NHCUCC April 2023 Issue

Christian Education & Formation

Education for All Ages and Stages

Celebrate Creation - Earth Month April

Art Contest

The New Hampshire Conference of the UCC is sponsoring an Earth Day Art Contest for all ages entitled "For The Beauty of the Earth". The Environmental Justice Mission Group will welcome entries in four age groups, using any medium, to express the artist's understanding of the beauty of creation and how it moves us. Entries may be scanned and sent to robert.grabill@ccdcucc.org.

Contest winners will be displayed throughout the Conference, at Horton Center, and at the NH Conference Office. There will be awards in several categories in all age groups.

See some of the artwork here!

Event Highlights

NEAUCE May 4-6

Please join the New England Association of United Church Educators for the annual Conference on Christian Education.This amazing event is held at Pilgrim Pines Conference Center in Swanzey, NH.

Pre-NEAUCE Retreat May 3-4

Join Debbie Gline Allen, Minister of Faith Formation for the Southern New England Conference, and your faith formation and youth ministry colleagues for a 24-hour Pre-NEAUCE Retreat to examine your specific call to ministry.

Learn More

June

Horton Center Open House

11:00am - 4:00pm

Everyone is welcome for a cookout, tours, and games!

Sept-Oct

29-1

Confirmation Retreat Horton Center

September 29 – October 1

Youth from NH Confirmation classes will gather for worship, music, discussion, good food and games. Ages: Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9

More Info on the Events Page...

Resource Spotlight

UCC "Sowing Seeds" Earth Day Resources

Join the Creation Justice Ministries in observing Earth Month in April with the resource included in UCC "Sowing Seeds" Earth Day Resource 2023. Included are articles and ideas, Bible studies and liturgies. Planning for Earth Month in April provides additional suggestions to answer our call as caretakers of God’s creation.

News For Kids on Climate Change

NewsForKids.net Climate Change This issue highlights Climate news geared towards older middle or high school age youth.

Service Opportunity

Mate Housing Ministry

MATE HOUSING MINISTRY welcomes volunteer work groups to spend a week in Western Central Maine to help “Create Safe Places to Live!” There are still spaces available this summer for your group of people ages 15 and up. Contact Executive Director Chris DeLisle at cdelisle@missionattheeastward.org for information about a new camp for youth ages 12-17 from July 5-7, 2023.

Suggested Reading

How to Raise Environment-ally Responsible Kids

From PBS Kids For Parents

Tonight, after you’ve forced open your child’s bedroom door despite the giant pile of stuffed animals behind it … After you’ve somehow managed to tiptoe through a minefield of toys, books and discarded dirty laundry without breaking your neck … And after you’ve leaned over and kissed your adorable little angel’s crusty, crumb-covered face goodnight, consider this:

Your child – who is quite possibly the messiest human being you know – is going to clean up our entire planet.

Keep Reading...

From Teen to Adult: Two Ways to Help High School Seniors

by Laura Atwater from Fuller Youth

If I’m honest, young adulthood-which I'm defining as beginning immediately following high school graduation-has been a more turbulent experience than adolescence.

Don’t get me wrong, adolescence was often difficult to navigate. However, growing up it felt like everyone always talked about how tough adolescence was. I don’t recall many teachers and family members talking much about the challenges that would come in young adulthood.

Keep Reading...

Watch and Listen

Spend 10 minutes watching this video that honors the beauty of nature as a personal meditation or to share with others.

Online Event

Internal Welcome and External Witness: LGBTQ Youth Ministry

Offered by Yale Divinity School, April 19, 2023 at 12pm. The presenter is Ross Murray from the GLAAD Media Institute. Murray will explain how to be specifically welcoming of youth who are in the process of discovering their sexual and gender identities. Open link to sign up!

Podcasts

"Seeds and Ways" is a podcast series based on the United Church of Christ's weekly resources: "Sermon Seeds" and "Weekly Seeds."

"Sermon Seeds" is for worship planners and includes passages from the Revised Common Lectionary and a reflection for the week.
"Weekly Seeds" is for personal Bible study or small groups.

"Into the Mystic" is a podcast with General Minister and Presedent Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer.

View all Podcasts

Musicians/Performers

Listen to Concord’s First Church choir singing Christ the Lord is Risen Today for an Easter inspiration!

SNECUCC Resources

Conference Classified

National Job Listings

Manage Subscriptions

Please contact Diane Tinkham at dtinkham@nhcucc.org with ideas and suggestions.

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