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OCTOBER ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY DATES

40 Years
The Rev. Anne Squire

35 Years
The Rev. J. Cliff Davis
The Rev. Dr. Linnea Prefontaine
The Rev. Dr. Gregory Schmidt

30 Years
The Rev. John Hudson

25 Years
The Rev. Lynne Dolan

20 Years
The Rev. Wanda Harris-Watkins

15 Years
The Rev. Jennifer Fey
The Rev. Susan Phoenix

5 Years
The Rev. Beatrice Manning

Please contact Deb Holmes if we have missed your anniversary. 
Anniversaries are listed from 5 years and forward in increments of 5.


ASSOCIATION CLUSTER MEETINGS
Re-imagining Your Church's Mission Ministry

Don't forget to register!

November 14, 2019 (Thursday)
The Franklin Federated Church
171 Main St., Franklin

December 4, 2019 (Wednesday)
United Church of Christ Federated
4 Church St., Webster

January 14, 2020 (snow date: February 11th) (Tuesday)
United Parish of Lunenburg
39 Main St., Lunenburg

ASSOCIATION & CONFERENCE EVENTS

October 21, 2019
Moderator's Gathering
Brookfield Congregational Church, Inc.
8 Common Street
Brookfield, MA 01506
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

October 27, 2019
Installation
Rev. Janet Sandquist Skagerlind
First Congregational Church of Princeton, UCC
14 Mountain Road
Princeton, MA 01541
3:00 PM

November 1-2, 2019
Southern New England conferences Annual Meeting
DCU Center
50 Foster Street
Worcester, MA 01608

January 22nd & 23rd, 2020
Boundary Awareness Training
Harvard Divinity School
47 Francis Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM


CHURCH & OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST


Coffee Shop Hours for Central Association!
Tuesday, November 12th 10:00 ~ 2:00

Rev. Kelly Gallagher will be holding "coffee shop" hours at NU Kitchen located at 335 Chandler St., Worcester. If you would like to schedule a time to chat with Kelly please contact Deb Holmes at 508-963-8106 or holmesd@macucc.org


Church Treasurer Gatherings 

Church treasurers are invited to attend an upcoming regional gathering for church treasurers! Please join us for conversation that will help define your role as church treasurer and answer all those questions you may have. The sessions run from 9:30-noon, and include coffee "and". New church treasurers are invited to stay for a post gathering Q&A session ending at 1:30 (you are welcome to bring a bagged lunch if you stay). All sessions cover the same material and you are welcome to attend whichever session fits your schedule. There is no charge to attend, but please sign up so we know how many to expect. Use the links below for additional information and registration:
Saturday, October 19: First Congregational Church of West Boylston

Saturday, November 16: Edwards Church of Northampton


Death and Dying Workshops

Trinity Church
23 Main Street
Northborough, MA 01532

Trinity Church will be hosting a series of workshops with VNA Hospice staff on the journey of death and dying. These workshops are open to the entire community and will feature the following topics:

Wednesday, October 23, 7:30 PM: The Spirituality of Dying - Can our faith transform the way we die? What are the signs and symptoms of the dying process, medically and spirituality?

Wednesday, October 30, 7:30 PM: After the Last Breath - What happens when we die? Is there a heaven? How do we grieve our loved ones and find ways for love to endure after the last breath?

Wednesday, November 6, 7:30 PM: Dying Wishes - Using "The Five Wishes" as a guide, we will begin conversations about what it truly means for us to have a quality end of life experience, embracing dignity and our own unique values.

Wednesday, November 13, 7:30 PM: The Nitty Gritty Practical Questions - With experienced social workers leading the conversation, this session covers the ins and outs of funeral homes, cremation versus burial, end of life care at home compared to a facility...and how to pay for it all.

Register by using this link or by calling the church office at 508-393-8156. Please contact Rev. Julie Cedrone with any questions at julie_cedrone@vnacare.org. FLYER


 Caregiver Support Group

First Congregational Church
19 Church Road
Shrewsbury, MA 01545

Expanded Fall Caregiver Support Group Schedule. In the months of September, October and November, we will now be meeting 2x per month on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. On the 2nd Monday, we will be having informational meetings facilitated by Beth Anne Doan and guest speakers. On the 4th Monday, we will be holding informal caregiver support meetings. Meetings will be held in the youth group room on the second floor.
Finally, in December, Beth Anne Doan will lead a service of Loving Care for Christmas.
Please see the attached FLYER for the Fall Caregiver Support Group Schedule


Youth Mental Health First Aid

Trinity Church of Northborough
23 Main St.
Northborough, MA 01532
Sunday, Nov. 3rd and 10th, 3PM to 7PM

Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This 8-hour training give adults who work with your the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to adolescents (ages 12-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. Please click here for a flyer with more information.


 

Pumpkin Patch Fair!

The First Congregational Church, UCC
128 Central Street
Auburn, MA 01501
Saturday, October 19th, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Fall Décor, Holiday Décor, Gift Ideas, Handmade Crafts, Vintage Treasures, Frozen Meals To Go, Baked Goods, Jewelry, Silent Auction, and So Much More!
Click here to for more information.


 

Pumpkins, Get Your Pumpkins Here!

First Congregational Church, UCC
128 Central Street
Auburn, MA 01501
Open daily 10 AM to 6 PM through October 31st

We have a variety of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes and pricing to fit everyone's budget!  The pumpkins are raised and harvested at the Navajo Reservation in Farmington, NM. A percentage of the pumpkin sales goes to their schools and other programs and, of course, a percentage helps our church. They grow 1,200 acres (approx. 2 square miles) of pumpkins and employ over 700 Native Americans during harvest months of September and October.  There’s also a full time off-season New Mexico staff that is comprised entirely of Native Americans. This has a positive and lasting impact on a region with 42% unemployment.  Thank you for your support!

2nd Friday of the month
Trinity Church Northborough
23 Main Street
Northborough, MA 01532

 

 

Pizza! Pizza!

Second Friday of every month
First Parish Church

24 Central Street
Berlin, MA 01503

More Information here click on Pizza Night


LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS, FOOD PANTRIES, & COMMUNITY DINNERS

Please click here to see the list of thrift shops,
food pantries,
and community dinners.


MISSION OPPORTUNITIES 

ReachOut Worcester 2020
(February 7th & 8th 7:00 PM Friday to 2:30 PM Saturday)

ReachOut Worcester (ROW) is a 20 hour overnight immersion program for youth ages 13+ and their leaders that is sponsored by WAMS in partnership with Worcester Fellowship, a UCC church dedicated to ending isolation through pastoral care and nurturing community and All Saints Church Worcester. A detailed overview / information packet and a registration form are available on our website.


Worcester Fellowship

Available lunch providers and youth dates are currently on our website.
Youth group dates are available for groups of 15 or less.
Lunch and worship are Sundays at 1PM behind
City Hall on Worcester Common.

TRANSITIONS
 

Ms. Amie McCarthy called to First Congregational Church UCC, Spencer as Settled Pastor. Effective: 10/14/2019

More: macucc.org/transitions


OBITUARIES

Please click here to view all MACUCC Obituaries.  


CLASSIFIEDS

Director of Music - Athol, MA

Director of Music - Chelmsford, MA

Church Music Director - Grafton, MA

Director of Youth Fellowship - Holliston, MA

Part Time Church Sexton - Holliston, MA

Church furnishings - Shrewsbury, MA

Director of Family Ministries - Woodstock, CT

Communications Coordinator - Worcester, MA

Music Minister - Worcester, MA

Please click here to view all MACUCC Classifieds


ASSOCIATION INFORMATION

Association Meetings 

The Committee on Authorized Ministry
Meets the 3rd Thursday of
each month at 9:30AM.

The Board of Director's
Meets the 3rd Thursday of
each month at 2:30PM.

Both meetings take place at:
WamsWorks
6 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609

Association/Conference
Fellowship Dues for 2019

The Annual Fellowship Dues for churches that are not part of United Church Mission are:
Conference Portion: $20.00
Association Portion: $1.65
Total per member: $21.65


For more information on Fellowship Dues, click here.

 

Central Association of
The Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ

508-963-8106
holmesd@macucc.org 
www.macucc.org/central

Office Hours: 
Monday: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday-Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: Closed