Here it is--Volume 6, Issue 4 of our e-mail Newsletter!

FEATURED IN THIS NEWSLETTER

PASTORAL PONDERINGS--"That's Resurrection!"

Worship & Music Ministry News

• Our Sunday Faith Community Celebrations in March
• Spiritual Formation News for our Children, Youth, & Families
• Celebration of the Rev. Gregory Marshall as our Minister Emeritus!
• Music and Ministry Notes
• Holy Week Schedule
• Tenderly Held in our Hearts and Prayers
•  Into God’s Hands

Welcoming and Caring Ministry

• Invitation to Join our Church Caregiving Ministry Team
• Call for Hospitality Ministers

APRIL CALENDAR of EVENTS in the Life of our Spiritual Family

Holy Week

• Palm Sunday--One Great Hour of Sharing
• Passover Seder
• Maundy Thursday Service zoom
• Good Friday Trip to Weston Priory
• Easter Sunrise and Gala Celebration Services

Spiritual Formation for Adults

• Restoring the Kinship WorldView Study

Administration & Finance News

• Report of Projects done in 2022 and planned for 2023
• Report of the Assistant Treasurers
• COVID-19 Task Force Update

April Birthdays & Anniversaries

Poem of the Month--In Memory of Anne Tracy

Growing a Just World for All

LISTEN Community Dinner & Claremont Soup Kitchen

Economic Justice

"How Shall We Respond?" Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney, Worker Justice Minister

Support for the PRO Act

Social Justice

"Steppin Up to End Violence" Walk on Saturday--April 29th

Immigrant Justice—Monthly Vigils at the ICE Building

Climate Justice

"Current Revolution" Film on Friday--April 21st

Earth Day Event on Saturday--April 22nd

Community Power Programs

Antiracism Ministry

Recording of Mark Charles Presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvLlRurXtk

Continuing Black Lives Matter Vigils

  Invitation to join Windsor County NAACP

Legislator Contact Information

Revs. John & Susan Gregory-Davis,

Co-Pastors

Meriden Congregational Church

603-469-3235

john@meridenucc.org

susan@meridenucc.org

secretary@meridenucc.org 

www.meridenucc.org

“Transforming Lives as a Compassionate Community:

Growing Spiritually as an Antiracist Church”

Stewardship Campaign

    Dear Friends, 

Many, many thanks to everyone for your continued commitment to our beloved Church as we pledge our financial support for 2023! Thus far we have raised an unprecedented 98% of our goal! What a feat and testament to the love we share for the Meriden Congregational Church. THANK YOU. Every gift is a blessing. 

Sincerely, Jill Marshall, Vice Chair for the Leadership Team

Celebration of the Rev. Gregory Wayne Marshall

As our church’s Minister Emeritus

at our 242^nd Annual Meeting on

January 29^th, 2023

WELCOMING and CARING MINISTRY

   In April there will be Palm Sunday and a pre-Passover Seder on April 2nd,, and the Easter Celebrations on April 9th.. The Sunrise Service will be on the hill above the church and will be followed by Easter Breakfast at 6:30am. The outside Sunrise Service is complemented by bird song and fresh communion bread. The Easter Breakfast is a time for fellowship and lots of coffee and good food for those hardy souls getting up so early.

   Thanks to Diane Walker, Jill Marshall, Kathy Wright, Christine Heins and Laine Gillespie and Bill Chappelle for doing Coffee Hours in March. We will need more volunteers in April. Some people who attend the church service on zoom even come over to in-person Coffee Hour for the refreshments and fellowship. You are invited!

   For our services in the Church we need ushers. Thanks to Ryan McGraw and Beau, Jerry Judd and Suzanne Richardson Hammel and Kathy Wright for ushering in March. I may be contacting you to help. Please say yes. It takes many people to build the community and to make our fellowship strong. If you would like to help with any of this please contact Kathy Wright at (603) 469-3235 or at home at (603) 675-5989.

HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US IN APRIL!

Kathy Wright, Coordinator of the Welcoming and Caring Ministry

Do you find a deep sense of 

joy and gratification

in reaching out and helping others? 

If so, Please join our

Church Caregivers Team!

