First Congregational Church and Society, United Church of Christ, 6 Payson Hill Rd., Rindge, NH 03461 Mailing address: PO Box 451, Rindge, NH 03461 Phone: 603-899-5722
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'You matter': UCC leaders spotlight small, rural congregations during first-ever national gathering - United Church of Christ
For three evenings Pastor Liz and Marcie Miller attended an online conference that focused on small, rural congregations within the UCC. On the final evening we gathered at the church, and were joined by Craig Clark, for a keynote address by the United Church of Christ General Minister and President, the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer. His message, repeated throughout the three days, resonated with us and with many of the other attendees: "The ministry of small congregations in rural towns is just as vital to their communities as those of larger ones in bigger cities." “It really doesn’t matter where you are or who you are or how big you are,” Dorhauer said during a keynote address during the event’s final day. “If you live fully into the call of the Gospel, you are where you need to be, you are who you need to be and you can make the difference that God needs in the world.” He added that each church's mission should allow the faith communities to let go of worries about scarcity and diminishing populations. Dorhauer asserted. “I want us to abandon the notion, the myth that bigger means better and that the determination of our success is how much we’ve grown this year over last year,” he said. “We are measuring the wrong things, we are noticing the wrong things and, in doing so, we can fail to notice the beauty that happens just because we are who we are right now.”
Over the course of three evenings, we experienced a number of uplifting stories and workshops offered by a variety of small church clergy, experts in rural church ministry and UCC leaders from the national setting. The event was presented by the new Coalition for UCC Rural Churches and Ministries and the UCC Justice and Local Church Ministries’ Faith INFO team. It was co-hosted by the Rev. Roberto Ochoa, UCC minister for ethnic inclusion and congregational support for rural and small churches; the Rev. Marc Stewart, Conference Minister of the Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference; and the Rev. Amelia Price, pastor of St. Paul’s Verdilla UCC in Selinsgrove, Pa. It also featured virtual choirs from Hawaii and the Penn Central Conference and highlighted an informative presentation by Jonathan LeMaster-Smith, a United Methodist-affiliated professor with expertise in studying rural ministry. The event highlighted how we can effectively use technology to gather together!
Feedback was exceedingly positive, as attendees reported being energized and feeling validated by the overwhelming sense of purpose that we have in our small church settings. Pastor Liz and Marcie also report that it was a very valuable and useful experience and provided us with numerous connections with other churches throughout the country, who are engaged in vital and unique ministry within their small and often rural church settings.
"Small is Beautiful" is the overriding message!
For more details see the link to the article published on February 14, 2023 which highlights the online conference: 'You matter': UCC leaders spotlight small, rural congregations during first-ever national gathering - United Church of Christ. Or see Pastor Liz, Marcie or Craig if you have questions or comments.
Monday Feb 20 4:30 - 5:30
Food Bagging
At the Parsonage 🥗😋🍕
155 Main Street
We will bag the non perishable food for children to enjoy during School Vacation..
*ANNOUNCEMENTS* All are welcome to Join
*Third Sunday 11 am Ministry Assembly
*Second Thursday 10 am Caring Cards & More
*Third Saturday 1:30 Charity Crafters
GIFT OF IMPROV Save 9-2 March 25, April 22, May 20
RACIAL JUSTICE TRAINING 7-9 pm April 12 - 13 Online.
Let Liz know if you are interested
The NH Conference United Church Of Christ host Prepared to Serve
February 25, 2023 at Pembroke Academy
These are workshops to enrich the church and church members. It was at one of these seminars that inspired the Got Lunch Program in Rindge UCC. The cost of seminars for Individuals registering online on or before February 8, 2023 will pay a reduced fee of $40/person. Individuals registering after February 8th will need to wait until the day of the event to register. The “Day-Of” registration fee is $55/person. Finical aid for the workshops are available through the Rindge UCC and the NH Conference. Contact Liz or Marcie for details. Car pools are available.
Our Lenten Study will be asking how we can be a church of "Radical Welcome". What does that mean? What do we have to do for it to be true? What are the biblical and historical arguments for welcoming those that others have set aside? Join us online on Wednesday from 7-8:15 or in-person on Thursdays from 3-4:30 throughout March.
-Liz
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Feb 19 Fred preaches in Rindge
WED Feb 22 Receive Ashes 10-1 Ashburnham, 2-5 Rindge
Feb 26 Liz in Ashburnham, Rindge Watches
March 5 Kevin preaches Ash, Rindge Watches
March 12 Liz in Rindge, Ashburnham Joins In
March 19 Liz in Rindge, Ashburnham Breakfast Church
March 26 Liz in Ashburnham, Rindge Watches
April 2 Everyone in Ashburnham for Palm/Passion Sunday
April 9 EASTER at Cathedral of the Pines