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Dear Leaders,

The last fifteen months have been stressful for faith formation leaders. Everything shifted, and everything related to the work had to be done differently.  Debby Kirk, Faith Formation Team Leader shines a light in this month's opening reflection titled In Celebration of Faith Formation Leaders, and invites us to consider where we have been and where we are going next. (4 min read)

We offer you this prayer –

Creator God, as the days lengthen, let us recognize the gift of time and revel in the beauty of your creation. May we be we be refreshed by gentle breezes of your spirit.  Let us bask in warmth of the sun and the radiance of your love. Let us savor moments of rest and renewal and listen deeply for your voice, that we may be strengthened to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. Amen.

Reflections

An Interview with
Jenn Kronholm Clark

(7 min read)

Emily McKenna, Program Support Associate, interviews Jennifer Kronholm Clark, Silver Lake Conference Center’s Program Director. Learn about all the new programs happening at camp this summer and how you can help support our outdoor ministries this season! 
 

Would you like to share your story with Discipleship Matters?
Be our next featured leader! E-Mail mckennae@sneucc.org


 One-Day Camp Event at
Irons Homestead

(3 min read)

Kristin Putney, Minister of Children and Families 

Irons Homestead is a breathtaking natural resource of the Southern New England Conference. Read about how three RI churches planned an outdoor one-day camp event at Irons Homestead, and how you can join in on the fun, too! 
 

News & Views

Interwoven Highlights from InterGenerate
(6 min read)

SNEUCC's Faith Formation Team

The InterGenerate Children's Spirituality Conference was a robust three days! This event included speakers and participants from all around the world who are looking to enhance their welcome and participation of young people in their churches. Each of our team members offer us brief reflections on their favorite moments of the conference.  


Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Resources at Your Fingertips
(2 min read)

Debbie Gline Allen, Minister of Faith Formation

The Faith Formation webpages on the Southern New England Conference website have a new look! They still contain the curated resources you’ve come to know and love, but are now updated with an easy-to-navigate format. Browse the resources!

More Resources for the Local Church

Free Download of New Hymn Texts for Old Hymn Tunes
A year after the murder of George Floyd, a new booklet of praise songs and protests has been published by the United Reformed Church in the UK. Sunflowers & Thistles is a collection of songs written by URC minister and hymn writer, Rev. John Campbell, and focuses on the Black Lives Matter movement and the coronavirus pandemic.

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Vacation Bible School resources are here

 Confirmation Resources can be found by scrolling down on this page

United Church of Christ Resources for Teens webpage
 

Upcoming Events

Installation of the Rev. Darrell Goodwin
June 19, 2021

Join us online for the installation of the Rev. Darrell Goodwin as the first Executive Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference.


The webinar presents a holistic approach to faith formation and offers practices for designing faith formation that reinvents current programming.

Youth @ Synod 
July 11-18

Contact Debby Kirk for scholarship information at kirkd@sneucc.org


SNEUCC's Super Saturday 
will take place on October 2 & 9, 2021

Workshop Proposals are now being accepted!
Deadline to submit a workshop proposal is July 15th


New! Faith Formation Summit

Save the date of Saturday, September 18 when we will host a fall
Faith Formation Summit: Relationship, Resilience, and Re-Entry. 
This program will offer an array of items for your leadership toolkit: 

  • Connect with some of the new SNEUCC staff members and learn elements of adaptive leadership.   

  • Practice skills for nurturing relationships with all of your constituents—children, youth, parents, and church leaders.   

  • Develop tools to help you innovate and build a thriving ministry in the upcoming program year.   

Mark your calendar and plan to be with us
from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on September 18!


Faith Formation Leadership Program 2021-2022
Classes being offered in this program year will begin in October 2021

The SNEUCC Faith Formation Leadership (Certificate) Program can be engaged either as a Certificate program or as a series of classes that may be taken as stand-alone opportunities.

Classes will include: 
Exploring Curriculum & Digital Resources  
Engaging Our Sacred Scripture’s Story 
Serving Together – Mission for All Ages 
Exploring the UCC – Our History, Our Beliefs, Our Identity 
Boundary Awareness for Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Leaders 

More information will be coming soon! 
For specific questions, contact Debbie Gline Allen at glineallend@sneucc.org


 

 
 

Faith Formation Team:

Debbie Gline Allen, 508-603-6601
Debby Kirk, 860-377-2675
Emily McKenna, 860-761-7114
Kristin Putney, 508-336-9355