THE WEEKLY NEWS
April 9, 2024 | Volume 16 No. 13
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To all Authorized Ministers and Churches of the New Hampshire Conference:
Even as we celebrate the promise of resurrection joy in this season, we want to acknowledge and speak to what is a tender moment for some in our midst. In the past ten months, we have had two of our active pastors pass into God’s eternal care. Last May, Susan Garafalo, who served the United Church of Winchester, passed away. At the beginning of Holy Week last week, Maureen Adams, who pastored both Third Congregational Church in Alstead and the United Church of Acworth, passed. Both deaths were unexpected. As a matter of fact, both of these faithful servants were preparing liturgy for upcoming worship services earlier in the mornings in which they died. We continue to encourage our New Hampshire Conference covenant community to hold Susan and Maureen’s families, friends, and the communities they served in prayer.
But our letter is more than an invitation for prayer. It is a call for sacred care-taking.
Read the letter here...
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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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Lay Preaching Class - Rescheduled | |
Did you miss the lay preaching class at Prepared to Serve? Presenter The Rev. Dr. Deborah Roof will give an encore presentation at First Parish in East Derry on Saturday, April 20, from 9 to 12.
All are welcome to join us for this morning of preaching for the layperson. Please plan to arrive early so that we have a full three hours together. Email pastordeborah@fpc-ucc.org to reserve your spot! We are located at 47 East Derry Road, East Derry.
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Join the Mental Health First Aid Course in Laconia | |
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: The Congregational Church of Laconia, “Church Hall” (Basement area of the Church)
Who: Open to the public (Must be 18 years old or older)
Learn how to recognize and respond to mental health events or substance use issues using the ALGEE action plan.
Learn more here...
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Church Administrative Professionals Gathering | |
Wednesday, April 24th, 10am – 2:00 pm at NH Conference, 140 Sheep Davis Rd, Pembroke.
The Local Church Support Ministry (LCSM) is hosting an event for church administrative professionals.
- Learn about Local Church Support Ministry and how they are assisting our churches.
- Meet other church admin professionals.
- Chat with staff and learn how each of them assists our churches, our pastors, and you!
- Network with other pros about great ways to tackle tasks and organize information.
- Allow the LCSM and NHCUCC to celebrate you, your work, and your ministry to our local congregations.
To register, please contact Susanne McCarron via email, smccarron@nhcucc.org.
This event is free of charge to participants. Boxed Lunch will be included (more details to come). Churches are encouraged to compensate their professionals for this workday.
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Calling All Clergy!
Register for Clergy Day of Replenishment and Renewal Now
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All clergy of the New Hampshire Conference are invited to “Come to the River” for a day away from work to restore, connect, and explore. Many clergy are experiencing tremendous depletion, fatigue, and weariness these days. The Clergy Support Ministry recognizes this weariness and offers this respite day.
We invite you to join us on Tuesday, April 30th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Hooksett. The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a light breakfast and will end with lunch.
If you cannot attend in person, we are offering a Zoom Retreat option on Wednesday, May 1st, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
The Rev. Steve Miller will lead the retreats and offer an enriching time of spiritual exploration involving voice and movement, silence and rest, and community connection.
The cost for the retreat (whether in person or on Zoom) is $20.
You can register and learn more about the day and schedule here: https://nhcucc.regfox.com/clergy-day-2024
The registration deadline is Thursday, April 25th. Come away and rest for a while!
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Churches’ Ongoing Engagement
Amid Middle East Crisis
| As the crisis in the Middle East continues, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ remain deeply engaged in prayer, public witness, advocacy, and solidarity with partners. View the latest articles on our Global Ministries website to see highlights of our churches’ most recent witness and ways you can be involved. | | |
Thaddeus Sieverding Well Wishes | |
Friends, as Thaddeus Sieverding approaches his final days working on the Conference staff, we would invite you to express your appreciation and say your goodbyes. Please feel free to send him messages at tsieverding@nhcucc.org or to send cards to the Conference Office (140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, NH, 03275).
Peace, Gordon
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New Website Pictures
We need your help!
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We are redesigning our website and want to represent as many of our churches as possible. Pictures speak a thousand words, so we want your help gathering pictures of our churches. If you have high-quality images of your church building, interior, or happenings, send them our way! To submit photographs, email tsieverding@nhcucc.org.
Some things to keep in mind:
- We need high-quality images (Unfortunately, we can't accept pixilated, grainy, or blurry pictures)
- We need express permission from the photographer
- If you have pictures of people, we need written consent from anyone seen in the picture. (Here is a photo release form you can use)
We are collecting pictures till the end of April. We would love to see your church represented on our new website!
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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 5 Zoom sessions at different times of the day and week. We hope that one of them will be convenient for you.
The Zoom link will be available closer to the events. Please keep the Task Force and its work in your prayers.
