PASTORS BLOG | UCCTolland

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Reflections from
our Pastors

Rev Jeff / April 10, 2025

Choose Your Own Adventure. Does anyone remember that series of books? As a kid, attending elementary school in the 1980s, I found the iconic white books, with the red lettering on the top, to be quite engaging and entertaining! And I guess I was not alone.......

Rev Jeff / January 20, 2025

On January 5, 2025, I received a letter from Melissa Spindler-Smith. Bittersweet was the only word to describe it.

Most of you know that the letter was Melissa informing the church that she was resigning as our Community Engagement Minister. Now, truth be told, I had anticipated the receipt of this letter....

Rev Jeff / November 30, 2024

The Work Continues

I am writing this post about a week after the Presidential election. There have been a lot of emotions shared and there continues to be a lot of emotion on all sides. As I mentioned in my sermon this past Sunday some of you are relieved with the results while others are scared and angry. As a purple church in a purple community, our political viewpoints are not uniform, and that means this is who we currently are as the body of Christ: some relieved, some angry, and some somewhere in between.......

Rev Jeff / September 30, 2024

Autumn is my favorite color!

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. Maybe it’s because, when I was a kid, I always knew that the arrival of fall meant that my birthday was approaching, but I know it’s more than that. I love the cool mornings that turn into warm days and back into cool nights. I love the arrival of soccer season. I love the return of some of the comfort foods my wife makes that we set aside for the summer. I love fresh apples picked from the trees and the sight of blooming mums on doorsteps. I love curling up .......

Melissa /August 27, 2024

End of Summer!

I have to admit, this back-to-school time of year has always been my favorite. The heat is beginning to break a bit, and we can imagine cooler nights coming as our days get just a tiny bit shorter. We balance between wanting to savor every last drop of the summer exuberance . . . Read More

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Rev Jeff / May 15, 2024

The Top Eleven Reasons to Stick Around This Summer!

The warm weather is here! And so as you are starting to think about lawn-mowing, gardening, and envisioning those leisurely Sundays at the beach, you may not be thinking too much about church. In fact, that’s kind of a New England thing. Summer arrives and families disappear, only to be heard from again on Rally Sunday in September. While this is a reality in some places, it doesn’t have to be here in Tolland! . . . Read More

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Rev Jeff / April 17, 2024

Is God a UConn Fan?

So, Monday night was an exciting one, as our UConn Huskies men’s basketball team won their second straight national championship, becoming the first team to repeat in almost 20 years! . . . . . . . Read More

Love is Love

Rev Jeff /February 20, 2024

Courage in the struggle for justice and peace, friends!

As you may know, this summer and fall we received a phone call, a couple of letters, and were approached (accosted?) at the Celebrate Tolland gathering in criticism of our public stance of openness to, and acceptance of, the LGBTQ+ community. Sadly, we were not alone. There have been other churches in our area who also have received similar communications – and even been vandalized – due to their taking a similar stance. In response, the Tolland Assocation Council of the Tolland Association of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ has written a letter in support of all our churches who have experienced what we experienced. Knowing that we are not alone, I hope, will only embolden us to make our voice of welcome and inclusion even louder!

Melissa / January 8, 2024

New Years Resolutions for What We Really Need

For here we are at the start of a new year - a time when we are drawn to take stock. . . . Read More

Rev. Jeff / October 10, 2023

Can we afford NOT to go solar?

Is the church going solar? Is the rumor true? Well, maybe and yes. First we have a couple of big steps to take; one of which is considering whether we can NOT afford to go solar—a question that is about so much more than money . . . Read More

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Rev Jeff / March 19, 2024

Holy Week Heartbreak

Growing up just 15 minutes north of Boston, it should come as no surprise—as most of you know—that I am a Boston sports fan through and through: Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, Celtics, and Revolution. Now I imagine those first four teams are familiar to you . . . . but maybe not the last one . . . . . . . Read More

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Rev Jeff / February 5, 2024

From Beads to Ashes and Beyond

In just a few days our sanctuary will be filled to capacity. . . . Read More

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Rev. Jeff / December 11, 2023

It’s the most wonderful time of the year?

The other night I was blessed to do one of my favorite things I get to do each year: drive Santa around town as a part of the Tolland Fire Department’s Christmas Tour. . . . Read More

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Rev. Jeff / October 30, 2023

GReaT Things in the Works

We’re looking at restructuring our governance to help us better do the “GReaT” ministry we’re offering in Tolland and beyond! . . . Read More

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