From the Minister & President
Minister & President Jim Antal recommends reading this update from 350.org on the Keystone XL Pipeline and President Obama's veto. |
Blog
 Susan Tordella, legislative director of End Mass Incarceration Together, writes on the injustices surrounding the state's incarceration rates. |
Local Buzz
A section of the roof at the Old South Union Church in South Weymouth collapsed Sunday afternoon, just hours after the room was filled with children attending Sunday School. Only one person was inside the church at the time and was not injured. |
Justice & Witness Opportunities
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.
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.
Tues., Mar. 3, 5:00 PM
Boston University School of Theology This lecture will feature a panel of alumni who marched in Selma, and an associate dean who traveled to Ferguson following the death of Michael Brown.
Thurs., Mar. 5 Mass. State House, Boston Join the Mass Coalition for the Homeless in lobbying legislators.
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.
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.
Sun. Mar. 15, 11:00 AM South Boston Churches! Come march in the Religious Division of the Veterans for Peace 2015 People's Parade for Peace, promoting equality, jobs, environmental stewardship, social and economic justice.
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.
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 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 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.
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Classifieds - Help Wanted:
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Subscription changes Subscribe to more of our e-newsletters at: macucc.org/subscribeTo unsubscribe, change your email address or otherwise change your email preferences, please contact Jane Logee. |
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Featured Event: Super Saturday 10!
Registration deadline is March 9 March 21, 8:00 AM - 3:45 PM Ludlow High School, Ludlow, MA
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!
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Faith Formation Events
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
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 youth
March 27 - 28, 2015
Craigville Retreat Center, Cape Cod
This 24 hour retreat is intended for all youth, grades 7 - 12 interested in connecting with themselves, others and God. Led by the Rev. Matt Carriker.
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.
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Growing Your Church Events
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
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.
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Clergy Events
 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  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  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. 
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