Jim Antal

Two features from this morning’s news are deeply connected to the bold leadership which our Conference of churches - the Mass Conference UCC - has shown over the past 30 years.

MInister & President Jim Antal invites you to participate in events celebrating the earth, the Awakenings Conference in Holyoke, and our Annual Meeting.

Each year, we are given the opportunity to learn again the lean lessons of Advent: watchful waiting, sustained hope, untempered joy, limitless love, and passionate peace. All are ongoing mysteries.

Just as Advent is a time of “coming” – we are quickly approaching a time of Conference staff transition. Since last May, when I first shared with you the plans for these transitions, the Conference staff, Commissions and Board along with the leaders in many of our Associations have been preparing. I thought that everyone might benefit from a brief rehearsal of the changes that will take place when the new year arrives.

A pastoral letter to the Conference regarding all those whose lives have been upended by an unprecedented series of extreme weather events.

By the Rev. Dr. Jim Antal
Minister and President, Massachusetts Conference, UCC

Bodies make the difference - for economic justice, for the environment and for the hungry.

Jim Antal invites your congregation to engage in these activities:

• Lenten Carbon Fast 2012 – Plan  now for a weekly Lenten discussion around the Carbon Fast and sign up now via facebook
• How Green is my Church? – See where you stand in our Green Congregations assessment and plan how you will become more green
• Surround the White House on November 6 to urge President Obama to “say no” to the tar sands pipeline
• Do It In Durban
• February 12, 2012 – National Environmental “preach in”
• Who is your congregation’s environmental contact?

By the Rev. Dr. Jim Antal
Minister and President, Massachusetts Conference, UCC

For 2,000 years, disciples of Christ have identified with the poor, oppressed, marginalized and disinherited.  There can be no doubt that those witnessing through these many “occupations” are boldly lifting up those same values. 

The 10^th anniversary of 9-11 is fast approaching.  Our collective, pain-filled memories present all faith leaders with a crucial opportunity to advance a vision in which such a tragedy will never again happen.

On Sunday August 28 the hearts and minds of America will be focused on our capital where a 30 foot tall granite statue of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is being dedicated. This historic event – long in coming – is tied in a crucial way to a series of events happening this past week and in the coming days as well.  NOTE: This event has been postponed due to the storm.

The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal on why he chose to protest the Keystone Sands Pipeline in Washington DC this weekend, resulting in his arrest.

As more and more congregations are deepening their commitment to care for God’s earth, here are three important opportunities I urge you to engage.

Imagine every UCC church hosting an interfaith service of reconciliation on the 10th Anniversary of 9-11 ....  Imagine the UCC committing to have every pastor serving our 5,000+ churches preach their reflections on the question:  “Is Jesus the Only Way.” This would begin to fulfill one of the “big holy audacious goals” General Minister and President Geoffrey Black lifted up at MACUCC Annual Meeting and will (likely) lift up at Synod. 

Today, like any day, we turn to God in prayer. And unlike any other day, we do so with special intensity and specificity, asking God to offer strength and courage to the communities in our Commonwealth who yesterday suffered a terrible time of devastation.

Since first hearing about the possibility of Dale Hempen’s decision to retire at year end (Dale serves as Associate Conference Minister in the Southeast), I've been in conversation with our Conference Board of Directors and our Conference staff.

Associate Conference Minister Dale Hempen today announced that he will be retiring at the end of 2011, after having served the Massachusetts Conference for more than 13 years.

Our colleague, friend, teacher and companion in Christ, the Reverend Dr. Peter Gomes, died on February 28, 2011.  An American Baptist minister, Rev. Gomes shaped the lives and enlivened the faith of countless students, ministers and disciples across denominational lines through his prolific and provocative writing, teaching and preaching. 

Grace and peace to you amidst these times of challenge and promise, as we stake our lives on the light of Epiphany to show us the way forward. 

In this message you will find several distinct items:

• Expanding our Conference Mission Statement
• Join me in signing the petition: “Clergy Against Bullets”
• A Day Long Environmental Ministries Teach-in
• Churches in the News
• National Preach-in on Climate and Environment
• Plan Now for Our Lenten Carbon Fast

Super Saturday success; an environmental victory; 10/10/10

After the hottest first 8 months of any year on record, I wanted to alert you to several opportunities for learning, engagement and witness related to climate change.