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REGIONAL NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE CHANGE

The Regional Newsletter will now be sent on a monthly basis. The regular schedule will be on the Third Tuesday of each month. If you would like to have events included please make sure to have them submitted by the Second Wednesday of the month to Deb Holmes: holmesd@sneucc.org
 


WORDS FROM YOUR AREA CONFERENCE MINISTER

 

February 21, 2023

Dear Northwest Region,

This marks the first newsletter where we have moved to a monthly format. It is part of a considered effort by your ACM Team and Conference to be thoughtful about how much information we are sending to you. We are also trying to ensure that each region gets the same basic information, and in time for your own monthly newsletters!
 
We do, however, really want to include goings-on relevant to the region and especially events in your congregations, so please send them to Deb Holmes by the 2nd Thursday of the month!
 
As a for-instance of what you might submit for inclusion: Wednesday night I will be joining the Ash Wednesday service hosted jointly by our congregations in Montague, Sunderland, Hatfield, Whately, Shelburne, and North Hadley. The service will be held at the Montague Congregational Church at 7:00 PM, and Rev. Dr. Cynthia Crosson-Harrington, pastor of the Whately Congregational Church, UCC, will preach on the message of  Living Circles.
 
It is an effort that spans two Associations and draws together clergy and congregations in a covenantal way—and a partnership that has lasted 26 years, according to Rev. Randy Calvo, pastor of the Hatfield and Sunderland congregations. How good it will be to be in worship with so many of our churches and clergy.
 
And even as I go, my heart will be with the church folk and clergy across the region observing the threshold to the season of Lent in their own ways. It is a holy thing to take the time to notice the dust and the pain of the world—to spend time in the wilderness and to be reminded that, like Christ, we are tended by angels, and yes, we can come through it, with God’s help.
 
May your own Lenten observances be meaningful and full of God’s presence, and may you be drawn deeper into the embrace of the Holy One.


Blessings,
Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa
Area Conference Minister, NW Region


One to One conversations with Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa

The Rev. Ogawa will be hosting bi-weekly coffee house hours to meet with clergy for 30 minutes on the first and third Thursday mornings. These can be scheduled by clicking here.  Please contact her Program Support Associate, Deb Holmes if you have questions or problems signing up for a meeting.

ASSOCIATION & CHURCH EVENTS
(Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Litchfield North)

National Data Hub is open for updates

The Data Hub will be available beginning noon, Wednesday, January 4, 2023. The deadline for entering data is midnight Wednesday, March 1, 2023.  Data Hub deadlines are related to publication schedules; late information may not be included in the 2023 Yearbook. Please click here for information on how to enter your church info.

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


2023  -  26th Annual Lenten Discussion Series  -  2023
On the Outside Looking In
 

Click here for a shareable PDF

CONFERENCE & REGIONAL EVENTS/INFORMATION
Please go to sneucc.org/events to see all posted events

Save the Date! SNEUCC Annual Meeting
Saturday, June 17, 2023

DCU Center
50 Foster Street
Worcester, MA 01068

Click here for more information!     

Environmental Justice Youth Retreat
 
(rain date March 25th)
Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Nature & Neighbors is a day-long environmental justice retreat for youth, which will include exploration of environmental racism and environmental justice; engaging scripture and spiritual practices that inspire and sustain action; and experiencing God’s Creation firsthand at Irons Homestead, one of the beautiful outdoor ministry sites affiliated with the Conference.
Middle and high school groups of any size, or individual youth with an accompanying adult, are welcome to sign up. Program cost is $75 per participant – please contact Emma Brewer-Wallin (brewer-walline@sneucc.org) for sliding scale rates. We want you to participate and cost should not be a barrier!  More information and to register here.

UCC History & Polity Classes

Exploring the history, polity and theology of the United Church of Christ through Convergence.  Online and on demand.  Use the code POLITYONDEMAND to get 15% off.  More information here

 Proportional Giving Video &
Infographic Available to Churches

Your congregation may be one of the many SNEUCC churches that will soon be adopting their 2023 Mission Plan (aka Budget) articulating how they anticipate using God’s resources under their stewardship to both show forth and embody the Light of Christ in the coming year. Click here to learn more!


Ministry Matters: An Evening of Conversation

Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, UCC
207 Washington Street
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-3105

Come! Connect! Be Inspired! 

All are invited to come for a time of conversation, education and relationship building. 
The Rev. Darrell Goodwin, Executive Conference Minister, The Rev. Eric Elley, Digital Minister, and Ms. Karen Ziel, Assistant Director of The Center for Transformational Leadership, will talk about new and exciting ministries offered by the SNEUCC and engage in Q&A. Light refreshments will be served. Click here to register.


2023 Proportional Giving: Fulfilling Our Mission


2023 STEWARDSHIP Resources

Webinars offered from 6:30 to 7:30pm Central Time 

Mar 22, 2023 - Changing Landscape of Giving: What we can learn from Millennial and Gen Z Donors Register here.

All Stewardship Webinars offered in 2023 by the National UCC Office are listed here
 

Internal Controls For Financial Operations:

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 @ 2pm EST
 

Featuring: Andrea Gauding – Sr. V/P and CFO of Insurance Board

Ministries in the hybrid environment continue to be financially devastated by internal and external criminal activity. Please join us on February 28th at 2:00 p.m. EST, to learn about financial controls and best practices to protect your ministry.
Click Here To Register For The Webcast

Do You Need a Day Away?

Edwards House provides Complimentary Retreat Days to New England Non-Profit, Lay, and Clergy Leadership.
Two different opportunities can be found here. 

