Credit: Keli Rugenstein, PhD, Clergy and Congregation Consulting
May 26, 2022
Dear Northwest Region,
This one goes out to the clergy and all who work in helping professions.
Please look at the slide above. In that slide, you will see the following characteristics of a typical clergyperson:
Conflict Avoidant
Need for Affection
Overfunctioners
Perfectionism (Unrelenting Standards)
Self-sacrifice
This slide was captured (and used with permission) from a Boundary Awareness Training (BAT) for Rural Churches developed by Dr. Keli Rugenstein at the behest of the Berkshire Association Committee on Ministry (COM) Chair Rev. Liz Goodman. Keli shared yesterday that these are the most common traits that show up in clergy psychological evaluations, and are nearly identical to the profile for therapists. Combined and unmitigated, she said, they are a recipe for burnout.
As the ACM Shepherding Clergy Wellness and BATs for the Conference, I have great hope that Keli and Liz will develop this module further and be willing to offer it more broadly—but I will leave that for another day.
For now, I just want to invite you to kindly take inventory of where you are with the traits on this list. Where you might be more gentle with yourselves? Where might you allow conflict in the system to be generative toward growth and change? Where could you self-differentiate more deeply—or develop relationships and hobbies outside your ministry setting? Where you might be able to set some things aside? Or just let it be “good enough?” (Believe me, I needed a reminder on some of this myself.)
Keli invited attendees yesterday to ask, before undertaking a task, “Why am I doing this? What am I hoping for?”
I recently met with a friend who has been an itinerant organic farm manager across New England for the past 20 years. He confessionally said that he was given this responsibility too early in his career—when he first started—not because he knew much about farming but because of his background in non-profits and ability to manage people. On the farm where he is currently employed, farmworkers share communal housing. He gave the same speech he has given at countless other farms: If you are washing dishes, and you see that the kitchen is a mess, only clean up the kitchen if you can do so with a joyful heart, knowing you are helping others. If you are going to be resentful of others after doing so—do not do it!
From the farm manager’s mouth to our hearts. Or, as the Student Christian Movement of Canada’s t-shirts in the 2000s used to read, “Everyone wants a revolution. No one wants to do the dishes.”
So can you let the proverbial dishes be undone and go out and enjoy the beautiful spring?
With Christ’s Love and Blessings,
Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa
Area Conference Minister, NW Region Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
(860) 761-7192
One to One conversations with Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa
The Rev. Ogawa will be resuming her bi-weekly coffee house hours to meet with clergy for 30 minutes on the first and third Thursday (new day) afternoons. These can be scheduled by clicking here. Please contact her Program Support Associate, Deb Holmes if you have questions or problems signing up for a meeting.
ASSOCIATION & CHURCH EVENTS (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Litchfield North)
Do we have your church leaders listed correctly?
Please have your church administrator (or whoever handles your church's email account) visit the Church Dashboard (part of the Southern New England Conference's data base) to make sure we're connecting with all the current leaders in your church. If you have problems logging into your account please contact Nancy Stubbs at stubbsn@sneucc.org.
Explore another facet of becoming a welcoming congregation...
W.I.S.E. ( Welcoming. Inclusive. Supportive. Engaged) is a U.C.C. initiative to
acknowledge and breakdown the stigma attached to people with emotional or
mental challenges and to welcome them into worship.
To forward this initiativeI am offering to come to your church and to give a biblically based sermon on the historic and current stigma of mental/emotional illness, how we welcome or do not welcome people with these challenges into the pews, and a brief overview of W.I.S.E..
If you are interested in my coming to your church to give this sermon and/or if you have any questions please feel free to be in touch by phone or email.
Blessings,
Belle Fox-Martin, UCCLM
Contact Belle via email: bfoxm@roadrunner.com or phone: 413-298-0673
Monthly 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 monthly vigil for Racial Justice. The vigils take place the first Saturday from 10:00 - 10:30 AM and will be earmarked with the ringing of the church bell. 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.
Mark your calendars for the
Berkshire Association Spring Gathering!
The Berkshire Association is invited to gather on Sunday, June 5th at 2:00PM at the Canaan Congregational Church (1670 County Road Rt. 5., Canaan, NY). We will do a touch of business, but mostly worship and share in fellowship.
Springfield’s Inaugural Pride Parade
In May, Kevin O’Keefe of Westhampton Congregational UCC asked if any of our churches are marching in Springfield’s Inaugural Pride Parade on June 4, especially since Northampton is not holding theirs this year. While we heard from some re: their participation in other pride parades, we are still not sure if anyone is going to be in Springfield’s. Could you please contact Kevin directly if your church is participating? Kevin O'Keefe engrokeefe@comcast.net
Gather some friends, get outdoors and enjoy the Appalachian Trail!
Mini-Mission Day Trips
Take One Day this Summer - Bring a Few Volunteers to Sheffield – Show kindness from 10-3 and make Magic!
Now in our fourth season of ministry on the Appalachian Trail we again invite you to share it with us. We have all the equipment, we’ll help you set up and clean up, we’ll even bring the food! Register for a day, bring a few people, sit in the shade, show hospitality, 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! Click here for Flyers to share: Flyer#1 and Flyer#2.
