Northwest Region ENews - November 21, 2022

THANKSGIVING PRAYER

Merger Poem

by Judy Chicago, 1979

And then all that has divided us will merge

And then compassion will be wedded to power

And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind

And then [all genders] will be gentle

And then [all genders] will be strong

And then no person will be subject to another's will

And then all will be rich and free and varied

And then the greed of some will give way to the needs of many

And then all will share equally in the Earth's abundance

And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old

And then all will nourish the young

And then all will cherish life's creatures

And then everywhere will be called Eden once again.

One to One conversations with Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa

The Rev. Ogawa will be hosting bi-weekly coffee house hours to meet with clergy for 30 minutes on the first and third Thursday mornings. 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.

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.

CONFERENCE & REGIONAL EVENTS/INFORMATION
Please go to sneucc.org/events to see all posted events

Quarterly Racial Justice Training for all:

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.

NEW OFFERINGS in 2023!

Racial Justice Training for Authorized Clergy and MIDs:
Wednesday, Jan. 18, 9 AM-12:30 PM

Racial Justice Training for All:
Wednesday, April 12, 7-9 PM AND Thursday, April 13, 7-8:30 PM

CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

The Center for Transformational Leadership equips clergy and lay leaders, congregations and covenantal partners of the SNEUCC with resources, tools and support to create a new vision and do the transformative ministry they are called to do in the local church, local community and the world.
We believe God calls us to bring new life as agents of change, and so we embrace and encourage adaptive and transformative leadership wherever the Body of Christ is gathered. SIGN UP HERE to receive the Center for Transformational Leadership's monthly newsletter, Innovation Now!

Fall 2022 Lunch & Learn schedule

is a monthly series hosted by the Center for Transformational Leadership. Every third Thursday, join us at noon for an hour-long session of learning and discussion. Each month we will offer a bite-size opportunity to learn valuable concepts and practices from a subject expert. Our wide-ranging topics are relevant to areas of mission and ministry that you, our authorized ministers and lay leaders, have indicated are timely for your congregations. Lunch & Learn for Leaders

Engaging Christian Contemplative Practices: Series starts Wednesday, January 18th from 7:00-8:30 PM (REGISTER)
Writing Pastors, Writing Faith; Creativity as Spiritual Practice - An Affinity Group for Clergy: Series starts Thursday, January 26th, 2023 (REGISTER)

Please click here to read more and to register.

Read newsletter issues HERE.

DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT A GLANCE

SNEUCC Confirmation Retreats '22-'23
Register your group for a facilitated retreat in 2022-2023! Chose from seven dates and three great locations.
In addition to our overnight retreats, consider our Weekend Retreats at Silver Lake! These events will include two nights with four meals, a full stay from Friday from 7:00pm to Sunday at 11:30am, and programs include team building, games, and campfire time on Saturday. Cost is $195 per person.
Registration is now open! Go to sneucc.org/events and select your preferred date. To ensure a spot for your attendants, you will be asked to make a deposit for each participant. Final count and full payment are due 21 days prior to the retreat. Please see each registration form for important information and policies.

Visit the Faith Formation webpage for more information.

OUTDOOR MINISTRIES

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

Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center

Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA

Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI

Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham, MA

TEMPORARY MINISTERIAL COVERAGE LIST

The Southern New England Conference maintains Temporary Ministerial Coverage (TMC) lists for all 6 SNEUCC regions. These lists contain 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 required to have Boundary Awareness Training as well as Racial Justice Training.

These TMC lists are regularly updated in real time. If your church is in need of a list please reach out to 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 any of the Temporary Ministerial Coverage regional lists please contact Jill Ford at fordj@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

November Ordination Anniversaries

35 Years
The Rev. Dr. Alan Macy

25 Years
The Rev. Bert Marshall

20 Years
The Rev. Clare Overlander

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 milestone anniversary or if you want to share news, 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.

CLASSIFIEDS

Please click here to view all of the SNEUCC Classifieds.