the weekly emailing
Feb. 18, 2015

 

Rev. Jim Antal speaks at #DivestMA Global Divestment DayMassachusetts Conference Minister and President Jim Antal spoke at a Global Divestment Day Rally at the State House on Feb. 12, calling on state leaders to "lead the nation by becoming the first state to declare that it is immoral to allow fossil fuel companies to carry out their business plan, because if they do, they will wreck the earth."



The Rev. Karen Fritz, Pastor of the Brighton-Allston Congregational Church, and Tony Kill, Interim Pastor of the United Church in Walpole, and their two sons were displaced by a fire that gutted their Newton home on Thursday, Feb. 12. 

The United Church in Walpole is accepting donations for the family through their website . Donors should specify in the donation information section that the donation is for Rev. Kill and his family.


 


 

 


National News

 

The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, conference minister of the Southwest Conference of the UCC, is the search committee's candidate for General Minister and President.

Resources

 

The Center for Progressive Renewal is sharing access to a new study guide from Dr. Jennifer Harvey to go along with her book Dear White Christians: For Those Still Longing for Racial Reconciliation.   

A new page on macucc.org explaining the benefits of belonging to the UCC Insurance Board.


Justice & Witness Opportunities

Ecumenical Lenten Carbon Fast Join the Carbon Fast
Feb. 18 - Apr. 5, 2015
Sign up for the annual carbon fast to receive daily emails with opportunities to fast from carbon as a Lenten discipline. Individuals and congregations are encouraged to participate.

Write out the Wrongs: Support Trans Rights
Sun., Feb. 22, 6:30 PM
First Church of Somerville
An evening of letter writing to respond to Gov. Charlie Baker's statement that he would not support upcoming legislation that would add language prohibiting discrimination against transgender individuals in places of public accommodations.

Youth Workshop on Family Homelessness
Sat., Feb. 28, 10:00 AM
Worcester Mission Society, Worcester
An all-new interactive youth workshop on family homelessness 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.

End Family Homelessness Forum
Sun., Mar. 1, 2:30 - 4:30 PM
First Parish In Bedford
The 11th annual Concord area family homelessness forum of the Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness provides an opportunity to learn how others in our communities are helping struggling families who have no place to call home.

Let's Talk About Racial Justice
Sun., Mar. 8, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Christ Congregational Church, Brockton
An interactive talk and workshop exploring issues of race adn racism with Debby Irving, author of Waking up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race.

Building Community through Faith-Based Food Programs
Sat., Mar. 14, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
St. John's Episcopal Church, Boston
Do you have a food ministry, thriving or struggling, that you want to bring to the next level? Eat and Share provides hands-on experience developing your food ministry skills. 

Taking the Lead for Children
Mon., Mar. 23, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Sturbridge Host Hotel, Sturbridge, MA
A day for teachers, social workers, guidance counselors, parents, clergy and anyone who works with children, to come together to listen, learn and engage in open discussions on ways to improve the lives of our children.

Important Deadlines

Mar. 7, 2015: Deadline for churches to submit membership and financial data to the National UCC Data Hub. Those who do will be entered into a drawing for free Super Saturday admission for a team of four!

Wider Church Youth &
Young Adult Opportunities

Children age 9 -  19 are invited to "spend a week in God's backyard" as part of the Connecticut Conference's summer camp program.

Young Adult Service Communities Young adults (age 21-35) are being sought who wish to spend a year of meaningful engagement at the intersection of congregation and world. One of these groups is based in Westford, MA.

Transitions 

 

Transitions

macucc.org/transitions


 

Obituaries

macucc.org/obituaries


Featured Event of the Week

 

For youth
March 27 - 28, 2015
Craigville Retreat Center, Cape Cod
This 24 hour retreat is intended for all youth, grades 7 - 12, who are invited to come to

- Reconnect to God, others, and yourself,

- Think about the meaning of Sabbath, and reflect on how to incorporate Sabbath as a spiritual practice into your life,

- Meet and grow spiritually with other youth from around the Conference.

Led by the Rev. Matt Carriker.


Super Saturday 10!

March 21, 8:00 AM - 3:45 PM
Ludlow High School, Ludlow, MA
Ruben Duran
A  day of worship, workshops and networking for lay and clergy leaders with an address by Ruben Duran, Program Director for New Congregations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
This is the 10th Super Saturday, and will be the biggest yet with more workshops than have ever been offered before. Register early to reserve your spot!

