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Dear friends,
As we enter the Season of Eastertide, we invite your congregation to begin or continue a journey to live respectfully on this beautiful planet God created and loves! Indeed, the solidarity of many congregations in the SNEUCC joining our Green Congregation Challenge attests to the power of Christ’s resurrection, made known in the incremental but impactful steps in creating sustainable houses of worship!
The Green Congregation Challenge invites churches to take specific steps into integrate care of God’s Creation into your ministries, including through worship and education; in the care and keeping of your building and grounds; in your outreach and community partnerships; and in creating a culture of sustainable environmental leadership. READ MORE.
Lunch & Learn: (re)Introducing the Green Congregation Challenge
Thursday, April 4, 12pm via zoom
Register here:
UCC Webinar—Earth Sunday Resource: Addressing the Plastics Crisis
Wed, April 10, 1pm via zoom In preparation for Earth Sunday, a new resource -- "Plastic Jesus: Real Faith in a Synthetic World” -- has been produced to help congregations think more deeply about the ways that plastics impact our lives and God's creation. This webinar features Derrick Weston, the lead author of the resource. Register now!
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Inter-Religious Eco-Justice Network’s (IREJN) Legislative Prayer Breakfast
Tuesday, April 16, 8:30-10:00am
Room 310 in the State Capitol Building at 210 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, CT Prayers will be offered for climate change, clean air, clean water, wildlife, and environmental justice. Breakfast will be available at 8:30 am and the program will be at 9:00 am. After the breakfast, you are encouraged to meet with your legislator. REGISTER HERE
To find your legislator, please visit here.
National Faith + Climate Forum 2024 - with Blessed Tomorrow
This event is streamed live, showcasing national faith leaders. It offers local, in-person watch parties and engagement opportunities. We warmly invite all individuals to participate. April 16, Hybrid - 12pm - 5:15pm EST Register to attend or host:
https://nationalfaithandclimateforum.org/
Earth Summit – National UCC
April 20, 1pm, Zoom - The UCC's second annual Earth Summit will feature celebrated author Bill McKibben along with award-winning activists who are waging a David-versus-Goliath struggle against the pollution of Formosa Plastics, one of the world's largest plastics producers. Register today for this free event!
Environmental Ministries Cross Pollination – no April session, back on May 20 - May's topic: How might we celebrate the Season of Creation this fall?
New: would you like to stay informally connected with other SNEUCC environmental ministries leaders to hear about what they’re doing, share your events, and ask questions? Join our new facebook group!
Was your church involved in a public action that was directed at an institution either responsible for an environmental injustice or responsible for addressing the ensuing crisis between April 1, 2023 and April 1, 2024? Nominate your team for the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award! Deadline - April 9. 2024
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Upcoming Learning & Action Opportunities
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SNEUCC Pride Guide 2024
Do you have a Pride event planned for 2024? Or are interested in organizing one? Let us know for our 2024 SNEUCC Pride Guide. Check out more information and our questionnaire here.
Open & Affirming Cross-Pollination
Monday, April 8, 6:30pm, Zoom
Topic: How might our church celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride month?
To prepare for this session, check out this Get Ready for Pride resource created by Rev. Michael Streib, and reach out to him with any questions
Strengthen your church’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ people with the Human Rights Campaign – follow up
Thursday, May 9, 7pm, Zoom
Whether or not you attended the first session with HRC on March 7, join us for this follow up session! We'll go deeper on some of the topics discussed, including having open-hearted conversations with friends and neighbors, and some of the proactive legislation coming up in our Southern New England states. Register here.
Racial Justice Cross Pollination – Cultural humility: how can white people engage communities of color with care?
Racial Justice Cross Pollination – NEW DATE: April 22, 2024
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 - Microaggressions & Interpersonal Racism (Renewal)
June 11: Racial Justice - Foundations
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An Afternoon of Challenge and Hope with Renowned Civil Rights Leader The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II - May 5, 3pm @ Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford, CT
Anti-racism for faith formation practitioners - "Animating Antiracism in Faith Formation" is a webinar series developed for the United Church of Christ Network of Wider Church Youth Ministries by Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training.
Registration now open: https://www.sneucc.org/anti-racism-training
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 Breaking the Silence About Mental Health Challenges with Children & Teens
Thursday, April 4, 12pm via zoom
Register here.
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Modeling a Restorative Justice Circle
Monday, April 29, 2024, 6:30 PM on Zoom
Rev. Mark Seifried, pastor of the Haydenville Congregational Church and member of the Restorative Justice Task Team, will facilitate a restorative justice circle with a subject of interest to local congregations. This webinar is presented by the SNEUCC Restorative Justice Task Team. Learn more and register HERE.
We want to hear from you!
Is your church active in justice or outreach in the areas of anti-racism, immigration/refugee/asylum, environmental ministry, ONA, health and wellness, or disability ministry? Or maybe a member of your congregation is a justice warrior?
Let us know your story! Team Contact information
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