Rev. Rhonda Myers   Hello South Central Region!  By now you’ve heard that I will be serving as your Bridge ACM while the search for the settled position is in process. My name may be familiar to some of you, since I filled in for Rev. Tamara Moreland for a few months while she was on sabbatical back in 2018. I look forward to meeting and working with those of you whom I haven’t yet met.    Each year as we approach the celebration of Pentecost, I envision the description of the individual Spirit flames that hovered momentarily above the newly-emerged-from-hiding disciples’ heads inspiring and emboldening them to speak up and speak out. And when I wonder where that holy fire went after that day, it becomes clear by what follows in the Book of Acts that the disciples internalized it and carried it with them into the world.    I imagine your churches have all been tending your own internal Spirit flames during the long quarantine: the spirit of faithfulness, the spirit of hope, the spirit of connection. As the newly-emerging-from-quarantine followers of Christ, it’s time to carry that fire out into the world. I pray that this season of Pentecost inspires and emboldens you to live the love and justice of Jesus in every opportunity to minister in Christ’s name.   Blessings and peace, Rhonda Rev. Rhonda Myers, Bridge Area Conference Minister, South Central Region MyersR@sneucc.org

Pentecost Worship Service The Spirit is always moving among us! On Pentecost, we celebrate that and attune ourselves to its presence. The SNE Conference is providing a complete Virtual Pentecost Service that you can use in part or whole. All segments are NOW AVAILABLE for download here.

Boundary Awareness Training 1.0

June 3, June 10 and June 17. Suited to pastors who need to complete Boundary Awareness Training 1.0/Foundations.   The training will be completed in three sessions.  All sessions are required as is some pre-session work.  Participants seeking to meet COM requirements* for Boundary Awareness Training must complete both pre-work assignments and participate in all three Zoom meetings.  Click here for event details and for a registration link.

A minimum of 10 participants are needed to hold this training event.  Please spread the word.

Coronavirus Resourse Update: Should We Gather, or Not? (5/10/21)

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. Rev. James D. Ross II, Minister for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Would you like for Rev. James D. Ross II to join your congregation for a Sunday service? Rev. Ross would be thrilled to join you as a guest preacher or participant in other ways.  To arrange, please contact Karen Methot at methotk@sneucc.org or Rev. James Ross at rossj@sneucc.org Together We Thrive Affinity Groups beginning June 2021 New Affinity Groups are forming.  Touched by Jesus:  Playing with Prayer Clergy Women Connections: Learning to balance, juggle and breathe The Rainbow Path: Small Group Experience for LGBTQIA+ Clergy Tending the Holy Fires in One Another: Group Spiritual Direction Visit the TWT web page for more information. ECM Announces Conference Offices to Remain Shut Through Labor Day The Rev. Darrell Goodwin, Executive Conference Minister, has announced that the Conference offices in Framingham, MA and Hartford, CT, will remain closed at least through Labor Day.  Click HERE to read more or view a video message about this announcement.

Registration is open for in-person camp at Silver Lake Conference Center this summer!  Scholarships are still available. More information can be found here.

UCC General Synod 33 - Rooted in Love

Please consider registering and attending this virtual UCC General Synod, July 11 - 18, 2021.  You don't need to be a delegate - you can register as a guest.  This is a great way to experience the richness of the United Church of Christ from your living room.  Registration is now open.  Visit the UCC General Synod web site to learn more about the rich programs and worship that is planned.

This is the inuagural edition of the South Central Region E-Newsletter.  Do you have events that you'd like to have highlighted here?  Please send your notices to Jill Ford, Program Support Associate, so that the good news of your ministry can be shared with your regional colleagues.

The South Central Region of the Southern New England Conference is comprised of:

• Central CT Association
• Farmington Valley Association
• Hartford Association
• Hartford East Association
• Middlesex Association
• New London Association
• Tolland Association

Find out more about Conference and Association activity:  

• Transitions
• Obituaries

You are receiving this inaugural newsletter because we've identified you as a local church or you have standing in one of the associations in the South Central Region of the Southern New England Conference. This newsletter will be sent around the 15th and 30th of each month. If you would like to unsubscribe or change your email preferences, please visit sneucc.org/subscribe and enter your email address.