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WORDS FROM THE AREA CONFERENCE MINISTER

Waving palms, shouts “Hosanna,” joyful music: Palm Sunday is a celebratory day! And wow, we are all desperate for a day of celebration. And yet, it comes on the heals of 2 mass shootings, one the embodiment of twisted and misogynistic theology coupled with xenophobia. The hardships of the pandemic continue for many and the humanitarian crisis on the border intensifies. How can we possibly celebrate?
 
The people who lined the streets of Jerusalem to welcome Jesus knew that question well. They lived under the constant threat of oppression and violence. To simply shout “Hosanna” and lay down their cloaks for Jesus was to undermine the Roman authority and make themselves targets. And yet they did it. They rejoiced even as they mourned and resisted. And we can too. Because what undergirds all of those actions is faith in God, whose steadfast love endures forever and whose justice rolls down like water.
 
I pray that you will find ways to rejoice, to mourn, to resist this weekend as you wave palms and shout “Hosanna!” I pray that as you enter Holy Week, you will find ways to act, to share, to proclaim, to love, to pray, to wonder. Our world surely needs it and God has surely equipped us for it!
 
In faith,

ORDINATION ANNIVERSARIES



MARCH

50 Years
The Rev. Jerry Clausen

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


Some of you might be wondering why you are receiving a North Central Region newsletter.

It has been the practice in the historical Mass Conference for the regions to have a newsletter that can highlight events that are occurring in the associations that are part of this region. This practice will be continuing in the Southern New England Conference.
The newsletter is currently being sent on a weekly basis but will be changing to a bi-weekly emailing. A date has not been decided for this change, but there will be plenty of notice prior to the change taking affect.
Events that are usually included are ordinations, installations, ecclesiastical councils, local church events, and association events. As clergy in the region, you have automatically been added to receive this newsletter. If you would like to unsubscribe or change your email preferences, please visit sneucc.org/subscribe and enter your email address.
If you would like to submit an event to be publicized in the newsletter, please contact Deb Holmes at holmesd@sneucc.org or 508-963-8106.


WORSHIP RESOURCES

3 upcoming services will be made available to local churches:
*
Service of Seven Last Words for Good Friday, offered by SNEUCC.
* Service for April 11th, the Sunday after Easter, offered by the UCC Council of Conference Ministers. link coming soon!
* Pentecost Service (May 23rd), offered by SNEUCC. link coming soon!

More information will be coming shortly and the full services will be provided well ahead of the dates for which they are intended.

SILVER LAKE SUNDAY WORSHIP VIDEOS AVAILABLE

The Silver Lake Conference Center has made a complete virtual worship service available for churches that they may use - in whole or in parts - to celebrate their church's participation in outdoor ministry. Click here for more information.


 

Did you miss last week's Prayer Vigil?

If you were unable to attend last week's prayer vigil, One Year in the Wilderness, it is available on the conference website under the videos tab. Please click here 



Christian Nationalism:
How it Harms Us All 

An Interfaith Discussion

Were you unable to attend? No worries, the event was recorded and you can watch it by clicking here.


PULPIT SUPPLY INFORMATION

Please email Deb Holmes at holmesd@sneucc.org if you need a current pulpit supply list.


RAYMOND FELLOWS OFFER FREE PULPIT SUPPLY

In 1883, Deacon Raymond established a Trust to hire a circuit-rider pastor to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout our conference. This year, we re-envisioned the Trust to provide three preaching fellowships to Yale Divinity School students to focus more intensively on the art and craft of preaching while offering free pulpit supply to churches and pastors who welcome that support. 
You can contact Laurel Carr, laurel@godsacre.org if you would like to engage one of our Fellows for an in-person preaching engagement, or you can simply download and use any one of their sermons for your virtual services. 
Please click here to see the list of Raymond Fellows available for supply.

