THE WEEKLY NEWS
April 30, 2024 | Volume 16 No. 16
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Welcome Sam Juliano
We welcome Sam Juliano to our Conference staff. Sam will be serving as our Communication and Programs Coordinator beginning Wednesday, May 1st. Sam's responsibilities will include editing the Weekly News and Conference website, handling the logistics of events such as the Annual Meeting and Prepared to Serve, managing the Conference technology infrastructure, and serving as building manager for the Conference Office.
Sam is a relatively new New Hampshire resident. In addition to his new Conference position, Sam serves as the Leader of Music Ministry at First Parish, East Derry.
Another New Face - Cameron Keller
We are also grateful that Cameron Keller has agreed to provide some temporary administrative help around the Conference Office as we continue to search for a new Office Administrator. Cameron will begin on Thursday, May 2nd and will be at the Office Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. As is understood with a temp position, we don't know how long Cameron will be with us but we are thankful for his help while we have him.
Susanne McCarron to Retire
Susanne McCarron, our Search and Call Administrator, has announced her retirement effective late June. Susanne has faithfully served our Conference Staff for the past two and a half years. Over the new few weeks, we will announce Susanne's exact retirement date and opportunities for members of the Conference to express their appreciation to her.
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Introducing Ministry 21
Equipping 21st Century Leaders for Ministry in a Changing World
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If you’ve attended Conference events lately, you’ll have noticed that many of our churches are lively and joyful regardless of the size of the congregation. We have so much spirit, joy, and courage to offer the communities in which we serve! We are actively engaged in the ministry Jesus did, feeding bodies and souls, working for justice and safety for marginalized peoples, resisting the powers of war and divisive hatred, and worshiping faithfully. To support the needs of these amazing churches for skilled leadership, our Conference is joining with our UCC neighbors in Vermont to develop Ministry21…
The Vision:
Ministry21 aims to break down barriers and expand opportunities for discernment and learning for ministry across our two Conferences. Our collaborative effort seeks to:
- develop a holistic program of discernment and learning for the whole church.
- address the social and cultural realities of being faith-filled people in communities that are increasingly secular.
- foster a community of learning and collegial connections beyond “classroom and coursework” engagement.
Courses will be offered with a combination of in-person and online, asynchronous engagement, designed to meet diverse learning styles and entry points.
Learn More about Ministry 21...
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Small Acts of Caring Mean a Lot
to Our Immigrant Neighbors
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In 1954, big band-era singer Kitty Kallen first made famous the song “Little Things Mean a Lot.” Our NHCUCC Immigrant & Refugee Support Group (IRSG) is well aware that “little things” – small acts of kindness and generosity – can make all the difference in the life of an asylum-seeker or other immigrant in our midst who is struggling to survive and thrive. Currently, in partnership with our American Friends Service Committee-NH partner, our trained volunteers are visiting the 80+ immigrants/asylum-seekers who, quite unfortunately, are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the county jail in Dover. YOUR contribution of just $27 will allow us to provide one of these individuals with access to the jail commissary to buy some food or personal care items or make a phone call – i.e. the very basics for one detained in a jail environment. Individuals detained by ICE tell us that these donations truly mean a lot to them and lift their spirits immensely. Please donate here.
IRSG Member and Jail Visitation Volunteer Ron Schneider of the First Congregational Church of Pelham shares a wonderful story of how other little things – a new package of underwear or a repaired sewing machine or the act of teaching a skill – also can mean a lot. What kinds of small acts of generosity and kindness toward our immigrant neighbors and others can YOUR congregation provide? Let creativity be your guide! For more information about the IRSG, email irsg.nhcucc@gmail.com.
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Second Annual Anti-Racism Speaker Series | The Anti-Racism Ministry Group of the NHCUCC was delighted to host the General Minister and President of the UCC on Sunday, April 7. Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson shared her personal experience of race in poetry and storytelling and responded to questions concerning the work of antiracism. Those who were unable to attend the event in person can view the recording on the NH Conference YouTube page at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04x03_4H0bs | | |
Save the Date for Clergy Convocation | |
Authorized ministers, mark your calendars for Monday, September 16 through Wednesday, September 18.