CONFERENCE & REGIONAL EVENTS/INFORMATION Please go to sneucc.org/events to see all posted events
The First Church of Christ in Mansfield
with support from
The Windham Association, SNEUCC
are excited to host a program featuring Professor Amy-Jill Levine entitled "Understanding Jesus Means Understanding Judaism" Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 6:30 pm
Dr. Levine is the Mary Jane Werthan University Professor of Jewish Studies and University Professor of New Testament Studies, Emerita Her bio may be found here Flyers to share
SNEUCC is seeking a PT Racial Justice Advocate
The Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ (SNEUCC), has a part-time opportunity for a Racial Justice Advocate. This position is funded for a maximum of two years.
Position Summary:
The Racial Justice Advocate engages and supports local congregations, Conference staff and volunteers to enhance racial equity in all settings of the UCC and surrounding communities.
The Racial Justice Advocate serves the God we know in Jesus Christ by providing an environment and a culture that embodies the 4-part vision of the Southern New England Conference: to make disciples of Jesus Christ; make God’s love and justice real; bring new life as agents of change; and form covenant partnerships for the common good.
Is a cooperative of faith and other values-based institutions, coming together to save money and get better service on essential services like electricity, waste removal, and janitorial – all while prioritizing contracts with Black-, Brown-, and worker-owned businesses. This spring, there are several opportunities to participate:
Group electricity purchase, including renewable energy options. Fill out this form to explore options.
Waste removal, including trash, recycling, and composting. Reach out to Nathan Davis Hunt by email (nathan@cpa.coop) or phone (832.344.6256)
Natural gas, snow removal, and PPE are also possibilities later in the year – connect with Nathan if interested.
From Emma Brewer-Wallin, Minister of Environmental & Economic Justice: CPA MA is an exciting opportunity to deepen relationships and mutual care with other houses of worship and our wider communities. Through their group purchasing, churches – including smaller churches and those with tight budgets – are able to turn essential spending into ministry, by ensuring that those dollars stay in local communities.
CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP
The Center for Transformational Leadership
is thrilled to offer a new morning book group! Beginning in May, on the second Wednesday of each month, members of the book group will come together via Zoom to explore the theme of faithful change leadership through three books:
Joining God in the Great Unraveling by Alan Roxburgh
The Innovative Church by Scott Cormode
Another Way: Living and Leading Change on-Purpose by Stephen Lewis, Matthew Williams, and Dori Baker
Discussions to be held May 11, June 8, July 13, between 7:15-8:30 a.m. over Zoom. Accepting Registrations now.
DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT A GLANCE
Re-Imagining Faith Formation:
A Holistic Vision and Approach
Are you spinning your wheels in your faith formation efforts? Feeling stuck or tired after countless pandemic pivots? Wondering about next steps and how to plan for fall?
Come and hear how one church overcame roadblocks, embraced the opportunities presented by the pandemic, and re-imagined a holistic vision for faith formation. Patricia Berry, Minister of Faith Formation and members of her team at United Congregational Church will outline the ways their congregation is living out a life-giving ministry model based on a grassroots process, shared power, and a theology of abundance. This workshop will discuss practical tools such as deep listening, identifying gifts and passions in the congregation, and alternative metrics. You'll gain insights for building intergenerational relationships and re-visioning a faith formation ministry that is led by the Holy Spirit.
This 90 minute zoom workshop is for clergy, faith formation leaders, and the teams which support children and family ministries. Click here to register.
Visit the Faith Formationwebpage for more information.
OUTDOOR MINISTRIES
The Southern New England Conference engages in Outdoor & Retreat Ministry with the following sites:
Temporary Ministerial Coverage List replaces the
Pulpit Supply List.
The Southern New England Conference has moved from a "pulpit supply list" to a new Temporary Ministerial Coverage List. The list contains Clergy and Lay people that are interested in providing Sunday Supply, Sabbatical Coverage, and Bridge Coverage. All the people included on the list have had a Criminal Background Check and are being required to have Boundary Awareness Training as well as Racial Justice Training.
If your church is in need of a new list please reach out the Program Support Associate for your Region:
North Central & Northwest Regions: Deb Holmes, holmesd@sneucc.org
South Central & Southwest Regions: Roz Hooks: Hooksr@sneucc.org
Northeast & Southeast Regions: Lynn Varney: Varneyl@sneucc.org
If you are interested in being included on the new Temporary Ministerial Coverage List please contact Deb Holmes at holmesd@sneucc.org.
ACTIVE FOOD PANTRIES AND OUTREACH MEALS
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.
Pictured are members of Trinity Church Shelburne Falls.
TRANSITIONS
Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Transitions.
CELEBRATIONS
May Ordination Anniversaries
35 Years The Rev. Carol Killian
15 Years
The Rev. Pamela McGrath
10 Years The Rev. Daniel Dibble
Please contact Deb Holmes if we have missed your anniversary.
Anniversaries are listed from 5 years and forward in increments of 5.
If your church is celebrating a mile anniversary please let Deb Holmes know so that entire North Central Region can celebrate with you!
OBITUARIES
Please click here to see all of the obituary listings.
