SNEUCC Member in Discernment Gathering
Sept. 18, 7:00 PM • Online
As the church "program year" gets underway, MIDs are invited to a Zoom drop-in. The first 30 minutes will be some facilitated check-in time, led by the Rev. Alex Shea Will. The second 30 minutes will be unstructured time, for MIDs to connect as they wish.
Lunch & Learn: Basic Hospitality & Extravagant Welcome for all ages
Sept. 19, 12:00 to 1:00 PM • Online
For our first Lunch and Learn of the season, we will be hearing from SNEUCC conference staff Rev. Patty Kogut and Rev. Debbie Gline Allen on how congregations can widen their welcome to newcomers of all ages.
Proclamation Lab PL3: How to Write for the Local Paper… and Get Published
Sept. 22, 3:00 to 5:00 PM
First Congregational Church of Hatfield, MA
A Project Proclaim lab in which participants will learn how to write about faith, religion and spirituality for a local newspaper, with attention upon their writing style, individual voice, and compelling & newsworthy storytelling. This free event will be facilitated by Scout Opatut, an Assistant Editor of the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Greenfield Recorder, and Editor of the Valley Advocate.
Church Life Cycle & Capacity: A Snapshot of Your Church’s Vitality
Sept. 25, 7:00 to 8:30 PM • Online or
Oct. 8, 7:00 to 8:30 PM • Online
This hands-on workshop includes information about church life cycles, opportunities often available at each stage of the life cycle, and the kind of capacity (financial, leadership, health, etc.) needed. This gathering is for church leadership groups.
Clergy Wellness Retreat - North Central & Northeast Regions
Oct. 2, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Congregational Church of Littleton, MA
Clergy are invited to come enjoy a day away to refresh body, mind, and spirit. Choose two of the three activities, or spend time in the quiet room.
Organizing for Small Town Churches
Oct. 16, 7:00 to 8:30 PM • Online
Small town churches and rural congregations change the world. This online workshop is a pep-talk to the work you are already doing. It invites an organizing framework on the critical relationships that you have already and offers encouragement for further engagement in service to the world God is inviting us to create, together.
Building Resilience Retreat for Authorized Clergy
Oct. 24, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Rocky Hill Congregational Church, Rocky Hill, CT
Rev. Judith Cooke is a Pastor and Resilience Coach who delights in helping people find the clarity they need that moves them to a life they love.
New to the Conference Gathering for Authorized Ministers
Oct. 31, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
First Congregational Church of Willimantic, CT
Join us for a time of worship, informal and structured fellowship, introduction to Conference teams and resources, lunch and more!
Boundary Awareness Training: Through the Lens of Clergy Wellness
Nov. 12 & 13, 6:30 - 8:30 PM • Online (Registration deadline: Nov. 7)
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.
Ongoing Gatherings:
Tech Deacons Roundtable • Online
Morning: Sept. 17, 11:00 AM to Noon (repeats every other week)
Evening: Sept. 24, 7:00 to 8:00 PM (repeats every other week)
An arena for churches to support one another by sharing ideas, bringing questions, and identifying new trends and opportunities in digital ministry.
Ministers of Color Affinity Group • Online
Sept. 24, Nov. 19, Jan. 21, March 18, May 27, June 17, 2:00 to 4:00 PM
An affinity group for those who are a person with one or multiple racialized identities, usually expressed with the shorthand of BIPOC.
Affinity Group: Cross Cultural Leadership in the Integral Way
Thursdays: Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, & Nov. 7, 10 AM - 12 PM
Quanita Roberson will lead this group, which will explore cross cultural leadership through levels of growth and development including, egocentric, ethnocentric, and world-centric levels of development.
UCC Offerings:
Think Differently About Church, Unlock Community Transformation
Sept. 26 & 27 • Online
The Church Building & Loan Fund presents the 2024 Partners in Building conference, with presentations and workshops on land use, repurposing resources for mission, faith-based entrepreneurship, fundraising and the future of ministry.
UCC Webinar: End the Year Strong: Making the Most of Year End Giving
Oct. 23, 7:30 PM • Online
November and December can be the strongest months for giving in charities. The conversation will lift up ideas and messages to promote giving to congregations
SNEUCC Faith Formation & Outdoor Ministries Events:
Intro to Race, Racism and Racial Justice for Faith Formation Leaders and Local Church Leaders
Oct. 5, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM • Online
This Faith Formation Leadership Class is a broad, but not comprehensive, introduction to race as a concept, racism and its various forms, and various forms of working toward racial justice
2024 Silver Lake Awards Celebration
Oct. 6, 2:00 to 5:00 PM
The Hollow at Manchester Country Club, Manchester, CT
This event features and a live and silent auction, hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, and an opportunity to donate directly to the Silver Lake Scholarship Fund.
2024 Fall Family Weekend at Silver Lake
Oct. 11 - 14
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
Families of every size and description are welcome to gather to worship together, play games, explore nature, and much more, while learning what it means to be a family, not just to each other, but to all God’s people.
Living Into the Mystery - Worship & Sacraments in the UCC
Oct. 19, 8;30 AM to 12:30 PM • Online
A Faith Formation Leadership Program Class: Discussion will include creating worship experiences that welcome all ages and abilities.