Spend two and a half days at the beautiful Pilgrim Pines Conference Center in picturesque Swanzey, NH. Join ministry colleagues in worship, play, and learning. This year's presenter, Leanne Tigert, will engage us in thoughtful reflection upon our experience of "being called;" and how that has changed (or not) for us over time.
Clergy Convocation Mission Group
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2024 Combatants for Peace and the Parents Circle-Families Forum | |
On May 12th, Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle-Families Forum host the 19th Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony. The theme this year is the stories of children whose lives are being upended and their future hopes uncertain. Just three days later, on May 15th, Combatants for Peace will host the 2024 Joint Nakba Remembrance Ceremony. The theme is “liberation.” How do we collectively liberate ourselves from occupation, oppression and violence? The NH Conference Peace with Justice Advocates Mission Group is a sponsor again this year and encourages joining both ceremonies.
Learn more about the Joint Memorial Day Ceremony
Learn More about the Joint Nakba Remebrance Ceremony
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Lessons from Improv Workshops
Sign up by the end of April to participate in our latest workshops!
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A New Thing Task Force offered workshops on the Lessons of Improvisation as expressed in Jazz, Theatre, and Reuse of Materials. They were well received, and we are offering you the chance to experience the workshops you might have missed.
If this is something you are interested in, we will match you with other churches who have expressed a desire to participate in the same workshop. In order to run a workshop, we ask that there be a minimum of 3 churches and 12 participants.
Please be in touch with us with questions or your interest at anewthingtaskforce@gmail.com by April 30.
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Senior High Youth Canoe Trip
July 26 - August 3
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Youth ages 14 and older are welcome to join South Congregational Church of Newport's annual Voyageurs Canoe Trip to LaVerendrye, Quebec Canada.
Spend a week paddling with adult leaders and other teenagers, learning how to work as a team and be self-sufficient, all while having fun!
The trip cost is $500.00 per camper which includes all of the equipment, food, and transportation. Financial aid is available through Rekindling Curiosity. Learn more about the trip here.
Contact Kevin Corliss (603-863-1425, kevincorliss@comcast.net) if you want to learn more and register!
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Would your church be interested in using “Compassion Camp” VBS Curriculum that the Conference purchases? The Christian Formation Ministry group has researched the possibility of offering a curriculum to you at a much reduced cost. We plan to purchase a multi-entity license (based on the number of groups that participate) that churches could use. Depending on how many participate, we expect to be able to offer it for approximately $50 per VBS group. Whether your church works independently or joins with other churches to form one combined group, we’d like to help make it happen!
Contact us at christianformationministry@nhcucc.org with questions. We need your confirmation so that we only pay for groups that are certain they will use it! Please let us know by May 15 if you can commit and that you have people who will organize and run VBS this summer. Spread the loving kindness of Compassion Camp!
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Resolutions for the 2024 Annual Meeting | |
The Board of Directors invites you to submit your resolutions to be considered for inclusion in the agenda for the 2024 Annual Meeting. Resolutions should be sent to Conference Minister Gordon Rankin (grankin@nhcucc.org) and follow the linked guidelines.
Read the resolution guidelines here...
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Guns to Gardens
Join the NH Guns to Gardens Forging Demonstration and Celebration!
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Join Guns to Gardens for a day of reflection and inspiration on Saturday, May 4th at Wesley United Methodist Church in Concord, as they transform unwanted firearms collected at Guns to Gardens events into garden tools. Their live hands-on forging demonstration event includes a celebration; silent auction and raffle of Guns to Gardens tools, wooden bowls, and jewelry; creative community art collage with dismantled gun bits; and fellowship with fellow gun violence prevention advocates and supporters as they raise awareness and funds for their Guns to Gardens program.
RSVP for tickets here. Free event, RSVP required.
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The Association Restructuring Task Force
Wants to Listen to You
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Please join us for a Listening Session about the possible Association restructuring plans. We need your feedback, concerns, and hopes. There will be 2 more Zoom sessions at different times of the day and week. We hope that one of them will be convenient for you.
