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WELCOMING HEARTS - GROWING IN FAITH & SERVICE Welcome to Nashua Presbyterian Church. We are a little church community tucked in the woods just south of Route 111 in western Nashua. We have only been here 26 years and are still working at understanding what God is doing with us in this place. To See our Calendar or Current Announcements click on the 'Church Life' tab above to the right! Our church building is now closed and we are constantly monitoring the situation. The congregation is worshiping live on Sundays, by invitation, via Zoom. Please call the church office or email the church if you would like to have that invitation extended to you. 603 889 1170 npc-c@hotmail.com May we all find ways to be helpful and supportive of each other and our neighbors during these days. |
21 DAY PCUSA RACIAL JUSTICE CHALLENGE
You are invited to join us in this
challenge to take time each day Sept 10-30
to learn more about the issues of racial justice
and how the church has and is addressing them.
CHALLENGE FOR DAY 14: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD
Today marks two weeks of our journey together in this 21-Day Racial Justice Challenge!
I do hope you’ve been challenged, learning about our history both as a church and as a country,
and that you’re beginning to think through what steps we can take
individually and together to change the systems and structures that perpetuate racism
and discrimination. On Day 14, you are invited to learn about
the Presbyterian Intercultural Network through their website:
https://www.pin-pcusa.com/
I needed to use the links across the top of the page to access the content,
just in case the links embedded in the page don’t work for you.
This is what the website says about the Presbyterian Intercultural Network (PIN):
The Presbyterian Intercultural Network (PIN) is a grass roots network
in our denomination that connects and nurtures intercultural, multicultural,
and cross-cultural ministries all over the United States.
Our individual memberships include lay leaders, clergy, seminary students,
and other supporters. Our institutional memberships include churches,
new worshipping communities, governing bodies, and seminaries.
Purpose:
For the PCUSA church to be just in intercultural relationships,
both institutional and individual.
Objective:
Build equitable relationships and connections among and between
individuals, groups, and congregations so that diversity, mutuality, justice and respect
are valued by all.
Means:
•Inviting all to enter into sacred space in which transformation may emerge
through honest, open, difficult conversations about: “whiteness,”
institutional racism, power imbalance and power sharing.
•Constructing networks among and between individuals, groups, and congregations
from many cultural identities seeking to embrace diversity.
•Offering resources dedicated to intercultural worship, mission, and community.
Spend some time looking at the resources they’ve collected
and consider choosing one to introduce to your congregation,
your family, or other group where you’d like to have deeper conversations.
As you read and explore, try to stay curious and ask questions.
CHALLENGE FOR DAY 15: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH
Today we return to the Facing Racism Study Guide, continuing with lesson 5,
“Enduring Legacy of Racism in the US.” Remember, this study guide
was prepared several years ago, but it’s just as easy as ever to see
the long term impacts of racism all around us.
Here is the link to the study guide:
https://facing-racism.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/facing_racism/facing-racism-study-guide.pdf
As you read today, remember to pay attention to your feelings,
your thoughts, and your body.
What questions come up?
Where do you react with tense muscles or a sense of being uncomfortable?
Because one of the issues at the forefront of the nation right now is around policing,
I’m also offering an additional article that looks at what is meant
when there is a call to defund the police. Take a few minutes,
if you haven’t already familiarized yourself with this language, to read this article from The Root:
Defund the Police, Explained... For the Last Time.
As you read today, reflect on these questions:
Do you see how the areas covered in the reading are intersectional realities,
playing off one another and reinforcing systemic racism?
How does the interplay between economics, education, policing, mass incarceration,
and immigration add to the difficulty of dismantling structural racism?
How do these structures impact your community?
How would a different way of treating people structurally change the nature of your community?
The whole list of the 21 challenges can be found at:
https://pnne.org/Matthew-25/Structural-Racism/21-Day-Racial-Justice-Challenge
Get to know us!
We call ourselves 'The Church in the Woods'
because of our love of the environment.
We are situated on 13 acres
which we seek to care for creatively -
having tucked the church back in the woods
rather than right on the road.
We have lots of gardens including
multiple flower gardens,
a Memorial Garden,
a Blueberry Garden
and a Deacon's Vegetable Garden
as well as a Meditation Trail in the woods.
In December of 2013
we were first certified as a PCUSA
Earth Care Congregation
and we continue to do all we can
to keep that certification.
And in 2020 we've qualified again!
You are invited to join us in this
challenge to take time each day Sept 10-30
to learn more about the issues of racial justice
and how the church has and is addressing them.
CHALLENGE FOR DAY 14: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD
Today marks two weeks of our journey together in this 21-Day Racial Justice Challenge!
I do hope you’ve been challenged, learning about our history both as a church and as a country,
and that you’re beginning to think through what steps we can take
individually and together to change the systems and structures that perpetuate racism
and discrimination. On Day 14, you are invited to learn about
the Presbyterian Intercultural Network through their website:
https://www.pin-pcusa.com/
I needed to use the links across the top of the page to access the content,
just in case the links embedded in the page don’t work for you.
