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The Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences are now sharing an email newsletter platform. To subscribe to publications from any of the three conferences, visit our subscription page.


Many Voices One Mission: It Happens Outside

By Jennifer Kronholm Clark, Program Director at Silver Lake Conference Center

The best days “at the office” in my line of work take me completely out of the office. Outdoor ministry happens outside, and I find myself pulled away from my desk: to the ropes course, to the lake, to the campfire ring.
 
Silver Lake is a beautiful slice of God’s Creation, and it’s my job to share it with others.
 
During the summer, the young people who come to Silver Lake get to experience nature unplugged. We have no cell service on site, and we don’t offer WiFi time. I always enjoy reading their end-of-the-week evaluations, where they exclaim, “You CAN live without your phone!”

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Many Voices, One Mission is a regular series highlighting the ministries of the CT, MA, and RI Conference of the United Church of Christ.
 


We’re In The Armor

Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness… - Ephesians 6

By The Rev. Brendan Curran, Associate Minister at the Barrington Congregational Church UCC in Barrington, RI

In our current time, speaking out for justice and bearing witness might seem like daunting and overwhelming work, and yet we are called to declare justice boldly.  We must speak.  St. Paul’s words speak to the church today.  Hearing St. Paul’s words we are reminded that as the Body of Christ in the world our legacy, our purpose, and our mission continues to be what he identifies as a holy struggle against oppressive rulers and authorities.  We have nothing to fear.  We have no reason to be afraid or shy or sheepish about speaking out for justice and struggling against the powers of the present darkness because in our ministry of living the love and justice of Jesus, we are dressed in the armor of God and protected by the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. 

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Starting With Scripture: The Beginning of the Birthpangs

By The Rev. Cheryl Anderson, Pastor of First Congregational Church of Washington

Through all history, there have been signs of “the end.” Climate change related disasters, the refugee crisis, rampant sexual abuse, white nationalism, and the Pacific garbage patch make Mark’s “earthquakes, wars and rumors of war” sound tame. Mark’s word to any of us who are tempted to give in to despair, is “the end is not yet.” No matter how we try to decode the signs of the time, it isn’t given to us to know the end of the story until we get there. “Therefore,” he says later, “we must keep alert.” A monk of the ancient Carthusian sect said, about our desire to know the future: “The darkness of the future is the necessary space for the exercise of our liberty and our faith.”

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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.


Upcoming Conference Events

Authorized Ministers Luncheon
Dec. 4, 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Four Points by Sheraton Meriden

Join us as we celebrate the 25th & 50th Ordination Anniversaries of Authorized Ministers who have guided our churches and congregations, been leaders in our Conference, who have been chaplains and educators in our communities, and who have faithfully served the United Church of Christ.  Featuring Keynote Speaker The Rev. Kaji Spellman Douša, Senior Pastor of The Park Avenue Christian Church in Manhattan “The Park”.

Read more and register


 

InnoJazz
Nov. 20, 3:30 to 4:10 PM
Online

Kintsugi: An innovation session to  foster creative thinking, led by Susan Townsley.

 

Zip Equip
Dec. 4, 3:30 to 4:10 PM
Online

Brainstorm by Questions, a conversation designed to support church leaders by providing some of the best thinking from the organizational development and change management world. 


Classifieds

Part Time Admin Assistant - CT Conference UCC
This position is a part-time position (25 hours per week) which provides administrative and program support to three ministries of the Conference.  The main components of the position include support for the Regional Ministers, the Racial Justice Ministry and the Consolidated Trust Fund.

More: ctucc.org/classifieds


Other Events of Interest

Non-Directive Coaching Skills Basics for Busy Pastors
Jan. 29, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Edwards House Meeting Center, Framingham, MA

Led by Rev. Todd Weir and Rev. Jim Latimer, who teach how to listen powerfully and not give advice. 

 
 
 

Connecticut Conference, UCC
125 Sherman Street, Hartford, CT 06105
Toll Free in CT: 866.367.2822 | 860.233.5564