Ever Flowing Streams 2013
















February 2016




New Climate Intern Joins Conference
The Massachusetts Conference has taken on a new climate justice intern. Alyssa Browning-Gray will serve the Conference through June, 2016.

Browning-Gray is a member of Newman Congregational Church, a Rhode Island UCC congregation. She recently graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science and religious studies. She is feeling a call to ministry and planning to attend seminary.

"Her time with the Massachusetts Conference is a time of discernment for her and a blessing for us," said Conference Minister and President Jim Antal. 

 Gun Control
Do Not Stand Idly By: Gun Safety and the President's Speech
A blog by Rev. Dan Smith
Vice President, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

Mika Jarvinen photo
We have some exciting news to share! As part of a White House press conference about reducing gun violence, President Obama has announced initial steps to implement a key recommendation of our 
Greater Boston Interfaith Organization/Metro IAF (Industrial Area Foundation) Do Not Stand Idly By campaign. (Learn more about this campaign here). President Obama's announcement clearly reflects the impact of our campaign which seeks to leverage local and federal gun buying power to influence gun manufacturers to adopt safer practices.
Racial Justice
Commentary: Hold Space for Grace
by Traci Blackmon
Acting Executive Minister of Justice and Witness, UCC

Recently, I offered the pastoral charge at the installation of two Disciples of Christ colleagues. I chose to charge them to serve as both priest and prophet; to not shy away from truth-telling or abandon compassion; to always call "a thing" a thing, yet remember things can change; to hold space for grace.  Not cheap grace, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes, calls for reconciliation without repentance, for comfort without correction. This is not the space we hold; but rather, grace that calls us to confront one another with both conviction and compassion, for both are necessary for love.

race circle2
SACRED CONVERSATIONS ON RACE/TRAININGS
Massachusetts Conference facilitators are prepared to offer your congregation a SacredConversation on Race, or an in-depth Realms of Racism Training. We are now booked up for winter and spring, but visit our page for a schedule of conversations and trainings open to the public, or to book for the summer or fall.
Listen - For a Change
Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 21-23, 2016
Federated Church of Charlemont
The program will begin Thursday, Jan. 21, at 5 PM with a dinner and local keynoter, the Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian.  At 8 PM, the group will tune in to a live-streamed conference from Trinity Institute with speaker Michele Norris. Over the weekend, there will be a webcast and facilitated discussion groups. On Friday night, the group will view the film (open to all), "I'm Not Racist, Am I?", in which 12 teens explore racism over the course of a year.  
Black Lives Matter Teach-In
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016
Christ's Community Church 
103 Springfield St., Chicopee
Go Tell Old Pharoah ~ Exodus 3:1-15
Join Christ's Community Church in Chicopee on Feb. 21 for a Black Lives Matter panel at 1 p.m. featuring guest speaker (and Social Justice Warrior!) Naomi Leapheart, along with John Selders from Black Lives Matter Connecticut and a speaker from Black Lives Matter Springfield.
Worship is at 10:30 AM. All are welcome!  

View a flyer here
WHY I PROTEST
From UCC/Keeping You Posted
The deaths of young African Americans at the hands of police have escalated the conversation about racial discrimination in this country. The Rev. Traci Blackmon, acting executive minister of UCC Justice and Witness Ministries, noted civil rights leader, gifted preacher, pastor and teacher, delivers an extremely powerful message in this call for justice for all the children of God.  

The Plight of Refugees
One Human Family
a blog by Polly Hamlen
Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations Task Team
Today, we stand at a critical juncture for our nation, as debates rages across the country about security and the plight of Syrian refugees.  Will we, as Americans, continue to welcome Syrian and Iraqi refugees into our country? Will we assist those suffering from torture and persecution, regardless of their religion, or country of origin? Or will we close our borders, and isolate ourselves in fear?

The ancient Christian feast day of the Holy Innocents, or Childermas, celebrated this year on December 28th, reminds us that our own story as a church is itself the story of refugees who found hope and survival thanks to succor from others.  Joseph and Mary carried their infant with them as they fled to Egypt, seeking protection from a ruthless ruler who slaughtered thousands of children to retain his power. We see the image of Jesus today in the face of Syrian children carried by parents across fences and barriers, and the Aegean Sea, trying to find shelter and safety.
REFUGEE IMMIGRATION TRAINING: TRAUMA RECOVERY
On Feb. 18, 2016, Refugee Immigration Ministry will present an interfaith symposium on trauma recovery, co-sponsored by Andover Newton Theological School. All are welcome to attend.


UCC Churches Offer Sanctuary from January Immigration Raids
United Church of Christ pastors from Arizona and California to Minnesota are encouraging others in the faith community to shield families that are at-risk for deportation. Immigration enforcement officials are preparing to round up and deport hundreds of undocumented immigrants in January, according to news reports, including many who fled Central America for the United States because of escalating violence.  Read More

Addressing Homelessness

HOMELESSNESS FORUM
March 13, 2016 ~ 2:30 PM
Trinity Episcopal Church
81 Elm Street, Concord, MA
Did you know?
* Over 200,000 families in Massachusetts are at risk of homelessness, spending more than 50% of household income on housing. Why? Not enough housing units are available and wages have not kept pace with housing costs.


LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAY
March 3, 2016 ~ 9 AM-3 PM
Great Hall, Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon Street, Boston
Speak out for housing and homelessness prevention! Meet with state legislators, hear testimonies from youth, adults and families experiencing homelessness, and more. 
Join the MA Coalition for the Homeless and Rep. Jim O'Day, and make a difference.

In Other Justice News...
VETERANS' STORY-TELLING PROJECT BEGINS
A new project aims to draw stories out of veterans while drawing them into their communities. The Veterans Storytelling Project, a program from The Brookfield Institute, uses trained volunteers to help veterans tell their stories, a proven method for reducing PTSD while helping family members, friends and neighbors understand their loved ones better.  Read more 
 
INTERNSHIP FOR JUSTICE-MINDED YOUNG ADULTS
The aplication process for Back Bay Mission's Shari Prestemon Social Justice Internship is open! This internship provides a unique opportunity to members of the United Church of Christ between the ages of 19 and 35. Completed applications are due no later than March 1, 2016 for an internship this summer.
The Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ
508-875-5233
[email protected]