Faith Formation Events

For adults

Feb. 20 - 21, 2015
Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham
sacredness
A Christian spiritual formation retreat for adults in all stages of the spiritual path, clergy and lay, whether they feel like a beginner or a long-time traveler. Co-facilitated by Rev. Matt Carriker and Rev. Susie Allen.

For all
Sat. Feb. 21 and Sat. Feb. 28, 9 AM - 4 PM
First Church in Ludlow 
Todd Farnsworth Rev. Todd Farnsworth (Brookfield Institute) will teach you the easy-to-use spiritual practice of tapping prayer. Over two days, participants will learn how the brain and bo dy is affected by traumatic events and how to create and activate your own personal prayer plan for peace.

 

For educators

Upcoming classes:
Feb. 28: Lynnfield
Mar. 7: Northampton 
This  creative, interactive program is for local church educators who want to reach a level of proficiency through knowledge, experience and training. Courses this year are on Human & Faith Development, Theories of Religious Education and Worship and Sacraments, and are being held in Lynnfield and Northampton.

For confirmands and their leaders

Confirmation Retreat
Openings:
Mar. 6 - 7, Charlton
Mar. 20 - 21, Beckett

Each year, the Massachusetts Conference offers a series of Confirmation Retreats for the youth classes of churches in the Massachusetts Conference as well as other NE states. These fill up fast so register your class now! 


For all
Sat., April 18, 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
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.

Growing Your Church Events

Tues., Feb. 24, 7:00 - 9:0 PM

First Congregational Church of South Hadley

Wendy Vander Hart

Looking for some training for your pastoral relations committee, best practices, and ways to be proactive in establishing a group?  This workshop, led by Associate Conference Minister Wendy Vander Hart, will cover purpose and practices for this vital link in fulfilling a church's mission and vision.


 

Sat., Feb. 28, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Andover Newton Theological School, Newton
Dr. Pam Shelberg, The BTS Center's Scholar-in-Residence, is offering this workshop designed to support the efforts of faith leaders and communities contending with constant change.

 

Sat., Feb. 28, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
St. John's Episcopal Church, Jamaica Plain
Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light is leading this workshop on how to lower congregational carbon footprints and energy bills.

 

Discernment & Formation Training Event

Mon., Mar. 2, 7:30 PM

South Church in Andover

Wendy Vander Hart

Do you have a church member applying for seminary?  Is someone in your midst raising questions of a call to ministry?  This training will review the guidelines for  the discernment and formation process.  Led by Associate Conference Minister Wendy Vander Hart.
 
 

April 17 - 18
Holiday Inn, Boxboro, MA
The 2015 Northeast Ecumenical Stewardship Council Conference featuring Ben Stroup and The Right Rev. Michael Curry.

Clergy Events

Beverly Prestwood-Taylor Thurs., Feb. 26, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham

Facilitated by Beverly Prestwood Taylor, DMin who has worked with traumatized communities for the last 10 years with the Brookfield Institute. 

 

12 new slots now available!

Interim Minister Gathering

Tues., Mar. 10, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham

Join this crucial colloquy to discuss the transformation of transitional ministry looking at new models and national trends.

 

New location

Clergy Ethics: The Musical

Fri., Mar. 13, 7:00 PM

New location: Congregational Church, South Glastonbury, CT

Clergy Ethics: The Musical This musical, written and produced by UCC legal counselors Don Clark and Heather Kimmel, creatively engages the audience while communicating an important message. Co-sponsored by the Massachusetts and Connecticut Conferences.

 

New Date!

Preparing for Search & Call - Session 1 - Members in Discernment Day at ANTS

Sat. March 28, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

The Rev. Malcolm Himschoot Wilson Chapel, Andover Newton Theological School, Newton

A look at Search & Call Terrain & Tools plus  An Integrated Minister's Online Presence featuring The Rev. Malcolm Himschoot, Minister for Ministerial Transition, UCC

 

Application deadline: June 14 

Writing for the Pastoral Life - Strange Gift, Long Journey, Bright Star with Maren Tirabassi 

Warren Conference Center, Ashland

Nov. 2 - 8, 2015

This week-long intensive writing experience will sharpen skills and expand imagination in the familiar forms - sermon preparation, liturgy for page or projection, agendas, online communication from blog to tweet -- and investigate creative writing for ministry - from flash fiction to slam poetry.