Conference Minister Corner

Read the whole message on nhcucc.org

Rev. Linda Hirst | Transitional Associate Conference Minister

What did you do to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day yesterday? Did you attend a breakfast to remember him and his work and ministry? Gather with a group to talk about how far we’ve come (or haven’t come) since he lived and died? Go about your day thinking, praying and wishing for unity, racial justice and peace (someday, dear God, some day)? Like some of you, I remember when this day was not a federal holiday and kids spent time in class learning and remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.



There was some concern that when kids were no longer in school on this day, the learning and remembering would end. It was about this time that the faith communities came together to make sure this didn’t happen.

...Read the full article here.

Welcome to the

Congregational Church of Raymond!

We are delighted to welcome our newest church to the Granite State Association/New Hampshire Conference/United Church of Christ. After more than a year of discernment, the members of the Congregational Church of Raymond voted in November to affiliate with the United Church of Christ. On January 15th, leaders of the church met with the Granite State Association Committee on Ministry for Congregational Empowerment and the church was joyously granted local church standing. There will be a covenant celebration with our newest church during the opening worship at Prepared to Serve (February 28th).



We thank God for new covenant partners who help us expand our witness of God’s love in this world!

PREPARED TO SERVE 2026

Registration Open!

Date: February 28, 2026

Time: 8:00 AM Registration

9:00 AM Worship

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Workshops

Location: Pembroke Academy

209 Academy Rd. Pembroke, NH 03275

The 2026 Prepared to Serve workshops will follow our theme, "Another Way", by focusing on a new pathway system: the Four Pathways of Care: Self, Church, Local Community, and the Wider World. The workshops have been grouped into these four categories. This new system allows you to select workshops based on the Pathways of Care that most interest you. 

• Self: workshops focus on individual care, such as self-care, clergy support, or personal growth. Class subject examples include self-care practices, living a fuller life, and making the most of your time.
• Church: workshops focus on supporting a church community. Class subject examples could include financial trainings for churches, intergenerational worship, marketing or technology education, or pastor/staff job search.
• Local Community: workshops focus on the local community, such as towns or states or multiple churches in an area. Class subject examples could include social justice issues in New Hampshire, environmental protection for local pollinators, or connecting with other church communities in your area.
• Wider World: workshops focus on subjects that affect our national or global community. Class subject examples could include anything related to Ukama, social justice lessons on a national scale, and how the church connects to the global community.

To view the most up to date course catalog (which will include any class changes), please visit here.

Register online here! All major credit cards and personal checks will be accepted. If you have any questions, please call (603) 225-6647 or email Cameron Keller.

Installation Service

February 1, 2026

The Granite State Association is pleased to invite all to the Installation of the

Reverend Debbie Gline Allen

as pastor and teacher of the Madbury United Church of Christ.

The members of the Madbury United Church of Christ are excited to have called Reverend Gline Allen as their settled pastor and invite all to celebrate with them. The service will be held on

Sunday, February 1, 2026

at 3:00 p.m. at the church (9 Town Hall Road, Madbury) with a reception to follow.

Installation Service

February 8, 2026

The Granite State Association is pleased to invite all to the Installation of the

Reverend Cynthia D’Andrea

as pastor and teacher of the South Newbury Union Church. 

The members of the South Newbury Union Church are excited to have called Reverend D’Andrea as their settled pastor and invite all to celebrate with them. The service will be held on

Sunday, February 8, 2026

at 2:00 p.m. at the church (162 Village Road, Newbury) with a reception held after in the Friendship House.

We hope you will join with the Association, South Union Church, and Reverend D’Andrea in celebrating the hope for the future comes from this new covenant partnership.  

Ecclesiastical Council – February 15th

The Granite State Association calls for an

Ecclesiastical Council

to consider Shellie Brook for Ordination

Sunday, February 15, 2026

at 3 pm

In-person: First Congregational Church of Hopkinton

(1548 Hopkinton Road, Hopkinton, NH) Or on Zoom



The Committee on Ministry (COM) for Ministerial Discernment has recommended Shellie Brook to an Ecclesiastical Council of the Gathered Association for consideration of Ordination Pending Call. Authorized Ministers, Delegates and members of all Granite State Association churches are encouraged to attend, in person or via Zoom, for this time of discernment. Shellie’s Ordination portfolio is available for review.

Yearbook Reporting



We have been informed by the Research Team of the National Ministries that the Yearbook Reporting portal will open on Monday, January 26th. We expect to receive training materials for churches between now and then. Copies of such materials will be sent directly to churches, as well as be included in next week’s edition of the Weekly News.

Glenn Vodra has been hired to serve as our Yearbook Reporting Liaison this year. He is available to support churches with their efforts to submit yearbook information as needed. Glenn does not have regular work hours but can be reached at yearbook2026@nhcucc.org or messages can be left at 603-225-6647.

