PNNe-Connections January 7

View a list of past PNNe-Connections on our website

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Clergy Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine

New Hampshire clergy may now pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine using this website.

On the pre-registration form, clergy should select “At-Risk Health Workers” as they “have indirect or limited patient contact.” In New Hampshire’s plan, clergy are considered “Non-Clinical Front Line Workers,” particularly those with direct patient contact so they are eligible for vaccination in Phase 1a. This is documented in the Technical Assistance document here.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will host two Zoom workshops about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in New Hampshire:

Session 1: Thursday, January 7, 2021, 4:00pm-5:30pm
Session 2: Friday, January 8, 2021, 11:00am-12:30pm

The sessions will be the same, although questions from participants may vary. You do not have to RSVP. You are welcome to attend either session or both!

Fire at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church

A fire tore through and badly damaged the Martin Luther King Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield, MA on Dec. 28. The Presbytery of Southern New England (PSNE) is taking the lead on efforts to respond and help the congregation in the long process of recovery and rebuilding, and we will take our lead from them. Financial gifts may be mailed to the congregation at 14 Concord Terrace Springfield, MA 01109 or offered online via this link. The Presbytery e-giving portal will handle all online donations and 100% of all donated funds will go to MLK. As PSNE develops further plans, we will share them with you.

New England Glow

Friday, January 8, we will be having our first Youth Praise Night at 7 PM, hosted by the Korean Church of Boston praise team! There will be music, scripture, reflection and a time for fellowship. I hope you can join us! Click here to join via Zoom.

Focus Verse: Psalm 34:18, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Sunday, January 10, we will be having our first Bible Basics conversation at 7 PM, hosted by Pastor John Sawyer from Bedford Presbyterian Church, NH. This will be an opportunity for youth to ask questions, explore the Bible and discuss how the Bible can inform and inspire our faith. Click here to join via Zoom.

The Cold Weather Clothing Drive for Common Cathedral is wrapping up this weekend. Please contact Jen at newenglandglow.rym@gmail.com for more information on how you can support this ministry.

Are you looking for a little poetry for the holidays? Our Poet in Residence, Barrie Shepherd, is offering a little holiday book to help support the Scarborough and Chebeague Island food pantries. It is called A Poetic Pandemic Christmas Pudding, "a plump and spicy concoction of words, phrases, and images to evoke the many flavors and aromas of the yuletide feast. P.S. Add brandy to ignite."

The book costs $10, plus $2 postage and all proceeds beyond cost are donated to the food pantries. People can order copies from Barrie at barrieshep@aol.com or 207 510 1637, or by mail at 15 Piper Road K325, Scarborough ME 04074.

Webinar on Best-Practices for Hybrid Worship

Eric H. Doss presented a webinar on December 15 on practical advice on technology and best-practices for hybrid worship. The recording is now available under "worship resources" on the COVID-19 resources page on our website. You can find a list of resources Eric mentioned in the video on his website. If you are interested in more material, you can sign up for his newsletter and hire him for related presentations.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Resilience & Renewal: A Three-Hour Virtual Retreat

Originally scheduled for November and now taking place on Jan 13, 2021 from 1:30 - 4:30 PM E.T., this three-hour virtual retreat is designed to give faith leaders a chance to take a breath and a break in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Register in advance for this meeting at the following link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMkdeqqrjwsGtVKAz3_WLohpi3LMFwdseqa

Prayer Calendar

Our prayers for the week of Sunday, January 10 are for Leeds Community Church in Leeds, ME and Rev. Steve Allman.

2021 Common Prayer Calendar

The Parish Paper
Issues of The Parish Paper are posted on our website.

The January issue is available: "Build a Robust Network"

Because this is a subscription service, you must be a member of the Presbytery or one of our congregations in order to view the content. Once you have registered on the website and have been authorized, you will be able to log in and view each edition.

Contact lists

The Clergy Directory and
Commissions/Committees Directory can be found on our website. You must be a member of the Presbytery and log in to view these documents. Both directories were updated after the most recent Presbytery meeting.

If you have an update or change, please send it to office@pnne.org.

Publications and website links
Subscribe to Presbytery communications:
PNNE sign-up form

News from Camp Wilmot

PNNE's Presbyterian Women's newsletter:
The Grapevine Winter 2020

Our larger church:
Daily News Briefing
PCUSA News
Synod of the Northeast

Presbyterian Mission:
Social Issues
Racial Equity

Finance:
Presbyterian Foundation
Board of Pensions

Presbyterian Women:
On Facebook

Councils of churches:
New Hampshire
Maine
Vermont Interfaith Action
Massachusetts

PNNE contact info

Resource Presbyter:
presbyter@pnne.org
603-216-1071, x2
Stated Clerk, TJ DeMarco
sc@pnne.org
401-523-7417
Communications Coordinator:
office@pnne.org
603-216-1071, x1

Mondays are usually the day off for the Stated Clerk. The Resource Presbyter has started taking Fridays off. If there is an emergency or you need immediate assistance, please call their cell phones and leave a message.

Connecting: For All Ministers

We have two opportunities during the week to connect for support and encouragement. The login information can be found in the Presbytery calendar on the website.

Mondays at 10:00 am
Tuesdays at 3:00 pm

Epiphany - Distilled

So, after all the fuss and bother here,
trees, stockings, toys, the others stuff,
familiar tables, fireside naps and chestnuts,
well-worn stories from the laps of Christmas past,
bright bottles of ribboned cheer, the chilling, quiet,
desolated moments, cards and gifts to be returned
next year, it all boils down to this.
The kings arrive.
All leave.
The mere killing resumes.
Somewhere Egypt blooms.

J. Barrie Shepherd