Links on this page are provided for convenience.
Members and friends of Niantic Community Church have found these web
sites to be useful. These sites should not be taken as
representing the views of the congregation as a whole.
The internet has much to offer, but as a virtually
unmoderated resource it should be approached with care. Any site
may contain links to others that are inappropriate or offensive.
No resource on the internet should be construed as authoritative.
We encourage church members and friends to maintain a healthy
skepticism when using the web.
The United Church of Christ
Connecticut Conference, UCC
The United Methodist
Church
New England
Conference, UMC
Discover East
Lyme
A site maintained by local business-people to
encourage active participation in the community.
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The Ekklesia Project
"The Ekklesia Project … intends to celebrate
and make known the work of those congregations and groups whose allegiances to God and
the Body of Christ make discipleship a lived reality in the world. The Project also
intends, in the spirit of "fraternal correction" (cf. Mt. 18: 15-16; 1Thess. 5:14),
to challenge communities and practices that have minimized or diluted the church's
obligation to be a "light to the nations" (cf. Isa. 49:6) and a foretaste of the
promised Kingdom of God."
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
A no-frills collection of scholarly
essays on a rich variety of philosophical questions. Great for taking your Bible
study several levels deeper!
Lectionary Bible Readings
Niantic Community Church generally follows the
"lectionary": a three-year cycle of Bible readings. This site, from Vanderbilt Divinity School,
collects all of the readings for easy reference.
The Text This Week
A site designed for preachers and students of
the Bible: extensive links to studies of the lectionary texts for each Sunday, with links also to
works of art and cinema that reflect the themes in scripture.
Bible Gateway
Read the Bible in a multitude of translations;
search by passage, keyword, or topic.
One Year Bible Online
Read through Bible in the course of a year! Start at
any time and read selections from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Each day's
reading takes 10-15 minutes.
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Prayer
Sacred Space
Spend ten minutes, praying as you sit at your
computer, with the help of on-screen guidance and scripture chosen specially every day.
Invitation to Prayer
A site of the Church of England, offering ideas about how to pray, as well as specific prayers for peace, reconciliation, mercy, and justice.
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Inner
Explorations
Exploring links between Christian mysticism, Eastern religious practice, and Jungian psychoanalytic theory.
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Habitat for
Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
Heifer
International
A mission priority for
outreach at Niantic Community Church for several decades.
Heifer
envisions ... A world of communities living together in peace and equitably sharing the resources of a healthy planet.
Heifer's mission is ... To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.
Heifer's strategy is ... To "pass on the
gift." As people share their animals' offspring with others -
along with their knowledge, resources, and skills - an expanding
network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that
reaches around the globe.
Donate Life
America
A not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and local coalitions across the United States dedicated to inspiring all people to save and enhance lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.
OrganDonor.gov
U.S. government information on organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Crisis
Management Institute
Crisis Management Institute: addressing crisis response, safe schools, and violence prevention. Good material on speaking with children about war.
Mennonite
Central Committee
MCC is a relief, service, and peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. MCC reflects the biblical call to care for the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the sick and those in prison.
National
Council of Churches USA
"The National Council of Churches is a community of Christian communions, which, in response to the gospel as revealed in the Scriptures, confess Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, as Savior and Lord.
"These communions covenant with one another to manifest ever more fully the unity of the Church.
"Relying upon the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, the communions come together as the Council in common mission, serving in all creation to the glory of God."
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United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries
United Methodist Church Disaster Ministries
The EnviroLink Network
"A non-profit organization which has been providing access to thousands
of online environmental resources since 1991."
Greenpeace USA
Using peaceful direct action and creative
communication to expose global environmental problems and to promote solutions that
are essential to a green and peaceful future.
Web of
Creation
Ecology resources to transform faith and society.
Church World
Service Emergency Response Program
Information and resources web site for persons interested in the ministry of the religious community in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. (Free registration required.)
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Every Church
a Peace Church
Resources for understanding and promoting a Gospel-based commitment to nonviolence.
Christian
Peacemaker Teams
"We believe that the mandate to proclaim the Gospel of repentance, salvation and reconciliation includes a strengthened Biblical peace witness."