Save the Date!



The Anti-Racism Ministry Group of the NH Conference will host the fourth annual Harriet Ward Memorial Anti-Racism Speaker Series on the afternoon of April 12th, 2026, at the Congregational Church of Amherst. 

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for our 2026 Speaker announcement! 

Questions? Contact Tivvi Pare or Rev. Mark Koyama.

Our Churches Wider Mission Pledge Forms

Our 2026 Our Churches Wider Mission pledge forms are now available. We would encourage the leadership of all our New Hampshire Conference Churches to complete a pledge form. Pledge forms will be collected during worship at Prepared to Serve (February 28th). They may also be emailed (lfrasca@nhcucc.org) or mailed (140 Sheep Davis Rd., Pembroke, NH 03275) to the Conference Office.

If you church would like to have someone speak to your church about Our Churches Wider Mission, please contact Conference Minister Gordon Rankin at grankin@nhcucc.org.

Register for an opportunity to grow and strengthen your skills for leadership!

Ministry21 has three upcoming course offerings, each addressing an aspect of leadership in the church in a way that speaks directly to the specific realities encountered by churches and faith leaders in NH and VT—the two most secular and oldest states in the country. Ministry21 courses are developed to offer support for learning and space for growth to all leaders of the church—lay, authorized, and Members in Discernment. Our goal through each class is to foster covenant, connectivity, and learning for all leaders within our two conferences.

Meeting People Where They Are: Exploring Context, Theology, and Ministry that Propels Us into Ministry Outside of the Church with the Rev. Gayle Murphy, founder of the New Things Task Force and a clergy person who has spent the last seven years learning how to minister to those identified as “the nones.” --- This course conveys the very foundation for why Ministry21 exists—the realities of age, secularity, volunteerism and more—and explores the hope that exists when imagination and a heart for creative risk-taking is present in a congregation. While it will not provide all of the answers to success in outreach, this course will provide many examples of effective and thriving ministries (a note of caution…they look different than what you expect…).

Course meets: Jan 17, Feb 14, Mar 28, May 9 

Pastoral Care and Ethics with the Rev. Jonathan New --- This is an essential course for anyone engaged in or considering engagement in licensed ministry or who is an MID needing coursework in the theology and ethics of Pastoral Care as well as seeking to deepen pastoral identity. It will also lay out a framework for healthy caregiving for lay-leaders seeking to develop congregational care goals. For ordained clergy, this is a space to look at pastoral caregiving through a different lens and to ask critical and brave questions of your existing practice. Drawing on the wisdom of literature and poetry and the writings of authors such as Howard Thurman and Henri Nouwen, this class will invite students to think creatively and imaginatively about the tensions between self and other, speech and silence, desire and detachment. The goal is to help participants find the paths that will lead them into wholeness and integrity in ministry.

Course Meets: Jan 24, Feb 28, Mar 21, Apr 18

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr leading a march.

Words of Wisdom for Now and Moving Forward

These quotations were gathered and shared by the American Friends Service Committee NH Program, as part of this week’s “State House Watch” update.

“My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure. Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups tend to be more immoral than individuals. We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963

"Sometimes, we were learning, we had to hold hands and walk forward into the darkness, even when we didn't know what the next step would bring. Walking by faith wasn't easy. But it was taking us places where the rules of organizing had not allowed us to go. No one knew just what we were becoming, but we knew one thing for sure: there was no turning back."

— Rev. Willam J. Barber, The Third Reconstruction

“I have told the clergy…that we may be entering into that same witness. And I've asked them to get their affairs in order—to make sure they have their wills written, because it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us with our bodies to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable. And it may mean that we are going to have to act in a new way…to put our faith in the God of life, of resurrection, of a love that is stronger than death itself.” – Bishop Rob Hirschfeld, Episcopal Diocese of NH, at a Concord vigil for Renee Nicole Good, January 9, 2026

SAVE THIS IMPORTANT DATE AND HELP SPREAD THIS NEWS!

Nuclear Weapons Now:

The Threat and the Opportunity

The world is on the brink of a nuclear war. It’s just one person’s decision away. We need to seize the moment to take action and pull us back from the brink. Learn more from world renowned expert, peace advocate, physician and a joint winner of 2 Noble Peace Prizes, Dr. Ira Helfand.



Also on the panel, Carleigh Beriont, PhD, an historian on US nuclear testing, teacher and Hampton select board vice-chair. Hear, discuss and learn what you can do on Sunday, February 8th at 1 PM at the Community Church of Durham. Hosted by the Peace with Justice Advocates of the NH Conference UCC.

