The 2024 Prepared to Serve event is just around the corner, scheduled for February 24 at Pembroke Academy. As we gear up for another inspiring gathering, the Planning Committee extends a warm invitation to individuals eager to share their talents and insights as workshop presenters.

If you have a workshop idea that aligns with our mission to empower and support our community, we want to hear from you! Whether you are an experienced presenter or a first-time workshop leader, we welcome diverse perspectives and fresh ideas.

To apply as a presenter for Prepared to Serve 2024, simply follow the link to submit your workshop proposal: Presenter Application Form Link

Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to an event that aims to create new tables and foster positive change within our churches. Your unique perspective could be the missing piece that sparks meaningful discussions and inspires others. Presenter registration closes December 22nd.

11B

Embark on a soul-stirring Advent journey with "Another Starry Black Night: A Womanist Advent Devotional." Join prominent voices like Rev. Traci Blackmon, Rev. Dr. Paula Owens Parker, and Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson in exploring the transformative power of epiphanies and faith.

Delve into the unexpected twists of the magi's journey, reflecting on the sudden moments of wisdom and divine presence in our lives. This devotional, curated by a diverse group of spiritual leaders, invites you to embrace the joy, wonder, and deep spirituality of the Advent season. Experience the season of hope with profound reflections, guiding you towards a renewed understanding of the Divine made known.

Find out more

12A

We need your help! The Prepared to Serve Planning committee is in the process of creating a panel discussion on "The Function of Church Roles: Building By-Laws to Fit Your Church." We would love to hear from smaller sized churches who have recently changed their church by-laws to better fit their needs. What do you like about the change? What would you do differently?

Please reach out to Rev. Renee' Rouse to share your insights.

12A

On the UCC website, it states, “Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries seeks transformative justice for our faith communities and congregations by just action and love for all. ~ We believe in the justice-oriented ministry of Jesus and act with those facing systemic oppression at the intersection of gender & sexuality to offer care, sex positive education & curriculum, gender & bodily autonomy education & programming, policy & advocacy and partnership and outreach opportunities.”

For those seeking greater knowledge and depth in addressing this important justice issue, PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. offers a course where participants from across the country have a place to gather in online conversations. Go to PATHWAYSTheological.org to register or to find out more about the course, Theology of Gender and Sexuality. There is still time to register for this course as well as UCC Polity and History, and several other courses which begin in early January 2024.

12A

The Clergy Support Ministry Group of the Conference has made some significant changes to the 2024 Clergy Compensation Guidelines, including streamlining and shortening them for ease of use. We want to highlight some of these changes for you.

The most significant change is a revision to the housing allowance portion of the compensation package. Due to the continued rising costs of housing in New Hampshire, the minimum housing allowance is now 40% of base salary. However, we recommend, if possible, calculating the housing allowance based on fair rental value of housing in the county the church is located in. These figures and further information can be found in the Guidelines and Appendix. Link here

Other changes include a COLA for the base salary, an increase in the amount of compensation for pulpit supply ($250 + mileage), and a new section for very part-time churches called Sunday Plus. In addition, the paid holidays have been changed to include all major federal holidays.

We hope these new guidelines will be helpful for churches and clergy of the Conference.

11D

Changes are in the works in the New Hampshire Conference’s anti-racism efforts, coordinated by the Anti-Racism Ministries group (ARMg), part of the Justice and Witness Ministry. The ARMg’s mission, as expressed on their website (link here), is simple: Expressing God’s love through anti-racism work. This work involves both educating the ARMg members about anti-racism, encouraging churches and individuals throughout the Conference to engage in this work, and providing resources to support this work across the Conference.

My purpose in this article is to inform Weekly News readers about recent actions taken by the New Hampshire Conference Board of Directors, in consultation with the ARMg, that relate to some of the resources the ARMg is providing. Full disclosure: I am an active member of the ARMg and was President of the Board at the time these actions were taken. First, a little background.



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11D

"Our two churches have long sought a just resolution to the conflict in Israel/Palestine. The current escalation only reaffirms the necessity of a lasting, durable, and just peace that affirms the rights, dignity, freedom, and equality of all the people there – Israeli and Palestinian; Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Druze – so that all may enjoy life in all its abundance."

Read more...

Get more global ministry news here

11C

The New Thing Task Force Workshops

The New Thing Task Force is scheduling workshops at your congregation for 2024. Let us know if you’d like to host one of these: 

1. Spontaneity: Lessons from Jazz Improv 

2. New Forms of Church: Lessons from Quilting

3. Build the Spirit: Lessons from Theatre Improv 

We’ll help you work out how to fund this and how to involve other churches. Email ANewThingTaskForce@gmail.com

Annual Meeting Speak Out Video

11D

During the off-season of camp this year I made it my goal to visit as many of our New Hampshire UCC churches as possible for a Horton Center-themed Sunday worship service. This gives me an opportunity to connect with local pastors and congregations to spread the news about the amazing things happening at our summer camp. I love to share how the people in the pews can come be a part of the next life-changing summer on the mountain. On November 5th I had the pleasure of being with the Community Church of Dartmouth College for a Climate Justice themed service and on November 12th The First Church in Jaffrey invited me to co-lead a service with camp songs and camp messages of love and hope. January and February are nearly fully scheduled out but there are still openings in March through May to bring the magic of Outdoor Ministries to your church. Please reach out to me so we can schedule a Horton Center Sunday at your church for spring 2024!

Tivvi Pare - Horton Center Executive Director

11C