Because numerous members of the Massachusetts Conference Executive staff joined the staff at the same time, this summer is seeing a confluence of sabbatical times.

"We have a great staff that works well together, and we have come up with a schedule that assures adequate summer coverage while allowing staff to take the sabbatical and vacation time to which they are entitled," said Conference Minister and President Jim Antal.

Staff members will be off, as follows. In all cases, staff have arranged their calendars and commitments to allow for this time.

• Andy Gustafson, Associate Conference Minister for Stewardship and Financial Development, will be on sabbatical May 25 - August 26. Messages to be given to Andy upon his return may be left with his assistant, Karen Methot, at methotk@macucc.org.
   
• Wendy Vander Hart, Associate Conference Minister working in the Andover, Essex and Metropolitan Boston Associations, will be on sabbatical or on vacation for the months of July and August.  Messages to be given to Wendy upon her return may be left with her assistant, Colin Loggins, at  waltham@macucc.org.  For more immediate needs, see below for who is covering in Wendy's absence. 
   
• Don Remick, Associate Conference Minister for the Barnstable, Old Colony and Pilgrim Associations and staff to the Church Development Council, will be on sabbatical or on vacation in July and August.  Messages to be given to Don upon his return may be left with his assistant, Martha Goodman, at goodmanm@macucc.org. For more immediate needs, see below for who is covering.
   
• Jill Graham, Associate Conference Minister working in the Berkshire, Franklin and Hampden Associations. will be on vacation for a week in July and from Aug. 19 – September 8.  Messages to be given to Jill upon her return may be left with Jill’s Assistant, Maureen Jagodowski, at  western@macucc.org.  For more immediate needs, see below for who is covering.
   
• Minister and President Jim Antal will be on vacation July 5 – August 1.  Messages to be given to Jim upon his return may be left with his assistant, Patti Babcock, at babcockp@macucc.org.  For more immediate needs, see below for who is covering. 

Coverage During General Synod, June 26 - July 4:
Jill Graham and Ellie Richardson will remain in the Massachusetts Conference and provide coverage while Jim Antal, Peter Wells, Andy Gustafson, Dawn Hammod and Don Remick are at General Synod.

Coverage for July and August:
For the month of July, Peter Wells (wellsp@macucc.org) will serve as the Associate Conference Minister in charge. For the month of August, Jim Antal (antalj@macucc.org) will share coverage with Jill Graham (August 1-18) and Acting Associate Conference Minister Kelly Gallagher (August 19-31).

• Awesome person.  Would be really good in role of ACM.  Above and beyond call of duty for hard work; Totally reliable. Collaborative; self-starter; self-directed; loyal.  Persistently attempts to expand the impact of the church. No real deficits at all.
• Greatly respected; great preacher; inspiring person.
• I have never had a UCC colleague in the ministry that I have admired, respected and trusted more for her faith, integrity and commitment to Christian ministry and the ministry of the United Church of Christ than Kelly Gallagher.... The thought of Kelly as our Associate Conference Minister here in [one Association of] Western Massachusetts is very, very exciting.  She has ministered at the largest of our large Churches in the west ... and one of the most challenging of our small churches... some of our most progressive congregations... and some of our more conservative congregations... She knows how to minister to them all!

The Annual Meeting Planning Committee announced this week that Associate Conference Minister Peter Wells, who is retiring after having served on the staff for 11 years, will be honored at the 214th Annual Meeting in Sturbridge in June.

On Friday, June 14, Wells will preach at the closing worship service, which will include a liturgy of blessing and farewell. A reception in his honor will follow the worship service.

The committee is sending the following email to delegates and churches on Thursday, May 9:

"After 11 years of ministry with and among us, the Rev. Dr. Peter Wells will be retiring from his service as Association Conference Minister with our Conference on August 1st of 2013. Peter's vision and voice have helped heal, guide, and inspire pastors and churches across the Commonwealth, nation and globe. On Friday evening of our Annual Meeting Peter will offer his reflections and insights at our closing worship time. This worship will include a "Liturgy of Blessing and Farewell" to celebrate and recognize his impact on all of us. There will be a reception in Peter's honor following the worship service. We hope you will join us as we gather in recognition and appreciation of all Peter has accomplished among us."

Related article: Peter Wells announces plans to retire (March 22, 2013)

Delegates, clergy and visitors may register for the Annual Meeting here.

A number of Massachusetts Conference staff and local pastors have been writing reflections on the tragedy in Boston on Patriot's Day. Some of those are listed here: 

On the Massachusetts Conference Website:

The substance of our faith Andy Gustafson, Associate Conference Minister I know grief, I know anger, I know the thirst for vengeance, I know darkness. But thanks to God, I also know the light shines in the darkness and that the darkness cannot overcome it. April 19

Providing light for this journey through darkness Jim Antal, Conference Minister & President Yesterday was a good beginning at Tikkun Olam – a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world" (or "healing the world"). The world is in need of deep repair – deep healing. April 19

I Love to Tell the Story - 25 Times Don Remick, Associate Conference Minister Over the years I have worked in disaster long term recovery and with critical incident stress response teams. In the training I have learned a rule of thumb. It takes 25 times of telling the story to begin the healing. April 18

Our hearts remain broken Jim Antal, Conference Minister & President Tragedy brings out caring and courage. But this remains a tragedy. And our hearts remain broken, while Jesus stands embracing the fallen, the wounded, the broken and the shocked. April 17

Responding to the trauma with love Elsa Marshall, Resource Center Director Through us God will be with everyone who suffers, through even the deepest grief and loss such as that caused by this horrific attack during the Boston Marathon. Love is shared when we respond, pray, help, care. April 17

Used for Good Wendy Vander Hart, Associate Conference Minister  What is our work now? Our work is to bring as much good to this tragedy and thereby as much evidence of God in the midst of suffering, violence and pain, as possible. April 16

Ministries Beyond the Walls Don Remick, Associate Conference Minister They are known as chaplains, spiritual companions, pastoral counselors, among other names. They are pastors beyond the walls. April 16

Someone Like Us J. Mary Luti, Retired Andover Newton Theological School Professor This time it’s Boston, but it has been elsewhere more times than we can count.  It happened Monday at the Marathon in the midst of joy on a  gorgeous day with people at their best, but it’s happened at other celebrations on other days.  April 16

Prayers for Bomb Victims and Boston Jim Antal, Conference Minister & President Jesus weeps… our hearts break… overwhelmed and in shock we grieve.  Those who lost their lives, and those who are wounded, and their families and loved ones – we lift all of them in prayer. April 15

 Published on other sites:

After the Marathon: We are OK. We are not OK. We will be OK John Hudson, Pastor of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Sherborn

Reflections on the Boston Marathon Bombings Kazimierz Bem, Pastor of First Church in Marlborough, Congregational

If you know of others, please send links to Tiffany Vail.

Clergy serving in every setting of the Massachusetts Conference have received an invitation to gather together for worship, prayer and an opportunity to share stories, perspectives and resources in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

The event will be held at Plymouth Church in Framingham on April 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. An invitation to clergy was emailed Friday morning from Minister and President Jim Antal and the member of the MACUCC Disaster Resource Team, Don Remick, Jim Tilbe and Peter Wells.

"We are all keenly aware of the events and aftermath of the explosions at the Boston Marathon," said the invitation. "In our conversations with clergy over the last few days we have heard many stories. Some had family in the race or at the finish line, many had members of their church that were impacted, and everyone is seeking ways to minister in the midst of all the stories and emotions within them and around them."

Clergy planning to attend should RSVP to Patti Babcock at babcockp@macucc.org.

Upcoming Days of Covenant will also include time for clergy to come together and reflect, grieve and offer mutual support. Those included:

• The Andover and Essex Associations Day of Covenant is April 29 at 8:30 AM at the First Church in Danvers. RSVP to the Waltham office at waltham@macucc.org.
   
• The Western Region Day of Covenant is May 2 at 8:30 AM at the First Congregational Church of Hadley. RSVP to the Ludlow office at western@macucc.org.
   
• The Metropolitan Boston Association Day of Covenant is May 7 at 8:30 AM at the North Congregational Church in Woburn.  RSVP to the Waltham office at waltham@macucc.org.
   
• A Day of Covenant for those in specialized ministries - including hospital chaplains, who have been so involved in this week's events - is being held May 9 at 5:30 PM at Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center in Framingham. RSVP to Patti Babcock at babcockp@macucc.org.

Nancy Taylor, senior pastor of Old South Church UCC in Boston, spoke during the City Wide Interaith Prayer service in Boston on Thursday.

"Here's what I know today: we are shaken, but we are not forsaken. Another's hate will not make of us haters. Another's cruelty will only redouble our mercy," she said.

Taylor was involved in planning the service with, Dan Smith, pastor of the First Church in Cambridge, Wendy Vander Hart, Associate Conference Minister, Nick Carter, Andover Newton Theological School President, and Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches.