In a pastoral letter, the Rev. Dr. Chris Davies, Executive Minister for Programs and Initiatives, writes:

We believe that God is present in all things, present in the Liberator Jesus Christ, and Present in the way the Spirit shows up through people and resources to help.  We believe that in the midst of disaster, God is there, too.  We believe that our love, care, hope, and prayers do make a difference. And even as we pray, we know that we must contribute to the ongoing help that our neighbors in the storm’s path will need today, tomorrow, and months and years into the future. 

Read more and find tangible steps to respond
4.5 Min Read

In a rousing show of unity and fellowship, churches from across the Westfield area recently came together for an "End of Summer Worship and Cookout" at Beveridge Pavilion at Stanley Park in Westfield, MA. This event marked a significant moment, as it was the first time in several decades that such a diverse group of congregations gathered to worship and celebrate together. Organized by Rev. Paul B. Nesbit of the First Congregational Church of Westfield, the day was filled with worship, music, food, and the spirit of community.

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First Church Sandwich, UCC, on Cape Cod in Massachusetts has received $74,000 from the Office of Grants and Research’s (OGR) Massachusetts Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

This grant will allow the church to install a state-of-the-art security system including entry keypads, cameras inside and outside of the building, and monitoring software and equipment. 

The deadline to apply for the next round of grants is October 10.

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Nancy Douton, a member of the Columbia Congregational Church Accessible to All (A2A) Team, writes:

The Columbia (CT)  Congregational Church A2A (Accessible to All) team was formed in June of 2021 to look at making the church accessible to everyone. The first thing that we did was to contact the Southern New England Conference Disability Ministries Team.  They provided us with much information about different disabilities and the barriers that must be overcome. 

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Related Event: 

Lunch & Learn: What does accessibility mean for churches?
Oct. 17, 12:00 to 1:00 PM • Online
Candace Low from the SNEUCC Disability Ministry Team will offer reflections on what accessibility means for churches and suggest practical, achievable actions churches can take to become more accessible in a variety of ways.

Justice Summit: Polices as an Act of Faith - Recordings Now Available

Recordings of the keynote and workshops from the 2024 Justice Summit are now available on demand. 

This day-long program was designed to equip local church leaders, both lay and clergy, to engage with politics as people of faith. This series of recordings includes the keynote, sermon, and workshops.