Wednesday, April 24 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 27 10:00 am
Sunday, April 28 7:00 pm
Tuesday, May 14 7:00 pm
Thursday, May 16 1:00 pm
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UCC Earth Summit
Featuring Bill McKibben and Award Winning Activists
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The UCC's second annual Earth Summit will feature celebrated author and activist Bill McKibben delivering the Jim Antal Keynote Lecture with the title, "Energy from Heaven or Energy from Hell?" Additionally, the following panel of award-winning activists will speak about the multi-national struggle against the pollution of Formosa Plastics, one of the world's largest plastics producers. Both Sharon Lavigne and Diane Wilson have won the Goldman Prize which is often referred to as the “green” Nobel Prize. They will be joined on the panel by Nancy Bui from the International Monitor Formosa Alliance and Justice for Formosa Victims. The two-and-a-half-hour summit will also feature the announcement of the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award winner, a celebration of the UCC's newest Creation Justice Churches, and a video showcasing the environmental ministries of our host congregation, The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College. Even if you cannot make the event on April 20th at 1 pm ET, still sign-up, and a recording will be sent to you. Register now!
Please feel welcome to join us in-person at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College. No registration is required for in-person attendance.
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Peaceful Quilting on the Mountain
quilting - or knitting - or crocheting - or embroidery - or rug hooking - or counted cross stitch - or...
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September 6-8, 2024
We are exploring the idea of hosting a quilting (or any hand craft, really!) retreat at Horton Center.
Bring your current project, or one you've been meaning to get to, and join us for a weekend of fellowship on the mountain! Bring a friend, come on your own, or invite your club/guild!
Estimated per person price for the weekend: $175
Please email Tivvi if you're interested. All are welcome!
TPare@nhcucc.org
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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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Applications for New Communications and Programs Coordinator
Now Open
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The New Hampshire Conference seeks candidates to serve as our Communications and Programs Coordinator. The Communications and Programs Coordinator provides logistical organization for Conference events and programs include Annual Meeting and Prepared to Serve, maintains the Conference technology infrastructure, publishes Conference communications including the Conference website and Weekly News, and oversees upkeep and maintenance of the Conference Office. A position description is available upon request.
The Communications and Programs Coordinator 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 | |
| The NHCUCC Women's Fellowship Spring Program on Cultural Diversity in New Hampshire.
Plymouth Congregational Church | April 20 9:30 - 3:30
Save the Date | | |
PRAYERS FOR THE ASSOCIATION RESTRUCTURE | |
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There is a lot of discernment and creative thinking going into developing a new model for our Association structure. 6 out of 7 of our Association voted to move forward with creating a model which will have one Association, with the Conference acting as Association
What we need is prayer to guide us. Every week in the Weekly News there will be a specific request for prayers reflecting where we are in the process. So, please pray so that this work will be guided and grounded in God’s Spirit.
Here is what we need you to pray for this week:
A creative spirit which can see beyond how things are to how things could be. And in all we do to honor the will of the people who will be affected by this change.
A Spiritual Director once shared that when asking for prayer; the prayer is our desire, the prayer entrusts it to God, which serves as our hope going forward. In this mindset, we see the honesty of speaking to God of what is on our heart, a trust in God, and a faith that no matter the outcome, God will bring us hope. In that spirit, please pray without ceasing for the work of Association restructure.
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All those who provide aid and relief in zones of conflict and disaster. God we pray for those who give of their time and energy to make sure people are clothed, fed, provided shelter and given hope. We know the dangers are many, but we give thanks that you work through their hands and hearts to make this world a place of peace and abundance for all. | |
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The Rev. Dr. Dana Mann has announced her resignation as Pastor and Teacher of the Federated Church of Marlborough. Rev. Mann’s last Sunday in Marlborough will be May 19th.
The Rev. Dr. Dana Mann has been called as Transitional Pastor of the First Parish Church, Congregational, UCC in Dover. Rev. Mann will begin her ministry on June 2nd.
The Carroll-Strafford Association will hold their Spring Meeting on Sunday, April 21, at 3 pm at the Lee Church Congregational, UCC. At 4 pm the Rev. Cat Allard will be Installed as Pastor and Teacher of the Lee Church Congregational, UCC.
On Sunday, April 14 the Rev. Jared Rardin will conclude his service as Pastor and Teacher of South Congregational Church, UCC in Concord and retire from active ministry.
On Sunday, April 14 at 2pm at the Congregational Church of North Barnstead, UCC the Merrimack Association will hold their Spring meeting
Following the Spring Meeting at 3:30pm the Merrimack Association will install the Rev. Kate Kennedy as Pastor and Teacher of the Congregational Church of North Barnstead, UCC
On Sunday, April 14 at 3pm at the Deering Community Church, UCC the Rockingham Association will hold a Service of Ordination for Karen Landry.
The Rev. Donna Muise will serve as the Transitional Pastor for the First Congregational Church of Rochester, UCC, beginning June 3rd.
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Sunday Schedule: April 14, 2024 | |
The Conference Minister will preach at Community Church of Harrisville and Chesham, UCC, and at Dublin Community Church. Traceymay Kalvaitis serves as pastor to both congregations. In the afternoon, Rev. Rankin attend the ordination of Karen Landry at Deering Community Church. | |
The Associate Conference Minister will be participating in worship at the South Congregational Church, UCC in Concord where Rev. Jared Rardin serves as Pastor and Teacher. In the afternoon Rev. Marean will represent the NHCUCC at the Merrimack Association Spring meeting and Installation of Rev. Kate Kennedy as Pastor and Teacher of the Congregational Church of North Barnstead, UCC. | | |
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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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