WORDS FROM YOUR
AREA CONFERENCE MINISTER |
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March 2024
Dear Northwest Region,
There is a lot on my mind about discrimination, fear, justice and turmoil in our schools, from Great Barrington to Southwick. Please know I am tracking and that our churches in those communities are doing their best to consider how to participate and help the discussions. More on that later.
But this is also the week where our Lenten journey comes to a head—a wilderness of a different kind that leads directly through Good Friday to the resurrection of Easter.
What opportunities can you find in the midst of the wreckage? I would argue that in both cases—the news cycles and the Biblical stories—that Jesus is calling on us to be present to the wounded places in such a way that we can foster new growth and let go of all that would leave us in the tomb. But resurrection cannot happen without acknowledgement of the events that made it necessary in the first place.
I pray you all good help and lovely, meaningful Holy Weeks, from Palm Sunday and its “Hosannahs” to perhaps a Maunday Thursday Meal or a Good Friday Tennebrae service. Will the strains of “Were you there” echo through your sanctuary? Will you have special musicians—brass, in fact? Will there be an Easter brunch or egg hunt?
Whatever your plans, I hope you are able to pause, to take a moment, and consider where Christ is inviting new life to unfold within you and your communities. And remember—it does not have to be perfect to be wonder-full.
Holy Week Blessings,
Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa
Area Conference Minister, Northwest Region
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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 UPDATES
(Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Litchfield North) |
Installation of Rev. Doug Bixby
April 21, 2024 at 3:00PM
First Church of Christ in Longmeadow
763 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Scholarship Available
The First Congregational Church of Harwich is pleased to make available a scholarship of around $500 from our Wood Fund this year. Ministry and Christian Education students who are members of congregations that are within the Southern New England Conference of the UCC are invited to apply for this scholarship to assist with the cost of attending seminary. Application forms are available online at First Church of Harwich website. (A link to the Wood Fund application is at the bottom of the page.) Application materials must be received by the First Congregational Church, UCC, Attention: Scholarship Team, 697 Main St, Harwich, MA 02645 by April 1, 2024. Please email Del Borah if you have any questions.
Throughout the Bible, spiritual renewal is lifted up again and again as essential to human wellbeing. Keeping the sabbath holy is one of the ten commandments. The 50-year Jubilee of rest is even extended to the earth. Jesus routinely stepped away from the demands of his ministry to pray alone. Self-care is not selfish; it is faithful. Click above for more information.
What are you up to? Does your Church or Association have events or news that can benefit from being shared - Meetings, Ecclesiastical Councils, Ordinations, etc? This newsletter space is just waiting to be populated by your activity! Please send your events and news Deb Holmes to be included in future monthly publications.
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 difficulty logging into your account please contact Nancy Stubbs at stubbsn@sneucc.org.
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CELEBRATIONS
(Church Anniversaries & Ordinations) |
Here we recognize and celebrate Ordination Anniversaries listed from 5 years forward in increments of 5 years, as well as milestone church anniversaries of 100+ years (acknowledging every 25 years).
If your name or church has been missed please contact Deb Holmes and updates will be made to your record and reflected in the next newsletter.
Ordination Anniversaries for March
20 Years
The Rev. Sherry Tucker - 3/28
2024 MILESTONE CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES
Southwick Congregational Church UCC - 250 years
The attached list is 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.
| CONFERENCE & PARTNER UPDATES |
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Clergy wellness retreat dates are set for this Spring!
The Conference, in partnership with the UCC Pension Boards, brings you three opportunities for fellowship, support, and wellness in the coming months.
Click on one of these dates to learn more about that retreat:
Wednesday, April 3rd: Spring Glen Church UCC, Hamden, CT
Saturday, May 18th: First Congregational Church, Auburn, MA
Wednesday, May 29th: Location TBA
Expect a time to gather and (re)connect with colleagues; share in a sumptuous meal; worship together; and engage in restorative practices. One-on-one appointments with representatives from the Pension Boards to go over your benefits will also be available. Our hope is that these retreats help strengthen your protective practices and supportive networks to sustain your wellness in self and in ministry. Registration is currently only open for the April 3rd retreat.
Click here for more information.
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The Role of the Church in Mental Health Care and Ministry
Rev. Dr. Ciarán Osborn, UCC Minister, will be the guest speaker and participants will gain knowledge about basic mental health and explore the variety of roles the church can play to create awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health challenges. Click the link above for more information and registration form.
Wednesdays @ 12:30, Live on Facebook
Praying together is a powerful act of faith, hope and love. We want to be in prayer with you more often! SNEUCC will be holding a weekly time of prayer (accessible to all regardless of whether you have a FB account). Conference staff will offer a mix of scripture, music, litanies and prayer. Participants will be able to add their prayers through the chat feature, and recordings can be found on the SNEUCC Facebook page or our webpage. Join us in prayer!
Tech Deacons Roundtable • Online
Morning: April 2, 16 & 30, 11:00 AM to Noon (Repeats every other Tues)
Evening: Mar. 26 and April 9 & 23, 7;00 to 8:00 PM (Repeats every other Tues)
An arena for churches to support one another by sharing ideas, bringing questions, and identifying new trends and opportunities in digital ministry.
UCCMA National Conference 2024
Conference 2024, the national biennial gathering of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association (UCCMA), will take place July 10-13, 2024 at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich, Connecticut. Designed for church musicians, choral and handbell choir members and worship leaders, the three-day event includes workshops, plenary sessions, worship services, evening entertainment and networking opportunities. Complete information is here.
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Good professional boundaries allow ministry and those who do it to thrive with health and wholeness. Through the lens of clergy wellness, authorized ministers will renew their understanding of and develop skills for maintaining boundaries in an ever-shifting ministry landscape. Upcoming Trainings are online via Zoom:
The cost for the training is: SNEUCC Clergy - $65.00; all other Clergy - $85.00. If you have questions regarding the training please contact Deb Holmes at holmesd@sneucc.org or 508-244-4399.
2024 UCC Stewardship Materials Available
Materials for your congregation's 2024 stewardship efforts are now available. This year's theme is "Imagine Together," helping people understand the impact our congregations can make in our communities when we support them. Materials (both printed and digital) include eight complete worship services, hymn suggestions, sermon starters from eight different authors, and faith formation sessions for children, youth, and adults. Also provided are practical tools such as logos, commitment cards, bulletin inserts, and letters. Guidance for every step of your campaign help you make the most of these robust materials. Find more information here.
Consolidated Trust Fund Assets Moving to United Church Funds
Some Connecticut congregations have their investments managed by the Consolidated Trust Fund, who has decided to transfer management of that to the United Church Funds. All churches have received communication about this and it was in the 5 Things on January 31st. If you haven't already, please engage with it. If you have follow-up questions, contact Charlie Kuchenbrod at ctf@sneucc.org. Please watch for information about an online townhall meeting with UCF representatives in March.
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| 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.
What do you do when your historic building takes up half a city block, but the members don’t take up even a quarter of the sanctuary? When there is plenty in the bank account but no children in Sunday School? What is a church to do when every board meeting is about the roof, the carpet, or the plumbing instead of mission, spirit, and faith formation? What would happen if you gave it all away and focused on just being the church? United Congregational Church in Worcester did just that thirteen years ago and the future is brighter than ever. Come and hear how they did it and how the spirit is still moving. Register here.
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53rd Annual NEAUCE Conference
(NEAUCE = New England Association of United Church Educators)
We want you to find REST for your SOUL!
Join us in “Keeping Sabbath Sacred” this May at NEAUCE 2024 on the beautiful Pilgrim Pines Campus in Swanzey NH. Registration is open for the 53nd Annual NEAUCE Conference. Gather with your fellow colleagues for amazing worship, a variety of specialty workshops, networking, rich discussions, creative play and relaxing opportunities. Keynote is Rev. Matthew Carriker, UCC Minister and Guest Speaker is Debbie Gline Allen, SNEUCC Minister for Faith Formation. More information and registration here.
April 27, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM • Online
This introductory course will equip faith formation and youth ministry leaders with the basics of healthy boundaries
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Registration is now open for the 2024 Regional Youth Event!
LOVE is greater than FEAR
Sunday, July 28 through Wednesday, July 31
Silver Lake Conference Center in Sharon, CT
Just announced: Spring Discount on Registration good through April 5
Use Discount code SPRING45 and get $50 off!
All youth are welcome to attend with their advisors. This program is for youth who are currently in grades 6-12 as of January 2024. [Or those who will be entering grades 7-12 in fall 2024, plus recent graduates]
RYE is a place to grow your spirits and connect with teens from all over New England and other Eastern UCC Conferences. There will be time for swimming and service work, reflection and recreation, worship and workshops. Our beautiful outdoor ministry site has waterfront activities and a challenge course for team- building.
Faith Formation Certification Programs
April 6 Faith Formation 101: Practices for a Sustainable Ministry
April 20 Serving Together: Mission for All Ages
April 27 Boundary Awareness for Faith Formation and Youth Leaders and Local Church Musicians
https://www.sneucc.org/certification
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| DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION |
Join the SNEUCC Environmental Ministries Team for an introduction to the Green Congregation Challenge, an incremental approach to bringing Creation care to your church's ministries. For churches that have never before engaged in the Green Congregation Challenge, you'll be introduced to the different categories for taking action and the resources that are available to support you. For churches that have previously engaged the challenge, you'll learn about some updates for 2024!
This Lunch and Learn program is available at no cost, with gratitude to your Proportional Giving for Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM). Register here.
Racial Justice for Authorized Ministers
The Southern New England Conference’s Center for Transformational Leadership is launching a series of racial justice workshops aimed at equipping authorized ministers for the ongoing work of showing up in a multi-racial, multi-cultural world. Learn more and sign up for upcoming sessions here:
https://www.sneucc.org/newsdetail/conference-launches-racial-justice-series-of-workshops-18303218
Upcoming sessions:
May 21: Racial Justice-Renewal - Microaggressions & Interpersonal Racism
June 11: Racial Justice - Foundations |
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The Southern New England Conference engages in Outdoor & Retreat Ministry with the following sites:
Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham, MA
Irons Homestead, Gloucester, RI
Pilgrim Day Camp, Framingham, MA
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
Silver Lake Summer Camp 2024 registration is open!
View the schedule and learn more at https://www.silverlakect.org/summercamp
Ongoing Updates
(Classifieds, Transitions, and Obituaries, etc.) |
Classifieds, Transitions, and Obituaries
Transitions within the Southern New England Conference can be found here.
Obituaries within the Southern New England Conference can be found here.
A full list of classified postings can be found here on the SNE website. Some examples include: Church Administrator, Digital Minister, Organist/Choir Director, Director of Faith Formation as well as items for sale or free.
Church administrators are welcome to use the online template to submit information.
Temporary Ministerial Coverage
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, South Central & Northwest Regions: Deb Holmes holmesd@sneucc.org
Northeast, Southeast & Southwest 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.
Newsletter Subscriptions
You are receiving this newsletter because we've identified you as a local church or you have standing in one of the associations in the South Central Region of the Southern New England Conference. The Regional Newsletter is sent on a monthly basis, on or near the Third Tuesday of each month. If you would like to have events included, please make sure to have them submitted by the Second Wednesday of the month to Deb Holmes.
If you would like to unsubscribe or change your email preferences, please visit sneucc.org/subscribe and enter your email address.
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