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CHURCH CLUSTER MEETING INFORMATION
Only TWO cluster meetings left until September! Has your church attended one?
May 17th at the First Congregational Church in Paxton -
REGISTER HERE
June 7th at the First Congregational Church in Brimfield -
REGISTER HERE
Both meetings begin at 6:30PM and last 1 1/2 hours.
The vision of the Board of Directors is to have at least 2 to 3 church representatives attend these, as well as the minister if possible. Those in attendance will be able to ask the Rev. Kelly Gallagher, Associate Conference Minister, and the Board of Directors questions regarding church issues. Participants will also be in informed on how the conference and association can help churches with their mission.
Please see the list of association events for the cluster meetings that have been scheduled, there is a link for registration.
If your church was unable to attend their scheduled cluster meeting, please contact the association office to sign up for any of the other meetings!
Please contact the association office with any questions. 508-963-8106 or
holmesd@macucc.org.
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Invite Kelly to your church council meeting!
Would you like to have Kelly Gallagher at your council meeting so that you can ask her a question? You can ask Kelly about what is going on in the Central Association, what programs the Conference might have available, or are you discussing policies? Kelly is available to join your meeting
via the web! Invite Kelly to attend your meeting for 5 minutes, 15 minutes, up to 30 minutes so that she can help answer those questions and many more for you! Your church would need to have internet and a computer available and Kelly will
join your meeting remotely.
To find out more or to schedule a WEB meeting, please contact the association office at 508-963-8106 or
holmesd@macucc.org
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| MAY ORDINATION ANNIVERSARIES |
40 Years
The Rev. Dr. Alexander W. Hunter
35 Years
The Rev. Ms. Madelyn F. Hennessey
Please contact Deb Holmes if we have missed your anniversary. Anniversaries are listed from 5 years and forward in increments of 5.
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IMPORTANT ASSOCIATION DATES
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First Congregational Church UCC
1 Church Street
Paxton, MA 01612
6:30PM - 8:00PM
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Ordination
Christian Union Church
37 West Main Street/Rte. 225
West Groton, MA 01472
3:00PM
May 24, 2017
UCC Congregational of Boxborough
723 Mass. Avenue
Boxborough, MA 01719
June 4, 2017
Ordination
First Congregational Church of
West Boylston
26 Central Street
West Boylston, MA 01583
3:00pm
June 7,2017
First Congregational Church
20 Main Street
Brimfield, MA 01010
6:30PM - 8:00PM
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October Super Saturday
Workshop Proposals
Deadline to submit is
May 31, 2017!
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June 16-17, 2017
Connecticut Convention Center
100 Columbus Blvd
Hartford, CT 06103
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Arts on the Green
"Cross Currents" Chamber Music
First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury
19 Church Road
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Saturday, May 13th @ 7:00PM
Flautist Kathleen Boyd, clarinetist Thomas Hill and pianist Randall Hodgkinson join mezzosoprano D'Anna Fortunato in music spanning the European and American cultures, including works by Bach, Bernstein, Copland, Corigliano, and Mozart, as well as entertaining settings of passages from "Canterbury Tales" by the father of English literature, the medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer.
Free admission with donations welcome ($10 general admission, $5 students)
Arts on the Green is a community outreach of First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury,
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THE OPIOID CRISIS: HOW WE RECOVER TOGETHER
Edwards Church
297 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
A Community Dinner and Panel Presentation
Monday, May 15, 6-8 pm
In the midst of the opioid crisis, we can empower hope and healing for our families, friends and neighbors. Come to Edwards Church, Northampton, on May 15 to share a meal, hear from specialists in substance use prevention, treatment and family support and get your questions answered. Along with the general public, we especially welcome people in recovery. We are committed to building a strong community of support for all. The evening is free of charge and is cosponsored by Edwards Church, Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Hampshire HOPE, the coalition of Hampshire County agencies that work together on the opioid crisis. To reserve your place for dinner, you must RSVP to Rev. Susan Grant Rosen: susangr3@gmail.com; 413-247-6337. FLYER
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Attention: Clergy and Laity Interested in Church Renewal!
