Here it is--Volume 7, Issue 6 of our e-mail Newsletter!

FEATURED IN THIS NEWSLETTER

Monthly Update on our Church's Pastoral Transition

Worship & Music Ministry News

• Our Sunday Faith Community Celebrations in June
• Spiritual Formation News for our Children, Youth, & Families
• Music and Ministry Notes
• Tenderly Held in our Hearts and Prayers
•  Into God’s Hands

Welcoming and Caring Ministry

• June 28th Potluck in the Parish House for Sharing
• Invitation to Join our Church Caregiving Ministry Team

JUNE CALENDAR of EVENTS in the Life of our Spiritual Family

Spiritual Formation for Adults

• "Wake Up Grateful" Book Study
• Co-Pastor Farewell Celebration and Service of Loving Gratitude
• Horton Retreat September 27-29

Administration & Finance News

• Report on Upcoming Projects
• Weekly Office Hours For Questions/Information
• Report of the Assistant Treasurers
• COVID-19 Task Force Update

Graduates

June Birthdays & Anniversaries

Poem of the Month--The Summer Day

Granite State Organizing Project Annual Meeting

Growing a Just World for All

Economic Justice

Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney, Worker Justice Minister

Immigrant Justice

* Monthly Vigils at the ICE Building

Climate Justice

*"Common Ground" Film available to borrow

Antiracism Ministry

Juneteenth Celebration in Lebanon

*Continuing Black Lives Matter Vigils on Wednesdays @ 4:30 PM

Legislator Contact Information

Meriden Congregational Church

603-469-3235

secretary@meridenucc.org 

www.meridenucc.org

Our Church’s Upcoming Pastoral Transition:

A Loving Update for Members and Friends of the

Meriden Congregational Church

Dear Friends,

Each month between now and June our church newsletter will feature an update with current information on how our church is preparing for our pastoral transition prompted by the upcoming retirement of Susan & John. Written each month by members of our church’s Leadership Ministry Team, you will be kept up to date on all relevant developments, as it is of utmost importance that the whole of our church family is vitally part of this time of transition. We are on this spiritual journey together and are here to support one another with faith, hope, and love! 

Please know that your questions and concerns are not only warmly welcomed but also needed, as each person’s input will help us more faithfully sojourn through these upcoming months. Thank you for being a loving and invaluable part of this special time in the life of our church family.  And please let us know how we can support you and your family as we grieve, celebrate, and give thanks for all we have experienced together these past twenty-eight years, all the while rejoicing that our steadfast and still-speaking God is lovingly companioning us every step of the way! 

With love from our Church Leadership Ministry Team—Bill Chappelle (Chair), Jill Marshall (Vice-Chair), Cindy Griffin, Melanie Henry, Gail Kinney, Kelsey MacNamee, Larissa Pyer, Cathy Rodriguez, Peter Nolette, Elaine Lenz, Lee Oxenham, Kathy Wright, Shawn Rogers, Ryan McGraw, and Shideko Terai.



Leadership Transition Update--JUNE 2024



English is such a versatile language, with subtle nuances everywhere you look.. For example, although we use them interchangeably, did you know there is a slight difference between the words "bravery" and "courage"? Bravery comes from the Italian word "bravado", and its connotation is stepping up to challenging surroundings causing fear, and doing the correct and difficult thing despite the danger. A person must say, "Okay, I am now facing a difficult situation, and I must be brave". Courage, by contrast, comes from the French word "coeur", meaning heart. Courage is defined as "the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty". "A quality of mind" indicates that the decision to be courageous is made every day when a courageous person wakes up in the morning. To look at it another way, "bravery" is weather, and "courage" is climate.

Our church's leadership team is also looking at an interesting semantical difference, "interim" vs "transitional". Just like "bravery" and "courage", these two words are seemingly interchangeable, but for our purpose of finding and hiring a new pastor, the two words offer a significant difference. An "interim" pastor would serve us for a time period to be determined by the church's needs, but the implicit understanding is that the interim pastor is both fulfilling the day-to-day duties involved in being a pastor, while also preparing the congregation for a "settled" pastor--someone who, if conditions were right, could serve us for twenty-nine years! When the time to hire a settled pastor arrives, the interim pastor understands that they must step aside. In fact, an officially designated interim pastor would be subject to a professional review from the church conference if they attempted to apply for the settled pastor position.

