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The Weekly News
December 6, 2022 - Volume 14 No. 49
Dear New Hampshire Conference Churches and Authorized Ministers 
The last few years have been exhausting for our Authorized Ministers serving the local church and in specialized ministries. The pandemic changed how we serve our people and forced many to pivot quickly into new ways of doing ministry. At this point, it feels like we are on the other side of the peak of pandemic and yet the enervation remains. 
The Alliance of Associate Conference Ministers and the Council of Conference Ministers have witnessed the weariness experienced by our authorized ministers and have come together to offer a pastoral letter of care and concern for our colleagues. Grounded in the words from Matthew 14:23, the need for rest and renewal for our leaders who serve God’s people is uplifted. Also provided are resources for clergy and their congregational leaders to consider in making the space and time for clergy renewal. We pray our words allow our Authorized Minister's exhaustion to be seen and hope our churches actively seek ways to provide their leaders with the space for sabbath renewal.   

Blessings,
Reverend Richard Slater, Association Conference Minister
Reverend Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister

Pastoral Letter:
Resources to attach:
12-A
UCC Webinar—The Midterms and Beyond: A Path for Climate Justice
In this webinar, we will discuss the results of the midterms with an eye to what is possible for climate justice in 2023 and beyond. A full discussion of the midterms entails more than looking at a final scorecard of congressional contests. It entails assessing the power of young voters and voters who care about the climate crisis. It entails tracking the successes of state ballot initiatives. It entails bringing a lens of justice to the issues faced today. This webinar will equip faith-rooted advocates for advancing climate justice in the coming year.

The webinar will be on Wednesday, December 14th at 1 pm ET/12 pm CT/11 am MT/10 am PT/8 am HT.

12-A
NHCUCC Board of Directors November Report
The Board of Directors of the New Hampshire Conference met on November 5 at the Ruth Somes House, on the campus of Heritage Heights Retirement Community in Concord. We enjoyed a meeting, fellowship, worship, and meal together in person for the first time in almost three years. In addition to the 15 members and officers present, we welcomed Ms. Martha Sappington, who was elected to the Board at the recent Annual Meeting.

11-C
Keynotes by Dr. Velda Love, national UCC Justice & Peace speaker and advocate, Rev. Karoline Lewis, a Johannian scholar, and Rev. Marcia McFee. The speakers have collaborated with our worship team for months putting together 4 fabulous worship experiences.
 
 
Call for your room reservation. More info here https://sites.google.com/view/uccwc/register-hotels/accommodations
Hope to see you all there!
11-C
Join the New Hampshire Conference Team
The New Hampshire Conference seeks candidates to serve as our Communications, Technology, and Events (C, T, & E) Specialist . The C, T, & E Specialist will be the editor of the Conference Weekly News and website, will oversee the Conference’s digital infrastructure and will be the staff member responsible for coordinating logistics for all-Conference events (such as our Annual Meeting and Prepared to Serve education event). A position description is available upon request. 

Interested candidates should submit a resume (with references to contact) to the Reverend Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister, at [email protected].  

The New Hampshire Conference is a Racial Justice, Open and Affirming Conference of the United Church of Christ. 
11-F
The Sacred Ally Quilts On Display at the NH Conference Office
The Sacred Ally Quilts will be on display at the New Hampshire Conference office, 140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke for the month of December. These 10 quilts were lovingly made by 9 United Church of Christ churches in New Hampshire to memorialize the last words of George Floyd as he lay dying on the street with a police officer kneeling on his neck. They have traveled around the state and to other states. We are blessed with the opportunity to exhibit them here in the Conference office.

The quilts may be viewed during regular office hours (8:30am-4:30pm), with extended evening hours on Monday - Thursday, 4:30pm to 7:00pm, and Saturdays 9:00am -1:00pm, December 5-21. Contact the Conference office with any questions.
11-C
Please Remember in Your Prayers...
As bombardments continue to fall upon homes, businesses, schools, and the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, let us pray not only for the many who will be facing a cold winter ahead, but for those working behind the scenes to bring a cessation to war. Let there be peace on earth, we pray.

O God, in your tender mercy,
Hear our prayers!
Across Our Conference
The Rev. John Hogue has announced his resignation from the position of Pastor and Teacher of the First Church of Christ Congregational, United Church of Christ, effective December 11, 2022. John is looking forward to serving in other ministry settings as the Spirit leads.

The Rev. Jane Wilson has announced her resignation from the position of Pastor and Teacher of the United Congregational Church of Orford, UCC, and her retirement from active ministry. Rev. Wilson will conclude her ministry at Orford at the end of December, 2022.

The Rev. Richard Slater will retire from active ministry and from his work in the Conference as Associate Conference Minister on December 31, 2022.

The Rev. Sara Marean has announced her resignation from the position of Pastor and Teacher of the First Congregational Church of Wilmot, United Church of Christ. Rev. Marean will conclude her ministry at Wilmot on December 24, 2022.   

The Rev. Sara Marean has accepted the unanimous call of the NH Conference to become its Associate Conference Minister. Rev. Marean begins her ministry with the Conference on January 3, 2023.
Conference Minister
Associate Conference Minister

Sunday Schedule: December 11, 2022

The Rev. Gordon Rankin will be returning from the Authorized Ministry in the 21st Century (AM21) gathering in Atlanta.

The Rev. Richard Slater will worship with the congregation of First Church of Christ Congregational, UCC, and participate in the Liturgy of Farewell as the Rev. John Hogue concludes his ministry with the congregation.
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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