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This newsletter is sent to Churches, Priests and Deacons, Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Delegates and Alternates, Formation Leaders, Wardens, Treasurers, Vestry Members, Safe Church Ministers, Parish Administrators, Trustees, Seasonal Chapel Leadership, and Diocesan Staff

Wardens & Treasurers Meeting this Evening

This evening at 7 p.m., CFO Benge Ambrogi and Director of Finance Lauren Tennett will host their June Wardens and Treasurer's chat. This month they will be talking about Stewardship. These meetings are open to all interested lay leaders!

The word stewardship gets used a lot in a church setting but what does it actually mean from a leadership perspective? They will discuss healthy practices and share ideas and resources for revitalizing our celebration of stewardship, not just during annual pledge drives, but year-round. They would like to make this an interactive discussion so please consider sharing some examples or resources that you have found especially helpful in your congregations.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. on this Zoom link:

2023 Juneteenth NH Celebrations & Worship Resources

The Episcopal Church of New Hampshire is sponsoring the Juneteenth Celebrations with the Black Heritage Trail NH next month. For a full listing of gatherings, celebrations, lectures, and events click here.

Juneteenth is officially June 19th, so if your parish is looking for a liturgical resource for worship and prayers for the day, check out the Episcopal Diocese of California's Juneteenth Liturgy by clicking here.  

Nominating Committee Presents Profile for 28th Presiding Bishop, Calls for Names

The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop issued a letter to the church announcing the availability of the “Profile for the Election of the 28th Presiding Bishop” and inviting Episcopalians to submit the names of bishops for the committee to consider as nominees. The deadline is July 15.

Pray For Our EYE Delegation

Youth and adults from the New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont dioceses will attend the Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) in College Park, MD, from July 4th-July 8th this year. EYE is the second-largest gathering of Episcopalians worldwide, second only to General Convention.

It's a unique gathering created by youth, for youth, to promote growth and learning, leadership development, exploring spiritual practices, and beginning stages of vocational discernment. It's a high-energy event that calls young people from around the globe to take charge of their faith lives and to live into fellowship and leadership in the Church.

The New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont EYE delegation is spending the next month preparing for the EYE experience and they covet your prayers. Pray for the safety and well-being of the delegation, that they will each feel the real, true presence of God in their midst as they prepare for their travels!

Email Maine's Director of Faith Formation Emily Keniston for more information, and read more about EYE and what our delegation will be doing while there, at their website. 

No The Call Next Week

There will be The Call newsletter next week as the communications staff will be out of the office. You will receive your next The Call newsletter on Wednesday, June 28.

Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center Family Camp

Friday, June 30 - Wednesday, July 5

Enjoy an extra long weekend of delicious meals, arts & crafts, swimming, boating, outside games, music, worship, and time to be together in new and expanding relationships with folks from all over New England. Come and join BCH for a time of rest, renewal, silliness, and an experience of Episcopal-centered, family-oriented fellowship. Families of all configurations are welcome.

Click here to register

Lectionary Bible Study for Lay Persons: Old Testament Patriarchs

Wednesdays starting mid-June

9 a.m.

Online

When the "season after Pentecost" begins on June 11, the Sunday lectionary offers an option to read through the wonderful Old Testament patriarch stories that begin in the book of Genesis with Abraham and go through the stories of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and finally with Moses in Exodus. 

The Rev. Celeste Hemingson is offering an online lectionary Bible study will follow that track for a greater understanding of these ancient heroes and how their stories shaped both Jewish and Christian understanding of ourselves as God's people. 

To join the online class, which meets on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m., please email Celeste Hemingson. Please feel free to share this with your church communities.

Save the Date & Early Registration: Earth Care Family Fun Day

Saturday, July 22

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Elm Brook Park, Hopkinton, NH

Families of New Hampshire churches, join us for a Family Fun Day at Elm Brook Park in Hopkinton this summer!

Linden Rayton of Living Water Nature Programs and members of the diocesan Earth Care Commission Outdoors group are hosting this event. There will be games, water fun, outdoor worship, and a bring-your-own picnic lunch. There is no cost for this event but registration is required.

All families are invited: parents, guardians, aunties and uncles, family friends, and all beloveds. We can't wait to see you there!

Click here to register.

Save the Date -> The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism: A Call to Action with The Rev. Dr. Carter Hayward

Tuesday, August 29

In-person in Concord, NH

Sponsored by the NH Council of Churches, the ECNH Reconciliation Commission, and the NH Conference of the UCC

In partnership with the NH Council of Churches, we are thrilled to announce our summer keynote event: The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism: A Call to Action. We are excited to welcome the Rev. Dr. Carter Hayward to New Hampshire on August 29th.

In a time of rising hate activity across our state, Rev. Dr. Heyward will speak about her book, The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism, and share action steps to take in our churches and communities.

There will be an opportunity to spend time together in both small and large groups, and to connect with other voices of faith from across the state who are also interested in doing this work. The day-long seminar will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a keynote address at 6:30 p.m. 

More details and registration coming soon.

Episcopal Church Women 2023 Annual Meeting

Saturday, June 17

9 a.m. - 12 noon

Online

Featuring keynote speaker Emily Keniston, Director of Faith Formation for the Episcopal Diocese of Maine: "It's all about Good News: Teaching it, Preaching it, Using it, Being the Church We Love for Love."

The meeting will also conduct business: reviewing annual minutes from last year, sharing highlights from reports, and discussing next year's elections which include President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

To register for the event, please email them with your name, diocese, best email, and best phone number. All are welcome!