A Kairos Moment:

Faith in a Time of Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing, and Repression in Palestine and Here at Home 

A Supportive Space for UCC Clergy

and Lay Folks

Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026

Time: 3:00 pm (Eastern) / 2:00 pm (Central) / 1:00 pm (Mountain) / 12:00 pm (Pacific)

Location: on Zoom - Link will be sent after registering and prior to the event. 

In the new Kairos Palestine document which came out of Bethlehem last month, our partners are calling us to: clearly name the reality of genocide, occupation, and ethnic cleansing; advocate for accountability and uphold international law; reject and expose theologies that justify oppression; practice costly solidarity; and support creative non-violent resistance. These are precisely the things needed here at home in the face of racism, ethnic cleansing, targeting of vulnerable communities, and violation of human rights. 

In our time together, we will explore the connections between militarization and repression in Palestine and here at home, get eyewitness updates on the West Bank, and hear from siblings in the US who are practicing costly solidarity in the face of ICE raids and authoritarianism. We will also pray together and share the challenges and power of solidarity in this time.

REGISTER FOR CALL

Gun Violence Prevention Resources

The 56-page guide to assist you and your congregation.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

NH UCC Christian Educators Community of Practice

Next Zoom Gathering: Wednesday, January 14^th 7pm 

RSVP HERE!

All Christian Education staff, volunteers, and lovers are welcome to join us to connect, share, and support one another as we get back into the groove of youth groups, intergenerational happenings, and more in our places of worship! Together we'll build community, exchange ideas, and offer support to each other. 

Please share this information with the CE leader in your home church so we can loop them in! 

Questions? Email Tivvi Pare.

HORTON CENTER UPDATES

REGISTRATION FOR CAMP IS OPEN!

Summer is coming! Sign up for a camp or retreat today - there's something for everyone on this year's schedule! 



SUMMER 2026 CAMP AND RETREAT SCHEDULE 

Are you looking to make a real difference this year? 

Horton Center's volunteer counselors create joy, boost confidence, and inspire our campers to be their best! 

Come learn about the role of counselor at one of our upcoming info sessions. RSVP here: tinyurl.com/counselorinfo2026

Invite a friend, family member, or neighbor to give camping at Horton Center a try! 

New/Prospective Camper Zoom calls are the perfect way to learn more about the sleepaway camp experience.

 Share this quick RSVP form with a loved one: tinyurl.com/newcamperinfo2026

Souper Saturday (April 11th): Save the date for our 2026 Souper Saturday event which will once again take place at Tad's Place on the Havenwood Heritage Heights Campus in Concord. All are welcome! 

Shalom, 

Tivvi Pare 

(she/her/hers)

Horton Center Executive Director 

NHCUCC Christian Edu. Specialist

603-545-9660

NOW HIRING

The New Hampshire Conference seeks candidates to serve as our Communications and Programs Coordinator. The Communications and Programs Coordinator provides logistical organization for Conference events and programs (including Annual Meeting and Prepared to Serve), maintains the Conference technology infrastructure, and publishes Conference communications including the Conference website and Weekly News. A position description is available upon request.

The Communications and Programs Coordinator position is a 30 hours a week, non-exempt position. Salary information available on request. Benefits (health and dental insurance, pension, etc.) are provided.

Interested candidates should submit a resume (with references to contact) to the Reverend Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister, at grankin@nhcucc.org.

The New Hampshire Conference is a Racial Justice, Just Peace, Open and Affirming Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Monday, January 26, 6:00 - 9:00pm ET, Boundary Training for Ministers in Specialized Settings with Rev. Tara Barber and Rev. Anissa Glaser-Bacon

This training, hosted by Revs. Tara Barber and Anissa Glaser-Bacon, is open to ministers serving in specialized settings throughout the United Church of Christ. Serving in specialized settings requires particular attention to boundaries within the ministry setting and home church that are challenging and different from those serving as local church pastors. This training will focus on matters that relate specifically to issues that these ministers face, providing opportunities for clergy to reflect on best practices and growth in their practice of ministry.

Thursday, March 12, 3:30 – 6:30pm ET, Boundary Awareness Training for Retired Ministers with Rev. Tara Barber and Rev. Melanie Oommen

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. Rev. Tara Barber and Rev. Melanie Oommen will offer this focused Boundary Awareness Training for those entering and living in retirement. Participants must be able to use zoom chat and breakout room functions and have their camera turned on throughout the training

God, wake us up to claim King’s dream,

the day after the official holiday,

and all the year to come

able to hope that dream out loud,

for the color of every skin,

for those of every birth-country

and for a full rainbow of identity,

shaping new dreams,

and encouraging the dreams of others. amen.

Continued thanks to Rev. Maren Tirabassi for providing our prayers.

Conference Office

Monday - Friday | 9:00AM - 4:00PM

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