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Antal Joins 16 Religious Leaders in Letter on the Executive Action Suspending Refugee Resettlement
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The leaders from 17 religious organizations, including Massachusetts Conference Minister & President The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, issued a joint letter on the Executive Action Suspending Refugee Resettlement.
The letter reads in part:
Our Christian tradition is clear. Deuteronomy 10:19 commands, "You shall also love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt." The Holy Family was forced to flee the violence of their homeland (Matthew 2). Our Savior was a migrant. We hear Jesus Christ declare in Matthew 25 that His followers will be judged if we do not welcome the stranger. We stand under that judgment today.
We believe in the aspirations of our nation, a place where all people long to live in safety. We remember with horror our nation's decision in 1939 to refuse the refugees on the MS St. Louis
, a ship of German Jews, condemning many to death. Refugees invite our increased compassion, not our hardened hearts.
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Call for Active Interfaith Engagement in Response to Executive Orders
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By Polly Hamlen
on behalf of the MACUCC Task Force on Ecumenism & Interfaith Relations.
"We honor that the world's noble faiths share core values of compassion, justice and peacemaking, and we recommit to right relationships among people of all religious traditions, calling each other to the best of our sacred teachings.
"Therefore, we call upon ourselves and Christians everywhere to condemn acts of hate and violence done in the name of any of our sacred religions, and to actively engage with our faith partners: Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Baha'i, Unitarian Universalist and so many others, to stand together against all acts of oppression done to anyone because of their faith."
These words were affirmed by the delegates to the 216th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference in 2015, in the preamble of a "Resolution of Witness Condemning Violence Committed in the Name of Religion." We raise these words up once again as an affirmation of our faith and a call to action, following the recent executive order signed by President Trump, effecting a halt to refugee resettlement and canceling visas for people traveling to the US from seven majority Muslim countries.
Read more, including six concrete action steps your congregation can take
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Your MACUCC leaders have received scores of requests for "help" as our pastors lead their congregations and step into their pulpits in a time such as this. The following is one in a series of reflections on what it means to "Be the Church" in a time such as this.
Confronting with Courage the One Who Sees Only "Carnage" Making God's Work Our Own
By The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal
Conference Minister & President
This is the moment for which we have been called. How fitting that every four years, the Inauguration of the American President is surrounded by the season of Epiphany - when the truth of Gospel is revealed to the world.
Millions of women, men and children flooded the streets in scores of cities around the world the day after the Inauguration because they resonated with what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said 50 years ago in April 1967: "There comes a time when silence is betrayal.".
Read the Entire Message
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How Do Congregations Respond to Interfaith Couples?
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The Parish Paper
February, 2017
While Christian-Jewish may be most people's first association for "interfaith," as the population of "nones" grows, the most common pairing is actually a Christian and a nonbeliever-and the clash between belief and unbelief can be more difficult than the clash of belief in different things.
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April 3 - 7
Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham
For those who have taken step one of the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry Training, t
his five day course emphasizes the work of the congregation. Led by The Rev. Dr. Norman B. Bendroth and the Rev. Ineke Mitchell. Registration Deadline is March 24.
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Upcoming Conference events
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Feb. 10 - 11,
Prindle Pond, Charlton
Mar. 10 - 11, Prindle Pond, Charlton
These retreats, offered for confirmation classes and their leaders, still have space.
Feb. 25, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Centre Congregational Church, Lynnfield
and
Mar. 25, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Edwards Church, Northampton
An opportunity to focus on four foundational theories of religious education while creating one's own personal theory for use in the church setting, and acquiring the tools for adapting, revising, and using these theories in local church programming, community life, and for forming the faith. Part of the CE Certification Program, this workshop is open to all.
March 3 - 5
Craigville Retreat Center, Craigville
Teens grade 6-12 are invited to join us for a weekend retreat as we journey to the heart of Lent. Through art, music, writing, and movement, we'll explore how we can use this season to grow in love for ourselves, our loved ones, our enemies, the earth, and God.
March 11, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
An opportunity to network and share experiences with MACUCC colleagues. No fee but advance registration is required.
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Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbraham, MA
A full day of workshops and networking. Keynote speaker will be author, storyteller, and theologian.Brian McLaren.
March 29, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
A day of covenant for those clergy engaged in specialized ministries.
Boundary Awareness Training
April 27 - 28
First Congregational Church of Billerica
Two-day boundary awareness training for clergy.
Space for 15 youth and 3 adults!
June 30 - July 5
Baltimore, MD
This event is for young leaders ages 13 to 18 who want to experience the vibrant diversity of the wider church. Registration now open!
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SPOTLIGHT: Rapping Up the Christmas Story
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Telling an old story in a new way was what the
First Congregational Church UCC of Saugus
had in mind when it offered an updated Christmas Pageant with a "Hamilton" -style rap.
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Feb. 16 is Deadline for Annual Meeting Resolutions
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The deadline for submitting resolutions to the 2017 Annual Meeting is Feb. 16, 2017. Resolutions may be related to procedure, courtesy, structure and organization, or issues of conviction. The Annual Meeting is being held June 16 - 17, 2017, at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT
Read more
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Clergy to be Invited to Take Wellness Survey
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The United Church of Christ will be participating in the Flourishing in Ministry project, a national study on clergy wellness.
UCC Clergy whose email address is listed in the UCC Data Hub will receive an email with a specific link and access code to take the survey on Tuesday, February 7, 2017. Participants will have through Friday, February 17, 2017 to complete the survey, which it is estimated will take about 45 minutes to complete.
Read more
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