THE WEEKLY NEWS
April 22, 2025 | Volume 17 No. 16
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Conference Minister Corner
Read the whole message on nhcucc.org
Rev. Sara Marean|Associate Conference Minister
"Jesus answered with these words, saying: 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.' ... This was said so tenderly, without blame of any kind toward me or anybody else."
- Julian of Norwich
On May 8th Julian of Norwich, the Anchorite and English mystic from the 14th century, will be celebrated and honored. Julian is most widely known for the above quote, ‘all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well’. But as I was talking with a colleague, she reminded me of the context of those words. During Julian’s life the medieval Plague killed up to half the population of her home city of Norwich, returning in wave upon wave of death. The Peasant’s Revolt was violently suppressed, leading to even more poverty and desperation. And outside the town lines, the Lollard church reformers were burned to death on a routine basis. This was not a time of peace and prosperity, nor a time of tranquility and calm. Which makes her vision and words all the more powerful for us here and now. Read more on nhcucc.org
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Anti-Bias and Intercultural Communication Workshop: Intent vs. Impact
The New Hampshire and Vermont Conference invite you to this opportunity for Conference and Association staff leaders, local congregations, and faith-based organizations to engage in meaningful conversations, self-reflection, and skill-building to foster greater awareness and inclusion across cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
Details:
📍 Location: West Lebanon Congregational Church, UCC
📅 Date & Time: Saturday, May 17, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
💲 Cost: $20 per participant (staff attend for free)
🍽️ Lunch provided
👥 Capacity: Limited to 60 participants
| Led by Rev. Dr. Velda Love and Dr. Sharon Fennema, this workshop will explore how intention and impact shape our communication and relationships, equipping us to build a Just World for All. | | |
You are invited to join female and non-binary clergy from around the Conference for a relaxing evening of food, conversation and connection with the Rev. Dr. Velda Love, UCC Minister for Racial Justice and Lead for Join the Movement, and Dr. Sharon Fennema, Curator for Join the Movement, on Sunday, May 18 from 3-7pm in Concord, NH.
Open to all female and non-binary clergy currently serving in the NH Conference. Limited to 40 attendees. Register Now
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Peace in Our Time – UCC Women’s Fellowship Spring Gathering
Join the NHCUCC Women’s Fellowship on Saturday, April 26 from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the United Church of Christ in Keene to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Keene Church Women’s Fellowship!
Tickets are $15 and feature a keynote from Rev. Cynthia Bagley, workshops with Rev. Debbie Gline Allen (on prayers for peace through song) and Becky Barrett (Chair Yoga), and a joyful look at the lasting mission of Christian fellowship and service. Lunch is provided. For more information, contact Trudie Bergeron at (603) 828-4200.
| | Harriet Ward Antiracism Speaker Series | | |
The Antiracism Ministries Group of the New Hampshire Conference invites you to the third annual Harriet Ward Antiracism Speaker Series.
The keynote speaker this year is James T. McKim, author and president of the Manchester chapter of the NAACP.
When it comes to racial diversity issues in New Hampshire, James McKim has got every angle covered. As the President of the Manchester NAACP, he advocates for “political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens.” As the CEO of Organizational Ignition, he consults with businesses across the Granite State, championing diversity as the key to giving businesses a competitive edge. In the church, too, McKim is active. He is the chair of the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism & Reconciliation for the Episcopal Church, a body that is mandated to “promote racial healing, justice, and reconciliation in the Church.” We are eager to hear his perspective, and we think you will be too!
James McKim will speak at the United Church of Christ in Keene, 23 Central Square, Keene NH on April 27th, 2025, at 3PM. A light reception will follow.
Registration is required for this event. To register follow this link: tinyurl.com/antiracismlecture2025
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Climate Justice Organizing Begins May 31
The national UCC, led by Climate Minister the Rev. Brooks Berendt, has chosen four sites across the country for Climate Hope Affinity Groups, dedicated to organizing to protect critical climate justice legislation, such as the Inflation Recovery Act (IRA). Concord joins Allentown, PA; Framingham, MA and Fremont, CA.
