‘Seeds of Hope’ theater-theology event to explore progressive preaching Sept. 5–6 in Hartford

The Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ (SNEUCC) invites members of the public to attend a celebration of hope in which pastors, laypersons, activists, artists, and community members will learn to deepen their preaching through storytelling and stagecraft. Anyone intrigued by the idea of hearing good storytelling and preaching with a progressive Christian message are welcome to listen in and offer feedback.

Seeds of Hope, a two-day preaching gathering, will be held Friday,September 5 and Saturday, September 6 in Hartford. Designed to help participants connect more powerfully with audiences as they preach or share their faith, the event welcomes all who practice, or are curious about, progressive Christianity, a tradition rooted in compassion, inclusion, and justice. Preachers from the conference’s nearly 600 churches across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island will hone their craft.

Tickets for the two-day event are $50 with discounts available for couples, groups, seminary students, and Project Proclaim participants. Individual event tickets are $25. To register, visit sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/SeedsOfHope2025.

Event schedule

Friday, September 5, 7 p.m.

Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street, Hartford

HOPE IN THE TELLING, inspired by The Moth podcast, the evening features seven exceptional storytellers sharing personal stories of faith from childhood to present day.

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Friday’s featured storytellers:

The Rev. Darrell L. Goodwin, first Executive Conference Minister of the SNEUCC
Bekah Maren Anderson, queer and disabled writer, activist, and theologian
Melia Bensussen, Artistic Director of Hartford Stage and of the National Playwrights Conference at the O’Neill Theater Center
Pamela Y. Cook, womanist, artist-theologian, preacher, and seasoned educator with a passion for justice, creativity, and spiritual formation
Eric Elley, digital strategist supporting churches across SNEUCC
Carla Imperial, writer, musician, and activist
Alan Bubba Sooho, a former hospital administrator, clinical psychiatrist, and storyteller

Saturday, September 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hartford Stage Rehearsal Studios, 942 Main Street, Hartford (Residence Inn building)

HARTFORD STAGE WORKSHOPS: led by Hartford Stage teaching professionals, these interactive workshops include “Training Your Voice for the Most Meaningful Connections,” “Improv and Proclamation,” and “Using Visual Sacred Arts in Proclamation.”

Saturday, September 6, 3 to 6 p.m.

Christ Church Cathedral Auditorium, 45 Church Street, Hartford

PREACHING CIRCLE: Seven dynamic preachers offer sermons followed by audience discussion and feedback.

Seeds of Hope is a part of Project Proclaim, the Compelling Preaching Initiative of SNEUCC. At its core the project aims to help preachers preach better. “Seeds of Hope is for anyone who seeks to proclaim a message of hope, justice, and progressive love, tenets that align with the teachings of the United Church of Christ,” said Tyrone Brown, project manager for Project Proclaim. “It’s a space for truth-telling, imagination, and a communal renewing of our desire to promote good in our churches and communities.”

Hartford Stage, a key partner in Project Proclaim, will host Saturday’s workshops and provide instructors.

“Theaters and faith organizations have more in common than might appear at first blush. We are both committed to inspiring and challenging our audiences and congregations using the power of compelling language and storytelling. Hartford Stage is dedicated to serving the community through civic partnerships,” said Cynthia Rider, managing director of Hartford Stage. “As a partner to the SNEUCC, we have been honored to develop workshop curricula, link preachers with expert teaching artists, and now to serve as a host site for Seeds of Hope.”

PATHWAYS Theological Education is also a partner in the initiative.

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‘Seeds of Hope’ theater-theology event to explore progressive preaching Sept. 5–6 in Hartford