June 23, 2022

Dear Siblings in Christ,
 
Last week, as part of the Windham Association’s Annual Meeting, I attended my first church potluck since the pandemic began. It was glorious! About 20 of us gathered in the fellowship hall, the walls covered with children’s artwork and church announcements. We enjoyed each other’s dishes, many including something from our gardens. We chatted with strangers and well known friends alike. It felt so normal!
 
“There is no going back to normal.” “Normal never was good enough.” “We’ve got to think about the new normal.” We’ve all heard these statements throughout the pandemic. I’ve said them myself. Each holds truth. Perhaps it’s time to use a different word, because normal implies that there is a traditional standard to be achieved and that that standard is the right one. I hear a lot of church members expressing concern, anxiety and grief that things have not gone back to normal yet. This is not just about the last 2 years; there is a way in which the pandemic finally exposed the accumulated changes of the last few decades. There are a lot of reasons for those feelings but one is because we assumed that what we had known was normal, that is the right way to be.
 
What if instead we used the word ordinary? Ordinary connotes “common, everyday, regular.” This is not just a language shift; it is a perspective shift. Ordinary is the stuff of this life, given and beloved by our Creator. Ordinary is the dirt Jesus used to make healing mud and the bread he shared with his disciples. Ordinary is Jesus asking for water at a well. Ordinary is Jesus walking along the road and encountering others. Ordinary is sacred, because the Holy Spirit is always moving in the world.
 
As we move into summer, and the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, may you pay attention to all the ordinary things, and in them, meet the Divine.
 
Blessings,

 
========= 
 

Connect with your ACM
 
Worship Visits
I am eager to join you in worship (I can preach or simply bring greetings from the Conference; whatever is best for the church). I am currently booked through October. Please reach out directly to me via email (garrigan-byerlye@sneucc.org) to schedule Sunday visits.
 
The North Central Clergy Gathering
These have concluded for the season. Watch this space for updates regarding the fall.
 
1-1 Conversations
I welcome 1-1 conversations with pastors, MIDs, lay leaders and covenant partners. You can sign up for a time here. Please make sure you save the Zoom link. If none of those times work, please contact holmesd@sneucc.org to set up a time.
 
Little Free Pantries Available
Would your church like a Little Free Pantry so that you can leave nonperishable food items outside for your community? Each box is 2’x2’x16”, with a wooden framed door with plexiglass insert for visibility of the food inside. It will have a 4”x4” post to put in the ground. A member of the South Acton Congregational Church is building these for his Eagle Scout project and would like to donate 3 to local UCC churches. If you are interested, please reach out to Liz (garrigan-byerlye@sneucc.org)

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 difficulty logging into your account please contact Nancy Stubbs at stubbsn@sneucc.org.

Save the Date! 2022 Justice Summit Saturday, September 24, 2022, 9 AM - 4:30 PM  First Church of Christ, Congregational in Glastonbury, CT  The 2022 Justice Summit is a one-day event hosted by the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ to inform, engage, and offer opportunities for connection among people interested in issues of social justice. This year's Justice Summit will focus on racial justice. Registration is now open, click here for more information.

