By The Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian, Haydenville Congre-gational Church
My sisters and I grew up hearing the stories. Our Dad called it 'the massacres,' my Grand-mother called it 'the atrocities.' Many scholars agree that the killing of the Armenian people was the first genocide of the 20th century. But the Turkish government has never acknowledged the genocide ... To have the tragic, horrendous, unspeakable suffering that your people endured be repeatedly denied is painful, ahistorical, unjust, and crazy-making.
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 By Patrick Cage, Environmental Justice Intern
Church of the Covenant in Boston now has an investment portfolio that is 100% fossil free!
A federated church between the UCC and the PCUSA, Church of the Covenant voted to divest last January, and their asset managers had fully moved their assets by the end of the year.
This past Earth Day Sunday, April 26, 2015, Church of the Covenant celebrated their full divestment officially during worship.
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Christ's Community Church (UCC) in Chicopee will be asking delegates at the 216th Annual Meeting in June to approve a resolution aimed at reducing mass incarceration and ameliorating its effects.
The resolution calls upon Conference leaders, local churches and members to take actions in support of proposed legislation which will come before the Massachusetts Legislature this year.
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2015 Haystack Award Nominations sought for Charitable, Social Justice Ministry
 The MACUCC Justice & Witness Ministry Council is requesting nominations for the 2015 Haystack Awards. This award was created to encourage participation in charitable and social justice ministry.
The application deadline is May 11. Awards will be presented at the 216th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst following a luncheon on Saturday, June 13.
Find out more
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Upcoming course offerings
Vital Church: Transforming Congregational Life
This two-week course will be offered in person and via online simulcast by the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge June 8 - 19.
It is led by the Rev. Elizabeth M. Magill, who founded and served as co-pastor for the Worcester Fellowship.
Find out more  Coaching at End of Life The Trinitarian Congregational Church of North Andover is offering three different tracks of training for using a coach approach in caring for the dying and the grieving. There is a 16-hour track for those already "in the trenches," a 28-hour track for those who want more extensive training and a 44-hour track for those desiring certification. Find out more |
Local Buzz
AMHERST - A pastor known for offering blessings to passers-by on Amherst streets and leading a church that promotes social, economic and environmental justice through community outreach will be bringing healing to hot spots around the world during a three-month sabbatical that begins Thursday.
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The Rev. Ms. Lisabeth Brimm ordained by Old Colony Association at Mattapoisett Congregational Church
Effective: May 3, 2015
The Rev. Ms. Elizabeth M. Magill leaving Worcester Fellowship Inc as Co-Pastor
Effective: April 26, 2015
Transitions
macucc.org/transitions
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Featured Event of the Week
Sun. May 17, 3:00 - 7:00 PM
Hebrew College, Newton Centre
MACUCC Minister and President Jim Antal and Marla Marcum will lead a workshop on Civil Disobedience at the Conference on Climate Change sponsored by the Jewish Climate Action Network.
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216th Annual Meeting
 New Location, New Voices, Renewed Spirit to Enliven!
June 12 - 13, 2015 University of Mass., Amherst This Annual Meeting will be an opportunity to focus on the "treasure in clay jars" (2 Corinthians 4:7) - the glory of God, carried and made visible in particular ways in each person present, and in our work together as the Body of Christ.
For those who cannot attend the whole meeting, tickets are also being sold for the keynote address alone at: macucc.org/nadia |
Grow Your Church Events Global Music for Village Churches: A Morning with Michael Hawn Sat., May, 9 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM South Congregational Church, Centerville In this interactive seminar, participants will learn new forms of music for enriching and rejuvenating worship in their congregational settings.  How to Turn Tippers into Tithers Stewardship WorkshopSat., June 6, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM First Congregational Church of Manchester, NH This one-day workshop for pastors and teams will focus on how to develop a year-round process of discipleship, financial education and stewardship growth. Led by Church Consultant Paul Nickerson. National Church Leadership Institute Aug. 10 - 13, 2015 Newton and Boston, MA Join the leading practitioners and thinkers in progressive church at this year's National Church Leadership Institute where conversations will focus on five trendlines: DIY, crowdsourcing, the local food movement, the cloud and the sharing economy.  |
Justice & Witness Opportunities
Sat., May 16, 8:30 AM St. John's Episcopal Church
Church of the Advent, Boston
Designed for churches and community groups engaged in providing community meals, food banks, and other direct service ministries. No experience is necessary.
Sun., June 7, 2:00 - 5:30 PM
Church of the Holy Spirit, Wayland An Afternoon Retreat Led by Rabbi Katy Allen and the Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas exploring a framework and some tools to help us maintain ourselves as healers filled with compassion, energy, and hope.
June 24 -25, 2015
Cleveland, OH The biggest and best National ONA Gathering in the 30-year history of our the Open and Affirming movement.
July 27 - 31, 2015
TBA, Connecticut This is a five day training provided by the Racial Justice Ministries of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ. This training is intended for faith leaders and communities of faith who are interested in building a Multi-Racial institution.
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Clergy Events Clergy Camp May 12 - 14
Silver Lake, Sharon, CT Step away from your ministry setting and retreat into the woods for Clergy Camp. It is your turn to be a "camper" with Rev. Kent Siladi and Rev. Liz Miller as Deans. 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  Scholarships available! 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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Faith Formation Events
For educators
Sat., May 9, 10 AM - Noon
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
A chance for for Christian Educators and Youth Ministers/Directors to network and share experiences with colleagues. Facilitated by Elsa Marshall.
Thurs., May 14, 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham Come and hear about a UCC affiliated college and how one of your youth can receive scholarship money.
For church secretaries/administrators
June 14 - 16
Craigville Retreat Center
In the midst of administrative chaos comes and opportunity to Celebrate You.
This year we will be celebrating you, our unique profession and the special gifts we each bring to our job and lives.
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