Environmental Justice Intern reflects on Racial Justice Summit

Lillian Steinmeyer, SNEUCC Environmental Justice Intern

I certainly wasn’t the earliest riser, or the person who had to travel the furthest to get there. Nevertheless, I arrived at the First Church of Christ Congregational of Glastonbury at 9AM on a Saturday ready to start my day, and I didn’t know quite what to expect. I received my name tag and schedule and connected briefly with some of my fellow workshop attendees before we were shepherded into the worship hall for our opening worship.
Worship was guided by many voices, all seeking the same things. They told us the organizing assumptions that would guide our day: Racial equity is not a program. It is a way of life. Read more

Witness to Environmental Justice 

by Emma Brewer-Wallin, Minister for Environmental and Economic Justice

This is an invitation to bear witness – that is, to turn your attention, to see for yourself – the environmental injustice taking place in Jackson, Mississippi. Turn your attention to the crisis of an abrupt end to safe drinking water for 160,000 residents of the city, along with hospitals, fire stations, and schools. See for yourself the way this apparent crisis in a city that is 80 percent Black and 25 percent poor, is in fact the result of decades of racist housing policy, white flight, and lack of investment in infrastructure. Read more

Rev. Brewer-Wallin 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. Brewer-Wallin, please contact her at brewerwalline@sneucc.org.  Upcoming preaching dates include: Oct. 2, Ballard Vale Church, Andover, MA ; Oct. 9, West Concord Union Church, Concord, MA; Oct. 30, First Congregational Church of Reading, MA

Planning for Immigration Arrivals Are you involved in planning for the sudden arrival of migrants? Would you like to be? The Southern New England Conference and the Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum Task Team want to hear from you so that we can work together. Background: On September 14, about 50 migrants arrived unexpectedly in Massachusetts. They were sent to the island of Martha’s Vineyard on a flight from Texas that was chartered by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The community sprang to action and cared for these families and individuals for two days until they were moved to temporary housing on Cape Cod.  Read more Related from Church World Service: Take Action - Tell your National and State Elected Leaders to Welcome People Seeking Protection and Safety

Queer Justice Advocate Joins Staff as Part of Innovative New Collaboration Michael Streib has come aboard as the Queer Justice Advocate effective September 25, 2022. He graduated in May with a Master of Divinity (MDIV) degree from Yale Divinity School. Michael will work 10 hours per week (1/4 time) at the Southern New England Conference as the Queer Justice Advocate, and will be part of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team. He also will work 30 hours per week (3/4 time) at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Somerville, MA, where he will serve as the Pastoral Resident. Read more

The Role of the Faith Community: Preventing Drug Overdose & Death 

by Deborah Ringen, Minister for Health and Wellness

Faith leaders, authorized ministers, youth leaders, church school leaders, and all who live and model the love and compassion of Jesus, can positively influence children, teens and adults to prevent overdose deaths. Erica Poellot, UCC Minister for Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention Ministries, states harm reduction works toward a positive change that “is one that reduces risk to oneself and one’s community, that makes space for a person to pursue spiritual, emotional, and physical health and wholeness, that emerges from and increases their agency.”  Read more

Strengthen Your Work for Racial Justice

Register now for two fall sessions led online by Rev. Dr. Dianne Schmitz, SNEUCC Theologian in Virtual Residence: 
Saturday, October 8, 10 a.m.- noon: Breaking through Barriers: Interrupting How White Supremacy Culture Works to Keep Racism in Place; Saturday, November 5, 10 a.m.- noon: Creating Change in Your Sphere of Influence

These workshops are designed primarily for white-identified people interested in working for racial justice. They are appropriate for people new to this area of advocacy as well as those who are more experienced. Participants are encouraged to enroll in both sessions. There is no fee to register, but enrollment is limited! Register 

