United Church of Christ

Into the Deep: Womxn 2 Womxn Series Part II
2025-05-13 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

Theology, Polity, or Policy - How Do We Move Forward on Immigration in Small Town and Rural Communities
2025-05-15 15:30 - 16:30
Join us to hear from Pastors and Leaders within 3-different geographic small town and rural settings within the UCC to explore immigration during this complicated political and theological time. During our shared time together, we’ll hear more about how current immigration policies are impacting these small and rural settings, what our scriptures call us to be to one another, and how our UCC polity can inform our work to push back on the hateful rhetoric and policies that seeks to strip the dignity and humanity of those migrating to the United States.

Lessons, Stories, and Theologies of Small Town and Rural (STAR) Churches in 2025
2025-06-05 15:30 - 16:30
We are joined by a number of Small Town and Rural (STAR) faith and lay leaders for an important conversation to learn about the lessons that all of our faith communities face today. We’ll hear personal accounts of their journeys and how scripture and theology guide them towards framing the future of our churches and our faith.

Into the Deep: Womxn 2 Womxn Series Part III
2025-06-10 15:30 - 16:30

A Little One Shall Lead - A Small Church Story Project
2025-06-12 15:30 - 16:30
In this webinar, we’ll hear stories about how the wider church and congregations can discover opportunity in their smallness. The stories highlight how to create spirited worship, highly engaged prayer practices, and an invitation to live into a committed and generous responses to suffering in the communities where they are located. These compelling stories from 17-small UCC congregations can offer perspective on how denominations may relate with small congregations in fresh ways, and how seminaries, through inclusion of small church studies and field experiences, may enrich clergy education.

The Future of Faith - Perspectives from Young Leaders in Diverse Religions and Countries
2025-07-31 12:00 - 13:00
In a world marked by fragmentation and fear, young people of faith are not retreating—they are rising. They are drawing on sacred teachings to respond with courage, creativity, and compassion, becoming bridge-builders in divided societies. Through dialogue and mutual learning, we will highlight how interreligious solidarity can be a powerful force for healing, justice, and hope. Join two dynamic multi-faith young leaders to learn how young people are deepening or returning to their faith in response to the profound challenges of our time. This program is an invitation to envision a future where diverse faith traditions collaborate to cultivate collective dignity, love, kindness, and respect, building a better world for all of G-d’s (Allah’s) creation.
Nurture the Soul’s Future of Faith: So many of us are living in the most divided times we’ve known collectively. Between fascism, genocide, war, famine, environmental collapse, and uncertainty about our relationships and what we are called to be in such a time – we find ourselves deepening or returning to our faith. This series is curated to help us learn from the thought leaders who are exploring these themes and is an invitation to come into a dreaming space where all of G-d’s creation can be cared for – a space where we can know that collective dignity, love, kindness, and respect is honored and how our different perspectives of faith can build up a better world!

Revitalizing Labor Sunday – Liturgy and Solidarity
2025-08-07 15:30 - 16:30
The affordability of meeting our basic human needs is beyond comfortable reach for more people than ever. Wages, salaries, and worker protections are suppressed. How can churches help meet the needs within their congregations, their communities, and our country? The United Church of Christ is revitalizing Labor Sunday as an inflection point for specifically naming the unjust causes of our current struggles, and the power we have within and without our sanctuaries to manifest real change that helps everyone thrive. Join a conversation with UCC Minister for Economic Justice Rev. Seth Wispelwey on “liturgies for labor” and organizing for worker justice where you are.

Future of Faith: Is Religion Bad News for Human Rights?
2025-08-14 12:00 - 13:30
Why at times is religion so dishonest when it gets things wrong, the instinctive reaction is protect the institution, don’t tell the truth. Has religion been the catalyst for war and division and if so what conversations do we need to have to rectify that?
A Nurture the Soul special offering, Future of Faith: So many of us are living in the most divided times we’ve known collectively. Between fascism, genocide, war, famine, environmental collapse, and uncertainty about our relationships and what we are called to be in such a time – we find ourselves deepening or returning to our faith. This series is curated to help us learn from the thought leaders who are exploring these themes and is an invitation to come into a dreaming space where all of G-d’s creation can be cared for – a space where we can know that collective dignity, love, kindness, and respect is honored and how our different perspectives of faith can build up a better world.

Decolonizing Mental Health and Empowering Holistic Wellness
2025-08-28 15:30 - 17:00
Join us for an introductory conversation that invites faith leaders into a transformative and lifelong process of letting go of supremacist theologies and monocultural care paradigms of mental wellness. This webinar will explore the intersections of mental wellness, spiritual formation, and liberative care that affirms the dignity of each being. Rooted in an Internal Family Systems framework centered on the lived realities of BIPOC communities, participants will learn how intrapersonal healing can catalyze collective healing and renewal. By integrating cultural humility, prophetic theology, and trauma-informed practices, faith leaders can reshape spiritual care praxis and co-create communities grounded in justice, belonging, and sacred restoration.