Even if you have only a few minutes a month to write a short "thinking of you" or "get well" card, your loving care will be so appreciated by members of our church community. If you would rather make occasional phone calls or in-person home visits, there is a place for you on the Caregivers Team, too!!! Everyone is welcome to offer gifts of care with no effort ever too small! Our Team meets quarterly with the loving guidance of our Chair, Kathy Wright. If you are interested in joining or talking further, please contact Kathy at secretary@meridenucc.org or Susan (susan@meridenucc.org). We warmly welcome you to join in the very meaningful ministry of this small group with a BIG HEART! 

Music and Ministry

April 2023

Happy Easter!

There will be two opportunities to hear our choir this month. The first will be on Palm Sunday, April 2nd and the second will be on Easter itself April 9th. Many thanks are due to Doc Winslow who has been playing the piano for us and directing the choir.

There will also be a pre-Passover Pot Luck Seder at church on Palm Sunday. Learn about the traditions of our Jewish sisters and brothers.

As the sun takes its Northern Journey, we are blessed with more light and hope for the future of gardens and flowers.

So now, let’s all take a long deep breath and set our sights on the waning Winter and the realization of Spring.



Cindy Marx-Wood

for Music and Ministry

  Into God's Hands

As gradually warming weather leads us to yearn for the new life of spring, so too have our hearts ached with the loss of dearly beloved friends and relatives of our faith community.

In recognition of how much a part of our lives our beloved pets become, we grieve with Jill Marshall & Sean Teehan the loss of their dear canine companion, Clover, on Wednesday—March 8^th, 2023.

So too are our prayers are with the members of Kathy Wright’s Buddhist meditation group upon losing their beloved spiritual leader, Lama Tenzin Yongdu, on Friday—March 17^th, 2023

And our hearts go out to Laura & Ed Cousineau’s friend, Carlisle and his family, as they all grieve the death of his wife and their dear friend, Lee Willard, on Tuesday—March 28^th, 2023.

As each of these dearly departed ones have returned to the source of Love from which all life comes, may their families and loved ones be comforted with Love’s healing embrace in the midst of this time of mourning.

One  Great  Hour  of  Sharing is the refugee, relief and development offering of the United Church of Christ, transforming lives through health, education, agricultural, and emergency relief initiatives in 138 countries. Every year at this time, members and friends of our congregation open our hearts to reach out with love, faith, and compassion to people all throughout our world with our gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing  (OGHS). Our contributions to this effort will take place this year on Palm Sunday—April 2nd,  when we will join Christians from nine other denominations in uniting to generate funds for healing work across the globe. 

This year’s offering theme is “It’s Time to Share!” When we participate in the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, we are able to be present for the long term in disaster recovery, as together we build “a just world for all!”  Our gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing support water and other sustainable development all throughout our world.  

In our interconnected world, what is good for our neighbor is good for us, and what harms anyone harms everyone.  Each time a gift is given, a connection is made. Every single offering builds another bridge and tears down another wall. Each donation to One Great Hour of Sharing, no matter how large or small, embodies our commitment to “transforming lives as a compassionate community.”  Through this ecumenical effort, we connect visibly, effectively, efficiently, and powerfully as God’s Beloved Community. Let us therefore give generously, so that our Love our sharing may help build the Kin-dom of God here on earth!  Make a secure online gift today at: https://support.ucc.org/donate-nowgenerously to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. 

As our Lenten Journey concludes with the beginning of Holy Week, with this being one of those years when the Feasts of Passover and Easter coincide, we are invited to share together for the first time in 4 years in our Pre-Passover/Pesach Seder Meal, scheduled this year for Palm Sunday—April 2nd,  a few days before Passover actually begins this year,  at 4:00 PM in the large room of our Parish House! Rich in symbolism and meaning, this celebration which is so integral to the lives of our Jewish friends, is also believed to be the last meal Jesus shared with his followers in the Upper Room, thereby making it a primary source for our own Sacrament of Holy Communion.  With prayers, songs, questions, candles, blessings, and special foods, this re-telling of the ancient story of God's faithfulness and love in liberating God's people from bondage and oppression is a wondrous event to be experienced by people of all ages.   

A Feast of Love—April 6th, 2023

Please join us on zoom at 7:00 PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89809682070?pwd=bWJ0R01BS1VwVTIwaGh1RnVDdWtLdz09

Although we have begun gathering in person, we’re still not quite ready to return to what had been our Maundy Thursday tradition for many years.  Rather, we plan to reprise a somewhat modified version this Maundy Thursday—April 6th,  beginning at 7:00 PM, of the  simple Agape (Love) Feast we have enjoyed these past 3 years.