Honor LGBTQIA+ forced migrants in June through Episcopal Migration Ministries’ Rainbow Initiative

Episcopal congregations seeking ways to observe Pride Month and World Refugee Day in June have a special opportunity to focus on LGBTQ+ and refugee communities through Episcopal Migration Ministries’ new Rainbow Initiative.

The Rainbow Initiative is Episcopal Migration Ministries’ response to General Convention 2022 Resolution D045 “On Supporting LGBTQIA+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers”, which directed the Episcopal Church to promote support for people who have fled their countries because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and/or sex characteristics. The Resolution also directs Episcopal Migration Ministries to focus attention on people subject to such persecution and to offer information on how they could be better supported.

Learn more here.

Special Message from The Absalom Jones Center

Dr. Catherine Meeks, the Executive Director of The Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing, shares a special message on how clergy and laity can share the mission of the Absalom Jones Center with others. Click here to read the message.

Protecting Houses of Worship

The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have released an updated worksheet for houses of worship, and faith communities. This is the latest in their ongoing series of resources geared toward protecting houses of worship. Additional resources are linked within.

Click here for the worksheet.

Updated Safe Church Information on Website

Please visit our recently updated Safe Church webpage! In response to questions and suggestions from Safe Church ministers, we've clarified what's expected of new and returning Safe Church participants, and have added new information about background checks. Take a look.

Communications Office Hours

Are you interested in a working session regarding technology, social media, or how to communicate your message?

These are all topics for discussion at CommsChat - aka Communications Office Hours. The discussion each week is guided by the questions of those who attend. This is a non-mandatory, come-if-you'd-like open discussion session with Director of Communications Katie Clark. All are welcome!

This week's CommsChat is on Thursday, June 15 at 11 a.m.

Click on the "Register Here" button below if you'd like to attend.

What’s New this Year: A Summary

Welcome gospel-oriented communities! 

Per Canon 3, Section 4.1 of the Constitution and Canons, these communities (Christ Church, Portsmouth; Episcopal Mission of Franklin; and SpiritBound – Digital Mission of NH) are eligible for one delegate and will be recognized with voice and vote by Convention. 

Delegates

• The Convention meeting link will be sent to all who are eligible for voice and/or voice and vote. You will not need to register for this. 
• No changes to delegates or alternates will be accepted after the October 2 deadline.

Nominations for Open Elected Positions

• This year a prospective candidate will include the names of three eligible supporters on the Personal Statement and Consent Form, after having received their support. This is in lieu of a separate nomination form required previously, which required wet signatures from each supporter. Find more information here. 
• Appointments to committees and commissions will take place after Convention and before January 1, 2024, the effective date for new appointments.     

Key Dates Leading up to the 221st Convention. 

July 15

• Preliminary drafts of resolutions due to the Resolutions Committee

July 29

• Final resolutions due to the Resolutions Committee

August 15

• All annual reports for the Pre-Convention Journal are due

September 1

• Convention details, including the following, will be posted to the Convention website and communicated to delegates and alternates:
• Registration information for Convention weekend events
• Business meeting agenda
• Convention procedures

September 16

• The Pre-Convention Journal will be available from the main Convention page

October 2

• Deadline for submitting a delegate change form. After this, only previously certified alternates may substitute for delegates. Congregations will not be able to replace or add new delegates after this date.

October 9

• NH Canon 1.131.3(c): Final list of delegates entitled to seats at Convention presented to the Bishop
• Ballots will be mailed to those with voice and vote

November 3

• 221st Annual Diocesan Convention! 
• 5-6 pm: Check-in for delegates and clergy.
• 6 pm: Meeting begins.

November 4, 10 a.m.

• Diocese-wide Convention worship at Trinity Church, Claremont. All are welcome!

Trinity Episcopal/Lutheran Church in Claremont, NH is seeking someone who loves interacting with people to apply for their open Parish Administrator position. This position requires a highly organized person with strong computer skills and knowledge of computer programs essential to the creation of worship bulletins and newsletters. This position is part-time (10 hrs per week). Interested candidates should email a letter of interest, and resume to the church, or send via mail to Trinity Church, PO Box 172, Claremont, NH, 03743.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church Dover is seeking a Church Administrator to provide administrative support and coordination for the ministry of the parish, serving as a direct assistant to the Rector. This person should have a commitment to church ministry, strong communication and organizational skills as well as computer skills. A commitment to healthy communication, and a willingness to work with others. Click here for the job description and how to apply.

Is your church hiring? Would you like us to share the job description in The Call (this email) and the diocesan web page? If so, let us know!

As a reminder, churches that are in the search process for a new clergyperson are listed on the diocesan website here.

JUNE

19 Juneteenth Celebrations

30 Family Camp at Barbara C. Harris Camp begins

JULY

2 Bishop's Visitation: St. Francis’ Chapel, Marlborough

4 Diocesan Office Closed for Independence Day

9 Bishop's Visitation: Chocorua Island Chapel, Squam Lake

15 Bishop's Visitation: Church of the Transfiguration, Bretton Woods

16 Bishop's Visitation: Church of the Epiphany, Lisbon

22 Earth Care Family Fun Day

23 Bishop's Visitation: St. Barnabas’ Church, Berlin

30 Bishop's Visitation: St. Stephen’s Church, Pittsfield

Please see the diocesan calendar on the website for more information. Please see individual church websites for visitation times, and email the Bishop's Executive Assistant Shelli Gay with questions about the visitation schedule.