Rev. Heather Ramsey Mabrouk Called to Serve as Project Coordinator for Together We Thrive Initiative

The Rev. Heather Ramsey Mabrouk has been called to serve as Project Coordinator for the Together We Thrive Initiative

In October 2018, the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ was awarded a $1 million grant for clergy development from Lilly Endowment Inc. The five year grant is being used in collaboration with the Connecticut and Rhode Island Conferences, the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and the New England Synod - ELCA Lutheran.

The Together We Thrive proposal was submitted under the Massachusetts Conference name, but was developed cooperatively by a team of people from each of the organizations and is being used by them together.

The Rev. Ramsey Mabrouk has served churches in Marblehead, Beverly, and a suburb of Buffalo over the past 14 years. In New York and Massachusetts, she has led workshops on Youth Ministry and Christian Education, planned and facilitated Conference-wide Confirmation Retreats, taught Boundary Awareness Training, created community-wide ecumenical worship opportunities, and given Interfaith presentations with her husband Nawfal, who is Sunni Muslim.

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More Feedback Sought for New Conference Name

More feedback is being sought about what the name should be for the new conference being formed by the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences.

The conference, which General Synod is being asked to approve in June, is provisionally being called the Together As One Conference.

A task team from the Together As One Board of Directors has been working on a process for naming the new conference. That process will be discussed by the full board this weekend.

In the meantime, the task team is asking people to choose their top three choices from the names that have been suggested thus far, and asking for short explanations about their choices. Those filling out the survey may also make new suggestions.

Take the survey here

Find this article online

Download a sample newsletter announcement about the survey to use in your church.

Registration Open for Spring Annual Meeting

Registration is now open for the Rhode Island Conference Spring Annual Meeting being held Saturday, April 27, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM, at the Edgewood Congregational Church UCC in Cranston.

The Preacher for this meeting will be The Rev. David Pierce, Pastor of the Four Corners Chapel in Cumberland, RI (top). The main meeting speaker will be The Rev. Don Remick, Transitional Conference Minister of the Massachusetts Conference, UCC.

The day will start with a Continental Breakfast at 8:30 followed by the worship, meeting and communion beginning at 9:00 AM.

Registration is $10. Read more and register

Many Voices One Mission: Hope

By Charlie Kuchenbrod, Executive Associate Conference Minister for the Connecticut Conference, UCC

There is hope, yes there is. If we are faithful and courageous, we can live the love and justice of Jesus. Christ needs a new church. We can build it.

I see anxiety about declining membership and financial support growing at many of our congregations. For a long time, many churches were able to cope with declining membership because the remaining members increased giving, but now this inclination to generosity is weakening or is being overwhelmed by the loss of members. For many of us, it is becoming clear that the way we “do church” – which is facility-based, professionally-led, and Sunday-morning-worship-centered is no longer viable. This is real: If one of the functions of a church is to help people grow in their relationships with God, we are not functioning very well in many church settings. This may not be new. It may be that greater membership and financial support in the past was not a reflection of functioning well – helping people grow in their relationships with God - as much as evidence of the social role churches played in our culture.

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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.

Upcoming Events

Racial Justice Trainings
The Rhode Island State Council of Churches is facilitating these trainings, which meet the training requirement for clergy .

Tuesdays, May 7 - June 4, 10 AM to Noon
Peace Dale Congregational Church< peace Dale, RI
Thursdays, May 2 - 30, 7 to 9 PM
Chapel Street Congregational Church, Lincoln, RI
Friday and Saturday, May 17 - 18 plus one other Saturday morning, June 1 or June 8
Beneficent Congregational Church, Providence, RI

Registration and details are here.

NEAUCE 2019
April 30 - May 2
Pilgrim Pines Retreat Center, Swanzey, NH
The New England Association Of United Church Educators (NEAUCE) is inviting all Christian Educators and pastors to a 3 day retreat with workshops to relax and renew.

Shine- Youth at Synod 2019
June 21 - 25
Milwaukee, WI
Youth at Synod is for young leaders ages 13 to 18 who want to experience the vibrant diversity of the wider church.

Save the Date: The first Annual Meeting of the new Together, As One Conference will be Nov. 1 - 2, 2019, in Worcester, MA

Classifieds

Director of Faith Formation - Mystic, CT

More: ricucc.org/classifieds

Other Events of Interest

Screening of Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask
April 27, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Beneficent Congregational Church, Providence, RI
A Part of the 2nd Annual RI Black Film Festival

Facing Your Church's Uncertain Future Webinar
May 2, 3:30 PM to 4:50 PM
Facing Your Church’s Uncertain Future is a NEW resource that offers good practices for discerning, discussing, and making decisions that concern a church’s future. Pastors and congregational leaders are invited to join this online Zoom webinar presenting theological, liturgical and helpful insights for discussing future options, including closure and legacy.

9th Annual CTUCC Youth Revival
May 5, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, CT
All youth in grades 5 and up and their pastors, parents, or adult leaders are invited to this dynamic worship service that will your renew your spirit. Come and lift your praises, celebrate vitality, and embrace diversity!

CTUCC Spring Boundary Training
May 7, 2019 at 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Church of Christ, Congregational in Newington, CT
Morning Plenary with Rev. Ron Brown. Basic and Advanced Training for Clergy.

Environmental Justice for All! Retreat
May 17 - 19
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon CT
For youth in grades 8 - 12 to explore how faith and justice intersect, learn about current issues in environmental justice and find their talents to make change.

Confidentiality & Mandatory Reporting/ Lightening the Load
May 23, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
First Congregational Church of Brimfield, MA
Two Workshops: Attend one or both

UCC Musicians Association National Conference
June 25 - 28
First Congregational UCC, Madison, WI
Three days of worship, workshops, marketplace, and networking.

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