As was true back  when Rabbi Jesus shared a Passover Celebration with his friends and followers, the Jewish festival of Passover begins this year on what  Christians call Maundy Thursday.  So in addition to our Pre-Passover/Pesach Seder on Palm Sunday afternoon,  we hope many will join us for our virtual remembrance of that Last Supper which was all about the Love living through the stories of our lives within God’s heart.   

By way of helping all of us prepare to share this sacred time together, we suggest if possible ahead of time having ready a basin and pitcher of warm water, soap, and towel (for ritual hand-washing), along with perhaps a Bible, cross, icon, or anything representing sacred presence for you, one or more candles to light, pictures of those not able to be present with you, and some sort of bread and beverage.  

We will send out the connection information, as well as a bulletin for the service that Thursday evening, by way of ensuring that we all may be as fully present as possible.    

Easter Sunrise Service—5:45 AM

Come join us as we greet Easter’s joyful dawn! We’ll meet at the church to assess where best to hold our outdoor service, depending upon the weather that morning.

Easter Morning Breakfast—6:30 AM

“Come and Have Breakfast” says the risen Jesus when he encounters the discouraged disciples on the seashore shortly after that First Easter. And likewise are we invited to share together a simple first meal on this Easter morn in our Parish House, to whatever degree we may feel comfortable doing so.  

Hybrid EASTER Celebration –10:00 AM

A glorious celebration of Resurrection Joy featuring songs and prayers, the Easter Story of God's never-ending Love for every one of us, beautiful flowers, our Heavenly Easter Choir, spine-tingling singing of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus," and the blessing offered by the presence and loving response of each one of us.  

By way of ensuring the health and safety of us all, we ask those who join us to be vaccinated, to wear the N95 masks that will be distributed at the door, and to honor the seat spacing we have designated.  And anyone preferring to celebrate Easter from their own homes is welcome join us on zoom at the link on the first page of this Newsletter, which will be shared again on Easter morning.

Faith Odyssey for Adults!!

“Restoring the Kinship Worldview:

“Indigenous Voice Introduce 28 Precepts

 for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth”

• Wahinkpe Topa (Four Arrows) & Darcia Narvaez

Continuing on Thursday—April 13th & 27th, 2023

at 1:30 PM at the home of Selden & Jan Lord

27 Serenity Drive, Cornish, NH

And on zoom here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84792111522

          Contending that Indigenous worldviews, and the knowledge they confer, are critical for human survival and the wellbeing of future generations, Editors Wahinkpe Topa (Four Arrows) and Darcia Narvaez emphasize our deep need to move away from the dominant Western paradigm--one that dictates we live without strong social purpose, fails to honor the earth as sacred, leads with the head while ignoring the heart, and places individual “rights” over collective responsibility. Restoring the Kinship Worldview invites readers into a world-sense that expands beyond perceiving and conceiving to experiencing and being, rooted in an Indigenous vision and strong social purpose that sees all life forms as sacred and sentient--that honors the wisdom of the heart, and grants equal standing to rights and responsibilities.

Report from Buildings and Grounds of MCC Administration

The following news was taken from the Annual Report of Administration and Finance

Projects Completed and Planned

A) 2022 was a year for John and Susan to have their sabbatical. As a result of

them not being at the parsonage for the summer, it triggered a discussion

around security. We determined it made sense to install wireless security

cameras the end of June.

B) Dane Gautreau was hired to do a few painting projects over the summer. All

the church windows and window trim were newly painted that were

accessible with a standard ladder. The cathedral style windows on the front

are left to be done this summer 2023. Dan also painted the exterior of the

doors and the two entrance roof trims and some of the ceilings before the

cold weather arrived.

C) We were hoping to get the slate roof repairs started. The slate roof

contractor Leon Shabbott was working locally in Enfield at the Shaker

Museum and was hoping to take advantage of having his hydraulic man lift in

the area and do a beginning portion of the repairs that will need to be done

in the next year or two. In the end, we were not able to get enough days

available for him to do that early portion of the proposed repair. We are on

his list for early spring. We expect the total repair to be around $ 20,000 this

year.

D) The concrete entrance steps to the Parrish House were able to be temporarily

repaired to get us through the winter. We have agreed to hire Paul Sousa

(mason) from Cornish to do the permanent repair – rebuilding in April 2023.

