Discipleship Matters-October 2020

Dear Reader,

Open your favorite search engine and cast a net for October celebrations, holidays, and causes and you'll get more fun information than you can imagine! Anyone celebrating National Pierogi Day today? Yum!

Seriously, I often cast this net to consider how to connect major themes in our culture and communities to the work of the church. How might our ministries connect to our communities by sharing in or participating in celebrations, activities, and formational moments? Can they engage members, friends, and community partners we might not otherwise engage? The answer to this question provides an important clue to strategies for local leaders to pursue as you create exciting and worthy ministry outside our church doors! (And within!)

When I cast the net for October a few weeks ago, I was reminded that in October, among other important causes we focus on such as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we celebrate National Bullying Prevention Month and focus activities and formation on Bullying Prevention. What can you do this month and beyond to bring Bullying Prevention education and measures to your community and congregation? Who in your community is engaging in anti-bullying awareness activities, education, etc.?

Here is an important, illustrative story on the importance of this work: Their mom was just getting ready to step out of the door for the day. They were both in school and she would work, run a few errands, catch up with them at dinner. Take-out tonight, Mom wondered? As she approached her car, the phone rang. It was the vice-principal of the high school her youngest attended. Continue reading here. (5 min. read)

We can and should incorporate this work organically into our role as leaders and as committed partners in creating safe environments. We are called to confront bullying behaviors when we experience them or encounter them. The data demonstrates the powerful good that can be done when a bystander interrupts, confronts, supports. We should teach how this work aligns with the daily living of our faith values and we must help others strengthen their resolve for this work.

I hope you'll read the full story on my blog. There you will find a PDF document of links and resources you can use for this valuable aspect of our ministry. Here is a prayer I often use in safety training.

Oh God who offers healing, let us be agents of your care.

Oh God who offers support, strengthen us to be a refuge.

Oh God who offers guidance, help us to understand.

Oh God who offers companionship, be in our accompaniment.

Oh God who offers care, may we protect and be protected.

Oh God who offers unconditional love, may we walk in the way of Jesus.

Amen

In partnership, Karen Ziel, editor

Blogs and Reflections

Ms. Debbie Gline Allen, Associate for Faith Formation and Youth ministries asks, How will you most effectively walk the path of faith with your congregation? Learn more about the exciting new updates and staff who are contributing their expertise and talents to the Faith Formation Leadership Training classes in her blog, Breathing Life Into Theories and Practices. (3 mins read)

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In a recent interview, Jennifer deSimas, Director of the JP Webster Library related her work to faith formation. "One of my roles is to organize events that explore not just scholarly faith topics, but also topics you wouldn’t necessarily connect with spirituality, like organizing clutter, or organizing your photo collections, or creating a cozy, hygge home, or learning the symptoms of depression, or exploring options for an aging parent. All of these have a faith component to them; they affect our psyche, our emotional well-being, and they affect our relationships. I try to help people see that our choices and actions and hobbies are all part of our spiritual make-up." Read more of her conversation with Ms. Debby Kirk, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries in A Library with a Rich Menu for Disciples. (6 mins. read)

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How does an onion inform your work in youth ministry? What insight from Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean of Princeton Theological Seminary, does the metaphor provide? Ms. Kristin Putney, Resource Consultant for Children and Youth shares two stories of effective youth ministry in RI Congregations during the time of CoVid 19. Youth connections are sustained and deepened through innovations that move them forward. Discover more in her blog, Innovations in Youth Ministry-2 Stories. (5 min read)

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In her reflection, Christmas at the Lake, Ruth Choate, Silver Lake Conference Center Administrator and Registrar reflects, "When I think of Christmas, and the Advent season leading up to it, a part of me reverts back to my childhood self - full of wonder and anticipation." Registration for this newly designed annual event opens October 15, 2020. (2 mins read)

News and Views

New Webinar Series Begins!

Faith Formation and Discipleship: Trends, Movement, and Innovation

The Faith Formation Members of the Discipleship Team are pleased to announce a new series of 3 exciting webinars this fall! This series explores three trends briefly explored by team member Debby Kirk in a prior webinar, Phase Forward- How Shall We Gather?

During that presentation we named three important movements in faith formation: From Teaching to Equipping From Analog to Digital, and from Gathering to Connecting! Your leadership has prepared this series featuring great guests we are eager to welcome who will help us explore these trends! The cost is $10. per person for each webinar or $25. per person for the series of three. Additionally, the event is underwritten through the generosity of our churches. Watch our website and FB page for an open registration announcement for the full series.

Our first in the series is: From Teaching to Equipping on October 22, 2020 at 10 AM EST with special guest, Rev. Traci Smith, author of e-blast Tuesday Treasure Box, and 2 books: Faithful Families and Faith Families, Advent and Christmas.

The series continues in November at dates to be announced soon!

From Analog to Digital with Rev. Lee Yates. Lee is a curriculum writer and editor, a contributor to the book, Faith Formation with a New Generation from Lifelong Faith, and is multi-faceted leader serving local church, the S. California Nevada Conference, and is the editor for the InsideOut Camp Curriculum.

From Gathering to Connection with panelists: Ms. Patty Berry, Ms. Tracy Gormley, Mr. Wade Richmond and Rev. Kevin Weikel. All are local church leaders of the Southern New England Conference, UCC who are making a difference through this shift and incorporating important strategies for building and deepening relationships that participants can adopt!

Super Saturday October 24th and 31st!!

Register now for your choice of amazing workshops, networking, and more!

+ Plus!!

Virtual Children’s Program @ Super Saturday!

Craft Kit mailed to each child
Two different sessions
Theme: Created in God’s Image
with Leea Snape, Sue Weeks, & Eliandra Snape

Registration Deadline: 10/19/20
www.sneucc.org/supersatreg

AND!!

Youth @ Super Saturday

Encourage your teens to sign up for workshops that interest them
such as:

The Enneagram
Food Conscious Church
Just Peace Church
and more!
Great for Confirmation Classes and Youth Groups!

Registration Deadline: 10/19/20

www.sneucc.org/supersatreg