 AM. The Board of Director's: Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 2:30 PM Windham Association Meeting Information: Monthly Council meeting: Is held on the 4th Thursday of each month at 2:30 PM.