Together We Thrive Initiative

February 15 2024 Lunch and Learn Webinar on Zoom
12:00 PM Noon to 1:00 PM

Enlivening Congregational Song:

Are you frustrated by words and music that don't fit your community, a congregation that's divided along musical lines, folks who are hesitant to sing? Come explore new resources and approaches to integrating music into your worship experience. We'll consider big-picture questions and share practical suggestions. Bring your ideas and concerns!

https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/LunchandLearnFeb2024

Inviting Data to Church: Congregational Research in the UCC and Beyond
Have you ever wondered? What data would inform our next steps? What statistics might help us make that all important decision we will be making? What is the role of data in the congregation in forwarding its mission and ministry.
This presentation will give an overview of the research team at the UCC National office and the work they produce to help local congregations understand where their church fits into larger trends both within and beyond the UCC. Highlights from the recently released 2023 Statistical Profile will be shared as well as findings from the 2023 Faith Communities Today Survey. The presentation will also discuss how this data might be used in a local church setting and the resources available for local churches to consider their work through a lens of data.

Register here https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/LunchandLearnJanuary2024

Registration continues for this Family Systems Theory course designed for authorized ministers!

The course will consist of six modules focusing on the basics of Family Systems Theory, how FST impacts the life of the church, and the pastor's unique role within the system. In addition to informative content, there will be ample opportunity to explore several personal case studies brought forward by participants. The six modules will be shared over three separate Wednesdays, Jan. 17, Feb 7, and Feb 28, taking place in the Framingham, MA area. Each day will begin at 10 am and wrap up by 3 pm to accommodate those who may be traveling from a distance. Lunch will be provided. This course is designed to be informative, interactive, and relevant to each participant's setting, while providing new insights into their ministry and ministry setting.

Registrants must commit to attending the entire series of workshops; 12 contact hours will be granted at conclusion of workshops.

Register here https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/FamilySystemsTheory

Registration deadline - December 15!

An invitation for nearly and newly retired clergy to gather for engagement on the topic of retirement and fellowship with other clergy navigating this new life transition. The first presentation will feature Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly about navigating retirement based on the research for his book, "The Jubilee Years: Embracing Clergy Retirement". Each session will have a guest presenter who brings a unique viewpoint with knowledge and experience to enable the cohort to openly explore some aspect of the retirement journey. The sessions will be hosted by the staff of the Center for Transformational Leadership.

For more information, go to https://www.sneucc.org/eventdetail/a-season-of-jubilee-affinity-group-17541614

This Meditation Teacher Training for clergy and authorized ministers will cover best practices in teaching meditation and provide small group opportunities to practice teaching. Prayerfully consider whether you would like to join this new adventure in integrating a daily meditation practice and learning how to share the joys and fruits of meditation with others. This six week program will include meditation practice, small group practice teaching sessions and one-to-one sessions with the facilitator.
The 6-week “Meditation Teacher Training” is being offered on Zoom, from 2-3:30 pm on Tuesdays, January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27 and March 5.
Register here https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/MeditationTraining71

Do you want to share meditation in your church or spiritual community? Or do you simply want to develop your own personal meditation practice? Here’s your chance!

In church, we often pray, but how often have we learned to meditate? Our relationship with God can be thought of as a friendship. If prayer is talking to God, then meditation is listening to God. How can we best listen, given the realities of the monkey mind? And given our own imperfect meditation practice, how can we best share meditation with others and our churches?
The 3-week “Lessons in Meditation” runs on Zoom, on Tuesday afternoons from 2-3:30 p.m. on January 30th, February 6, and February 13th.

Register here https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/MeditationPractice

Registration is now open for this Family Systems Theory course designed for authorized ministers!

The course will consist of six modules focusing on the basics of Family Systems Theory, how FST impacts the life of the church, and the pastor's unique role within the system. In addition to informative content, there will be ample opportunity to explore several personal case studies brought forward by participants. The six modules will be shared over three separate Wednesdays, Jan. 17, Feb 7, and Feb 28. Each day will begin at 10:00 a.m. and wrap up by 3:00 p.m. to accommodate those who may be traveling from a distance to the site in the Framingham, Mass area. Lunch will be provided between the morning and afternoon sessions.

This course is designed to be informative, interactive, and relevant to each participant's setting, while providing new insights into their ministry and ministry setting.
Registrants must commit to attending the entire series of workshops; 12 contact hours will be granted at conclusion of workshops.
Register here https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/FamilySystemsTheory

Registration closes at midnight tonight!

You're invited to join the Center for Transformational Leadership for the November Lunch and Learn Webinar!

Our faith communities are filled with people, like ourselves, who learned most of our conflict norms from the people who raised us. When we join together in community, this lack of shared norms for successfully navigating conflict further enflames toxic polarization. This workshop will provide tools and language to help shepherd our congregations into and through generative conflict.

https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/LunchLearnShepherdingCongre...

Small Church Roundtable 2023-24 series

Sacred Passageways for Small Churches
November 9th, 2023 on Zoom
1:00-2:15 PM
Sponsored by The Center for Transformational Leadership in collaboration with the Small Church Advisory Team who invite you to a roundtable discussion.

The first gathering for this season will be co-facilitated by Rev. Dr. Elizabeth 'Liz' Magill and Rev. Ruth Schilling Hainsworth.

We'll gather on Zoom for fellowship and discussion. The discussion topic for this first session will be Sacred Passageways for Small Churches. Join us as we discuss the moments of possibility and opportunity in small churches to create a way forward when we anticipate a new threshold.

Register here
https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/SmallChurchRoundtablesacredpassageways

Better Together: The Gifts of Collaboration Across Denominations⁠
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Over the last several years, the downtown churches of Pittsfield have worked together on a variety of efforts that have brought life and revitalization to our community and individual congregations. Come and hear our joy and work together. Bring your own stories and let's together dream of communities that are enriched by a collective witness of our love in Christ. ⁠Gathering on Zoom, Nov 1 at 7 pm.
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Registration here https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/Collaboration

Join Rev. Jenny Gregg, Episcopal Diocese of Western Mass, Rev. Joel Bergeland, Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsfield, MA and Rev. Mike Denton, First and South Church, Pittsfield, MA as they share their stories of collaboration. Over the last several years, the downtown churches of Pittsfield have worked together on a variety of efforts that have brought life and revitalization to our community and individual congregations. Come and hear our joy and work together. Bring your own stories and let's together dream of communities that are enriched by a collective witness of our love in Christ. Wednesday, November 1 at 7 pm via Zoom. Register here https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/Collaboration

Better Together: The Gifts of Collaboration Across Denominations⁠
⁠
Over the last several years, the downtown churches of Pittsfield have worked together on a variety of efforts that have brought life and revitalization to our community and individual congregations. Come and hear our joy and work together. Bring your own stories and let's together dream of communities that are enriched by a collective witness of our love in Christ. ⁠
⁠
Register here - https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/Collaboration⁠

Did you miss the Money and Beyond stewardship webinar on September 16? Due to the great response to the webinar and a number of requests, we have a special offer for those interested. We are offering a 'post-webinar' registration that will allow you to receive the video link for the event. You may register as an individual, or for the group watch rate if you'd like to invite your stewardship team or church council/board of deacons.


You may register here https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/MoneyandBeyond through Friday, October 6th.

An invitation and opportunity for nearly and newly retired clergy to gather together for engagement on the topic of retirement and fellowship with other clergy navigating this new life transition. The first presentation will feature Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly about navigating retirement based on the research he conducted on clergy retirement and his resulting book, "The Jubilee Years: Embracing Clergy Retirement". This opportunity is a chance to gather with others at this life-stage in a series of 7 sessions, each addressing a relevant topic. We will gather and explore meaningful service in retirement, ways to navigate spiritual changes, relationships, new ways to kindle and sustain joy, financial stability, and spiritual well-being. Each session will have a guest presenter who brings a unique viewpoint on the topic with knowledge and experience to enable the cohort to openly explore some aspect of the retirement journey. The sessions will be hosted by the staff of the Center for Transformational Leadership.

https://www.sneucc.org/eventdetail/a-season-of-jubilee-affinity-group-17541614

Registration has been extended for this group.

Registration is still open for this clergy affinity group focusing on healing from grief. More information and registration link here https://www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups

Did you miss the Money and Beyond stewardship webinar on September 16? Due to the great response to the webinar and a number of requests, we have a special offer for those interested. We are offering a 'post-webinar' registration that will allow you to receive the video link for the event. You may register as an individual, or for the group watch rate if you'd like to invite your stewardship team or church council/board of deacons. You may register here https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/MoneyandBeyond through Friday, October 6th.

The LGBTQ+ Affinity Group is for individuals who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and are ordained clergy (pastor, minister, deacon, elder) in their church or congregation. Group leader Rev. Nicole M. Garcia, M.A. LPC (she/her) is a q***r transgender Latina who currently serves as the Faith Work Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force.⁠
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For details and registration link, https://www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups

Registration has been extended.

Registration is still open for this clergy affinity group focusing on healing from grief. More information and registration link may be found here https://www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups

Registration has been extended for this group - https://www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups

The need for resilience is great! This is an especially challenging time for clergy, as overwhelm and burnout have increased exponentially since the pandemic. This Affinity Group is for clergy who wish to grow resilience and to make resiliency practices part of life. Group leader Rev. Judith Cooke, PCC is a Resilience Coach who delights in helping people find the clarity they need that moves them to a life they love. More information and registration details available at https://www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups.

The LGBTQ+ Affinity Group is for individuals who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and are ordained clergy (pastor, minister, deacon, elder) in their church or congregation. Listening session on September 12th will help determine the topics for the sessions. Group leader Rev. Nicole M. Garcia, M.A. LPC (she/her) is a q***r transgender Latina who currently serves as the Faith Work Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force.
Details and registration link for group may be found here https://www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups.
Register for listening session here https://forms.gle/5cL4zpwPa1rfu31g9

Registration closing soon for this affinity group for pastors focusing on healing from grief. Are you a pastor carrying the weight of grief while being a pillar for others? Do you find yourself pretending to be happy while it feels like everyone around you is enjoying life? Each session we will talk about the importance of self care in the light of experiencing grief. We will also learn ways to work through our grief.
More information and registration link may be found here https://www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups

Last day to register!
This group is open to all ministers born in years 1980-1995. Led by a millennial pastor and leader, it will explore the unique joys, perspectives and challenges of those serving the church in our current context, through mutual leadership development and resource sharing, as well as connection among group members.
Rev. Liz Miller will be group lead collaborator and liaison for this affinity group. Registration may be found at https://www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups.
The affinity group will consist of six sessions, starting in September and occurring every 6 weeks thereafter.

Registration closes soon for Women* in Ministry Affinity Group
This group will offer peer support for women* as they navigate a path between “-isms and -archies” while seeking to be agents of equity themselves. Group topics will move through individual stories to re-imagining futures not only for ourselves, but wider communities. We may be surrounded by oppressive systems, but we belong to a different story.
*this invitation includes all cis and trans women as well as non-binary people comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women.
Details and registration at www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups

Registration now open for 2023-2024 Affinity Groups
Women* in Ministry
This group will offer peer support for women* as they navigate a path between “-isms and -archies” while seeking to be agents of equity themselves. Group topics will move through individual stories to re-imagining futures not only for ourselves, but wider communities. We may be surrounded by oppressive systems, but we belong to a different story.
*this invitation includes all cis and trans women as well as non-binary people comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women.

Details and registration at www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/affinity-groups