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JANUARY ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY DATES


There are no anniversaries this month

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


February 9, 2020
Ordination & Installation
Gordon Pullan
North Hadley Congregational Church
243 River Drive
Hadley, MA 01035
3:00 PM
 

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


CHURCH EVENTS & OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST


Julie Britton Awarded the 2020 Rabbi Herman E. Schaalman
InterReligious Leadership Award

 On December 9, 2019 the Chicago Theological Seminary awarded Julie Payne Britton the 2020 Rabbi Herman E. Schaalman InterReligious Leadership Award. The award is an initiative of the InterRelgious Institute (IRI) at CTS where Britton is a master of divinity stufent, and honors the passinate commitment to interreligious engagement modeled by the late rabbi Herman E. Schaalman. Please click here to read the entire article.


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.


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

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

The Rev. Mr. William R. Mark, died on Friday December 13, 2019.  Bill was predeceased by Demak Tobing, his wife from 1966 until her death in 1998, and the former Roseann Spinale Mignone, his wife from 2000 until her death in January 2019.
A Memorial Service is scheduled for January 18th, 1 PM at United Parish of Auburndale, 64 Hancock St., Newton, MA followed by interment at Newton Cemetery. Services will conclude with a reception at location to be determined later. Please click here for more information.

The Rev. Dr. Barry E. Cass passed away peacefully at his home in Ellington, CT on December 31, 2019.  The Rev. Cass served over 28 years at Somers Congregational Church in Somers CT. Barry is survived by two sons, Tyler Cass and his wife Suzanne of Enfield, CT, Noah Cass and his wife Stacey of Somers, CT, his mother, Natalie Cass of Hancock, NH, two brothers, Michael Cass of Peterborough, NH, Neal Cass and his wife Alexandra Heatley of Hancock, NH, a sister, Cheryl Jessie and her husband Bob of Bennington, NH, five grandchildren, Weston, Sawyer, Theodore, Brody and Vera Cass. He also is survived by his former wife, Deborah Cass and several nieces and nephews. 
Calling hours will be at 4:00-8:00pm, January 10, 2020 at the Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main Street, Somers, CT.  A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 11th at 11:00am at the Somers Congregational Church, 599 Main St Route 190, Somers, CT.  Donations in Barry's memory may be made to Somers Congregational Church, PO Box 295, Somers, CT 06071, or to the National Psoriasis Foundation, 6600 SW 92nd Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97223-7195. Please click here for more information.

 

Please click here to view all of MACUCC Obituaries.


CLASSIFIEDS

Malmark Handbells for sale - Ludlow, MA

Site Manager - Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT

Silver Lake Administrator - Sharon, CT

Administrative Assistant - Spencer, MA

Minister of Music - Stockbridge, 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