E) A privacy door was installed in late summer at the top of the stairs going

from level 1 to level 2 of the Parrish House as requested by John and Susan.

A pane of glass needs to be installed and the new walls and trims still need to

be painted. That work is scheduled to be done in February

Shawn Rogers

Co-Chair of Administration and Finance

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT TREASURERS

Considering what we have received in this month as of March 29th we have received $17,060 in Pledge payments. We have also received $306 in Plate payments. The total this month is $17,366. We also received $50 in Memorial donations for Anne Tracy.

So far this year our total of pledge payments is $52,945. Our total of plate payments is $1,197. So our Grand Total of payments thus far is $55,339. Often people pay all their pledge at the beginning of the year which accounts for this total.

 Some other funds which may have been contributed through stocks may not be noted here.

Kathy Wright

Cindy Marx-Wood

COVID Statistics Quiz for Spring 2023

How many new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the US last week?

[Answer: 133,521 new cases, with about 511 of them here in NH]

How many US residents died from Covid-19 last week?

[Answer: 2,060 deaths]

How many folks are hospitalized today with Covid-19 in the US?

[Answer: 2,445 folks—that’s around 14,956 hospital days each week.]

US Totals for the entire Pandemic – 103,957,053 cases/1,123,613 deaths

NH totals for the entire Pandemic – 379,971 cases/3,017 deaths

Sources -- CDC.gov accessed 27 March 2023 and

Covid-19.NH.gov accessed 28 March 2023

It’s still out there! It’s still here! Without thoughtful prudence and careful precautions YOU could still add yourself and others to these statistics.

If you fell unwell—just stay home.

Stay “boosted” and “current” as best you can.

Consider a mask when you’re in a crowd.

Wash your hands frequently.

Ed Cousineau

For the MCC Covid-19 Task Force

APRIL

BIRTHDAY

4/1        Beckett Eastman

4/2        Marcia Copperswaite

4/2         John Yacavone

4/2         Cindy LaFlam

4/2         Taylor Williams

4/6         Jed Wilbur

4/6         Zoey Houde-Crane

4/7         Natalie Ruppertsberger

4/7         Reed Brozen

4/7        Virginia Sraeel

4/11       Graham Brooks

4/12       Bryden Nugent

4/13       Noah Herfort

4/13       Rodney Wendt

4/13       Warren Calderone

4/15       Bobby Annis

4/15       Johanna Schafer

4/16       Harold Clark

4/17       David Carver

4/17      Yesenia Araya

4/17       Bob Bucklin

4/18       Betty Pardoe

4/19      Alexandra Parsons

4/20       Mike Schafer

4/20       David Sneiderman

4/20      Michelle Sneiderman

4/21       Elaine Lenz

4/21      Caitlyn Howell

4/21      Heleno Ramiro Costa

4/22     Andile Muhlauri

4/22       Betsy Beck

4/22      Carter Williams

4/23       Austin James Currier

4/24       Lisa Elder

4/24       Macsen Elkouh

4/24      Hunter Townsend

4/25       Jasmine Hardy

4/25       Jan Timmons

4/25       Lindsay Anikis

4/25       Becky Luce

4/26       Christina Robinson

4/26       Susan Yacavone

4/27       Deborah Chapman

4/27       Kaylee Rogers

4/28       Ursula Herfort

4/29      Karyn Swett

4/30       Alyssa Reetz

4/30       Svia Araya Russman

April Anniversaries

4/8     Shawn and Robert Phelps

4/15   Andrea and Brandon Feid

4/20   David and Michelle Sneiderman

4/20   Bob and Carla Bucklin

4/21   Carol and Mike Hartman

4/25   Susan and John Yacavone

MCC Poetry Page

“The Fate of the Poet is to fall in Love with Life”

Matthew Fox

While cleaning out the home of our beloved Anne Tracy, Donna Beaupre found this poem written out in Anne’s own hand, which we now share both in memory of and thanksgiving for the wonderful life Anne lived among us, and the ways in which her spirit lives within us still:

“Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped into the next room.

I am I and you are you

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by my old familiar name,

Speak to me in the easy way which you always used

Put no difference in your tone,

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow

Laugh as we always laughed 

at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,

Let it be spoken without effect,

 without the trace of shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,

Just around the corner.

All is well. ”

― Henry Scott Holland

All poets among us, of all ages and abilities, are likewise invited to share your poems with us so that we may in turn publish one each month as a way of helping all of us to fall ever more deeply in love with life in all its wonder, pathos, and beauty!

