|
Subscribe |
Staff |
|
Eric S. Anderson Minister of Communications and Technology 860.761.7102 webmaster@ctucc.org |
This regular audio podcast begins with a spiritual reflection, and then offers the current news and upcoming events in the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ.
The three disciples wanted to stay on the mountaintop with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Wouldn't you? asks Mike Penn-Strah. But the transforming blessing of experiencing God's love so dramatically exists so that we might share that love with others. In Hartford, people of many faiths came out to pray for leadership that will bring universal health care coverage to Connecticut's citizens. In the February issue of ConnTact, in mailboxes and online now, we take up the question of how faith is formed. Jane Rowe urges us to worship with all ages together, and Jeffrey Crews shares the story of being accepted "just as he is."
Click to listen or right-click to download
Which a river rolls, it changes the land before it, pushing at its original boundaries. So does justice, says Day McCallister this week, "justice must roll on until every dry place has been watered and until the river banks reflect the vision of God." Advocates reminded legislators of the imperative need for universal health care as Connecticut's General Assembly convened this week. A CTUCC pastor puts her life on stage in a new work premiering in Bloomfield titled "Thou Shalt Not Dance," and we're hoping for lots of fun and excitement at March in the Son on March 24th and the National Youth Event coming this summer.
Click to listen or right-click to download
The Apostle Paul claimed that he had become all things to all people. Eric Anderson doesn't think that's possible, but does believe it's worth the effort to make the attempt. "The impediments of culture, custom, and clan should not prevent the passing of God's love from the person who is blessed to know it to the person who does not know it yet." Clergy in East Haven pledge their effort in the work of reconciliation from the steps of the Old Stone Church UCC. New walls are rising at the Congregational Church of Plainville UCC, to support a new roof and shelter new ministries of hospitality. In Niantic, they're knitting scarves for Special Olympians: and we've got great events coming soon. A day of workshops in March, the National Youth Event this July, and of course lots of things at Silver Lake!
Click to listen or right-click to download
Jesus surprised his first hearers with a combination of authority and power. Tom Clough is struck by the power that has been granted to Jesus' followers through the Holy Spirit. "We have been given access to the awesome power of God's love for us." Bread for the World's David Beckmann visited Tolland, Connecticut, on Martin Luther King Day weekend, and urged church members to continue their support for hungry people. New England's Conference Ministers have summoned us all to a Carbon Fast for Lent, and seven churches in central Connecticut have suffered break-ins in the last two weeks. Plus, enjoy the competing calendars in this month's Touchstone with History.
Click to listen or right-click to download
Jesus simply calls out to fisherman as he walks by their boats: "Follow me!" he says. "God chose strange people to accomplish great things," observes Ineke Mitchell. "God still needs people to do great things and Jesus still says: 'Follow me.'" Great things have been done by our local churches, who met and surpassed giving goals to Conference and national ministries of the UCC in 2011, and we are profoundly grateful. In Saugatuck the congregation has begun the long, hard work of recovering and rebuilding following the November 20 fire that still keeps them from using their building. In Hartford, the summons of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to be voice and conscience and dreamer echoed again in a worship service celebrating his life.
