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Weekly E-News Winter Edition

February 6, 2025

Table of Contents

1) Message from the Conference

2) Latest News

3) Around the Conference

4) Prayer Concerns

5) Save the Date & Cont. Ed Resources

6) VTCUCC Classifieds

Message from the Conference

Let’s Flood the Zone with Good News: Love in Action!

Friends of the Vermont Conference,

Watching the news or looking at social media is quite daunting these days! It can leave you thinking that nothing good is happening in the world. But that is just not the case! Our churches (no matter what size they are) are showing Love in Action in these demanding times! As a conference we are united in the many things our churches are doing: feeding the hungry, sharing the Good News, helping refugees, making school bags for children, helping people get clean clothes, welcoming and affirming one another in being who we are called to be, offering services of peace and healing, working on matters of justice, building vitality with the Hope Fund projects and so much more!

In a world often dominated by negativity, our conference and our communities continue to witness incredible acts of love and hospitality, a powerful reminder that hope and compassion are alive and well. This past week at Williston Federated Church (my home church), a miracle unfolded. An Afghan refugee, who was forced to flee when the Taliban took power, faced the heart-wrenching decision of leaving his family behind or staying and risking his life due to his work with the United States. For years, the church, especially two very dedicated members, has supported and encouraged him, and worked to bring his young family to the US. Many in the congregation joined the effort, writing letters to the congressional delegation on this family's behalf (in collaboration with the local Rotary Club).

However, when new executive orders were recently signed, Religion News Service (RNS) reported that thousands of Afghan wartime allies who have completed years of security vetting and final medical checks in hopes of receiving visas were now indefinitely on hold. Among those affected were at least 200 Afghans who worked alongside the US and other western countries. These families face retribution by the Taliban because of their connection to the United States. And that’s precisely the situation that our young Afghan friend found himself in. Everyone was deeply troubled as all hope seemed lost.

But amid that despair, the pastor (my husband) received a text message one evening and exclaimed “Wow!” I immediately said, “Oh No, What’s wrong?” Showing his phone, he revealed a photo: the Afghan man, smiling with his three young children in a photo taken by his wife at the airport—on U.S. soil! The pastor then called those two dedicated church members who had worked so long and hard to achieve this result. Once they were on the phone, my husband asked, “Do you believe in miracles?” We may not know how it happened, but we thank God it did! This reunion, after years of separation, is also what love in action looks like.

I share this story with you to remind us that love, healing, and generosity are alive and well! That the hope we hear in the stories of the Bible is still going on to this day! Love can and will conquer hate, and hope will overcome fear, and despair will give way to joy! No matter how small we think we are, as churches within the Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ, we are making a difference together! I encourage you and ask you to share your stories with me, so that we can "flood the zone" with love!

Peace,

Jackie

Rev. Jacquelyn Lingelbach

Ministries Coordinator

jlingelbach@vermontucc.org

_{Latest News}

Immigrant Welcoming Congregations

We live in a world of people on the move. According to the United Nations, there are over 100 million forcibly displaced people in the world – an unfortunate record in world history. The Bible is full of stories about God’s people being forced to leave their countries: Adam and Eve, Noah, Sarah and Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Naomi, Esther, Jeremiah, Jesus, Mary and Joseph to name some. We in the United Church of Christ find our grounding in God’s Word about how we are to treat the stranger in our midst. We believe we are called to offer an “extravagant welcome.”

Read more here

‘Welcoming immigrants in our midst’: New resources for churches in the wake of policy changes Read more here

Things you need to know about UCC stance on Immigration:

Read more here

What churches should do if ICE shows up! Last week, our General Counsel for the United Church of Christ, Heather Kimmel did a webinar with our Insurance Board on legal considerations for churches engaged in sanctuary ministries and talked some about this. That will be posted probably the end of this week under the Online Learning section of the website, with several resources. Here is the advice I have been giving.

