From Blah, Blah, Blah to New Life: A Message from Rev. James D. Ross II

 Greta Thunberg, the 18-year-old Swedish environmental activist who has been lauded internationally for challenging world leaders to act immediately to mitigate climate change, isn’t impressed by outcomes of the two-week United Nations Conference of Parties 26 climate summit that just ended in Glasgow.

“The #COP26 is over,” Greta tweeted. “Here’s a brief summary: Blah, blah, blah.”  She was criticizing a deal by government negotiators from 200 countries that significantly weakened the language about reducing coal emissions. Specifically, the final agreement calls for countries to “accelerate efforts toward the phase-down of unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.” Read more

December preaching dates for Rev. Ross, Minister for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

Dec. 5: Second Church of Boxford, 173 Washington St., West Boxford, MA (secondchurchboxford.org)

Dec. 12: West Gloucester Trinitarian Church, 488 Essex Ave., Gloucester, MA (wgtccuccorg)

To invite Rev. Ross to serve as your guest preacher or be part of a worship service with your congregation, please contact Karen Methot at methotk@sneucc.org or Rev. James Ross at rossj@sneucc.org.

December preaching date for Rev. Emma Brewer-Wallin, Minister for  Environmental and Economic Justice:

Dec. 5: Franklin Federated Church, 171 Main St., Franklin MA (franklinfederated.org)  

SNEUCC Observance of World AIDS Day  Wednesday, Dec. 1 ~ 12-1 PM Join us for a noon-time online prayer vigil of readings and music. This World AIDS Day, UNAIDS is highlighting the urgent need to end the inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics around the world. Without bold action against inequalities, the world risks missing the targets to end AIDS by 2030, as well as a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a spiraling social and economic crisis. Read more Join the Movement Toward Racial Justice  "When love is the lens through which we see the world, justice is possible." - Rev. Traci Blackmon, Associate General Minister of Justice and Local Church Ministries for the UCC. Can you imagine a church free of racism and a world where all people live without fear of violence or systems that harm God’s human creation? The United Church of Christ invites you to Join the Movement toward racial justice as we answer God’s call to be an anti-racist church. Here, we will share stories and grow together, learning from one another to build a just world for all. Learn more and sign up for updates

Racial Justice Training for All: Microaggressions 

Dec. 11 ~ 8:30 AM - Noon (Zoom)

Open to: Anyone ~ Registration cost: $10

A microaggression is a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group, such as a racial or ethnic minority (definition from Oxford Languages).

Whether you want to deepen your work related to racial justice, learn more about this common form of racism, or hear how colleagues are combatting it, we hope you will join this workshop led by Rev. Rev. James D. Ross II, Minister for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the SNEUCC. Register

Upcoming SNEUCC racial justice trainings - Save the Dates! 

Racial Justice 101 ~ Open to all 
Jan.15, 2022; May 22, 2022 

Racial Justice 101 for Authorized Ministers ~ Open only to authorized ministers and those seeking authorization ~ May 14, 2022 

