Dear siblings in Christ,
The latest CDC guidelines that lift some restrictions on group gatherings are hopeful and exciting. They are also confusing and conflicting, especially for communities of faith. As Rev. Keri Parker, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches wrote recently, “Science tells you whether you can regather. Social science, humanities, ethics and theology discuss whether you should.”
In the coming weeks and months, your church will have a multitude of decisions to make. How does your theology inform those conversations? How will your decisions be shaped by your mission and core values? How will your choices reflect the everlasting love and mercy of God, the radical grace and justice of Jesus Christ and the tender comfort and presence of the Holy Spirit?
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Holy One, guide our every thought, conversation, research and experiment as we seek to be the Body of Christ in this time and place. May we bear one another in love, with all humility, gentleness and patience, so that when the world looks upon us, they see you.. Amen.
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Liz
Video: Service of Covenant for Rev. Dr. Audrey Price
A 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 was held on Saturday, April 17.
The service included 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. Click here to watch the video.
CTS ANNOUNCES SPRING AWARDS
APRIL 20, 2021 Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) is proud to announce the Rev. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan Award for excellence in preaching 2021 recipients: JULIE BRITTON AND TIMOTHY DOTSON
The G. Campbell Morgan Award in Preaching honors a current Chicago Theological Seminary student. Submissions will be judged anonymously based on excellence of biblical, theological, and social reflection. The cash prize of $1,000 for the G. Campbell Morgan Preaching Award is made possible by an endowment gift from Dr. Morgan’s grandchildren.
We are also proud to announce the 2021 Sanderson Award for women in leadership is being awarded to: MICHELE CARR
The Sanderson Award for Women in Leadership was established in 2006 by Howard C. Morgan in memory of Judith Parks Sanderson who died in 2004 after a courageous battle with Ovarian Cancer. A fund of $25,000 was created at CTS from gifts of career colleagues, family and friends. It was decided by the family to use the income from this endowment annually as a cash award of $1,000 to an outstanding woman candidate to assist in furthering her career.
Please click here to read more.
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UCC Pension Boards Introduces Member Assistance Program:
The New MAP+Work/Life Benefit
All of us at one time or another have experienced some type of personal crisis or life event that resulted in grief, stress, financial loss, and more. At the Pension Boards, we are fully committed to your health and personal well-being. We care when life throws you a curve ball.
The Member Assistance Program + Work/Life Program, or MAP+Work/Life, offered through West Health Advocate Solutions, a leading clinical health advocacy company, is a no-cost benefit that gives you confidential access to a Licensed Professional Counselor or Work/Life Specialist. Through in-person visits, and unlimited, confidential phone consultations, these specialists can walk you through any of life’s temporary setbacks. Click here to find out more.
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Silver Lake Sampler - Silver Lake Spring Program Day
Thinking about trying out Silver Lake for the first time this summer? Or are you missing the fun of a day at camp? Join us for one full day of camp activities! We’ll do arts & crafts, dig in the garden, play field games, wander the woods, and even create a closing worship. Make new friends and get ready for Summer 2021! Parent-child pairs or family groups welcome. Click here to find out more about Silver Lake.
North Central Region newsletter moving to bi-weekly emailing beginning June 1, 2021
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.
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.
Boundary Awareness Training 1.0
an Online Boundary Training 1.0
with Revs. Reebee Kavich Girash and Gregory Morisse
Thursday, June 3, 2021 — 9:00 am - 1:30 pm (with a short break for lunch)
Thursday, June 10, 2021 — 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Thursday, June 17, 2021 — 9:00 am - 11:00 am
All three days are required to receive certification.
These three sessions are suited to pastors who need to complete Boundary Awareness Training 1.0. The training will be completed in three sessions. All sessions are required. Participants seeking to meet COM requirements* for Boundary Awareness Training must complete both pre-work assignments and participate in all three Zoom meetings. Please click here for more information and to register.
Regional Clergy check-in's with Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly
The following is the schedule set up by Rev. Garrigan-Byerly for the monthly check-in for clergy. You will need to complete a simple form to receive the Zoom link for the meeting. The links have not changed, just being made available.
Click here for the Zoom link for the 4th Monday of the month clergy check-in
(5/24, 6/28)
Click here for the Zoom link for the 2nd Tuesday of the month clergy check-in
(5/11, 6/8)
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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
October 24, 2021
Installation
Rev. Marilyn Wilcox
United Church of Clinton
3:00PM
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Your Church Pictures Wanted for
Pentecost Worship
The Southern New England Conference staff is preparing a virtual Pentecost Worship service for churches to use on May 23 - and they'd like to add pictures from your church to the video.
"What does it look like to be the church now? Can you show evidence of God's spirit in action in your community?" asks Rev. Elizabeth Garrigan-Byerly, the Area Conference Minister who is coordinating the service. Churches are asked to send photos - including the church's full name, town and state - to SNEUCCMedia@gmail.com by April 26.
Please click here to read more.
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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 for an updated copy of the regional pulpit supply list.
| DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT A GLANCE |
Click here to view the Faith Formation Page.
The Southern New England Conference engages in Outdoor & Retreat Ministry with the following sites:
Edwards House offers fully-equipped meeting space for working gatherings both large and small as well as a warm, intimate setting for small overnight retreats.
Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI
Nestled in the northwest corner of Rhode Island and where you can still see the stars at night, Irons Homestead offers religious and educational groups a sacred space to lean into nature and connect more deeply with God and one another.
Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA
This is a traditional summer day camp with over 50 years of experience in providing children safe, summer fun. PDC is located on 113 acres of sprawling fields and woods at the SNEUCC Framingham property. The camp ensures fun, and emphasizes a warm welcome for each child, care for the natural world, and respect for the differences among us.
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT.
With more than 60 acres of wooded land on lakeside shores, Silver Lake offers many opportunities for young people to take risks and try new things with the support of an intentional Christian community.
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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.
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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.
Music Minister - Southbridge, MA
Administrative Assistant - Spencer, MA
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.
