SNEUCC Leadership Training Events:
PROCLAMATION LAB: PL1 - The Art of Proclamation
May 5, 3:00 to 5:00 PM
Chapel Street Congregational Church, Lincoln, RI
The first Proclamation Lab (part of the Compelling Preaching Initiative) for clergy, lay persons, deacons and all those called to ignite and inspire through preaching.
SNEUCC Search & Call Fair for Clergy
May 6, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM • Online
Come and hear more about the regions and subcultures across Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut and about some of our hidden gems that are currently seeking a pastor!
Lunch & Learn: Archiving Your Church's Records
May 16, 12:00 to 1:00 PM • Online
The Congregational Library & Archives archivists Zachary Bodnar and Billy McCarthy will demystify your church's records and provide advice on ensuring their preservation.
Clergy Wellness Retreat - North Central & Northeast Regions
May 18, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
First Congregational Church UCC, Auburn, MA
A time to gather and (re)connect with colleagues; share in a sumptuous meal; worship together; and engage in restorative practices.
Racial Justice for Authorized Ministers: Microaggressions & Interpersonal Racism
May 21, 1:00 to 4:00 PM • Online
This 3-hour workshop is designed for Authorized Ministers who have had racial justice training within the the past 3 years, and is recommended to Associations that require racial justice training.
Clergy Wellness Retreat - Southeast Region
May 29, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Seekonk Congregational Church, UCC, Seekonk, MA
Expect a time to gather and (re)connect with colleagues; share in a meal; worship together; and engage in restorative practices.
Racial Justice for Authorized Ministers - Foundations
June 11, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM • Online
This 6-hour workshop is designed for Authorized Ministers who have not had racial justice training within the the past 3 years, and is recommended to Associations that require racial justice training.
5th Annual Meeting of the Southern New England Conference
June 21 - 22
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
This meeting will focus on growing the church, with a keynote address by Rev. Dr. Courtney Stange-Tregear, the Chief Relationship Officer at the Cornerstone Fund of the UCC.
Ongoing Gatherings:
Tech Deacons Roundtable • Online
Evening: April 23, 7:00 to 8:00 PM (Repeats every other Tues)
Morning: April 30, 11:00 AM to Noon (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.
Offered by Our Partners:
UCC Webinar: A Good Pitch - Understanding the Hopes of Our Donors to Create Change
April 24, 7:30 PM • Online
Andrew Warner, UCC Generosity Outreach Officer, will talk about five basic ways donors look to create change.
PRC: Pew to Pulpit: How to Select Music
April 25, 2:00 PM • Online
Learn about how to select music that works with the scriptures and themes of your worship service and fits the musical style and gifts of your congregation.
PRC: Theological Innovation Workshop
May 9, 2:00 to 3:00 PM • Online
In this interactive workshop, you’ll be guided through the Innovation Lab’s five-phase Theological Innovation Process as a pathway for designing creative and transformative ministries in your unique context.
UCC Webinar: Together for Tomorrow: Planned Giving in the Local Congregation
May 22, 7:30 PM • Online
This workshop will share key concepts and help you create an action plan for your congregation or ministry to promote planned giving.
SNE Women's Connection Spring Gathering
April 27, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
First Congregational Church in Portland, CT
The program will feature Rev. Dr. Ciarán Osborn whose work sits at the intersection of mental health conditions and the Christian faith. There will also be a time to honor special SNE women and a service project for CWS.
The Sounds of New England Congregationalism in the 18th Century
May 1, 1:00 to 2:00 PM • Online
The Congregational Library presents this workshop looking at the ways the musical philosophies shifted between two sets of poles: ritual and art, and worship and performance from 1720 to 1820.
311th Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers
May 6, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
First Parish in Sudbury UAA, Sudbury, MA
Rev. Geoffrey G. Drutchas, retired UCC pastor and author of "Is Life Sacred?" will preach and then lead discussion.
Missionary Diplomacy: Religion and Nineteenth-Century American Foreign Relations
May 15, 1:00 to 2:00 PM • Online
Join The Congregational Library in celebrating the release of Missionary Diplomacy: Religion and Nineteenth-Century American Foreign Relations in a virtual discussion with author Emily Conroy-Krutz.
SNEUCC Faith Formation & Outdoor Ministries Events:
Gifted 101:Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
April 23, 4:00 to 5:30 PM • Online
Many children and youth are multi-exceptional, or what is now often termed neuro-divergent. How can the church include and welcome youth across a spectrum?
2024 Silver Lake Spring Action Weekend
April 26 - 28
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon CT
Catch up with old friends, make new friends, and work hard to prepare YOUR camp & retreat center for the coming season.
Boundary Awareness for Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Leaders & Local Church Musicians
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.
Silver Lake Spring Camp Weekend
May 3 - 5
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
This program is intended to first-time campers, but is open to all currently in grades 3-7. Get to know God, new friends, ourselves, and the natural world through sampling all Silver Lake has to offer!
Spring Women's Yoga Retreat at Silver Lake
May 3 - 5
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
A weekend of exploration and restoration, rather than performance and perfectionism. We will focus on using our bodies and voices as meditation in order to arrive at deeper peace and understanding.
Silver Lake Open House
May 19, 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
Take a walking tour, see the cabins and other buildings, find out where the Freds (bathrooms) are, and check out the ropes courses and the waterfront.
2024 Silver Lake Family Camp Weekend
May 25 - 27
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
Families of every size and description are welcome to gather and enjoy all that Silver Lake has to offer. We’ll worship together, be challenged by the ropes courses, cool off in the lake, and much more, while learning what it means to be a family, not just to each other, but to all God’s people.
Ongoing Gatherings:
Pause for Prayer
April 24, 12:30 PM (Repeats every Wed.) • Online
Every Wednesday, a member of the Conference staff will host a brief time for spiritual grounding and communal prayer for the world, our churches, each other and ourselves. Streamed Live to Facebook.
Offered by Our Partners:
Pre-NEAUCE Retreat on Christian Spiritual Practices
May 1 - 2
Pilgrim Pines Retreat Center, Swanzey, NH
Led by SNEUCC Minister of Faith Formation Debbie Gline Allen.
NEAUCE Conference: Keeping Sabbath Sacred - Finding Rest for the Soul
May 2 - 4
Pilgrim Pines Retreat Center, Swanzey, NH
Keynote by Rev. Matt Carriker; Guest Speaker is Debbie Gline Allen.
PRC: Raising Kids Beyond the Binary in Church
May 7, 2:00 to 3:00 PM • Online
In this workshop, we will talk about what it looks like to boldly, loudly, and joyfully celebrate the young people in our midst, how to advocate for them in our ministry settings and beyond, and how to create reasonably safe spaces where they can grow in their connection to God and all of God’s children.
PRC: Practical Practices for Faith in Families
May 14, 2:00 to 3:00 PM • Online
Leaders - Elizabeth Christie, Johanna Myers
PRC: Pew to Pulpit: Children's Sermons
May 16, 2:00 to 3:00 PM • Online
Join Don and Debbie Kolacki as they share ideas for giving a meaningful, interactive message for all ages.
SNEUCC Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Events:
Modeling a Restorative Justice Circle
April 29, 6:00 to 7:30 PM • Online
Rev. Mark Seifried of the Restorative Justice Task Team will facilitate a sample restorative justice circle, demonstrating its use in a local church. In this scenario, a church council has decided that the best way to balance the budget is to cut the music budget in half.
Lunch & Learn: Getting to Know the Justice Leadership Program
May 2, 12:00 to 1:00 PM • Online
The Justice Leadership Program provides a proven empowerment, training and networking program for those who want to take faith-based action to build a better world.
Strengthen your Church’s Advocacy for LGBTQ+ People (follow up)
May 9, 7:00 to 8:00 PM • Online
Churches, other faith communities, and people of faith can be important partners in shifting the narrative and in organizing against efforts to limit the rights of LGBTQ+ communities and criminalize and dehumanize trans and nonbinary folks.
Lunch & Learn: Becoming a Trans-Affirming Church
June 6, 12:00 to 1:00 PM • Online
Hear from a panel of participants from the Becoming a Trans-Affirming Church Affinity Group.
Ongoing:
Racial Justice Cross-Pollination Gathering
April 22, 6:30 to 7:30 PM (Repeats every fourth Mon.) • Online
April topic: How might we address racism when it occurs within our congregation?
Environmental Ministries Cross-Pollination
May 20, 6:30 to 7:30 PM (Repeats every third Mon.) • Online
May Topic: How might we celebrate the liturgical Season of Creation this fall?
