Clay jars.
For their 26 hours together, the 500 attendees of the Massachusetts Conference Annual Meeting this weekend were surrounded by clay jars.
Humble containers. Cracked pots.
And together they wrestled with the idea that God chose such humble, imperfect vessels in which to hold treasure.
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| | "Clay Pot Imperfection" video from Friday night's worship |
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The 216th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference, held June 12 - 13 at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, took the following actions:
 Approved the resolution Dismantling Discriminatory Systems of Mass Incarceration in Massachusetts with a minor revision. Read the resolution as it was approved here.
Endorsed a resolution which is being brought to the national General Synod later this month entitled A Call for the United Church of Christ to Take Actions Toward a Just Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Read more here.
Agreed to take up a late resolution, a Resolution of Witness Condemning Violence Committed in the Name of Religion, and approved it with some minor revisions. Read the final version here.
Authorized the Board of Directors to sell, or lease to sell, two Conference-owned properties at the Craigville Retreat Center on Cape Cod. The Conference Board had previously voted to give up management of the retreat facility. It was also announced at the meeting that new management has been hired for the center. Read more here.
Approved revised clergy compensation guidelines, which will be posted online shortly.
Approved a Conference budget of $2,270,850, which includes a transfer of $50,000 from operating reserves. Read the Treasurer's Report here.
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Photos, Feedback, Materials
All of the news articles, photos, videos and supporting documents related to the 216th Annual Meeting can be found by visiting: www.macucc.org/2015am. More will be added in the coming days.
If you attended the meeting and have not yet filled out the feedback survey, you can do so now by following this link.
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Long-Awaited Encyclical Unveiled Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, on Thursday, June 18, around the time of daybreak in Massachusetts, the Vatican will be releasing Pope Francis' encyclical on ecology and climate change. This long-form, authoritative teaching, entitled "Praised Be: On the Care of Our Common Home," will examine the inseparable connection between climate change, ecological crisis, and poverty from a Catholic perspective.
Read more
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The Rev. Mr. Thomas Zoelzer called to First Congregational Church, UCC, Norwood as Interim Pastor
Effective: June 11, 2015
The Rev. Ms. Jan Christine Gregory-Charpentier leaving United Parish of Upton as Pastor
Effective: June 8, 2015
The Rev. Mr. John Hamilton leaving First Congregational Church, UCC, Norwood as Pastor
Effective: June 7, 2015
Transitions
macucc.org/transitions
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Rev. Dr. Kathleen (French) Connor died unexpectedly on May 20, 2015 at her home in Peabody, Massachusetts. Dr. Connor served churches in several cities including Burlington, WI, Maui, HI, and locally with the West Gloucester Trinitarian Church in Gloucester, MA and First Congregational Church UCC in Saugus, MA.
Obituaries
macucc.org/obituaries
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June 17, 2015
Special note to Annual Meeting attendees:
If you don't usually receive this newsletter, you have been added to the distribution list for this week's issue only, so that you can easily find information from the meeting to share in your congregation. If you would like to continue receiving the E-Mailing, please visit macucc.org/subscribe. |
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700 hear Bolz-Weber speak on the postmodern church
 Nearly 700 people came to the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center this weekend to hear Nadia Bolz-Weber - the Lutheran pastor and author considered by many the "Face of the Emergent Church" - expound on the state of the church today.
"People still need the church," she said. "They are still interested in having a sacred way to contain or hold the hard things in life."
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| Conference Minister & President Jim Antal (center) with two green church award recipients. |
Awards bestowed at Annual Meeting
A number of churches and individuals were honored for their ministries at a Recognition Lunch held Saturday, June 13. Read more about them:
The first Andy Gustafson Award was presented to Jena Roy. The award was named in honor of Andy Gustafson,who served as Associate Conference Minister for Stewardship and Financial Development for 10 years before his death to cancer in May, 2014. Read more here.
Haystack Awards were presented to Marianne Talis, a social activist from the Newton Highlands Congregational Church, and to the Massachusetts Women's Home Missionary Union. Read more.
Bold New Initiative Awards were presented to The Haydenville Congregational Church and to the Common Ground ministry at First Churches of Northampton. Read more.
10 Christian Educators received their Certification. Read about them here.
10 ministers celebrating 50 years or ordination were recognized. Read about them here.
Five churches were recognized for their generosity in giving to the five UCC offerings, and two churches were given Green Congregation Awards. Read more here.
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Upcoming Events
Wed., July 8, 7 - 9 PM Charlemont Federated Church
David Hernandez, Asst. Professor of Latina/o Studies at Mt. Holyoke College, will join William Joyce, former immigration judge in Boston, to examine current U.S. immigration law and the practice of detention and deportation. Sofia Campos, board chair of United We Dream, a national immigrant youth network, will also bring a vibrant voice to the discussion.
July 13 - 17, 2015 Craigville Retreat Center, Cape Cod The Craigville Theological Colloquy combines the elements of a theological conference and a spiritual retreat. This year, the Colloquy will explore the theme "Christianity and Judaism: New Texts, New Contexts, and New Perspectives."
To Bend But Not Break: Leadership for Growing Resilient CongregationsJuly 20 - 23, 2015 Brookfield Inn, Brookfield, MA .jpg) This four--day Walking in the Way workshop is for pastors, lay leaders, chaplains, educators, denominational heads and those involved with healing or working with congregations and communities in the wake of trauma, turmoil or transition.
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.
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. Register by June 19 to be registered to win a social media consultation with Bruce Reyes-Chow!  |
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