June 2024 Ministry Matters This past Sunday I had the privilege of participating in East Woodstock’s Service of Farewell and Release for Rev. Sue Foster, their pastor of 36 years who is beginning her well-earned retirement.  The church was filled with grateful friends and members; the hand-bells rang their hearts out; and the choir and special music was glorious and moving.    The highlight of the service for me was when Sue’s three children, young adults now, stood up and said they had a surprise for everyone.  They shared how much they appreciated growing up in the church, and how it had been their other home.  They remembered Sunday school lessons, folks watching them when their Mom was working, and the many snacks, hugs, and all the love they received as they grew up. They said they were children of that church in every way.    Then the three of them sang “All Good Gifts” from Godspell.  That was when all of us, including me, could not hold back the tears.  It was a beautiful celebration of this pastor and congregation’s decades of ministry together.  Sue shared a last, brief reflection called “This Is Ministry.”  She lifted up the many ministries of their time together, no matter how great or small, because, as she emphasized, ministry matters.    I appreciated hearing that message, especially since there are days when I am not sure that what I am doing is making much difference in the chaos and confusion of our world.   Maybe you have days like that too.  On those days, please remember that ministry great and small, matters.  Feeding the hungry with a food pantry, matters.  Supporting or running a thrift shop that offers affordable clothing, housewares, furniture, toys and books, matters.  Marching in a Pride parade, or finding ways to house the homeless, or welcoming a stranger or refugee, matters.    As people of faith, sharing the good news of God’s love, offering hope, and finding joy in each day, matters. Offering small kindnesses, encouraging words, mercy and grace, matters.  And in the midst of all we do, joining in worship, giving thanks to God, lifting others in prayer, breaking bread and sharing the cup at Christ’s table, matters.    This Saturday is the Annual Meeting of the Southern New England Conference.  Your participation and involvement in the business, visioning, and planning for our work and ministry together as the United Church of Christ, matters.   These lyrics from “All Good Gifts,” have been echoing in my heart since Sunday.  “All good gifts around us, are sent from Heaven above.  So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love. I really wanna thank you Lord!”  On those days you aren’t sure you are making a difference, remember, each one of us is a gift, and each one of us has gifts to share.    I give thanks to God for the gift of the faithful work and ministry each and every one of you is doing in difficult times.  I give thanks for the many ways you find to serve – great and small.  In these days where there is so much suffering, hatred, isolation, anger, fear, depression, and anxiety - your ministry, our ministry together, matters.   May you find time to breathe, rest, and play this summer!   Peace and blessings, Pastor Carol Area Conference Minister, North Central Region 508-244-4887 steinbrecherc@sneucc.org  Let’s Get Together! The best part of my work is when I have an opportunity to come visit and learn about what is going on in your congregations.  I would love to come join you in worship, or come and preach on a Sunday, so please let me know when that might work in your schedule.  If you have questions about resources, or you feel you need one-on-one time, please give me a call, or send an email and we will schedule time together. My number is: 508-244-4887, email: steinbrecherc@sneucc.org.  Hope to see you soon!  Carol

Fueling Inclusion, Voice, and
Opportunity for All

WAMS Works with individuals and community partners to inspire economic and education equity through social change. Click here to learn more about WAMS. 

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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.

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.

Association Events

Installation
Rev. Greta MacRae
First Congregational Church, Milford
September 15, 2024 at 3:00PM

Installation
Rev. Shannan Hudgins
Federated Church of Charlton
September 22, 2024 at 3:00PM

Central MA Association Annual Meeting
First Congregational Church, Shrewsbury
September 29, 2024 at 3:00PM

Ordination
Christine Van De Wege
First Congregational Church, Holliston
October 27, 2024 at 3:00PM

Central MA Association, United Church of Christ, SNEUCC Central MA Member Churches are invited to a WOOSOX Game on Saturday Aug. 3rd at 4:05 PM at Polar Park in Worcester   The Assoc is underwriting the cost of 50 tickets for the Woo Sox game against Buffalo for an individual cost of only $23 per ticket!! We will have our own space on the Triple Decker Garden…which includes a 2-hour buffet and more Reach out to Deb Holmes, holmesd@sneucc.org to reserve your tickets!

