By Liturgical Element
“Star Words” A Service
Below is a complete order of worship created by Rev. Leigh McCaffrey for Sunday worship at Barre Congregational Church, Barre, VT on January 9, 2022 (The Feast of Epiphany). The order ends with the distribution of “star words” to the entire congregation. What are star words? See description below from https://www.ucc.org/worship-way/festival-of-epiphany-year-c/ (accessed 12/8/22), written by Debbie Gline Allen, Commissioned Minister of Christian Formation, who serves as Minister of Faith Formation for the Southern New England...
read moreHope Fund: Epiphany Resources 2023
Promoting the HOPE Fund During Epiphany 2023 As the HOPE Fund committee winds down our fundraising efforts and hands the baton to the HOPE Fund Discernment Team to award grants, we are asking congregations who have not yet contributed to the HOPE Fund to be part of this historic effort in the Vermont Conference. It would be so exciting to have 100% of our congregations participate in some way as we prepare for 2023, and the projects that the HOPE fund will support! Perhaps you have a traditional year-end fundraiser, or usually designate a...
read moreHope Fund: Advent Resources 2022
Promoting the HOPE Fund During Advent 2022 As the HOPE Fund committee winds down our fundraising efforts and hands the baton to the HOPE Fund Discernment Team to award grants, we are asking congregations who have not yet contributed to the HOPE Fund to be part of this historic effort in the Vermont Conference. It would be so exciting to have 100% of our congregations participate in some way as we prepare for 2023, and the projects that the HOPE fund will support! Perhaps you have a traditional year-end fundraiser, or usually designate a part...
read moreOn Our Knees
The prayer-poem below was written in the same week that a leaked opinion draft authored by Supreme Court Justice Alito revealed that Roe v. Wade was likely to be overturned in June 2022. It was delivered at Charlotte Congregational Church, United Church of Christ on Mother’s Day, 5/8/22. Dear God, One needn’t be a mother just a woman or a girl to feel the slap, the lash across the back that drives us to our knees. “Down,” it demands, “fool that you are, weak, stupid untrustworthy and lustful.” The secret is that down here...
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