By Karen Methot

Community – that basic human impulse to be part of a group, particularly one that understands your struggles and offers support and friendship. The LGBT Asylum Task Force of Hadwen Park Congregational Church (UCC) in Worcester understands the need for community, which is behind our dream to purchase a multi-family dwelling that will house half of the asylum seekers we assist at any given time.

Following our annual Gala on Oct. 27 at the DCU Center (theme: “A Place to Call Home”) the task force is close to realizing that dream. After the dust settled and all donations were counted, we learned earlier this week that we had in fact surpassed our goal and raised $150,032. Because these funds qualify for the financial match offered by a generous donor earlier this year, we now have $300,032 with which to purchase a 3-decker in Worcester. A Neighbors in Need grant received last December will provide welcome extra funds toward the purchase.

Read the full post

The Parish Paper: How to Develop Habits for Well-Being

Seminaries and social work programs often ask their students to create a self-care plan. Not only does this send a message about self-care while pursuing a degree, ordination, or certification, it also makes clear that self-care is a life-long commitment for those who serve the church and others.   High demands and weak support systems can foster a toxic environment for clergy health. Therefore, some experts see a problem with the idea of self-care, which suggests that responsibility for clergy well-being falls entirely on the pastor. Clergy health and well-being involve three systems: the individual pastor’s lifestyle, family and friends, and the congregation or denomination. Although all three systems share responsibility, this issue focuses on the role of clergy.

Read more

Many Voices One Mission: Actions Matter, Now

By Pam Arifian, Director of UCC Northeast Environmental Justice Center. It might seem daunting to imagine how are world might function with the necessary changes in fossil fuel consumption, but we’ve only powered our economy with fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution. We know better now that our actions are creating great suffering across God’s Creation, and most devastatingly to those who have contributed least to the problem. It is beyond time to be revolutionary again. The good news is that the innovative human spirit and the technology exists to support this revolution, now. What a time to be alive!  Read more Many Voices, One Mission is a regular series highlighting the ministries of the CT, MA, and RI Conference of the United Church of Christ.

By Kim Murphy, a member of the MACUCC Disaster Resource Team

When we are faced with an emergency or weather event that mandates the evacuation from our homes, we often have very little to no time in which to gather and pack the items needed to make our stay in a shelter or the home of a family member or friend as manageable and stress-free as possible. That is why every member of the family is encouraged to have a “go kit” ready to, well, go.

Just as people should have “go kits,” our pets need “go kits,” as well.

Read more