September 12, 2025 | Issue 172

What's New

The Conference has acquired access to the small bites, BIG FLAVOR Continuing Education Curriculum with Dr. Marcia McFee.

The SCC cares about resourcing our churches, and we are pleased to offer you the change to utilize this training with Dr. McFee at no cost to you!

This curriculum has a special focus on training lay people, volunteers, lay ministers, as well as clergy in “small bite” skillset and mindset lessons for increasing the vitality of worship in churches, no matter the size! The materials are available as short-form video content, supplemented by PDF articles, printable worksheets, and three fully-scripted worship series for Advent, Lent, and Ordinary Time to give you lots of practical resources and support. You can study the materials at a pace that works for you and your worship team. We urge you and anyone in your church to sign up with our special registration link. This content is designed to provide you with "small bites" of education and inspiration that lead to "big flavor" in your worship experiences! See a preview of the website and content in this 3-minute video.

All you need to do is register! You can invite unlimited members of your worship team (or potential worship team members) to sign up through our unique registration link. We encourage you to take advantage of this free offer made possible through your Conference.

Our unique registration link (do not share beyond churches in this SCC): https://keap.page/ny163/southern-central-conference-ucc-sbbf.html

Learn about the Insurance Boards's New Loss Control Resource Guide

See Guide Here

Come celebrate St. Peter United's 177th Anniversary!

October 12, 2025 @ 11:00am at the church located at 9022 Long Point Rd., Houston , TX 77055

This is a FREE event, see more information here

Colectivo Connect

Join Us for Fellowship and Connection

The Colectivo is hosting an open forum on Saturday, September 20th, 2025 at 11:00am EDT/10:00am CDT/8:00am PST. We will gather to get to know one another better and discuss opportunities to work together.

Zoom Link

Meeting ID 896 3976 5672

Springs of Life Church Member Honored

Fischer Marlow, a member of Rev. Larry Gipson's, Springs of Life Church in San Marcos has been named the 2025 Recipient of the Jessie Madden Conservation Award.

See Press Release Here

The Insurance Board Releases Loss Control Resource Guide

See Guide Here

Happenings Around the Conference

Join SCC Youth Director, Brooke Dooley, for the Youth Ministry Support gatherings every second Tuesday of the month at 1pm.

The next meeting will be Oct. 14 Join meeting here . Contact Brooke for more questions at brooke@sccucc.org.

The HoTA Executive Committee Meeting has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 @ 9:00am via Zoom.

See Agenda Here

Join Zoom Meeting Here

Meeting ID: 836 0687 3423

Passcode: 918608

One tap mobile

+13462487799,,83606873423#,,,,*918608# US (Houston)

+16694449171,,83606873423#,,,,*918608# US

The Heart of Texas Association Fall Meeting has been set for Saturday, September 20th at Trinity Church of Austin.

See Save the Date Here

or use the QR code

Embrace UCC, now in Hurst, TX, will begin a book study on Sunday, 9/21/25, following the worship service, led by Embrace member Stacey George.

The book is Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans, 2018, ISBN 978-0-718-02231-0 (paperback).

Let Go: Weaving Surrender

Women of the Southern Region of the United Church of Christ, join Rev. Dr. Vanessa Monroe for a transformative virtual retreat on Saturday, October 4th, 2025, via Zoom.

See Flyer Here with Registration & Payment Information

Greater Houston 2025 World Communion Day Worship: Rev. Dr. Vanessa Monroe Guest Preacher

You are invited to attend the Greater Houston World Communion Day Worship on October 5, 2025

See Flyer Here

Ordination Service for

Peter Scie

October 26, 2025 @ 3:00 pm

Central St. Matthew UCC Invites you to the Ordination service for Peter Scie on October 26th @ 3:00 at the church located at 1333 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118

See Invite Here

Employment Opportunities

UCC Austin Seeking Director of Children & Youth Ministries

SEE POSITION OVERVIEW HERE

First Congregational

Ft. Worth

Staff Opportunities

First Congregational Ft. Worth has two open positions they are looking to fill. Please see the details for each below:

See Position Details Here & Send your Resume

Continuing Education

Home About Us Programs For Authorizing Bodies Contact Us Donate

PATHWAYS Fall 2025 Schedule, Six-week courses

9/17/2025

What is the Bible? (Dickinson/MBS)
Professional Boundaries and Ministerial Self-Care

10/8/2025

New Testament Hermeneutics
Practicing Our Faith in the Public Square
Living the Heart of Progressive Christian Theology
Ecological Theology
Preaching Liberation Theology

10/15/2025

Introduction to Spiritual Health (Pastoral Care)

Go to the PATHWAYS website (pathwaystheological.org) to learn more and to apply.

UCC National News

New UCC Focused

Credit Union Opens

Staff members from the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ launched the Generations United Federal Credit Union (GUFCU), with the hopes of serving the “historically underbanked or unbanked, as well as victims of extortionate alternative financial-service industry models such as payday lenders,” according to its website.

Read Full Article Here

United Church Homes to Launch Fall Prevention Program

They say “use it or lose it,” and the United Church Homes (UCH) is hoping their senior residents will “use it” to exercise for a great cause as they work to increase awareness of fall injuries and prevention.

Read Full Article Here