Good People:

As I write this note, I’m sitting at my desk on Ash Wednesday.

For the second year in a row, I was kindly invited to offer “Ashes on the Way” in front of Old South Church in Boston. The experience – even though only an hour – never ceases to humble me. In the heart of the city, you meet so many different people:

• The tourists from other parts of America, stopping to curiously stare at the building because they’ve never seen a church with rainbow flags before.
• The countless people who do not speak English, yet understand the significance of this holy ritual, transcending the need for language.
• The hesitant observes, unsure of whether they’d be welcome, or whether they really want to do it, and need a few moments to watch and gather courage.
• The lapsed returners who haven’t received ashes in decades, but nonetheless halted their walk to reconnect with something they thought they lost.
• The Catholics who don’t know (or don’t care) that you’re a not a catholic church, but still only know to call me “father.”
• The double-backers, who initial walk by, then change their mind – usually because they’ve never been blessed by a female minister, and they noticed the female pastor offering ashes next to me.
• The LGBTQ+ and queer folks, smiling from ear to ear, because this is a moment in which they can touch and feel something that has likely been denied to them in the past.

This is the Body of Christ. People of all ages, races, backgrounds, beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and so much more. Each of them pausing in their day, maybe not even sure why, to touch a part of themselves and our collective human experience which is somehow valuable. May all that we do be opportunities for the whole Body of Christ to feel, taste, touch, smell, and experience this holy connection to themselves, one another, and God.

With love and thanks,
Alex

Rev. Alex Shea Will
Area Conference Minister
Northeast Region (Metropolitan Boston and Northeast Associations)

Rev. Shea Will can be reached at sheawilla@sneucc.org or call/text: 508-244-4769.  

Siblings in Christ: Thank you for the invitations to worship with you! I’m currently scheduled through June 2023, and I’d love to continue scheduling in 2023. I am eager to visit with each of you, join you for life together, and even preach if you would like. Please reach out and let me know a few options of what might work for you and your congregation.  

Regardless of whether you’ve yet to meet in person, or have been meeting in person for months, we are all dealing with the ramifications of this pandemic in one way or another. I am praying for each of you and our congregations as you navigate how best to love, care for, and be present with one another. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Metropolitan Boston Association

Save the Date!  Ecclesiastical Council, Carlos Aoun, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 7:00pm at Old South Church in Boston.

Save the Date!  Service of Installation, Rev. Domenik Ackermann, on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 3:00pm at Eliot Church of Newton

Save the Date!  MBA Spring Meeting, Sunday, June 25, 2023.  More details to come.

Northeast Association
Northeast Association, SNEUCC | Facebook

Save the Date!  Spring Meeting of the Northeast Association will be May 7, 2023 at 3pm at First Congregational Church of Georgetown, UCC. 

Silent Movie Night Charlie Chaplin's City Lights Saturday, February 25, 2023 doors open at 7:15pm Maple Street Church's Social Hall, 90 Maple St., Danvers Click here for more information.

Who Was Mary Magdalene?

Lenten Series at West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church, 488 Essex Ave., Gloucester.

Thursdays, March 9, 16, 23 & 30th from 6pm to 7:30pm 

More information here. 

Congratulations to First Church in Ipswich and Rev. Rebecca Pugh for receiving a Global H.O.P.E. Booster Grant for their work with the Ipswich Refugee Program.  Their ministry includes 10 families, living here from Afghanistan, Brazil, Guatemala, Iran, and Iraq. Their outreach has included housing, education, clothing, medical care, job searches, Eid celebrations, and spiritual support for these families. 

Data Hub Instructions for Churches for 2023 Yearbook

Churches can now upload their data to the Data Hub for the 2023 Yearbook. 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. Click here for more information. 

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