The first planning meeting for the Concord Affiliate, held a week ago, has set a date for a Chapter Launch Workshop on Saturday, May 31 from 9:30-Noon at the NHCUCC office in Pembroke. The workshop, led by Rev. Berndt, is open to everyone interested in a transformative organizing process that can make a difference at a time when it’s “all hands on deck” to preserve the hard-won gains in climate protection. Interested? Contact the Rev. Rob Grabill at EnvironmentalJustice@nhcucc.org.
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What Are You Doing Earth Day?
Many NH Conference churches will mark Earth Day (April 22) during the week after Easter, especially around April 27. The NHCUCC Environmental Mission Group wants to know—what is your congregation doing? Are you offering an Earth Sunday sermon, launching a green team, or celebrating a climate justice project? Did your children participate in the UCC Climate Hope art contest? (For example, the First Congregational Church in Wolfboro is celebrating Eco-Sunday with a sermon by the Rev. Jim Antal and a community Ecology Fair after the service.)
Share your stories, photos, and plans with us at EnvironmentalJustice@nhcucc.org, or tag the New Hampshire Conference on Facebook or Instagram. We’ll compile and share what churches across NH are doing to care for creation and seek climate justice!
| | Training and Coaching Cohort | |
The NH Conference is offering a training and coaching cohort to support churches on their journey toward vitality. Training and coaching will be led by Rev. Paul Nickerson, who has worked extensively with churches across the country, including in the NH Conference.
📅 May 3rd, 10:00AM – 3:00PM
📍 Conference Center
This workshop will introduce five key areas of church vitality. Church teams (clergy and at least three lay members) will choose an area to focus on and receive six months of group coaching. Coaching includes monthly zoom calls, unlimited email coaching, and a weekly newsletter.
Focus areas include: Reaching new people, Engaging in vision/discernment, Funding your church’s future, Developing an effective church structure, Creating a discipleship program. Interested Churches should apply below.
The NH Conference will cover the cost of the workshop. Participating churches will be required to pay $500 toward the coaching fees.
| | Clergy Day 2025 - Register Today! | |
All clergy are invited to Clergy Day 2025: Finding Ballast in Overwhelming Times, Facilitated by Rev. Michelle DeCoste and Rev. Joel Eaton, Chaplains at Havenwood Heritage Heights.
This event will take place on Tuesday, May 6th from 9AM-1PM at the Congregational Church of Hooksett Please join us for this important day of connection and conversation The cost is $20.
In the midst of overwhelming and difficult times, we as clergy, and the communities we serve, are like ships in turbulent seas. During our time together we will explore spiritual practices that help us find ballast in the storm...Click to Read More and for Registration Information
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Pastor Niemöller said first they came for the communists.... Today they are coming for the transgender people among others.
The ONA Concerns Mission Group will host a morning for strategy at the Conference Center in Pembroke on May 10 from 9AM-Noon. Please join us and work with us to develop strategies to provide support for our trans, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and nonbinary family members. Only together can we protect ourselves from the unjust forces at work in our country.
Many of us feel the need to stand up for our 2SLGBTQIA+ siblings but aren't sure how and don't want to be standing alone. So please join us to discuss strategies that can provide effective support to those under attack. Please let us know if you can make it - RSVP to ONA@nhcucc.org.
| | Administrative Professionals Day 2025 | |
Register Today: Registration Closes on April 25, 2025! Our Local Church Support Ministry Team and the Conference staff will be hosting our annual gathering for Church Administrative Professionals on Wednesday, April 30 at 10:00AM at the Conference Office (140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke). Lunch will be provided. Join us to meet your fellow church administrators and learn more about the NH Conference and its offerings. This event is funded by the Local Church Support ministry at no cost to churches. However, we encourage churches to compensate their staff for a full workday if they attend.
