Conference Minister Corner

Read the whole message on nhcucc.org

Rev. Gordon Rankin | Conference Minister

Last Friday, our Jewish siblings celebrated the Festival of Purim. I just so happened to be with one of my colleagues, the Reverend Tyler Connoley. Tyler is the Conference Minister of the Central Pacific Conference and is co-author of the book The Children are Free. Tyler’s Masters thesis happened to be on the topic Biblical eunuchs which allowed them to tell the Purim story in a particularly unique way.  

For those who don’t know the Purim story, it can be found in the book of Esther. It is the story of Jewish cousins Mordecai and Queen Esther and how they are able to save the Jewish people from annihilation at the hand of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman. At the pivotal point of the story, Mordecai has found out that Haman plans to wipe out the Jews... Read More

Expressing Support for Our Transgender Siblings

All people are created in the image of God. As Christians, we affirm, celebrate, and will fight for the whole personhood of our transgender and nonbinary siblings. In the United Church of Christ we live out the Love and Justice of Jesus in our words, and in our actions. As we approach the Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31st, the Conference has made available a social media kit of profile/post frames and templates that can be used to make clear your support in whatever spaces you occupy online. Click Here for Details

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 opportunities in March:

The Association Capacity Task Force is coordinating a virtual prayer service on March 31st at 7 pm. On this day when our current associations conclude their work, it felt important to have an opportunity for community to gather together and offer prayers of thanksgiving for what has been and petition that grace may surround us as we step into what will be. A Zoom link for this prayer service will be shared as the event draws nearer. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85452859751

Greetings NH Conference! Your Board of Directors met recently on Zoom. Here are a few of the highlights from our meeting:

· We discussed, moved and passed a new Anti-Bias Training Policy brought to us by the Conference Justice and Witness Ministry. This policy requires all persons elected to serve New Hampshire Conference positions (Officers, Board of Director Members, Nominating Committee and General Synod Delegates), all persons appointed by the Board of Directors to serve on Conference Ministry Teams, and all year-around Conference staff to attend Conference-approved Anti-Bias Training at least every three years.

· With year end numbers for 2024 coming into focus, we applauded the financial turnaround at The Horton Center, which ended 2024 with over 300 campers and financially in the black! The Conference as a whole ended the year with an essentially balanced budget as well. Good news all around.

· As we shepherd the movement from seven distinct associations to one new Granite State Association, there is much work to do. We adopted a slate of candidates for various positions in the new Association as proposed by the Granite State Association Nominating Committee, decided on the Associations portion of the 2025 Fellowship Dues, and pledged staff or Board presence at the Associations sunset celebrations. The Board applauded the efforts of the good people helping to make this transition possible.

· Your Board is preparing to do some significant Visioning work; revisiting our Mission Statement, becoming clearer on the differences between our Mission and Vision, and updating them to meet the needs of our Association and churches in the years to come.

Lent is a time of preparation and reflection and metanoia. Your Conference is poised to do these things as well. While our missions and ministries with local settings is not transactional, we do strive for our churches to see the efforts of the Conference to be “value-added” to the life of local congregations.

Nominating season will be upon us soon. I hope that you find a place to follow your passion in the life if your local church and the wider church as well.

Peace,

Rev. Jim Thomas

Conference President

Don't Wait - Report Your Church Data Today!

With the software update that took place this year, many people have questions about logging into the yearbook reporting system. The National setting has updated their Instruction Sheet and has brand new helpful videos that walk you through the process, step by step. The cycle has been extended until April 11, but the Conference requests you complete your reporting by April 1st, to allow time to correct any discrepancies. Contact the Conference Yearbook Team if you need support at (603) 715-9520 or email yearbook@nhcucc.org, or book a support session here.

In case you missed this important webinar, a recording is available on YouTube. Click Here to view the webinar, and Click Here to view the slide deck.

Peace With Justice Advocates

This is the time for non-violent action. The Peace with Justice Advocates calls on the NH Conference and churches within the NHCUCC to take action. Now is the Time to uplift and participate in the wide variety on non-violent ways to respond to the actions of the executive orders and legislative action of our government NOW during the first 100 days. The UCC Advocacy Resources provide starting points.

https://www.ucc.org/first100days/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UourzPpT1Ik

https://www.ucc.org/countering-project-2025-with-love/

The Ukama Mission Group is sponsoring a celebration of our partnership with the UCCZ on Sunday, March 30, from 5-7 at the First Parish Church, UCC, in East Derry. Our time together will begin with a potluck dinner. Following that, some of the people who visited our partners in Zimbabwe last summer will share pictures and stories. We'll also be sharing the current situation in Zimbabwe, which is greatly impacted by the dismantling of USAID. We'll also report on the results of our Food Insecurity appeal.  

