Super Saturday Videos Now Online

Two new videos are now available showing highlights from Super Saturday, a joint effort by the CT, MA, and RI Conferences of the United Church of Christ. The event featured keynote speaker Brian McLaren, worship, and workshops aimed at developing and strengthening church leaders in a wide variety of topics. The second video is a full version of McLaren's speech.
 
"The house is on fire, and it's time to wake up and get bold," said McLaren during his keynote address. This call for boldness set the tone for the entire event.

The Highlights video offers moments of McLaren's speech and other parts of the day, including excerpts from interviews given by Brian Lapis in which he asked participants to discuss views on their church's impacts in the community and the current and future directions of the wider church. Are of these interviews will be available at a future date.
 
In the afternoon worship, Rev. Rebecca Floyd Marshall (Rhode Island Conference) and Rev. John Allen (Massachusetts Conference) shared a compilation of "hindrances" offered by the audience during the morning worship. Those hindrances are shown in the video.
 

View the Videos 


Workshop Proposals for Super Saturday on Oct. 21, 2017, in Framingham MA are now being accepted. Learn More

UCC Leaders Issue Statement on
Administration's Climate Actions

The United Church of Christ Collegium and the Council of Conference Ministers today issued a statement in response to the actions of the current administration to undo previous commitments to honor the Paris Agreement and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. 

Read the letter

Clergy Transitions: March 2017

The following ministerial changes were report to the Connecticut Conference in February 2017:
 
Rev. Charlene Corbett was Called to serve as Pastor at Second Congregational, Newcastle, ME
Rev. Cindy Carr was Called to serve as Pastor at Watertown, First
Rev. Dr. Anne Coffman was Installed as Senior Pastor at Wilton Congregational
Rev. Ginger Brasher‐Cunningham and Rev. Sarah Verasco were Installed as Co‐Pastors at Guilford, First
Rev. Isaac Lawson was Called as Associate Pastor at Immanuel Congregational
Rev. John Wilmarth retired as Pastor from Harwinton Congregational
Rev. Kristen Provost Switzer was Installed as Associate Pastor at Newtown Congregational
Rev. Lauren Lorincz was Called to serve as Pastor at Colchester Federated
Rev. Persida Rivera‐Mendez was Called to serve as p/t Associate Pastor at Newington Congregational
Rev. Steven Alspach began his term as Interim Minister at Enfield Congregational
The Congregational Church of Thompson, Inc is now Thompson Congregational Church, United Church of Christ

Local Churches in the News

NEW BRITAIN HERALD: Kensington Congregational Church Kicks Off Capital Campaign

On Sunday, March 26, approximately 150 members and friends of the 305-year-old Kensington church gathered for a festive brunch to launch the Expanding on God’s Grace campaign.

Read more

Reflections
Spirit Calendar: Waiting...
The Rev. Chuck Ericson writes: "God’s word of hope, and God’s glory, are ready to be revealed to you and to all who wait.


Spirited Wednesday: Called

The Rev. Sidat Balgobin writes:  "The world needs us - our love, our courage, our passion, our striving for justice and our intellect."

Featured Event
TONIGHT at 7:00 PM

This year's Tri-Conference Annual Meeting will be historic!  For the first time, the UCC Conferences of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island will meet together for one shared, exciting, inspirational Annual Meeting.

Get ready!  Take part in this first-ever Tri-Conference webinar, designed to help you speak to your local congregation about the historic decision we'll be discussing at this year's Annual Meeting: to form a new, unified Conference.

Sign up for the webinar

Learn more about the meeting
Upcoming Conference Events
April 22, 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM
East Woodstock Congregational Church,
Woodstock, CT
This event is open to Specialized Ministers  and those serving on Committees on Ministry in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The session will feature  the Rev. Stephen Boyd, UCC Minister for Specialized Ministry.
April 29, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
UCC Southbury
This event will present a timely gathering of speakers:  Chris George, Executive Director of IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services); Megan Miller from Church World Service; Aida Mansoor, President of the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut and others. 
April 30, 3:00 - 5:30 PM
First Church of Christ Congregational, West Hartford
A dynamic worship service that will renew your spirit. All youth in grades 5 and up and their pastors, parents, or adult leaders are invited.
May 5 - 7
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon
From chopping wood to repairing buildings, moving picnic tables to raking leaves, there’s a project for everyone, high schoolers through adult. 
May 9 - 11
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon 
Whether you challenge yourself on the high ropes course or lounge in the meadow, swap stories with old friends or spend an afternoon on your own, Clergy Camp is the place to step back from life's demands, unwind, and capture the joy of summer. For authorized ministers to network and engage in self-care.
May 19 - 21
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon
Environmental justice and leadership training for youth in grades 9-12 who care about the health of their communities
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.   Participation is limited to 18 from the Connecticut Conference - registration now open.



Find a complete list of Conference events at: www.ctucc.org/events
Classifieds
Other Events of Interest
April 1, 10:30 AM, First Congregational Church of Stamford

April 2, 3:00 PM, First Church in Windsor

April 2, 3:00 PM,  First Church in Windsor

All of these events are with Mark Charles, Navajo Christian Author and speaker. 
April 1, 2017 at 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham, MA
Members-in-Discernment throughout New England are invited to attend this workshop. 
April 1, 12:30 - 4:00 PM
First Church of Christ, Congregational, Farmington
2-day event to commemorate the 175-year anniversary of the freedom of the  La Amisted  captives.
April 5, 2017 at 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Greenberg Conference Center,  New Haven, CT
Questions of Meaning, Events of Joy: The Youth Worker as Kenotic Guide.

46th Annual NEAUCE Conference: Toward Common Ground
May 2 - 4
Pilgrim Pines, Swanzey, NH

Three day event gives church leaders involved in Faith Formation a chance to refresh, rejuvenate and renew. 

May 5 - 6 
Andover Newton Theological School,
Newton Center
Nine-hour workshop led by the Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper.  
May 13, 2017 at 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Rocky Hill Congregational Church
Jessica Steytler, librarian with the Congregational Library in Boston, will present a workshop on Archives 101. 
May 22 - 24
Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT
An opportunity for religious leaders to engage as communities of “moral deliberation,” to reflect and offer up practical opportunities for engagement in the public sphere.
July 9 - 12
Simmons College, Boston, MA
This biannual conference seeks to nourish, inspire, and sustain church musicians.    
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