Check out our monthly Chimes Newsletter and History Highlight, as well as our weekly Sunday bulletins and other church and community news.
Announcements for the week of July 3, 2022
Pastoral letter responds to attacks on transgender and nonbinary people…”We want every person of transgender or nonbinary experience to know this: you are beloved by God.” Trans and Nonbinary Pastoral Letter from the UCC and ONA Coalition
Saying “the stakes have never been higher”… A letter from the national setting of the United Church of Christ is calling the entire denomination to a special focus during Pride Month. UCC churches receive June call to stand with transgender, nonbinary people
Announcements for the week of June 19, 2022
Announcements for the week of June 12, 2022
From the Widening Our Vision (WOV) Team… Our Journey to Becoming Open and Affirming The Widening Our Vision team thanks those of you who responded to the exploratory survey. The results indicated to us that the vast majority of members support becoming an Open and Affirming church, but there are still a number of members…
Summer 2022 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of June 5, 2022
By Cindy Ryherd This is the final article of the Congregational Church of Hollis named rooms/spaces series, ending with the Adam Verrecchia Memorial Community Garden (AVMCG), located at the far end of the shared library/church parking lot. This article is both the easiest and hardest one I have written. Easy because I witnessed the “history”…
Announcements for the week of May 29, 2022
Announcements for the week of May 22, 2022
Announcements for the week of May 15, 2022
Announcements for the week of May 8, 2022
From the Widening Our Vision (WOV) Team… A Look Back at Where We’ve Been and What’s Next? Widening Our Vision Timeline: More than a Year in the Making… March 2021 – Church Council approved formation of Open & Affirming (ONA) task force April 2021 – Call for interested individuals to join ONA task force June…
Parents Group Fighting New Anti-Trans Laws…“It is painful to have your child rejected” As more Republican states target trans youth, a group of parents meet to push back on discriminatory legislation, share stories and celebrate. In the News: Parents Group Fighting New Anti-Trans Laws
Amtrak Responds to verbal assault of gay couple…Amtrak says it “strongly condemns” an act of hate that occurred on board one of their trains last week after an unruly passenger directed a hate-filled rant at a gay couple and their children. In the News: Amtrak responds to verbal assault of gay couple
May 2022 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of May 1, 2022
Announcements for the week of April 24, 2022
Announcements for the week of April 17, 2022
Announcements for the week of April 10, 2022
Announcements for the week of April 3, 2022
Fight LGBTQ Discrimination: We MUST Pass the Equality Act…While there have been important gains over the last several years in securing LGBTQ civil rights protections, there remain significant gaps in the law that leave LGBTQ Americans vulnerable to discrimination. In the News: Fight LGBTQ Discrimination
Terrible Time For Trans Youth: New Survey Spotlights Suicide Attempts — And Hope Forbes.com May 19, 2021 Dawn Ennis, Contributor:Diversity, Equity & Inclusion In the News: Terrible Time for Trans Youth
Open and Affirming Churches of the New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ – 1992 to 2021 NH UCC Open and Affirming churches
Comprehensive List of LGBTQ+ Related Vocabulary Definitions excerpted from The Safe Zone Project curriculum LGBTQ+ Glossary
This document contains a timeline of significant LGBTQ+ events in the United Church of Christ, New Hampshire and the United States LGBTQ+ Historical Timeline 1985 to Present
From the Widening Our Vision (WOV) Team… Mr. Rogers and our Open and Affirming Journey Beloved children’s television show host Fred Rogers donned his trademark sweater and sneakers at thestart of each episode and asked, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” He had much to teach generations of children about acceptance, caring, inclusion, being ‘helpers’ —…
April 2022 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of March 27, 2022
Announcements for the week of March 20, 2022
Announcements for the week of March 13, 2022
Announcements for the week of March 6, 2022
From the Widening our Vision (WoV) Team… SOGIE and LGBTQ+ … That’s A Lot of Letters – What Do They All Mean? At the moment of birth, there are three people (the person giving birth, the newborn, a medical professional/midwife) and the first question: “Is it a boy or a girl?” This question reflects the…
