FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC
115 South Main St.
PO Box 913
Wolfeboro NH 03894
(603) 569-1555
The Rev. Gina Finocchiaro
Senior Minister
cell: (207) 239-7796
home: (603) 515-0066
Krista Marschner
Office Administrator
Andy Campbell
Music Director
Dan Flaucher
Sexton
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CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday & Wednesday
12:00 noon - 3:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
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WORSHIP SCHEDULE
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June 2nd - September 29th
Come and worship by the lakeside! Cate Park is located on the banks of the Lake Winnipesaukee by the town docks and across from the Post Office. Gather around the gazebo with your chair, your coffee, your dog, your friends. Worship is simple and relaxed. Come as you are!
10:00 am Worship
at 115 South Main Street
Our traditional worship service in our beautiful sanctuary. This service will be one with music and choirs, a children's message and church school.
Watch our Worship Services
Wolfeboro Community Television Channel 25
Sundays: 9:00 am, 3:00 pm,
9:00 pm
YouTube Channel
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Music Sunday
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We will celebrate Music Sunday on June 2nd at the 10am worship service. Our talented choirs and church musicians have deftly planned hymns, arrangements and pieces to carry us through a thoughtful service of music. Our Adult Choir and Bell Tones (handbell choir) will perform this day. And the whole service will be music-filled! This is always a joyful morning, we hope you can be with us!
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UCC EVENTS AT FCCW
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On Saturday, April 27th FCCW hosted the installation of The Rev. Gordon Rankin as NHCUCC Conference Minister. Thank you to everyone who helped with this event from making food, helping at the reception, singing, and helping at the event! It was all hands on deck and we appreciate everyone who was able to be there!
Then on Thursday, May 16th our Board of Church Family Care outdid themselves again and hosted Clergy Day for 35 NHUCC Clergy from around the state. They provided breakfast, snacks, lunch and dessert! It was an amazing day and we thank everyone once again who helped!
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FCCW is sponsoring a dinner in conjunction with the Great Waters "Remembering Matthew Shepard"
concert that will take place in our sanctuary beginning at 7:30PM, Saturday, June 29th.
The dinner will served at 6 PM and will feature ham, a couple of traditional sides as well as salads and desserts. Those coming to the dinner will be finished in time to get good seats at the concert but the dinner can be enjoyed in its own right as well.
The $15 Dinner tickets can be purchased at church or at Blacks beginning Sunday, June 9th. Those wishing to purchase tickets for the concert can do so through Great Waters Music Festival
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CELEBRATIONS
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May
2 - Nancy Nelson
3 - Cassidy Ridings
6 -
Cameron Hopkins
11 - Elizabeth Cook
Thomas Cook
12 - Betty Coolidge
15 - Chip Maxfield
Christian Thayer
19 - Martha Crawford
Richard & Denise Thayer (Anniversary)
25 - Martha Demaree
Taylor Hudson
30 - Carol Thomson
June
1 - Mike & Patty Mac Hewitt (Anniversary)
2 - Corinne Brown
3 - Preston Bechard
Jim Taylor
4 - Gayle Gosselin
5 - Fred Fernald
Mark Lackey
Richard Osgood
7 - Jenna Barton
Dotti Kay
8 - Gregg & Beth Roark (Anniversary)
10 -
Jim & Carol Nupp (Anniversary)
13 - Lois Vater
18 - Pam Hopkins
David Lehmann
19 - Wayne Gehman
Dan Flaucher
20 - Robert & Betty Coolidge (Anniversary)
24 -
Stephen & Barbara Curtis
(Anniversary)
26 - John Campbell
Janet Patterson
28 - Carl & Kim Lehmann
(Anniversary)
30 - Gordon & Katie Ling (Anniversary)
Not on the list? Our database is incomplete and we need your help!
Please send your date of birth (you don't have to send the year), anniversary dates and any special announcements that you would like to let your church family know about.
PLEASE call or email the Church Office with the information. Call 569-1555 or email kristafccw@gmail.com.
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FCCW PHOTO WEBSITE
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Albums:
Service
Sacraments
Children in the Service
Music
Events
Miscellaneous
Old to new Church
If you have photos you would like to share please send them to Bruce McCracken at
bmc@metrocast.net
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CHANCEL FLOWERS
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Would you like to donate flowers for the cancel in the sanctuary?
