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 |
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February 21, 2023
She’s here! Your settled ACM, Rev. Carol Steinbrecher, started her ministry among us on February 15th. Carol and I spent her first day together at the Framingham office and the time reconfirmed just how right this call is; I am delighted to see her partnership with you unfold.
Next week you will receive a letter from Carol, introducing herself more fully, and sharing dates for upcoming virtual gatherings for authorized ministers. In the meantime, if you need to reach out to her, don’t hesitate to contact her at steinbrecherc@sneucc.org or (508) 244-4887. In addition, I hope you will save the date for the North Central Regional Gathering on May 20th, 9am-12pm. It will be an opportunity for authorized ministers, local church leaders and association leaders to meet Carol in person, as well as engage with each other and other Conference staff.
I want to take a moment to thank Rev. Sam Houser for being the Bridge ACM. They jumped into covering two regions and did so with grace and giftedness. They will be passing things along to Carol over the next few weeks. If you are mid-conversation or project with Sam, fear not; they will communicate with you about wrapping up or passing it along.
May God bless your journeys into Lent.
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Rev. Elizabeth Garrigan-Byerly (she/her)
Executive Minister for Area Conference Ministry?
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ASSOCIATION & CHURCH UPDATES
(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.
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"Count Your Blessings"
Thrift Shop
Spring Fashion Show
Saturday, April 1, 12pm - 2pm
Free Admission & Light Luncheon Served
RSVP by March 24th
Trinity Church Northborough
23 Main Street
Northborough, MA
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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.
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.
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Worcester Fellowship
Please check their website for updated information.
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CELEBRATIONS
(Church Anniversaries & Ordinations) |
Ordination Anniversaries
35 Years
Rev. Gretchen Switzer
25 Years
Rev. Kenneth Landin
Church Milestones in 2023
Hampton Congregational Church, UCC - 300 years
First Congregational Church of Rutland - 300 years
First Congregational Church, UCC, Shrewsbury - 300 years
Congregational Church of Putnam - 175 years
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CONFERENCE & PARTNER UPDATES
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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.
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North Central Regional Gathering
Saturday, May 20, 9am - 12pm
First Congregational Church UCC
355 Main Street
Oxford, MA 01540
Come and G.R.O.W. with us at the Regional Gatherings this spring! We hope that local church leaders, authorized ministers and association leaders will join Conference staff and board members for the chance to connect, collaborate and strengthen our covenantal connections in person. You can watch the invitational video here find more information here and register here.
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Save the Date! SNEUCC Annual Meeting
June 17, 2023
Worcester, MA - DCU Center
Roll Away the Stone Mark 16:1-4
A message from the Rev. Dr. Chris Davies, Executive Minister for Programs and Initiatives:
To the churches of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts in the United Church of Christ, save the date for the Annual Meeting of the Southern New England Conference of the UCC.
We will gather together on Saturday, June 17th, all day, for an in-person meeting in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the DCU Center, where our first historic vote to be the Conference happened.
There, we will do the business of the Conference, enjoy the incarnate presence of each other and reconnect, and witness to the power of what we can do when we come together.
Together , we bring hope in making disciples of Jesus, making God's love and justice real, bringing new life as agents of change, and forming covenantal partnerships.
We expect that there will be a digital component to our Annual Meeting as well, the details of which are still TBA, and we're working out a few details on optional pre-events in addition. But for now, save the date and look to more information coming your way soon.
Beloveds of God - I cannot wait to be with you at our Annual Meeting in June!
Please click here to learn more.
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Proportional Giving Video & Infographic Available to Churches
The Southern New England Conference has posted a video and infographic to aid churches in understanding the impact of their contributions to Proportional Giving to Our Church’s Wider Mission. Link: https://www.sneucc.org/newsdetail/proportional-giving-video-infographic-available-to-churches-17276953
New Partnership to Bring Incredible Days to Edwards House
The Southern New England Conference's Edwards House Meeting and Retreat Center is partnering with Incredible Days to host four weeks in July during which youth and intergenerational groups can sign up for mission programs where participants will stay at Edwards House and do daily service projects focused on addressing urban poverty in Greater Boston. Link: https://www.sneucc.org/newsdetail/sneucc-partners-with-boston-mission-to-host-incredible-days-17301184
Ministry Matters: An Evening of Conversation
Thursday, April 7, 6:30pm - 8:30PM
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.
Spring 2023 Gathering for SNE Women's Connection!
April 15 2023
Registration Form and Recognized Women Form
Church Leadership Training
Feb. 25, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM • Online
Basic training over Zoom open to all, but especially relevant for new and returning moderators, assistant moderators, treasurers, and pastor-parish relations committee members. This event is offered at no cost to participants through Proportional Giving to Our Church's Wider Mission.
Link: https://www.sneucc.org/eventdetail/17296317
Lenten Chapel of the Heart
Wednesdays, 9 AM, March 1 - 29 • Online
All are welcome to join a virtual devotional time on five Wednesday mornings during Lent. The SNEUCC Faith Formation Team will lead the sessions of prayer, reflection and music which are 45 minutes in length.
Link: https://www.sneucc.org/eventdetail/17276511
Conference Launches Lenten Book Study on Microaggressions in Ministry
Executive Minister of Programs and Initiatives the Rev. Dr. Chris Davies will lead this Conference-Wide book study for people in congregations who want to learn how to be more welcoming, more inclusive, and more attentive to the way God is calling them to accompany ALL people along their spiritual paths at church.
This book study fulfills conference Racial Justice Training requirements.
Link: https://www.sneucc.org/eventdetail/17308085
The Southern New England Conference engages in Outdoor & Retreat Ministry with the following sites:
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center
Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham, MA
Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA
Registration opens January 29th at Noon!
Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI
Both Silver Lake and Pilgrim Day Camp are recruiting summer camp staff.
Silver Lake will be opening camp registration March 1 at 9 AM.
Summer Staff applications are due by Feb. 24 – info is here: https://www.silverlakect.org/employment
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TEMPORARY MINISTERIAL COVERAGE LIST
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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 Minister
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MORE...
(Classifieds, Transitions, and Obituaries)
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Please click here to view all SNEUCC obituaries.
Please click here to view all SNEUCC Classifieds
Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Transitions
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