From Practical Resources for Churches

 

From MESA
Specialized Minister Boundary Training with the Rev. Tara Barber and the Rev. Stephen Boyd

Monday, February 6, 6:00 – 9:00pm ET
This training, hosted by Revs. Tara Barber and Stephen Boyd, is open to ministers serving in specialized settings throughout the United Church of Christ. Serving in specialized setting requires particular attention to boundaries within the ministry setting and home church that are challenging and different from those serving as local church pastors. This training will focus on matters that relate specifically to issues that these ministers face, providing opportunities for clergy to reflect on best practices and growth in their practice of ministry. *Note - This training completes individual requirements for boundary training ONLY WHEN authorized by a local Committee on Ministry.


Racial Justice Cross-Pollination Gatherings

The SNEUCC adds to its series of justice gatherings, now with a network focused on racial justice. These sessions take place on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 PM via Zoom.   These Cross-Pollination Gatherings are intended for local church leaders involved in racial justice ministries. This is an opportunity to exchange ideas, celebrate successes, and troubleshoot challenges. Click here for more information
Join us! Questions? Contact brewer-walline@sneucc.org.  
These gatherings do not fulfill the Central MA RJ Training Requirements.

Image by Maicon Fonseca Zanco on Pixabay 


THE CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

The Center for Transformational Leadership equips clergy and lay leaders, congregations and covenantal partners of the SNEUCC with resources, tools and support to create a new vision and do the transformative ministry they are called to do in the local church, local community and the world.
We believe God calls us to bring new life as agents of change, and so  we embrace and encourage adaptive and transformative leadership wherever the Body of Christ is gathered. SIGN UP HERE to receive the Center for Transformational Leadership's monthly newsletter, Innovation Now!


Lunch & Learn schedule

Lunch & Learn for Leaders is a monthly series hosted by the Center for Transformational Leadership. Every third Thursday, join us at noon for an hour-long session of learning and discussion. Each month we will offer a bite-size opportunity to learn valuable concepts and practices from a subject expert. Our wide-ranging topics are relevant to areas of mission and ministry that you, our authorized ministers and lay leaders, have indicated are timely for your congregations.                 

Upcoming Sessions: 

February 16, 2023: Discerning Your Church’s Future  REGISTER HERE:
When you consider your church, do any of these statements resonate with you?
  • There is concern about the future of our church.
  • The church needs to consider new possibilities-what options and resources are available to transform our work.
  • The congregation is going to need to make some important decisions about the future soon.
  • The church is at a threshold moment and needs to know how to move forward.
  • The church is ready for vitalization or renewal but isn’t sure how to start.

If you agree with any or some of the above, please join Karen Ziel, Assistant Director of SNEUCC’s Center for Transformational to learn about the options and resources available to your church in this moment.  Karen will present an overview of the assessment and discernment tools and support that can be offered to our Conference congregations through the Center for Transformational Leadership

Read newsletter issues  HERE. 

FAITH FORMATION

LAST CALL!

SNEUCC Confirmation Retreats '22-'23

Register your group for a facilitated retreat in 2022-2023! Chose from seven dates and three great locations.
In addition to our overnight retreats, consider our Weekend Retreats at Silver Lake! These events will include two nights with four meals, a full stay from Friday from 7:00pm to Sunday at 11:30am, and programs include team building, games, and campfire time on Saturday. Cost is $195 per person.
Registration is now open! Go to sneucc.org/events and select your preferred date. To ensure a spot for your attendants, you will be asked to make a deposit for each participant. Final count and full payment are due 21 days prior to the retreat. Please see each registration form for important information and policies.

Click here to read and learn more!
 

OUTDOOR MINISTRIES

The Southern New England Conference engages in Outdoor & Retreat Ministry with the following sites:

Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center
Silver Lake is looking for summer staff

Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham, MA

Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA
Registration opens January 29th at Noon!?

Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI


TEMPORARY MINISTERIAL COVERAGE LIST

The Southern New England Conference maintains Temporary Ministerial Coverage (TMC) lists for all 6 SNEUCC regions. These lists contain Clergy and Lay people that are interested in providing Sunday Supply, Sabbatical Coverage, and Bridge Coverage. All the people included on the list have had a Criminal Background Check and are required to have Boundary Awareness Training as well as Racial Justice Training. 

These TMC lists are regularly updated in real time.  If your church is in need of a list please reach out to the Program Support Associate for your Region:
North Central & Northwest Regions: Deb Holmes, holmesd@sneucc.org
South Central & Southwest Regions: Roz Hooks: Hooksr@sneucc.org
Northeast & Southeast Regions: Lynn Varney: Varneyl@sneucc.org

If you are interested in being included on any of the Temporary Ministerial Coverage regional lists please contact Jill Ford at fordj@sneucc.org

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. 

TRANSITIONS

 

Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Transitions.

 

CELEBRATIONS

January Ordination Anniversaries

25 Years
The Rev. Erick Olsen

15 Years
The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Crosson-Harrington
The Rev. Tadd Allman-Morton
The Rev. Vicki Kemper
The Rev. Mary Nelson

 Please contact Deb Holmes if we have missed your anniversary.
Anniversaries are listed from 5 years and forward in increments of 5.


Church Milestones in 2023

Southwick Congregational Church UCC - 250 years


New O&A churches!

The United Church of Clinton
and the First Congregational Church of Rutland

 

OBITUARIES

                   

 Please click here to view all SNEUCC obituaries. 

CLASSIFIEDS

 

Holyoke Medical Center Seeks Volunteer Interfaith Chaplains

Assistant Youth Leader, Longmeadow, MA

Church Office Administrator, West Springfield, MA

Please click here to view all SNEUCC Classifieds

 

Northwest Region of
The Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ

508-244-4399
holmesd@sneucc.org 
www.sneucc.org/northwest

Office Hours: 
Monday: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday-Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: Closed

This newsletter is made by possible by your church's contributions to
Proportional Giving to Our Church's Wider Mission.