United Church of Christ

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: God’s Love Knows No Borders
2024-09-18 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
An ecumenical delegation comprised of 10 faith leaders will bear witness at the southern border, from September 12-16. This border immersion experience is offered by the UCC Rio Grande Valley as a way for groups to get a clear picture of the challenges faced at the Texas-Mexico border, and ways to support this life-saving work. The Central Pacific Conference Immigrant Welcoming Network organized faith leaders from four UCC conferences, the ELCA, UMC, UCC Colectivo de Latinx Ministries and the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice in Oregon.
Panelists Include: Rev. Tyler Connoley (CPC Conference Minister), Rev. Ali Lopez, Pastor of UCC Rio Grande Valley, Pastor Keren Rodriguez IMIRJ Organizer/UMC in Aloha, Oregon, and Pastor Lucas Shurson, Faith Lutheran, Caldwell, ID, NW Intermountain Synod of the ELCA (Southern Idaho).

Nurture the Soul: Exploring Access Sunday: A Discussion with UCC Disabilities Ministries
2024-10-03 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
The second Sunday of October is designated Access Sunday in the UCC calendar, a day for celebrating the disability community and advocating for greater access. Each year, the UCC Disabilities Ministries Board produces resources for Access Sunday, including a complete liturgy, original music, and scripture commentary. Come join members of the UCCDM Disability Theology Committee as they discuss the meaning and purpose of Access Sunday, the 2024 resources, and how to start celebrating Access Sunday at your local church!

Nurture the Soul: Discovering Wellness Ministries in your Congregation
2024-10-10 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
This webinar will explore the variety of Wellness Ministries programs in UCC churches. Wellness Ministries resources will be illustrated. You will be invited to share ideas and questions in this interactive session.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: Healing the Body Politic(s)
2024-10-16 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Ever wonder why there is so much political discussion about our bodies? Why the emphasis to legislate limitations on diversity? Why the need to confine our bodies to assigned roles, behaviors, and relationship styles? This panel discussion will discuss how people of faith can respond to the wide variety of political assaults of what appears to be an anti-body movement because, this election season, our bodies are on the line.

Nurture the Soul: Wellness Ministries Intergenerational Holiday Happenings
2024-10-17 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Reduce loneliness and deepen a sense of community within your congregation by organizing intergenerational gatherings during Thanksgiving and Advent. We will share three different types of activities and answer your questions about how to plan and advertise your events.

Nurture the Soul: Christian Zionism in Our Churches
2024-10-24 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Over the past century, Christian Zionism has been used to justify first the immigration of Jews to Palestine and then, with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, justification for the unquestioning support of Israeli policies of occupation and apartheid. So what even is Christian Zionism? How does it appear in our churches? What are some different lenses we can use to examine the scriptures that underpin it?
Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner, retired Presbyterian pastor and theologian, and Rev. William T. Young IV, pastor of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ, will share with us how they unpack and challenge Christian Zionism in their contexts.

Nurture the Soul: Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared! What to Expect in the 2024 Election
2024-10-31 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
With November 5th approaching fast, it can be difficult keeping the election anxiety at bay. The past few years have demonstrated how the time between the presidential election and the presidential inauguration can be uncertain, chaotic, and even scary. But one of the best ways to keep the election scaries away is to have a plan in place, as a church, for the many scenarios that could play out on and after election day.
Join us for a conversation about how we can best prepare for November 5th and the following days. We will discuss topics such as 1) election security and ballot counting, 2) how to combat misinformation/disinformation on and after Election Day, and 3) how churches can discern their role as community leaders in keeping our elections safe and accessible.
We’ll hear from experts including Abigail Cipparone (UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy), Chris Crawford (Protect Democracy), Cheryl A. Leanza (UCC Media Justice), Rev. Michael Neuroth (UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy), and Raelyn Roberson (Common Cause).

Nurture the Soul - Building Community Connections to Create Resilient Communities Part I
2024-11-07 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
In this webinar, Katie Howe, Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery will discuss how creating coalitions and community building during non-disaster times can create an environment that can help communities if they experience a disaster including climate-caused, human caused, technological or environmental disasters. She will be joined by Rev. Dr. Becca Girrell from the United Community Church of Morrisville, VT. Rev. Girrell will discuss her experience with building community connections prior to the significant repeated flooding in Morrisville, VT, and how that has had a positive impact on their community.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: "What's Next" - Naming the Pain: Unresolved Grief and the Lure of Political Extremism
2024-11-11 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
In most cases, anger and fear are the emotions most readily associated with Christian Nationalism and other forms of political extremism. Rev. Dr. Tanya Jeffcoat, however, will examine the ways in which unresolved grief often plays an underlying role in drawing people to extremist positions. After exploring several expressions of unresolved grief, she will offer potential approaches for addressing grief and building communities that offer opportunities to heal from the divisions we face.