Jubilee
USA
A broad-based network of churches and activists working for the reduction of debt in poor countries, led by the Biblical vision of Leviticus 25.
Churches' Center for
Theology and Public Policy
A national, ecumenical research center, drawing upon the theological resources of the churches and other sources of expertise. Its goal is to discern and study the relationship between Christian faith and critical issues of public policy, and to enable the churches to contribute more fruitfully to public dialogue and action.
Nuclear
Reduction/Disarmament Initiative
A project of the Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy.
Redefining
Progress
Shifting public policy to achieve a sustainable economy, a healthy environment and a just society.
Pax Christi
The national Roman Catholic peace movement: extensive resources for personal and congregational action for peace.
Witness for
Peace
A politically independent, nationwide grassroots organization of people committed to nonviolence and led by faith and conscience. WFP's mission is to support peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas by changing U.S. policies and corporate practices which contribute to poverty and oppression in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Silver Lake Conference Center
Home of the Outdoor Ministries of the
Connecticut Conference, United Church of Christ. Located in the southern Berkshires
of Litchfield County, with a vibrant summer church camp for up to 1300 children and
youth, and year-round activities for church groups of all ages, schools, non-profits, and businesses.
Kirkridge
"A retreat and study center rooted in Christ,
close to the earth, where people from diverse backgrounds find community and experience
the transforming power of the Spirit for personal wholeness, reconciliation and justice
in the world."
Rolling Ridge
A retreat and conference center open to
people of all faiths, and to a wide variety of groups and individuals who seek a
time of rest and reflection, who desire new resources for living, who long for
space to listen or to plan and create.
Rolling Ridge sponsors monthly retreats and programs focusing on spiritual
formation and hosts many groups for day or overnight events. Private rooms
for personal retreats are also available.
The 38 acres of woods, rolling hills and lakefront and the 40 room Georgian
estate provide the setting and accommodations for you or your group. Rolling
Ridge is a ministry of the New England Conference, United Methodist Church.
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Mindful Living: Human Health, Pollution, and Toxics (PDF file)
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader to be installed on your PC. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat
Reader installed on your PC, please go to the
Adobe Acrobat web site and download Acrobat Reader for free.
A resource guide from the National Council of Churches of Christ,
Mindful Living: Human Health, Pollution, and Toxics is "an education and worship resource that gives you,
your family, and your faith community the hope and the tools to maintain the sanctity of our bodily temples and
ensure that God's creation remains healthy for generations to come."
Organic Consumers Organization
An online and grassroots non-profit
public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability.
Ministry of Money
Ministry of Money is a loving,
prophetic Christian ministry which encourages all persons to become free
from their attachment to cultural values regarding money and to live out
joyfully God's call for their lives and resources.
Women's Perspective on
Money and Spirituality
"Women's Perspective provides transformational education for women seeking to understand their spiritual and economic power. Whether your funds are significant or minimal, Women's Perspective can help you bring your financial life into alignment with your core values."
New American
Dream
The Center for a New American Dream: Caring for our world, our families, ourselves. The site gives resources and ideas for reducing our dependence on things and making daily choices with integrity.
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Hollywood
Jesus
This site is run by a very personable pastor who loves movies and is optimistic about the spiritual content of pop culture.
Movie Concordance at
Textweek.com
"Sometimes films help us understand interesting perspectives on Biblical themes. These perspectives can give us new insight to contemporary interpretations of those themes, and open up new avenues for understanding, preaching, and living the text within our culture."
freevibe.com
This site is constructed for teens, but worth a visit by adults who work with teens. The sites' major theme is anti-drug information. Listed is data pertaining to common drugs and effects, as are stories about bad drug experiences, pop culture and media literacy.
National Study of Youth and
Religion
The National Study of Youth and Religion, being conducted at the University of North Carolina, offers information on today's youth and their responses to religion. Much of the information is statistical. There is also an extensive bibliography of articles and books on a wide variety of subjects that could be helpful to youth leaders in learning about youth pop culture.
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