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June 24, 2022 

Clergy Coffee and Conversation

 

Join us for Clergy Coffee 

and Conversation 

Thursdays at 10:00am here

Regional News and Association Events

 

Pilgrim Association

Church Support Grant Opportunity - As part of our mission to support our churches during this post-Pandemic season, the Pilgrim Association Board of Directors is announcing a new mini-grant initiative to encourage your pastors and church members during this phase of re-entry. Our hope is that these funds will provide assistance to compliment your efforts in regathering your congregations.

Grants for up to $1,000 will be awarded to churches for initiatives designed to support, enrich, and strengthen local churches through technological improvements and programming designs/changes. Click here for the announcement at the Spring Meeting.

The deadline for submission is July 1, 2022. All proposals will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and announcements of all recipients will be on August 1, 2022.  Click here for the application. 

Rhode Island Association

Save the date - Ecclesiastical Council for Brandon Yaghjian-Tison on July 10, 2022 at Newman Church, Rumford, RI

Conference and Partner Events 

To see all upcoming events, go to the SNEUCC calendar here.

 

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.


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.


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 meeting also included Ministry Engagement breakout sessions, where attendees could talk about faith formation and proportional giving, reimagining mission, learnings from the COVID pandemic, approaches to church governance and more. 

Find all of the videos, reports and materials here.


Save the Date for the 2022 Silver Lake Golf Tournament!


Registration Now Open for 2022 SNEUCC 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.


For Such a Time: To Confront, Connect, and Create at the Intersection of Race and Gender, A Clergywomen’s* Leadership Event of the Antoinette Brown Society

The UCC Clergywomen’s Leadership Event has been postponed at least twice during the pandemic, and we are excited to be offering the event this September 27-29 in Decatur, GA. “For Such a Time: To Confront, Connect, and Create at the Intersection of Race and Gender” is open to authorized clergywomen* in the United Church of Christ.  Registration is now open for the in-person and online gathering.  Early bird discounted registration ends July 1. (* This invitation is expansive to include all cis and trans women as well as non-binary people comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women.)


 

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.

Opportunities & Resources

Racial Justice Advocate part-time position available

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.  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.  Learn more here

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:

Tuesday, July 26, 2022
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Leader - David Woolverton
 

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

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


Scholarship Available

The First Congregational Church of Harwich is pleased to make available a scholarship of around $600 from our Wood Fund this year.  Ministry and Christian Education students who are members of congregations that are within the Southern New England Conference of the UCC are invited to apply for this scholarship to assist with the cost of attending seminary.   Application forms are available online here.  Please email Del Borah with questions.
 


The Nancy S. Taylor Leadership Fellowship Program 

Old South Church in Boston is seeking applicants for this inaugural fellowship!  Fellows will be immersed in the life of Old South Church and actively participate in worship leadership, committees and boards to learn about and to help shape our life together.  Old South Church is looking for candidates who are in their third or final year of seminary, called to action and to the ministry, who dare to be leaders in a changing world.  This is a part-time position, of roughly 15 hours per week with compensation. The Fellowship can begin in the summer or fall of 2022 and will run through the end of May 2023. For more information click here

 

Faith Formation Leadership Program Now Completely Online

The Southern New England Conference’s Faith Formation Leadership Program is undergoing similar types of shifts and changes as are happening in the church. Recently the decision has been made to offer this program completely online.  Read more here

Outdoor Ministries

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

Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham, MA 
Irons Homestead, Gloucester, RI
Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT. 

Read more about the exciting things happening and coming up at Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center right here.   

Let us know!

You are doing great ministry! Let us help make sure others know about it. Tell us about your stories, news and event information. Don’t be modest!  We’re waiting to hear from you. Email Lynn at varneyl@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.

Called to Serve


Barnstable Association
Moderator: Rev. Nancy McHugh
Committee on Ministry
Chair:  Rev. Tina Walker-Morin
 

Pilgrim Association
Moderator: Rev. Mary Lou Gifford
Committee on Ministry
Chair: Rev. Kimberly Murphy

Old Colony Association
Moderator: Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver
Committee on Ministry
 Chair:  Rev. Dr. Virginia Child
 

Rhode Island Association
 Moderator: Rev. Dale Azevedo
Committee on Ministry
 Chair:  Rev. Caroline Patterson

More

SNEUCC Classifieds

Part-Time Music Director, Weymouth, MA

 Part-Time Youth Director,  Rehoboth, MA

Part-Time Music Director, First Congregational Church, Bristol, RI

Part-Time Sunday School Director, South Weymouth, MA

Part-Time Music Director, Duxbury, MA

Director of Faith Formation, Falmouth, MA

Lead Hospitality Associate - Edwards House(MA) and Irons Homestead (RI)

 

This week we pray for:

North Falmouth Congregational Church: Rev. Christina Williams

Mattapoisett Congregational Church, UCC: Rev. Dr. Richard Wolf

First Church in Weymouth: John Robie

Amicable Congregational, UCC, Tiverton, RI: Rev. Nancy Hamlin Soukup

 

Pulpit Supply    

If you are interested in providing Pulpit Supply to churches in the Southeast Region (Barnstable, Old Colony, Pilgrim and Rhode Island Associations) please contact Lynn Varney at varneyl@sneucc.org Local churches thank you for being available for this important service to congregations!

UCC Opportunities 

Find opportunities online.

Search by keyword, Conference, or type of position:

Volunteer - Missionary - Musician - Summer camp staff - Pastorate - Chaplaincy. The Spirit moves in many directions!    

Take a look!  

Find out more about Conference and Association transitions here:  

Clergy Transitions

Links

 

Subscriptions

This is an edition of the Southeast Region (including the Barnstable, Old Colony, Pilgrim and Rhode Island Associations) E-Newsletter that will be sent every other week.

If you would like to unsubscribe or change your email preferences, please visit this link and enter your email address.

Southeast Region ~ Area Conference Minister,
Rev. Dr. Patty Kogut

Associations: 
Barnstable, Old Colony, Pilgrim, Rhode Island

kogutp@sneucc.org
New #: 508-244-4416

 

*Please note that Conference staff are not scheduling in-person preaching, worship or meetings until February 14, 2022.  We are happy to join you online until then.  
 

 

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

1 Badger Road
Framingham, MA 01702
781-369-1396
VarneyL@sneucc.org 
www.sneucc.org/southeast

Office Hours: 
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM