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DECEMBER ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY DATES


30 Years
The Rev. Lois Buchiane

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


Pulpit Supply List for Western Region

The Western Region Office is looking for available people to be included on the regional Pulpit Supply List. Are you a member in discernment, a retired clergy person, or clergy not currently serving a church? Do you like to visit and preach at different churches? Then we need you to be part of our pulpit supply list!
Please contact the regional office at holmesd@macucc.org or 508-963-8106 to find out how to be part of our pulpit supply list.


CONFERENCE & REGIONAL EVENTS

 

Please go to macucc.org/events to see all posted events.


CHURCH EVENTS & OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST


Canaan Congregational Church to hold Worship Services in New Building

On November 6, 2017, a fire engulfed and destroyed the 190-year-old brick Canaan Congregational Church building beyond repair. But the members of the church have been busy, holding worship services at the Canaan Firehouse on Route 295 just east of the church and spearheading all the necessary steps in erecting a new church home. The congregation’s exile is now over, and on December 15, Canaan Congregational Church welcomes congregants and friends to celebrate worship services in its new church building, erected on the footprint of the old structure.

Please click here for more pictures and complete news release.
 


Greetings to the Hampden Association!

This is a reminder that the Hampden Association has a program in place to provide some reimbursements to representatives of member churches who attend Super Saturday events or the Annual Meeting of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ. Please click on the appropriate reimbursement form for you:
Super Saturday or SNEC Annual Meeting.
 

The Sojourner Truth School
for Social Change Leadership

  The Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership, known as “the Truth School”, invites UCC clergy, lay leaders, congregants and churches to attend one, or several, of their free classes in a wide range of movement-building skills. Social change leaders and engaged participants are essential now to grow movements to build just and creative communities and to stop climate collapse. 
  As Truth School participant and trainer Norma Akamatsu describes, “The Truth School is a unique experiment offering free community classes on a wide variety of skills for making social change happen now. Amidst the serious challenges we are facing, the school supports finding the path than can translate one’s unique talents, concerns and commitments into action.”
  Upcoming classes include: Cultural Humility and Cross Cultural Communication, Effective Mentoring of Young People of Color, and Immigrant Stories of Challenge and Success in U.S. Culture. All classes this semester are led by trainers of color or by bi-racial pairs.
  As described on their website, the Truth School believes, “that knowledge and education, bolstered by support and guidance lead to empowerment – and empowered people make change. When people have the skills and confidence they need to organize a vigil, run for elected office, write guest editorials for local and national newspapers, engage in civil disobedience, visit their elected officials, or talk with care and sensitivity across differences, the result is real and lasting change.” 
  The Truth School offers their free classes in donated spaces in Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield and Easthampton. Explore more classes and register at truthschool.org


Taize Service

Second Congregation Church UCC
16 Court Street
Greenfield, MA 01301

Save the date for a Taize Service on New Year's Eve, December 31st at 6:30 PM to review chants; 7:00 PM for the service of reading, candelight, and song. Prayers for peace in our hearts and in the world. A beautiful way to start the new year.


Fall Offerings by Art & Soul
The Nest @ First Churches
11 Center Street
Northampton, MA

Art & Soul is a ministry of spiritual imagination  where curiosity, exploration, deep listening, conversation and creativity converge.  Rooted upstairs in First Churches in The Nest Space, Art & Soul invites seekers into expansive inquiry and practices of heart and soul.  
The Winter/Spring 2020 Schedule begins in January. Check out some of the offerings at The Nest:

New Year's Day for \writing and art making
Seeker's Writing Circle for new and seasoned writers
Morning reflecting on Henri Nouwen's conviction that your Be-Loved
If you are a fan of Carl Jung and you dream, this workshop is for you!
This Soul Exploration Begins in mid-January

The Book of Hours...A Medieval Christian Tradition Brought to Life for the season of Lent
Three Little Words That Can Change Everything
Considering Forgiveness
Paying Attention to Your Life Through Art Journaling

For a complete listing of events and workshops, go to www.artandsoulwm.org.


RECURRING EVENTS


Journey

Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence (USNF)
220 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Journey: a social and support group for trans and non binary individuals of all ages will meet at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, 220 Main St., Northampton MA, 6-8 PM on the following: Second Mondays and Third Thursdays of each month. Meetings will continue to be scheduled going forward. The meetings focus on life concerns and are not religious in nature. The group is free.  This is an outreach ministry of the Haydenville Congregational Church UCC. Use the side door and doorbell. Allies, friends, and family are welcome. FMI: journeynorthampton@gmail.com


FREE ECUMENICAL OUTREACH MEALS

Please click here for a list of all locations offering Outreach Meals.

TRANSITIONS

More: macucc.org/transitions


OBITUARIES

Margery Williams died on Monday, December 9, 2019 after a battle with PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy) and vascular dementia. She was surrounded by music, prayer, loved ones, and tender care during her final days.  She is survived by her two children, Todd Williams of Boston MA, and Jennifer Williams of Greenfield MA from her marriage to Rev. David Chapman Williams of Alton, NH; three grandchildren, and her sister, Betsy Coombs of Quincy MA.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held in the Lunenburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, 763 Massachusetts Ave, Lunenburg, MA on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 11:30 am. Visiting hours will begin at 10:30 am and the family invites you to join them for a memorial luncheon following the service at Apple Hill Farm, 143 Joslin St., Leominster MA. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the UCC Christmas Fund (www.christmasfund.org) which cares for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the UCC. Click here for more information.

The Rev. Mr. John Harrison Petter III, Harry, of Hudson, MA died on November 13, 2019 after a long illness. Harry’s wife Ann survives him as do his children Jennifer (Cathy), Steve (Randi), Tim (Lyssa) and Mark (Tina), and nine grandchildren: Elijah, Joshua, Amy (Chris Gauvin), Benjamin, Eleanor, Samantha, Aiden, Grace and Christopher, as well as two step-grandsons, Evan and Tyler. His great friend and brother-in-law Dick Scobie and wife Jill survive him as well.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 10:30 AM at Edwards UCC Church, 39 Edwards St., Framingham, MA 01701. Click here for more information.

Please click here to view all of MACUCC Obituaries.


CLASSIFIEDS

Church Administrator - Amherst, MA

Malmark Handbells for sale - Ludlow, MA

Minister of Music - Stockbridge, MA

Administrative Assistant - Wilbraham, MA

Bookkeeper - Wilbraham, MA

 Please click here to view all MACUCC Classifieds

 


 

Western Region of
The Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ

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

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