To register, please complete the electronic form here. Please contact the office if you have any questions!
| | There is a lot going on in the world today, so we are resuming our Clergy Check-in opportunities. These are virtual (Zoom) gatherings for Authorized Ministers to talk about how modern events are impacting ministry, to share resources, and to learn of wider church initiatives. There will be two clergy check-ins each month, one during the day and one in the evening. | Clergy Check In Opportunity for April | | Recession-Proof Your Congregation with a Fundraising Plan | | Clergy Convocation: Just Eucharist: Communion and the Church's Public Witness | |
On September 15-17, 2025 at the Pilgrim Pines Camp and Retreat Center in Swanzey, NH, Rev. Mary Luti will guide us as we consider "the many ways Communion can 'communize' us for just and courageous living in the world."
The Rev. J. Mary Luti, Ph. D. is a retired seminary professor and pastor, having taught for 20+ years in the fields of Christian History and Worship at the former Andover Newton Theological School (now Andover Newton Seminary at Yale), where she also served as Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Director of the Wilson Chapel. From 2000-2008 she served as Senior Minister of First Church in Cambridge, Congregational, United Church of Christ, in Harvard Square (MA). In retirement, she has served as the sabbatical or interim pastor in several churches in the greater Boston area. A member of the United Church of Christ Stillspeaking Writers Group, she is a regular contributor to the UCC Daily Devotional, and the author of books and articles on various aspects of Christian life, most recently editing a resource for the SSWG entitled, Do This: Communion for Just and Courageous Living.
Registration will open June 11 at 9AM. There are 46 spots available, so sign up for reminders here.
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Showing Added and Date Change
"No Other Land" | Not in My Name NH will host a film screening of The 2024 Oscar winning documentary -- made by Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers -- that US distributors won't touch.
Red River Theater 11 S. Main Street, Concord, NH
Tuesday April 22; Wednesday, April 23, 4 showings
Click Here for Details
3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, NH.
Wednesday, April 23 AND Friday, April 25 at 7PM
Doors open 6:30PM, film starts 7:00PM.
Tickets $12 in advance at Eventbrite, or at the door
"There is Another Way" | Wednesday, April 30, 7PM
Not in My Name NH will host a film screening of There is Another Way. This film tells the story of a group of visionaries (Combatants For Peace) who refuse to surrender to violence and injustice, and in doing so show that another path is possible - for them, for us, and for all humanity.
3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, NH.
Doors open 6:30PM, film starts 7:00PM.
Tickets $12 in advance at 3S Artspace, or at the door
The Peace with Justice Advocates Mission Group is co-sponsoring these showings.
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NHCUCC Peace with Justice Advocates Mission Group is proud to sponsor the 20th Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Ceremony. Join us on April 29, 2025 at 1:30PM EST as Combatants for Peace and the Parents Circle co-host the 20th annual Joint Memorial Day Ceremony. This gathering offers a profound alternative to division and despair, proving that even in times of deep suffering, solidarity is not only possible but imperative.
Learn more here: https://www.afcfp.org/2025-joint-memorial-day-ceremony
| | Annual Meeting Resolutions | | Submission of Resolutions to be considered for the agenda at the Conference Annual Meeting must be received by the Conference Minister no later than Wednesday, May 25, 2025. Please use the 2025 Resolution Process Guidelines in preparing your Resolution for submission. | | |
Camp Highlight: : Middlers on the Mountain
June 29- July 5, grades 6-8 | Tiered Prices: $710, $600, $530
Middle schoolers unite! We'll build an inclusive community that goes on adventures, plays games and sports, gets creative, and has FUN together!
Counselor Info Session | 4/23, 7PM, Zoom Call
Are you looking for a way to make a difference? Come to camp and make the transformative wonder of Outdoor Ministries possible for today's youth this summer at Horton Center! Come to our last info session of the season to learn more about what a day at camp is like, how counselors are supported in their role at camp, and what a week on the mountain can do for YOU!
