Clergy, seminarians, and in-care students will join together in this hands-on preaching workshop led by Rev. Dr. Matthew Myer Boulton. We will all take some time out of our busy schedules to gain a deeper theological understanding of this liturgical season and to put together a personalized schedule of ideas for preaching through Advent and Christmas. The Pastoral Excellence Program team looks forward to seeing you next Thursday!
(Haven't registered yet? Email Kris today...lofrumentok@macucc.org!)

Associate Conference Ministers from the Massachusetts Conference, UCC will lead this gathering to discuss the In-Care and the Search Process; give tips and pointers on how to complete the Ministerial Profile; and will walk participants through the Profile itself and the UCC Search and Call Network.

During this day colleagues - clergy and lay - will gather to reflect on the texts of Lent and will explore various ways in which to engage the congregation in the themes of the Lenten season.

Save the date of January 25, 2007 for an event for multiple staff teams serving congregations in the Massachusetts Conference, UCC. The event will begin with registration at 9:30AM and continue until 3:00PM in Edwards House at the Framingham Conference Center. The focus for this gathering will be on building relationships of trust using appreciative inquiry as an effective tool.
The Revs. Patricia Hayes and Larry Peers, will be the facilitators for this gathering. Patricia is currently serving as Senior Minister at Christ Congregational Church in Brockton. Prior to her call to Brockton, Patricia worked for six years as a consultant for The Alban Institute, developing the seminar “Building Healthy Staff Teams” based on her work with staff teams around the country. She has served in a variety of roles on staff teams, and looks forward to mutual conversations on the topic. Larry is currently the Associate for Pastoral Development in the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program and an Alban Consultant.
Look for more info coming soon!

Clergy and church educators come hear John and Caroline Westerhoff! Join us for a welcoming reception, booksigning and presentation on Friday Feb. 9th as well as for a day of presentations and small group work on Feb. 10th. The topics will include: The Teaching Ministry of Pastor and Educator, Living into Our Baptism, and The Making of Christians: Formation, Education, and Instruction.

John Wimmer, Program Director of the Religion Division of the Lilly Endowment, has invited the Massachusetts Conference, UCC to present a proposal for continued funding in the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Initiative. The grant extension, if approved, will be for no more than one-half of the project's original grant. The chief purpose in offering this opportunity for partial continued funding is that the Lilly Endowment wants to help sustain this momentum toward excellence in ministry by seeing the most effective Sustaining Pastoral Excellence projects continue and become self sustaining.The extension grant proposal is due January 2, 2007 and is being written in cooperation with the members of the Commission for Leadership Development, the facilitators of the New Clergy Groups and Communities of Practice and the Massachusetts Conference staff. Significant questions that are being discerned as the proposal is being written include the Massachusetts Conference's commitment to the program components of the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence ministry including the New Clergy groups, the Clergy Communities of Practice, and the Colloquies; the effectiveness and impact of the SPE program through the first grant period; and the sustainability beyond the extension period.

Questions about the invitation to extend the grant should be directed to Susan Dickerman, Program Coordinator at dickermans@macucc.org or by phone at 508-875-5233.

The Lilly Endowment, Inc. has announced that their National Clergy Renewal Program will continue for an 8th year. They will select up to 120 congregations and clergy persons to participate in 2007.

The Massachusetts Conference is blessed to have many resources available. One of the best sources of inspiration and ideas are your colleagues. The following have all received National Clergy Renewal Grants from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. to fund their sabbatical time.

2006 - Mary Luti, First Church in Cambridge, Congregational, UCC
2005 - Ginger Brasher-Cunningham, North Community Church, Marshfield Hills; Peter Cook, The Plymouth Church in Framingham; Patricia Coughlin, United Parish of Brookline
2004 - Jeffrey Larsen, Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC (now serving in the RI Conference)
2003 - Reed Baer, West Parish of Barnstable; Martin Copenhaver, Wellesley Congregational Church; Jeanne Marechal, Second Congregational Church of Boxford, UCC; Margaret Stearn, First Congregational Church, UCC (Amherst) (now retired)
2002 - Marcia Cham, Union Congregational Church, UCC (East Bridgewater) (now retired)
2000 - Peter Ives, First Church of Christ, Inc. (Northampton)

This article gives you "Four Models for Mobilizing Professionals in the Pews" all based on the premise that those in church want to be church in the world as well and sometimes need help finding out how to do that.

For a listing of all the upcoming Pastoral Excellence Program events in the Massachusetts Conference take a look at the calendar!

We look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming Pastoral Excellence programs!