March 10, 2022

Dear Siblings in Christ, 
 
On Sunday, I had the privilege of serving communion for the first time since the pandemic began. This is one of my most treasured ministry moments and I almost wept as I took up the tray of communion cups and watched as people came forward. When I was in a local church, I always tried to use people’s names as I offered them the elements: “bread of life for you, Jane;” “cup of blessing, poured out for you, David.” It felt like one small way of reminding them that God knows and loves them, intimately (I have called you by name and you are mine). On Sunday, I could not do that with these strangers. So instead, I focused on their faces ~ the freckles on their noses, the laugh lines around their eyes, the worry lines etched on their foreheads, the unique colors and shapes of their eyes ~ and gave thanks to God for every single one of them. We are indeed precious in God’s sight and loved.
 
Our faith is an embodied one; we do, after all, follow the incarnate Christ. These last two years have reminded us of that, as many of our embodied ways of being church have been paused or changed and we have felt that loss. I have a renewed gratitude for the ways we can embody our faith, whether in communion, at coffee hour, serving side by side, singing and marching, or coloring on the floor with the children of the church.
 
I am also grateful that we are continuing to utilize the technology we were forced to embrace during the pandemic. Most churches now make their service available digitally, which allows those with health or mobility issues or at a distance to continue to be part of the Body. Virtual meetings and bible studies allow members a better life balance. Even as the pandemic recedes, Conference staff will continue to prefer virtual meetings to enable us to be better stewards of our financial, time and environmental resources. Personally, this approach makes this role sustainable for me. I can leave the family dinner table 10 minutes before a meeting instead of missing dinner altogether. And often, I can shut my computer, walk down the hall, and tuck my daughter into bed before she falls asleep. The same is true of our church members. It may seem contradictory, but our embrace of technology can actually encourage us to practice embodied faith outside Sunday morning and the walls of the church, because we can be physically present with our families, friends and neighbors. And when we do gather together again physically as the Body of Christ, we are all the more aware of the gift it is.
 
Lenten Blessings,

Rev. Elizabeth Garrigan-Byerly (she/her)
Area Conference Minister, North Central Region
(Central, MA & Windham, CT Associations)
Cell: 508-244-4311 - New Number

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). 

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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. If you have difficulty logging into your account please contact Nancy Stubbs at stubbsn@sneucc.org.

Rev. Becca Lockwood ~ Installation 
Sunday, May 22nd
First Parish Church United
48 Main Street
Westford, MA 01886
3:00PM

Tax filing information for clergy from the Pension Board UCC 2022 Clergy Tax Preparation Guide for 2021 Filing Season An authorized minister's taxes are more complicated than the average person's because of their dual tax status. This guide leads you through a process for properly preparing your 2021 tax returns. This guide is also a valuable resource for church treasurers and financial people so that they can understand the unique nature of clergy compensation packages and requirements. UCC Releases Stewardship Materials for Year-Round Use The United Church of Christ has made available new materials for stewardship that are designed to be used on a year-round basis. “From Bread and Cup to Faith and Giving” makes the connection between our experience of God and our generosity as disciples. It includes practical tools such as logos, commitment cards, bulletin inserts, and letters. The materials also provide resources for preaching and teaching about stewardship throughout the year. Please click here to read more.   Getting Aid to Ukraine The UCC, working through the ACT Alliance, is appealing for support for refugees and vulnerable people displaced within Ukraine who are unable to leave. Meanwhile, the First Church in Marlborough, MA, is working with Polish and Ukranian ecumenical partners to support those fleeing Ukraine. Read more here.  Donate here. Flag Photo by Max Kukurudziak on Unsplash

Lenten Prayers for Peace and Justice This event recurs Weekly on Tuesdays from Tuesday, March 8, 2022 to Tuesday, April 12, 2022 The daily barrage of bad news and life challenges leaves many of us anxious, broken hearted, weary, and longing for community.  Join us for 30 minutes of scripture, music, and prayers for our world, one another, and ourselves. March 8 will focus on the crisis in Ukraine. Click here to register to attend.

Racial Justice Workshop for Authorized Ministers May 14th at 8:30AM This virtual racial justice training will be facilitated by Rev. James D. Ross II, Minister of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Participants will receive a certificate documenting the hours of training completed. Members in Discernment are also invited to participate. The cost to attend is $10. Scholarships are available. The next session is planned for Nov. 12. Questions? Contact Karen Methot at methotk@sneucc.org.  Please click here to register. Emerging Leaders Program Trinity Leadership Fellows Join a diverse cohort of emerging leaders on a two-year journey of faith-inspired, values-driven, and community-oriented learning and mentorship. The Trinity Leadership Fellows Program is for individuals seeking to deepen the faith-inspired and values-driven mindsets and skills needed to effectively lead organizations and serve communities in contemporary society, while also building lifelong supporting peer and mentoring relationships.  Please click here for more information. Applications are due March 31, 2022 at 5:00pm Eastern Time.

Insurance Board's Legal Helpline In partnership with the United Church of Christ Association of Conference Attorneys (ACA) Insurance Board announces the addition of a Legal Helpline through our partnership with the Association of Conference Attorneys (ACA) of the United Church of Christ. All Insurance Board participants can access legal counsel that will provide a free legal consultation and referral service. Ministries will benefit from connecting with attorneys who have an intimate understanding of polity and how issues are processed in observance of free church traditions. Contact the Legal Helpline at 800-437-8830 (prompt #7), or email your inquiry to legalhelpline@insuranceboard.org. As the only non-profit insurance provider serving six denominations through our exclusive covenant, our ministry continues to offer resources to protect yours. Email The Legal Helpline: legalhelpline@insuranceboard.org (or) Call The Legal Helpline: 800.437.8830 (prompt #7). Click here for more information.

Super Saturday "A Future With Hope: Relevant, Prophetic and Transformative” Due to the increase in Covid cases, Super Saturday is now Virtual. Registration Deadline:  March 13, 2022 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND READ MORE! Clergy Compensation Guidelines - 2022 Updated Clergy Compensation Guidelines are now available. They allow you to use a worksheet to calculate a minister’s salary based on variables including median area income, experience, housing allowance/parsonage, etc. There is, conversely, a worksheet that allows you to type in what you can afford, and then breaks down what percentage of a full time call that equates. Learn more here, and please sign up for the webinar at 2 PM on February 16th that will go into more detail on the reasoning behind these guidelines, as well as how to use them!

Environmental Internship The Southern New England Conference, UCC is pleased to announce an Environmental Justice Internship for 2022-2023. The Environmental Justice Intern will help us create and lead school-year programming for youth or other church groups, hosted at two of our Outdoor Ministry sites, Silver Lake in Sharon, Connecticut and Irons Homestead, North Scituate, Rhode Island.  Click here for more information. Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs 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.  Click here for information and applications.  Some of your colleagues in this region have received this grant in the past, including Rev. Rich Knight. If you have a question about the application process, feel free to contact him.? SNE Women's Connection Spring Gathering 2022   Theme: Is There Room at the Inn?   Date:  Saturday, April 30, 2022   Place:  First Church of Christ Congregational 1652, 74 Main St., Farmington, CT 06032 Group Activity 2022 Recognized Women Awards Worship and Communion Registration form here.  Nominations for Church Women Recognition Awards here.  Community Purchasing Alliance MA Is a cooperative of faith and other values-based institutions, coming together to save money and get better service on essential services like electricity, waste removal, and janitorial – all while prioritizing contracts with Black-, Brown-, and worker-owned businesses. This spring, there are several opportunities to participate: Group electricity purchase, including renewable energy options. Fill out this form to explore options. Cleaning services. Please fill out this form to explore janitorial options with CPA MA. Waste removal, including trash, recycling, and composting. Reach out to Nathan Davis Hunt by email (nathan@cpa.coop) or phone (832.344.6256) Natural gas, snow removal, and PPE are also possibilities later in the year – connect with Nathan if interested. From Emma Brewer-Wallin, Minister of Environmental & Economic Justice: CPA MA is an exciting opportunity to deepen relationships and mutual care with other houses of worship and our wider communities. Through their group purchasing, churches – including smaller churches and those with tight budgets – are able to turn essential spending into ministry, by ensuring that those dollars stay in local communities.   Pentecost Book Study to Look at 'Generosity, Stewardship and Abundance' The Rev. David Cleaver-Bartholomew, Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations, will host a book study online Wednesday evenings from April 27 through June 1. The study will look at Generosity, Stewardship and Abundance by Lovett H. Weems Jr. and Ann A. Michel, a book described as being "a practical guide that is both theologically rigorous and spiritually edifying."  Read more here.

