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Conference Staff Changes Announced
Long Time Site Manager to Retire
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The Massachusetts Conference will soon say farewell to one of its longest-serving employees. Diane Montgomery, Director of Framingham Site and Facilities, will retire as of May 31.
Montgomery began her work with the Conference in 1983, when the Rev. Dr. Al Williams was the Conference Minister and President, and the Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center still had an exterior walkway to the dining room. She has welcomed, housed and fed tens of thousands of guests, offering each the respect and warm hospitality to which the UCC aspires.
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Mass and RI Conferences to Share Retreat Center Director
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Furthering collaboration among the conferences in southern New England, the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Conferences will soon share a new staff person. Kate Ostertag of Kingston, New Hampshire will begin work on May 28th as Director of Edwards House Meeting and Retreat Center in Framingham, MA and Irons Homestead in Glocester, RI.
Ostertag served for 13 years as Assistant Manager of Adelynrood Retreat and Conference Center, where her responsibilities included scheduling, reservations, marketing, data tracking, housekeeping and volunteer development. She has also worked in food service, and in volunteer development in other non-profit organizations.
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Strengthen the Church Resources Available
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By Jonathan New,
Associate Conference Minister
Stewardship & Financial Development
I’m writing to help support your church in receiving this year’s Strengthen the Church Offering, a special offering of the United Church of Christ designed to help build our future as a Church.
All of the funds from this offering that remain in the Conference will be dedicated exclusively for the support of ministries with children and youth. ..
We suggest you receive the offering on Pentecost Sunday, June 9. However, feel free to receive it at any time that works best for your church.
Read the full letter and find Strengthen the Church materials
Anti Nuclear Arms Resolution approved for Synod this June in Milwaukee
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By The Rev. Peter Kakos, member of the First Churches of Northampton, MA
The Synod Selection Committee has accepted our resolution “Calling for the U.S. to pull ‘Back From the Brink’ and Prevent Nuclear War.” It all began in the fall of 2017, after I attended an address at our church, First, Northampton, by the co-founder of the Physicians For Social Responsibility, Dr. Ira Helfand, of Northampton. His analysis proved that even a limited conflict of 100, or so, modern warheads, could put into motion a radioactive cloud encircling our latitude so toxic that two to three billion would be immediately killed, and the rest put at risk of starvation as our already stressed eco-system collapses.
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Many Voices One Mission: A Community of Colleagues – and Colleagues in Community
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By The Rev. Mary Nelson, South Central Regional Minister for the CT Conference, UCC
One of the side benefits of my work as a Regional Minister that I deeply appreciate is the opportunity to travel. I am traveling to work, of course, and I rarely get to see the place I’m visiting outside a church council meeting or windowless hotel conference room—but often it’s the people with whom I am meeting who bring me such joy, I don’t even notice that I haven’t left the building in two days. A trip to Chicago means the chance to see my colleague Mark; a trip to Boston means I might reconnect with Kate; time in D.C. means coffee with Michael and Amber; a visit to Cleveland means a hug with Elizabeth and Keri and Cheryl and probably a few bonus-hugs I didn’t anticipate. This upcoming trip to Milwaukee for Synod will mean seeing a whole host of people I probably haven’t seen since the last Synod, and I am so excited.
Read the full post
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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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Is Your Life an Open and Affirming Story? Maybe it is…
The Massachusetts Conference ONA Ministry Team is seeking LGBTQ people (including queer youth), people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, and others who are in marginalized groups and have a story to tell that makes the Open and Affirming movement real. We would like to feature these stories at ONA35, the 35th anniversary of Open and Affirming in Massachusetts on June 15, 20109 at the Plymouth Church in Framingham.
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Conference Events
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Application Deadline: June 3
Writer's Workshop - The Art of the Personal Essay: Make A Point. Change the World
Nov, 11 - 17
Warren Conference Center,
Ashland, MA
Do you want to make your blog posts, opinion pieces, magazine/journal articles, newsletter essays and sermons more compelling and cogent? Ready to dig deep, discover who you are on the page and create a clear and compelling point of view in your writing? Spend a week delving into the craft and art of the personal essay. Led by Rev. John Hudson, a longtime syndicated online and print newspaper opinion columnist, blogger, and Collegeville Institute alum.
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Registration Deadline: May 23
Church Treasurer Gathering for the Southeast
June 1, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
North Congregational Church
Middleboro, MA
Please join us for a cup of coffee and conversation that will help define your role as church treasurer and answer all those questions you might have.
Registration Deadline: June 13
ONA 35 - Time to Celebrate!
June 15, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
The Plymouth Church, Framingham, MA
A day of worship, music, small group workshop conversations, lamentation, healing, revitalization, imagination and empowerment.
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Spring Interim Gathering
June 18, 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Congregational Church of Westborough, MA
Agenda for the Day: Together As One General Information, interim life in the new conference, Don Remick presentation: "Powerful Questions Can Change Your Church."
Annual Meeting
Nov. 1 - 2, 209
DCU Center, Worcester, MA
More: macucc.org/events
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Transitions
The Rev. Walter Coy leaving Union Evangelical Church, UCC, Hopedale, as Designated Term Pastor
Effective: 5/19/2019
The Rev. Tara Lee Tetzlaff called to First Congregational Church UCC, Great Barrington, as Settled Minister
Effective: 5/19/2019
The Rev. Cara Davis leaving First Congregational Church UCC, Great Barrington, as Bridge Pastor
Effective: 5/18/2019
More: macucc.org/transitions
Classifieds
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Other Events of Interest
2019 Craigville Theological Colloquy
July 8 - 12
Craigville Retreat Center, Craigville, MA
Faith & Science: The Choices We Make with Dr. Jennifer J. Wiseman and Professor Ron Cole-Turner. Presentations, biblical reflections, morning prayer, workshops, Taize worship service, small group discussions, singing in the choir, many ways to renew or make new friendships, and free time to enjoy the beach and explore Cape Cod.
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Pride Shabbat 2019
June 7, 6:30 PM
Open Spirit, Framingham, MA
Rabbi Katy Allen will lead people from many faiths and traditions in prayers welcoming in the Sabbath and celebrating Pride.
Inspiring Courage: Stories of Passion & Compassion
June 9, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Open Spirit, Framingham, MA
Director of the Metrowest Worker Center, an advocate of worker and immigrant rights, shares his story of compassion, community, and justice-seeking.
34th Annual MCCM Karl Barth Summer Session
June 10 - 11
First Church In Dedham, MA
The Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers invites all to this discussion on the first edition of Barth's "Commentary on Romans."
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