Consider donating a flower arrangement for the beauty of the sanctuary at Sunday service. You may give it in memory of a loved one or to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, or holiday. You make take the arrangement home after worship or have a deacon deliver it to a shut in. Please call the office or Gayle Gosselin at 493-5390 or gayle6458@gmail.com for more information.
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EMAIL PRAYER CHAIN
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Members of our congregation's prayer chain receive prayer requests by confidential email. Anyone wishing to participate who does not use email may receive a phone notification.
To join: Call or email Krista at the FCCW office
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USHERS
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Want to get more involved in church life? Ushering or leading worship are great ways to help our church. Ushering is fairly simple and requires little more than arriving early on the Sunday you're serving. Leading worship requires only a few minutes of your time during the service. Generally, ushers serve about four times a year, but there is no requirement for frequency. Whatever fits your schedule would be helpful. If you think this might fit your schedule, contact Bruce McCracken at
bmc@metrocast.net
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FELLOWSHIP
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The Church Family Care Board needs your help! If you are willing to "host" a coffee hour in June or this summer please select a Sunday of your choice and sign up at the back of the sanctuary. Having 3 or 4 people "team up" makes the work lighter. On these cold mornings, a hot beverage is a welcomed treat...food is optional! If you are unfamiliar with the church kitchen and would like some assistance, a member of the Family Care Board will be happy to assist.
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Are you looking for a way to serve? Here is an opportunity to join an amiable group of people and help our mission in the village of Kpenoe, Ghana.
Sewers, cutters, pressers & beaders meet on
Fridays in the chapel from 9:30 am - 1pm. If are interested in joining our group, please call Meg Geoghegan at 569- 4886. New members are always welcome.
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HELPING HANDS PRAYER SHAWL & VETERANS LAP ROBE
MINISTRY
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Do you knit? Do you crochet? Would you like to learn? Come and sit with us, every
3rd Friday from 10:00 - 11:30 am
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as we make prayer shawls for members and friends of FCCW and lap robes for veterans in Hospice. Beginners and advanced knitters are welcome!
For more information please contact Corinne Brown at (603) 569-0029 or Dotti Kay at (603) 569-6467
The next Prayer Shawl group will meet on Friday, June 21st at FCCW in the 3rd Level gathering space.
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FOOD DONATIONS
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If you are interested in donating food to the LIFE Ministries Food Pantry, "End 68 Hours of Hunger" or GWAVCoop please place your food in the donation box or wagon by the foyer door (parking lot side).
LIFE Ministries Food Pantry is looking for non-perishable food items
End 68 Hours of Hunger is looking for peanut butter, jelly, canned pasta, chicken noodle soup, macaroni, fruit in plastic cups, granola bars, cereal, tuna, pop tarts, horizon chocolate milk, and peanut butter crackers
GWAVCoop is looking for granola bars, apples, fruit cups, and other individually packaged healthy snacks.
Thank you!
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FROM GINA
Rev. Gina M. Finocchiaro
Senior Minister
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Warmer days have come, at last.
The tell-tale signs of the season have arrived...
pollen on my porch, soft-serve on a cone,
slow-going traffic, crosswalk-avoiders.
I have been receiving recurring alerts on my phone.
To remind me that though the air is warm,
but the water is still too cold for swimming.
Warmer days have come, at last.
Some glorious leave-the-windows-open,
sit-on-the-porch with a book and a drink, warmer days.
Some fire-up-the-grill,
think-about-getting-on/in-the-lake, warmer days.
Gives my heart a lift to see these resurrection signs.
Encourages my belief that love will win again.
Reminds me that my work is not in vain.
Stirs in me a latent dream that all will be well,
that we are not left alone,
that I must be the change for the world,
that God is love.
Yet unrealized. Yet unknown. Yet deferred.
The is still too cold for swimming.
I scribbled this poem down in a cafe this week, inspired after reading Maxine Kumin's masterpiece "Morning Swim". I have been churning over ideas about resilience and transformation, thinking about that which needs resurrecting - first must die. But then how not just to re-fashion it as it was before? How do we let something truly new be reborn?
We are becoming- each of us, as individual.
- all of us, as congregation, community and country.