A "transitional" pastor also serves us for a time period to be determined, but, when it's time, the transitional pastor is permitted to present themselves as a candidate for the settled pastor position. A church may not simply, "We like this transitional pastor, so we will simply promote them to settled pastor". There must be a thorough search process, with the transitional pastor, if interested, only one of the viable candidates.

So, what's our church gonna do? Well, first off, we are going to thoroughly enjoy the down-home-in-the-streets springtime jam that will be our farewell celebration of Susan and John. We've all worked hard to prepare, and we stand ready to share our laughter and tears in equal measure. After that, though we will have to make some tough decisions about interim vs transitional. We do have candidates who have expressed interest in each of those two types of pastorates. I would like to tell you more, but remember last month when I wrote about confidentiality? I can tell you that your leadership team greatly appreciates your prayers and your support. We will all need to be courageous in the weeks following John and Sunan's departure, and there may be a few days when we need to be brave.

Bill Chappelle, Leadership Chair

Report on the Transition of Pastoral Leadership

“Transforming Lives as a Compassionate Community:

ReImagining Love”

OUR SUNDAY FAITH COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS JUNE 

(In-Person and on Zoom,

with masks optional)

JUNE 1ST @ 3:30

Celebration of John and Susan

A program of music and song and a few surprises to thank John and Susan for their 29 years of service to the Meriden Congregational church. Catered dinner from Poor Thom's to follow at 5:00 pm.

June 2nd @ 10:00AM

Service of Love & Gratitude

Come join us for one last service with our Co-Pastors, by way of continuing our bittersweet celebration of our shared ministry together throughout these past 29 years, followed by a festive reception and parting farewell.

June 9th @ 10:00 AM

Third Sunday after Pentecost

This Sunday we will begin our Summer tradition of meeting around the circle table in the Parish House. Rev. Gail Kinney will lead worship with a Zoom option (not interactive). Our meeting will be in the "House Church" model. We will have much to reflect on.

June 16th @ 10:00 AM

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Pride Sunday

We will meet around the circle table in the Parish House. Ed and Laura Cousineau will lead us in an appreciation of our Open and Affirming Commitment and our LGBTQ + Brothers and Sisters in this world. Zoom available.

June 23rd @ 10:00 AM

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Gail Kinney will lead us around the Circle Table in the Parish House. Come celebrate with us the Joys of Summer and the Summer Solstice. Zoom available.

June 30th @ 3:30pm

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

We will meet around the Circle Table in the Parish House. Lee and Evan Oxenham will share what they have learned recently in their efforts to be Green and to be responsible Stewards of the Earth. Zoom available.

Whoever you are,

Whomever you love,

Wherever you are on

life's journey,

YOU are WELCOME to

share in all our

Spiritual Family Services, Celebrations,

and Activities!

SPIRITUAL FORMATION NEWS FOR OUR CHILDREN,

YOUTH AND FAMILIES!

Our Spiritual Formation Ministry team enjoyed a wonderful Spring of providing youth programming for children and families. We continued to make every effort to meet with parents once a month to enjoy pizza and rich discussions about the joys and challenges of parenting. Our church community also celebrated the hard work of our recently confirmed, newest members of our congregation- Calvin, Lucas and John!

In addition to this, the end of May marked the final meetings of our Our Whole Lives sessions with children of our community. We had wonderful participation this Spring and appreciated the efforts of both students and parents to make this happen. We look forward to continuing to offer OWL programming for various ages in the future. As the church year comes to a close, we feel grateful for another great year in which we continued our programming and offered more opportunities whenever possible.

While we will very much miss John and Susan Gregory-Davis and their beautiful work with children and families next year, we are eager to continue to prioritize this work and grow the programs that we can offer to our church and surrounding community of families and friends.  Kelsey MacNamee, Spiritual Formation Coordinator for Children, Youth, and Families (kelsey@merideniucc.org)

On June 3rd, and for the immediate future, Rev. Gail Kinney will be providing Pastoral Care to the Congregation. If you have a need you may contact Kathy Wright at (603) 469-3235 or (603) 675-5989 (secretary@meridenucc.org or kathywright@myfairpoint.net) or Gail Kinney at (603-381-7324 (uniongale@aol.com).

WELCOMING and CARING MINISTRY

Thanks for the many people who will help to make the Celebrations of John and Susan Gregory-Davis on June 1st and 2nd a reality There were many people who combined to make it a memorable event. Many thanks are due to Jill Marshall, Elaine Lenz, Ed Cousineau, Kathy Wright and the Red Aprons from the First Universalist Society of Hartland as well as an army of our own volunteers.

Thanks to Kathy Wright, Cindy Griffin, John and Susan Gregory-Davis, Christine Heins, and the Men's Group for providing food and clean up at Coffee Hour in May.

THE NEXT GATHERING OPPORTUNITY IS A POTLUCK SHARING DINNER ON JUNE 28TH AT 6:00PM IN THE PARISH HOUSE. Our summer services in the Parish House around the circle table will have already begun. (See schedule of services)

Ed Cousineau, Jerry Judd, Charlie Burch, Steve and Donna Beaupre and Kathy Wright helped with ushering in May. MANY THANKS!! In the summer because we meet in the Parish House, there is no need of ushers. It is a very relaxed atmosphere with the opportunity to have coffee with our gatherings

If you would like to help with any of this please contact Kathy Wright at (603) 469-3235 or at home at (603) 675-5989.

HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US THIS JUNE !

Kathy Wright, Co-Coordinator of the Welcoming and Caring Ministry

Do you find a deep sense of 

joy and gratification

in reaching out and helping others? 

If so, Please join our

Church Caregivers Team!

Even if you have only a few minutes a month to write a short "thinking of you" or "get well" card, your loving care will be so appreciated by members of our church community. If you would rather make occasional phone calls or in-person home visits, there is a place for you on the Caregivers Team, too!!! Everyone is welcome to offer gifts of care with no effort ever too small! Our Team meets quarterly with the loving guidance of our Chair, Kathy Wright. If you are interested in joining or talking further, please contact Kathy at secretary@meridenucc.org . We warmly welcome you to join in the very meaningful ministry of this small group with a BIG HEART! 

Music and Ministry Notes--June 2024

As John and Susan begin to enjoy their retirement (once all the packing is done!) our Sunday services will start happening in the Parish House on June 9th. We are fortunate to have several from our congregation leading the worship.

The June schedule is as follows:

June 9th- Rev. Gail Kinney, Our Worker Justice Minister

June 16th- Ed and Laura Cousineau (Pride Sunday)

June 23rd- Rev. Gail Kinney

June 30th- Lee Oxenham

These smaller gatherings are generally held in a casual, roundtable setting and all are most welcome to attend!

Submitted by Elaine Lenz

Tenderly Held  in our Hearts and Prayers

As we journey throughout these Summer months,  we give joyous thanks for the all that makes our faith community such a welcome home for all of us.   So too do we celebrate with all those bearing new life, and pray with those yet hoping to conceive, or seeking to adopt a beloved child of God, even as we also  pray for our friends in Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and Zimbabwe, and all those living in such troubled lands as Gaza, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Haiti, South Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, North Korea, Yemen, and the Congo.  We pray for all immigrants & refugees seeking sanctuary & welcome throughout our world, that we may be among those who offer an oasis of hospitality & compassion within the kin-dom of God’s heart. And we pray too for our  BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) friends and neighbors, seeking to build with them a world wherein “Black Lives Matter!”

