Racial Justice Team Brings Training To Public Schools
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SOUTHINGTON -- Faculty, staff, and a group of students at Southington High School departed from their usual focus on instruction and assessment to take a hard look at racism in the school.
Led by Isaac Monts, Associate for Justice and Leadership for the Connecticut Conference, UCC, and Emily McKenna, Office Manager for the conference and one of the conference’s Racial Justice Facilitators, the teachers and staff of the public school took a rare step in identifying racism and learning to engage in racial justice.
In early January, Monts facilitated Racial Justice Training for 25 youth from the high school’s Multi-Cultural Club. The students visited First Congregational Church of Southington to engage in a 2-hour training designed to help them learn common language, unmask racism in everyday life, and encourage long-term participation in racial justice efforts. The program, adapted from the standard training to offer something more secular for a school setting, covered the four realms of racism — personal, interpersonal, cultural, and institutional racism — as well concepts of micro-aggressions and the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Photo: McKenna (front left) and Monts (front right) with youth during a Racial Justice Training event.
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Super Saturday Features Jacqui Lewis
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"Even in these wilderness times, in times of violence, even now our destination is love. Love that lasts. Love like God's love." Rev. Jacqui Lewis
Rev. Jacqui Lewis pastors a congregation in New York City that is said to have diversity that looks like the subway, but its legendary love feels like home. In every aspect of the ministry at Middle Collegiate, love is the center, love is the grounding, love is the mission. It matters not what your faith tradition is, or is not. It matters not what the color of your skin or your country of origin is. It matters not how old or young you are. It matters not weather you are straight or gay, trans, bi or questioning, single or committed. You are truly welcome at Middle Collegiate. This faith community lives and shares the love of God within the walls of the church as well as on the streets in their community.
Come to
Super Saturday on March 17
at Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, and be inspired by Jacqui and many other workshop presenters who will share their gifts as we seek to Live the Love and Justice of Jesus.
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Online Registration Open for Second
Tri-Conference Meeting
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Online registration is now open for the second Tri-Conference Annual Meeting, to be held June 15 & 16 at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA.
At this meeting, delegates of the Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island conferences will be asked to officially create a new, unified conference by approving a set of new bylaws, establishing a unified Board of Directors, electing officers, and making minor changes to their existing bylaws. They will also conduct the business of the individual conferences.
The meeting will feature dynamic worship and a keynote address by the
Rev. Traci Blackmon
, the Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ, and Senior Pastor of Christ The King UCC in Florissant, Missouri.
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Editor's Note: These are the last editions of
The Spirit Calendar
and
Spirited Wednesday.
Beginning Monday, March 5, a new weekly devotional called
Starting With Scripture
will be published featuring the same authors who have shared their wisdom and insight through the
Spirited Wednesday
devotions for many years.
On Wednesday, March 7, a new weekly blog,
Many Voices, One Mission
, will be launched. This series of reflections will be written by staff members of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences.
Watch this space beginning next week to read these new publications.
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Spirit Calendar: Just Anger
Jennifer Kronholm Clark
writes:
"I don’t usually think of anger as being a useful tool in leading a Christian life, but this passage shows how anger for the right reason can help bring attention to injustice."
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Spirited Wednesday:
Zeal for Our Democracy
The Rev. Frank Basler
writes:
"If you are like me, you’re feeling pretty powerless."
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Sign up for Connecticut Women’s Newsletter
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Get information about Connecticut Women of the UCC delivered right to your inbox! This includes news about upcoming meetings, retreats and special events, such as the New England Women’s Celebration X in Portland Maine in April.
The Communicator is published three times each year: Sept., Nov/Dec. and Feb.
To be added to the list, contact Pam DiDio, secretary to the State Board of Connecticut Women at the Conference by email,
pamd@ctucc.org
, or by phone, 860-761-7101. Leave your name and email address. Anyone without a computer should be encouraged to send their name and address to: Pam DiDio, c/o CTWUCC, 125 Sherman Street, Hartford, CT 06105.
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Registration Now Open for Buses
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The Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island Conferences are collaborating to provide bus service to the
Eastern Regional Youth Event
being held
July 19 - 22 at the California University of Pennsylvania.
This event is for youth who have completed 6th grade up to 2018 graduates of 12th grade. Features dynamic worship, service work in the community, workshops on social justice and more.
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Upcoming Conference Events
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March 9-11
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon
A great experience with activities, worship and fellowship appropriate for youth in grades 7 - 9 during their Confirmation year!
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Registration Deadline March 8th
March 17, 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM
Minnechaug Regional High School,
Wilbraham, MA
A full day of workshops, networking a marketplace and address by the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, pastor of Middle Collegiate Church in New York City and co-founder of The Middle Project.
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March 23 - 25
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon
From tap to table, experience nature's renewal and its sweet gifts at Silver Lake!
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April 8, 1:30 to 3:30 PM
Harford Seminary, Hartford
The Connecticut Conference in partnership with Hartford Seminary offers this introduction to the three major world religions. Meet with seminary students to compare faith practices and traditions for Islam, Judaism and Christianity. There will be a panel presentation, followed by activity stations, and refreshments.
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April 11, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Hartford Seminary, Hartford
A workshop with the Rev. Peter Miano, Executive Director, The Society for Biblical Studies. He has over 25 years of experience as a missionary and teacher in the Holy Land.
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April 20 - 22
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon
A weekend of exploration and restoration with a focus on using our bodies and voices as meditation in order to arrive at deeper peace and understanding.
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April 22, 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Faith Congregational Church, Hartford
dynamic worship service that will your renew your spirit. For all youth in grades 5 and up and their pastors, parents, or adult leaders.
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April 28, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Mystic Congregational Church, Mystic
"I was in jail and you visited me." Five panelists will address various topics dealing with incarceration; time for questions and answers. After lunch, there will be a 90th celebration highlighting clergy women leaders.
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Registration Now Open!
May 18 - 20
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon
An intentionally diverse conference for youth in grades 9 to 12 who care about the health of their communities.
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June 27 - 30
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon
Join fellow clergy for reflection, renewal, and worship in the woods.
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Local Churches in the News
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The "Mother of Dixwell Avenue United Church of Christ," 103-year-old Annie Louther, has been presented with an all-new Woman of Distinction Award by the West Haven Black Coalition.
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Rev. Sarah Verasco of the First Congregational Church during her Sunday service called on all residents to reconsider gun ownership, to think about what it actually means to own a weapon today.
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March 3, 7:00 to 8:30 PM
John P. Webster Library, First Church,
West Hartford
Noted author, speaker, and independent scholar will be the first speaker in this lecture series; she will also preach at the church March 4.
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March 6, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford
Sponsored by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, designed to be beneficial for clergy members and laypersons who seek to better understand congregational dynamics.
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March 14,12:00 to 8:30 PM
Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford
One month after the shootings in Florida, The Episcopal Church in Connecticut is inviting everyone to join them for a day of lamentation, confession, fasting, contrition and action. The day will include discussion and the identification of action steps.
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March 14, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Hartford Seminary, Hartford
Two films produced by the Interfaith Network on Drone Warfare will be screened and several presenters featured.
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April 6 - 8, 2018
Portland, Maine
A chance for women to learn and share their faith beyond the local church and Conference setting. Includes numerous workshops and addresses by the Rev. Traci Blackmon, the Rev. Sarah Buteux, Leslie Adelson Lewin and others.
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April 23 - 25
Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham, MA
Designed to offer clergy the opportunity for refreshment and renewal. Facilitated by: The Rev. Deborah Roy, Spiritual Director
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April 20 - 23
Washington DC area
Through prayer, worship, advocacy training, and networking, we will seek policy changes that advance hope and overcome the devastating impacts of conflict, climate change and corruption on God’s people. Scholarships available for young adults - application deadline is March 2.
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April 22, 3:00 to 4:00 PM
First Congregational Church of Southington
The Milton and Katherine Chaffee Lecture on the Future of the Church this year will feature The Rev. Dorhauer, author, theologian and current General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ.
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