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WORDS FROM YOUR AREA CONFERENCE MINISTER

Dear Northwest Region,
 
This General Synod experience could be called a disembodied one, as we watch from our computers and deliberate largely alone. Many of we ACMs have said that we long to be able to gather with our delegation for coffee and a chance to commune with one another. We are missing the informal interactions and the chance for further getting to know you.
 
And yet, I am finding ways to live into the embodiment of the Body of Christ with the help of the worship team, the program planners, and a bit of creativity.
 
The first night of worship, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, one of the architects of the Environmental Justice movement, preached on our UCC legacy starting in the early 1980s standing in solidarity with black communities opposing further toxic waste dumping in Warren, NC.
 
Chavis’ story, in my heart, connects with that of Rev. Bob Nakata who died this week. Rev. Bob was a Methodist minister serving on O?ahu who started the KEY Project to serve at-risk youth on the Windward side of the island. He never hesitated to join in efforts to protect hotel workers, the homeless, or the least of these, even serving as a state senator. I appreciate our ecumenical partners who were announced and joined us at the beginning of Synod—we are indeed stronger together.
 
Those who pave the way for us live on in our ministerial witness. Using the wisdom imparted to me when I worked on Environmental Justice on Capitol Hill with UCC Justice and Witness Ministries and by the minister-academic-activists who schooled and mentored me, this week I am working to build understanding around the Synod Resolution entitled, “Alliance of Associate Conference Ministers of the UCC Request to be Recognized as a Formal Group.”
 
My position on the Alliance of ACMs Cabinet is allowing me to sit with delegations from across our denomination to answer questions and wonder together about the justice issues this resolution represents. I am grateful for thoughtful and curious questions, as well as the opportunity to pray alongside so many.
 
We have a delegation of 98 in SNEUCC. I met with a Conference that has a delegation of 7. And yet, we are all one body, deliberating together, wondering together, witnessing together, voting our conscience as the Holy Spirit moves us.
 
Last night, five minutes before worship, they announced the materials we would need for the service. In last-minute-pastor form, I went out between bands of rain in that fierce thunderstorm to pick a few lavender-colored blossoms from the Hosta in my yard. I floated them in the water. I pondered again the words of Psalm 1, but this time delivered in hip-hop rhythms. I marveled at the St. Louis preacher Rev. Michelle Higgins who redefined who Godly people are—the ones Jesus invited to his table against the gatekeepers-- and reminded us that “Our resilience is the reason that God has put you in this place… and because you are the embodiment of God’s law, you are unable to sit in the seat of the scorned.”
 
Yes, across distance, we are reminded that we are God’s people, no matter how we come. And across distance, in the words of Tuesday night Keynote speaker Valarie Kaur, we are asked “What if we spread the word of an unimaginable love?” We have work to do, Church, and I am so looking forward to doing it with you, as part of this one body in Christ.
 
Blessings,
Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa
Area Conference Minister, NW Region
ogawaty@sneucc.org

 
CONFERENCE & REGIONAL EVENTS
Please go to sneucc.org/events to see all posted events.

Clergy are urged to sign letter to Biden administration to curb both carbon emissions and air pollution. 

At General Synod this week, UCC and national faith leaders shared some of their efforts to bring about Climate Justice, emphasizing the importance of staying rooted in community and hope so that we do not become complacent. They urged us to continue pushing our elected officials for significant and urgent action on the climate crisis, including asking clergy to sign this letter, urging the Biden administration to curb both carbon emissions and air pollution.  https://interfaithpowerandlight.salsalabs.org/cleancars/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=b1d69471-6515-4b6d-9f05-a7a8dd3d1f8d
In addition to adding your name to this letter, I invite our Southern New England congregations to discern how God is calling you to respond to the climate crisis and environmental injustice. In the coming months, we will share more opportunities to join our efforts together, and I welcome the chance to be in conversation directly with you: brewer-walline@sneucc.org


 

SAVE THE DATES

Boundary Awareness Training dates have been scheduled for the following:
We’ll be offering BAT 2.0 (refresher) on November 2, from 8:30 to 11:30
.  Registration will be limited to 50 participants.
 
