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UCC General Minister Nominee to Give Annual Meeting Keynote

The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, the nominee for United Church of Christ General Minister and President, will give the Keynote Address at the 4th Annual Meeting of the Southern New England Conference on June 17 in Worcester.

If elected by the UCC’s General Synod in July, Rev. Thompson will be the first woman, and the first woman of African descent, to lead the denomination.

Read more, including information on the resolution deadline and vendor space

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2

70 Attend First G.R.O.W. Gathering

Seventy people from the four Associations of the Southeast Region of the Southern New England Conference came together on Sunday, March 12, for the first of six G.R.O.W. Together regional gatherings.

“We had an AMAZING time this afternoon in the Southeast Region with lots of conversation, community building, resource sharing, and laughter,” Rev. Ruth Shaver said.

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3

An Annual Physical for the Body of Christ


 

Rev. Andrew Warner, UCC Generosity Outreach Officer, writes:

Thinking about my annual physical got me wondering about ways to measure the health of our congregations.  What vitals might we measure?  What heartbeats could we listen for?  How might we test our reflexes? 
 
Recently the Rev. Dr. Shelly Stackhouse, of Partners for Sacred Places, worked with me to develop an Annual Assessment Tool for Congregations.  It looks at three broad categories of congregational health: mission, property, and people.  A small group would work through the assessment and then engage a council or consistory in reflecting on the results.  The assessment may make clear areas to address and improve.  Just like I need to exercise more, you may find a necessary focus for improvement.

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4

Local Buzz: Falmouth Pastor Named Citizen of the Year

Calling her an "active defender and advocate for those without a voice who is willing to work tirelessly on behalf of others” the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce has named Rev. Nell Fields, pastor of Waquoit Congregational Church, it's Citizen of the Year.  

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Upcoming Events

'Braiding Sweetgrass' Online Book Study
Tuesdays at 6:30 PM, April 11 to May 9

Each week, Environmental Justice Intern Lillian Steinmayer will lead a discussion on a different section of this book in the context of environment, gratitude, and our role as Earth's children.

Sign up here


Living Into the Mystery: Worship and Sacraments in the United Church of Christ
March 25, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM  • Online

A class in the SNEUCC's Faith Formation Leadership Program, students will engage in an overview of the worship traditions of the United Church of Christ.

Clergy Boundary Awareness Training: Clergy Health and Wellness
March 27 & 28, 6:00 to 8:30 PM  • Online

Two-day class. Framed through the lens of clergy health and wellness, join in for a not-so-typical clergy boundary training.

Conference Wide Lenten Book Study on Microaggressions in Ministry!
March 29, 2023 at 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM  • Online

For people in congregations who want to learn how to be more welcoming, more inclusive, and more attentive to the way God is calling them to accompany ALL people along their spiritual paths at church.

Creating Safe Environments - Faith Formation Leadership Program
April 1, 8:30 to 10:30 AM
 • Online
Students will explore why congregations need a safe church policy and how to create one for the specific needs of the congregation.

Adaptive and Innovative Leadership in Faith Formation and Youth Ministries
April 1, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM • Online
Students will engage in creative thinking that inspires slant approaches to faith formational ministries in a post-pandemic world.

2023 Silver Lake Award Celebration
April 16, 2:00 to 5:00 PM
Farmington Gardens, Farmington, CT

This celebration, honoring Whendi Cook Broderick, will feature a live and silent auction, hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, and an opportunity to donate directly to the Silver Lake Scholarship Fund. Registration deadline is March 31.

April Lunch & Learn: Caring Congregations: What the Pandemic is Teaching Us
April 20, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM • Online

Rev. Dr. Frederick ‘Jerry’ Streets will offer a framework for exploring some of the on-going positive and challenging results the influence of the pandemic is having on the church.  

Ministry Matters: An Evening of Conversation 
April 27, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM 
Seekonk Congregational UCC, Seekonk, MA 

The Rev. Darrell Goodwin, Executive Conference Minister, The Rev. Eric Elley, Digital Minister, and Ms. Karen Ziel, Assistant Director of The Center for Transformational Leadership, will talk about new and exciting ministries offered by the SNEUCC and engage in Q&A. 


Partner Events

Yale Youth Ministry Institute: Tending the Adolescent Soul: Offering Hope in an Age of Despair
March 25, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT

Full day workshop with Mark Yaconelli

PRC: Countering White Christian Nationalism in Churches
March 28, 2:00 to 3:00 PM • Online

Rev. Jennifer Butler will examine how white Christian nationalism has shown up throughout history, and how people of faith have organized to push back and can do so again.
 


All Events

www.sneucc.org/events

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Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ
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