Join Us at the Racial Justice Summit!

by Rev. James D. Ross II, Minister for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

It is hard to believe summer is almost over.
With Labor Day just over a week away, many of us are preparing for the new church year and all it will entail. If you have not already, now is also a great time to register to join us at the 2022 Justice Summit on Saturday, September 24.
The Summit will be a full-day session focused on racial justice. There will be sessions during which participants can develop specific plans to work on racial justice issues in their churches or communities. Read more

Rev. James D. Ross II, Minister of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is available to serve as a guest preacher or to address a small group in your congregation. Some visits may be virtual. To schedule a visit from Rev. Ross, please contact Karen Methot at methotk@sneucc.org. Upcoming preaching dates by Rev. Ross include: 9/11, First Church of Christ, Old Saybrook, CT; 9/18, Dixwell Avenue UCC, New Haven, CT

SNEUCC Begins Process to Become a W.I.S.E. Conference

by Deborah Ringen, SNEC Minister for Health and Wellness

SNEUCC Health and Wellness Ministry has begun the process of becoming designated as a W.I.S.E. (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) Conference by the UCC Mental Health Network.

The UCC Mental Health Network W.I.S.E. program encourages congregations and conferences along a path of exploration, conversation, and education to increase awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness. Discussing issues of mental health challenges opens the door to acceptance and healing. Read more

September Brings Still More Pride!

SNEUCC Conference will have a presence at Hartford Pride, September 10, Noon - 6 PM, Bushnell Park, 99 Trinity St., Hartford

The SNEC will have a table at Hartford Pride this year, with staff and a coalition of churches in the area. If you are in the area, stop by! Note that there is no parade in Hartford this year. Here are some other upcoming Pride celebrations:

August 27 - New London Pride, Ocean Beach Park, 98 Neptune Ave, New London, CT
August 28 - Mystic Congregational Church Pride Interfaith Service, 9:30 AM, 43 E. Main St., Mystic, CT
Sept. 2-11 - Worcester, MA Pride events (no parade this year)

Sept.11-18 - PRIDE New Haven, 84 Orange Street, New Haven, CT

Jubilee Justice Program: A Pastor's Perspective

Sign-ups Close September 16

In a recent interview, Rev. Rich Gamble of Keystone UCC Church in Seattle - a congregation with deep connections to the Jubilee Justice Leadership Program - had this to say:

“People in my congregation who were interested in justice, but really didn’t know how to get started, are now, after the Jubilee program, very active, even years later, in our congregation’s work of justice…The programs and activities that they’ve helped to lead have brought such life to our congregation and broader community.” Watch the interview on YouTube with by SNEC Minister for Environmental and Economic Ministry Rev. Emma Brewer-Wallin.

Find details and sign up by September 16!

Preaching Climate Justice: A Conversation with Jim Antal and Margaret Bullitt-Jonas

September 15, 10-11:15 AM, on Zoom

Join us for another lively online presentation by two religious leaders who are committed to encouraging climate preaching that is both pastoral and prophetic: Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Missioner for Creation Care for the SNEC and Episcopal Diocese of Western Mass., and Jim Antal, Special Advisor on Climate Justice to the UCC General Minister and President.

There will be ample time for questions and conversation, as well as suggestions for how to preach on some of the texts assigned for upcoming Sundays in Creation Season. This event is open at no charge to all preachers, lay and ordained. Read more and register.

New! Faith Matters Voting Challenge Informational Brochure

Corporate interests site sacrifice zones in Black and Brown neighborhoods. Droughts and superstorms set climate migration and political instabiity in motion. Wildfires destroy lives and livelihoods. Carbon pollution increases the rate of asthma, cancer and heart disease, especially in vulnerable communities. Sooner or later, every justice issue intersects with the disruption of the climate emergency.

The issues voters care about matter most to politicians. Candidates use the public voting record to contact people who actually show up on election day. Yet many people who care about the climate crisis are not consistent voters.

Learn more by reading and downloading our new Voting Challenge brochure and visiting the Faith Matters Voting Challenge pages of our website.

Exploring our Haiti Connections

Let us know of your interest by Aug. 31, then join us if you can on October 15!

Is your church conducting mission work in Haiti? Or maybe your congregation is interested in learning about this possibility? Please plan to attend the SNEUCC Haiti Partnership gathering via Zoom or in person at the First Church of Christ, Longmeadow UCC (MA) on October 15. The purpose of this gathering is to learn how we might work together to strengthen our commitments to partner with and help the people of Haiti, one of our closest neighboring countries.

Interested? Please fill out this interest form by Aug. 31. We will send you a zoom link a week prior to the meeting and give you information about the in-person option as well. Email questions to methotk@sneucc.org

Dixwell UCC (New Haven, CT) Marks Bicentennial

The nation's oldest African American UCC congregation is celebrating 200 years of being rooted in community service, social justice and humanitarian efforts.

Pastors are Uniquely Positioned to Help People Contemplating Suicide

The following is from Faith and Leadership, a learning resource for Christian leaders and their institutions from Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. Note: If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call, chat or text 988, a national, 24-hour service.

When psychologist Karen Mason managed the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention in the early 2000s, she wanted to engage faith leaders to help educate the public and respond to warning signs of crisis.

But her research since then has revealed a paradox. Though pastors are uniquely positioned to help prevent suicides, they’re often hesitant to embrace the role. Read more

Love God, Love Neighbor: Advocacy in Action

Sept. 21 at Noon (virtual)

Offered by The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations (OGR) and Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), this training is designed for those interested in gaining advocacy skills and messaging tools in the immigration space.

At the end of the training, the hope is that all participants will take the opportunity to directly advocate to members of Congress and their staff about protections for refugees, asylum seekers, and all migrants seeking a better life.