So too do  we pray for  Shideko Terai’s friend, Cindy Palatano; Penny Arcone’s son, Alex; Jim Lenz’s friend, Conor; Susan Pullen’s friend, Jean and her husband, Carl; Dan Beaupre’; Rosa Sousa; Valerie Stender; Gail Kinney’s husband, John Murray; Marianne McGraw’s friend, Jeff Gold; Peter Nolette’s brother, Michael; Betty Pardoe; Rev. Greg Marshall, as well as Greg’s sister, Donna; Carol Hartman’s step-granddaughter, Alyssa, and Carol’s daughter-in-law, Michelle; Roger Burch’s sister-in-law’s family; Angie Hinton’s friend, Margaret Maxham; Connie Kousman’s grand-nephew, Graham, and Connie’s sister Joyce; Gina Marzilli-Ericson’s mother, Paula; Robyn & Bob Carpenter; Karen Sutton’s husband, Robert; Laine Gillespie’s friends, Josh & Perry;  Erik Heaton; Betty Walker; Penny Arcone’s friend, Dick Slubin; Beth Kopp’s father, Jim Kane; Linda Perkins; Jody Schubert’s brother, Rick; Jim Schubert’s sister, Martha & her daughter, Wendy; Joan Burch; Suzanne Lenz; Judy Croitoru; Chris Dye; and Linda Perkins’ friends, Dorothy, Albert, & Doug.

Likewise are our prayers with  these  members and friends of our faith community currently receiving treatment for cancer: Carol Hartman’s sister, Priscilla; Susan Pullen; Andrea Brown’s Uncle Mike; Ryan McGraw’s co-worker’s mother, Jeannie Berube; Donna Beaupre’s cousin, Bill;  Odile Clavier’s colleague; Christine Greenough’s friend, Karen;  Penny Arcone’s son, Anthony;  Amaia Leach; Anne Cragin’s sister, Beth; Angie Hinton’s friend, Mickey LaHaye; Martha Zoerheide’s neighbor, John; Vicki Ramos-Glew’s mother, Carole Spencer; Juliette Hampton’s teacher, Melissa Thaxton; Bill & Laine’s neighbor, Barbara Gifford; Becky Luce; Laura Cousineau’s brother-in-law, Eric; Cecilia Hampton’s best friend Victoria’s mother, Bev; Sue Turner’s brother, Kurt, as well as Sue’s sister-in-law Bev, and Bev’s step-daughter, Sarah; Connie Kousman; Gail Kinney’s brothers, Charles & David; Linda Perkins’ friend, Linda Stone; Ed Foltyn; Robert Bryant; Jeff McNamara; Lauryn Moeller’s daughter-in-law, Lisa Rae Moeller; and  Kevin Ramos-Glew’s nephew, Duncan.

If you or someone you know would like a name to be added to our Prayer List, please let us know.  In an effort to keep it as up-to-date as possible, please also let us know when you would like a name removed. 

Into God's Hands

  As gradually warming weather leads us to yearn for the new life of spring, so too have our hearts ached with the loss of dearly beloved friends and relatives of our faith community.

We extend our sympathy to John Gregory-Davis and Gail Kinney on the loss of their colleague and mentor Rev. J. Alan McLean

We also extend our sympathy to the family and loved ones of our "Sanctuary" Friend, Matthew Works.

And our hearts go out to Kevin Moore, upon the loss of his uncle, Stanley.

As each of these dearly departed ones have returned to the source of Love from which all life comes, may their families and loved ones be comforted with Love’s healing embrace in the midst of this time of mourning.

Members of our Church Leadership Ministry Team:

Chair: Bill Chappelle

Vice-Chair/Clerk/ Stewardship: Jill Marshall

Worship & Music Ministry: Peter Nolette & Elaine Lenz

Welcoming and Caring Ministry: Kathy Wright & Lee Oxenham

Administration & Finance Ministry: 

Melanie Henry, Shawn Rogers, & Ryan McGraw

Outreach, Peace, & Justice Ministry: Shideko Terai

Worker Justice Minister: Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney:

Spiritual Formation Ministry: Larissa Pyer & Cathy Rodriguez

Spiritual Formation Coordinator: Kelsey MacNamee

Treasurer: Cindy Griffin

Assistant Treasurer(s): 

Kathy Wright, Evan Oxenham, & Steve Beaupre

Auditor: Melanie Henry 

CONFIRMATION 2024!!!