Living as New Creations: Workshop with Carol Howard Merritt
First Church of Christ in Longmeadow
763 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Tuesday, May 16th
9:30AM - 11:30AM
This workshop is sponsored by the Hampden Association of MACUCC and is open to ALL. Registration is appreciated, but not necessary. Register by email to:
revjan@faithunitedchurch.net
More About Carol:
Rev. Carol Howard Merritt is the award-winning author of Healing Spiritual Wounds: Reconnecting with a Loving God after Experiencing a Hurtful Church (HarperOne), Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation(Alban) and Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Generation (Alban) and a frequent contributor to books, websites, magazines, and journals. She is a Senior Consultant for Center for Progressive Renewal and a blogger at the Christian Century. She's a Presbyterian (USA) minister whose writing, speaking, and teaching is anchored in theological and sociological insight. Visit:
http://www.carolhowardmerritt.org/
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The Plymouth Church in Framingham and The Africa Exchange Project present:
"Unexpected: An Evening of Dinner and Storytelling"
The Plymouth Church in Framingham
87 Edgell Road
Framingham, MA 01701
Saturday, May 20 @ 6:00PM
If you enjoy programs like The Moth, with "true stories told live," then this is your night! The story theme for the evening is "Unexpected" and features experienced storytellers from Fugitive Stories. Our tellers include a Moth StorySLAM Champion, a Massmouth Grand Champion Finalist, and a WGBH Featured Storyteller.
The evening will provide an opportunity to welcome Mr. Shadrack Nyaulingo, an educator who is visiting the Metrowest area this month. His visit is sponsored by the Africa Exchange Project, which supports the installation of fresh water wells, builds schools and supports school programs, and assists with healthcare in the rural villages in Tanzania. While here, Mr. Shadrack will visit area schools, houses of worship, and community organizations to provide a firsthand report on the successes and continuing challenges engaged in through this collaboration. You can learn more about this work at the project website: www.africaexchangeproject.org.
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Massachusetts Convention of
Congregational Ministers
Spring 2017 Meeting
Thursday, May 25th
10 am to 1pm
South Congregational Church
45 Maple St., Springfield
Summer Barth Session for Pastors
June 12th thru June 13th
First Church and Parish in Dedham
670 High Street
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Pizza! Pizza!
First Parish Church
24 Central Street
Berlin, MA 01503
Second Friday of each Month
First Parish Church offers homemade pizza for take-out or dining in at the Pizza Buffet every second Friday of the month. Pizza Buffet includes: drink, salad, all-you-can-eat pizza, and dessert! $9/adult, $5/kids 12 & under. Take out pizza's are 14" pies: $12-cheese, $13-very veggie, $13-pepperoni, and $14-specials! The special for January is: Korean Beef, Sun-dried tomatoes and Feta with spinach.
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Pastoral Counseling Centers of Massachusetts
The Pastoral Counseling Center is excited to announce two new therapists who are joining the center on November 1, 2016.
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LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS, FOOD PANTRIES,
& COMMUNITY DINNERS
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Barre Congregational Church
30 Park Street
Barre, MA 01005
Community friendship supper in Fellowship Hall at 5:30PM on the 3rd Thursday of each month. A free will offering is available, but not required.
First Congregational Church
307 Boston Road
Sutton, MA 01590
2nd Saturday of each month.
4:30PM - 6:00PM
The church hosts their monthly dinner with a free will offering. All are welcome.
Southbridge
Congregational Church
61 Elm Street
Southbridge, MA 01550
4th Saturday of each month.
4:30PM - 6:00PM
Free Community Dinner
Free will donations accepted. Please use the Park St. entrance.
United Parish of Upton
1 Church Street
Upton, MA 01568
3rd Thursday of the
month at 5:30PM.
All are welcome to our Community Supper.
Congregational
Church of Christ
583 Main Street
Leominster, MA 01453
3rd Saturday of the
month 4 - 6PM
Sept. thru May (except Dec.)
Buffet style menu varies from ham, turkey, roast beef, or stuffed chicken with all of the fixings. $9 all you can eat. Contact the church for more information: 978-537-7054
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First Congregational Church
207 Main Street
Spencer, MA 01562
Wed's:8AM-Noon
Thurs: 8AM-2PM &
6PM-8PM
Friday's: 8AM-Noon
Congregational Church of Grafton
30 Grafton Common
Grafton, MA 01519
Thurs: 10AM-4PM
Sat: 10AM-4PM
Clothing, books, toys,
housewares, etc.
