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SNEUCC Environmental Ministries Recognizes 12 Leading UCC Churches
by Ted Wade, Co-Chair, Environmental Ministry Team
Twelve congregations have accepted the “Congregation Climate Justice Voter Challenge” and more are on the way!
These churches have formally agreed to seek to have a significant portion of their congregation (at least 75% is the suggested goal) sign the Creation Care Voter Pledge as an expression of their commitment to a more sustainable and just world for all peoples. See the list and read more here
Just Breathe: Weaving Together the Creation Narrative and Communities of Color
by Katherine Schofield, Old South Church
On October 11, Old South Church in Boston hosted Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Founding Pastor of New Roots AME Church, as she preached powerfully on the intersections of the climate crisis, racism and health disparities in our nation.
Rev. White-Hammond is an advocate for ecological and social justice, youth engagement, and Spirit-filled organizing. Using an intersectional lens in her ecological work, she challenges people to see the connections between racism, economic justice and climate change. Read more ~ View the video
Photo - Ian Kiragu for Unplash
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UCC Collecting Names of Lost Loved Ones for Nov. 1 All Saints Virtual Worship Service
by Connie Larkman, United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is holding a virtual All Saints Day worship service on Sunday, Nov. 1, to acknowledge the loss, the grief and pain of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 215,000 people in the United States have died from the virus, and Local Church Ministries leaders want to honor those lives by inviting the wider church to collectively lament that great loss. Read more
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October is Bullying Prevention Month
by Karen Ziel, Minister of Faith Formation and Leadership
When I cast the net for October on my favorite search engine a few weeks ago, I was reminded that in October, among other things, 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.?
A Story: 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. Can you come in? Something has taken place this morning and we'd like you and your husband here, if possible. Read more
What to do With the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower Landing?
by Debbie Gline-Allen, Associate for Faith Formation & Youth Ministries (Updated from a blog posted on 11/19/19)
When Margaret (Peggy) Bendroth, the former Executive Director of the Congregational Library and Archives, approached me about writing youth materials to honor the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower on this continent, I was not exactly sure how I felt about the project. While I love learning interesting facts about our history, and I come from an ancestry that dates back to the Mayflower, our United Church of Christ values of justice and concern for all of God’s children caused me to pause before accepting her request.
What do we do with the parts of our history that include colonialism and slavery? How should we feel about what happened, and continues to happen, with the peoples who first inhabited this land? Is it even possible to offer reparations or find ways to turn back what was considered progress, but diminished the rights of non-white people? Read more
Related event: 400 Years: Truth and Healing, 2 PM Sunday, Oct. 18 on YouTube and Facebook. Learn more.
Online and In Person, Churches and Local Partners Educate Voters, Get Out the Vote
by Hans Holznagel, United Church of Christ
In Connecticut, at First Church Middletown, it’s all about registering voters and getting out the vote – in person and in other ways.
In Houston, at St. Peter United, it’s all about helping voters understand confusing systems – and it’s all online.
They’re just two examples United Church of Christ congregations across the country promoting voting as the Nov. 3 general election approaches.
Both are recipients of “Our Faith, Our Vote” grants from the national setting of the UCC. Read more
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Explore Justice Issues at Super Saturday
Our March 2020 Super Saturday was cancelled by the school that was to host us, just as Covid-19 became a global pandemic. Now Super Saturday is back - virtually - in two sessions: October 24 and 31, 9 AM-3 PM each day. Join us! Learn more and register for these and other workshops of interest here: Super Saturday
- Growing Relational Food Ministries with Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Magill
- This is Our House: The Black Presence in the Congregational Church with Rev. Sloan T. Letman, IV
- Nourishing Faith Through Ministries of Health, with Deborah Ringen
- How To Become A Just Peace Church, with Robert Loesch
- Creating Beloved Community, with Valleria Miranda-Ferrick
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![]()  Ever Flowing Streams is edited by Karen Methot, SNEUCC Justice Program Team. Issues are published the first and third Thursdays of the month. Your contributions are welcome! Send to methotk@sneucc.org for consideration.
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