The United Church of Christ Invites You to Share Your Story Through the 3 Great Loves Initiative |
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In this New Year, as we continue to face unprecedented challenges…
More than ever, we need to draw upon and reinforce a solid foundation of love. Sharing with one another, the many ways we reach out in Love, is a source of inspiration and encouragement for us all through these times of continued challenge.
Please, share with us how you and your church are sharing God’s great love! How are you making God’s love real, serving as Christ’s hands & feet, and ministering to those in need in the world? Share photos and videos of your love in action. We want to hear your story because you matter.Share Your Story
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Horton Center Extends "No-Deposit" Deadline to February 1st |
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Horton Center is extending the deadline to February 1st for 'no-deposit' registrations.
Due to everything, you can sign up for camp today and put no money down. No payments are due until February 1st now!
Peace,
Tivvi & Tim
Tivvi Paré - Summer Director, Horton Center
Tim Hughes - Interim Executive Director, Horton Center
As always you can contact Tim Hughes with any questions at: [email protected] or 603-545-9660.
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Richard Slater Returns from Sabbatical |
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The Reverend Richard Slater returned from his Sabbatical Leave on Tuesday, January 12th. He was welcomed back with robust enthusiasm. He immediately resumed all his normal responsibilities lending his wisdom and leadership to Search and Call for our churches, staffing of Committees on Church and Ministry, and guidance for our Unified MID Mentor Team and Ukama Partnership.
Richard - we hope your Sabbatical was renewing and are glad to have you back serving among us.
We are profoundly grateful to the Reverend Dr. David Felton for his ministry as our Bridge Associate Conference Minister. David originally agreed to this position in February of 2020. It is safe to say the expectations of the position were completely different when he started in September. We are so very thankful to David for his adaptiveness and devotion to ministering to the needs of the churches of our Conference.
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The BTS Center to Offer Rooted and Rising in Love: A One-Day Retreat with Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas |
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The long, dark days of winter invite us to reflect deeply on our sources of courage and hope. In the face of converging social and ecological crises, what spiritual practices and perspectives will sustain us? As we struggle to protect the web of life and to create a more just society, where do we turn for meaning and strength?
This one-day retreat, to be held Friday, February 5, 2021, 10:00am - 3:00pm (Eastern)via Zoom, will include a mix of presentations, small group conversations, individual reflection, and free time for contemplative wandering and prayer. Together we will explore a framework for the heart to help us become compassionate, prophetic leaders who can take up the mantle of moral leadership that this decisive moment in history requires.
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Our Conference’s Immigrant Bond and Support Fund Needs Your Help! |
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As the current administration in Washington winds down, asylum seekers and their lawyers and other advocates (plus investigative reporters) have reported an intense escalation of deportations and other forms of harm to immigrants that are apparently targeting Black and African seekers of refuge and safety. In the face of such ramped-up and explicitly racist targeting of our immigrant brothers and sisters – children of God, all – our NH Conference Immigrant and Refugee Support Group, in December, also experienced a markedly increased need for our support and interventions.
In one month alone, we expended well over $10,000 in order to:
- help bond an asylum-seeker out of ICE detention
- provide support for urgent legal services to help keep two of our brothers of color from imminent deportation
- assist 10 individuals who have been bonded out of ICE detention with some basic survival support
- and help 10 individuals in ICE detention gain access to basic survival goods through the jail commissary, including access to phone calls and thus a lifeline to the outside world.
At the same time, NH churches and related groups also worked to raise urgent funds to help individual refuge-seekers access legal services to fight for asylum. These combined efforts are all extremely important.
At our pace of activity, we need an infusion of contributions to keep this life-giving work going. As you are able, we encourage our UCC family to support the work of our Immigrant Bond and Support Fund. Every dollar helps. Every contribution makes a difference. You can mail a tax-deductible contribution, payable to the NHCUCC, 140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, NH 03275 (with “Immigrant Bond and Support” in your check’s memo line) – or donate on-line (look for “Immigrant Bond and Support Fund”). As we carry out the commandment to love our neighbor, we are indeed all in this together.
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United Church Funds Offers Article with Helpful Tips on Creating a Gift Acceptance Policy |
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A Gift Acceptance Policy is an essential but often overlooked section of endowment governance. Matthew Wagner, Vice President of Institutional Relationships, has prepared this article that lays out practices and strategies in creating a Gift Acceptance Policy.
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Please Remember in Your Prayers... |
In a week in which happenings in our country have shocked and dismayed us, we offer prayers for those who have lost their lives or been harmed as well as their loved ones, for justice to triumph over power, and for truth and love to be restored as the foundation of our civil discourse and decision-making.
The Rev. John Matiza, the newly elected President of the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ), who began his ministry on January 1 and will be Installed when circumstances permit. The Rev. Fungayi Mutsumbeyi has been elected Vice-President of the UCCZ. Please also remember in your prayers those who have known and loved the Rev. Peter Khosa, pastor and chaplain in the Chikore region. Rev. Khosa died recently from the coronavirus. Please also remember the people of Zimbabwe as they continue to suffer extraordinary hardships, including lack of effective medical care and widespread hunger.
O God, in your tender mercy,
Hear our prayers!
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The Rev. Jane Wilson has resigned from her position as Pastor and Teacher of the Bethany Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Pike effective December 31, 2020. Jane’s last service at Bethany was on Christmas eve. Jane will continue to serve as Pastor and Teacher of the United Congregational Church of Orford, United Church of Christ.
Sanbornton Congregational, United Church of Christ has called the Rev. Paula Gile as their Interim Pastor. She started her ministry in Sanbornton on January 1, 2021.
The First Congregational Church of Hanover Center, United Church of Christ has called Christopher Green to serve as their Pastor. The church is yoked with the First Baptist Church of Hanover. Mr. Green is preparing for his ordination in the American Baptist Church and will begin his service in Hanover mid-January.
Rev. Roger Spinney will conclude his interim ministry with the First Congregational Church - First Baptist Church of Hanover in January.
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Conference Minister
Sunday Schedule: January 24, 2021
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The Rev. Gordon Rankin and the Rev. Richard Slater will be worshiping with our NHCUCC congregations via computer from their own homes. |
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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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