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UCC Bridgeport Envisions Big Impact
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By Drew Page, News & Media Editor for the CT Conference, UCC.
When Rev. Sara Smith arrived in at United Congregational Church of Bridgeport in 2009, she recalls there wasn’t much happening. The church was struggling with the expenses of a large building and a decreasing membership. Understanding that the church cannot work toward its own self-interest, Smith began a ministry that focuses on “listening to what the world needs.”
“If we do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll be fine,” says Smith, 10 years later.
Finding out what “we’re supposed to do” isn’t necessarily easy, but Smith and members of UCC Bridgeport began small. Located in the heart of Bridgeport, a stone’s throw from Interstate 95, there were plenty of things “to do.”
The congregation began feeding, sheltering, and clothing people in need, organizing through a non-profit organization in 2010 called the Norma F. Pfriem Urban Outreach Initiatives, now called nOURish BRIDGEPORT, Inc. (caps intentional). These volunteer-driven, direct services reinvented the church.
But they still could not afford the building.
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Guilford Church Hosts Criminal Justice Conference
By Grace O'Connor, CTUCC Intern, Urban Semester program
On Saturday, February 5th, First Congregational Church of Guilford, CT hosted a program entitled “Just Mercy: Community Resettlement After Prison”. Several different organizations involved in bringing about justice for current and former inmates gave presentations regarding their work. The event was well-attended by a mixture of parishioners from First Congregational, others involved in criminal justice work, and members of the general public.
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Starting With Scripture: Collaboration and Communication
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By Drew Page, News & Media Editor for the CT Conference, UCC.
In school, I never liked partner or team projects… except once. In 11th grade, my friend Dan and I designed a model of the effects of a nuclear explosion on an a city, complete with a butane-torched sculpture of what happens to a car 4 miles away from the blast (using a Hot Wheels model). Dan and I met at his house a bunch of times and created a model, prepared a written and oral report, and even played a recording of “Russians” by Sting during our presentation to class. The project was well received. Dan and I worked well together.
But I still wonder about collaboration. Much of the research I’ve seen on team work and collaboration talks about the benefits of shared resources, multiple perspectives, and the added-value of skill sets. But there is also another side: the overload of certain skilled individuals and a potential inefficiency of time that collaboration can cause. But there is another aspect to collaboration that the research doesn’t often address, or when it does, treats it like a separate topic: Communication.
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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.
A Visit to the Capitol
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By Grace O'Connor, CTUCC Intern, Urban Semester program
Thanks to CTUCC’s Legislative Advocate, Michele Mudrick, I recently had the opportunity to visit the legislative office building in Hartford for the first time. Not only did Michele serve as a tour guide for the building, showing me places such as where press conferences and public hearings are held, but she was kind enough to allow me to accompany her to some meetings as an observer.
Before our first formal meeting, Michele introduced me to Reverend Dick Allen of the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, who was joining us for our meeting with Representative Jill Barry. As someone who works closely with his congregation, Dick offered an important perspective for our discussion with Jill, because he has a deep understanding of how social justice issues affect individuals and their families directly.
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Starting With Scripture: The Level Place
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By The Rev. Jonathan Chapman, pastor of Westfield Congregational Church in Killingly, CT
We often read scripture like a guide book—at least for us ministers. And usually, we focus on the big picture advice: feed the hungry, tend to the sick, comfort the dying. You know the stuff. But rarely do we find practical advice—the how-to's of taking care of each other. Every once in a while, though, we find a little tidbit of that on-the-ground, here’s-how-to-do it direction. And here in Luke, we get just that.
We’ve made it to Luke’s version of the beatitudes—a litany of those big picture goals for ministry and caring for each other. But the practical advice isn’t found in those—it’s found before them, in the set up for some of the most recognizable verses in all the gospels. “He came down with them and stood on a level place,” Luke tells us.
That’s it. That’s the advice: come down and stand on a level place with the people you’ve been called to love, care for, hold, and work alongside.
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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.
Conference Events
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Peace Works: Silver Lake Summer Camp
June - August, 2019
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon CT
Registration is now open for campers in grades 4 - 12 to encounter God's love in creation; and to learn how to bring that love and justice into the world.
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Youth Racial Justice Program
Feb. 15 - 16
Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, CT
Our goal is to unmask the covert forms of racism that live within our country, and shed light on information that is commonly unknown in the younger generation
TAWFG Apprenticeship Deadline
Feb. 15
Middle and high school youth, and college age young adults, are invited to apply for this job-shadow program.
InnoJazz: Wonderful Little World
Feb. 19, 3:30 PM to 4:10 PM
Online
An online session in which participants will be lead through a process using improv rules to discover what new possibilities creative thinking can open up in their ministries.
Celebrating Faith Milestones: Connecting Generations in Joy
Feb. 28, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
First Congregational Church of Southington, CT
Come and explore ways to incorporate this meaningful faith formation activity into your ministry.
CTUCC Confirmation Retreats
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.
Zip Equip: Kolb's experiential learning model
March 5, 3:30 PM to 4:10 PM
Online
Zip Equip is designed to support church leaders by providing some of the best thinking from the organizational development and change management world.
Super Saturday
March 16, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbraham, MA
Registration Now Open! A full day of worship, workshops and networking with keynote by Rebekah Anderson.
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InnoJazz: 10 Nouns 10 Verbs
March 19, 3:30 PM to 4:10 PM
Online
An online session in which participants will be lead through a process using improv rules to discover what new possibilities creative thinking can open up in their ministries.
2019 Maple Sugaring
March 22 - 24
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT
From tap to table, experience nature’s renewal and its sweet gifts at Silver Lake. For 6th - 8th graders.
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.
Counselor Retreat at Silver Lake
April 12 - 13
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT
This retreat is open to all who will serve as counselors at Silver Lake, whether it’s your first time or your 20th time.
Simply Smiles Mission Trip - Oaxaca, Mexico
April 13 - 20
Spend a week helping the kids who live at the Simply Smiles home for children in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico
Simply Smiles Mission Trip - South Dakota
May 11 - 18
Spend at week Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation working to restore hope for a better future.
2019 Special Meeting of the CT Conference
May 18, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
First Church of Christ Congregational in West Hartford
We will gather together as a historic Connecticut Conference in this transition year to worship, receive reports from Board and staff, consider resolutions, and celebrate the Living Waters award.
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Save the Date: The first Annual Meeting of the newly formed Together, As One Conference (CT, MA and RI) will be Nov. 1 - 2, 2019, in Worcester, MA
In Memoriam: The Rev. Samuel N. Slie
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The Rev. Samuel N. Slie died peacefully on February 12 at the age of 93. The son of Annie Brown Slie and Robert E. Slie, he was an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, serving for many years as Associate Pastor of the Church of Christ in Yale University and a dynamic leader of interfaith programs in New Haven. The holder of two degrees from Yale Divinity School, The Rev. Slie also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary in 1985.
Burial services are private. A service in celebration of The Rev. Slie's life will be scheduled at a later date.
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Classifieds
More: ctucc.org/classifieds
UCC Racial Justice Ministry Book Discussion
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The United Church of Christ (UCC) Racial Justice Ministry will host its first online Book Discussion featuring, “Preaching as Resistance: Voices of Hope, Justice & Solidarity”edited by Phil Snider Thursday, March 7, 2019, 12 noon – 1 pm EST via live webinar discussion. You must register to participate. Registration includes a free book for the first 10 registrants.
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Other Events of Interest
Truth Decay: The Gravity of the Cavity in Our Veracity
Feb. 21, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
John P Webster Library, West Hartford, CT
Humorist, author, and local radio-show host Colin McEnroe will discuss how our ability, as a society, to agree on the differences between truth and falsehood has been steadily degraded.
Understanding Islam in America
Weekly from Thursday, March 14 Thursday, April 11, 7:00 to 8:30 PM
John P. Webster Library, West Hartford, CT
These sessions will assist American Christians critically engage resources and provide opportunities to think about how dominant American culture views Islam. Attend one or all.
"Generosity Transformed" Conference
April 30 - May 3
Indianapolis, IN
Need to energize and revitalize your church’s strategies for faithful generosity? Does your church find it hard to talk about money? UCC Church Building & Loan Fund would like to make you aware of this ecumenical stewardship conference.
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