Please use the following Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84904679136
Tuesday, May 14 7:00 pm
Thursday, May 16 1:00 pm
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Camps for Elementary Campers
at Horton Center
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Do you know a camper who is entering 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade in the fall? Do they love spending time outside, meeting new friends, and trying new fun things? Give them the incredible gift of a week at Horton Center! All summer long we have awesome camps for our elementary-aged campers. Check out the whole camp schedule here.
Don't forget! We have lots of scholarship support we are excited to share. Reach out to Tivvi (TPare@nhcucc.org) for more information.
We will see you on the mountain soon!
Shalom,
Tivvi Pare (she/her)
Executive Director of Horton Center
www.HortonCenter.org
603-545-9660
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Applications for New Office Administrator
Now Open
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The New Hampshire Conference seeks candidates to serve as our Office Administrator. The Office Administrator is the primary host and hospitality provider for events held at the Conference Office, maintains the Conference directory database and calendar, completes bank deposits, provides administrative support for the Conference Annual Meeting and Prepared to Serve events, arrange for periodic bulk mailings, and many other administrative tasks to support the mission and ministry of the Conference. A position description is available upon request.
The Office Administrator position is a 37 ½ hours a week, non-exempt position. Salary information available on request. Full benefits (health and dental insurance, pension, etc.) are provided.
Interested candidates should submit a resume (with references to contact) to the Reverend Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister, at grankin@nhcucc.org.
The New Hampshire Conference is a Racial Justice, Just Peace, Open and Affirming Conference of the United Church of Christ.
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UPCOMING CONFERENCE EVENTS | |
| 223rd Annual Meeting
Geneva Point Center | October 26
Save the Date | | |
PRAYERS FOR THE ASSOCIATION RESTRUCTURE | |
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“God, your God, is immense and powerful and awesome. God doesn’t play favorites, takes no bribes, makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing.” - Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (MSG)
We were recently reminded of this beautiful scripture in the UCC Daily Devotional. The Rev. Phiwa Langeni tells us that the Zulu word for God is Nkulunkulu, which roughly translates to “big-big.”
Let us remember that God is with us in every matter under heaven. Nothing is too big for “big-big.”
As we discern a reorganization of our structure, let us all pray to be led by an abundant and generous Spirit. The task may seem oh, so big. Nothing is too big for “big-big.”
As we gather via zoom for listening sessions and the questions loom large, we pray for openness and listening hearts. Nothing is too big for “big-big.”
As we voice what is on our hearts, we pray to be guided even as our hearts are guarded in this vastly changing world of ours. Nothing is too big for “big-big.”
May the essence of “big-big” be with all of us - no matter who.
Blessings and Peace,
The Conference Acting as an Association Task Force.
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Thaddeus Sieverding. We send Thaddeus into the world with our gratitude and blessing. We thank him for all his dedication and hard work as the NHCUCC’s Communications, Technology and Events Coordinator and wish him well as he goes into his future career. God, may you enfold Thaddeus in your arms, allowing him to feel the joy of fully living into the gifts you have given him, your Spirit who abides with him and the hope of laughter, fun and adventure. Blessings Thaddeus! | |
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The Rev. Renee Rouse has announced her resignation as Pastor and Teacher of the Northwood Congregational Church, UCC. Rev. Rouse’s last Sunday in Northwood will be Sunday, May 12.
The Rockingham Association will hold its Spring Meeting on May 5 at 1:30 pm at the North Hampton United Church of Christ.
The Hillsborough Association will hold its Spring Meeting on May 5 at 3 pm at the First Congregational Church, Milford.
The North Country Association will hold its Spring Meeting on May 5 at 3pm at the Monadnock Congregational Church. Following the meeting at 3:30 pm, Brian Grover will be installed.
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Sunday Schedule: May 5, 2024 | |
The Conference Ministers will be worshiping at their home churches. | | |
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Monday - Friday | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm | |
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The Weekly News is published to promote the mission and ministry of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ.
These announcements are intended to be brief, timely, and of a general interest to our Conference readers. Supportive links are provided whenever they are available. We encourage you to forward these materials to others in your church using the link below and to share them in your bulletins and local church newsletters.
Send your items to Communications@nhcucc.org. The deadline for submitting items for the next issue is Thursday at 12:00 PM.
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