Becoming a Racial Justice Facilitator If you facilitated racial justice workshops in the past, or are interested in giving it a try, join us for an information session to learn about this opportunity! Choose a session: October 19, 6-7:30 PM, or Saturday, November 12, 9:30-11 AM. These sessions are opportunities for interested individuals to learn more about the role of a racial justice facilitator, workshop content, SNEC’s approach to racial justice trainings, and what to expect in the train-the-trainer event required of facilitators. Read more and register Jubilee Justice Leadership Program – Apply by FRIDAY!   Adults who feel called 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 for the?pilot Southern New England cohort of the Jubilee Justice Leadership program,?which will launch this fall. Although designed for lay people, clergy also are welcome. Breaking news! Rev. June Cooper, who recently retired following her celebrated tenure as executive director of City Mission Boston, will lead spiritual reflection sessions for the SNEC cohort. Learn more and register today!

Exploring our Haiti Connections October 15, 10 AM-1 PM ~ First Church of Christ, Longmeadow, MA (or via Zoom) Register by Oct. 8! Join the SNEUCC Haiti Partnership for this special program if you or your church: Currently conduct mission work in Haiti Have worked in Haiti but are not currently active, or Would like to conduct mission work in Haiti  We will gather to learn about the work currently going on in Haiti by some of our participants, and explore how we might work together to strengthen our commitment to partner with and help the people in this close neighboring country. Special guest speaker is Dr. Harry E. Dumay (pictured) President of Elm College in Chicopee, MA, who was born in Haiti and supports nursing education there. Read more and register October Observances National Domestic Awareness Month National Hispanic American Heritage Month continues through Oct. 15 LGBT History Month Here are some other October observances. This list is not comprehensive. October 10 - World Mental Health Awareness Day October 11 - Indigenous People's Day October 11 - National Coming Out Day Do you have special plans to observe Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20? Let us know!

Hartford-Area Congregations and Conference Join in Ministry at Pride Festival Pridefest might rightly be considered a time to celebrate the advances of LGBTQ communities, to examine where equality is still lacking, and to enjoy and have a fun time, but for the Southern New England Conference and Open and Affirming congregations in the Greater Hartford area, it also was a time for essential ministry. The Conference and several Hartford-area ONA congregations collaborated to offer their first joint exhibit during Hartford Pride on Saturday. The following morning, Center Church (The First Church of Christ UCC), Faith Congregational Church, and the Conference held a joint Pridefest worship service. Read more

Amistad Organ Finds Home in Connecticut Church that Helped Free the Captives  by Hans Holznagel, United Church of Christ The United Church of Christ’s Amistad Chapel in Cleveland, now closed, was home to a custom-built pipe organ. Today the instrument, built in Nebraska, has a new home in New England. Its carefully packed pipes traveled this month from Ohio to Connecticut — a place that was central to the story of the 1839 rebellion for which the Cleveland chapel was named. And the organ’s new home isn’t just anywhere in the state. It’s in Hartford, with a congregation that actively aided the captives in their historic legal fight for freedom. Anticipating the organ’s September arrival, Faith Congregational Church, UCC, the city’s oldest Black church, prepared a special chapel space for it. Read more Quilts for Kenya: An Intergenerational Service Project to Help Sunrise School for Learners with Autism   Edwards Church in Framingham, MA, supports Kenyan school with quilts, blankets, and donations by Rev. Dr. Karen Nell Smith, Associate Pastor of Faith Formation and Outreach at Edwards Church Framingham, MA Kenyan environmental activist, Wangari Maathai, once told a story about a little hummingbird who, although she was very small, could bring one drop at a time to help put out a forest fire. “I will be a hummingbird,” Professor Maathai said. “I will do the best I can, no matter how overwhelming the challenge.” The story of the little hummingbird became the inspiration for the creation of Sunrise School for Learners with Autism in Mumias, Kenya. Read more   Your justice related news, events and reflections are welcome! Please submit to Editor Karen Methot for consideration: methotk@sneucc.org, by the third Thursday of the month for a usual fourth Thursday publication date. Thank you!