Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,”
and she told them that he had said these things to her. ~ John 20:18

This year Easter falls on the last Sunday (and last day) of March. Every year since 1988, Congress or the President issues resolutions and proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” The recognition and highlighting of the contributions women have made to events in history and contemporary society, coinciding with Holy Week and Easter, seemed to me an interesting coincidence. In all four Gospels women play a significant role in the resurrection story. The women who supported and followed Jesus are present at the crucifixion, looking on from a distance till the very end. These same women are the first ones to go to the tomb the next morning.

I wonder if this Easter, on the last day of Women’s History Month, we might consider affirming and recognizing the role women had in the resurrection story and continue to have in the life of the church. One simple way to do this would be to make a small change to the traditional call and response that opens many of our Easter worship services. Perhaps this year, a woman or group of women might have the honor and blessing of standing before the congregation to proclaim,

“He is risen!”

And unlike the response of some of the disciples, who thought the women were telling an “idle tale” the congregation would affirm the women by responding, “He is risen indeed!”

May we look forward to Easter’s arrival with a renewed sense of hope, having travelled with Jesus, the Disciples and the Women through Lent and Holy Week.

Rev. Margret
Rev. Margret Hofmeister is the Area Conference Minister in the Southwest Region.  She can be reached at hofmeisterm@sneucc.org or at 860-761-7198.

Drop-in Clergy Coffee Break with ACM Rev. Margret Hofmeister on Zoom: 
the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 3pm to 4pm
Next drop in will be April 9th - Join Here
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Schedule Office Hours with Rev. Margret Hofmeister, ACM
Now through June, online “office hours” are:
               1st and 3rd Mondays; 10 am -12:30 pm
               1st and 3rd Wednesdays; 4:00 pm -5:30 pm (except April 17th)
To schedule a 30-minute visit, contact Program Support Associate (PSA) Lynn Varney at varneyl@sneucc.org. 

Rev. Margret will be on vacation from April 16th through April 27th. If you need immediate assistance during that time, please reach out to PSA, Lynn Varney.

SAVE THE DATE!

New Haven Association Spring Meeting, Wed. May 8th at 6:30pm at Woodbridge Congregational Church, 5 Meetinghouse Lane, Woodbridge, CT

Litchfield South Association Spring Meeting, Tues. May 21st

Fairfield East Association Business Meeting, Wed. May 29th at 7pm on Zoom.

Fairfield East Association Spring Gathering, Sun. June 2nd at 4pm at First Congregational Church, 164 Deer Hill Ave., Danbury, CT

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.

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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 Lynn Varney to be included in future monthly publications.  The South Central Region of the Southern New England Conference is comprised of:

• Fairfield East Association
• Fairfield West Association
• Litchfield South Association
• New Haven Association
• New Haven East Consociation

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.

Clergy Renewal

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.

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.
If your name or church has been missed please contact Lynn Varney and updates will be made to your record and reflected in the next newsletter.

March Ordination Anniversaries

10 Years
The Rev. Sara Vetter  -  3/30/2014
20 Years
The Rev. M. Ashley Grant  -  3/28/2004
30 Years
The Rev. Gail Miller  -  3/6/1994

2024 Milestone Church Anniversaries

300 YEARS
First Congregational Church of Cheshire, CT
Huntington Congregational Church, Shelton, CT
175 YEARS
First Congregational Church, Ansonia, CT

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.  More information and registration here. 

Weaving our Tapestry at the Intersections - Antoinette Brown Society Clergywomen’s Leadership Event

Registration is now open for the 2024 UCC Clergywomen Leadership Event. “Weaving our Tapestry” takes place April 16-18, 2024 in Charleston, SC, with the 2023 Antoinette Brown Awardees as the keynote presenters. This event is open to all authorized UCC Clergywomen. A digital event with workshops for MIDs and clergy will be held as well. MIDs are invited to attend the digital gathering. More information here.

SNE Women's Connection Spring Gathering 2024 April 27, 2024, 9am First Congregational Church, Portland, CT 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. More information and registration form here.

Pause for Prayer  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 available at here.

Clergy Boundary Awareness Training 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: June 5, 2024, 9:30am-2:30pm September 16, 2024, 9:30am-2:30pm November 12 & 13, 2024, 6:30PM-8:30pm (both sessions must be attended) 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.

Wherever you are on life's journey, PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. welcomes you!  To learn more about PATHWAYS, go to here.  Check out PATHWAYS courses. Registration is open. You can see the schedule 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. 

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. 

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.  Regional Youth Event- Spring Discount 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

Lunch & Learn: (re)Introducing the Green Congregation Challenge

Thursday April 4, 2024 at 12PM on Zoom
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.

Upcoming sessions:
May 21: Racial Justice-Renewal - Microaggressions & Interpersonal Racism
June 11: Racial Justice - Foundations

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
 

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.

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. 

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 Southwest 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 Lynn Varney.

If you would like to unsubscribe or change your email preferences, please visit sneucc.org/subscribe and enter your email address.