We are not arrived yet, still on the way. The air has warmed, but the water is slower.
Thank God, we can still proclaim that God abides alongside.
May your warmer days offer some sabbath, remind you of latent dreams, and assure you that you are not alone.
Blessings,
Pastor Gina
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Celebration Sunday and Bible Sunday - 
Save the date! Celebration Sunday and Bible Sunday is on
June 16th. If you or anyone in your family will be celebrating a graduation this spring/summer, please send the information to Krista at
kristafccw@gmail.com. Graduates will be recognized and invited to come forward during worship though they need not be present to be recognized.
 On this Sunday each year we also present our youth with a bible. Any third grader or older youth who have not received a bible yet will be paired with an adult to be their bible mentor. If you have a student in your family, third grade or older who has not yet received a bible please contact Krista.
Sunday School -
We offer childcare in the
nursery for babies and toddlers and church school classes for students in preschool through 6th grade from September through June. On the first Sunday of each month, all children are invited to participate in Youth Chapel - their own worship service, and then join their families for Communion. All other weeks the children will start in worship and after chancel steps will head to their classrooms with their teachers for the remainder of church.
PreK-Grade 2 - meets in the preschool room on the first level
Grades 3-6 - meets in the Chapel on the 2nd level
Our last day of Sunday School will be on Sunday, June 16th where we will celebrate our youth and teachers! Join us!!!
Children's Playgroup
- A time of sharing and community for parents and children of varying ages. The playgroup will meet Monday mornings at 9:30 am in the Nursery or at The Nick on sunny days during the summer.
If you know a parent who might enjoy fellowship with other parents during this time frame, please invite them to come to the group! Get the latest updates about where the group will be meeting or for special events on their Facebook page First Congregational Church playgroup.
If you have a child who is interested in attending camp this summer and would like scholarship aid, please pick up your application from Krista, or it can be emailed by request kristafccw@gmail.com
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CELEBRATION SUNDAY POTLUCK
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Following worship on
June 16
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, the Family Care Board will be hosting a picnic downstairs in Fellowship Hall. Members, friends and guests are all welcome!
The Church family can help us with this event by bringing either a tray of sandwiches or a salad/side dish. Beverages, chips and dessert will be provided. This will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy good food and fellowship! Look for the picnic sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space. Thank you in advance for your support!
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Grants are available for members of the church who are graduates of an accredited high school regardless of age, marital status, or sex. Grants will be awarded to undergraduate or graduate students in their pursuit of higher education. The educational fields will be considered in the following order of priority:
1. Christian Ministry
2. Christian Education
3. Health and Public Service
4. Other Educational Fields of Study.
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WOLFEBORO SERVES
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 Wolfeboro Serves is a service-focused, social-justice centered youth group for students in grades 7 through 12 from FCCW, All Saints, and Brewster Academy. The group met with volunteers from Knights Against Hunger and had their last gathering of the school year at
All Saints on Sunday, April 28th to help package meals for distribution through the LIFE Ministries Food Pantry.
They gathered because 815 million people on our planet are either starving to death or malnourished. That's 1 out of every 9. In America, it's 1 out of every 8. We don't have kids starving to death on the streets, but 1 out of every 6 American children goes to bed hungry. In New England, there are 1.6 million people who struggle to make it every month. In NH, there are 120,000.
Here in Carroll County, there are 4,000 hungry people-1,000 of which are kids. Wolfeboro Serves packaged 10,000 meals for food pantries in this county and were part of a 7 day push (Apr 24
th
-May 1
st
) to feed 275,000 hungry people at 11 events in 5 states.
Be on the look out for when the group starts up again next fall. The group is ecumenical and interfaith. Bring friends! All are welcome!
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CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
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Michelle Dodge and Shamar Whyte welcomed the arrival of their daughter
Auden Anne Whyte on May 8th. She was 8 lbs 3 oz and was welcomed by big brother Langston and big sister Tenneyson. Congratulations!!
Libby Barton and Tyler Winton will be married at FCCW on Saturday, June 22nd at 3:30 pm. They would like the congregation to know they are all invited to the ceremony and share in this special occasion.
Bill Wiebe's memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 15th at 11:00 am.
Bev Parson's memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 8th at 11:00 am.
