603.225.6647
Upcoming Events

Clergy Convocation
Sep 19-21, 2022
Register now at:

Annual Meeting
Oct 15, 2022
Thank You for Your Support!

Our Churches Wider Mission Basic Support, Association Dues, and Friends of the New Hampshire Conference Annual Appeal make this communication possible.
Special Focus E-Newsletters Available

Did you know that the New Hampshire Conference has other periodic newsletters that are distributed by subscription? In addition to receiving The Weekly News, you may also enjoy reading:
  
HC Happenings
A publication that keeps campers, parents, churches, and volunteers up to date on all things Outdoor Ministries and Horton Center. 
 
CE News
The monthly newsletter focusing on Faith Formation for all ages, upcoming Christian Education events, training opportunities, and resources for Christian Educators.
News from the Wider Church

Keep updated on happenings at the national level:
Local News




Conference Center Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Administrative Assistant

Office Manager
The Weekly News
August 09, 2022 - Volume 14 No. 32
Join Global Ministries Mission Dash Virtual 5K to Support Climate Justice Projects
When you choose to Dash – you are joining a life-giving community that is responding in bold ways to the challenges of climate change and the thousands working globally to provide meaningful care for the earth’s resources.

Throughout the month of August you are encouraged to walk, roll, run, jog, or spiritually sprint wherever you are! You may choose to do the 5K with neighbors, friends, family, church, or on your own.

08-B
What You Need to Know if Outside Groups Use Your Church Facilities
Churches that offer the use of their space to non-church groups for meetings or events have lots to consider, from the ecclesiastical— must outside groups share our beliefs to use our space?— to the mundane— do we allow food and drink and who is responsible for cleaning up? 

Welcoming recovery groups, weddings, and other community groups may further your church’s mission, and may even help to offset some of the costs of operating your church. Good stewards of church assets will consider the legal and financial risks associated with letting outside groups use their church facilities.

In her July 1st blog post UCC General Counsel Heather Kimmel provided some information on what churches should consider when establishing or revising a facilities use agreement or policy.
08-A
NHCUCC Office Manager and CE Resource Consultant, Ann Desrochers, to Retire this Fall
Friends in the New Hampshire Conference,

I am writing to share the news that after 10 years of service to the Conference, Ann Desrochers, our Office Manager and Christian Education Specialist, has announced her retirement effective November 1, 2022.

Let me share with you Ann’s own words:

“I have been blessed by the ten years I have worked for the Conference. When I began as the part-time Christian Education Specialist in 2012 I never imagined the deep joy serving in that capacity would bring to my life. The young people, youth leaders, and pastors I have encountered through church visits, Regional and National Youth Events, Confirmation Retreats, and Youth @Synod, have challenged me to explore my faith in new ways and grow in my relationship with God, myself, and others.

In November of 2016, I expanded my role with the Conference accepting a full-time position as Office Manager and Event Planner, while continuing to maintain my Christian Education Resource Consultant responsibilities. Working on Yearbook reporting, Prepared to Serve, UCC General Synod, and Annual Meeting with clergy and laity from our Conference churches provided a new appreciation for what can be accomplished when we all share the unique gifts God has bestowed upon us.

I also hold dearly my colleagues on the Conference staff. I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked with such a dedicated group of individuals.

Though I will be sad to depart, I am ready to start the next chapter of my life. I am eager to spend more time with my parents, children, and grandchildren and look forward to the opportunity to travel with my husband.”

While Ann’s last official day serving on staff will be October 31st, she is carrying a good bit of unused vacation time which she will use at the end of her tenure with us. So, in practical terms, Ann will not be “in the office” following the Conference Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 15th.

Plans for a retirement celebration for Ann are in the works and will be announced soon.

Future staffing plans will also be announced in the weeks to come.

Please hold Ann in your prayers as she serves out her final few months among us.

Blessings,
Gordon
08-A
This Month's UCC Creation Justice Webinar Will Address Reducing Water Pollution
The next UCC Creation Justice webinar will feature Lynn Thorp, who serves as the National Campaigns Director for Clean Water Action. She will discuss how we can make effective and equitable strides in reducing water pollution, including exposure to toxic substances such as the highly toxic “forever” chemicals found in almost everyone’s blood in the U.S.

Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1:00 PM ET on Wednesday, August 10th, still sign-up and we will send you a recording.

08-A
There is Still Time to Come to Horton Center in 2022!
Summer camp at Horton Center is over, but there are still some post-camp weekends providing an opportunity to come back to the mountain for an incredible experience of living in community with new and welcoming friends at our beautiful mountaintop Camp.

You can still sign up for:


Sign up today at: www.HortonCenter.org

Shalom my friends, shalom.

Tivvi Pare - she/her/hers - Summer Director
Tim Hughes - he/him/his - Executive Director
Horton Center, NHCUCC

As always you can contact Tim at:603-545-9660 [email protected]

Check out our website: www.HortonCenter.org
Or find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HortonCenter
Or on Instagram: @hortoncenter
08-B
Please Remember in Your Prayers...
Let us hold in prayer all those who have been impacted by the devastating flooding in Kentucky, especially the families of those who have lost a loved one.

Let us remember in our prayers the Search Committee appointed to select a candidate for the position of Associate Conference Minister.

Let us finally offer prayers for the well-being of our authorized ministers serving in parish and non-parish settings as they attend to the needs of our people in a time of adversity, and endeavor to bring renewed vitality to our congregations in these waning days of the pandemic.

O God, in your tender mercy,
Hear our prayers!
Across Our Conference
The Rev. Jennifer Mazur has accepted the unanimous call of North Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, of Portsmouth to become their Pastor and Teacher. Rev. Mazur will begin her ministry at Portsmouth on August 28, 2022.
 
The Rev. Peter Ilgenfritz has accepted the invitation of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, of Littleton to become their Interim Minister. Rev. Ilgenfritz’s ministry at Littleton begins September 6, 2022.
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.
Having trouble viewing this email? Click here to view it in a web browser.