March 2022 Chimes Newsletter
By Cindy Ryherd This month, the “Room Names” series ends with Hardy (Parish) Hall. Hardy Hall Hardy Hall (originally called Hardy Parish Hall) was dedicated in 1925 upon the completion of the construction of our current church building (the previous Meetinghouse having burned down in 1923). It is named in memory and honor of Phineas…
Announcements for the week of February 27, 2022
Announcements for the week of February 20, 2022
Announcements for the week of February 13, 2022
Announcements for the week of February 6, 2022
From the Widening our Vision (WoV) Team… “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.” Gracie Allen, half of the husband-and-wife comedy team of Burns and Allen, wrote these words in a letter she left for her husband, George Burns, upon her death. They provided the gentle nudge George needed to keep going,…
By Cindy Ryherd This month, the “Room Names” series continues with the Flagg Room. The Flagg Room The Flagg Room (pictured) was named and dedicated as part of the 1965 west wing addition (the same time the Parkhurst Room was named and dedicated). Named after Etta Proctor Flagg (1868-1962), Miss Flagg bequeathed nearly half of…
Announcements for the week of January 30, 2022
February 2022 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of January 23, 2022
Announcements for the week of January 16, 2022
Announcements for the week of January 9, 2022
From the Widening our Vision (WoV) Team… Q & A – You ask, WoV answers: Why do we need to pursue Open & Affirming designation? Why single out LGBTQ+? Can’t we just welcome everyone? Good questions! The sign at our meeting front door proclaims, “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s…
By Cindy Ryherd This month, the “Room Names” series continues with the Austin Room. The Austin Room The Austin Room (pictured) was named/dedicated as part of the 1999-2000 renovations and accessibility addition. Named after Genevieve Hunt Austin (Jan Squires mother, Jim Squires mother-in-law), she moved to Hollis to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law…
Announcements for the week of January 2, 2022
January 2022 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of December 19, 2021
Announcements for the week of December 12, 2021
Announcements for the week of December 5, 2021
By Cindy Ryherd This month, the “Room Names” series continues with the Parkhurst Room. The Parkhurst Room The Parkhurst Room was named/dedicated as part of the 1965 renovation which added the west wing to the church. At the time, it was named in “honor” of Nelson and Hazel Parkhurst as they were both living and…
Introducing … Widening our Vision (WoV) “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 Hello! The purpose of this communication is to share information about an initiative for our church to deepen and expand our…
December 2021 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of November 28, 2021
Announcements for the week of November 21, 2021
Announcements for the week of November 14, 2021
Announcements for the week of November 7, 2021
By Cindy Ryherd November is the one-year anniversary of the November 14, 2020 dedication of the Squires Community Patio, making it the perfect month to talk about our second newly named space (the Saunders Room already discussed in Part I of this series). The Jim & Jan Squires Community Patio More commonly referred to as…
Announcements for the week of October 31, 2021
November 2021 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of October 24, 2021
Announcements for the week of October 17, 2021
Announcements for the week of October 10, 2021
Announcements for the week of October 3, 2021
By Cindy Ryherd Continuing the “Room Names” series, as a reminder last month I kicked off the series with the Saunders Room, one of the two newest named spaces of our church (having been dedicated last month during the Homecoming/Dedication celebration). This month, we explore one of the two oldest named rooms of the church:…
October 2021 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of September 26, 2021
Announcements for the week of September 19, 2021
Announcements for the week of September 12, 2021
Announcements for the week of September 5, 2021
By Cindy Ryherd September is “Homecoming” month! Hopefully, everyone will be back to see the results of the amazing transformation the church has undergone as a result of the completion of the 2020-2021 renovations. Tours and the grand re-opening will take place over Saturday and Sunday, September 11 & 12. This seems like a good…
Announcements for the week of August 29, 2021
September 2021 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of August 22, 2021
