From March 16-24, walkers crossed Massachusetts from Northampton to Boston to call for deeper environmental awareness. This walk concluded with a worship service at Old South Church in Boston and a rally. Read more...

Above photo courtesy of Robert A. Jonas.

The deadline for Haystack Awards nominations is May 1, 2007. To read about this award and nominate someone, click here...

In the past three years, the Spirit has been doing some amazing things at Wollaston Congregational, UCC. Under the very capable leadership of Rev. Mary Lou Gifford, this congregation has been making a remarkable turnaround.

Shown are Rev. Federico Ranches, Rev. Mary Louise Gifford and Rev. Paul Nickerson.

Mark your calendars for April 28th for this special conference. Click here for details.

There are a number of upcoming training events for church vitality. Click here for details:

How might worship transform lives and build disciples? Download a resource for discussion with your leaders:

Unbinding the Gospel, by Martha Grace Reese, is a Lily-grant study of evangelism in Mainline Protestant denominations. You will be inspired in this book to reclaim the telling of our faith story in a relational, grace-filled way.
Reese’s passion and care for congregations comes through in this very engaging book.

“Any church can blossom and grow anywhere if it will become healthy enough spiritually and pay attention to the needs, experiences, and sensibilities of those its seeks to serve.”
Paul Nixon, I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has actually created major problems for the nation’s most vulnerable children. Read more about this issue and how you can help by clicking here.

The genocide in the Dafur region of Sudan continues. As Christians, as churches and as a denomination we must respond. To learn how the United Church of Christ is responding to this catastrophe and how your church can be involved, click here:

Bulletin inserts are one of the easiest and most effective ways to tell the story of the great works being done by your congregation through the United Church of Christ.
For U.C.C. Mission Moment weekly bulletin inserts, go to:
Mission Moments.

For Global Ministries bulletin insert for April, 2007 go to:
Global Ministries bulletin insert

The news cameras are long gone, but we are still there, bringing Light and Life to New Orleans. One way we help is through mission trips made up of people from local Massachusetts congregations. The Worcester Area Mission Society, UCC, is sponsoring work trips to New Orleans in cooperation with the Massachusetts Conference.

All the mission work you read about in Common Cloth is made possible because of generous support for Our Church’s Wider Mission. To make your pledge to OCWM, click here: