Recap of September Board of Directors Meeting |
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The New Hampshire Conference Board of Directors held their regularly scheduled meeting on September 12, 2020 via zoom.
The major items on the agenda included:
- reviewing the Conference finances
- discussing preparations for Annual Meeting
- reviewing plans for Rev. Slater's sabbatical
- reviewing resolutions proposed to go before General Synod
- reviewing the recommendation of the Clergy Support Ministry for the 2021 Clergy Compensation Guidelines
- receiving the report of the Conference Minister
- a farewell and thanks to out-going board members Brian Edwards and Rev. Paula Gile
09-D
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Tim Hughes and Tivvi Paré Continue Leadership at Horton Center |
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Summer 2020 was an extraordinary season for Horton Center. In the wake of the difficult but necessary decision to not hold on-site camp or retreats this summer, Tim Hughes (Interim Executive Director) and Tivvi Paré (Summer Director) developed what was one of the most dynamic and successful “at home” summer camp programs held at any of our UCC camps across the nation. HC@home was such a success that the Trails & Passages and Family & Friends sessions were added to what was planned. Further, Tim and Tivvi brought the Horton Center experience into our virtual worship spaces through the Horton Center Summer Sunday.
Even now that Summer 2020 has drawn to a close, there is still extraordinary news to share! Both Tim and Tivvi will be returning to provide continued leadership for Horton Center. Tim has agreed to serve as the Executive Director of Horton Center through Summer 2022. (Yes, we have dropped the “Interim” designation from his title because, after all, he is entering his fourth and fifth seasons providing such leadership). We have also codified Tivvi’s off-season role. She will be serving as our Assistant Director for the upcoming year.
Without question, Tim and Tivvi provided the type of creative, imaginative and versatile leadership that was needed to help Horton Center flourish during the uncertainty of 2020. We are excited and grateful that we will continue to reap the benefits of their leadership in the days to come.
09-D
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Clergy Check-In: September 29 & October 1 |
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Our next Clergy Check-ins will be:
- Tuesday, September 29th, 4:00 to 5:30 pm
- Thursday, October 1st, 10:00 to 11:30 am
The Zoom link to join these sessions is:
Meeting ID: 981 363 971
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Meeting ID: 981 363 971
The next Chaplains, Counselors and Non-parish Clergy Check-in will take place at 2 pm on Monday, October 5th.
09-D
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The Clergy Support Ministry and Rev. Maren Tirabassi to Offer a Workshop Featuring Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany Possibilities |
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On October 20th, 10:00 a.m., this workshop for clergy and lay leaders will share guidelines for shifts in seasonal liturgy and worship in livestream and Zoom formats and in hybrid churches where some participants are joining from home or work while others are in a sanctuary.
09-D
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Open and Affirming Mission Group Seeks New Members |
We would like to let you know about the work of the Open and Affirming Concerns Mission Group of the NH Conference. Our group focuses on consulting with and supporting local churches in their Open and Affirming (ONA) journey from their first consideration of whether to pursue becoming ONA, and to sustaining them as they live into the covenant that they have adopted.
We also offer periodic gatherings related to ONA issues. These gatherings are very popular. In January 2021, we will be hosting an on-line gathering featuring Andy Lang of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ. We will also have a panel moderated by our Conference Minister, the Rev Gordon Rankin, and a poetry reading by award-winning poet James Crews.
We need some help. Our hard-working group is small and could use a few new members. Our group meets once a month by Zoom. We are asking you to consider if you or someone in your church would be interested in joining us in our endeavors, perhaps bringing new ideas and energy. If so, would you send your/their name(s) and contact information to John Rowe at [email protected] or Rev Michael Denney, NH Conference ONA Consultant, at [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration of our request and we look forward to hearing from you.
John Rowe and Rev Michael Denney, co-chairs.
09-D
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The Environmental Justice Mission Groups Announces Opportunities to Learn More About the Rights of Nature |
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September 30, 2020: 7:30 pm via Zoom
The Environmental Justice Mission Group along with the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College Green Team invite you to an online program with Rev. Dr. Bob Shore Goss, a UCC Environmental Justice Council Trainer; retired UCC clergy/theologian; former pastor of the first Creation Justice Church of the UCC; and current member of the Federated Church of Marlborough, NH.
October 17, 2020: The New Hampshire Conference, UCC Annual Meeting
Bob shares his thoughts on why it is important to publicly support the Rights of Nature in this document.
09-D
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Environmental Justice Mission Group Shares Information on NH Interfaith Power and Light’s Faith Climate Justice Voter Campaign |
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NH Interfaith Power and Light is the newest of 40 affiliates of Interfaith Power and Light, a national organization whose mission is to inspire people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action to address climate change. Our NH organization formed last year with the help of a grant from the Episcopal Diocese of NH. This year we received a grant from IPL to allow us to focus on the importance of voting with climate in mind, for the sake of all of God’s Creation including future generations.
Our campaign is focused on the pledge which follows below, climate conversations with our families and friends on the importance of voting and encouraging others to vote, and working to protect access to the ballot to ensure that everyone has the means to vote including expanding vote by mail. If interested, please click on the link below to make the Climate pledge. If so inclined, please share this information with others in your faith community via your enews.
If you would like more information or to volunteer, please reach out to me, Susan Fuller at [email protected]
Pledge
"I am pledging to be a Faith Climate Justice Voter to put love into action for every living creature and for every vulnerable community suffering the impacts of our changing climate, from sea rise, to extreme heat, to devastating droughts, to supercharged storms.
I believe that our nation’s elected leaders and our public policies should reflect our shared values. By pledging to be a consistent voter and vote with climate in mind, I am communicating the values of caring for God’s Creation and our children’s future.”
09-C
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Please Remember in Your Prayers... |
Those who have had their homes, communities, businesses, and churches threatened or damaged by the West Coast wildfires. Those in the Gulf Coast area who are recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Sally.
The citizens of Zimbabwe as they experience deep hunger, isolation, and the crumbling of their medical system. The lack of medications, anesthesia, and a general strike by doctors and nurses is precipitating a devastating health-care crisis for the average citizen.
Those experiencing serious illness, especially Pam, the wife of the Rev. Kevin Pleas; the Rev. Judy Copeland; and any others whose names are not here mentioned; that God’s healing touch and presence might be with them.
O God, in your tender mercy,
Hear our prayers!
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The Rev. Deborah Knowlton will retire and conclude her ministry as Pastor and Teacher of the First Congregational Church of Hampton, United Church of Christ, at the end of September 2020.
The Rev. Sara M. Holland has been called to serve as Pastor and Teacher of the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ. Rev. Holland will begin her tenure on October 7, 2020.
The Rev. Rebecca Maccini has tendered her resignation as Designated Term Pastor of the Congregational Christian Church, United Church of Christ, of West Franklin. Her ministry at Franklin will conclude on October 31, 2020.
The Rev. Dr. Peter Lovett has accepted the call of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, of Meredith to be their Pastor and Teacher. Peter will begin his ministry at Meredith on November 1, 2020.
The Rev. Ruth Martz has tendered her resignation from her position as Pastor and Teacher of the Congregational Church of Sanbornton, United Church of Christ, effective November 30, 2020, and is retiring from active ministry. Ruth’s last Sunday at Sanbornton will be November 15.
The Rev. Sharon van der Laan will retire and conclude her ministry as Pastor and Teacher of the Lancaster Congregational, United Church of Christ, on November 22, 2020.
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Conference Minister
Sunday Schedule: October 4, 2020
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The Rev. Gordon Rankin will be worshiping with our NHCUCC congregations via computer from his own home. |
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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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