Tamara Moreland Sabbatical Coverage Announced
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“The Rev. Tamara Moreland, Regional Minister for the Northwest Central Region, is heading into her much-deserved sabbatical leave,” Conference Minister the Rev. Kent Siladi said. “I am pleased to announce that Rev. Rhonda Myers will cover Rev. Moreland’s Region during her sabbatical and partial vacation leave of June 24-October 8th.
"Rev. Myers will continue to serve as the part-time pastor of United Congregational Church in Torrington. Rev. Myers brings wisdom and wider church experience to this position and I am grateful that she is taking on this new Conference leadership role for the sabbatical leave. I look forward to working with her in this new short-term capacity,” Siladi said.hristian ministry, life, and witness that is done outside the church setting as an expression of one’s faith.
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Setting Aside Old Boundaries to Offer an Unconditional Welcome
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By The Rev. Max Grant, senior pastor at Second Congregational Church of Greenwich
The word that gets me in the proposed vision statement for the new, unified Conference is “unconditionally.”
The statement affirms, “that the local church exists to make disciples of Jesus, and we welcome all people unconditionally (my italics) to share in this calling.”
Unconditionally.
I think I know what we probably mean by that.
In a world where so many expressions of the Christian faith place significant conditions on who can proclaim the Gospel, and even on who has the “right” to call themselves Christian, we want to be Christians who leave that kind of parsing to God alone.
That sounds like us, all right. I like that about us. Always have.
But it’s a word that ought to convict us, too, and I feel as if I am only just beginning to see that.
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Annual Meeting Hotel Discount Deadline Today;
Registration Deadline June 1
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Two of the hotels with blocks of rooms reserved for the June 15 - 16 Annual Meeting in Springfield have been fully booked, and the deadline for a guaranteed rate at a third is tomorrow.
The meeting will be the second time that the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences will meet jointly. At this meeting, delegates of the three conferences will be asked to officially create a new, unified conference by approving a covenant agreement, set of new bylaws, establishing a unified Board of Directors, electing officers, and making minor changes to their existing bylaws.
The meeting will also feature dynamic worship and a keynote address by the Rev. Traci Blackmon (pictured), Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ,
The registration deadline for the meeting is June 1st.
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Wins, Losses, in CT Legislative Session
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The state's legislative session has ended and on five of the issues, Connecticut Conference leaders got their wishes.
The Conference's Legislative Advocate, Michele Mudrick - who is guided in her work by the
resolutions adopted at Annual Meetings
- reports the following:
- "Conference clergy were instrumental in helping lawmakers in CT agree to restore funding for the HUSKY A Medicaid program in the budget," Mudrick said. "More than 200 CTUCC clergy signed on to a letter for this concern and the letter was delivered to legislators."
- More than 200 clergy also signed onto a letter in favor of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. That letter was submitted, along with testimony from Mudrick, to support legislation that opens financial aid in the state to “dreamers,” the undocumented immigrants brought here as children. That bill passed.
- House Bill 5542 passed, banning the sale, transfer, possession, manufacturing or use of bump stocks or other accessories to increase the rate of fire of a firearm. Mudrick had submitted testimony in favor of this bill.
- Senate Bill 9 passed, supporting the implementation of legislation to help achieve state mandated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and in support of the increase of renewable energy resources in the state. This was supported by Mudrick, Pam Arifian, the Director of the Northeast Environmental Justice Center at Silver Lake, and others.
In addition to the legislation that did pass, Mudrick expressed gratitude for something that did not: HB 5305, which would have dramatically increase casino gambling int he state. Mudrick and the Coalition Against Casino Expansion in CT (CACE) had actively opposed the bill.
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Churches Encouraged to Take Special Offering May 20
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CTUCC Churches are being encouraged to take a special
Strengthen the Church
offering on or around Pentecost Sunday, May 20.
Strengthen the Church
is one of the four special OCWM offerings of the United Church of Christ, but it is being structured differently this year. Ninety percent of the money raised will remain in the Connecticut Conference, and will be used to support Silver Lake Conference Center, Youth and Young Adult Ministries and Faith Formation Ministries in the Conference; the remaining 10 percent will be shared with the national setting's
Strengthen the Church
initiatives.
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Many Voices, One Mission:
Collaborating In Covenant
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By
Debby Kirk, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Connecticut Conference, UCC
You can picture the scene. A Pastor cradles a child in her arms and reaches to the font. The bright eyes of the infant seem to take in the significance of the blessing. The beaming parents and family members look on with pride. Then the congregation stands to surround the child and family with love and prayers of commitment. This ritual of baptism is a sacred moment in the life of the church.
Through the years, a local church will teach that child in word and example. The little one will be wrapped in a fabric of rich experiences that form their identity as children of God. There will be classes and conversations; worship and service; and celebrations and consolations with trusted mentors. Parents and church community will weave together a tapestry of support that will help children grow in wisdom and stature. The blessing of a caring community will be realized in countless ways.
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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.
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Starting With Scripture:
We Shall Know the Lord is the Lord!
By The Rev. Nina Barlow Schmid, pastor of First Congregational Church of South Windsor, CT
Sometimes, God has to jump start our imaginations, like God did for Ezekiel in his vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones. And, that, it turns out is a good thing. God gets the point across…when it seems all hope, for that matter, all life, is lost, God enacts new life for that “vast multitude.” And they shall know the Lord is the Lord!
“Only the Lord God knows,” as Ezekiel so diplomatically defers when asked if those bones can live. God will act accordingly, but so must Ezekiel by following God’s command to “prophesy to the breath” so that the slain may live. “Imagine this,” God seems to say to Ezekiel!
Our imaginations can run wild without any help from anyone, however.
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Starting with Scripture
is a weekly devotional written by current and former clergy and church leaders of the Connecticut Conference, UCC. Subscribe to receive the reflection each Monday at:
ctucc.org/subscribe
.
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Upcoming Conference Events
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Leading up to the second Tri-Conference Annual Meeting of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences, Conference leaders will be hosting a series of five online forums for discussion about the upcoming votes to formally create a new, unified conference.
Sunday,
May 20
, 4:00 PM
Wednesday,
May 30
, 1:00 PM
Thursday,
June 7
, 7:00 PM
Tuesday,
June 12
, at 7:00 PM
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May 20, 2018 at 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon CT
In addition to tours of the camp and conference center, the newly built high ropes course will be staffed and open to those who would like to climb, and the new disc golf course will be available for those who want to test their skill with a flying disc.
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May 29, 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Online
An opportunity to discuss the four resolutions coming before the 151st Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference UCC.
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June 5, 2018 at 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Lyman Orchards Golf Course, Middlefield
Grab your buddies and your clubs and swing into summer with a day on the links, all while helping to support the Connecticut Conference's vital outdoor ministry. The 12th Annual Silver Lake Golf Tournament
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June 10, 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Immanuel Congregational Church,
Hartford
Interested in learning more about criminal justice reform in Connecticut and how you can get more engaged? Hear from advocates and policy makers, and bring your questions and ideas!
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June 15 - 16
Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, MA
Registration is now open for the second joint Annual Meeting of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences.
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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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July 19 - 22
California University of Pennsylvania, California, PA
The Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island Conferences are collaborating to provide bus service to the event, for youth who have completed 6th grade up to 2018 graduates of 12th grade.
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The Rev. Jesse Glick, Jr. passed away peacefully and unexpectedly at his home on April 29. He had served as sabbatical pastor at First Congregational Church of Portland, where he and his wife, Eloise are members, and at the UCC Church in Chester.
The Rev. Glick spent his life working and advocating for peace and justice issues often with non-profit organizations. He was the tri-state regional director of Church World Service, which brought him to Middletown, Connecticut. In his role at CWS, Jesse traveled throughout Connecticut, downstate New York, and Rhode Island raising awareness of and support for the CWS's hunger and disaster relief aid locally and around the world, in part by organizing hundreds of CROP Walks throughout the region.
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May 19, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham, MA
Learn how empower others to solve their own problems. Led by Rev. Todd Weir and Rev. Jim Latimer.
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May 19 - 25
Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, MA
Because Andover Newton is moving to Yale Divinity School, a selection of some 70,000 books will be available for sale at prices of $3, $5, and $10.
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May 23, 2:00 to 3:00 PM
United Church of Christ General Counsel Heather E. Kimmel will be leading this webinar, sponsored and hosted by the Insurance Board.
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May 31, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Woodridge UCC, Cranston, RI
Rev Susan Cartmell, a Massachusetts Conference UCC minister and author of "Uncommon Preaching," will explore with other clergy her approach to preaching and lead participants through a step by step process to try some new approaches.
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June 4 - 8
Yale Divinity School, New Haven
Why Youth Ministry? A Beacon of Joy in the Midst of Suffering
featuring leading practical theologians and youth workers. Live streaming will be available.
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July 9 - 13
Craigville Retreat Center, Craigville, MA
This year's topic: Building Bridges: Immigrants, Refugees, and the Church. Keynote Speaker: Ms. Linda Hartke, President & CEO, lirs.org, Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service.
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