**The free offer only applies to churches in the state of Connecticut.


CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

PHASING FORWARD:

How does the vaccine, the new Covid-19 variant and our growing weariness impact our Phasing Forward plans and how can we best care for ourselves and each other? SNE Conference Faith Community Nurse Debbie Ringen reflects on these questions and shares important resources in this blog article.

Click here to see all COVID resources 


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. North Central Region List. New information added! 

DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT A GLANCE

Visit our Faith Formation page for updated information.


CONFERENCE & REGIONAL EVENTS

April 25, 2021
Commissioning of Marcy Menard as a Spiritual Director
Elm Street Congregational Church, Southbridge, MA
Via Facebook at 3:00 PM

May 8, 2021
Southern New England Conference Annual Meeting - A Virtual Meeting
SAVE THE DATE!

May 23, 2021
Installation
Rev. Julie Cedrone
First Congregational Church of West Boylston
26 Central Street
West Boylston, MA 01583

3:00PM

September 26, 2021 at 3:00PM
Central MA Association Annual Meeting - NEW DATE


April 27th 8:30AM - 11:30AM
Boundary Awareness Training 2.0

BAT 2.0 Online is a refresher course for those who have completed at least one boundary training offering in the past. It includes a review of the power and responsibility of ministerial relationships, particularly sexualized behavior in ministerial relationships, a review of the UCC Ministerial Code, and an in-depth conversation about confidentiality. Enrollment is limited to 50 people and the cost is $25.00 for clergy, laity, and seminarians. Contact Jill Ford for more information.
Please click here to register.

 


CENTRAL MA ASSOCIATION
CLUSTER MEETINGS ARE BACK!

 

Together, the Board of Directors and Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly have set a goal: that Rev. Garrigan-Byerly meet every single church in the Association before the Association Annual Meeting (May 2nd). Will you help them meet that goal? Rev. Garrigan-Byerly is eager to get to know you and how you are living the love and justice of Jesus in your communities.

You may sign up for any session that works best for you. Due to limited space, we ask that 2-3 church members attend together (that may include your pastor). If you have specific questions, please share them on the registration form. And please come ready to share a joy and concern from your congregation’s life. We look forward to being together with you! All meetings are scheduled for 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.
To register please click on the date below that you would like to attend.

Registration deadline is the day before.

April 7th, & April 26th.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

From the WamsWorks website

Trauma Training Tuesday's (TTT)

Trauma Training Tuesday was created by Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma (Worcester ACTs) to give all who care for themselves and others with experience of trauma, the opportunity to gather together for training, networking, lunch and camaraderie on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, at WAMS.
Since March 17th all trainings have been conducted virtually. We look forward to the day that we may once again gather in person for the trainings at WAMS.

Please click here for more information.


RESILIENT LEADERSHIP (MARCH 26th)
FOR THOSE WHO SERVE OTHERS

Conquer the Crisis - Serve In Confidence
-Overwhelmed, exhausted, & want to shut down?
-Worried about your productivity when dealing with crisis?
-Afraid you'll break down in front of others, not look professional, and think your service will suffer?
Resilient Leadership Mastery - provides the tools to serve confidently when your professional or personal world is in chaos.
Click here to learn more.


MISSION OPPORTUNITIES

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.


Worcester Fellowship

Please check their website for updated information.


TRANSITIONS

Click here to see all church transitions in the conference.

OBITUARIES

 

Please click here to view all SNEUCC Obituaries.

CLASSIFIEDS

Please click here to view all SNEUCC Classifieds

ASSOCIATION MEETING INFORMATION

Central Mass Association Meeting Information:

The Committee on Authorized Ministry:
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 9:30 AM.

The Board of Director's:
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 2:30 PM


Windham Association Meeting Information:

Monthly Council meeting:
Is held on the 4th Thursday of each month at 2:30 PM.

 

North Central Region of
The Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ

508-963-8106
holmesd@sneucc.org 
/www.sneucc.org/north-central

Office Hours: 
Monday: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday-Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: Closed