November Covid Update for Churches: Singing! by Deborah Ringen, Faith Community Nurse and Minister of Health and Wellness for the SNEUCC As congregations across the Southern New England Conference return to varying levels of in-person worship, laments are rising, becoming louder: We want to sing! Some have thrown open the doors, gathering, and singing together, while others are remaining online only. The difference lies in the details. Read more More from Deborah Ringen Health Equity is Social Justice   Life's Lessons for all Ages from the Hundred Acre Wood: a program focused on wellness ~ Dec. 2, 12-1:30 PM Transgender Day of Remembrance is Nov. 20 From the UCC Open and Affirming Coalition Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on Nov. 20 is an opportunity for your ONA congregation to honor your trans neighbors—here and abroad—who lost their lives in the past year to violence and suicide. Transgender women of color in American cities are especially vulnerable to assault and murder. Your congregation can send a clear message to your community: yes, there is a church where trans people are wanted, valued, and safe. Read more and find resources. North Central Region Justice Organizing Gathering   Jan. 29, 2022, 1-5 PM ~ First Congregational Church Leicester, MA Are you a justice leader in your community? Are you wondering how to deepen your commitment to social justice? This gathering is a chance to ground our justice work in faith, build relationships with others in the North Central region, consider how power operates in systems of injustice and justice, and develop skills to support justice work. With Legislative Advocate Michele Mudrick and Minister for Environmental and Economic Justice Emma Brewer-Wallin. Register Giving Nature a Reason to Sing: What Can a Church Do? See Green Congregations brochure and other new resources too! In a very short time, it will be the first Sunday in Advent and the beginning of a new church year.  We’ll soon be hearing “Joy to the World,” and singing about “fields and floods, rock, hill and plains” repeating the sounding joy. Yet, given the news out of the Global Climate Summit in Glasgow, Nature doesn’t have much reason to sing.   God’s Creation, our Earth, is groaning...we know that whatever they decide, it will not be enough. We all need to do our part!  Read more  Save the Date: Welcoming Afghan Refugees Webinar Wednesday, Dec. 8 ~ 7 PM Are you discerning whether your congregation is called to help resettle Afghan refugees? Already working on resettlement but need help with the cultural aspects? Join us at for a special webinar titled “A Good Neighbor: Welcoming Afghan Refugees.”  Read more Afghan Refugee Support: New Resources, Grants Available The SNEUCC has established a new and evolving resource page for congregations planning to host refugees and those seeking to support host churches. Visit the page here. Action Opportunity   Afghan Feminist Refugee Project: Immigration Atty. Melanie Shapiro and her team are working to get Afghan women’s rights activists and members of the LGBT community out of Afghanistan, coordinating legal services, mental health services, and housing. Sponsors are urgently needed! Contact Atty. Melanie Shapiro for details.

"Make Your Home in Me": Advent Retreat 

by Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Missioner for Creation Care for the SNEUCC and Episcopal Diocese of MA

December 4 ~ 9:30-Noon

Jesus invites us to make our home in him, just as he makes his home in us (John 15:4). In a rapidly changing world, when so much that we took for granted has become unreliable or unstable, our old familiar “home” is gone. Weather is erratic; institutions we once depended on are shaky; households and communities are stressed. Is it possible to feel “at home” in the midst of a troubled world? Read more and register. 

What is the Doctrine of Discovery? In their own voices, First Nations Indigenous People will discuss the destructiveness of the Doctrine of Discovery on their peoples in what is presently known as the Americas and the Caribbean. Register to view this pre-recorded session from the United Church of Christ on Tuesday, Nov. 23, from 2:30 to 3:30 PM.  More Doctrine of Discovery resources from the UCC

Liberating Hope: Spiritual Perspectives on Climate Change  

Open Spirit: A Place of Hope, Health & Harmony at Edwards Church in Framingham, MA introduces a multi-faith collaborative series. All are invited to join them for monthly programs as the group dives deep into our varied spiritual traditions for guidance, inspiration, and courage, as we face the challenge of climate change.
The first event is "Planting Seeds: A Gathering for Inspiration" on Sunday,
November 21, at 4 PM at Edwards Hall (39 Edwards St. Framingham, MA) and on Zoom. All are invited. Learn more and sign up here.

Looking for Congregations to Unite for Racial Justice   by Ann Percival, First Church in Middletown, CT   The First Church of Christ in Middletown (CT) Racial Justice Team is hoping to collaborate with other UCC churches in our region who have a similar interest in addressing issues of racism: within ourselves, within our churches, and within our communities. Racial Justice touches the very core of our theological identity, shared faith, and witness as a Christian congregation. Read more Your justice related news, events and reflections are welcome! Please submit to Editor Karen Methot for con-  sideration: methotk@sneucc.org, by the third Friday of the month for a fourth Thursday publication date. Please note that the December issue will be a week early, and submit your material accordingly. Thank you!