Nurture the Soul - Building Community Connections to Create Resilient Communities Part 2
2024-11-14 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
In this webinar, Katie Howe, Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery will discuss how loving our neighbor starts with being prepared for disasters. There are some steps that all churches should be taking regardless of their financial or human resources. She will discuss some of the main ideas in the newly revised Local Church Disaster Preparedness Workbook, and discuss the importance of having a well-structured preparedness plan. She will be joined by Rev. Kelly Hansen, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator for the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference United Church of Christ, and John Etter, a member of Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ in New Orleans, LA, who will discuss their experiences with disaster preparedness.

Nurture the Soul: Immigration: Will There Be Calm After the Storm?
2024-11-21 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Join Revs. Noel Anderson, Randy Mayer, and others to learn more about how United Church of Christ is working and evolving to welcome immigrants to our communities and congregations. Immigration has once again become a divisive issue in this election season, one that is filled with false statements and misinformation. The presenters will share stories from the Border as well as some practical steps on how to practice our faith through ministry and advocacy with immigrants.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: An Ecumenical Gathering for Prayer and Action for World AIDS Day 2024
2024-12-02 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Two years ago, Rev. Roberto Ochoa organized an ecumenical online World AIDS Day observance. He cultivated a program that was both informative and spiritual. Since then, he and Metropolitan Community Churches’ representatives have been creating resources for churches and communities to honor World AIDS Day. Join a diverse group of theologians, faith and community leaders to learn more about these resources and how your communities and learn more about how to support and honor World AIDS Day in 2024 and beyond.
Thursdays for the Soul: A webinar series to care for the whole church. Topics are wide ranging, and are focused on the spirituality and care of people. Prayer, worship, music, psalm readings, or compassionate teaching are included. This will be a predictable time of gathering for something to feed your spirit, offered by Faith Education, Innovation, and Formation and Justice and Local Church Ministries of the national setting, United Church of Christ.

Embodied Advent Series 2024
2024-12-16
Join us for an Embodied Advent Series that highlights the ministries of a diverse representation of United Church of Christ partners and faith leaders. All Advent programs have been pre-recorded and will be made available on Nurture the Soul’s YouTube channel the Monday before each Advent week. Please note we decided to include a “Longest Night” service in lieu of a 4th week of Advent. The purpose of these webinars is to nurture your souls and ministries and can be shared in lieu of holding your own service – or to pull pieces from to enhance your own ministry settings.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: What's Next, What Our Covenant Calls Us to Do and Be in this Time
2025-01-06 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Join Rev. Mark Pettis and others for a conversation on What’s Next, What Our Covenant Calls Us to Do and Be in this Time? Coming out of the election season, how do we, as congregations of the United Church of Christ refocus our attention to the mission that is central to who we are? How do we lean into the relationships we have across the church, and with others of faith, to move our mission forward.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: "What's Next", The Flourishing Body with Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
2025-01-09 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Join us for a conversation with a sex-positive Disciple of Christ Pastor, Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale whose ministerial call is to help Christians rethink the 2000 year-old Christian teaching about our sexual bodies when many have been harmful to intimate relationships and dampened our joy of being spiritual in all of our physicality. We’ll explore how the recent political election is, in part, a result of some of the cultural teachings of what is known as The Empire Church about the body and why it is so important to recognize the ongoing danger this represents to our culture and the planet.
And, we’ll take a deep dive to explore the difference between religious beliefs and faith, and whether we need to obey religious rules about sexual intimacy and what it is to be authentic in our spiritual life. (found in her first book, Advancing Sexual Health for the Christian Client, Data and Dogma.)

Nurture the Soul's Reading Into the New Year: The Recovery of Joy while Living with Depression with Robert Griggs
2025-01-23 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
At the start of every year, Nurture the Soul partners with Pilgrim Press to highlight books that came out in the last quarter of the previous year or are forthcoming. We have an exciting list of topics and authors to highlight this January including Author and Pastor Robert Griggs.
At a time when we’re all looking for hope, his book, “Wild Coin Hunting: The Recovery of Joy while Living with Depression”, offers hope for people living with mental illness and their loved ones. Drawing from his own experience of recovering from depression, as well as what others have taught me along the way, it shows that a full and joyful life is possible after the devastation of mental illness. There’s honesty about pain, but there’s also laughter, as he shares recovery stories from his adventures as the founder of a great new sport, “wild coin hunting”

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: What's Next, Illusions and Realities of Christianity and Politics
2025-01-27 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Join Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker for a conversation exploring Justice as a spiritual practice within and beyond the Protestantism and how to live beyond the illusions of an apolitical gospel. Rev. Dr. Wise Baker will then give us some guidelines on how to get started towards a social transformation that includes ALL of G-d’s creation.

Nurture the Soul's Reading Into the New Year: "Don't Just Give Me That Old Time Religion" with Rev. Dr. Christine Y. Wiley
2025-01-30 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
At the start of every year, Nurture the Soul partners with Pilgrim Press to highlight books that came out in the last quarter of the previous year or are forthcoming. We have an exciting list of topics and authors to highlight this January including Author and Rev. Dr. Christine Y Wiley.
Rev. Dr. Christine’s new book is based on qualitative research done alongside 20-African American women from different walks in life. We’ll hear stories to get a sense of what mental well-being means to these women and then explore how religion impacts their mental well-being directly and indirectly.

Nurture the Soul: Reading into the New Year: Rooted in Faith and Justice
2025-02-06 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Are you struggling to understand the complexities and injustices in Israel/Palestine? Rooted in Faith and Justice offers a powerful and enlightening perspective through the eyes of Palestinian Christian leaders and thinkers. Join us for this webinar to become empowered to host your own book study and delve into a conversation around the realities and possibilities of liberation.

What's Next Disarming Leviathan: How We've Become Entangled in the Worship of Nationalism and Political Power
2025-03-03 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Join us for an enriching conversation with Pastor and Author, Caleb Campbell, the author of “Disarming Leviathan”. As Christian Nationalism has become an established feature of the American landscape, how does Rev. Campbell’s writings in “Disarming Leviathan” help prepare us to confront it with compassion and hospitality, and with the truth of the good news of Jesus. We’ll be in deep conversation with Rev. Campbell on his journey, how the book came about, and the practical steps of loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Nurture the Soul's Reading Into the New Year: "Who Told You That You Were Naked" with Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
2025-03-06 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Both self-help guide and spiritual inspiration, “Who Told You That You Were Naked?” is packed with meditations that are biblically grounded and tangibly liberating. Each meditation includes a prayer and prompts for reflection, with themes focusing on purity culture, sacred-sexual bodies, and ethics without repression. This book takes the body’s experiences seriously and honestly, wrapping readers in love where they are wounded, inviting holistic reflection on the faith that informs our living, and encouraging movement to (re)connect the spirit and the flesh. We will get to spend time in the text and enjoy an enlightening conversation with Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale during this hour-long webinar.

Nurture the Soul What's Next: Befriending Loneliness
2025-03-17 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Loneliness was brought to the spotlight in 2023, when the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, declared loneliness as an epidemic in post-COVID America.
What does that mean for us now and how might it contribute to the divide we are living through now in the United States and beyond?
What role does loneliness play when remembering the “good old days” in all aspects of our lives, including our religious lives where our memories are of full pews and offering baskets and even Sunday Schools?
Our guest, the Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter, will explore and help to raise awareness around loneliness, give us some tools to empower change and move to transform loneliness to a portal of access to empathy, solidarity, creativity, community-building and (you will soon see) fun!

Blessed Minds: Breaking the Silence about Neurodiversity
2025-03-20 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Is your church truly welcoming to all of God’s children? Many churches are unintentionally exclusive toward people whose brains work differently. Join Rev. ellie hutchison as she will be in discussion with Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund, advocate, pastor and Author of “Blessed Minds: Breaking the Silence About Neurodiversity,” Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund. We’ll explore some theological insights into neurodiversity as part of God’s good creation, how to help churches embrace the gifts of neurodiversity and become a place of belonging for all and finally, we’ll briefly touch on how to create a neuro-inclusive worship experience.

Special Offering: Into the Deep - General Synod 101
2025-03-31 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Every two years, General Synod brings together faithful members of the United Church of Christ for inspirational worship, fellowship with friends (old and new), and public witness including through engagement with the business of the church. In July 2025, we are excited to welcome thousands from across the country for General Synod 35 in Kansas City, Missouri – and Nurture the Soul is helping to get you there by introducing a 4-part series that goes deep into General Synod and why we hope to see you all there.
Part 1 – General Synod 101 will help us better understand what Synod is and why it is so important that you show up! We’ll have a time for Q&A so you can ask the questions that’ll help you better prepare for our time together this summer.

Into the Deep: The 5-Ws of Synod Resolutions
2025-04-07 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Every two years, General Synod brings together faithful members of the United Church of Christ for inspirational worship, fellowship with friends (old and new), and public witness including through engagement with the business of the church. In July 2025, we are excited to welcome thousands from across the country for General Synod 35 in Kansas City, Missouri – and Nurture the Soul is helping to get you there by introducing a 4-part series that goes deep into General Synod and why we hope to see you all there.
Part 2 – During the 5-Ws of Synod Resolutions, we’ll hear from representatives that will help us better understand: the role of Resolutions from the perspective of our D.C. offices; what they mean for our local congregations; the Resolution process; and stories from those who’ve written Resolutions and those who’ve acted in the role of Committee Chair. We’ll also be introduced to the Resolutions that will be presented this summer.

Into the Deep: Womxn 2 Womxn Series Part I
2025-04-08 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Join us for an intimate workshop and learning community space for womxn as we journey toward Synod together! We’ll grow together and share communal space in an open-meeting format. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to build community and gather.
Rev. Jes Kast and Tehilah Eisentadt will join us to offer wisdom and connection around being a womxn, loving God and neighbor well.
The Rev. Jes Kast is a progressive minister, constructive theologian, and gardener. Raised in Michigan, Jes took her second call to ministry in New York City. After the 2016 election, she longed to share healing and desired a slower way of life. Those passions, among many others led her to taking a call as the settled pastor at Faith UCC in State College, Pennsylvania where she now resides with her wife, Dr. Jessy, and together they have two cats and puppy named Charlie.
Tehilah Eisenstadt is an educator, activist, rabbinical school student. Her focus is on deepening the emotional resonance of educational experiences, creating interfaith relationships designed for creating a more empathetic world, enriching leadership pipelines through staff mentorship in Jewish organizations throughout the US, raising up silenced voices, and enabling Jews who felt they didn’t belong to connect with Jewish community. In 2023, she launched Wonder and Repair, through which she develops approaches to community-building and care that incorporate best practices in trauma-informed education and ritual. Tehilah is enrolled full-time at Academy for Jewish Religion, a trans denominational rabbinical school. She is also a full-time member of East End Temple’s leadership in NYC. Prior to this,Tehilah spent 15 years serving as Director of Education in synagogues, day schools, and JCCs across the denominational spectrum throughout New York City’s five boroughs. She has been honored to consult for Clal (national Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership), Charlie’s Colorform City (Netflix) and Cordoba House – Muslim Sunday School. Tehilah spent 11 years organizing Bring Back Our Girls NY (which officially joined global BBOG efforts in 2020) and 12 years as a non-denominational Mikva guide with ImmerseNYC for women and non-binary folx.

Into the Deep - Accessibility, Safety, and Welcoming Spaces
2025-04-14 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Every two years, General Synod brings together faithful members of the United Church of Christ for inspirational worship, fellowship with friends (old and new), and public witness including through engagement with the business of the church. In July 2025, we are excited to welcome thousands from across the country for General Synod 35 in Kansas City, Missouri – and Nurture the Soul is helping to get you there by introducing a 4-part series that goes deep into General Synod and why we hope to see you all there.
Part 3 – Join us for these Special Offerings, “Into the Deep” as we explore how we are planning to support the deepening and strengthening of relationships along with connections to one other, with our ecumenical, global and interfaith partners, and with God during General Synod 35.
During this webinar, we’ll hear from leaders on how we plan an accessible, safe, and welcoming Synod. We’ll learn more about how we create brave space through networking and communal opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community and moments of intentional intimate connections for women within the wider church and those seeking ways to be in community through a justice action lens; how we’ve created several places where children (birth through 12) and youth (rising 6th graders through recent high school graduates) to have their own unique faith formation experiences while also taking in the lessons of the wider church; and, the ways we’re living into our commitments to be Accessible-to-All (A2A) and WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) for mental health that include a Community Care Space as well as an Access Team available to support access needs.

And They Shall Be Consoled: Connecting Eco-grief and Maundy Thursday
2025-04-17 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
The grief we feel toward melting ice, heating cities, and dying species is woven throughout the activities of daily life. This Maundy Thursday, join interfaith Rev. Lauren Van Ham as we learn about eco-grief and consider how our ministries can be strengthened through our honest acts of lament and care for the living system on which we all depend.

Collaborative Change through Grief and Lament
2025-04-24 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
We often recognize our grief and display our lament the more we learn about anthropogenic climate change but what do we do with this ecological grief and lament? How do we move through our grief and lament in order to build systems of collaborative change? Join Gabrielle Fields to learn about harnessing the power of collaboration and compassionate meaning making of ecological grief and lament.

Special Offering: Into the Deep - Braiding Worship and Beyond
2025-04-28 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Every two years, General Synod brings together faithful members of the United Church of Christ for inspirational worship, fellowship with friends (old and new), and public witness including through engagement with the business of the church. In July 2025, we are excited to welcome thousands from across the country for General Synod 35 in Kansas City, Missouri – and Nurture the Soul is helping to get you there by introducing a 4-part series that goes deep into General Synod and why we hope to see you all there.
Part 4 – Join us to learn more about worship and celebration at this year’s GS35 – we’ll hear from staff working on our shared time together and hear personal accounts of why this time is so very special.