Founders’ Day Sunday—May 5th

           How blessed we were to celebrate the 244^th Birthday of our Church on Founders’ Day Sunday—May 5^th,  with the confirmation of  Calvin Ramos-Glew, John Rendahl, and Lucas Rodriguez, as the culmination of their Faith Odyssey with us! Confirmation is the religious rite through which our youth are invited to affirm their faith. There are comparable rites of spiritual passage in most of our world’s religions. Here at the Meriden Congregational Church, our Confirmands also become full members of our church on their day of Confirmation. 

During this time, they attend classes with John and Susan two Sunday afternoons per month, and work closely with their adult mentor, concluding their studies with a written “Affirmation of Faith” which describes their understanding and experience of their faith journey thus far in their lives.

We are so impressed with the thoughtfulness, humor, and integrity which Calvin, John, & Lucas brought to their Faith Odyssey journeys, and we celebrate with them their gifts and continuing ministry within the life of our spiritual family!

Confirmand                       Mentor

Calvin Ramos-Glew        Richard Pullen

Lucas Rodriguez             Selden Lord

John Rendahl                  Glen Greenough

 CONGRATULATIONS

 Calvin, John, & Lucas !!

And THANK YOU

Rich, Selden, & Glen!!

MCC Poetry Page

Poem 133: The Summer Day

Who made the world?

Who made the swan, and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean—

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—

who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

—Mary Oliver

All poets among us, of all ages and abilities, are likewise invited to share your poems with us so that we may in turn publish one each month as a way of helping all of us to fall ever more deeply in love with life in all its wonder, pathos, and beauty!

Save the Date!

The All Church Retreat IS Happening this Year!

September 27-28

Horton Center

This year the Horton Center Retreat in the White Mountains is being organized by Larissa Pyer, Odile Clavier and Emma Greenough. Save the date and plan to stay over night for this fun get away!

More Information to follow!

Report from Buildings and Grounds of MCC Administration

The following news was taken from the Annual Report of Administration and Finance

Projects Planned

After a couple years of searching, we have begun the process of trying to use an independent company or contractor for the facility and/or maintenance manager. Local contractor and part time facility manger for the Town of Plainfield, Brad Atwater has agreed to work for MCC at a small scale initially and potentially larger scale in the future. The MCC leadership group is excited to have the talent and knowledge base that Brad has to work for us. His initial projects will be addressing the safety concerns of the following:



1. Large Norway spruce and the exposed roots

2. Misplaced and unsafe granite steps to the sunken garden

3. Basement under slab plumbing drainage pipes

4. Sunken garden flooding problem annually

5. Architect code review interview process

6. On call services for John, Susan, Shawn and Summer Camp Staff

Shawn Rogers and Melanie Henry (Co-Coordinators)

Continuing in JUNE, Kathy Wright, Our Secretary/Administrator will hold Weekly Office Hours for Questions/Information

Since I need to work on the new Directory in June, it makes sense to me to have office hours every Wednesday between 1 and 2:30 pm. I plan to be in the church office at (603-469-3235) I will also be available by phone on Sunday Evenings at (603-675-5989) from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm .I will be available by phone to answer questions or give out information about what is happening at church. Starting in June (after my school is out) I plan to extend these hours.

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT TREASURERS

. As of May 30 we have received $18,305 in pledge payments, We have received $928 in Plate payments. The monthly total was $19,233. All of these were for 2024. The amounts collected this year so far are a total of $74,567. Donations for Meriden Community Camp were $1400.

Thanks for your donations!!

There have been stock payments that are not listed here. Thanks for all your contributions.

Kathy Wright

Jim Lenz

Notes from the COVID Task Force

It's now been more than four years! The screaming headlines in world, national and local media are gone. The disease information is on the inside of our newspapers and well-down the scrolling page on our on-line news sources. But does "out of sight" equal "out-of-mind?'  Let's hope not!

Here at Meriden Congregational Church this summer we’re still standing vigilant. And you should be too. Nothing beyond the simple norms we’ve established and then thoughtfully evolved through the intervening years. Our church will continue to make available masks and hand-sanitizers. Plus, it's easy to heed this tried and true wisdom:

If you feel unwell—just stay home. 

Stay “boosted” and “current” as best you can.

           Consider a mask when you’re in a crowd.

                      Wash your hands frequently.

The Church Leadership Team and the MCC Covid-19 TF will be ready to review new information should any new circumstances warrant.

Ed Cousineau

For the MCC Covid-19 Task Force

Congratulations to our Graduates!!

EIGHTH GRADE

Calvin Ramos-Glew

John Rendahl

Cooper Warren

HIGH SCHOOL

Isabel Brozen

Lea Castell

Pip Keen

Emma McKim

Andile Muhlauri

Svia Russman-Araya

Maya Tomlinson

COLLEGE

Audrey Perotti, American University

Molly Beaupre’, Holy Cross College

Jacob Hyjek

Patrick Hyjek, Bentley University

Catherine Norbury Mackey, University of Maine

Kyra Russman-Araya, Skidmore College

If we have missed any other graduates among us, (we have added those we know we missed last month), please leave a message on the church phone (469-3235) accordingly, and we will look forward to recognizing you or your family member as well!  Our sincerest apologies for anyone who has been inadvertently omitted!  

June

BIRTHDAYS

6/2 Dalton Winslow

6/3 Daffodil Mumuli

6/3 Beth Kopp

6/3 Linda Wilkinson

6/4 Estyn Elkouh

6/4 Rick Hildebrant

6/4 Rob Johnstone

6/5 Gwen Fuller

6/6 Annie Pullen

6/6 Jeff Cook

6/6 Amy Lappin

6/7 Garrett Wilkinson

6/7 Owen Warren

6/8 Emma Greenough

6/10 Karen Heaton

6/11 Kaitlyn Elliot

6/12 Jeff McGlone

6/12 Luke Bradley

6/13 Odile Clavier

6/13 Brenda Caswell

6/13 Larry Burch

6/13 Steve Taylor

6/13 Cora Wedgwood Finch

6/14 Jean Strong

6/14 Lauren Anikis

6/14 Sheila Cragg-Elkouh

6/15 Ben Griffin

6/15 Liam Moynihan

6/15 Betsey Pensgen

6/15 Don Parsons

6/16 Rob Grabill

6/17 Charlie Houmard

6/17 Dylan McGraw

6/19 Charles Muhlari

6/19 Owen Johnstone

6/19 Betty Walker

6/21 Michael O’Leary

6/22 Alison Moynihan

6/22 Cameron Sayer

6/23 Connie Kousman

6/24 Cynthia Winters

6/24 Angie Hinton

6/24 Doug Ditzel

6/25 Bob Phelps

6/26 Taylor Sheehan

6/26 Otto Hildebrant

6/26 Cindy Svensen Griffin

6/26 Bob Carpenter

6/27 Jon Schafer

6/28 Ed Cousineau

JUNE ANNIVERSARIES

6/2/99          Naomi & Tim Goodwin

6/14/69     Barbara & Rodney Wendt

6/14/14        Harrison & Melissa Currier

6/15/19        Ryan & Chentel McGraw

6/16/62     Donna & Steve Beaupre’

6/16/13        Phelan Brady & Jennifer Doyle

 6/21      Lisa & Bruce Elder

6/21             Andrea & Rangi Keen

6/25/94     Amy & Darrell Beaupre’

6/28/97     Katy & Steve Sheehan

Founders' Day Honorees--Betty Pardoe, Steve & Donna Beaupre', Greg Marshall, & Anne Cragin, along with Confirmands--Calvin Ramos-Glew, John Rendahl, & Lucas Rodriguez

CELEBRATING OUR 244th Birthday!!