Women's Yoga & Music Spirit Retreat at Silver Lake
Oct. 25 - 27
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
Whether you’re a yoga devotee or a novice, a seasoned singer or shy about your voice, we have a special place for you in our circle!
Youth Ministry 101
Nov. 2, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM • Online
A Faith Formation Leadership Program Class: Explore the nuts and bolts alongside the theological foundations of organizing and implementing youth ministry programs.
2024 Our Whole Lives (OWL) Facilitator Training at Silver Lake
Nov. 8 - 10
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
SNEUCC will offer Training for Middle/High School which covers curriculum for two levels; Grades 7-9 and 10-12
Youth Retreat: Peace in the Storm
Nov. 8 - 10
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
Come join us for a youth retreat (geared towards grades 7-12) as we seek a deep peace in the midst of the chaos. The gifts of spirit and community will be our guides.
ONE DAY Women's Yoga & Music Spirit Retreat at Silver Lake
Nov. 9, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Sharon, CT
Whether you’re a yoga devotee or a novice, a seasoned singer or shy about your voice, we have a special place for you in our circle!
Theories & Practices
Nov. 16, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM • Online
A Faith Formation Leadership Program Class: How the grounding principles of education, formation, and living in the ways of Jesus can be developed and used to make disciples of all ages.
SNEUCC Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Events:
Racial Justice for Authorized Ministers - Renewal
Sept. 24, 1:00 to 5:00 PM • Online
Situating Yourself and Your Ministry Context Racially (includes caucus spaces for white people and people of color): participants will focus on understanding themselves racially and unpack the stories their ministry settings tell in terms of race.
Office Hours: How can our church support refugees?
Sept. 24, 7:00 to 8:00 PM • Online
Members of the SNEUCC Immigration, Refugee, Asylum Task Team (IRATT) are available to answer questions and foster conversation about how churches can support refugees.
Intro to Gender & Trans/Nonbinary Affirmation
Sept. 28, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM • Online
This workshop will introduce key concepts related to gender and helps church leaders identify practical methods of affirming trans and nonbinary people in their communities.
Becoming a Trans-Affirming Church • Online
Oct. 10, Nov. 14, Dev. 5, Jan. 9, Feb. 13, Mar. 13, Apr. 3, 7 to 8:30 PM
This Affinity Group supports pastors and lay leaders working together to lead their congregation in becoming trans-affirming. Leader: Rev. Noah Brewer-Wallin
Racial Justice for Authorized Ministers - Foundations
Oct. 30, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM • Online
Training for Authorized Ministers who have not had racial justice training within the past 3 years.
Offered by Our Partners:
Clergy Well-Being During a Time of Uncertainty: A Report From the Trenches with Dr. Frederick “Jerry” Streets
Sept. 16, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM • Online
Yale Divinity School presents this interactive, reflective and practical session exploring creating a new mutual wellness covenant between pastors, the pastor’s family, and the congregation.
Saving Energy at Your House of Worship
Sept. 17, 12:00 to 1:00 PM • Online
Join Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (IREJN) to learn about the Small Business and Micro Business Energy Advantage programs to make your house of worship more energy efficient.?
Unmasking Racism in Anti-Racism Education: Youth Ministry with the Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown
Sept. 18, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 12:00 to 1:30 PM • Online
Yale Divinity School presents this three-part series.
Celebrating Your Church’s Anniversary: Tips and Tricks for a Memorable Commemoration
Sept. 18, 1:00 to 2:00 PM • Online
The Congregational Library is hosting this roundtable discussion with those who have recently helped to plan and lead church anniversary celebrations. They will share advice on how to research your church’s history, balance planning and implementation, and engage your church and broader community.
Christianity and Comics: Stories We Tell about Heaven and Hell
Sept. 25, 1:00 to 2:00 PM • Online
Comics scholar Dr. Blair Davis pays special attention to how the medium’s unique use of panels, word balloons, captions, and serialized storytelling have provided vehicles for telling familiar biblical tales in new ways.
Hope and Fear in an Election Year with the Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton
Oct. 3, 12:00 to 1:30 PM • Online
In this Yale Divinity School session, Dr. Allen Hilton will offer strategies for sanity and practices that maintain community – even when our nation and neighborhood are divided.
Preachers, Hearers, Readers & Scribes Conference
Oct. 3 - 5
Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, MA
The Congregational Library & Archives, GEMMS (Gateway to Early Modern Manuscript Sermons) and Harvard Divnity School are hosting this conference, which will include a diverse range of panels and keynote speakers considering sermons in manuscript from 1530 to 1715.
Countercultural: The Important Work that Begins When Church Doesn’t Easily Fit into the Culture
Oct. 15, 12:00 to 1:30 PM • Online
This Yale Divinity School program will explore the practical aspects of being countercultural and what our changed cultural purpose as communities of faith may be.
Direct Pay Federal Tax Credits: Funding for your Congregation
Oct. 30, 12:00 to 1:00 PM • Online
Join Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (IREJN) to learn about the 30% Direct Pay Federal Rebate program and how you can apply it to a variety of projects, including solar, geothermal heat pumps, and electric vehicles.
Social Media Smarts: Helping Youth Use New Media in Positive Ways for Good Mental & Spiritual Health
Nov. 6, 12:00 to 1:30 PM • Online
This webinar helps youth workers, parents, guardians, grandparents, and mentors of youth to realize they don’t have to be a social media guru to help the youth they love navigate the new media landscape well.
