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Bishop Rob and a robust group of Episcopalians and friends enjoyed a game of all-age beach cricket at Rye Beach in late July. 

Encourage Youth Engagement in Convention

Each congregation and gospel-oriented community is entitled to certify one youth delegate, with voice and vote, by October 2, per Canon 1, section 1.3(b) of the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of New Hampshire. A youth delegate must be younger than 26 years of age.

The youth delegate is in addition to the eligible number of delegates per parish, based on the number of active members, as reported in the 2022 parochial report.

Being a youth delegate is a wonderful way for a young person in your church to learn about their voice and how parishes and the diocese work together!

Churches should use this form by the October 2 deadline to add youth delegates for diocesan convention.

Kids are Making Their Mark at Hopkinton Arts Camp

Pam Mueller, past chair of the Serve Team at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Hopkinton shares this update:

"For a hot July week every summer over the past eleven years, a dedicated group of parishioners has opened the doors of St. Andrew’s to Making Your Mark Arts Camp.

Meeting an acknowledged community need, Making Your Mark (MYM) offers five full days of wide-ranging creative activities free of charge to up to 24 children from the Hopkinton area, many of whose families cannot afford the summer enrichment activities their peers often take for granted.

We all know of children who, for a variety of reasons, spend much of their summer with little to do, often resulting in “summer slide,” the tendency for students to lose some of the academic gains they have made during the previous school year. To combat this problem, which tends to imperil the school success of our target group of children, MYM offers its fourth- to sixth-grade campers five days of creativity, fellowship, and fun in a welcoming and noncompetitive environment where each child feels loved and valued.

Following a three-year cycle, the annual camp themes in rotation are: “I am Somebody,” “I See the World and the World Sees Me,” and “We are the Village.” Volunteer artists (including Bishop Rob!) align their workshops with the yearly themes. Projects run the creative gamut, from drumming and contra dance to journaling, collages, and, this summer, mural painting on the wall of a newly renovated local country store!

From the daily 7:30 a.m. breakfast to the 4 p.m. closing circle, parish, and community members support volunteer artists as they engage the students in a variety of stimulating and mind-expanding workshops. Our annual Friday afternoon art reception gives our proud campers the opportunity to share their artistic success with family and friends. But equally important, it gives a group of tired but fulfilled volunteers the chance to see a glimmer of God’s love in the smiling eyes of each and every camper/artist."

Bishop Rob teaches two sessions at MYM Arts Camp each year.

Take a Tote Ministry at Grace Church, East Concord

Grace Episcopal Church‘s “Take a Tote” outreach program was created in 2010 to address the issue of physical hunger at city schools. When Vestry leaders learned that many of the children who qualify for free or reduced lunch at school often do not receive another nutritional meal over the weekend until they return to school on Monday, they formed a committee to develop a list of food items that could be packed and delivered to a nearby school that would supplement a child’s weekend meals at home. 

During Take a Tote’s first three years of operation, they delivered to three different locations as Concord’s smaller elementary schools were being consolidated. With each move, they steadily increased the number of totes. From a beginning of seven totes filled with cereal, fruit cups, macaroni and cheese, pasta, tuna, crackers and snack bars, the Take a Tote program now provides weekend food for 60 children at the Millbrook School in Concord. Each bag of food costs $10 for a total of $600 per week.

The Take a Tote program offers a support system that is leading to a better quality of life for food-insecure children. Although many affluent families live in East Concord and the area called Concord Heights, over half the school population qualifies for the federal reduced-cost programs. The school has reported that these low-income and, in some cases, homeless families, feel a sense of relief knowing that they’ll all be able to share that box of cereal.

The main source of support for this program comes from parishioners who bring in food items each week for the worship offering basket. The Take a Tote team then shops for whatever else is needed to complete each bag. Cash donations from members, community friends, and grant resources as well as various fundraising events also help keep their shelves filled. 

This September, the Take a Tote Program is being supported by the Concord Food Co-op where shoppers can choose to round up their purchase total by mentioning this to the cashier at checkout. At the end of the month, the Take A Tote program will receive a check. 

