Ministries

Worship

Our worship ministries are a coordinated effort between our pastor—Rev. Ed Koonz—and our Board of Deacons and Deaconesses (the Diaconate). Together, they plan worship programs throughout the year, and look to reach out, advertise, and communicate our ministry to non-members and visitors in the community. This includes planning and overseeing

• Regular Sunday morning worship services throughout the year.
• Special worship services and activities during the seasons of Advent, Christmastide, Lent, and Holy Week
  
  • Advent workshop and church decoration
  • Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve services
  • Lenten supper series
  • Maundy Thursday supper & service (often with seder meal)
  • Holy week prayer vigil
• Laity services, in which members of the congregation take on the preaching and leadership of worship
• Instructional sessions for new & prospective church members
• Classes for candidates for Confirmation

Education

We have a very active CARE (Christian And Religious Education) program, including childrens' classes, youth groups, and adult education. These are under the direction of our Christian Education Board. For more specific information see our C.E. page.

Missions

The Missions Board is responsible for planning the missions work of the church. This includes organizing volunteer efforts and distributing funds outside the church. As stewards of God’s creation, we believe that we are called to witness to our faith through the giving of our time, talents, and treasure—all of which make God’s love visible and real. We encourage our members and friends to give generously to our church and its ministry within and beyond our walls.

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Local missions

Our local missions include support for several organizations and efforts in the New Hampshire area, such as

• Caregivers, Inc.
• Home, Health & Hospice Care
• Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter
• Pastoral Care Center of Nashua
• New Hampshire Teen Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
• Refugee resettlement to our area
• Scholarship awards to local college students

Wider missions

The Missions Board also works toward wider missions that may stretch outside our local area. In the past, these have included helping to fund and support

• A doctor—one of our members—on a medical mission to Niger for humanitarian surgical aid
• Trips to Appalachia for volunteer relief workers
• Support for programs that aid in adoption of foreign orphans
• A medical missionary trip to Romania for a church member who is a special-needs teacher, to help with developmentally challenged children there
• Flood relief in the U.S. midwest
• Guiding Eyes for the Blind
• Nationally-sponsored UCC Church programs are Our Church's Wider Mission, including:
  • One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) — Funds efforts around the world for aid and disaster relief. Ongoing relief aid for the 2004 Asian tsunami is funded through this program.
  • Neighbors in Need — Supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the US and Puerto Rico.

Music

Our music program is supervised by our Board of Music. Contact the church office if you have any questions about the music program, or if you would like to participate. For more information, see our Music page.