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Clergy Convocation
Sep 19-21, 2022

Annual Meeting
Oct 15, 2022
Register now at: https://cvent.me/QQ80PR
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The monthly newsletter focusing on Faith Formation for all ages, upcoming Christian Education events, training opportunities, and resources for Christian Educators.
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Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Administrative Assistant

Office Manager
The Weekly News
September 13, 2022 - Volume 14 No. 37
Nelson Congregational Church Invites Applications for Social Justice Grants
In 2019, the Nelson Congregational Church created the Garrett-Larsen Social Justice Fund, in honor of the 19-year ministry of Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen in the wider Nelson community. The fund is offered to individuals or nonprofits in the Monadnock region that demonstrate a passion for social and environmental justice, a plan to advance that cause, and a need for funding. 
 
In 2021, grants were awarded to Monadnock Quaker Meeting in Jaffrey to help build a short-term emergency shelter; to MATS (Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter) for its Hope Fund; and to the Sacred Ally Quilt Ministry for its work in racial justice. The fund also provided a challenge grant last winter to raise money to support Afghan refugees as they settle into the community.  
 
Any individual or nonprofit group with a strong tie to the Monadnock region is invited to apply in writing. For 2022, a total of $2000 will be awarded. Recipients will be notified within four weeks of the October 31 deadline. 
 
To receive an application form and details on the process and criteria for applying, email [email protected], or call the church office, 603-847-3280. The guidelines and application are also available at nelsonchurch.org/social-justice-fund. 
 09-B
Confirmation Retreat Registration Deadline is September 16th
Do you ever wonder what the United Church of Christ (UCC) has to do with your life or your church? Do you ever wonder if your beliefs and your dreams fit the UCC? What does the phrase “God is still speaking” mean anyway?

Join us for the Confirmation retreat, September 30th through October 2nd, so we can talk about questions like these! Youth from Confirmation classes all over New England will gather for worship, music, discussion, good food, and games

Download the brochure for more details or contact Ann Desrochers, [email protected], to let us know you are interested in bringing a group from your church.

The registration deadline of September 16th is this Friday!
09-A
Conference Office is Open to Visitors
After two and a half years of being closed due to the Covid Pandemic, we have re-opened the Conference Office to all visitors.

We are encouraging those who gather for group meetings at the Conference Office to please mask. Individuals who come on site to meet with a staff member may coordinate with that particular staff member regarding mask wearing.  

Should there be a Covid surge in the upcoming months, the Office may again be closed to visitors. As always, the Office may also be closed for inclement weather.

We do encourage all Conference Ministry Teams, Mission Groups, and committees to continue gathering virtually as their primary mode for meeting. Virtual meetings are often better stewardship of participants' time and energy as well as being better stewardship of God's creation. We will continue to fully support Zoom meeting options for all meetings. However, when there is significant benefit from meeting in-person, a room at the Conference Office can be scheduled.

Welcome back everyone!
09-A
Save the Dates for Retirement Celebrations
Over the next few months, we will be celebrating the ministries of our Office Manager/Christian Education Specialist, Ann Desrochers, and our Associate Conference Minister, the Reverend Richard Slater. We invite your presence as we bless both as they head into retirement. 

Please mark the following dates on your calendar:

Retirement Celebration for Ann Desrochers
Date: Wednesday, October 19th 
Time: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Place: the Conference Office

Retirement Celebration for Richard Slater 
Worship and Fellowship
Date: Saturday, November 19th
Time: 2:00 PM
Place: South Congregational Church in Concord

Please watch The Weekly News for more details as these celebrations grow closer. 
09-A
Annual Meeting Registration is Open
What: the 221st Annual Meeting of the New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ.

When:  Saturday, October 15, 2022

Where: Hybrid Meeting to be held at the Grappone Conference Center, 70 Constitution Avenue, Concord, NH 03301 and via Zoom Webinar, YouTube Livestream

Theme: This year we will explore the theme “Sing a New Song” as inspired by the words from Psalms 40 & 96, “O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.”

Keynote Speaker: Our keynote speaker will be Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, a full-time composer and musician, who serves across denominations teaching about music and spiritual formation.
 
Registration: Please visit https://www.nhcucc.org/conference-ministries/2022-annual-meeting for up-to-date Annual Meeting Resource Materials and/or register now at: https://cvent.me/QQ80PR
08-E
Please Remember in Your Prayers...
In this time of political and social polarities, let us remember our pastors and churches as they endeavor to bear witness to God’s desire for a just and loving human community. The recent highlighting of ‘woke’ churches reminds us that such witness can come at a cost, and so let us be vigilant in our prayer and support of those who bear witness.

Let us continue to remember in our prayers the several clergy families recently touched by death, praying that God’s gracious peace and comfort might accompany them in the days and weeks to come.

O God, in your tender mercy,
Hear our prayers!
Across Our Conference
The Merrimack Association will hold its Fall Meeting on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 1:30 PM at the First Congregational Church, Meredith. The meeting will be followed by the 3:00 PM Service of Installation for the Rev. Dr. Peter Lovett.

The Rev. Linda Hey will conclude her ministry as Interim Minister at the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, of Hampton. Her last Sunday at Hampton will be on October 2, 2022.

The Rev. Neil Wilson has announced his resignation from the role of Pastor and Teacher of the Laconia Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, and his retirement from active ministry. Neil’s last Sunday at Laconia will be October 23, 2022.

The Southwest Association of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ will gather at the United Church in Acworth, United Church of Christ, to install Ms. Maureen Adams as Pastor and Teacher at 3:00 PM on Sunday, October 30, 2022.

The Rockingham Association of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ will gather at the Newfields Community Church for a Service of Installation for the Rev. Cheryl Stromski at 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 30, 2022.

The Southwest Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, November 06, 2022 at 1:00 PM via Zoom.
Conference Minister
Associate Conference Minister

Sunday Schedule: September 18, 2022

Rev. Rankin will be participating in the 50th Ordination Anniversary Celebration for Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree at First Church in Windsor, CT.
Weekly News
The Weekly News is published to promote the mission and ministry of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ.

These announcements are intended to be brief, timely, and of a general interest to our Conference readers. Supportive links are provided whenever they are available. We encourage you to forward these materials to others in your church using the link below and to share them in your bulletins and local church newsletters.

Send your items to [email protected].The deadline for submitting items for the next issue is Thursday at 12:00 PM.
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