Negotiating a Liminal Season

March 29th, 7:00 PM 
Online

Are you experiencing a sense of ambiguity or disorientation? Liminality refers to the quality of ambiguity or disorientation that occurs during transition, when a person or group of people is in between something that has ended and something else that is not yet ready to begin. During this webinar, we introduce liminality and explore the challenges and opportunities facing organizations in liminal space. We will explore this pandemic season as a liminal season requiring a unique leadership stance and a different body of leadership work. Click here to read more and to register

DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT A GLANCE Talking About War with Children & Teens I long for a day when the stories of violence our children and youth see in the media will be a distant memory. Viewing images of war, death, and loss in the news these days is practically unavoidable, even for children. If parents are protecting them from these images, they are no doubt still hearing about it at school and from their peers. So let us take a moment to reflect on best practices for talking with children and teens about tragedies, in particular the current tragedy the world is experiencing — the war in Ukraine. How can we answer their questions about what is happening in the news in ways that will not overwhelm them? How can the adults who are closest to them provide guidance in ways that will keep them calm and feeling safe? Please click here to read more - Faith Formation Leadership Program 2021-2022 - Now offered only on Zoom! The Southern England Conference's Faith Formation Leadership Program offers multiple sessions of five to six different classes that may be taken "a la carte" or for the purpose of working toward a certificate in Faith Formation Leadership. For more information about the certification program, click here. 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 Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT. The 2022 Silver Lake summer camp brochure is available online now & will be in mailboxes in January! View and download the brochure.  REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 15  Summer staff at Silver Lake - APPLY NOW! - https://www.silverlakect.org/summeremployment Spend the entire summer living in an inclusive community, learning, growing, making memories and changing lives. Know someone that would be a great fit? Encourage them to apply! Summer Staff work six days per week for approximately nine to ten weeks during the summer. Applicants for Summer Staff must be at least 16 years old. Positions include: Camp Family (leadership development program for 16- and 17-year-olds), Resource Staff, Waterfront, Adventure Team (A-Team), Kitchen, Maintenance (ETF). Read the job descriptions - https://www.silverlakect.org/summerjobdescriptions 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.  Safe Travel for Babies! We are excited to tell you that we have the opportunity to help some new Moms keep their babies safe and welcome new Afghan neighbors at the same time.  Twelve of the women in Afghan families who have settled in central MA are going to give birth over the next few months – two of them very soon.   WAMS has volunteered to raise money to buy each family an infant car seat.  While most, possibly all, of the families are without cars right now, they are being transported for medical and other appointments by wonderful local volunteers, and the families will need car seats to bring their babies home from the hospital, take them to well-baby visits, and, as soon as it is safe for the Moms and babies, go to religious services and other important events. Click here to find out more on helping with this project. 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 March Anniversaries 5 Years The Rev. Kathryn Light The Rev. Korte Yeo 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   Please click here to view all SNEUCC obituaries.    CLASSIFIEDS   Communications Administrator - Ashburnham, MA Christian Education Director - Part Time Position - Ashland, MA Musician/Organist with an Edge - Leominster, MA Administrative Assistant - Princeton, MA Please click here to view all SNEUCC Classifieds   ASSOCIATION MEETING INFORMATION     Central MA 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: First Tuesday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom.