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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
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"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.
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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.
Workshop Proposals for Super Saturday on Oct. 21, 2017, in Framingham MA are now being accepted.
Learn More.
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UCC Leaders Stand Up for Climate
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UCC calling Creation care advocates to the People's Climate March in Washington D.C.
Earth care advocates from United Church of Christ congregations around the country will be converging on Washington D.C. next month for the
People's Climate March. It's no surprise that the denomination is expecting to field a large contingent at the Saturday, April 29 event, since creation care and climate change top the
list of priorities UCC members believe the church needs to focus on going forward in the future.
"Climate change makes all the other justice issues worse," said the Rev. Dr. Jim Antal,Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. "From war, to the refugee crisis, to hunger and famine, to the lack of potable water, to the spread of the Zika virus and other insect-borne disease, to world-wide homelessness with tens of millions of the poorest and most vulnerable people on earth subject to rising oceans - these and other justice issues are all amplified when the natural cycles of God's creation are disrupted as they are today."
UCC Leaders Issue Pastoral 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.
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Searfarer's Friend Needs Ship Visitors
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Seafarer's Friend, a ministry that serves the men and women that work and live on the sea, is looking for volunteer ship visitors.
"We visit the ships that come into our ports in Boston and Salem, MA, and also in Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME. We board the ships to meet with the crew from all different parts of the world," said Operations Manager Ida L. Mac Rae. "In essence our ministry fulfills the great commission, Matthew 28:19a: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.' The only difference is the nations come to our ports."
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March 30, Noon and 7:30 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.
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Upcoming Conference events
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Spiritual Resilience and Resistance In a Time of Climate Change
April 1, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Trinity Church, Boston
Free retreat to explore a framework for the heart to help us become healers filled with compassion, energy, and hope. This retreat will include presentations, guided meditation, silence, and conversation.
Preparing for the Search & Call Process: The Adventure Begins
April 1, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
Members-in-Discernment throughout New England are invited to attend this workshop for help in navigating through the search and call process within the UCC.
Human and Faith Development
Apr. 1, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Centre Congregational Church, Lynnfield
and
Apr. 22, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Edwards Church, Northampton
A seminar in the Christian Education Certification program focused on the relationship with God as God becomes known to us. Open to all.
Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry Step Two: The Work of the Congregation
April 3 - 7
Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, Framingham
For those who have taken step one of the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry Training, this 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.
April 8, 9:00 AM
New North Church, Hingham
What can one person or one church do about this? Come and find out at the Southeast Area Missions Committee's Spring forum.
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April 27 - 28
First Congregational Church of Billerica
Two-day boundary awareness training for clergy.
Disaster Chaplain Training
May 10 - 11
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
This chaplaincy training is based on the National Disaster Interfaiths Network Disaster Spiritual Care training course, which trains and credentials faith leaders, spiritual care providers and institutional chaplains to volunteer as disaster chaplains or spiritual care workers in mass-care settings, or to serve their house of worship or local community during times of crisis.
June 7 - 8
Miramar Retreat Center, Duxbury
This overnight retreat, led by Matt Carriker and Susie Allen, is intended for people in all stages on the spiritual path (clergy and lay). Whether you feel like a beginner, or a long-time traveler, you will find nourishment here for your soul.
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!
Application deadline: Sat., June 10
Event: Nov. 13 - 19
Warren Conference Center, Ashland
Join author Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove in a writing workshop focused on both the craft of writing and the vocation of tending to words for the sake of faithful social change.
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MBA, Northeast Association Administrator Leaves Staff
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Today marked the last day on the job for Colin Loggins, Administrative Assistant for the Metropolitan Boston and Northeast Associations. Colin has taken a new job with the Caleb Group in Swampscott, where he will be sharing his significant gifts with a non-profit organization that provides affordable housing in the region.
"Colin has graced us with a delightful sense of humor, an air of positivity, a commitment to excellence and the gift of hospitality," said Associate Conference Minister Wendy Vander Hart. "Colin has undertaken every task and more with unfailing cheer. We wish him well and know he will make brilliant contributions to his new setting."
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The Rev. Ms. Estelle Margarones called to First Trinitarian Congregational Church, UCC, Scituate as Pastor
Effective: March 22, 2017
The Rev. Ms. Jamie Ruth Howard called to Centre Congregational Church, UCC, Lynnfield as Interim Pastor
Effective: March 22, 2017
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46th Annual New England Association of United Church Educators (NEAUCE) Conference
May 2 - 4
Pilgrim Pines, Swanzey, NH
Entitled
Toward Common Ground: Living Faithfully in a Diverse World Community, t
his three day event gives church leaders a chance to refresh, rejuvenate and renew.
Come make connections, gain insight, be inspired or be the one to inspire others.
Anyone involved in faith formation will gain from this experience.
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April 6, 2017 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Southborough
Showing of a documentary focused on six LGBT elders living in the Boston area.
May 1, 6:00 PM
Church of the Pilgrimage,
Plymouth, MA
"From Bricks to Mortals": A Workshop on Innovative Building Use @ Andover-Newton
May 5 - 6
Andover Newton Theological School, Newton
May 9, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
The Epicurean Room, Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Marlborough
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