Churches should make a plan NOW as to how to respond to ICE at the church.
The plan must include training of workers/volunteers who are likely to be at the church, and must include an analysis of the church’s private and public areas.
It should also include some practice at role-playing, because saying “no” to big guys dressed in police gear is hard.
ICE cannot go into the private areas of a church without a judicial warrant (different from administrative warrant). No one is required to talk to ICE.
Churches should hire a local immigrant advocacy group to do a training on how to respond to ICE. I would start with contacting the local ACLU office if the church cannot identify a suitable organization.
Churches should identify an immigration attorney NOW who can be called by workers/volunteers if ICE shows up.
This document may be helpful to begin. National Immigration Law Center: What To Do If Immigration Comes To Your Workplace

^{Heather E. Kimmel (she/her)}^{General Counsel}^{United Church of Christ, National Ministries}1300 E. 9th St., Ste. 1100| Cleveland, OH 44114 ^{216-736-2138 |}^{kimmelh@ucc.org}^|^UCC.org

Read more here

Conference office UPDATE!!

As thrilled as we were to welcome our new Office Administrator, Graidi to our team! She has decided that trying to move back to Vermont and take on a job at this time was too much for her. We were hoping that by giving her a few weeks it would help, but she has decided not to join us at this time. Thus, we will be looking for a replacement. In the meantime please be patient with us until we can find a new person for the position.

Rev. Leigh McCaffrey is our new administrator for Annual Meeting and also becoming our new Treasurer. Please contact her at treasurer@vermontucc.org

If you have administrative needs please reach out to:

Jackie Lingelbach at j lingelbach@vermontucc.org

(for yearbook, ekit, event registration, technical issues, financial, governance, ministerial standing, pulpit supply list, etc.)

For everything else including Search and Call questions or Pastoral concerns, transitions. etc please reach out to:

Rev. Dr. Lynn Bujnak at: lbujnak@vermontucc.org

Rev. Paul Sangree at: psangree@vermontucc.org

Where Do We Go from Here: Racial Justice Sunday 2025

The United Church of Christ recognizes the second Sunday in February as Racial Justice Sunday. Racial Justice Ministries and the Join the Movement team invite you to prepare for the commemoration and celebrate everyone who made a way for racial justice policies and just practices to become a reality.

Share Stories. Build Movements.

Movement of Love

We are all of us histories

Rooted and mighty trees

We are all of us stories

Coming to life in flowering leaves

We are all of us legacies

Ready to fall and die as seeds

This is our movement of love

Check out this beautiful video of the song Rev. Tracy Howe created for Join the Movement based on reflections by Velda Love and Sharon Fennema.

God seeks love OUT LOUD in our tending to ourselves and one another! Join Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries to learn, grow and embrace Gender & Sexuality + Our Faith in action!

RESOURCES

"Today, tomorrow, and always the fluidity of our expression and experiences as trans and non-binary siblings will live on infinitely. Language cannot contain or cease the Spirit. Queer individuals and the diversity spectrum of our humanity has always existed and will no matter what policies attempt to do. From our faith, I know, Trans and non-binary siblings are made in the image of God – period."

-Rachael Ward (they/them), Minister and Team Leader for Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries, UCC

Read Rachael's full response to the recent anti-trans executive orders and access their Care Responses for Thriving Through Together:

Read more here

The United Church of Ludlow Rings Out Open and Affirming Love!

The United Church of Ludlow recently held a successful Ring Out Love Capital Campaign with over $50,000 pledged to repair our historical bell structure, install a new sound system, and to perform some exterior work to our 1892 church. The sound system was installed this fall and the bell housing was repaired and rung for the first time in over three years at the beginning of November.

On Sunday, January 26, we truly rang out love as the congregation voted overwhelmingly to be Open and Affirming. As our church is a federated church, we also voted to be a Reconciling Congregation under the United Methodist Church. We are excited to show that we are a safe space sharing Jesus Christ's inclusive love with all people. In a time where some emphasize exclusion and division, we stand for the unity of all in the one body of Christ.

UPCOMING CONFERENCE EVENTS

UCC's 2025 Climate Hope Art Contest for Children and Youth.

We have officially launched the UCC's 2025 Climate Hope Art Contest for children and youth. Our theme this year is “Planting Seeds of Hope.” We’ll accept art submissions from February 2nd to March 14th. Like last year, we will have winners for different age groups and an overall winner who will receive an all-expense paid trip to visit Washington, DC with a parent or guardian.

(Last year's winner had two members of congress personally ask her for a poster of her artwork, so that they could hang it in their offices!) The winning art will additionally serve as the logo for UCC Climate Hope advocacy work throughout 2025.

We will send you a PDF of the art contest page on which artists will create their masterpieces. We are looking forward to seeing the amazing creativity and talent of our children once again.

