| WORDS FROM THE AREA CONFERENCE MINISTER |
Dear Siblings in Christ,
Although autumn is my favorite season, I do love these early weeks of spring, where I can literally see new life springing forth. I am an avid, if not always attentive, gardener. Each year, I’m amazed at what comes forth—plants I thought dead, new sprouts where I did not put them, the first lead buds, so vibrant that they almost seem fake. Gardening takes work (right now, I’m watering and rotating our indoor seedlings every night), but it also takes a good dose of faith.
Faith. Yes, I mean trust in the natural process, and assurance of things I cannot yet see. But I especially mean wonder and curiosity. ”Behold” is one of my favorite words in the bible. New translations continue to use it because “to see” or “to perceive” don’t capture enough of the original Hebrew and Greek meanings. “Behold” evokes holy wonder and awe, curiosity about and deep gratitude for God’s love and grace. More and more, that is central to my faith. And you, churches of the North Central Region, bless me every day with chances to behold.
Behold ~ churches partnering together in new ways for virtual worship.
Behold ~ networks of comfort and care emerging in the midst of pain and suffering.
Behold ~ new feeding ministries and new justice initiatives.
Behold ~ faithful letting go of ministries that are no longer fruitful.
Behold ~ creative worship and fellowship and faith formation.
Behold ~ new life springing forth.
Thanks be to God!
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Service of Covenant for
Rev. Dr. Audrey Price
Executive Minister for Strategic Operations
April 17, 2021 at 1:00PM
Join us for this Service of Covenant for Rev. Dr. Audrey Price as the Executive Minister for Strategic Operations for the Southern New England Conference of United Church of Christ.
The service will include a sermon by Bishop Dwayne Royster, Senior Pastor of Faith United Church of Christ in Washington, DC and National Political Director of Faith in Action, a network of faith-based community organizations working to create racial and economic justice in the United States.
Please click on this link to register for the event so that you receive the Zoom link to join!
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North Central Region newsletter moving to bi-weekly emailing beginning June 1, 2021
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. June 1st will begin the bi-weekly emailing of the newsletter.
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. Please let your congregation know about the newsletter by forwarding it to them and ask them to subscribe!
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.
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Church Finance Handbook?
For Church Treasurers and Finance Committees
Newly updated and expanded in 2018 by Rev. Karen McArthur
Learn up-to-date information on:
- The role of the church treasurer
- The legal status of churches
- Receiving contributions
- Giving to others
- Spending for ministry
- Saving for the future
- Managing your financial records
- Employing individuals
- Managing legal and financial risks
- UCC reporting
- Federal reporting and taxes
- Massachusetts state and local reporting and taxes
- Massachusetts Conference resources, staff and payments
- Plus resources and glossary
The cost is $20/copy, $30 for two copies. Cost includes shipping. A free pdf version is available as well.
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| CONFERENCE & REGIONAL EVENTS |
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Second Annual Meeting of our new Conference!
Saturday, May 8, 2021
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Due to the extended State of Emergency in Massachusetts, the Second Annual Meeting of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ will be held remotely.
Please click here to read about participating in the Conference Mass Choir, or to offer a Speakout. Advance Materials and other information can be found here too!
Annual Meeting Information.
Windham Association is invited to meet with
Rev. Dr. David Cleaver-Bartholomew
Dear Windham Association Pastors and Delegates:
Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 28, from 7:00PM to 8:00PM and plan to attend a meeting via Zoom with the Rev. Dr. David Cleaver-Bartholomew, Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations for the Southern New England Conference.
David has asked for this opportunity to meet with all of you as well as your church's primary leaders in the areas of Stewardship/Generosity, Finance, Mission and Outreach.
Topics for discussion include:
1) Introduce David's role in the Conference.
2) Explain Proportional Giving - what it supports and how to calculate it.
3) Hear about your church's stewardship/generosity practices and see how David can assist and support you.
Please extend this invitation to anyone in your congregation with a leadership role in one of the areas mentioned above.
Participants must register to receive the Zoom link.
Please click here to register.
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April 13th at 7:00PM Specialized Gatherings
for chaplains and clergy serving in non-parish settings
Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly has set aside next Tuesday evening for clergy who serve in specialized settings to gather. Please click here for the link to the meeting.
April 25, 2021
Commissioning of Marcy Menard as a Spiritual Director
Elm Street Congregational Church, Southbridge, MA
Via Facebook at 3:00 PM
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.
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April 26th is the last Central MA cluster meeting, register now!
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.
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. Click here to register for April 26th.
2 upcoming services will be made available to local churches:
* Service for April 11th, the Sunday after Easter, offered by the UCC Council of Conference Ministers. Click here for the details.
* Pentecost Service (May 23rd), offered by SNEUCC. link coming soon!
Full services will be provided well ahead of the date 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.
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.
| PULPIT SUPPLY INFORMATION |
Please email Deb Holmes at holmesd@sneucc.org if you need a current pulpit supply list.
| DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT A GLANCE |
Nurturing Faith: Confirmation Enrichment
Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Teens and their leaders are invited to join us for this online session. The workshops in the Nurturing Faith Enrichment Series are designed for youth and their leaders, especially those in the midst of a journey to Confirmation. These webinar workshops will offer youth an opportunity to explore a variety of relevant faith topics in a safe environment. All leaders are experienced in best practices of engagement with teens. A variety of learning techniques and tools will provide a creative space for teens to explore these valuable topics together.
Leaders for the program are Dave and Becky Stambaugh. The Stambaughs are frequent SNEUCC program leaders and both serve on the staff at the Congregational Church of Greens Farms in Westport, CT. Click here to register and read more.
Click here to view the Faith Formation Page.
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| 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!
From the WamsWorks website
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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.
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Fueling Inclusion, Voice, and
Opportunity for All
WAMS Works with individuals and community partners to inspire economic and education equity through social change.
Worcester Fellowship
Please check their website for updated information.
Appalachian Trail Mini-Mission Day Trips
Take One Day this Summer
Bring Four Volunteers to Sheffield
Sit 10:00AM to 3:00PM and
Make Magic!
Begun in 2018 as a shared ministry of two Sheffield churches, First Congregational Church, UCC and Christ Trinity Church (Episcopal and Lutheran), ‘Trail Magic” is back and we’re inviting you to share it with us.
We have all the supplies, we’ll guide the set up and clean up, we’ll even bring most of the day’s food. You simply pick a day, bring four people and a $50 Big Y gift card, sit in the shade, and create a corner of kindness in the world. It’s the easiest, most rewarding, least expensive, most volunteer inclusive mini-mission trip you’ll ever do!
Our 2021 Appalachian Trail Ministry will run from June 21st – August 14th. Guest Mission Days will occur on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during the season.
For more information, or to register for a 2021 one-day Mini-Mission Trip please contact Rev. Jill Graham at grahamj@firstuccsheffield.org. Click here for a flyer to share.
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April Anniversaries
30 Years
The Rev. John Filpula
20 Years
The Rev. John Barber
Please contact Deb Holmes if we have missed your anniversary.
Anniversaries are listed from 5 years and forward in increments of 5.
Is your church celebrating a milestone anniversary? Let Deb Holmes (holmesd@sneucc.org) know so that the entire North Central Region can celebrate with you!
Click here to see all church transitions in the conference.
Please click here to view all SNEUCC Obituaries.
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.
