Here is the meeting summary of the September 16 Board of Directors meeting.

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Follow the button below to view the new 2024 Clergy Compensation Guidelines and calculator.

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As the feast day of Francis of Assisi is celebrated on October 4th, Pope Francis will release the "second part" of his encyclical on the climate crisis and inequality. The new edition of the encyclical will provide an update to confronting "the senseless war on our common home." A panel of climate faith leaders will reflect upon Pope Francis's plea for climate action. Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on October 11th at 1 pm ET, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!

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Beginning in 2023, for the first time ever, the federal government is offering significant financial incentives for house of worship and all non-profits to go solar. If your parish is considering installing a solar photovoltaic array at your facility, the Solar Saints Initiative invites you to come learn how to get a 30% direct payment from the federal government for your system. They will be hosting a conference on this subject on Saturday, October 14 from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at All Saints Church in Wolfeboro. Click here to learn more about the conference and to register for the conference. This conference is sponsored by the Earth Care Commission and NH Interfaith Power and Light.

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Following a request from the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe, New Hampshire Conference’s Ukama Mission Group is launching an appeal to support the UCCZ in addressing people’s need for food. Our Ukama relationship has been issuing conference-wide appeals for some years to address needs which UCCZ leaders think are the most urgent. Once again, as in 2020, they have asked that we designate our gifts to improve food security. The funds we raise will be used both for food as well as for maize (corn) seeds to the many families who grow their own food.

The offering coincides with Ukama Sunday, observed this year on October 22. You can give anytime through the end of 2023. The NH Conference will receive all donations from individuals and congregations, and forward them to Common Global Ministries. Global Ministries securely transmits our gifts to the head office of the UCCZ, which distributes the funds to the three conference ministers. They pass the gifts along to local churches, who distribute the gifts to the households which are experiencing the greatest need,

Rev John Matiza, president of the UCCZ, writes: “We cannot talk about three meals a day, most families survive on 2 meals a day. A number of organizations who used to support people in the rural areas are leaving the country because of the disputed elections.”

Checks can be made to NHCUCC with the notation: “Zimbabwe Appeal” on the memo line.

Mail contributions to: NHCUCC 140 Sheep Davis Road Pembroke, NH 03275-3711

(churches can collect the funds and send a single check, or you may encourage your constituents to send their donations directly to the NH Conference, UCC.)

Learn About Ukama Sunday

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The Peace with Justice Advocates of the New Hampshire Conference of the UCC includes a 2023 focus that “We commit to nonviolence and collaborative peacemaking….” Acting on that focus, we urge the posting of the attached “Gun-Free Zone” sign at the entrances to our churches. Poster copies of this sign will be available at the Peace with Justice Advocates table during the October 21st Annual Meeting.

We are guided by the prophets and by Jesus Christ. In Leviticus we read, “Thou shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Isaiah called upon the people “to turn their swords into plowshares.” Jesus rebuked his disciple who cut off a soldier’s ear to defend Jesus. “Put away your sword,” he said. Then Jesus healed the soldier. Jesus also declared that when forced to carry a Roman soldier’s pack for a mile, one should render that force powerless by volunteering to carry the pack an extra mile. No weapons are needed to enforce love of neighbor and hospitality. Attached is the complete letter explaining the Gun-Free Zone from the Advocates.

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This summer I had the opportunity and great honor to reprise my role as Artist in Residence at Horton Center. This year I was there for week one. This may go down as one of the wettest weeks of the summer! We had rain almost every day, and the trouble was that Mount Madison was rarely visible. I usually enjoy painting Mount Madison every day while at camp, but this year that was not an option. As a result, I spent the week painting the camp itself – and there is one painting from Madison porch with Madison in clouds. These paintings are a bit different from previous years' paintings. I hope you enjoy them.

These paintings will all be available at a silent auction at the NH Conference Annual Meeting on October 21. Be sure to plan ahead!

Rev. Dr. Bob Marrone

A course in UCC History, Polity, and Theology will be taught at Maine School of Ministry, January Term 2024, led by Rev. David Gaewski, a retired conference minister. This course is ideal for Members in Discernment or those considering Privilege of Call representing the United Church of Christ. Four Saturdays in a row, from 9:00-3:30, using Zoom. Distance learners welcome. 

UCC Polity, History, and Theology

Online (Zoom), 24 contact hours

Instructor: David Gaewski

Saturdays Jan 6, Jan 13, Jan 20, Jan 27

Fee: $350

Registration: Link found at https://www.maineucc.org/mesom/

Questions? Contact Dean Malcolm Himschoot: mhimschoot@maineucc.org.

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