Friends in the New Hampshire Conference,

In October, I will have served among you for six years. That means I am due (actually, a little past due) for sabbatical leave. In consultation with our Conference Board of Directors, I have chosen to split my leave time in half. The first part will be taken in November and December 2024 and the second part in November and December 2025. 

According to the little countdown clock on my phone, that means I start sabbatical in 4 months and 16 days. (I promise I don’t check the countdown all that often.) It seems it was about time to share some of the details with the broader conference. 

In 2024, I will be combining six weeks of sabbatical leave with some vacation time. I will begin sabbatical on Monday, November 4th. I will be “back in the office” on Monday, January 6, 2025. 

The core of this sabbatical time will be spending approximately three weeks in Zimbabwe. This will be my first visit with our Ukama partners in the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe. I couldn’t be more delighted that it is happening in a way that allows me the time and space to truly get to know the people in our partner churches. That is not to say there won’t be any official functions. I feel honored to have been asked to offer the Charge for the Reverend John Matiza’s Installation for his last term as UCCZ President.

After I return from Zimbabwe, I will have one other trip. I will be heading to Pheonix for the Authorizing Ministry in the 21 Century event that is held every two years. 

Other than that, I will be spending the remainder of my sabbatical time reflecting on and writing about my time in Zimbabwe. Having dedicated time for reflection and writing will be a true gift.

While I am away, my responsibilities will be covered by our Associate Conference Minster, the Reverend Sara Marean, and Bridge Conference Minister, the Reverend Campbell Lovett. Sara will be picking up much of the Search and Call part of my portfolio as she already has relational connections with all of our churches. Campbell will be handling the executive function part of my responsibilities and staff the Committees for Church and Ministry that I normally staff. The Bridge Conference Minister position will be a 20 hour per week position.

For those who are not familiar with Reverend Lovett, he has previously served as Conference Minister of the Michigan Conference and Transitional Conference Minister in the South Central Conference. More recently, Campbell served as the Interim Pastor at the Congregational Church of Laconia. 

Friends, I covet your prayers as I prepare for this blessed time of travel and renewal. 

A group of eight people will be representing the New Hampshire Conference on our first Ukama visit to our partners in the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe since 2017. Their trip will begin July 22. They will return home August 7. During their time in Zimbabwe they will visit and worship with many partnered churches. They also will visit the mission stations at Mt. Selinda and Chikore, tour Great Zimbabwe, a UNESCO World heritage site, as well as a game preserve.  

Rev. Sara Marean and Rev. David Keller are the delegation co-leaders. Other members of the delegation are: Rev. Mandy Lape, Stephanie Westergren, Sarah MacKenzie, Lindy Keller, Shaun Hathaway, and Wren Marean.  

The delegation may carry packets of information about partnered churches here to their partner congregations there. Please let David Keller (dbkeller1952@gmail.com) know if you intend to provide a packet July 8.  

More information about the members of the delegation and a page dedicated to chronicling the journey will be available soon on our website. Watch The Weekly News for more!

Guns to Gardens continues, with an auction of the beautiful goods created from unwanted firearms! Have you checked out our online auction featuring garden tools, wooden bowls, jewelry, and other works of art created by dismantled New Hampshire firearms? Don’t miss your chance to bid - the auction will be open until Tuesday, July 2nd, at 8 PM. 

Click here to see what our artisans have created, and make a bid!

Rev. Andrew Warner, Generosity Outreach Officer with the UCC National Ministries is now providing the New Hampshire Conference monthly resources for consideration in your congregations.

Resources will be chronicled on the Stewardship Resources page of our new website which can be navigated to anytime by going to nhcucc.org > Services > Congregational > Stewardship Resources.

There are several webinars scheduled throughout the balance of the year, an article and some downloadable content specific to this month. The topic for June 2024 surrounds Preparing for Write-A-Will Month with your congregation - and how using directed bequests can be an important form of stewardship. Check out the new Stewardship Resources page today!

The Prepared to Serve Planning Team needs your help! We are seeking an organized person that could serve on a team to plan this annual event. The group meets once monthly on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM. Most times meetings are held in a hybrid format allowing you to participate in-person at the Conference Office in Pembroke or over Zoom. If Interested or to further inquire, please email events@nhcucc.org.

Ministry21 has a spot on the new conference website: www.min21.org, Check it out!

Whether You’re a Seasoned Leader or New to Your Role, We’re Here to

Support You in Strengthening Your Church Community Ministry21 is for You!

…for Lay Leaders of Local Churches:

Empower yourself with the skills and knowledge needed to lead your congregation effectively. Our courses cover worship leadership,

administrative best practices, financial management, and more.

…for Members in Discernment:

Immerse yourself in a supportive environment for your discernment journey. Explore your calling and develop the skills needed for

ministry. Prepare for ordained ministry with confidence and clarity. Our course offerings will compliment those of other partners in

discernment, and be identified with your Formation and Preparation Plans in mind.

…for Licensed Clergy:

Advance your professional development and deepen your ministry skills with our three-year track designed to support you in

developing the foundational competency necessary for licensed leadership in the setting that has called or will call you. Engage in

courses offered by Ministry21 beyond these to continue your development and discernment. From pastoral care to innovative

ministry models, we have courses to inspire and equip you for effective leadership.

…for Ordained Clergy:

Reignite your passion and vision for ministry with our transformative courses. Explore new possibilities for revitalizing your ministry,

developing entrepreneurial skill sets, and establishing vital ministerial programs for the church and the world.

Learn More about Ministry 21 in the PDF or Go to our new website!

Volunteer counselors are NEEDED at Horton Center this summer! The amazing ministry of our conference's summer camp cannot happen without you! 

I hope you will consider taking a week away from the busyness of your summer schedule to unplug with us on Pine Mountain for a week of creating intentional, loving, Christian community with kids of all ages. Our volunteer deans are recruiting counselors for their team of volunteers to help make their programming happen, to help keep campers safe in the cabins in the evenings and to help have FUN! Please email Tivvi if you are interested, or you know someone who might be! 

See you on the mountain! 

Shalom, 

Tivvi Pare (she/her)

Executive Director of Horton Center

www.HortonCenter.org 

603-545-9660

On our new Conference Website we have a Classifieds/Help Wanted page. This is a tool that I brought over from the old website, although I suspect many folks forget it exists. I know it has potential, because recently a member of the Deacon Board at  Dublin Community Church reached out looking to source 50 used Red Pilgrim Hymnals, as these are a presently loved resource for the congregation. Within days, Rev. Dr. Deborah Roof of the First Parish Church, E. Derry saw the ad, and through personal connection sourced 50 copies- 25 from each of 2 different churches a state away!

Does your church have unused items? Do you have an opening on your staff? Check Out the Classifieds/Help Wanted page at NHCUCC.org > Community > Classifieds

The New Hampshire Conference is accepting up to 10 Speak Out Videos to be played during the Annual Meeting. All videos must be sixty (60) seconds or less and adhere to these protocols. The deadline for Speak Out Video submissions is September 12, 2024.

These Video Speak Outs will be the only speak out opportunity at this year's Annual Meeting.

Churches that are celebrating an anniversary (in increments of 25 years), are invited to submit anniversary videos. All videos must be 120 seconds or less and adhere to these protocols. The deadline for submission of Church Anniversary Videos is September 5, 2024.