July 2024

Announcements and Updates

Introducing Youth Formation and Safe Church Coordinator George Swenson

Recent Episcopal Church of New Hampshire School for Ministry graduate and candidate for ordination George Swenson has joined the diocesan staff as Youth Formation and Safe Church Coordinator—a quarter-time role. The remainder of his full-time work is at Church of the Good Shepherd in Nashua, where he is a lay associate.

A Granite State native, Swenson was sponsored for postulancy by Grace Church in East Concord, has interned with the Rev. Reed Loy at St. Andrew's in Hopkinton, and further serves the diocese as a member of the Human Resources Committee. He is also a longtime volunteer with the New Hampshire Teen Institute Summer Leadership Program. "I'm really excited to combine my experience working with youth in volunteer activities with my passion for ministry, and to get to do that as a career is a dream come true for me," Swenson says.

His Safe Church responsibilities will include a mix of administrative functions and pastoral duties, according to Canon for Formation and Vocation, the Rev. Kelly Sundberg Seaman. "I'm delighted to have someone with deep skills in both of those areas in this role," she says.

Swenson graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a bachelor's degree in business administration and worked for several years in the insurance industry before joining the diocese. He lives in Concord with his husband, Tom Swenson, and a menagerie of animals, including dogs, cats, hamsters, and chickens.

Wanted: Church Life Photos!

Congregations are invited to share photographs of church life for our photo library and for the capital campaign annual report/storybook. Photos should be suitable for print (high-resolution, at least 3MB jpegs) and in focus; also please provide a brief caption for each one and contact info for the sender. Please send photos to our communications team email.

Note: If your event or activity includes anyone under 18, please let parents know ahead of time that you plan to take photos, and ask them to submit a signed photo use agreement. Download a template here.

Host a "Philadelphia Eleven" Screening—And Let Us Know About It

Parishes across the country are invited to join this year’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination in The Episcopal Church by hosting a screening of “The Philadelphia Eleven.” To encourage New Hampshire churches of all sizes to share the film with their parishioners and communities, filmmaker Margo Guernsey is offering a discount code, which will reduce the price for a public performance license to $75.

Scan the QR code to access the registration form to host a screening, and enter SMALLCHURCHLOVE in the Coupon Code box. If you schedule a screening, please let us know so we can share the news!

Around the Diocese

The Rev. Joe Rose Ordained to the Priesthood

On June 15, the Rev. Joseph Underwood Rose (center, in glasses) was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Rob Hirschfeld at St. Paul's Church in Concord. Rose is vicar at St. John the Evangelist in Dunbarton.

Saturday Night Supper Church at St. Thomas', Dover

The Rev. Sue Poulin, rector of St. Thomas', celebrates Eucharist with children of the parish and their families at Saturday Night Supper Church last month.

New Hampshire Episcopalians Support Suicide Prevention Walk

On June 22, members of St. James in Keene participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Overnight Walk in Boston. More than 2,100 walkers completed the 16.3 mile course throughout the city. The Overnight Walk begins in darkness as participants walk to the morning light as they raise hope, awareness, and support for this important work. The event raised $3.2 million for the organization. Funds will go to numerous communities throughout the country to support suicide prevention efforts.

Participating in the walk were Deb DeCicco, Kalyn Da Silva, and Archdeacon Derek Scalia. Scalia's brothers, Gregg Scalia and Bryan Scalia, also participated.

Upcoming Events

Beach Cricket Game and Picnic

Sunday, July 14, 2 p.m.

Rye Beach

Don't miss this fun event. Learn to play a simple game of cricket with Bishop Rob and other friends at Rye Beach. Picnic to follow. Email the Rev. Jay MacLeod at St. Andrew's New London with questions.

Standing Up to Racism

Wednesdays, Sept. 4 - Oct. 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., on Zoom

The Reparations Task Force encourages participation in this four-week online course, led by anti-racism educator Anne Romney. Participants will look at racism in all of its forms—internalized, interpersonal, institutional, and systemic. Topics will include white privilege, white grievance, understanding the toll of micro-aggressions, and what it means to be an ally/accomplice in the fight for social justice, with emphasis on concrete actions people can do, small and large. Learn more and register here.

One-Day Workshop with Music That Makes Community

St. Andrew’s Church, New London

Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Offering paperless music, and skills to build congregational singing and community building. Open to all, especially choir directors, music leaders, any lay people who love to sing, and churches who want support in singing. Childcare will be provided.

Registration for this event will be distributed later this month by St. Andrew’s Church via diocesan communications.

Contact St. Andrew's with questions.

Tri-Dio Sacred Ground Circles Begin Again This Fall

Are you interested in joining others from the Episcopal Dioceses of Northern New England (and beyond) in a film-based dialogue series on race and faith? The third round of Tri-Dio Sacred Ground dialogue circles will start this fall, and will include others from the wider Episcopal church and other denominations. There will be at least three circles that will meet at different times and on different days. Register here.

View the Sacred Ground Invitational video “We Bless You” by the Union of Black Episcopalians and Sacred Ground staff, here. Learn more about Sacred Ground here.

Representatives from each diocese are: Mary Provo of Maine, Betty Lane of New Hampshire, and Franci Vinal Farnsworth of Vermont.