Third Annual Meeting Post-Meeting Reports.   This was third Annual Meeting of the new Conference - and the third time it was held online due to the pandemic. it was announced at the meeting that the Fourth Annual Meeting will be held in person at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI, on June 10, 2023. The meeting, attended by almost 400 people, opened and closed with worship, and in between included a keynote address by the Rev. Patrick Duggan, speakouts, reports from the Treasurer and from the President, and updates from staff. The only official vote taken was to vote in the Board of Directors, Officers and General Synod delegates. That slate can be seen here. The meeting also included Ministry Engagement breakout sessions, where attendees could talk about faith formation and propotional giving, reimagining mission, learnings from the COVID pandemic, approaches to church governance and more. During lunch, attendees could watch a livestream of the Poor People Campaign's Moral March on Washington. Click here to see all the reports.   Paying Royalties for Singing Negro Spirituals Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 4:00 PM You have heard about some churches paying “royalties” when they sing Negro spirituals. Join us a few days after the Juneteenth holiday to learn more about how it works, what has been learned, and suggested principles and practices for congregations seeking to enact a similar initiative. Click here to register and read more.         Swords to Plowshares - Transforming Guns into Garden Tools Gardner Memorial AME Zion Church 368 Bay Street Springfield, MA Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Join us for a demonstration and hands-on participation at forge and anvil, creating gardening tools and jewelry from guns voluntarily turned in. Presented by Swords to Plowshares Northeast in conjunction with the Swords to Plowshares Ministry Network of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.  For more information email peterwells730@gmail.com Sponsored by: The Episcopal Diocese of Western MA ~ Foster Memorial Church, UCC ~ Gardner Memorial AME Zion Church ~ Greater Springfield Campaign Nonviolence ~ Moms Demand Action - Western MA ~ Nonviolent Springfield Coalition   Clergy Boundary Awareness Training: Clergy Health and Wellness July 26, 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM Online Framed through the lens of clergy health and wellness, join in for a not-so-typical clergy boundary training. Click here to register. Conference Launches Justice Leadership Program Adults who feel a call to work for justice or are eager to integrate faith and justice work into their lives in meaningful and transformative ways are invited to apply now for the Southern New England cohort of the Jubilee program, which will launch this fall. Please click here to read more! New Blog Post:  Political Campaign Intervention Reminder   Election Year Reminder: Churches Can Be Political But Not Partisan by Heather Kimmel | published on May 31, 2022 With the election year in full swing, Local Churches of the United Church of Christ can check out these great Our Faith Our Vote resources from the United Church of Christ Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington, D.C. In particular, the Guidelines for Congregations on Political Action can help congregations make informed decisions about how to be politically involved . . . without jeopardizing their status as tax-exempt organizations under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Read more Offerings from Practical Resources for Churches https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2fXt7FTtTDOOZlpMeprcZg How to Recognize and Deal with Church Bullies Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:00 - 8:00 PM Leader - David Woolverton   https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BNTbN8XdTSWHjzKifkPRxA How Broad Based Community Organizing MIght Transform the Church Thursday, Jul 28, 2022 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT Leaders: Chris Dela Cruz, Shani McIlwain, Katrina Pekich-Bundy Sexual Harassment Prevention Training https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_abR-fMG5TS2fxQMN-OJy1g Wednesday, June 15, 2022 10:00 - 11:30 AM Eastern Leader - Penny Cannon Basic Teacher Training for Kids Sunday School https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_melYdllwRuqbQ4fT4GchFQ Thursday, August 4, 2022 7:00 - 8:00 PM EDT Leader - Elizabeth Christie   https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8RdwKuVcQUOJZv-fQ_HcAA Developmental Concerns Regarding Children and Youth and Covid Tuesday, August 9, 2022 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT Leader - Dr. Elizabeth Geiling, PhD, LMHC, LPC   What's Next for the Offering Plate? Thursday, August 11, 2022 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT Leaders - Scott McKenzie, Jennifer Williams https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KXJVJ0OoRyKq6XdBWrLQ7w We've also scheduled a "meet the author" webinar with Ann Kansfiled of  Be the Brave One for September 13. This will be an evening webinar (7pm Eastern) so it will be a great event for congregations interested in her story.  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. If interested, click here to read the entire job description.

Quarterly Racial Justice Training for all: October 22, 2022 Both clergy and lay people are welcome to join us for this 3-1/2 hour, on-line racial justice training facilitated by Rev. James D. Ross II, Minister for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  This session will take place: October 22: 8:30AM -12:00PM   Sessions are being offered via Zoom. The cost to attend is $10. Scholarships are available; contact Karen Methot.  Please click here to register.

Lunch & Learn for Leaders:

The Pandemic's Impact on Churches:
What the Data Show Thus Far 
Monday, June 27th from 7:00-8:30 PM

This webinar will be led by Scott Thumma, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology of Religion and Director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, and guests. The webinar will report new findings from three recent surveys (from August 2021, December 2021 and March 2022) of 5000 churches about how they and their clergy are faring and the challenges and possibilities facing faith communities. It will provide an overview of a Lilly Endowment-funded research project led by Hartford Institute for Religion Research to track what the next five years will look like for faith communities, their leaders, and members with a particular emphasis on changes in attendance on the pastoral role and member engagement.

DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT A GLANCE  Re-Imagining Faith Formation: A Holistic Vision and Approach June 23rd at 7:00PM 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 Formation webpage for more information.   OUTDOOR MINISTRIES & MISSION OPPORTUNITIES The Southern New England Conference engages in Outdoor & Retreat Ministry with the following sites: Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham, MA Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI Fueling Inclusion, Voice, and Opportunity for All WAMS Works with individuals and community partners to inspire economic and education equity through social change. Click here to learn more about WAMS.  Worcester Fellowship Please check their website for updated information.   TEMPORARY MINISTERIAL COVERAGE LIST   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 North Central 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. North Central Region List. TRANSITIONS Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Transitions. CELEBRATIONS June Ordination Anniversaries 60 Years The Rev. Robert Jackman The Rev. Dr. Robert Johnson 30 Years The Rev. Dr. Keith Alderman 20 Years The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Magill 10 Years The Rev. Charles Taylor    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 view all SNEUCC obituaries.   CLASSIFIEDS   Bridge Pastor, Harvard, MA Church Office Administrator, Natick, MA Bridge Pastor, Storrs, CT Director of Faith Formation and Christian Education, Westborough, MA Please click here to view all SNEUCC Classifieds   ASSOCIATION MEETING INFORMATION     Central MA Association Meeting Information: The Committee on Authorized Ministry: Third Thursday of the month at 9:30 AM. The Board of Director's: Third Thursday of the month at 2:30 PM Windham Association Meeting Information: Monthly Council meeting: First Tuesday of the month from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. via Zoom.