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 June

55 Years
The Rev. Peter Grandy - 6/1

50 Years
The Rev. Dr. Jeri Babinsky - 6/2
The Rev. Dr. Harold Lloyd - 6/9

45 Years
The Rev. Keith Jenkins - 6/10

35 Years
The Rev. Celsa Ayala-Coloma - 6/25
The Rev. Dr. Deborah Clark - 6/11

25 Years
The Rev. Oscar Brockmeyer - 6/1
The Rev. Yvonne Miloyevich - 6/25

20 Years
The Rev. Robert Johansen - 6/20

5 Years
The Rev. Nena Radtke - 6/2

2024 MILESTONE CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES

Memorial Congregational Church, UCC, Baldwinville - 150 years
The Congregational Church of Christ, Leominster - 150 years
First Congregational Church, Brimfield - 300 years
The Congregational Church of Westborough - 300 years
 

Sharing from The Congregational Church in Westborough
The Congregational Church of Westborough is celebrating it’s 300th Anniversary in 2024. Our first Service as a Congregation was held on October 28, 1724. This year on October 27th we are celebrating our Founder’s Day with a Special Worship Service and Dinner. Additionally, our 300th Anniversary Committee has planned events for every month, each week were have historical notes in our Worship bulletin and our Choir sings a historical piece. We have a Quarterly newsletter that traces Worship, theology daily life, music, etc.. through the years. We began the year having a Worship Service as it was done in 1724 and we wore period costumes. We have Also celebrated Holy Communion as it was done then We are really learning our history this year!
 

Registration is open for the SNEUCC's 5th Annual Meeting, which is not only open to voting delegates and to authorized clergy but to ALL who wish to attend and take in all there is to offer, The meeting itself is taking place both online and onsite at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA on June 22 and will include a keynote on God Math and growing the church, dynamic worship and Conference business. A children's program is available, as are opportunities to be a vendor or sponsor. A number of pre-events are being held on June 21, including a screening of an award-winning film about how a Kentucky church changed their community by converting a parking lot into a village that houses social services and businesses. The president of that village will take part in a discussion following the screening. There will also be a tour of the UMass permaculture gardens, a tour of the Ancestral Bridges exhibit with its founder, and a live storytelling event. More information and registration here: www.sneucc.org/2024AM Eastern Regional Youth Event July 28 - 31 at Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT This program is open to youth who are currently in grades 6-12 who may attend with advisors or on their own.  This regional event is a place to grow while connecting 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.  Find out more and register at: https://www.sneucc.org/2024youth   Silver Lake Camp Season Starts Soon! The SNEUCC Silver Lake Camp and Retreat Center in Sharon, CT, has been nationally recognized as one of the best in the United States. Find out more – register your child for Summer Camp, or look into booking a retreat in the Fall of 2024, or Spring or Fall of 2025.  Find out more at: https://www.silverlakect.org/      Announcing 2024 Justice Summit: Politics as an Act of Faith The third annual Southern New England Conference Justice Summit will focus this year on politics as an act of faith. Local church leaders will gather both onsite in Middletown, Connecticut and online for this hybrid event on September 14th.    “This country is in the most polarizing time we’ve seen collectively,” says Rev. Dr. Chris Davies, Executive Minister for Programs and Initiatives. “It is the role of faith organizations to be in the gap and continue to encourage people to witness to each other in shared humanity.  This summit will equip churches to do just that.”    Read more: https://www.sneucc.org/newsdetail/announcing-2024-justice-summit-politics-as-an-act-of-faith-18369906

There is a lot going on in Southern New England! Click here to access the SNEUCC Upcoming Events Newsletters, which list details about upcoming trainings, gatherings and events. Or, click here to access the Events Calendar.

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.