June 8, 2021 

To hug or not to hug… that is the question!!   

As though we are needing more experience flexing our adaptive muscles… as pastors, churches, and leaders, daily we continue to face daunting questions, each with no clear-cut answer, each to be determined by one’s space, ventilation, culture, and vaccination status. We wonder, inside/outside, projected lyrics/hymnals, coffee hour/no coffee hour, masked/unmasked, PayPal/offering plates, singing/no singing, humming quietly in masks/one person singing up front, and to hug/or… not to hug.

Friends, I am a hugger and I have missed the connection a hug offers my friends and colleagues and the gift experienced in receiving one.  Air hugs across six feet just has not done it for me!  And yet, even now, hugs have been limited to those in my “pod” or on rare occasions recently with friends who offer “I have been vaccinated” as they quickly dive in for an embrace. I remember my first covid hug with a friend (outside my pod). It was with my friend Chris, and it was when my daughter was picking up her rescue pup. Chris is an old friend, had been vaccinated and had just brought tears to the eyes of my daughter at the sight of her new dog Remy. Chris runs ARF, the Animal Rescue Foundation. As we embraced, I felt like I was eating the forbidden fruit, wondered who was watching, what were they thinking, would someone turn us in to the COVID police. And in that moment, it felt like God had offered a spring shower watering the dry places in my heart and I was left with… hope and renewal. 

As we continue to navigate the dynamics of our post Covid church, I hope and pray that we can make good decisions about the health and well-being of our community, and that we can once again, safely enjoy all the ways we connect with one another: smiles, fist bumps, elbow taps, homemade chocolate cookies, lemonade, hymn sings and yes… Hugs!  

God bless! 

Rev. Patty Kogut, ACM  

Rev. Kogut can be contacted at kogutp@sneucc.org

Let's have a mid-week Sabbath moment together.   Thursday at 10:00am or 3:00pm.   Click here to join the morning group Click here to join the afternoon group.

Acclaimed Author Ted Widmer to Speak at Central Congregational Church, Providence

Dr. Ted Widmer - American historian, writer, former White House advisor, native Rhode Islander, and nationally acclaimed author - will discuss his book “Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington” on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.  For more information click here. 

Millennials' Ministries Murder Mystery

Calling all Millennials!  It's 80s Mall Madness!  Put on your best 80s style gear and join us for murder mystery night!  The murder mystery party will take place on Thursday, June 10th at 7:00 PM.  Click here to RSVP to Katie. 

Affinity groups for clergy are starting in June 2021

An Affinity Group is one that gathers several times per year around a specific topic, learning goal or type of ministry work. The group is led by a topic expert who plans each gathering, resources the group and facilitates group conversations. A grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation and a small portion of the Lilly Endowment grant funds of Together We Thrive cover a large portion of the cost of running the group, which allows us to offer these incredible opportunities for a reasonable fee. Click here for the brochure.

Installation of the Rev. Darrell Goodwin as SNEUCC's first Executive Conference Minister June 19, 2021   1:00 pm    Online The Rev. Traci Blackmon, Associate General Minister for Justice and Local Church Ministries for the UCC, will preach at this online installation. For more information and to register, click here.

Barnstable Association Clergy and Laypeople

Clergy and laypeople in the Barnstable Association are invited to this free workshop on self care in a post-Covid world on Tuesday, June 22nd at 3:00 PM. This one-hour Zoom workshop offers practical advice on dealing with stress…political, emotional, etc. Taught by Rev. Fred Meade and Chris Farrand, this popular workshop includes assessing your current stress impacts, implementing self-care resources in multiple arenas, strengthening resiliency, and caring for those around you.  For questions contact Rev. Nell Fields at 339-927-8972.

Registration is open for in-person camp

at Silver Lake Conference Center this summer!  Scholarships are still available. More information here.

 General Synod

All youth age 13+ are invited to participate in Youth@Synod with others from the local area.  Each day we will gather to participate in the virtual offerings from Synod, and then do some service and social projects around the themes of Synod.  The week ends with a campout on First Church grounds; in the morning we will lead Sunday worship. Registration is open so come along!  More info available at Youth@Synod. 

You are doing great ministry! Let us help make sure others know about it. Tell us about your stories, news and event information. Increased visibility can help to grow investments in your work, attract new people, and enhance your success. Don’t be modest!  We’re waiting to hear from you. Email Lynn at varneyl@sneucc.org.