On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. Within days, offices, schools and churches stopped meeting in-person and began scrambling to adapt to a new way of life — masking, social distancing, and meeting online. The United Church of Christ joined other denominations in embarking on a five-year pandemic
This past Ash Wednesday, March 5, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, appeared at press conferences, vigils, and rallies in Washington D.C. On a Holy Day grounded in reflection, lamentation, and repentance, these events centered around calling on our federal government to act with boldness in
United Church of Christ congregations, Associations and Conferences all need websites to boost engagement with those who are involved, or interested in being involved with UCC churches, and many do not have one. It’s an important way to keep membership engaged in this digital age. Getting online and having a presence on the Internet can
In the 45 days since Inauguration Day, we have witnessed overwhelming changes in our federal politics. Since taking office, President Trump has released dozens of executive orders that step well beyond his legal authority as president. These orders violate the free speech of NGOs, the civil rights of vulnerable communities, longstanding privacy laws, and laws
“Fear is such a powerful emotion for humans that when we allow it to take us over, it drives compassion right out of our hearts.” – Thomas Aquinas, 13th century Italian theologian, philosopher Lately, I have been saddened by the daily representations of newly elected leadership whose brand or reputation is fear-based. I struggle to
With its themes of moral reckoning and repentance, this Lenten season brings into stark relief the current struggle over the soul of our nation. In 1976, the famous theologian Howard Thurman once delivered a sermon of enduring relevance entitled “America in Search of a Soul.” Thurman prophetically understood that the soul of America was threatened
The United Church of Christ, along with four-dozen other faith-based organizations joined with Church World Service (CWS) to sign on to its Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration, a public statement against policies and actions that threaten refugee rights, separate families, and undermine the long-standing tradition of humanitarian support. Endorsed by UCC General Minister and President/CEO, the
Thirty-eight years ago, the United Church of Christ’s Commission for Racial Justice released a report that recognized the racial inequality of waste sites in this country and urged government leaders to address this injustice. As people of faith, we are called to address the moral issues associated with what to do with our waste. It
¿Necesita agua y comida? Do you need food and water? It’s a question that Samaritan Volunteer Gail Kocourek repeats often as she travels along the U.S.-Mexico border carrying these very items — water, food, first aid supplies. The Samaritan program has become deeply integrated into the mission and work of The Good Shepherd United Church
i received two “Cs” in Seminary, one of which was for a class on the art of worship with Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes. The last thing Dr. Carvalhaes shared with me was, “while I know you understand the academic side of ritual, I wonder how much you are grasping the practice and meaning of ritual