BAT 1.0 (Foundations) will be offered over the course of two different days (previously done over three days) in January: 1/18-1/19, 9:00am to 3:30pm both days.

Both of the above trainings will be held via Zoom.
Once registration is open those links can be found here.

 


 

October 2021 Super Saturday Workshop Proposals Now Being Accepted

You are invited to share your gifts as a workshop presenter at our virtual Super Saturday on October 2nd and/or 9th.  Workshops are 90 minutes or 120 minutes depending on your preference. 
 
October’s keynote speaker is Monica A. Coleman, Award-Winning Scholar, Writer and Minister.   The upcoming October Super Saturday theme is: Building on God’s Promises:  A Time for Personal Renewal - 3 John 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.   Super Saturday will focus on a personal renewal – spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, physiologically, and overall health. 
 
Our goal is to have submissions in before the end of summer, so if you are interested, please complete the workshop proposal form by July 15, 2021, sending it to Andrea Bellarosa, Events Coordinator. 
 
Thank you for considering to present a workshop at Super Saturday.  Please feel free to pass this link to others who you think would be a great presenter.  And remember to send your proposals and your questions, comments to Andrea Bellarosa, Events Coordinator by July 15, 2021.

October 17, 2021
Hampden Association Annual Meeting
3:00PM, hoping for in-person meeting

 

 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.


WEEKLY VIGILS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

The members of Center Church, UCC (First Congregational Church of South Hadley), One Church Street, South Hadley have been holding a weekly vigil for Racial Justice. The vigils take place every Saturday from 10:00 - 10:30 AM on the church lawn.  Bringing a sign is also encouraged!


JOURNEY

Journey: a social and support group for trans and non binary individuals of all ages.  The group is facilitated by Yohah Ralph. We will meet online using Zoom on the first and third Thursdays of the month.  
If you have questions, or are interested in joining the group, please send an email to Yohah at journeynorthampton@gmail.com, and provide your phone number so we can have a brief conversation in advance.

CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Click here to visit the webpage

Affinity Groups beginning in June:

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.
Click here for more information. 


Tending the Fire

Tending the Fire is a Retreat Series focused on understanding church & organizations through the lens of Systems Theory. Human systems are complicated and churches are no exception.  At their best, they draw out excellence in their people.  At their worst, they become stuck--undermining and sabotaging even the most well-designed plans for change.  Tending the Fire helps clergy "think systems" in their congregations and their personal lives, so they can lead change that lasts. Click here for more information. 


Resiliency Time Capsule

We invite churches within the SNEUCC to contribute to the creation of this ground-breaking   project by sharing their story of how their church responded to COVID-19, Racial Injustice, or both   pandemic in their worship service, mission outreach, community engagement, Christian Education   programs, Congregation’s connection to each other as a church family. Click here for more information. 


Coaching Training

Together We Thrive is working with Coaching4Clergy to provide top notch coaching training.  Coaches practice Deep Listening and ask Powerful Questions to help an individual or group to discover the insights they have within.  Clergy trained in the skills and techniques of Coaching find them invaluable in any ministry setting and beyond. 
Click here for more information.

Subsidized Clergy and Congregational Coaching Resources

When working with individuals, a Coach uses Deep Listening and Powerful Questions to structure a process that helps draw out the wisdom within the client.  The focus of coaching is to address tasks and performance so that the client's goals can be achieved.
Click here for more information.

CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

Many churches have been asking re. Covid Guidelines. It is difficult for the Conference to put out guidelines for the whole Conference because the situations vary so greatly across our region. 
However, All guidance from the Conference is here.
From National some of the latest guidance is here.
And their general pandemic page is here. 
Our Executive Conference Minister’s video statement and explanation of why our offices are remaining closed at least until Labor Day is here. 
CT released this graphic to explain the new guidelines on masking for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people. 
Here’s a discussion of how different churches are responding to the new mask guidelines. 
And on May 25, EMA is offering a webinar to help faith organizations cope with stress as we emerge from the pandemic. Register at this link.  We are certainly keeping you in prayer as you consider how to best reopen.