Outreach News

Outreach, Peace, and Justice Ministry Teams

News for April 2023 

The way to heal the soul of the nation is to pass policies that heal the body of the nation. It’s the just thing to do. That’s how we as a nation can move forward together. ~Rev. Dr. William J. Barber Break the silence!

OUTREACH

Listen Community Dinners Meriden Congregational Church has offered the commitment to prepare and serve dinners the FIRST Thursdays of the odd-numbered months. The next dates are: May 4, July 6, Sept 7, Nov 2. If you know of anyone, including the broader community, who would be interested, please text, phone or email Shideko Terai. 603-252-7898 The director, Larry Lowndes has discontinued the use of the volunteer hub; therefore, Shideko will send out a notice a week beforehand to seek volunteers. Many thanks to Ed Cousineau, Anne Cragin, Martha Zoerheide, and Linda Leone for volunteering in March. 

Claremont Soup Kitchen Bill Chapelle continues to lead volunteer participation at the Claremont Soup Kitchen on the fourth Saturday of every month and this slot covers the hours 2-5:30 PM. No cooking experience necessary. May 27 is the next opportunity. “We always have a lot of fun. Your Saturday night begins with a good feeling that you have given nice people a delicious meal.” ~Bill Chapelle

"Steppin Up to End Violence" Walk on Saturday--April 29th. Along with the CROP Walk in the fall, this is the other all-church walk we sponsor each year. See below for more details, and please plan to walk and/or contribute to "show you care."

JUSTICE

Economic Justice 

Please read Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney’s article below.

Social Justice 

Legislative advocacy continue for bills that protect the freedom to vote and oppose bills that pick apart voting procedures which have proven records that there is no voter fraud in NH; oppose bills that threaten women’s reproductive rights, threaten trans rights, threaten the unhoused, and tear apart laws that protect the environment and seek climate justice. Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney publishes actions to be taken. Also check AFSC, Kent Street Coalition, and League of Women Voters NH. 



"There are millions of poor people in this country who have very little, or even nothing, to lose. If they can be helped to take action together, they...will be a new and unsettling force..." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Immigrant Justice

The first Tuesday of each month NH Immigrant Solidarity Network (NH ISN) meets. MCC s a member of NHISN. Organizations include GSOP, AFSC, and clergy. It is interfaith and non-partisan. Please contact John if you would like to get involved.  

Climate Justice

Lee Oxenham has been alerting you about informative events and presentations connecting us to how we can become more engaged in climate justice. See above for "Current Revolution" Film notice, and below for "Earth Day Stories of Hope" and "Community Power Programs" information. And stay tuned for word about our annual Church Cean-up Day! Please contact Lee to find out the latest ways to be involved.

Racial Justice /Antiracism

    A few years ago our church formed a Racial Justice Ministry Team that has been guiding us in learning about the ways in which systemic racism and white supremacy undergird so much of our history and identity. Now, in keeping with the call of our denomination, the United Church of Christ, to become an antiracist church, our Racial Justice ministry team has evolved our name to become the Antiracism Ministry Team. 

For a recording of the provocative and informative presentation by Navajo activist and scholar, Mark Charles, go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvLlRurXtk

    Our weekly BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigils continue on Wednesday afternoons, from 4:30 to 5:00 PM,  and all are welcome to join us anytime.

In solidarity and hope, 

Shideko Terai (she/her), Outreach, Peace & Justice Coordinator

text or phone 603-252-7898, email shideko.terai@gmail.com

Justice Matters – So How Shall Each One of Us Respond?

by Worker Justice Minister Gail Kinney

Several NH Challenges for our faith, grounded as it is in love:

• An annual report from the Anti-Defamation League shows white supremacist propaganda [including antisemitic activity] soared to an all-time high nationally and across New England last year, with New Hampshire seeing a 383% year-over-year increase.

• On April 18 at 10:00 a.m. in Representatives Hall, the NH House Education Committee is hearing a very harmful NH Senate-passed bill (SB 272), cloaked in the disingenuous guise of “parental rights.” SB 272 enumerates numerous established parental rights (most of which would be deemed sensible) and cites them by existing State statute -- thus revealing that the bulk of the bill is completely unnecessary. BUT the bill then adds the "parental right" to demand that educators “out” a student’s gender questioning or gender identity, even if that forced “outing” may put that individual at extreme risk. This type of language is being promoted nationally by cruel right-wing forces (both religious and secular) who have determined that vilifying and even terrorizing transgender young people is a potent political mobilization tool -- the safety of young lives be damned.