Trinity Church Northborough
23 Main Street
Northborough, MA 01532
Tuesday:
10:00AM - 3:00PM
Saturday: 10:00 - 1:00PM
First Congregational Church of West Boylston
26 Central Street
West Boylston, MA 01583
Wed's: 9:30AM - 2:00PM
Sat's: 9:30AM - 12:30PM
First Parish Church in Berlin
24 Central Street
Berlin, MA 01503
Tues: 10:00 - 2:00
Thurs: 10:00 - 2:00 & 7:00-9:00
1st & 3rd Sat's: 10:00 - 2:00
Deacon's Closet Thrift Store
Cong'l Church of Christ
583 Main Street
Leominster, MA 01453
Saturday's 9:00 - Noon
First Congregational Church
of Westminster
138 Main Street
Westminster, MA 01473
Tues & Thurs: 2:00 - 4:00
2nd Saturday of the month
10:00 - 1:00
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Barre Congregational Church
30 Park Street
Barre, MA 01005
2nd Wed. of each month.
Greendale People's Church
25 Francis Street
Worcester, MA 01606
Every Wed. 11AM-1PM
First Congregational Church
of West Boylston
26 Central Street
West Boylston, MA 01583
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Prepare now for
November 3-4, 2017
ReachOut Worcester is an overnight immersion program offered in partnership with Worcester Fellowship, that gives youth (ages 13 and up) and their leaders the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the social issues and assets of urban communities like Worcester, while engaging in hands-on service with fellow community members. ROW will be offered on November 18-19, 2016. This event will be "sold out", so please plan accordingly. Registration will be closed once we have 4 groups or 30 youths registered, whichever comes first.
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The Rev. Warren Hicks, Executive Director and Pastor for Worcester Fellowship, is available to visit, preach, lead a Sunday forum, or Sunday school to talk about the ministry of Worcester Fellowship in particular the issues of Spiritual Companioning with the marginalized in our towns and cities through the summer (except August), Fall and Winter. Please contact Rev. Hicks at pastor@worcesterfellowship.org for more information.
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Featuring this Spring and Summer..."work camp" with Matthew25.
During Saturdays in the Spring and weekdays in the summer, groups are invited to assist in the process of renovating previously run-down and/or condemned properties that have been acquired by the private, non-profit group Matthew 25; properties that are ultimately rented to low-income families at a percentage of their income, not only helping families in need but improving the immediate neighborhood and the city as a whole.
This spring and summer, help is needed to complete the laying of a brick patio around the perimeter of a recently completed home that is now occupied by renters. Help is also needed this spring for the grounds clearing of a newly acquired property, and with the siting, building and pouring of foundation forms at that property this summer. Youth and adults ages 13 and up are invited to participate in these efforts.
Let us know that you're interested by emailing mary@wamsworks.org, and we can then work together with Matthew25 to identify what day or days your group would like to come. Sometimes groups are interested in staying overnight at a host church.... If your church is in Worcester and would like to serve as a host to another group, let us know that too!
More Information
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Want to learn more about the Resolution for Life Without Opportunity for Parole?
At the 217th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference in June 2016, there was a hearing on the Resolution for Life Without Opportunity for Parole. A vote will be taken next year (2017) on this resolution, which calls for all Massachusetts sentences to include an opportunity for a parole hearing. From now until June 2017, we would like to talk to Conference churches about the resolution. If you are interested in having us come to your church, please contact Charla Kouadio at
ckouadio1122@gmail.com or Jonathan Tetherly at
jctkht1104@yahoo.com. We hope to hear from you. Use this
link for more information.
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To view all of the MACUCC Obituaries, please click
here.
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The Committee on Ministry
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 9:30AM.
The Board of Director's
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 2:30PM
Both meetings take place at:
6 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609
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Association/Conference Fellowship Dues for 2017
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The Annual Fellowship Dues for churches that are not part of United Church Mission are:
Conference portion: $19.00
Association portion:
$ 1.65
Total per member: $20.65
For more information on
Fellowship Dues, click
here.
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