Dumpster Fire Ethics: Rethinking How We Follow Jesus
2025-09-04 15:30 - 16:30
In times of social, political, and economic crisis we need new ways to think about morality and ethics to make sure that our ethical approaches serve the moment and compel us into just and healing action. Sociologist, liturgist, and sacred music composer Amanda Udis-Kessler offers us a new way of thinking about ethics that is consonant with the commitments of progressive Christianity and that helps us follow Jesus in times of violence, cruelty, and corruption. This ethical approach has implications for our spiritual development, personal growth, church practices, and justice work. Join us for a conversation with Amanda about her 2024 Pilgrim Press book Abundant Lives: A Progressive Christian Ethic of Flourishing.

Clergy Conversation Series on Addiction & Families: Family Matters/Families Matter - Part I
2025-09-11 15:30 - 16:30
Join us for a 3-part series on Addiction & Families: Family Matter/Families Matter. Part I, Language Matters: Defining the Words We Use. In this webinar, we (Erica Poellot and Dee-Dee Stout) discuss how our language around substance use has changed and why this is crucial for us to understand before having deeper conversations about addiction. Words such as recovery, addiction, dependence, substance use disorders, enabling/codependency, harm reduction, and more will be covered. We may also discuss some of the history & myths of harm reduction and abstinence-only treatment. There will be time for Q&A with the panelists after each session!

What's Next Series: The Re-Member Yourself as a Sacred Creator
2025-09-15 15:30 - 16:30
This series began prior to the 2024 election cycle and is designed to help educate us around the big questions of our faith. To live into the Still Speaking G-d, we are the embodiment of who and what we are called to be to one another – whether it be spiritually, culturally, and lovingly during a time when we are being pulled apart at the seams. Part of this embodiment is examining the ways that art speaks and moves us towards expression and collectiveness.
Join poet, artist and Creative Formation practitioner, Ally Markotich, to re-member yourself as a sacred creator. During our time together, Ally will share about her own story of coming back to herself as creative and inspire you to claim your colorful prowess. Become aware of common cultural and personal myths that hold us back from our innate creativity and learn simple ways to reweave creativity into your story. Bring a pencil and some color (markers, colored pencils or paint) as Ally will complete our gathering by guiding us through a simple 4-step visual prayer process to awaken insight. Come and experience the “ahas” creativity can bring when engaged as a spiritual practice for your life.

Clergy Conversation Series on Addiction & Families: Family Matters/Families Matter - Part II
2025-09-18 15:30 - 16:30
Part II – For this 2nd part of this 3-part series, we’ll continue to learn from Erica Poellot & Dee-Dee Stout as they open this conversation with these questions: How do we support our loved ones without enabling their drug use? Or does that even really matter? Join us as we take a deep dive into the many options families have today beyond the traditional intervention that not only is rarely effective but often has lasting negative effects which can devastate families sometimes forever.

Clergy Conversation Series on Addiction & Families: Family Matters/Families Matter - Part III
2025-09-25 15:30 - 16:30
Part III – Practicing Harm Reduction for Clergy and Lay Leaders: How Changing Our Minds Helps the People We Love & Serve (and Ourselves). For Part III, we’ll hear from Erica Poellot & Dee-Dee Stout as they look at the broader issue of countertransference in clergy’s work with families and others when it comes to drug use, especially illicit drug use. How does this phenomena interfere with our work? How can it help us? What are the tenets of harm reduction & harm reduction psychotherapy that anyone can use as part of an overall loving, Christ-centered approach to people who use drugs of any kind? We’ll discuss how a harm reduction approach can give us a better and more effective way to work with those who problematically use drugs and their families and keep us aligned with our hearts.

Disability Justice in Congregational Contexts Part I: What is Disability and What is Ableism?
2025-10-02 15:30 - 16:30
You’re invited for a 3-part series to go deeper into the All Church Read, “Building Up a New World: Congregational Organizing for Transformative Impact,” focusing on Chapter 5, “Disability Justice in Congregational Contexts” with current and former members of the UCC Disability Ministries Board.
In Part I, we’ll explore the complexities and different models of disability to better understand and define disability as it relates to lived experiences. We’ll also explore ableism — the system of oppression experienced by disability communities. This understanding will serve as a foundation for parts II and III of the series.

Future of Faith: Grace in the Wilderness
2025-10-06 15:30 - 16:30
So many of us are living in the most divided times we’ve known collectively. Between fascism, genocide, war, famine, environmental collapse, and uncertainty about our relationships and what we are called to be in such a time – we find ourselves deepening or returning to our faith. Join New Hampshire Conference Minister Rev. Gordon Rankin for an engaging conversation around the future of faith in their local and regional contexts and discover how finding grace in the wilderness can be a counter-cultural practice of living into our faith expressions.

Disability Justice in Congregational Contexts Part II: What is Disability Justice
2025-10-09 15:30 - 16:30
In Part II, we’ll explore the creation of the Disability Justice movement by queer and trans disabled folx of color. We’ll also discuss and explain the 10 Principles of Disability Justice, which serve as the foundation and roadmap for congregations seeking to live into disability justice.

What's Next Series: How Art Deepens and Enriches Worship in Divided Times
2025-10-13 15:30 - 16:30
Join us for another edition of our What’s Next Series, a series curated to help us ask what we can do in divided times. We’ll be joined by Rev. Marshela Salgado for an engaging online conversation exploring how art can deepen and enrich worship. Rev. Salgado will share about the work that her congregation has done to promote various forms of art in worship, from art shows to various worship series: Theology of Broadway, [Pop]Culture Theology, Banned Books and more. Together, they’ll discuss practical ways to weave visual, musical, and creative expressions into the worship experience that inspire connection, reflection, justice, and community. This workshop will offer both theological insights and hands-on ideas for integrating art in ways that speak to the heart and spirit of your congregation.
The What’s Next series began prior to the 2024 election cycle and is designed to help educate us around the big questions of our faith. This special offering is curated to push back on the political ideology and divide that has become this nation’s “religion”. To live into the Still Speaking G-d, we are the embodiment of who and what we are called to be to one another – whether it be spiritually, culturally, and lovingly during a time when we are being pulled apart at the seams. Part of this embodiment is examining the ways that art speaks and moves us towards expression and collectiveness.

Disability Justice in Congregational Contexts Part III: How Do We Live into Disability Justice
2025-10-16 15:30 - 16:30
In Part III, we will take what we have learned about disability, ableism, and disability justice and discuss ways to apply it in a congregational context. Topics will include the Accessible to All (A2A) process, celebrating Access Sunday, and an introduction to disability theology. Attendees will leave with concrete tools for helping their congregations undo ableism, increase accessibility, and celebrate disabled leadership and disability wisdom.

Let the Children Come
2025-10-23 15:30 - 16:30
Through the Love of Children program we are exploring ways to create spaces where children are welcomed and embraced to come as they truly are. One of the most important places children gather is during worship/Sunday morning. Three of our current Love of Children cohort members will share experiences and best practices on how to create safe and welcoming spaces for children in the local church and beyond. We hope you will gain some insights on child development, the need for inclusive spaces that meet the developmental needs of young people and hear some exciting things that you can try in your own congregation. Panelists will also speak to how the Love of Children cohort has strengthened their ministry and welcome others to apply for the 2026 cohort.

The Future of Faith: The Sacrament of Interfaith Friendship
2025-11-03 15:30 - 16:30
In this divisive moment, we are called to both go forth and build meaningful connection across lines of difference and to tend to our spirits and communities. Join us for a conversation this intersection between magnifying the sacramental beauty of interfaith friendship and doing the inner work we all must do to sustain ourselves.
So many of us are living in the most divided times we’ve known collectively. Between fascism, genocide, war, famine, environmental collapse, and uncertainty about our relationships and what we are called to be in such a time – we find ourselves deepening or returning to our faith. Our “Future of Faith” series is curated to help us learn from the thought leaders who are exploring these themes and is an invitation to come into a dreaming space where all of G-d’s creation can be cared for – a space where we can know that collective dignity, love, kindness, and respect is honored and how our different perspectives of faith can build up a better world!

Land, The Series in 3-Parts: Protecting and Caring for the Historic Christian Lands of Armenia
2025-11-06 15:30 - 16:30
A handful of churches within the United Church of Christ identify as ethnically Armenian congregations. Come hear from one Armenian UCC pastor about the Christian treasures of the lands of Armenia, from ancient Mount Ararat to medieval monasteries to contemporary churches serving refugees from the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. After losing the territory of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) in that war, Armenia is crying out for justice and for partners in protecting its territorial sovereignty. In this webinar, you will also learn about the hope-giving ways that the non-profit organization the Armenia Tree Project is looking to the future by making environmental investments in the land.