 HONORING OUR PAST / EMBRACING OUR FUTURE

 Recalling that our church was founded on May 2^nd, 1780,

we shall once again celebrate

Our Annual

Founders’ day Anniversary

Sunday--May 5^th , 2024

         What a joyous annual celebration of both the past we so cherish, and the future we eagerly anticipate as a spiritual family! A special part of this year’s festivities was the confirmation of the youth who have been sharing their Faith Odyssey with us for the past few years. 

Outreach News

Outreach, Peace, and Justice

Ministry Teams

News for June 2024 

"The way to heal the soul of the nation is to pass policies that heal the body of the nation. It’s the just thing to do. That’s how we as a nation can move forward together"  ~Rev. Dr. William J. Barber 

OUTREACH

Listen Community Dinners Meriden Congregational Church has offered the commitment to prepare and serve dinners the FIRST Thursdays of the odd-numbered months. The next date is September 5th. If you know of anyone, including the broader community, who would be interested, please text, phone or email Shideko Terai. 603-252-7898 The director, Larry Lowndes has discontinued the use of the volunteer hub; therefore, Shideko will send out a notice a week beforehand to seek volunteers. Many thanks to Ed Cousineau, Anne Cragin, Martha Zoerheide, and Linda Leone for volunteering in May. 

Claremont Soup Kitchen Bill Chapelle continues to lead volunteer participation at the Claremont Soup Kitchen on the fourth Saturday of every month and this slot covers the hours 2-5:30 PM. No cooking experience necessary. June 22nd is the next opportunity. “We always have a lot of fun. Your Saturday night begins with a good feeling that you have given nice people a delicious meal.” ~Bill Chapelle

JUSTICE

Economic Justice 

Please read Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney’s article below.

Social Justice 

"There are millions of poor people in this country who have very little, or even nothing, to lose. If they can be helped to take action together, they...will be a new and unsettling force..." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Immigrant Justice

Our church is a member of the NH Immigrant Solidary Network. Organizations include GSOP, AFSC, and clergy. It is interfaith and non-partisan. Please contact me if you would like to get involved.

Climate Justice

Anyone who may have missed viewing last month with us the powerful environmental justice film, "Common Ground," is encouraged to reach out to Lee Oxenham to borrow and view what this film reveals as to how unjust practices forged our current farm system in which farmers of all colors are literally dying to feed us. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy – before it’s too late.

.

Racial Justice /Antiracism

   A few years ago our church formed a Racial Justice Ministry Team that has been guiding us in learning about the ways in which systemic racism and white supremacy undergird so much of our history and identity. Now, in keeping with the call of our denomination, the United Church of Christ, to become an antiracist church, our Racial Justice ministry team has evolved our name to become the Antiracism Ministry Team.  

    One of the ways that our Church Leadership recently chose to live more fully into our antiracism commitment is through declaring ourselves to be an "Apartheid-Free" congregation, thereby affirming our theological and moral conviction that "ALL people are equal and should be treated with dignity and respect."

With a particular focus upon the oppression of the Palestinian people, this commitment is in keeping with the national Resolution calling for a Just Peace Between Israel and Palestine which our church co-sponsored. Seeking to be in solidarity especially with the people of war-ravaged Gaza,  let us continue urging Senators Hassan and Shaheen, as well as Representative Kuster, and President Biden, to call for a CeaseFire NOW!  

    Our weekly BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigils continue on Wednesday afternoons, from 4:30 to 5:00 PM, and all are welcome to join us anytime.

In solidarity and hope, 

Shideko Terai (she/her), Outreach, Peace & Justice Coordinator

text or phone 603-252-7898, email shideko.terai@gmail.com

Economic Justice

  Solidarity with Struggling Workers on the Dartmouth Campus

        Significant worker news from our area comes from the Dartmouth campus. About 800 unionized graduate teaching and research assistants (known as GOLD, or Graduate Organized Laborers of Dartmouth), who are engaged in extremely difficult first contract negotiations with the college administration, have been on strike since May 1. They are not asking for "the moon and the stars." They simply want to negotiate for the kinds of wages and basic benefits that will allow them to survive economically in the very expensive Hanover area market.