More information about the Take a Tote program can be found here.

Enjoying Summer Days Playing Cricket on the Beach

The Rev. Jay MacLeod from St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in New London invited New Hampshire Episcopalians and friends for a robust game of beach cricket at Rye Beach in late July. Bishop Rob opened the batting, and a grand time was had by all! Below is Bishop Rob at bat, and you can see the group photo at the top of this newsletter.

Benevenia and Chisholm Featured by Iona Collaborative

Recently, in a newsletter from the Iona Collaborative, Dean Nandra Perry shared an update about two of our own from New Hampshire!

"Summer is here in earnest, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate [summer] than to honor the Iona Collaborative's representatives to EPF's Preaching Excellence Program (PEP)...Each year, member dioceses of the Iona Collaborative are eligible to nominate rising seniors to participate in this incredible experience. Student preachers have the opportunity to hone their skills with the support of experienced mentors from all over the Church. This year, the Iona Collaborative was represented by Nicole Benevenia (NH), Fred Chisholm (NH), Trish Toburen (Louisiana, Marble School), and Nancy Gill (OK). We are so proud of them!" 

Claremont featured as Pro-Cathedral and Convention Worship Site

Trinity Episcopal Church in Claremont was recently featured in the Eagle Times, sharing a bit of the history of the church as well as what they are doing currently.

Read more here.

Welcome Aaron!

The Episcopal Church of New Hampshire welcomes The Rev. Aaron B. Jenkyn, who recently joined St. John’s, Portsmouth, as Associate Rector.

Aaron is Vermont native and a University of Vermont graduate, with degrees in sociology and community development. She completed her theological training as part of the inaugural class of the School for Ministry in 2023. Upon graduating she was ordained into the transitional diaconate, and God willing, and people consenting, will be ordained a priest this December.

Aaron most recently served as Lay Vicar at Epiphany Church in Newport and Missioner for Community and Families at St. Andrew's Church in New London. Prior to her work in community ministry, she worked in behavioral health research with the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Geisel School of Medicine.

Aaron’s professional interests have brought her into the heart edge of the church, working with those at the margins and empowering congregations to address social need. She is passionate about intergenerational ministry, outdoor worship, and integrating art and nature into faith formation programs.

Aaron lives in Portsmouth with her husband Marcus and their sons Patrick and Teddy. They are enjoying getting to know the seacoast one wild place at a time.

Welcome, Aaron!

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

There is no cost, but registration is required. Space is limited, so don’t delay.

Mark your calendars for an enlightening and thought-provoking event on August 29 as author and activist Carter Heyward takes center stage at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Concord, NH. This event, the "Carter Heyward Lecture and Seminar," promises a day of engaging discussions and a powerful evening lecture aimed at addressing a pressing contemporary issue. Heyward's expertise and perspective will shed light on "The 7 Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism: A Call to Action," offering attendees a unique opportunity to learn, reflect, and contribute to meaningful dialogue. Click here to register.

The day kicks off with a free daylong seminar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees will delve into a comprehensive exploration of Heyward's topic,"The 7 Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism". The seminar aims to foster a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, its impact on society, and potential avenues for positive change.

The highlight of the day is the evening lecture scheduled for 6:30 pm. Carter Heyward will take the stage once again, presenting her ideas and findings to a wider audience. A panel discussion will follow with prominent figures from different religious and social backgrounds including:

• Rev. Robert Thompson: An esteemed figure within the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church, Rev. Thompson brings a rich background of activism and community engagement to the discussion.
• Rev. Dr. Lillian Buckley: As a representative of the New Hope Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Buckley's insights offer a unique lens into the intersection of Christianity and social issues.
• Robert Azzi: A local author and speaker, Robert Azzi brings his expertise on Middle Eastern affairs and interfaith dialogue, contributing a diverse viewpoint to the conversation.
• Rabbi Robin Nafshi: Representing Temple Beth Jacob, Rabbi Nafshi provides valuable insights from the Jewish perspective, enriching the discourse with her extensive knowledge.

