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| Never Give Up: Palestinian Refugee Camps | | |
by Linda Jaramillo, Executive Minister Justice & Witness Ministries
United Church of Christ
It is one thing to hear news reports about conditions in Palestinian refugee camps, but it is quite another to actually be there in person. As part of Global Ministries (a joint ministry of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church Disciples of Christ), I recently visited such a camp in Beirut, Lebanon. There is no way to fully describe the situation, but I am sure that what I saw will remain in my memory for a long time to come.
Read her report here.
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New: Immigration & Refugee Task Team
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 Refugees, migrants, immigrants, and asylum seekers have existed since early humankind. People have been pushed by hunger, fear, and war and pulled by hope for a better future. This year, we have witnessed this truth as tens of thousands of children crossed the U.S. border and became a prime-time news story. Questions arose for our nation about how we would deal with these children. And now as the news has dwindled away, the newscasters moving on to more timely stories, lives continue to be held in the balance. This issue of people crossing into the U.S. is not a new issue, nor is it an issue that is going away. It is an issue that, as Christians living in our world, we must face.
The Immigration and Refugee Task Team originally came together to deal with the issues and concerns surrounding the unaccompanied minors, especially those that were for a while slated to come to Massachusetts. As the plans for these children altered, so did the task force.
Read more and visit our new Immigration and Refugee Task Team page: macucc.org/immigration
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| Pastoral Care after Crisis and Trauma |
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 From tornadoes that devastate communities to diagnoses that devastate lives, trauma and stress are an increasing part of our daily existence. In the last few decades we have learned a tremendous amount about how we, as pastors, can help ease the suffering and lessen the long-term impact of trauma.
Our MACUCC Disaster Resource Team has arranged to provide a two-day workshop designed for pastors working in church and non-parish settings. Some of the theory, tools and resources you can learn in this workshop are a critical addition to the pastoral care skills learned from Seminary and experience. This two-day workshop will introduce you to the emotional and spiritual components of caring for individuals and communities who have gone through trauma, which we describe as people having normal reactions to abnormal events.
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Registration ends Oct. 28 for ONA Celebration
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 This year marks the 30th anniversary of the passage of the first-ever ONA annual meeting resolution in the UCC, which happened right here in Massachusetts! It coined the term "Open and Affirming," and led, the following year, to the national General Synod Resolution, launching the Open and Affirming Program. Since the listing of the first ONA churches in 1987, there have been nearly 1,200 churches listed in the U.S., 139 ONA churches in the Massachusetts Conference alone (as of May).
Come celebrate!
Featured speakers are The Rev. Ann. B. Day, National Coordinator of the ONA Program from 1987-2007 and President of the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation; and The Rev. Felix Carrion, interim pastor of Houghs Neck Congregational Church, Quincy, former Director of the UCC's Still Speaking Ministry, as well as working with multi-cultural, multi-racial initiatives in the United Church of Christ. Music by Willie Sordillo.
For workshop descriptions and registration, go here. Registration ends October 28!
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| CROP Hunger Walk | | |
October is CROP Hunger  Walk season!
The CROP Hunger Walk is the oldest nationally-based hunger walk in the country. Begun in the late Sixties by Church World Service supporters, it is an ecumenical, interfaith, community-wide event that brings people together to raise funds to fight hunger and poverty. Up to 25% of the funds raised are returned to the Walk community to help food pantries and shelters in their efforts to address local hunger.
In addition to fighting local hunger, Church World Service programs support integrated community-based development around the world and emergency disaster response initiatives globally and within the US.
This year CROP Hunger Walks will share almost $4 million with food banks, pantries, community gardens, and other local efforts across the U.S.
Find a CROP Walk for Hunger near you.
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Youth Without Homes Can't Wait...
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...Get the Picture??
The Coalition is asking people to submit a photo of themselves holding up a sign in support of youth , which will then be shared with our State Legislators. With help, we can win passage of House Bill 135 this fall! For more information, to download signs, and to submit a photo, please click this link.Above: Getting things started with a group photo are Task Team to end Homelessness members Rev. Georgeanne Bennett, Rev. Liz Magill, Sister Linda Bessom SND, Kenneth Latham, Elliott Stratton, and (seated) Bill McCarter.
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| March for Climate Action in Springfield | |
 Monday, October 20, 2014
Meet at 5 p.m. at: Northgate Plaza, 1985 Main St. (parking available) OR Arise for Social Justice, 467 State St. (no parking)
Join the march to City Hall for a rally at 6 p.m. to demand a climate plan for Springfield. The City Council will be voting on a climate action plan resolution at 7 p.m. This march and rally will bring together social justice and climate justice groups, rich and poor; UCC churches in the vicinity of Springfield are especially invited to participate.
Find more information on the march and rally here.
Co-sponsored by Environmental Ministries of the MA Conference, UCC.
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You CAN be Christian and LGBT
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 In celebration of its ONA designation, and as outreach to the community in which its roots run deep, the ONA Task Force at North Congregational Church UCC in Middleboro will hold an awareness event geared to LGBT youth and college students who feel there is no place for them in a church setting. Entitled "All Are Welcome: You CAN be Christian and LGBT", the free event will be held Sunday, Oct. 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the church. Food will be provided.
The event is open to the public, gay and straight allies alike, from pre-teens to adult.
For planning purposes, please make reservations by calling 617-835-8504, or contact NCC through their website:
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| Eat and Share: Next Steps in Food Ministry | | |
9 AM-3 PM
St. Marks Episcopal Church in Westford
Do you have a food ministry, thriving or struggling, that you want to move to the next step? Eat and Share provides hands-on experience developing your food ministry skills. Join in for an exploration of the cycle of mission giving in churches, and consider how to move your congregation through that cycle. Engage in experiential exercises that will help you to engage in conversation, sharing, and ministry with the participants of your food program. Imagine and develop concrete next steps for your particular program and find the support you need to move in new directions.
Designed for churches and community groups engaged in providing community meals, food banks, and other direct service ministries. No experience is necessary. The cost is $140 for each group of 2-5 (includes lunch and program fees); $70 per individual.
Contact Liz Magill for more details.
Endorsed by the Task Team to End Homelessness.
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