• And on to worker rights: The New Hampshire Public Radio “content creators” (writers, editors, hosts, podcasters, etc.) who are the heart and soul of NHPR formed a union during the summer of 2021. But they’ve run into an unconscionable buzzsaw in terms of negotiating their first contract, particularly from NHPR’s contracted attorney/negotiator who proudly advertises his union antipathy. After communications with the station management and Board members imploring them to respect their content creators and treat them fairly, our NH Faith & Labor alliance sent a delegation to the NHPR March Board meeting, accompanied with a written pleading for quick contract resolution from the head of the NH Council of Churches. Here’s part of what I said to the Board in person:



We fully understand the desire of NHPR management to seek legal advice regarding union contract negotiations. This process is new to you, so it’s a logical step. But you – and everyone who supports NHPR – might not be well served by a negotiating attorney who brags on his website about his almost 100% success record of providing employers with, in his words, “union avoidance” and, again in his words, "persuader activities to convince employees that they are best off remaining union free." Frankly, we don’t think that purchasing this kind of service is a good use of donor dollars, and we don’t think it is in NHPR’s best interests. NHPR staff have already unionized. You don’t need expertise in obstructing and denigrating your content creators or persuading them to abandon their union. You need expertise in working collaboratively through what may feel like challenging issues. You need negotiations skills that will get you to a contract agreement SOON in a way that still leaves NHPR feeling like a TEAM with a shared vision and purpose. …Please make [contract resolution] a Board priority. …We implore you to take control in order to respectfully and collaboratively get to a contract settlement quickly so that we can ALL continue to cherish what is so valuable about NHPR.

As NHPR listeners and donors are learning about the staffers’ situation, we understand that some are choosing to let NHPR know directly that the wonderful and talented NHPR staff deserve to be valued and to secure the collectively-bargained contract they seek. 

On all of these issues, it matters that we speak out with moral clarity in solidarity with those who are being harmed!

This online event will take place on Saturday--April 22nd at 11:00 AM. The theme is “What’s Possible?: Earth Day Stories of Hope.” This two and a half hour summit will feature a keynote from the Rev. Jim Antal, a panel of inspiring speakers, the presentation of the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award, and a video showcasing the uplifting story of Mayflower UCC in Minneapolis. Even if you cannot make the event at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now! 

https://ucc.zoom.us/webinar/register/2016629471927/WN_cynbWmViR8ui7WLu_zgkDQ#/registration

Plainfield Community Power is Coming to Plainfield at the end of April!

Plainfield is one of four towns in the Upper Valley and one of ten towns in New

Hampshire that will be launching Community Power at the end of April.



What is Community Power?

Community Power, authorized under NH RSA 53-E, democratizes energy governance by empowering towns, cities and counties to choose where their electricity comes from on behalf of their residents and businesses, work with utilities on local energy infrastructure upgrades, and provide electricity supply rates and services to all customers participating in the program.

Community Power programs serve as the default electricity supplier within the municipality and are self-funded through the revenues received by participating customers.

Local electric distribution utilities continue to own and operate the "poles and wires", and deliver electricity to all customers in the municipality.

Community Power programs may also offer innovative services and rates for customers on an "opt-in" or "opt-up" basis, such as 100% renewable premium products, time-varying-rates and Net Energy Metering generation credits for customers with solar photovoltaics. Unfortunately, this will not be possible at the launch of Community Power as the utilities still need to upgrade their systems to support these services as required by the PUC rules governing Community Power.

Expanding Customer Choice

Prior to launch of a Community Power program, all eligible customers are mailed notifications and provided the opportunity to opt-out or opt-in to the program, depending on whether they currently take service from a Competitive Electric Power Supplier or are on default service provided by local electric distribution utilities:

• Customers currently on utility-provided default service will be notified, providing the opportunity to decline participation, and transferred to Community Power if they do not "opt-out". These customer notifications will include the initial fixed rate for the program’s default service compared with the utility default service rate, be mailed to customers at least 30 days in advance of program launch, and provide instructions for customers to decline participation (for example, by return postcard, calling a phone number or using a web portal). 
• Customers who previously chose to take service from a Competitive Electric Power Supplier will be notified and may request to "opt-in" to the program. Before choosing to opt-in these customers must ensure that their contract term with the Competitive Electric Power Supplier has ended.