With gratitude for each of you,

Sue Mueller

Lead Climate Hope Organizer

United Church of Christ

UCC Webinar: Elon Musk, Oligarchy, and Climate Justice

Over and over again, the Bible tells of prophets who confronted rulers and the rich with an eye toward justice. Today, the ultra-rich hold enormous political power in the United States, and the implications are many, especially when it comes to the pursuit of climate justice. As the world’s richest man and as someone once hailed as a climate savior, Elon Musk has told the President that “we don’t need to rush” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As people of faith, what are we to make of this situation in which a small number of wealthy individuals have a tremendous influence over the future well-being of humanity and all of God’s creation? More importantly, what are we to do? Join us as a panel of speakers helps us address these questions. Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register today!

Have you joined the UCC Justice and Peace Action Network yet?

The Justice and Peace Action Network (JPANet) is our denomination’s grassroots advocacy network composed of individual members and local UCC congregations across the country. The JPANet both educates and engages its members in shaping public policy and keeping with God’s vision of a just and loving society. Our work is grounded in General Synod resolutions, consonant with historic UCC witness, and formed by a biblical understanding of prophetic ministry.

Sign up be to join the network and receive weekly action alerts on UCC justice issues:

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

(Please let us know what your Congregation is up to by sending an email to VermontConference@gmail.com .

You may just see yourself or someone you love in the eKit or our Facebook page!)

"Spirit Sparks" at Richmond Congregational

At Richmond Congregational Church, we believe that everyone has a "calling"; or a way to contribute to the common good. This is true regardless of whether someone identifies as a Christian or not. So we have come up with a series called "Spirit Sparks"; as a way to lift up and celebrate the many ways people in our community are contributing to the common good in their daily lives. We believe this is a nice outreach to the community, as well as a way for us to learn and listen from people in our town who serve in many ways.

To Read More click here

Online Boundary Training Options

The Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization Team (MESA) Offerings

Wednesday, March 19, 1:30 – 4:30pm ET, Boundary Awareness Training for Retired Clergy, with Rev. Tara Barber and Rev. Melanie Oommen

Maintaining healthy boundaries is challenging at any stage in ministry and it is particularly tender and difficult attending to boundaries as we transition out of our last call, and while in retirement. "A Sure Foundation", "The Ministerial Code" and Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly's new book, "The Jubilee Years" along with case studies, will provide the content of this training. Rev. Tara Barber will offer this focused Boundary Awareness Training for those entering and living in retirement. Note - This training completes individual requirements for boundary training ONLY WHEN authorized by a local Committee on Ministry. Participants must be able to use zoom chat and breakout room functions.

Good professional boundaries allow ministry and those who do it to thrive with health and wholeness. Through the lens of clergy wellness, authorized ministers will renew their understanding of and develop skills for maintaining boundaries in an ever-shifting ministry landscape.

Upcoming Trainings are online via Zoom:

February 26, 2025, 9:30am-2:30pm (2.0)
June 12, 2025, 10:00am-4:00pm (2.0)

(this will be an in-person training, location TBD)

The cost for the training is: SNEUCC Clergy - $65.00; all other Clergy - $85.00.

If you have questions regarding the training please contact Deb Holmes at

holmesd@sneucc.org or 508-244-4399. All posted times are EST or EDT.

For more information and to REGISTER click here

Enkei Resolutions 2025 Training Dates Open!

Boundary Training and Racial Justice Training dates for 2025 are chosen and registration is now open. Please see links below for more information or to register. Please note: All trainings are offered from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day and the time zone is Pacific Time; please convert to your time zone when determining whether you can make this time work. You must complete both days to receive a certificate for six hours of training. Registration open until all slots filled or at 5 p.m. the day before a particular training, whichever comes first. (Additional dates may be added if needed.)

Boundary Training Dates

April 8 and 9
August 11 and 12
November 3 and 10

For more Information click here

Questions? Email dweible@enkei-resolutions.com. Cost for 2025 trainings is $65 per person per training. After registering, the pop up confirmation includes the link to pay. Registration is complete once payment is received.

2025 Racial Justice Trainings

This 6-hour training for authorized ministers, uses videos, articles and small-group conversations based on a unique tool that lifts up the need for work in the area of respect and affirmation when looking at the four realms of racism.