       Going on strike is not an easy or fun thing to do. It is not for the faint of heart. Overall, striking workers withhold their labor and sacrifice current wages in the hopes of being able to create a better long-term future for themselves and the workers who come after them. Unionized workers vote democratically to go on strike when they feel they have no other options for being heard or for bringing about positive change. 

        GOLD members yearn to be able to afford decent housing and child care. They want to be able to secure necessary medical or dental care when they need it. They also want to be respected as workers. These graduate workers do significant and valuable work on the Dartmouth campus. They teach many undergraduate classes and work alongside faculty to do cutting edge research that advances human understanding of science and society - research that brings acclaim to Dartmouth College. Sadly, in the present moment, GOLD members feel so disrespected and undervalued by their employer that, to an overwhelming majority, a strike seemed a necessity.

        At the same time, GOLD members tell us they feel uplifted whenever members of the Meriden Congregational Church community (or other faith communities) show up or speak at their events or rallies or even send some words of encouragement (goldartmouth@gmail.com). Acts of support and solidarity indeed matter when workers (and any of us!) are feeling aggrieved or despairing. Another act of solidarity is to donate to the GOLD strike hardship fund: https://sites.google.com/view/goldartmouth/donate.  Individual striking workers are facing some real economic stresses in terms of access to food, shelter and medical care. Therefore, the union and an array of supporters have created a GOLD Hardship Fund to help address such urgent needs. A gift in any amount will make a difference!

        Let us lift up our prayers and our moral and financial support for these 800 workers "just up the road" from the Meriden Congregational Church, and let us hope that a mutually beneficial resolution to their contract negotiations will come soon.  

Gail Kinney 

America has a history of banning Black studies. We can learn from that past (Derecka Purnell, The Guardian) - “This history is important because it helps us realize that today’s book banning efforts belong to a broader political backlash to the current Black liberation movement that started with the murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012. The ideas and demands that Black people, and all people, deserve freedom from police violence, deserve quality housing, deserve universal healthcare, deserve a world that has different problems from what Dr. King identified as the triple evils of racism, capitalism and militarism. It is no accident that these ideas are found in the very same books that prisons ban, including mine. Prison officials, politicians and rightwing pundits target knowledge found in critical race theory because they know that theory leads to action for people who care about love, liberty and justice. They want to stop people from being inspired to fight for better lives.”

Ed Cousineau, Kevin Moore, John Gregory-Davis, & Laura Cousineau,

along with Gail Kinney & Shideko Terai (not pictured above)

at the May Day Rally for Labor Liberation and Gaza Solidarity

Steve Beaupre' faithfully rings our church bell

each Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 PM as a clarion call to

our Community BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigil

Thank you, Steve!!

 We are continuing our Showing Up for Racial Justice BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigils each Wednesday afternoon, now happening from 3:30 to 4:30 PM on the SouthWest corner of the intersection of Rte 120 & Main Street (at the blinking traffic light). We have “BLACK LIVES MATTER” signs available for folk to hold, but please feel free to make and/or bring your own signs.

  Come join us in “showing up for racial justice,” and Standing for  LOVE, and AGAINST racism, white supremacy, hatred, and violence, here in our community and beyond!  Together, let us publicly declare that we will NOT be complicit in white terror, and let us call our friends and neighbors to rise up with us in our resolute affirmation of the inherent and sacred value of us all within Beloved Community. 

STATE

Rep. Margaret Drye

1136 Rt. 12A

Plainfield, NH 03781

Phone: 603-675-9159

Email: margaret.dry@leg.state.nh.us

Rep. Bill Palmer

603-675-2117

Email wpalmernh@gmail.com

Sen. Suzanne Prentiss

Legislative Office Building, Room 102

33 State Street

Concord, NH 03301

Phone: 603-271-3092

Email: Suzanne.Prentiss@leg.state.nh.us