Announcements for the week of August 15, 2021
Announcements for the week of August 8, 2021
Announcements for the week of August 1, 2021
Announcements for the week of July 25, 2021
Announcements for the week of July 18, 2021
Announcements for the week of July 11, 2021
Announcements for the week of July 4, 2021
Announcements for the week of June 27, 2021
Announcements for the week of June 20, 2021
Announcements for the week of June 13, 2021
Summer 2021 Chimes Newsletter
By Cindy Ryherd Reverend Daniel Emerson: Loving Husband and Father This is the final part of a three-part series about Reverend Daniel Emerson, first pastor of what is now the Congregational Church of Hollis, U.C.C. (see April Chimes for Part I and May Chimes for Part II). Part I ended with Reverend Emerson being ordained in April 1743,…
Announcements for the week of May 30, 2021
Announcements for the week of May 23, 2021
Announcements for the week of May 16, 2021
Announcements for the week of May 9, 2021
By Cindy Ryherd Reverend Daniel Emerson: Pastor and SO Much More! This is the second of a three-part series about Reverend Daniel Emerson, first pastor of the what is now the Congregational Church of Hollis (see Part I). Part I ended with Rev. Emerson being ordained in April 1743, building his home (Emerson House) on…
May 2021 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of May 2, 2021
Announcements for the week of April 11, 2021
Announcements for the week of April 4, 2021
By Cindy Ryherd Reverend Daniel Emerson: Emerson Chapel’s Namesake This is the first of a multi-part series about Reverend Daniel Emerson, first pastor of the what is now the Congregational Church of Hollis. Emerson Chapel, part of the current church building, is named in honor and memory of him. The chapel was built and dedicated in…
April 2021 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of March 28, 2021
Announcements for the week of March 21, 2021
Announcements for the week of March 14, 2021
Announcements for the week of March 7, 2021
By Cindy Ryherd Phineas Hardy: Hardy Parish Hall’s Namesake Hardy Parish Hall brass plaque. Click on image to see larger scale and more information about George E. Hardy, donor Anyone who is a member of the Congregational Church of Hollis, or has visited the church, is usually familiar with Hardy Hall (more formally called Hardy…
March 2021 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of February 28, 2021
Announcements for the week of February 21, 2021
Announcements for the week of February 14, 2021
Announcements for the week of February 7, 2021
By Cindy Ryherd Reverend Doctor Philip MitchellPastor of Congregational Church of Hollis 1962-1972 This is a new column which will run each month for the foreseeable future, with the intent of sharing some interesting historical highlights regarding our church. Since February is Black History Month, I thought it appropriate to write about a connection between…
February 2021 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of January 24, 2021
Announcements for the week of January 17, 2021
Announcements for the week of January 10, 2021
Announcements for the week of January 3, 2021
January 2021 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of December 27, 2020
Announcements for the week of December 20, 2020
Announcements for the week of December 13, 2020
Announcements for the week of December 6, 2020
Announcements for the week of November 29, 2020
December 2020 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of November 22, 2020
Announcements for the week of November 15, 2020
Announcements for the week of November 8, 2020
Announcements for the week of November 1, 2020
November 2020 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of October 25, 2020
Announcements for the week of October 18, 2020
Announcements for the week of October 11, 2020
Announcements for the week of October 4, 2020
October 2020 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of September 27, 2020
Announcements for the week of September 20, 2020
Announcements for the week of September 13, 2020
Announcements for the week of September 6, 2020
September 2020 Chimes Newsletter
Announcements for the week of August 30, 2020
Announcements for the week of August 23, 2020
Announcements for the week of August 16, 2020
Announcements for the week of August 9, 2020
Announcements for the week of August 2, 2020
Announcements for the week of July 26, 2020
Announcements for the week of July 19, 2020
Announcements for the week of July 12, 2020
Announcements for the week of July 5, 2020
Announcements for the week of June 28, 2020
Announcements for the week of June 21, 2020