This is what the website says about the Presbyterian Intercultural Network (PIN):
The Presbyterian Intercultural Network (PIN) is a grass roots network
in our denomination that connects and nurtures intercultural, multicultural,
and cross-cultural ministries all over the United States.
Our individual memberships include lay leaders, clergy, seminary students,
and other supporters. Our institutional memberships include churches,
new worshipping communities, governing bodies, and seminaries.
Purpose:
For the PCUSA church to be just in intercultural relationships,
both institutional and individual.
Objective:
Build equitable relationships and connections among and between
individuals, groups, and congregations so that diversity, mutuality, justice and respect
are valued by all.
Means:
•Inviting all to enter into sacred space in which transformation may emerge
through honest, open, difficult conversations about: “whiteness,”
institutional racism, power imbalance and power sharing.
•Constructing networks among and between individuals, groups, and congregations
from many cultural identities seeking to embrace diversity.
•Offering resources dedicated to intercultural worship, mission, and community.
Spend some time looking at the resources they’ve collected
and consider choosing one to introduce to your congregation,
your family, or other group where you’d like to have deeper conversations.
As you read and explore, try to stay curious and ask questions.
CHALLENGE FOR DAY 15: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH
Today we return to the Facing Racism Study Guide, continuing with lesson 5,
“Enduring Legacy of Racism in the US.” Remember, this study guide
was prepared several years ago, but it’s just as easy as ever to see
the long term impacts of racism all around us.
Here is the link to the study guide:
https://facing-racism.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/facing_racism/facing-racism-study-guide.pdf
As you read today, remember to pay attention to your feelings,
your thoughts, and your body.
What questions come up?
Where do you react with tense muscles or a sense of being uncomfortable?
Because one of the issues at the forefront of the nation right now is around policing,
I’m also offering an additional article that looks at what is meant
when there is a call to defund the police. Take a few minutes,
if you haven’t already familiarized yourself with this language, to read this article from The Root:
Defund the Police, Explained... For the Last Time.
As you read today, reflect on these questions:
Do you see how the areas covered in the reading are intersectional realities,
playing off one another and reinforcing systemic racism?
How does the interplay between economics, education, policing, mass incarceration,
and immigration add to the difficulty of dismantling structural racism?
How do these structures impact your community?
How would a different way of treating people structurally change the nature of your community?
The whole list of the 21 challenges can be found at:
https://pnne.org/Matthew-25/Structural-Racism/21-Day-Racial-Justice-Challenge
Get to know us!
We call ourselves 'The Church in the Woods'
because of our love of the environment.
We are situated on 13 acres
which we seek to care for creatively -
having tucked the church back in the woods
rather than right on the road.
We have lots of gardens including
multiple flower gardens,
a Memorial Garden,
a Blueberry Garden
and a Deacon's Vegetable Garden
as well as a Meditation Trail in the woods.
In December of 2013
we were first certified as a PCUSA
Earth Care Congregation
and we continue to do all we can
to keep that certification.
And in 2020 we've qualified again!
If you come to visit, we want to make you feel at home in this community, so expect someone to welcome you on your visit. We are a faith-seeking community that is eager to learn about and express God's love for the world. Some here have been life-long Christians, others are new to the Christian faith, and some are here to reconnect with their faith. We are also an accepting congregation. Nobody will care what you wear to Church, so if you are looking for a faith community, some place to be inspired, or if you feel like something is missing in your life, visit Nashua Presbyterian.
Our Church is located at 1010 West Hollis Street, Nashua NH, 03062
From U.S. 3 /Everett Turnpike in Nashua, take Exit 5W onto NH Rte. 111/W. Hollis St. We are located at 1010 W. Hollis St./NH Rte. 111 on the left a few miles toward Hollis, just across the road from EZ Mini Storage.
Sunday Worship Services are held at 10:00 AM on Zoom. Our worship style is traditional and our preacher generally follows the Revised Common Lectionary texts for the day.
Sunday School is held on Zoom beginning Sept. 13th 2020
Our Pastor is Rev. Sally Newhall. Sally has served churches in the PCUSA for over 40 years from NH to VA and as far west as IN. In her spare time she loves reading scifi, fantasy and mysteries, doing jigsaw puzzles, and playing games on her phone!
Our Church is located at 1010 West Hollis Street, Nashua NH, 03062
From U.S. 3 /Everett Turnpike in Nashua, take Exit 5W onto NH Rte. 111/W. Hollis St. We are located at 1010 W. Hollis St./NH Rte. 111 on the left a few miles toward Hollis, just across the road from EZ Mini Storage.
Sunday Worship Services are held at 10:00 AM on Zoom. Our worship style is traditional and our preacher generally follows the Revised Common Lectionary texts for the day.
Sunday School is held on Zoom beginning Sept. 13th 2020
Our Pastor is Rev. Sally Newhall. Sally has served churches in the PCUSA for over 40 years from NH to VA and as far west as IN. In her spare time she loves reading scifi, fantasy and mysteries, doing jigsaw puzzles, and playing games on her phone!