Watch a Christmas Greeting by Conference Minister the Rev. Kent Siladi on behalf of the Connecticut Conference staff

Connecticut and Massachusetts Conference Staffers Take Part in Border Demonstration

Written by Connie Larkman
United Church News

They lined up as far as the eye could see. Over 400 clergy and migrant justice supporters from a number of interfaith traditions, united by the sacred texts to love their neighbors and welcome the stranger, moved in a solemn procession from San Ysidro to Tijuana on December 10, risking arrest to affirm that love knows no borders.

“I have found a ray of hope. It came at the border where faith leaders from all over the country have come to speak of love,” said the Rev. John Dorhauer, UCC General Minister and President. “Let the immigrant and the refugee, all seeking safe passage to a new land, hear these voices. Let those who wield power also hear this cry for love and justice and act in accordance with it.”

Connecticut Conference Minister The Rev. Kent J. Siladi, Massachusetts Associate Conference Ministers The Rev. Wendy Vander Hart and Kelly The Rev. Kelly Gallagher, and Connecticut Conference Regional Minister The Rev. Mary Nelson - in San Diego for the Authorizing Ministry for the 21st Century (AM21) gathering - took part in the demonstration. None were arrested.

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Many Voices One Mission: Ministry As Art

By Rev. Ryan Gackenheimer is the Executive Director of Silver Lake Conference Center

I have the very unique gift of living my summers in Intentional Christian Community at Silver Lake Conference Center. I live on site with our Silver Lake Summer Staff, who live together in two different housing units. We work side by side. We eat all of our meals together with our campers and volunteers in the Social Hall. We laugh and play together. We worship and sing together. We also make mistakes, both big and small, together. When you live in community like this there are expectations of how we will live. We live in Covenant with one another.

In the midst of all of this joy there are also moments of sadness and disappointment when people choose to break covenant.

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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.

Restoring Hope One Smile at a Time

By Charlie Kuchenbrod, Executive Associate to the Conference Minister

The Conference is organizing a week-long trip to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota from May 11 to May 18, 2019. Simply Smiles, an organization founded by Bryan Nurnberger, who grew up in the Naugatuck UCC congregation, will be our hosts and guides. We will be staying in the town of La Plant, one of the most impoverished places in America, working to restore hope for a better future.

Over the past six years, I have led seven of these service and learning trips and been a participant in two others ... I'll share something from my experience.

Calvin was a quiet 9-year-old when I met him. He liked to help us with when we were working on projects to improve the Community Center. Steve, another trip participant, asked Calvin where he would like to be in ten years. Calvin pondered for a moment and then told us he would like to be alive. Later, Bryan Nurnberger came by and saw that Calvin was enjoying the project work. Bryan told Calvin that if he graduated high school (few in La Plant do) Simply Smiles would provide for his education at a vocational school, so that Calvin could learn carpentry and other building skills. Calvin lit up! It was a grace-filled moment. I still get emotional recalling it.

Starting With Scripture: It's Up To Me

By The Rev. Larissa Forsythe is an Associate Minister at Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, UCC

It's up to me to be faithful to the truth as I understand it and humble enough to acknowledge that there is much more to the world and to truth than I can fathom. It's up to me to love my neighbor - which sometimes looks like showing up to lovingly comfort and sometimes looks like showing up to lovingly confront. Best of all, Zephaniah claims that it's up to me to rejoice and celebrate with God when a glimpse of restoration is illuminated; to dance with God as neighbors near and far come home to one another. This is the hope of Advent: that the healing which seems impossible is just over the horizon, that the Imago Dei which resides in every person can become the driving force for change, and that even in the midst of violence and destruction, God is working out our salvation.

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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.

Does Your Church Have to Pay Tax on the Parking Lot?

There is a new tax rule that may require churches that own parking lots to pay income taxes, especially if they reserve parking spaces for staff.

Frank and Elaine Sommerville of Church Law & Tax explain how churches can determine whether they are subject to the rule in this article: How to Determine Whether or Not You Pay the ‘Parking Lot Tax

Super Saturday Workshop Proposals Now Being Accepted

Workshop proposals are now being accepted for the next Super Saturday, being held March 16, 2019, at Minneachaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, MA.

If you would like to share concepts and practices you’ve developed that are changing your congregation or community’s mission and ministry, we invite you to consider submitting a workshop proposal. As a workshop leader, your registration will be free.

Submission deadline is this month - find out more here.

Upcoming Conference Events

Faith Formation Summit
Feb. 2, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Niantic Community Church, Niantic, CT
The Faith Formation staff of the three southern New England Conferences invite you to join peers and colleagues to "summit" together on this all important work of our congregations, making disciples.

2019 Women Clergy Event: Food for the Journey
Feb. 5, 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
South Congregational Church,
East Hartford, CT
Clergy women are invited to a day of relaxation and prayer. Explore the indoor labyrinth, relax with kinetic sand and soulful music, find time to create in the art space or find silence in the prayer corner.

CT UCC Confirmation Retreats
Feb. 8 - 10
March 1 - 3
April 5 - 7
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon CT
Join us for a great experience with activities, worship, and fellowship appropriate for youth in grades 7-9 during their Confirmation year.

Interfaith Exploration
March 31, 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT
An exploration of the three Abrahamic Religions - Christianity, Islam and Judaism - designed for confirmation classes and youth groups.

Transitions

The following ministerial changes were reported to the Connecticut Conference in November 2018:

Rev. Laura Westby installed at Brookfield as Chaplain at Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, Wallingford
Rev. Calvon Jones was ordained at Trinity UCC, Chicago, IL.
Rev. Madelyn Dana Foster was ordained at North Branford.
Rev. James T. Watson began his term as Senior Pastor at First Ridgefield.
Rev. Olivia Robinson, retired from Kensington.
Rev. Forrest Johnson, pastor at Spring Glen UCC from 1974 – 1978, died Oct. 2

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Classifieds

Interim Director of Music Ministries - Plainville, CT

More: ctucc.org/classifieds

Other Events of Interest

Webinar: From Climate Reports to Moral Imperatives
Jan. 9, 1:00 PM
Online
A couple of major climate reports have been released that highlight the impact of climate change on our world. To help faith communities understand the insights of these reports and the moral imperatives that arise from them, we will have three special guests: Katharine Hayhoe, Naomi Oreskes, and Jim Antal.

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.