1

Spotlight: Flowering the Cross With Kindness

Many local churches in the Conference open their Easter service with a ‘flowering’ of the cross.  Folks entering the church add flowers to a large cross-shaped structure, and the decorated cross is then carried to the altar. This Christian tradition represents the transition from Jesus’ death on Good Friday to his resurrection on Easter morning. 

This year, the Plymouth Church in Framingham, UCC (MA) is adding a different spin to this tradition by inviting members of the congregation and the community to flower the cross with kindnesses conducted during Lent.

Read more 7.5 Min Read
 
Share

2

New Metaverse Pilot Program for Churches Advances with $15,000 CASA Grant

Rev. Eric Elley, Digital Minister, writes:

Our Conference’s metaverse pilot program, now a joint effort between The Congregational Church of Bloomfield, CT, our ministry partner and metaverse developer, SolaceVR, and the Southern New England Conference continues to advance! 

Read More 2.5 Min Read

Share


3

Jesus’ Guest List is Under Attack - Statement on the Massive Rise in Anti-LGBTQ Legislation


 

Michael Streib, SNEUCC Queer Justice Advocate, writes:

Four hundred twenty-eight anti-LGBT legislations have been introduced in this country since the beginning of 2023! These numbers are staggering and frightening, not only for people within the LGBTQ community.

Legislators all over the country try to police bodies that are not white, cisgender, male, and/or straight. They try to push education away from critical, nuanced, and caring approaches that center on the needs of minorities to ideologically driven censorship. 


4

Kristen Kirby Dragalin Named New Director of Pilgrim Day Camp

Kristen Kirby Dragalin has been named as the new Director for Pilgrim Day Camp, taking over for her father Jon Kirby, who is retiring.

Pilgrim Day Camp is located on the 113 acres of sprawling fields and woods that make up the Conference's Framingham, MA, campus. 

Read more 3 Min Read

Share


5

Upcoming Events

2023 Silver Lake Award Celebration will honor Whendi Cook-Broderick April 16

Whendi Cook Brodrick, a summer Dean at Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center for decades, will be the recipient of the Silver Lake Award at a celebration dinner and silent auction Sunday, April 16, at Farmington Gardens in CT.

March 31 is the deadline to register for the award celebration.

Read More 2 Min Read

Share


Restorative Justice in a Massachusetts Federal Court
March 27, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM • Online

Panelists, including a federal district judge, prosecutor, probation officer and several restorative justice practitioners talk about the effectiveness of restorative justice programs. Includes time for Q&A.

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.

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

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

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

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.

PRC - Wonder Awaits! Meet the Author
March 29, 2023 at 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM • Online

Wonder Awaits encourages children of all ages to use those senses and everyday activities to see the miracles of creation. 

Anarchists, Communists, and Women: Congregational Missions to Polish Immigrants in 20th Century America
March 31, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Congregational Library and Archives, Boston, MA

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Kazimierz Bem


All Events

www.sneucc.org/events

  Subscribe to our other newsletters at: sneucc.org/subscribe

  Visit our newsletter archive

Have your church administrator (or whoever handles your church's email account) visit the Church Dashboard to make sure we're connecting with all the current leaders in your church.

 
 
Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ
Toll Free: 866-367-2822
Fax: 866-367-0860
Facebook Twitter
 


This newsletter is made by possible by your church's contributions to Proportional Giving to Our Church's Wider Mission.