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Conference Minister The Rev. Kent Siladi recently interviewed Bryan Nurnberger, the Founder of Simply Smiles, via Facebook Live. In that interview, Nurnberger tells the incredible story of how he went from rock climber to founder of an organization that works to improve lives of children.
Nurnberger will be the featured speaker at the Special Meeting of the Connecticut Conference being held May 18, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the First Church of Christ Congregational in West Hartford.
You can watch the recording of that interview here.
Three Resolutions to Come Before Special Meeting
Three resolutions will come before the Special Meeting. Those resolutions address Solitary Confinement in Connecticut Prisons and Jails, Citizenship of Foreign-Born Children Adopted by American Citizens, and Child Marriage and Forced Marriages
Read more about the resolutions here
An online meeting will be held May 2 from 7 to 9 PM for those who would like to hear more about the resolutions. Get the link here.
Get all the details about the Special Meeting and Register Here
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New Conference Will Have New Leader
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This announcement was sent out on April 23.
The current Conference Ministers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have each announced that they will not put their names into consideration to take on leadership of the new, unified conference.
The Rev. Kent Siladi, who has served as the Connecticut Conference Minister for six years, as well as Transitional Conference Ministers the Rev. Don Remick in Massachusetts and the Rev. Marilyn Kendrix in Rhode Island, have each informed the Together As One Board of Directors of their decisions.
At its meeting last Saturday, the Together as One Board agreed that the three current leaders will stay on in a bridge capacity through the end of 2020.
Read more
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Many Voices One Mission: Common Bond
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By Jennifer Kronholm Clark, Program Director at Silver Lake Conference Center
I love to use Ubuntu cards to warm up groups that are coming together for the first time. The Ubuntu deck consists of 54 cards covered in images of common items. The unique thing about these cards is that each card has at least one image in common with every other card. The tag line on the box is, “There exists a common bond between us all…”
I use these cards to get people talking to each other. Everyone gets a card, and then moves around the space comparing their cards with the others. Once a pair identifies the common bond on their cards, they share with each other to discover a common bond between themselves.
Read more
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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.
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Starting With Scripture: Time To Believe
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By Drew Page, Digital Media Editor for the CT, MA, and RI Conferences, UCC
I really can’t blame Thomas for doubting Jesus’s return. Even after all that had happened, after all that Jesus had done, someone rising from a tomb is a hard story to believe.
Humanity struggles with information that contradicts our established perceptions of the world. Even when faced with scientific fact, people search hard for reasons to negate any concept that conflicts with their comfort zones.
Read the full post
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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
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Conference Events
Forum on the Economic & Social Impact of Expanded Gambling in CT
April 30, 2019 at 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
CT State Capitol, Room 310, Hartford, CT
The Women’s Caucus of the Connecticut State Legislature is hosting a forum on the economic and social impact of further gambling in the state, including casinos, internet gambling, and sports betting. Legislative Advocate Michele Mudrick asks everyone to urge their representatives and senators to attend.
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9th Annual CTUCC Youth Revival
May 5, 3:00 to 5:00 PM
First Congregational Church in Bloomfield
A dynamic worship service for youth in grades 5 and up and their pastors, parents and leaders. The preacher will be the Rev. Trayce Potter, the NEW UCC Minister for Youth and Young Adult Engagement.
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2019 Spring Action Weekend
April 26 - 28
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT
Catch up with old friends, make new friends, and work hard to prepare YOUR conference center for the coming season.
91st Spring Gathering of CT Women of the UCC
April 27, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Huntington Congregational Church, Shelton, CT
Including workshops on interracial eco-justice, recycling, and visual aspects of worship.
Stewardship Workshop
April 30, 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Ellington Congregational Church, Ellington, CT
A best practices workshop led by Charlie Kuchenbrod, Executive Associate Conference Minister of the Connecticut Conference.
How Are the Children: Advocating for the Rights of Palestinian Children
April 30, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The Palestine Museum US, Woodbridge, CT
A workshop particularly for CTUCC clergy and religious educators, but open to all, on "How Are the Children," a new curriculum developed by the national United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network.
13th Annual Silver Lake Golf Tournament 2019
May 6, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
The Country Club of Waterbury, CT
Grab your buddies and your clubs and swing into summer with a day on the links, all while helping to support the Connecticut Conference's vital outdoor ministry.
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Spring Boundary Training
May 7, 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.
Simply Smiles Mission Trip - South Dakota
May 11 - 18
Spend at week Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation working to restore hope for a better future.
Zip Equip: Strategic Planning with the Tree method
May 14, 3:30 to 4:10 PM
Online
Participants will have the opportunity to explore the concepts, develop questions, and create possible next steps within their own ministry setting.
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.
Silver Lake Open House
May 19, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT
In addition to tours of the camp and conference center, the high ropes course will be staffed and open to those who would like to climb, and the disc golf course will be available for those who want to test their skill with a flying disc.
InnoJazz: Church Metaphors
May 21, 2019, 3:30 PM to 4:10 PM
Online
Each session will begin with a thought prompt. Participants will be guided through a process using improv rules to discover what new possibilities creative thinking can open up their ministries.
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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
Classifieds
Taking Action on Environment at Immanuel
By Dorothy Lovett Buckley
I am excited that Immanuel Congregational Church UCC in Hartford is hosting Jim Antal on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at our 10 a.m. service with a talk afterward. Our Environmental Action worked hard to schedule him as close to Earth Day as possible. He was the Former Massachusetts Conference Minister who worked closely with Bill McKibbon to get our Federal Government to realize that care for creation, our environment, is a key issue facing our country and our world today.
Read more
Other Events of Interest
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Facing Your Church's Uncertain Future
May 2, 3:30 PM to 4:50 PM
Online Webinar
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.
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48th Annual NEAUCE Conference
April 30 - May 2
Pilgrim Pines, Swanzey, NH
Join Christian Education colleagues for worship, fellowship, and rich discussions.
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