RSVP HERE
Save the Date: Open House | June 14th at Camp!
Want to check camp out before you come as a camper? Looking for an excuse to spend a day on the mountain? Join us for worship, lunch, games, tours, and activities on Saturday June 14th!
RSVP HERE
Shalom, friends!
Tivvi Pare (she/her/hers)
603-545-9660 | TPare@nhcucc.org
| | We're Back with a new edition of Christian Education News-from the Christian Formation Ministry of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ. Read it today, and if you don't already get it in your inbox, you can click here to subscribe! | |
Preaching Camp
The Southern New England Conference Project Proclaim PREACHING CAMP is an immersive experience in creative proclamation that will run from May 18-24, 2025 at Silver Lake Camp and Retreat Center in Sharon, CT. Individuals from the New Hampshire Conference are invited to apply to this opportunity. At Camp, participants will directly engage the natural world and in the hope for the future God imagines for all of us. Learn more here
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The People's Music
Join the Congregational Library and Archives on Zoom on Wednesday, April 23 from 1–2PM EDT for a fascinating look at Revolutionary New England’s musical culture with Dr. Stephen Marini, Elisabeth Luce Moore Professor of Christian Studies at Wellesley College and singing master of Norumbega Harmony.
Learn about 18th-century singing masters hired by Congregational parishes, the English parish music tradition they brought, and how figures like William Billings emerged as influential sacred and political composers. The talk will include recordings of Revolutionary-era music.
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PRAYER FROM GLOBAL MINISTRIES | PRAY WITH THE MIDDLE EAST - God of resurrection hope, as we frantically search for your comforting presence in places of death, we ask that you appear before us and grant us the vision to see you in the midst of the pain and loss that has become our daily bread. Cleanse our eyes and hearts from the depths of grief and despair we inhabit, and direct our tongues and feet to paths of witness and service. Though we are hard-pressed on every side by death, Christ Jesus’ life is also being revealed in us.... Read On...
| | UPCOMING CONFERENCE EVENTS | | | Clergy Day
May 6, 2025 | 8:30AM - 1:00PM | Conference Center-140 Sheep Davis Rd. Pembroke NH 03275 | | | | Retired Clergy Luncheon
June 25, 2025 | Time/Registration TBA | Havenwood Heritage Heights
149 East Side Dr, Concord, NH 03301 | | | | See What's Happening in and around our Conference! | | | |
Congratulations to Tivvi Paré, Executive Director of Horton Center and Faith Formation Specialist, who received her Certificate in Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Leadership from the Southern New England Conference, on Sunday, April 13.
The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Magill has announced her resignation as Pastor and Teacher of the Small Church Collaborative (Rindge Congregational and Ashburnham Community Church). Her last day will be July 27.
The Rev. Dr. Deborah Roof has announced her resignation as Senior Pastor and Teacher of First Parish Congregational Church, UCC in East Derry and her retirement from active ministry. Her last day in East Derry will be May 18; there will be a celebration of her ministry on May 4 from 2 - 4PM at First Parish.
| | Our pastors and clergy. God, we give you thanks for all those who lead churches, who work as chaplains, spiritual directors and in the many different forms of ministry where your love is felt. We thank you for the amazing ways they bring your story of love and resurrection to life, leading our congregations with grace and skill, teaching and preaching how to be church, to love like you do, holding with tenderness and care all those who suffer and need to hear your words of hope. May you grace them with rest in this first week of Eastertide, and the knowledge that they are held with love by their congregations and those they serve, by their Conference, and especially by you O Holy One. | | | |
Rev. Gordon Rankin
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Gordon will be preaching at Westmoreland United Church where the Reverend Lynn
Wickberg serves as Pastor. In the afternoon, Gordon will be attending the Harriett Ward Anti-Racism Lecture in Keene.
| | Rev. Marean will be attending the Harriett Ward Anti-Racism Lecture in Keene. | | Monday - Friday | 9:00AM - 4:00PM | | |
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