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Join our list
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Join Us in a Lenten Carbon Fast
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2015 is the fifth year that we will provide a day-by-day opportunity to fast from carbon as a Lenten discipline. Initiated by the UCC and endorsed by other denominations and faith groups, people of every Christian perspective - and people who are not Christians - have benefited from this opportunity to become more conscious and conscientious in their daily lives.
Ash Wednesday (February 18, 2015) invites us into the season of Lent - a time within the church year to acknowledge that we are mortal, limited. Lent awakens us to hope in God whose "steadfast love endures forever" and to struggle against everything that leads us away from the love of God and neighbor. The Lenten disciplines of repentance, fasting, prayer, study and works of love are guides for returning to the steadfast love of God. During Lent we confess our mortality, our limits and our vulnerability so that we might be transformed and become the new life God calls us to be.
We invite you to join us as we commit to fasting from carbon during Lent. Beginning Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, participants will receive a daily email with the day's suggested carbon-reducing activity.
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Family Homelessness Forum
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 The 11th annual Concord area family homeless-ness forum of the Advocacy Network to End Family Homeless-ness will take place Sunday, March 1, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at First Parish in Bedford.
Never have there been more homeless families in Massachusetts. Each night, nearly 3,100 families are in shelters and 1,850 more families are in motels.
The forum theme will be Communities Reaching out to Support Homeless Families. The forum talks will be:
- Homelessness comes to Bedford: How a community responds
- Eliminating barriers to employment
- Secure jobs partnership: Providing families with resources to obtain and maintain employment
- Challenges of Mass homelessness programs and key 2015 advocacy issues
- How state government can help: Comments from area lawmakers
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Help Lower Energy Bills AND Carbon Footprint
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 Would your congregation like to lower its utility bills? Decrease its use of fossil fuels, and the contribution they make to global warming? Are you interested in learning more about solar energy? Mass. Interfaith Power & Light Sustainable House of Worship (SHOW) workshop covers all this and more.
Attend this informative, hands-on workshop to gain the tools and knowledge to evaluate four essential areas of the energy use and costs in your House of Worship:
- Electricity - How to recognize the major energy hogs - and what to do about them.
- Heat & Air Conditioning - Is it time for an upgrade?
- Building Envelope - What tasks can make your congregation more comfortable and save you money?
- Behavior - How simple actions can reduce your energy bill - and carbon footprint - by 10% or more.
The fee to attend is only $10 per person, payable during online registration through PayPal or in-person by check. Light refreshments are included.
Register here
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Write out the Wrongs: Transgender Rights
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 In December, recently elected Massachusetts State Governor Charlie Baker made a public statement saying he would not support upcoming legislation that would add language prohibiting discrimination against transgender individuals in places of public accommodations. Why does this matter? Because currently transgender people can be refused services and discriminated against in places like hospitals, public transportation, restaurants, offices of state and local government, and any place considered open to the public providing goods or services.
Want to let him know you disagree? Join the First Church of Somerville on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of letter writing to let Charlie Baker know you believe equal protections should extend to ALL member of the Commonwealth.
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Family Homelessness Workshop in Worcester
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 Registration is now open for an all-new interactive youth workshop on family homelessness sponsored by the Worcester Area Mission Society. The workshop is designed to give youth a better understanding of the decisions families stuck in the seemingly endless cycle of poverty face every day, and what the youth can do both to help families in need, and to put an end to family homelessness. Activities will include games, sharing a "soup kitchen" lunch, viewing of "A Place at the Table" followed by an interview with Director Lori Silverbush, and hearing stories shared by formerly homeless women. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Access a flyer here Register here
Visit the WAMS website for more upcoming programs!
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Elaine Brouillard Earns Human Rights Award
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 Elaine Brouillard, Tree of Life Educational Fund Board Member and Cape Cod TOL coordinator, has been presented with the 2015 Human Rights Award from Church Women United of Cape Cod. Church Women United (CWU) is a racially, culturally, theologically inclusive Christian women's movement, celebrating unity in diversity and working for a world of peace and justice. Church Women United of Cape Cod is one of 1200 local chapters of CWU in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Elaine helped organize the first Tree of Life conference on Cape Cod in 2007 and has been the coordinator of Tree of Life programs on Cape Cod for the past four years. She and her husband Jack have journeyed with Tree of Life to Palestine and Israel in 2011 and 2014. They have also hosted many of the Palestinian, Israeli and American speakers that have presented at the conferences.
Elaine is a member of the MACUCC Israel Palestine Task Force.