Additional information can be found by clicking on these links:

Sample of a local church's plan to move forward

 Click here to see all COVID resources

WORSHIP RESOURCES

Silver Lake Worship Videos Available

The Silver Lake Conference Center has made a complete virtual worship service available for churches that may be used - in whole or in parts - to celebrate your church's participation in outdoor ministry. 
Click here for more information.

Tech Deacons Meetups -
morning and evening options.

You are invited to join Rev. Eric Elley, Digital Minister, and other local church colleagues for weekly Tech Deacons Roundtable Discussions. During these gatherings we will provide an arena for churches to support one another by sharing ideas, bringing questions, and identifying new trends and opportunities in digital ministry.  In these videoconferences, we will recognize that there won't be one expression of digital ministry to fit all churches.  Yet now is the season for the sharing of ideas and experiences -- we all are endeavoring to figure out the coming season of digital ministry.
Every other Tuesday at 11am (7/13, 7/27...), and alternate Tuesday evenings at 7pm (7/6, 7/20...)  Click here to find more information and ways to register for these ongoing discussions on the ever evolving landscape of digital ministry in the Southern New England Conference.

 

DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNIES AT A GLANCE

 

 

Youth @ Synod

This summer the United Church of Christ will host a virtual General Synod gathering on July 11-18.  Delegates from all over the country will convene for worship and discussion of resolutions.  Planners have also been busy preparing special parallel programs for youth and young adults. Youth @ Synod is a life-changing experience of the wider church for teens ages 13-18 and past participants name the powerful impact of the event. Read more here.


Faith Formation Summit

Resilience, Relationships, Re-Entry

Save the date of Saturday, September 18 when we will host the Virtual SNEUCC 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 am to 1 PM on September 18. 
Audience is local church Pastors and Faith Formation practitioners, including members of the Faith Formation Leadership Certification Program, and Faith Formation Communities of Practice.
  Click here to register!


Click here to view the Faith Formation Newsletters.

OUTDOOR MINISTRY

The Southern New England Conference engages in Outdoor & Retreat Ministry with the following sites:

Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham, MA
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
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR IN-PERSON CAMP
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.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR IN-PERSON CAMP

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. 
 

PULPIT SUPPLY INFORMATION

 Please email Deb Holmes at holmesd@sneucc.org for an updated copy of the regional pulpit supply list. 

ACTIVE FOOD PANTRIES AND OUTREACH MEALS

South Congregational
in Pittsfield

The attached list is an updated list of churches in the Northwest 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. Northwest Region List.

 

CELEBRATIONS


July Anniversaries

There are no anniversaries this month.

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 Northwest Region can celebrate with you!

TRANSITIONS

 

Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Transitions.

OBITUARIES

The Rev. John B. Wilcox passed away peacefully at his home in Brooklyn, CT on Saturday June 26, 2021.  He was predeceased by his parents; his first wife Beatrice (Bardeen); his second wife Susan (Ennis); his brother Frank; and his sister Mary Louise. He is survived by his sister Nancy Martin of Woburn, MA, sons: John and partner Nancy of Brooklyn, CT,  Robert and wife Nancy of Bothell, WA, and Jeffrey and wife Janice of Chelmsford, MA; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Federated Church of Christ UCC at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in John’s honor to the Federated Church of Christ UCC, PO Box 204 Brooklyn, CT 06234.
To read more please go to: https://www.tillinghastfh.com/obituaries/John-B-Wilcox?obId=21562384#/obituaryInfo

Please click here to view of the SNEUCC Obituaries.  

CLASSIFIEDS


Handbells for sale - Ludlow, MA

Pilgrim Hymnals - Northampton

Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Classifieds.  


ASSOCIATIONS IN THE NORTHWEST REGION


Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Litchfield North

 

Northwest Region of
The Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ

508-963-8106
holmesd@sneucc.org 
www.sneucc.org/northwest

Office Hours: 
Monday: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday-Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: Closed