We received this report from the president of the UCC in Zimbabwe, the Reverend John Matiza. It gives a sobering picture of the effects of USAID closure in Zimbabwe and contains important information for our Ukama partnered churches especially. Read the report...

Administrative Professionals Day 2025

Our Local Church Ministry Team and the Conference staff will be hosting our annual gathering for Church Administrative Professionals on Wednesday, April 30th at 10:00 a.m. 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!

Sunday March 23 | 10:00 AM First Congregational Church of Wilmot welcomes guest speakers from the ACLU NH, legal director Gilles Bissonnette and regional campaign manager Kat Legier. All are welcome to hear about their important work defending civil liberties in New Hampshire. The service is at 10 a.m. in person in Wilmot or on Zoom; find the link at wilmotucc.org.

As our current associations are in their sunset days and the birth of the Granite State Association will soon be upon us, many of our associations are holding celebrations. These celebrations recognize the generations of impactful work done by our associations. We are honored to share the invitation to join with these associations in their celebrations:

Grafton-Orange-Sullivan Association, March 23rd, 2 pm, Church of Christ at Dartmouth College.  

Hillsborough Association, May 4th, 3 pm, Congregational Church of Amherst

Boundary Training Opportunities

Boundary Awareness Training for Retired Ministers -- TOMORROW, Wednesday, March 19, 1:30 – 4:30pm ET

Maintaining healthy boundaries is challenging at any stage in ministry and it is particularly tender and difficult attending to boundaries as we transition out of our last call, and while in retirement. "A Sure Foundation", "The Ministerial Code" and Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly's new book, "The Jubilee Years" along with case studies, will provide the content of this training. Join Rev. Tara Barber and Rev. Melanie Oommen for this focused Boundary Awareness Training for those entering and living in retirement. Note - Participants must be able to use zoom chat and breakout room functions.

Boundary Awareness Training 2.0: Through the Lens of Clergy Wellness | April 29 & 30, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. This advanced unit of Boundary Awareness Training is being offered via Zoom by the Southern New England Conference. The registration cost is $85. 

Foundations of Understanding Boundaries | Thursday, May 29th, 9 am – 1 pm

This basic unit of Boundary Awareness Training will offered via Zoom. Registration is open! The cost is $25. The training will be facilitated by Gordon Rankin. Sign Up Here

Registration is now open for all conferences, including three UCC conferences,

 on this beautiful island off the coast of Rye, NH!

SG 1 Family Week - July 27 - Aug 3

SG 1 Youth Week - July 27 - Aug 3

SG 2 Family Week - Aug 3 - Aug 10

SG Family Weekend - Aug 29 - Sep 1

•  SUMMER CAMP ... BUT IN A HOTEL! 
• FUN WITH FRIENDS, NEW AND OLD 
• WORSHIP IN THE CHAPEL, OR ON THE

ROCKS

•  SWIM, ROW, KAYAK, OR EXPLORE!
•  LET YOUR INNER ARTIST OUT TO PLAY
•  ENJOY A QUIET MORNING WHILE YOUR KIDS HAVE FUN AT PROGRAM

GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINES

Conferences before August 24, is April 15 Conferences after August 24, is June 15

Other conferences from June-Sept on other topics are also available.

Read all the the details online at www.starisland.org

Download a PDF flyer here

An Ecclesiastical Council for Rosalie Sansbury will be held at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College on March 23rd at 2 PM.

The Rev. Peter Lovett has announced his resignation as Pastor and Teacher of Meredith First Congregational Church, and his retirement from active ministry. His last Sunday will be May 25, with a Bluegrass Sunday Farewell Worship held on May 11.

The Rev. Charlotte Bell has been called to serve as Associate Minister to Amherst Congregational Church. Rev. Bell's installation will take place on March 23 at 3:00 p.m.

March 23, 2025

Rev. Gordon Rankin

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Rev. Rankin will be preaching at the Lyme Congregational Church where the Reverend Amy Hayden serves as pastor.

In the afternoon, he will be attending the Ecclesiastical Council for Rosalie Sansbury and Celebration of the Ministry of the Grafton-Orange-Sullivan Association.

Rev. Sara Marean

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Rev. Marean will represent the NHCUCC at the Installation of the Rev. Charlotte Bell as the Associate Pastor of the Congregational Church of Amherst, UCC.  

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