THE WEEKLY NEWS
December 10, 2024 | Volume 16 No. 47
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Embracing Ministry
Rev. Dr. S. C. Campbell Lovett
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word was in the beginning with God; all things were made through the Word,
and without the Word was not anything made that was made.
In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all.
The light shines in the deepest night, and the night has not overcome it. (John 1: 1 – 5)
One summer, a friend visited us for a weekend. He went to the nearby Catholic church for Saturday afternoon Mass. When he returned in a surprisingly short amount of time, we inquired about his speedy sojourn. His reply: “Well, a retired priest was filling in. The Gospel reading was from John. When it came time for the homily, the priest said: ‘John wrote this Gospel when he was a very old man. When I am a very old man I hope to understand...Read the full message on nhcucc.org
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TONIGHT: Peace With Justice Advocates | |
The Peace with Justice Advocates NHCUCC are joining with Not In My Name, an organization of NH Jews committed to an immediate ceasefire and peace in Israel/Palestine to present a film that address the Palestine/Israel crisis through a personal lens.
"Where Olive Trees Weep" will be shown TONIGHT at 6:30 pm. A moderated discussion will follow. The showing will take place at 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, NH. Tickets are $10 donation, and can be purchased at the door.
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Open Space for Women and Non-Binary Clergy | This election season has made clear the double standard that exists for women in leadership. This adds stress to the already difficult job of being a leader in any setting. On Wednesday, December 18 at 12pm via zoom, bring your lunch and join Rev. Sara Marean, Associate Conference Minister, for an open space to talk, share, give and gain support for the difficult task of being a woman or non-binary person in leadership. Open to all women and non-binary clergy. Please click here to sign up. | | |
A Christmas Message from the IRSG | |
The NHCUCC’s Immigrant & Refugee Support Group's BJ Lates shares an inspired way that our church family and allies can give gifts of love that will keep on giving.
Don’t know about you, but the older I get the harder it is for my dear children to answer the all- important question: “What to give Mom for her birthday or for Christmas?” Bless them. We live in a smaller space now and whatever we once thought we needed is not necessary anymore. A fellow Immigrant and Refugee Support Group (IRSG) member, Cindy Nottage of the Community Church of Durham, gave us a wonderful idea for building up the IRSG’s now-urgently-needed financial resources and for bringing some level of comfort and assistance to our asylum-seeking siblings who have been detained by ICE at the Strafford County Jail in Dover, NH.
“Tell your children to donate money to the IRSG’s Immigrant Bond & Support Fund as a gift to you,” says Cindy. I thought about how I might suggest that my children could contribute a minimum of a dollar per year for each year that I remain alive. This could begin to add up! We will all become that much more valuable!!!
No matter the monetary value of the gift, I will be able to picture one of our immigrant brothers or sisters being given a modest deposit on their jail commissary account to make a much-needed phone call or to purchase some extra food or a personal care item. Or a gift in my name can help an asylum-seeker pay for legal support or contribute to a bond payment that will secure their freedom from ICE detention if an immigration judge issues a bond order. Or perhaps, one of our brothers or sisters who is bonded out of ICE detention will receive $100 in temporary financial assistance for a period of time while waiting to be allowed to work. Just imagine our immigrant friends’ relief and our own satisfaction! And to top it off, our children will know how happy it makes us. A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!
DONATE to the Conference's Immigrant Bond & Support Fund online or mail a check to NHCUCC, with Immigrant Support in the memo line, to 140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, NH 03275 Read this article on nhcucc.org
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Greetings from Horton Center! | |
Save the Date for Souper Saturday (3/29/25)
We are gearing up for a new awesome event coming up on the 29th of March from 12-3pm at Tad's Place on the Havenwood Heritage Heights campus: SOUPER SATURDAY! Be on the lookout for more information about this wintertime Horton Center friends, campers, and families gathering.
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Donations: Every Little Bit Helps!
It's not too late to contribute to the 2024 Horton Center Appeal! Here's a short video from Giving Tuesday asking for your support.
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Volunteer Counselors Needed
Camper registration goes live on the 1st of January and we are well underway with summer preparations. The role of volunteer counselors is absolutely critical to the success of our camp! Join us for an info session to learn more about what it's like to be a counselor and then sign up for the best week of your summer!
Click HERE to sign up for an info session. Sessions will be held on 1/22, 2/20, 3/25, and 4/23 at 7pm.
Shalom,
Tivvi Pare
TPare@nhcucc.org
www.HortonCenter.org
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Read the Advent Edition of Christian Education News from the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ, meet our Christian Formation Ministry and find a curated selection of Advent resources for all ages. | | |
SPRING SEMESTER REGISTRATION IS OPEN! | |
Join us and the Rev. Cindy Bagley in Keene, NH next semester- Classes will be held in-person on Feb. 1, Mar. 1, Apr. 5, May 3, and May 31
from 9am until 4pm.
"Being church" is always contextual. Why then are we drawn to "one size fits all" solutions, or worse, perpetuate ways of operating that do not fit your church or the challenges of today?
Harnessing true apostolic energy, this course will teach you an entrepreneurial approach to ministry that explores dramatic new ways of thinking about your congregation's vision, culture, structure, resources, and leadership style.
This course will leave you with a renewed sense of excitement, possibility, and love for the church and its potential for vitality and impact in the name of Christ.
Come and learn how to shift your congregation’s ministry toward the community that surrounds it. Consider how your congregation might thrive as a “Neighborhood Church” or a “micro-church.” Challenge your personal thinking of what vitality looks like in a faith community and how together you might better thrive without growing your numbers.
We believe that this class offers essential knowledge for everyone engaged in ministry. Register by accessing this link and clicking on the green “Pre-Register Now” button.
We are keeping our registration fees low ($350/participant for the full course) with the assistance of the Boards of Directors of both the Vermont and New Hampshire Conferences.
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Prepared to Serve is our annual workshop day put on by the New Hampshire Conference. This event will boost your skills, connect you with others who share your vision, and equip you with tools to bring back to your congregations! Mark your calendars: Prepared to Serve will take place on February 22, 2025 at Pembroke Academy.
If you would like to sign up as a presenter and/or exhibitor, please do so here: Prepared to Serve 2025
If you have any questions, please contact Kayla Pingree or Cameron Keller.
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UPCOMING CONFERENCE EVENTS | |
| Save the Date! - Prepared to Serve
February 22, 2025 | Pembroke Academy
209 Academy Road Pembroke, NH 03275 | | |
| See What's Happening in and around our Conference! | | |
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Naumy Chepkirui and Rev. John Torrey welcomed son Kyle Liam Torrey into the world on November 22. He weighed seven pounds and fifteen ounces. Everyone is healthy and well and their family is really enjoying getting to know sweet baby Kyle.
Rev. Nancy Haynes was called to serve as Associate Minister of The First Church of Nashua. Rev. Haynes began on September 8, 2025.
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Holy One, in this Advent season;
Make us short on grumpy thoughts, and long on sharing of words of gentleness.
Make us short on busyness, and long on attentiveness.
Make us short on seeing what’s right before us, and long on peering into the horizon.
Make us short on out-of-control to-do lists, and long on savoring kindness.
Make us short on overlooking the dark sky, and long on gazing at the twinkling stars.
Make us short on tradition as a habit, and long on re-owning and re-creating.
Make us short on ignoring the hungry, and long on making a delicious meal
Make us short on rushing, and long on wondering and pondering.
Make us short on walking past those sleeping in the cold, and long on sharing blankets and hot tea.
Make us short on longing for what’s next, and long on savoring the darkness.
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