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Upcoming Events

Prepared to Serve
Virtual Event
February 8 -17, 2022
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Our Churches Wider Mission Basic Support, Association Dues, and Friends of the New Hampshire Conference Annual Appeal make this communication possible.
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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.
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Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Administrative Assistant

Office Manager
The Weekly News
January 04, 2022 - Volume 14 No. 01
January 14th Deadline for 2021 Donations is Fast Approaching
The Conference Office will soon be closing the 2021 books. All donations must be received in the NH Conference UCC office at 140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, NH 03275 by January 14th, 2022 in order to be considered a 2021 donation. If your church is a 5 for 5 Contributor, please keep this deadline in mind when sending in your final 2021 check.
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Registration is Now Open for Prepared to Serve 2022
Prepared to Serve 2022 will be held as an online event featuring 12 workshops from February 8 - 17.

This year’s theme is from the scripture passage found in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 

We believe the popularity of this event is due in large part to our ability to offer workshops that meet the needs of our local churches. Download the event brochure to learn more about this year's workshop offerings.

Register now: https://cvent.me/YdeNld

Stay up-to-date on this event by visiting:
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Welcome The Stranger
An Asylum-Seeker Helped by the NHCUCC and One of Our Local Churches Says “Thank You”
Among those released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention at the Stafford County jail through a bond paid by the Immigrant and Refugee Support Group (IRSG) of the NHCUCC was a man from Nigeria. Here is an edited copy of his letter to the IRSG, to be shared with you all:

It’s been quite a journey, but Thank God it all ended in praise through the mercies and kindness of God.

It all began in the year 2017 when Ms. Nancy (that’s Nancy Pierpont, Chair of the IRSG) showed up at Strafford County Jail that fateful day. After narrating my story to her, I didn’t think she would be able to help me out, but little did I know she was a carrier of God’s blessings for me and my family.

Fast forward to her next jail visit, she brought me good news; she said to me that she had found an attorney who was willing to take up my case but he would only be available after Christmas of 2017. Fortunately for me the attorney showed up at the jail before Christmas. After our lengthy conversations, he asked me if I would like my family to move to New Hampshire from Dallas Texas and I said YES because that has always been my desire to be around white folks and also to experience snowfall.

Fast forward to his next visit at the jail when he brought me good news. He said to me that Ms. Nancy had found someone who was willing to accommodate my wife and kids, so we began calling her Grandma S. The lawyer made arrangements for my wife and kids to move to New Hampshire and Grandma S. accommodated them and also came to the court for my release from detention in January of 2018. Grandma S. accommodated all of us together after my release from detention before I went back to Dallas Texas for my pending case and came back to New Hampshire a few months later, after the case was terminated. We all lived together at Grandma S’s house and attended Madbury UCC together. Everyone at the church has always shown us so much love and kindness ever since.

Fast forward to the 1st of December 2021. After a couple of reschedulings of previous court dates the ideal day arrived. The judge finally granted our request to legally stay in the United States of America! We want to say a very BIG THANK YOU to everyone at Madbury UCC.

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UCC Yearbook Data Collection to Begin January 5, 2022
The UCC Data Hub will open at noon on January 5, 2022 for Yearbook Data Collection. An email will be sent later this week with detailed instructions on how to report your 2021 church data.

If you are new to the role of collecting this data for your church and want to be included in that email blast, please touch base with Ann Desrochers at: [email protected] to ensure we have your correct contact information.
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Sign Up Now for Summer Camp at Horton Center
2022 Summer Camp Registration is open so you can sign up your campers right now! There are some brand-new camps and some old favorites to choose from.

Check out our amazing, camp schedule at: 

Four campers already signed up on the first day registration was open - will you be next?

Our Staff and Deans are working tirelessly to get a fabulous summer of adventure, friendships and outdoor fun planned. We cannot wait to see you up on the mountain in 2022!

On behalf of the whole Horton Center Family, we wish you all a safe, healthy, and blessed New Year.

Interested in Summer Staff 2022?  Apply or find out more at: www.hortoncenter.org/employment/

Check Horton Center out on: Faacebook  (www.facebook.com/HortonCenter) and Instagram (@hortoncenter).

PS - we're ordering some cool, new camp store stuff that we think you'll love!

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.
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Please Remember in Your Prayers...
In this season of celebrating the birth of a Savior, and the demonstration of God’s compelling love for all humankind, may we reaffirm our deep commitment to the biblical vision of God’s love, justice, and peace for each citizen of the world. May Christ’s birth truly bring ‘Joy to the World.’ 
 
O God, in your tender mercy,
Hear our prayers!
Across Our Conference
The First Congregational Church and Society, United Church of Christ, of Rindge has unanimously voted to join the Small Church Collaborative with United Church of Christ congregations in Ashburnham and Templeton, Massachusetts. The concept of the Collaborative has been developed by the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Magill, who will serve as the founding pastor of the Collaborative. Rindge’s membership in the Collaborative will begin in January.

The Rockingham Association of the New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ with gather in person at The Congregational Church in Exeter, UCC and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/exeterucc on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. to ordain Alexis Simpson. 

The Rev. Stephen Miller has accepted the call of The First Church in Jaffrey, United Church of Christ, to become their Pastor and Teacher. Steve will be coming to Jaffrey after serving a UCC congregation in Vermillion, SD, for some 26 years. He expects to begin at Jaffrey in January, 2022. 

The Rev. Dr. David Felton has been selected to serve as Interim Minister at the First Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ. Rev. Felton will begin his ministry at Hancock sometime in January of 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.
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