UCC Webinar —Discerning and Deciding: Bold Climate Action
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According to a recent UN climate report, the world has less than three years for its greenhouse gas emissions to peak and head into a relatively rapid decline. Careful discernment is needed on where to place our time and energy in seeking policies that will lead to a more just and hospitable world. This webinar will feature three leaders in the climate movement: Keya Chatterjee from the U.S. Climate Action Network, Miranda Ehrlich from the Sierra Club, and Jean Su from the Center for Biological Diversity. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1:00 PM ET on Wednesday, June 8th, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!
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Calling All High School Age Campers to Join Us at Horton Center this Summer! |
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Horton Center is actually a camp for all ages, but I want to remind you especially that we have camps for High School age campers every week of the summer! Some clarification: even if you are a graduating Senior, you are welcome to come to our Sr. High camps so check them out and come join us for another summer!
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May the Force be with you!: A Star Wars themed camp with all the amazing activities and opportunities for fun, new and old friends and exploring your faith in the amazing outdoors on Pine Mountain! Dean Jack Davidson is awesome.
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Archery 1&2: Dean Mike Simons will lead you to new skills and awesome memories of fun, safe shooting and more.
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Ready, Set, Hike: Dean Gary Winslow will lead you on all the hikes you have always wanted to go on at camp.
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Senior High Camp: Dean Gordon Rankin heads this traditional week at camp to get to know God, yourself, and your neighbor, while having a great time doing it.
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Adventure Camp Sr.: Dean Ashly Sylvester will take you on new adventures into the outdoors like you've never done before.
Shalom my friends, shalom.
Peace,
Tim & Tivvi
Tivvi Pare -she/her/hers - Summer Director
Tim Hughes he/him/his - Executive Director
Horton Center, NHCUCC
As always you can contact Tim with any questions at: [email protected] or 603-545-9660
Now Hiring Summer Staff! Interested? Click Here.
Or on Instagram: @hortoncenter
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Mini-Covid Update from Rev. Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister |
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Friends, it will come as no surprise to you that our Covid numbers are on the rise. We have been over our 5% 7-day positivity threshold for more than two weeks (and over 10% for more than a week.) I will add anecdotally that at no point during the pandemic have I had as many people that I know contract Covid.
The latest variant of Covid does not seem as severe but seems far more transmissible.
We are, therefore, recommending churches increase their Covid protocols. This may look different in different churches. If you are not requiring masks, consider requiring masks again. If you are singing, consider discontinuing singing for a while. If you are not distancing, encourage distancing again. (And perhaps do all three.) Whatever your church is currently doing, we encourage you to add at least one additional safety protocol at this time.
As for the Conference, the Conference Office will remain closed and all Conference Ministries, Mission Groups and Committees are to continue to meet virtually. At this time, we are not proposing any date when we expect this to change. Travel for Conference staff remains at their discretion.
Peace,
Gordon
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Local Churches are Invited to Share Significant Anniversaries at Annual Meeting 2022 |
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Are you celebrating a milestone anniversary in the life of your congregation this year? We’d like the entire Conference to help honor that moment by inviting you to share a one-minute video announcement about your church at our Annual Meeting! Include your church’s name, location, incorporation date, and one concrete way you see evidence of how your church is "singing a new song".
Please plan to submit this video no later than August 26, 2022 to Ann Desrochers, [email protected].
Your Conference Office is also attempting to improve its historical database regarding our congregations, to include details about incorporation date, clergy lineage, and any other significant historical facts or figures about your congregation. Please submit any details you might have about your local church to Cindy Bradley, [email protected]
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POSITIVE EXPOSURE Gallery to Host a Series of Events Featuring the Sacred Ally Quilt Ministry
May 22 - June 10, 2022
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In partnership with the Sacred Ally Quilt Ministry (SAQM), a 501(c)(3) ministry of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ, the POSITIVE EXPOSURE Gallery will host a series of quilts memorializing the last words of George Floyd, May 22 – June 10, 2022.
Comprised of ten quilts created by quilters from nine United Church of Christ congregations in New Hampshire, SAQM is a living, moving, breathing symbol and graphic reminder of the 400+ year history of racial injustice.
This exhibition is designed to inspire conversations and anti-racist thinking and action, while concurrently developing solidarity.
View the complete schedule of events and registration information for both virtual and in-person attendance here: https://conta.cc/3N0aJ9y
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Star Island is located off Rye, NH and hosts conferences all summer long. Transportation leaves from Portsmouth, transporting you to a beautiful spiritual home where you can relax in the salt air, attend classes and chapel, and meet lifelong friends.
Star Gathering 1 Family Conference: “Making, Baking, and Sharing: Nourishing Creativity and Community”
July 31-Aug. 7
Star Gathering UCC Youth Conference: “Feeding Body, Mind and Spirit”
July 31-Aug. 7
Star Gathering 2 Family Conference: “Nourishing a Community—Exploring Pathways to Racial Equity”
Aug. 7-14
Star Gathering Weekend UCC Family Conference: “Feed Your Body, Nourish Your Soul”
Sept. 2 or 3-5
For more information and to register now visit:
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Please Remember in Your Prayers... |
We urge prayers for the victims of recent mass shootings in our country, especially those who died in Buffalo, NY. We also urge prayers for the many who experience these events as trauma; for whom the massacres that catch the attention of the nation echo the smaller but dangerous moments in their own personal lives. We further urge prayers against the deadly forms of racism that are spreading throughout our society, and that the churches of America might find the courage to stand for what is right and good and true.
O God, in your tender mercy,
Hear our prayers!
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The Merrimack Association will gather at Plymouth Congregational UCC on Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 1:30 PM to be present for the Confirmation Ritual of the Association-wide Confirmation Class. The Confirmation Ritual will be followed by the Association Spring Annual Business Meeting, starting at approximately 2:15 PM. These in-person events will also be broadcast by Zoom. To learn more visit the Merrimack Association webpage.
The Rev. Frank Newsome will conclude his ministry as Pastor and Teacher of North Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Portsmouth on May 31, 2022. Frank will be retiring from ministry and relocating to North Carolina. His last Sunday at Portsmouth will be May 22, 2022.
Pastor Kerry Richardson will conclude his ministry as Interim Minister at Second Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, of Wilton on May 29, 2022.
The Rockingham Association of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ will gather at the Stratham Community Church, United Church of Christ, to celebrate the Ordination of the Ms. Cheryl Stromski at 2:00 PM on Sunday, June 5, 2022.
Pastor Kerry Richardson has accepted the invitation of the Congregational Church of Hooksett, United Church of Christ, to become their Interim Minister. Mr. Richardson will begin his ministry at Hooksett on June 5, 2022.
The Rev. John Johnson has announced his retirement as Pastor and Teacher of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Claremont. Rev. Johnson’s last Sunday at Claremont will be June 26, 2022. He and Marcia are moving to Acton, ME in retirement.
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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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