March 18 and 20
May 12 and 14
September 9 and 10

For more information and to REGISTER click here

RSVP for Wed. Feb. 19: Freedom of Religion

LEARN MORE AND R.S.V.P. HERE

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE CONFERENCE GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE:

Visit our FACEBOOK PAGE HERE

PRAYER CONCERNS

Reverend Ben Thurber , age 92, died peacefully in his home after a long illness of vascular dementia. He received a certificate this past year for 65 years of ordained ministry. He was also a masterful artist (https://www.benthurberart.com/). Bev Thurber's wife, Beverly is one of United Church of Craftsbury's accompanists. Our prayers are with the family.

A celebration of Ben’s life and legacy is planned for Memorial Day weekend (details to be announced later). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Craftsbury Church on the Common’s Deacons’ Crisis Fund, PO Box 46, Craftsbury Common, VT 05827, or Orleans/Essex VNA Hospice, 46 Lakemont Rd., Newport, VT 05855.

Find his obituary by clicking here

Rev. Dr. William Ellis Cobb “Bill”, age 87, passed away in the early morning hours of April 12, 2024, at his home in Lexington, TN with his family by his side

Find his obituary by clicking here

Prayers for those caught in the L.A. Fires and the losses and sufferings.

Prayers for those mourning and affected by gun violence and mass shootings.

https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting)

Prayers for those dealing with wars and violence.

We pray for all affected by the ongoing work and recovery from natural disasters, including the So. California Wildfires, especially the congregation of the UCC in Altadena which burned to the ground.

Prayers for the families and friends of our authorized ministers who have died, Rev. William Wintersteen, Rev. J. Yorke Peeler, Pastor Sherry Baer, and commissioned minister of liturgical floral design, Ned Davis.

Save the Date & Cont. Ed Resources

See Keynote Speaker The Bishop William Joseph Barber II speak live On Saturday, March 8, 9-10:45 am in Shrewsbury, MA. Keynote Only Tickets go on sale February 1.

For full information on Super Saturday, visit CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

SPRING SEMESTER REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Join us and the Rev. Cindy Bagley

in Keene, NH next semester for a course

Classes will be held in-person on Feb. 1, Mar. 1, Apr. 5, May 3, and May 31 from 9am until 4pm.

"Being church" is always contextual. Why then are we drawn to "one size fits all" solutions, or worse, perpetuate ways of operating that do not fit your church or the

challenges of today?

Harnessing true apostolic energy, this course will teach you an entrepreneurial

approach to ministry that explores dramatic new ways of thinking about your

congregation's vision, culture, structure, resources, and leadership style.

This course will leave you with a renewed sense of excitement, possibility, and love for the church and its potential for vitality and impact in the name of Christ.

Come and learn how to shift your congregation’s ministry toward the community that surrounds it. Consider how your congregation might thrive as a “Neighborhood Church” or a “micro-church.” Challenge your personal thinking of what vitality looks like in a faith community and how together you might better thrive without growing your numbers.

We believe that this class offers essential knowledge for everyone engaged in ministry. Register by accessing this link and clicking on the green “Pre-Register Now” button. We are keeping our registration fees low ($350/participant for the full course) with the assistance of the Boards of Directors of both the Vermont and New Hampshire Conferences.

PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc.

Home About Us Programs For Authorizing Bodies Contact Us Donate

The Supervised Ministry Certificate (Six 9-week courses) is designed to provide a practical internship in pastoral ministry over an eighteen-month progression. The arc of this series begins with entering a new place of ministry (beginning March 5, 2025) and concludes with leaving a place of ministry. The required 3-week introduction to the Supervised Ministry certificate begins February 19.

Prophetic Preaching on Christian Nationalism, a 6-week online course, begins March 5, 2025. We will explore the distorted relationship between religion, race, and democracy that has been arising within conservative Christian circles throughout the last few decades.

THE BIBLE AS GUIDE: Biomes and Landforms in Scripture, one of PATHWAYS' Environmental Justice foundational courses begins on March 19, 2025.

Go to the PATHWAYS website (pathwaystheological.org) to learn more and to apply for these and other courses.

Teeny Tiny Church Services: Supporting Smaller Congregations

Looking for ways to enhance your worship services this summer and beyond?

Teeny Tiny Church Services offers a range of resources to meet your congregation's needs, whether you have a full-time pastor, rely on supply preachers, or have lay leaders presiding over worship.