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NEW MEMBERS
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On Sunday, April 28th we welcomed 9 new members to our congregation.
We were excited to celebrate this joyful day!
Suzanne Copenhaver
Barbara Crimp
Susan Crimp-Marcet
Kim Lehmann
Dawn & Chip Lyon
Corey MacDonald
Alice & Steve Purington
Be on the lookout for more bios in our next chimes!
Barbara Crimp -
As a new resident of Wolfeboro, I am Barbara (Bickford) Crimp and it is with joy that we join
another UCC Church after 20 years membership in the First Congregational Church, UCC
of Gorham, Maine.
I'm den mother to six wonderful grandsons (all in their 20s), who find Wolfeboro is an appealing destination
for skiing, Food, water sports, Food, hiking, Food, mountain biking, Food - and sleeping.
We all feel as if we've hit the jack pot because our families from AK, SF, TX and all points east have plans
to visit us this summer.
But best of all, I'm looking forward to taking part in church activities and meeting everyone.
What a great idea to use name tags - and everyone actually wears them!
Hello, I am Susan. I am long married to my husband, Gary, and mom to two wonderful sons, as well as daughter to my mom Barbara who joined with me. I love to sing. Also my life calling is to have been a social worker for the last 30 something years. I have a private practice in Wolfeboro. I'm also crazy about dogs, hiking, anything to do with the lakes and reading
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Let me know if you'd like to go for a hike or a swim! I've been a member of UCC churches for about 20 years. I believe that we manifest God's love in our connection with one another and I am happy and honored to be embraced by this church family!
Elliot (Chip) and Dawn Lyon
- recently moved to Wolfeboro from Mont Vernon, N.H. where they raised their family and established a real connection and allegiance to their community. They enjoyed four decades of participation in several town organizations there. After Chip retired, they decided to downsize to have more time to spend at their summer cottage in Tuftonboro.
They were members of the Mont Vernon Congregational Church, UCC, where Dawn was an original founder of The Messiah Sing, a chorus of 100 singers with orchestra accompaniment, that performs every Christmastime.
They have two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren (who live too far away in Virginia Beach!)
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FCCW ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
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Save the date for our Annual Organizational Meeting to be held on Sunday, June 23rd after worship in the Sanctuary. Annual reports from the boards and staff will be received as well as nominations for board members and council.
The 2019 Annual Organizational Report will be available June 9th via email and printed copies.
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WOLFEBORO READS
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Join Pastor Gina and Pastor Bill Tuesdays for discussion and sharing around a common read. We will meet each week (with some exceptions), from 4:00-5:30 pm in the Gathering Space at FCCW, 115 S. Main St.
We will spend a few weeks on each book that we read. All are welcome!
The book for June is
Why Religion?
by Elaine Pagels and will be discussed on 6/4, 6/11, and 6/18.
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BUCKET SUNDAY
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Every Father's Day FCCW participates in the Church World Service Bucket Sunday.
This year it is on June 9th & June 16th.
In the summer of 2018 wildfires raged through communities throughout southern California
leaving little time for residents to escape. Those who were fortunate enough to have a home to return to
faced the arduous task of cleaning up from either smoke or water damage. CWS provided Emergency cleanup Buckets, kits & blankets to the supply post to help give comfort to people in time of need. Knowing they had this cleanup bucket was a huge relief; one less thing to worry about when they returned home.
In the Fall of 2018, following Hurricanes Florence & Michael a total of 22,640 emergency clean up buckets were distributed in the U.S. & Puerto Rico. These examples of relief efforts are only possible because of our dedicated congregations & donors like you.
For every $75. collected volunteers will fill a bucket with supplies such as sponges, mops, soaps, household cleaners, gloves, trash bags & laundry detergents to name a few. The Faith In Action Committee would be grateful if you act generously by donating any amount on Bucket Sundays- June 9th or June 16th at the table at the back of the sanctuary.
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BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
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Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice coordinator Dan Kusch and Pastor Gina are offering several different types of support groups this upcoming winter. All the support groups are free of charge and will meet at FCCW.
To register for any of these groups, learn about specific dates, times, locations and/or more information, please call or email Dan Kusch.
Phone: 603-569-2729 or
Next Step - Offers participants of our past grief support groups an opportunity to continue to connect and share ongoing support. Meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 4 pm in the Quimby Room. Next meeting will be on June 11th.
