the weekly emailing
It Was a Super Saturday!
Super Saturday Highlights Video
Super Saturday Highlights Video
Super Saturday Offered a Vision of Heaven, Irish Tradition, and Lots of Learning and Networking
It was quite chilly in Wilbraham, but that didn't stop 600 people from attending Super Saturday at the Minnechaug Regional High School.  And it didn't matter that the event fell on St. Patrick's Day; in fact Conference staff sported green outfits, hats, socks, necklaces, and even dyed hair to celebrate the day.

A large Celtic cross was a focus on the stage, and worship music was provided by three members of Banish Misfortune, who played emotion evoking, traditional Irish music.

Read the Full Story, See Pictures and Videos 
Kent Siladi, Patty Kogut and Barbara Libby

Leaders of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences together raised over $3,700 for their respective ministries through successful social media challenges that required them to go VERY green for St. Patrick's Day.

Connecticut Conference Minister The Rev. Kent Siladi set the bar when he agreed to wear a shamrock suit to Super Saturday if enough people donated to the Friends of the Conference appeal. He ended up raising $2,387 from 53 donors.

The Rev. Patty Kogut, a member of the Massachusetts Conference Board of Directors, donned a full leprechaun suit after raising $726 for the MACUCC Friends of the Conference from 24 donors. Kogut is pastor of the North Congregational Church in Middleborough, MA.

And Rhode Island Conference Minister The Rev. Barbara Libby joined in the fun, dyeing her hair green in exchange for donations to Racial Justice Ministries in that Conference. She pulled in $617 from 23 donors.

March for Our Lives in Washington and Boston
The students and families of  March For Our Lives  will take to the streets all over the country this Saturday, March 24, to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today. 

In Boston, UCC marchers are invited to gather this Saturday, March 24, at the Roxbury Crossing T stop Orange Line. Associate Conference Minister Ellie Richardson will be there with an MACUCC sign by 10:15 AM and will lead the group over to Madison Park High School around 10:40 AM.


Many Voices, One Mission: Stories We Need To Tell
By Drew Page
News & Media Editor for the Connecticut Conference, UCC

I often tell my friends I have the dream job for a journalist because I get to tell good  news, stories about people and churches making a positive impact on the people around them.
 
One great example is the story I wrote about Isaac Monts and Emily McKenna, two colleagues who facilitated a  racial justice training at Southington High School . How many high schools can you name that bring in two individuals from a religious organization to help teachers recognize the racism that exists within their own walls?
 
That story has been read by just over 500 people.
 
You may be asking, "Is that good? How does it compare to other stories the Conference publishes?"
 
Well, the Connecticut Conference has 236 churches with over 60,000 members.
 
Less than 1% of the conference has read the story ... Telling a story is not a challenge; sharing the story to a wider audience is. 
 


Many Voices, One Mission  is a new regular series highlighting the ministries of the  Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences of the United Church of Christ.
Upcoming Conference Events
March 24, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Edwards Church, Northampton
Instructor: Rev. Don Remick

April 7, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Centre Congregational Church, Lynnfield
Instructor: Corey Lincoln
 
Help & Hope: Faith-Based Connections for Disaster Planning, Response & Recovery
April 12, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
The Salvation Army, Canton
Hosted by the Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee under the Massachusetts Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (MA VOAD), the Conference, and the Salvation Army, this summit will offer presentations to introduce attendees to local and regional resources ready to assist in disasters.

April 21, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, 
Framingham
Workshop designed to provide valuable information for middlers or seniors who are ready for the Search & Call process within the United Church of Christ. 
 
Day of Covenant - Specialized Ministry
April 25, 5:30 to 8:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham
Day of Covenant for those clergy in specialized ministries.

Application deadline: June 9
Dancing on the Head of a Pen: A Writer's Workshop for Clergy with Robert Benson
Nov. 12 - 18
Warren Conference Center, Ashland

This workshop will feature teaching sessions with noted writer Robert Benson, time for writing, and evenings spent listening and responding to each others' work.

Free Online Webinars
These webinars and courses are offered free of charge to members of the Massachusetts Conference through a partnership with Practical Resources for Churches. Click the title for a description.  

April 9 - April 30
Join us for this three week BeADisciple.com course as we explore ways to handle the challenges of the 21st century Sunday school such as declining enrollment, erratic attendance, competition with other activities, lack of volunteers, and budget cuts. We'll also talk about the possibility of doing Sunday school a different way or at a different time.
April 10, 7:00 to 8:00 PM
April 17, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Classifieds
Transitions
Other Events of Interest
Registration Now Open
Summer Camp at Silver Lake
June 17 - Aug. 11
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT
Week-long sessions for campers in grades 4 - high school. Come to worship, learn, play, serve, and work together.

March 26, 2018
Boston State House
People from all faith traditions will gather to witness to climate injustice in our state and to speak truth to Governor Baker.

April 6, 2018 - April 8, 2018
Portland, ME
An opportunity to involve women in the pews in learning and sharing their faith beyond the local church and Conference setting.
 
New England Youth Environmental Justice Summit
April 7, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Brookside Congregational Church,
Manchester, NH
For youth in grade 7 and up through college to learn about climate change and efforts to create a just and sustainable future for all! With Jim Antal.

May 18 - 20
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT
Meet other youth who care about the health of their communities, and find out how to take action!

 47th Annual NEAUCE Conference
May 1 - 3
Pilgrim Pines, Swanzey, NH 
'Be Who God Meant You to Be' A conference for anyone who may be a Christian Educator, Youth Leader, Clergyperson, or Lay Person. Includes worship, music, workshops, fellowship, friends, and FUN!

July 29-Aug. 4
Pilgrim Lodge, West Gardiner, ME 
Camp Pride, a week-long residential camp for LGBTQ youth and their allies, exists as a space for LGBT youth to explore their identities, their faiths, and themselves, in addition to all the regular summer camp activities.
The Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ
508-875-5233
macucc@macucc.org
http://www.macucc.org