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Spiritual Companioning Workshop
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 An experiential workshop offered by the Rev. Elizabeth Magill and Desiree Bernard will provide basic training and renewed experience in the sacred work of deep listening and spiritual care. It is especially appropriate for people engaging with people on the streets, at soup kitchens and food pantries, and in shelters. God loves and cares for each of us, and we can learn to sit with another of God's children, support their storytelling, and help them find the connection to God's story.
The workshop is designed to meet the needs of anyone, lay or ordained, who wants to begin or expand skills for the work of spiritual care. As introductory skills are covered, there will be ample space  for participants' personal experiences and questions about the companionship model of pastoral care.
$35 includes morning coffee and lunch. Register here. Registration deadline is Friday, April 10. You may pay on-line or send a check noting "Spiritual Companioning" to MACUCC, 1 Badger Road, Framingham MA 01702.
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Legislative Action Day
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Save the Date: Thursday, March 5
 Please mark your calendar and plan to participate in Legislative Action Day at the Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St. in Boston (directions here).
This is an opportunity to speak with legislators about issues of homelessness in the Commonwealth.
Endorsed by the Task Team to End Homelessness.
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Young Adult Service Communities
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 Calling young adult candidates for the national Young Adult Service Communities network!
Six YASC communities around the country are working hard to get ready - with community agencies, justice leadership workshops, congregational hospitality - to welcome young adult leaders on behalf of the whole church for a year of meaningful engagement at the intersection of congregation and world.
Young adults (age 21-35) serve September 2015 - July 2016 in Bethesda, MD, Westford, MA (near Boston), Philadelphia, PA, Granite City, IL (near St. Louis), Chicago, IL or Seattle, WA. Housing, food stipend, health insurance, and assistance with application for student loan forbearance provided. It's a year that can transform your life and transform our world.
Priority applications are due Feb. 15.
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New Prison Ministry at Worcester Fellowship
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Worcester Fellowship has a new prison ministry and
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Noelle Dattilo
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needs volunteers to come to the support group for those who have been in prison. Visiting the prison support group is a great way to get to know people who are transitioning out of prison and rebuilding their lives.
In addition, new Prison Ministry Director Noelle Dattilo would love to preach at your church about the intersection of prisons and homelessness. You can email her at prison@worcesterfellowship.org to schedule a date or to volunteer for the support group (831-521-1380).
Worcester Fellowship's current needs:
- Lunch providers on 3/22, 5/17 and 5/31. Visit the website: www.worcesterfellowship.org for "open" dates and to volunteer.
- Bring five gallons of prepared hot chocolate, 100 cups, and 60 pairs of socks to Worcester Fellowship.
- Collect dark colored hats, scarves and warm gloves for these cold winter days! Please donate other clothing items to The Corner Shop at FCC Holden, who will donate items to Worcester Fellowship members as needed.
- Donate $10, $20 or $30 Dunkin Donuts cards to provide a warm drink to those in need.
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| Old South Opens Long Island Refugee Center | | |
 A coalition of religious leaders in and around Boston have come together to address one of the most critical short-term needs of the homeless people who were displaced when the city shut down the bridge to the Long Island Shelter last fall.
The group, the Boston Religious Leaders for Long Island Refugees, found that because homeless shelters generally require guests to leave during the day, there is a huge need for a warm and comfortable space for them to gather as an alternative to the streets. Old South Church in Boston has stepped in to address that need, voting unanimously to become the site of the new Boston Warm Day Center, which opened on Jan. 19 and will be open Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM, until March 31st. By April, the City of Boston expects to have created sufficient beds, recovery programs and storage to accommodate the Long Island Refugees.
Read more here
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March Fo(u)rth For Literacy
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From Keeping You Posted UCC newsletter
 Volunteer at an after-school program. Donate books to a local library. Build a "Little Library" in the community. The United Church of Christ, urging congregations to promote literacy in the Reading Changes Lives initiative, is reminding members to take action next month by collecting books, volunteering, advocating and donating in a one-day, church-wide effort-March Forth for Literacy-on March 4.
March Forth for Literacy will be a day for a concentrated focus on literacy awareness throughout the UCC. It will offer congregations the opportunity to share with the wider church their involvement in literacy issues locally and nationally, and will give individuals the chance to share their experiences, either as volunteers with literacy organizations or persons who have struggled with literacy themselves.
Read more here
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St. Patrick's Peace Parade News
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The Boston St. Patrick's Day Peace Parade/People's Parade for Peace highlights equality, jobs, environmental stewardship, social and economic justice. All are invited to unite, participate, celebrate and assemble! The parade date is Sunday, March 15. Assembly time is 11 a.m. for a 12 noon start. The start location is D Street and West Broadway, South Boston. Look for the white "Vets For Peace" flags.
To march or for more information, contact Pat Scanlon, 978-475-1776, info@massvfp.org.
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