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Helping Out in the Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey
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By the Rev. Don Remick
Associate Conference Minister
The news reports continue to tell the story of unimaginable devastation following the flooding rains of the Hurricane. The images move us at that deep place within our hearts. As of this writing, within the Houston region, over 30,000 people are expected in the official shelters that have been established, with a vast number beyond that finding other shelter resources within the region. Over 50 inches of rain have fallen in some areas. An estimated 500,000 homes have been affected. The medical, government, and utility infrastructure have been deeply impacted. And the storm is not over as it moves into neighboring states.
We know there is a long road ahead. We want to respond: to send support, to relieve the suffering and to ease the pain. We want to know the best way to help out.
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September is Disaster Preparedness Month
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September is Disaster Preparedness Month and your MACUCC Disaster Resource & Response Team encourages you to dedicate a Sunday in September to disaster preparedness. In order to help you plan a special service, we are making liturgical resources available to you to use as you wish. The order of worship includes a call to worship, prayers, selected scripture passages, hymn suggestions, a children's message, a call to giving, and information for bulletins.
Access the liturgy resource here
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In times of actual emergencies, critical thinking can be adversely affected and preparing a worship service can be a real challenge. Feel free to adapt this liturgy to use in your congregation if you're impacted by a critical incident. For more information, please visit macucc.org/DisasterResource.
The Disaster Resource Team will be adding to this repository. If you have prayers or other liturgical resources you're willing to share, please email RevEstelle@FTCCScituate.org.
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City Mission Offers Youth Immersion Program
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Did you know that the average age of a person experiencing homelessness in the state of Massachusetts is 8? What would happen if more people-especially youth-knew this, and even more about homelessness in their own neighborhoods?
City Mission is excited to offer two new styles of opportunities to get plugged into the important work of preventing family homelessness in Boston! Together, we can make a difference!
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Faith Formation Classes for All*
*and those pursuing Christian Educator Certification
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These classes are open to lay persons and authorized ministers who want to further their education and understanding about faith formation, and are part of the Christian Educator's Certification Program of the Massachusetts Conference.
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UCC History, Polity, & Identity
Nov. 4
, 8:30 AM - Noon
Centre Congregational Church, Lynnfield
Dec. 9, 8:30 AM - Noon
Edwards Church, Northampton
Instructor: Rev. Jonathan New, Associate Conference Minister, MACUCC
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Old and New Testament
Mar. 3, 8:30 AM - Noon
Centre Congregational Church, Lynnfield,
Mar. 24,
8:30 AM - Noon
Edwards Church, Northampton
Instructor: Rev. Don Remick, Associate Conference Minister, MACUCC
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Upcoming Conference Events
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Sept. 7, 7 - 8 PM
Online
This free webinar will provide practical, engaging, and developmentally appropriate ideas for youth ministry.
Sept. 8 - 9
Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center, Framingham, MA
One of four events being held across the UCC to which Committees on Ministry, authorized ministers, and members of the UCC who are interested in the proposed changes to the UCC Manual on Ministry are invited to take part.
Sept. 17, 3:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
MACUCC will host a free screening of Ava Duvernay's Netflix Documentary "13th," which discusses how the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution has a loophole currently being exploited. It will be followed by a discussion on mass incarceration.
Sept. 21, at 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
All clergy who have joined the conference within the last year, or were unable to attend last year, are invited to attend and meet fellow clergy.
Faith at Home: How to Support Cautiously Christian Parents
Sept. 26, 7:00 to 8:00 PM
Online
This webinar will address how clergy and church leaders can support parents as they speak about faith at home with their children.
Resource for Pastoral Relations Committees
Sept. 27, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
First Congregational Church of West Brookfield
Training for pastoral relations committee, best practices, and ways to be proactive in establishing a group. Led by Associate Conference Minister The Rev. Kelly Gallagher.
Tending the Fire
Sept. 27-29; Nov. 8-10,
Jan. 3-5
Trinity United Methodist Church, Springfield
Tending the Fire helps clergy "think systems" in their congregations and their personal lives, so they can lead change that lasts. Participants must attend all three retreats.
Racial Justice Training II
Sept. 30
Edwards Church, Framingham
Level II Racial Justice training. Participants must have successfully completed Level I to be eligible for this 8-hour course. The focus is Track A - Deep Dive of Institutional & Cultural Racism.
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Oct. 4 - 5
Pakachoag Church, Auburn
Level 1 Boundary Awareness Training (BAT) for anyone that needs to complete this requirement.
Oct. 5, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Edwards House, Framingham, MA
In this workshop for clergy, Christina Belogour, co-leader of the Pastoral Counseling Center at Myrtle Baptist Church in West Newton will briefly review a few basics of trauma and disaster work.
Oct. 14, 10:00 AM to Noon
Edwards House Meeting Center,
Framingham
An opportunity to network and share experiences with your MACUCC colleagues.
Super Saturday
Oct. 21, 8:00 AM - 3:45 PM
Keefe Regional Technical School,
Framingham
Registration is now open. The full-day event includes morning worship, two workshops, an optional lunch activity, continental breakfast, lunch, marketplace and closing worship. Speaker is Noel Anderson of Church World Service.
Oct. 31, 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM
Edwards House, Framingham
Planned in collaboration with Ernst & Young Financial Planning Services®, this seminar is designed to provide tools and resources to lay and clergy to make handling their finances and planning for the future easier.
Tending the Fire
Nov. 1-3, Glocester, RI
Jan. 9-11, Framingham, MA
Feb. 27-Mar. 1, Sharon, CT
Tending the Fire helps clergy "think systems" in their congregations and their personal lives, so they can lead change that lasts. Participants must attend all three retreats:
Nov. 9-11
Craigville Retreat Center
Nothing planned for the Veteran's Day break? Teens grade 6-12 are invited to join us for this 2-day retreat as we live into being the hands and feet of Christ.
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Court Rules Congregational Church Owns Historic Cemetery
HARWICH - The state Land Court has ruled that the First Congregational Church of Harwich is the owner of the historic Harwich Center Cemetery, holding title dating back to 1743. The decision means the church also owns the memorial garden, a subject of controversy with the town's cemetery commission.
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The Rev. Dr. John Wightman passed away at home on August 24 after a long battle with cancer. The Rev. Wightman, former Associate Conference Minister in the Michigan Conference, was an active member at Old Parish Church in Sheffield during his retirement. He also served for a number of years as interim pastor at Second Church of Pittsfield.
A Memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church of Sheffield (Old Parish Church), 125 Main Street, Sheffield, MA, September 9, 2017 at 1:00 PM.
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The Rev. Ms. Leah Wyman Waldron c
alled to Park Avenue Congregational Church, UCC, Arlington as Pastor
Effective: Aug. 27, 2017
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Sept. 13, 7:00 PM
Trinitarian Congregational UCC, Concord
Honoring Michael Murphy, Memorial to Peace and Justice architect.
Sept. 23, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Hadley Farms, Hadley, MA
Sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility
Oct. 7, 10:00 AM
Agape Community, Hardwick, MA
Co-sponsored by the MACUCC Justice and Witness Council.
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Oct. 21, 5:30-10:30 PM
Beechwood Hotel, Worcester
Sponsored by the LGBT Asylum Task Force
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