Before the start of the daylong seminar, attendees have the option to purchase boxed lunches for convenience by following this link. Alternatively, participants are welcome to bring their own lunches, and it's recommended to have a closed-cap beverage for hydration during the event. Dinner will not be served — attendees can explore dining options in the Concord area before the evening lecture begins.

For those seeking an even more immersive experience, a two-part book group will be held on Wednesdays, August 16 and 23, at 7 p.m. This pre-event activity allows participants to familiarize themselves with the themes and concepts Heyward will address during the seminar and lecture. Each session promises unique insights, so attending both is encouraged. Due to limited space, interested individuals must register in advance to secure their spot in the book group. Click here to register for the book group.

For even more information on this set of events, click here. 

Registration Open for Fall Tri-Dio Sacred Ground Circles

Are you interested in joining others from around the Episcopal Dioceses of Northern New England in a film-based dialogue series on race and faith? The second round of Tri-Dio Sacred Ground dialogue circles will start in Fall '23!

Three circles will be formed to meet at different times: Wednesday morning, Wednesday afternoon, and likely Thursday evening.

To register click here.

View a Sacred Ground informational video here.

Learn more about Sacred Ground here.

Representatives from each diocese are: Betty Lane of New Hampshire, Franci Farnsworth of Vermont, the Rev. Katie Holicky of Maine.

Province 1 Indigenous People’s Justice Network Invites You to a Book Study Series

Wednesday, September 13

7 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

Online on Zoom

The Province 1 Indigenous People’s Justice Network invites you to join the first in a series of book discussions on Wednesday, September 13, discussing The Gatherings: Reimagining Indigenous-Settler Relationships by Shirley N. Hager and Mawopiyane. Co-authors Rev. Shirley Bowen of the Diocese of Maine and Shirley Hager of the Friends (Quakers) Committee on Maine Public Policy will join the discussion.

The Gatherings shows how Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples can come together to create meaningful and lasting relationships. Indigenous and non-Indigenous people participated in a series of long weekend gatherings over several years, in an Indigenous-led traditional Council format. Assumptions were challenged, perspectives upended, stereotypes shattered, and friendships formed that have lasted many years. Seven Indigenous and seven non-Indigenous authors, collectively Mawopiyane (a Passamaquoddy word that translates “Let us sit together”), share their experiences of the gatherings in their own words.

To register for this book study, please click here. The Gatherings may be purchased through any bookstore or online book outlet.

Save the dates for these additional book studies:

·    Nov. 8 – This Land is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving, by David J. Silverman

·    Jan. 10, 2024 – Our Beloved Kin: A New History of King Philip’s War, by Lisa Brooks (Abenaki)

·    March 13, 2024 – Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe, by David Maraniss

For additional information about the book discussion or the network, contact Martha Gardner, Missioner for Networking and Formation, Diocese of Massachusetts.

Special Event - Celebrating Bishop Gene Robinson

This year, Bishop Gene celebrates his 50th anniversary as a priest and his 20th anniversary as a bishop! 

To celebrate, St. Thomas' Episcopal Church on Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. will be hosting a celebration on the evening of Saturday, October 7, featuring the Washington Gay Men’s Chorus and a group of younger LBGTQ+ singers called GenOut that Bishop Gene has supported over the years

On Sunday, October 8, at 4 p.m. there will be a festive service of the Holy Eucharist at which Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will officiate and preach.

St. Thomas' plans to livestream the October 8 worship for those unable to travel to Washington, D.C.

We will share more information about this festive occasion as we learn more.

Save these dates below! For the full events calendar, click here.

AUGUST

27 Bishop's Visitation: Emmanuel Church, Dublin

29 The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism: A Call to Action with The Rev. Dr. Carter Hayward 

SEPTEMBER

3 Bishop's Visitation: St. James Church, Burkehaven 

4 Diocesan office closed for Labor Day

6 Diocesan office closed for staff retreat

10 Bishop's Visitation: St. Matthew’s Church, Goffstown 

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