Parent's Circle - Grief Support for parents who have lost children at any age to any circumstance or reason. All are welcome. We encourage you to come as individuals or together. We will meet monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6:00-7:30 pm in the Quimby Room. Next meeting will be on June 11th.
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LIFE MINISTRIES FOOD PANTRY
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L.IF.E. Ministries Food Pantry is, again, conducting a special summer
fundraiser to further their work toward hunger relief for Wolfeboro area families.The L.I.F.E. Ministries Food Pantry Hunger Relief Weekend is July 13th and14th.
Seven area churches will be receiving donations at services on the
weekend of July 13th and14th. These churches include All Saints
Episcopal, First Baptist, First Christian, First Congregational Church of Wolfeboro, Melvin Village Community, Saint Katharine Drexel, and Tuftonboro Methodist. 50/50 raffle tickets will be sold during that weekend. You can also place donations in jars located in many stores in Wolfeboro and Alton.
The annual Food Pantry benefit concert will be on Sunday, August 25th. Please mark your calendar and watch for forthcoming details.
Up to twenty five towns are served with over 182,500 meals distributed in 2018. A 27% increase year to year. Also in 2018, the Food Pantry added two new programs: food service to students during vacations and assisting Families in Transition (Hope House) with food. The 1766 individuals representing 682 families who were served by the Food Pantry in 2018 and the many receiving help now appreciate your compassion and generosity.
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ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES AND APPRAISAL DAY
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The fundraising committee of FCCW will be holding an Antiques, Collectibles and Appraisal Day at First Congregational Church on
Sept. 21, 2019. This hopes to be an all-church and community event drawing attendees and participants from all over the lakes region. We will sell tables to both dealers and individuals who have antiques and/or collectibles to sell. In addition the church will man and sell several tables of such items as are donated.
WE WILL NEED YOUR DONATIONS. These cannot be garage sale items.
We will need to review items donated to make sure they qualify as antiques or collectibles, appropriate for this sale.
For a fee, an all-day appraiser will be on hand to give information and value estimates to people who have items to bring in for appraisal. And, in addition, there will be an on-going food and snack sale for vendors and customers. It is a big undertaking, and we need the help of many people. Whether you have a little time or a lot, we would appreciate what you can give. There are many jobs ahead of time and all along the way so even if the day is a conflict, we could use your help.
For any information, ideas, and offerings to become involved, please contact Patty Mac Hewitt at 781-929-7859 or 603-569-6090.
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STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH
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Strengthen the Church is a special offering of the United Church of Christ with the goal of reimagining and building the future of the UCC.
With our support, churches are encouraged to purposefully strengthen their presence and impact on their communities. This may be through supporting new programs in existing churches, helping plant new churches, strengthening the outreach missions of churches and encouraging increasing involvement of our youth and young adults in ways that speak to them.
The UCC wants to spread the message that God is Still Speaking to us and through us. As members of the wider UCC community, we believe that "church" does not just exist inside the walls of a building or at any one tine each week. It should connect to issues in our lives, communities, and the world.
50% of the money collected stays in the New Hampshire Conference of the UCC for programs that directly impact our communities.
*NH Conference continues to support youth by helping finance
confirmation projects and trips and will sponsor youth to attend the
National Youth Event in 2020
The remaining 50% goes to UCC National. The crisis of refugee detainment, separation from families and resettlement, coupled with pain, confusion and fear, are of great concern to the Christian community. Funds from the Strengthen The Church offering have gone to such places as:
*Bloom in the Desert UCC church in Palm Springs where assistance with food, clothing and support are provided the ever- increasing number of migrants and refugees. As they are released for the overflowing processing centers, they are provided help in reaching their destination cities across the nation.
*Taos UCC in Mexico has become a voice of faith and justice and a place of sanctuary for all people.
In addition to helping support churches with programs like these, funds are also used to provide youth and young adult leadership in the UCC:
*Strengthen The Church funds are being used to prepare for the National Youth Event in 2020.
This special offering will be available for the entire month of July. There will be special offering envelopes in the pews as well as a flyer for you to read more about Strengthen the Church. Our church has always responded well to the greater needs of the world where we cannot always be present to help.
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