Any new customers that move into the municipality in future will be automatically eligible to receive default service from the Community Power program and will be sent a notification in the mail.

All customers supplied with electricity from Community Power programs are free to switch back to the utility-provided default service, or to take service from a Competitive Electric Power Supplier, by opting-out of the program and switching suppliers in advance of their next billing cycle.



The Power of Joint Action

By joining together, Members of the Coalition create economies of scale and innovation in procuring services and managing power procurement risks, gain administrative efficiencies in terms of expert staff oversight, and strengthen their voice at the Legislature and Public Utilities Commission — all while maintaining local control and community values.

The Coalition has already proven able to coordinate municipalities to speak with one voice — and be heard — at the Legislature, with the “Early Legislative Victory” on HB 315 to protect and expand Community Power authorities.

In terms of achieving an economy-of-scale, the customer base of the Coalition’s founding members is forecasted to be approximately equivalent to Liberty Utilities (in terms of default service accounts and electricity procurement). Given the high degree of awareness and interest expressed by other municipalities in joining the Coalition to-date, the agency may expand to procure more electricity than Unitil does within the 2022-2023 timeframe.

Mailer and Community Power Public Information Meeting

Watch for the mailer notifying you of the start of Plainfield Community Power. 

There will be a Community Power public information meeting

at Singing Hills on Tuesday--March 28th at 7:00 pm.

Come to hear more and have your questions answered.

Evan Oxenham

America has a history of banning Black studies. We can learn from that past (Derecka Purnell, The Guardian) - “This history is important because it helps us realize that today’s book banning efforts belong to a broader political backlash to the current Black liberation movement that started with the murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012. The ideas and demands that Black people, and all people, deserve freedom from police violence, deserve quality housing, deserve universal healthcare, deserve a world that has different problems from what Dr. King identified as the triple evils of racism, capitalism and militarism. It is no accident that these ideas are found in the very same books that prisons ban, including mine. Prison officials, politicians and rightwing pundits target knowledge found in critical race theory because they know that theory leads to action for people who care about love, liberty and justice. They want to stop people from being inspired to fight for better lives.”

Steve Beaupre' faithfully rings our church bell

each Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 PM as a clarion call to

our Community BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigil

Thank you, Steve!!

 We are continuing our Showing Up for Racial Justice BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigils each Wednesday afternoon, now happening from 4:30 to 5:00 PM (note later time due to longer days) on the SouthWest corner of the intersection of Rte 120 & Main Street (at the blinking traffic light). We have “BLACK LIVES MATTER” signs available for folk to hold, but please feel free to make and/or bring your own signs.

  Come join us in “showing up for racial justice,” and Standing for  LOVE, and AGAINST racism, white supremacy, hatred, and violence, here in our community and beyond!  Together, let us publicly declare that we will NOT be complicit in white terror, and let us call our friends and neighbors to rise up with us in our resolute affirmation of the inherent and sacred value of us all within Beloved Community. 

Invitation to join the 

Windsor County NAACP

          A group of residents in Windsor County are working to form a Windsor County NAACP Branch. For certification as an NAACP Branch we need to enroll 100 new NAACP members on our Membership forms. Members may be from any geographical location. All members 18 and older will be voting members of the Branch with only Windsor County residents eligible for elected leadership positions (as defined in Constitution). 

        The NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, established in 1909 is our oldest and largest civil rights organization. It was started in New York by white and black activists partially in response to violence against African Americans, particularly lynching. Today it has over 2000 Branches and half a million members worldwide.

           According to the NAACP Constitution it was founded on the beliefs embodied in the Constitution of the United States of America.... (its) vision and mission (are) to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination and to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

       To become a member contact Rayann802@gmail.com; for more information contact miriamcwood@gmail.com.

STATE

Rep. Margaret Drye

1136 Rt. 12A

Plainfield, NH 03781

Phone: 603-675-9159

Email: margaret.dry@leg.state.nh.us

Rep. Bill Palmer

603-675-2117

Email wpalmernh@gmail.com

Sen. Suzanne Prentiss

Legislative Office Building, Room 102

33 State Street

Concord, NH 03301

Phone: 603-271-3092

Email: Suzanne.Prentiss@leg.state.nh.us