WANTED: PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD FOR JUSTICE!
Nominate a deserving person or group for the Haystack Award
The Justice & Witness Ministry Council needs your nomination (soon!) for the 2016 Haystack Award!
The Haystack Award of the Massachusetts Conference UCC was created to encourage participation in mission and social justice ministry. Any individual, group or institution affiliated with the Massachusetts Conference, UCC is eligible for consideration.
Deadline for submissions is Friday, May 20. Awards will be presented at the 217th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference, UCC, during the recognition luncheon on Saturday, June 18.
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UCC Takes Aim at Gun Violence in May
by Connie Larkman
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ has long advocated for sensible, responsible policies to end gun violence. More than 20 years ago, in July of 1995, the General Synod passed three resolutions dealing with guns and violence in our society. This May, the church is amplifying the call for change, encouraging advocacy around stricter gun laws with a sharable video message from one of our congregations forever changed by a shooter with a gun. A new 5-part Bible study will also be introduced.
The Rev. Matthew Crebbin, senior minister of Newtown (Conn.) Congregational UCC, and his community experienced heartbreak and grief after 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School were lost to "a horrific event of gun violence" in one of the worst mass shootings in our nation's history.
"For people of faith, this is not a Second Amendment issue; it is a Second Commandment crisis," said Crebbin.
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Dead Man Walking
Author Keynote for Cape Cod Award Program
Sister Helen Prejean, anti-capital punishment activist and author of Dead Man Walking, will be the keynote speaker at The Cape Cod Fellowship of Reconciliation annual luncheon on May 23. An advocate of restorative justice, Sr. Prejean will share how she has expanded her work to providing support both for death row inmates and their families, and the families of those persons whom these death row inmates have harmed.
The luncheon will celebrate this year's Olive Branch Award recipient, Sarah Thacher.
Following the luncheon, participants are invited to a special viewing of the Dead Man Walking movie and a discussion with Sr. Prejean at 3 p.m. at Cape Cinema.
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United Church Funds Broadens Investments, Lessens Exposure to Fossil Fuel Companies
Written by Anthony Moujaes
United Church of Christ
In time to celebrate Earth Day, United Church Funds has widened its investment in global corporations - while avoiding companies that produce oil, coal or gas - to meet the desires of investors, and to work toward meeting a General Synod 2013 resolution that urges divestment, along with other strategies, from fossil fuel companies to combat climate change.
The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, United Church of Christ general minister and president, not only applauded the move, he encourages more settings of the denomination to consider investing in a sustainable future. "On behalf of UCC churches and institutions that place climate concerns among their top investing priorities, I applaud UCF's continual process of improvement on the Beyond Fossil Fuels Funds," he said. "I am glad that the United Church of Christ's Covenanted Ministries have benefitted from these improvements, and I encourage all churches in the UCC to explore these funds."
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Immigration and Refugee Concerns
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The United Church of Christ has come out in support of this new coalition of humanitarian, religious, and non-profit organizations working together to create welcoming communities for refugees. The organization encourages welcoming events and advocacy ideas, particularly in opposition to
H.R.4731(an anti-refugee bill). Visit their website
here. Access the Refugees are Welcome Toolkit of great ideas
here.
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Refugee Families Prepare for Ramadan; Here's How You Can Help
Looking for ways to help Syrian and other refugee families in Massachusetts? Download this
page of ideas, provided by the Worcester Islamic Center, for helping the 85 refugee families in the Worcester area prepare for Ramadan in June.
Find other ways to help, including a knitting ministry,
here (scroll down to the How You Can Help section)
.
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SURJ: SIGN UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE SPIRITUAL COMMUNITIES LEARNING PROJECT
From UCC Justice & Witness Ministries
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
is a national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. SURJ is launching a pilot program: "Building Racial Justice Spiritual Communities." If there are UCC congregations who would be interested in participating in this effort please sign up via this link:
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Open and Affirming Gathering
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What's Next for ONA Churches?
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| Rev.Traci Blackmon is keynote speaker |
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Now that marriage equality is the law of the land, what's next for the Open and Affirming movement in the United Church of Christ? "ONA NEXT" is the theme of this year's National ONA Gathering June 7-9, 2016, at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN.
"Marriage equality was a milestone on our journey towards justice, but not the end of the journey," says Andy Lang, the Open and Affirming Coalition's executive director. "There's plenty of work for ONA churches in the years to come: challenges but also exciting opportunities for ministry, mission, advocacy and evangelism."
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CHILE MISSIONARY ELENA HUEGEL TO VISIT CHURCHES
Elena Huegel - who has served as a Global Ministries Missionary in Chile for 20 years working with the Conference's mission partner, the Pentecostal Church - is now ending her assignment in Chile and will be touring the U.S. for six months as she discerns next steps. Elena will be available to visit Massachusetts Conference churches from Sept. 15 to 30 where she will share her stories and wisdom from two decades of mission service among the people of Chile. You can read some of her writings about her experience
here
.
Elena will visit churches in central and western Massachusetts from September 15-23, and churches in the eastern part of the state from September 23-30. Please note that she is already booked for Sunday mornings throughout this period.
If your church is interested in booking Elena for a visit, please contact Beverly Prestwood-Taylor, of the MACUCC Mission Partnership, at [email protected] Don't delay, as there are limited times available.
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YOUR CHURCH'S MISSION/JUSTICE ACTIVITIES - A SURVEY
Your Justice and Witness Council is asking churches to fill out a survey about your mission, witness and justice activities. We hope to gather this information in order to better understand what you all are doing in the Conference, how we might be able to support your work, and how we might be able to help. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions in this survey - and ask any questions you might have.
Please note: this survey was emailed to churches earlier this year, and we ask that only one survey be completed per church.
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