Copy
View this email in your browser
The Massachusetts Convention of Congregationalist Ministers Annual Fall Book Seminar
Monday, November 15, 2021
Via Zoom from 10am to 12pm

This year’s featured speaker will be the author and translator Dr. Sarah Ruden who will be discussing her most recent work - The Gospels - a new translation. Her work has received much popular coverage and numerous positive reviews in a variety of publications, including The New Yorker and Christian Science Monitor.
 
About the Speaker:
Sarah Ruden is an author of poetry, essays, translations of classic literature, and popular works on Biblical philology, religious criticism, and interpretation. She has translated a number of ancient literary works, among them Vergil's Aeneid and Augustine's Confessions, and is the author of Paul Among the People: The
Apostle Reinterpreted and Reimagined in His Own Time
 and The Face of Water: A Translator on Beauty and Meaning in the Bible. She is a past recipient of the Guggenheim and Whiting awards. Formerly a scholar-in- residence at Yale Divinity School, she is currently a visiting researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
 
About Us:
The Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers (MCCM) is the oldest professional body currently meeting in the United States. It has met almost continually since 1691 and gathers Trinitarian and Unitarian ministers and laypeople in Massachusetts and beyond. This event is free and open to the public. However, a small donation is suggested.
Registration is required.
If you plan to attend, please register here: 
https://forms.gle/esj1tmfBAYHw861X6 
Practical Resources for Churches

This is information about upcoming workshops offered by Practical Resources for Churches. Our presbytery has joined as a sponsor judicatory which means that any church in our presbytery may attend a workshop via Zoom for free. This list will continue to be updated as events end.

Q and A with Natalie Perkins 
Wednesday, Nov 3, 2021
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Sustaining Faith Online - Follow UP Q&A Join us for this special Q and A for paid subscribers. Come with all your questions (and hopes and fears) for sustaining faith online. If you cannot attend live, you may send the question to karenwj@prcli.org and we will ask Natalie on air.
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqdemvrTwoGNNvojk1-40Iui8EGOPDZ1pI

The New Normal - Hybrid Worship for Small Churches
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mfKpGnSRRMiCmANuH7CuUw
Tuesday, November 9
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Leader: Justin Bishop

Justin Bishop currently serves as Associate Pastor of Heritage Fellowship (a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship congregation) where he leads worship and manages the church's social media presence.  He is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry degree at Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology where he also earned an M.Div. in Academic Research. Justin Bishop spent 9 years in the educational profession as a High School English teacher where he consistently navigated new technologies for teaching (including the occasional video production course!) and found ways to adapt time-honored assignments to the digital world.  He is an avid musician who plays 18 instruments, and he lives in the north Atlanta area with his wife and two sons.
 
Supporting a Hybrid Ministry with Office 365
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aC5TTveJSZS6iNvdhHNn0g
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
1:00 - 2:00 PM Eastern
Leader: Joshua Carroll

In this webinar we will explore how to securely leverage Microsoft Office 365 to decrease costs and increase productivity and mission capacity
Joshua Carroll is the President and Founder of JRC Consulting, a technical consulting firm based in Syracuse NY. JRC specializes in helping non-profits and religious organizations deploy and secure cloud computing solutions to support a hybrid congregation, ministry and workforce. Joshua earned a B.S. in Information Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology and holds many industry certifications such as VMware Certified Professional, Cisco Certified Network Associate and Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator Expert. Josh and his wife Havilah are members of Plymouth Congregational UCC
 
Q and A with Joshua Carroll on Microsoft Office 265
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcudOCtqjssGNChCYaaMUpPyoxYN28FJqQw
Wednesday, November 17
2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern
Ask the expert all your questions about how to securely leverage Microsoft Office 365 to decrease costs and increase productivity and mission capacity
Joshua Carroll is the President and Founder of JRC Consulting, a technical consulting firm based in Syracuse NY. JRC specializes in helping non-profits and religious organizations deploy and secure cloud computing solutions to support a hybrid congregation, ministry and workforce. Joshua earned a B.S. in Information Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology and holds many industry certifications such as VMware Certified Professional, Cisco Certified Network Associate and Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator Expert. Josh and his wife Havilah are members of Plymouth Congregational UCC
 