What's Next: Countering Project 2025 with Love: One Year Later
2025-11-10 15:30 - 16:30
Join the UCC Washington D.C. Office for a conversation on Project 2025 and how the policy landscape and the UCC’s faith-based responses have evolved over the past year since the election. By revisiting our resource “Countering Project 2025 With Love: A UCC Response,” this webinar will explore enduring commitments and new challenges across issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, immigration justice, international peace, and more. We will also introduce our new toolkit for faithful advocacy, offering practical ways for individuals and congregations to help build a just world for all. Whether you’re new to the conversation or have been following from the start, this webinar will equip you with both context and tools to put love into action today!

Land, The Series in 3-Parts: Part II: Small Town and Rural Communities
2025-11-13 15:30 - 16:30
Land: A Three-part Series: Our relationship to land varies, not only geographically but spiritually as well. This 3-part series will examine the role Christianity has had in our relationship to land and how those relationships inform how we live, work and worship alongside others.
Part II – Small Town and Rural communities are often uniquely tied to the land. Join us as we learn from 3 members of the Small Town and Rural Coalition (STAR) on how being stewards to the land inform how they believe in God and how this connects them to one another.

Future of Faith: Resisting Overwhelm in Tumultuous Times
2025-11-17 15:30 - 16:30
So many of us are living in the most divided times we’ve known collectively. Between fascism, genocide, war, famine, environmental collapse, and uncertainty about our relationships and what we are called to be in such a time – we find ourselves deepening or returning to our faith. Our “Future of Faith” series is curated to help us learn from the thought leaders who are exploring these themes and is an invitation to come into a dreaming space where all of G-d’s creation can be cared for – a space where we can know that collective dignity, love, kindness, and respect is honored and how our different perspectives of faith can build up a better world!
Concerned about clergy burnout, Rev. Nicolette developed a boundary training called “Centered Preaching in Tumultuous Times” that she taught for the first time in May 2025. Many are drawn to the UCC because of our passion for social justice. However, pastors who feel called to address the relevant issues of the day are being overwhelmed by unending waves of newsworthy events. Join us for a conversation with Rev. Nicolette as we talk about the joys and challenges of preaching in this time, the importance of developing sustainable preaching habits, and some of the hard lessons she has learned along the way so we can continue the work we’ve been called to do.

Land, The Series in 3-Parts: Part III: Stacked Stories and the Doctrine of Discovery Today
2025-11-20 15:30 - 16:30
Land: A Three-part Series: Our relationship to land varies, not only geographically but spiritually as well. This 3-part series will examine the role Christianity has had in our relationship to land and how those relationships inform how we live, work and worship alongside others.
Part III – In this webinar, Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel and Land History Consultant and tribal-rights attorney Jessica Intermill will explore the legal and theological underpinnings of the Doctrine of Discovery. They will explore the texture of the doctrine in today’s world with a deep dive into the social geography of Minneapolis, and then answer guest questions about the role of the Doctrine today.

Abolition, Advent, and Apocalypse: The New Old Story of Freedom and Practicing New Worlds into Life
2025-11-24 15:30 - 16:30
As we approach the season of Advent this year, many of us find ourselves vacillating between feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, faced with rapidly changing political and social landscapes, with violence and repression on the rise. Yet, Advent’s stories of awaking and preparing, waiting and longing, expecting and dreaming offer us visions to move us, values to ground us, and practices to empower us to bring love to birth in this world. Come hear from contributors to this year’s Abolition Advent Calendar about their work to help us reach back to the wisdom of our scriptural and abolitionist pasts and make a way out of no way into hope.

Joy as Resistance with Neal D. Presa
2025-12-04 15:30 - 16:30
The season of Advent invites us to embody joy. Yet, the times in which we live may challenge joyful experiences, practices, and encounters. Worship helps bridge recognition of the current reality with hope for the future…making space for joy. Join Cheryl A. Lindsay, UCC Minister for Worship and Theology for an Advent conversation with Neal D. Presa, author of Worship, Justice and Joy: A Liturgical Pilgrimage.

*This event will be streamed live on YouTube and Facebook. No registration necessary.

Joy Through Hope (pre-recorded)
2025-12-11 15:30 - 16:30
Hope forms as a response to need, struggle, and dreams of a better future. Hope serves as an antidote to fear, motivation to continue forward, and fuel for joy. Rejoice with us as conference ministers and national staff share stories and reflect on sparks of hope in the life of the church.

Joy Through Lament: A Blue Christmas Worship Service (pre-recorded)
2025-12-18 15:30 - 16:30
Joy honors sorrow and sadness, pain and despair, regret and grief. We invite you into a space that recognizes that “good cheer” may not be attainable for all. Lament allows us to acknowledge our authentic emotional condition while commemorating the Incarnation/Birth of Christ and being comforted by Emmanuel/God With Us.