Celebrating Smallness: Unleashing New Life through Collaborative Models of Mutuality
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bTU9mg2nT0S8XH41d8t47Q
November 16
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Leader: Lydia Kelsey Bucklin
The majority of congregations across denominations now fall into the category of “small church,” many unable to maintain a model of ministry centered around a minister. Join Lydia Kelsey Bucklin as we explore alternative models of shared ministry, focused on the gifts of the community. God DOES set a feast in the wilderness, so let us celebrate the opportunities ahead of us for engaging the Holy Spirit, especially in our small but mighty communities of faith.
Lydia Kelsey Bucklin is an Episcopal Priest in the Diocese of Northern Michigan supporting communities of faith in discipleship and vitality. She is a 2021 Seeds Fellow, recognized by Luther Seminary as a faithful innovator in today’s church. Lydia lives in Marquette, Michigan with her spouse and two elementary aged children.
We had a fantastic conversation with Sierra Mink from Common Cathedral on Sunday evening. She spoke to us about the programs offered at common cathedral and how we can get involved. If you haven't heard about common cathedral click the links above to learn more. If you have a ministry or mission in your church or community you would like to share please let me know. We would love to hear about other ministry opportunities happening around the region and explore how NE Glow youth can get involved!

No Youth Group Sunday, October 31! Have a Happy Halloween and see you all November 7 for Game Night.

Common Cathedral Lunches with Burlington Pres: New England Glow is partnering with the Presbyterian Church in Burlington, MA (BPC) to prepare lunches for the congregation at common cathedral.This is a 2 part event. BPC is hosting an afternoon event of fun and worship to prepare the lunches on Saturday, November 13 starting at 1PM. On Sunday, November 14 all are invited to meet at 11:45 at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral at 138 Tremont St in Boston. Worship begins at Brewer Fountain on the Boston Commons at 1 PM. Boston Common Garage on Charles Street has free parking on Sundays. Outdoor parking is also available near Downtown Crossing.

Support New England Glow here.
The Board of Directors adopted the recommendations of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. The Task Force stated that 
  • to serve more, the agency must pursue “more intentional and targeted outreach … for the many diverse constituencies that compose Christ’s Church”;
  • to serve better, the agency must “eliminate artificial barriers that reduce opportunities for participation and cast a wide net to be intentionally inclusive”;
  • to serve the Church, the agency must “be adaptive and provide leadership in promoting Christian virtues through the Board’s work in the world.”
The Task Force laid out six principles to support pursuit of the above: 
  1. The Board of Pensions rejects any form of racism, discrimination, or prejudice.
  2. The Board of Pensions will work to provide ever-broadening access to benefits, programs, employment, and other opportunities.
  3. The Board of Pensions recommits itself to creating a culture of belonging in which every person, being created in the image of God, feels welcomed, valued, respected, and heard.
  4. Led by the Spirit, the Board of Pensions will demonstrate empathy and openness as it invites all members, employers, employees, business partners, and its Board of Directors into partnership in pursuit of its mission.
  5. The Board of Pensions believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion enhances the standard of excellence it maintains in all aspects of its work.
  6. The Board of Pensions will hold itself accountable for progress in DEI by developing both quantitative and qualitative outcome measurements.
To engage the six principles, the Task Force recommended actions be taken in five categories: 
  • Workforce
  • Business Partner Selection and Management
  • Members
  • Employers and Diverse Constituent Engagement
  • Board of Directors
In tandem with adoption of the Task Force recommendations, President Frank C. Spencer announced that he had signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, a leadership-driven commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As a result, the organizational focus on DEI is complete. The Board of Directors and agency leadership have now joined the agency’s active employee group — the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Council — in formally committing to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to dismantling structural racism.
Remembering Priscilla Kelso: Priscilla Lasmarias Kelso, beloved wife of The Rev. Barton Kelso and mother of Rachel Kelso, and treasured participant in the life and work of Boston Presbytery, passed from this life on September 15, 2021. A service to honor her memory will be held in the Newton Presbyterian Church on November 6. Her full obituary can be found here. Condolences may be sent to the Kelso residence at 11 Harrington Street, Newton, MA 02460.
 
Connect Throughout the Week: We have two opportunities during the week to connect for support and encouragement. The login information can be found in the Presbytery calendar on the website.

Mondays at 10:00 am
Tuesdays at 3:00 pm
New! Job Openings: Church of the Covenant in Boston is seeking a part-time Child Care Worker for Sunday mornings. More information, including a job description with instructions on applying, can be found here.

Nashua Presbyterian Church is seeking to fill a full-time Interim Pastor position. The position includes study and paid vacation leave. Full details can be found here.

The Presbyterian Church of Topsham Vermont is seeking a Pastor. More details and full MIF can be found here. The 200-year-old continuously running, historically restored church is seeking a ¼ time pastor. Contact: Tom Otterman. Phone: 802-439-6252 Email: Ottermansurvey@gmail.com
Email Us
Follow Us On Facebook
Visit Our Website
Copyright © 2021 Presbytery of Boston, All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp