Nottingham Community Church, 106 Church Street, Nottingham, NH (2026)

11/11/2023

The Annual Nottingham Food Pantry Concert will be held Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 3 to 5 PM at the Nottingham Community Church, 106 Church Street, Nottingham. The purpose remains to get donations of money and non-perishable food for the Nottingham Food Pantry. It is also part of the Community Church’s Second Sunday Concert Series. It is great music for a great cause. Sunrise Strummers from the Newmarket Senior Center, Celtic music by Jeff Murdock, Diane Collier, and Paul Delnero, brilliant singing and instrumental by Cassidy Green, and Nice & Naughty’s Peg Chaffee and Cheryl Sager as well as Doc Steve Soreff, the emcee. There will be refreshments.

For more information call 603 895-6120 or email [email protected]

03/25/2023

NCC-UU Sunday Service
March 26, 2023, 10:00 AM

"Don't Look Now, But..."

That's a funny expression – "don't look now, but..." Makes you want to look now, doesn't it? In the photo is a fond memory of mine. "Tiny Craig" was created by some of my co-workers several years ago. I'd come in to work after the weekend and find a complete, often complex scene with Tiny Craig caught in some adventure. Here he is... vulnerable. Not unlike the rest of us on a regular basis. I could say to Tiny Craig, "don't look now, but..." although looking now is probably his best option. I'm thinking about ways we take care of each other - sometimes pointing out difficult things that we feel someone else needs to know or would benefit from hearing or learning about. I'll talk a bit about that on Sunday and talk about how my vulnerable self dared to read an article titled, "Why You Should Not Be a Unitarian Universalist." I'm very glad I did, and I'll tell you why on Sunday.

Hey -- If you can stay, there is a very important congregational meeting right after the service. It may be shared via Zoom as well, so be sure to register your interest or simply show up.
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We will gather in-person in our sanctuary and stream the service at 10:00 AM via our church's Facebook group. To request access to our community forum, send email with the subject "NCC page Request" to me at [email protected]. I will probably write back to inquire about your interest as we've had a number of "posers" trying to enter our space for purposes that seem not to align with our values or intention. May they find peace and belonging in just ways.

"there is a Love holding me,
there is a Love holding you,
there is a Love holding all,
I rest in this Love."

words by Rev. Rebecca Parker
sung to a melody by Rev. Deirdre Drennen

02/25/2023

For Sunday, February 26, 2023

"Looking For Love In All the Right Places"

As I am sitting down to compose this note to you, there's a pileated woodpecker hammering away at a huge dead tree not far from the chilly-but-warming camper I am sitting in (it's parked in our driveway, and I use it as a bit of a sanctuary for reflection and work sometimes). I love hearing the bird's percussive rhythm and seeing with my mind's eye its majesty and beauty. If I'm lucky, when I leave the camper, it will still be clinging to the tree within view, employing its innate wisdom, tenacity and acumen to find food that is unseen and well-protected except from the expert detection capabilities of this magnificent creature.
In addition to my woodpecker appreciation, I'm also marveling today at our ability to see things that we want to see. This is a gift. Sometimes it can be a curse – as in "Confirmation Bias" – when we only see what we want to see in the world. That's an important phenomenon to remember and pay attention to - that this "power" we have to see or find what we are looking for can limit us and even cause harm... AND it can be helpful and therapeutic and spiritually fulfilling. Another example of seeing what we want to see, even unconsciously, is the way I can find a human face in almost anything. This capability is built into us, and it's fascinating to me.
Sometimes these faces jump out at us in the bark of a tree or the craggy canvas of a rock or the pattern in some vinyl flooring. I am also interested in how often we find heart shapes in things. So many of us find heart-shaped rocks, or see the shape in leaves or clouds or spaces between branches. Sometimes we are looking for these things consciously, and often we happen upon them, glad for the discovery., either way. With our theme of Love this month, I am continuing to reflect my ability to find love all around me. Not just the overt expressions, but the more subtle, sometimes hidden love that, I believe, swirls around us all the time. We are able to detect it if we choose to look for it and identify it as love. This all reminds me, too, about all that draws me in and takes my time, ever-more-precious-to-me time. If I don't actively seek out what I hope to find, I can get swept away in what my dear Mom-in-Law called "time-stealing." So... I'm looking for love in all the RIGHT places this month. Today it starts with sitting down to wrote this. Sunday I will offer the question out loud in community and invite us all to talk about where we find love in the world.
Because MUSIC is such a powerful medium for the communication of lLOVE (and because we LOVE MUSIC), we will have a bunch of it built into our service.
_____________________

We will gather in-person in the Nottingham Community Church sanctuary for 10 AM, and stream the service live via our church's Facebook group. To request access to our community forum, send email with the subject "NCC page Request" to me at [email protected]. I will probably write back to inquire about your interest as we've had a number of "posers" trying to enter our space for purposes that seem not to align with our values or intention. May they find peace and belonging in just ways.

"there is a Love holding me,
there is a Love holding you,
there is a Love holding all,
I rest in this Love."

words by Rev. Rebecca Parker
sung to a melody by Rev. Deirdre Drennen

Rev. Craig Werth, Interfaith Chaplain and Pastor
Nottingham Community Church (UU)
106 Church Street
Nottingham, New Hampshire
[email protected]

02/11/2023

NCC-UU Sunday Service
February 12, 2023

"Love - Wherever You May Find It"

Here is a reprise of this photo I took outside a café in Portsmouth. Today I see something new in it.
This vine and its tiny heart leaf looks like a music staff to me today, with notes and chords and a message of love built into it. It wouldn't be an unabashed love song... but a song with hints of love within.
It reminds me of Love that is not overt. Love that is subtly delivered - sometimes missed altogether for its subtlety. Assuming we can all use all the Love we can get, I'm taking a bit of time to look below the surface level, for the less-than-obvious, or... perhaps... the more-than-obvious Love in our midst. We'll have some extra music this Sunday and we'll take stock in love and its many forms from the vantage point of our compassionate community.
_____________________

We will gather in-person in our sanctuary and stream the service via our church's Facebook group. To request access to our community forum, send email with the subject "NCC page Request" to me at [email protected]. I will probably write back to inquire about your interest as we've had a number of "posers" trying to enter our space for purposes that seem not to align with our values or intention. May they find peace and belonging in just ways.

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"there is a Love holding me,
there is a Love holding you,
there is a Love holding all,
I rest in this Love."

words by Rev. Rebecca Parker
sung to a melody by Rev. Deirdre Drennen

Rev. Craig Werth, Interfaith Chaplain and Pastor
Nottingham Community Church (UU)
106 Church Street
Nottingham, New Hampshire
[email protected]

01/28/2023

"Boxes of Love"

Sunday, January 29, 2023, 10:00 AM
Nottingham Community Church (UU)
Nottingham, New Hampshire

It was in my very first year as pastor of Nottingham Community Church - early 2018, that our community member Stacy started talking about her project, "Boxes of Love" in support of those living with homelessness. She brought in some samples of what she was planning to prepare and distribute. It was a small and beautiful start. Our church gave her mission our blessing and soon after, she was no longer available to attend services. We haven't seen much of her since that first year... for very good reason. Stacy and her amazing fellow volunteers have been off and running with project after project, event after event, in support of hundreds of people living in homelessness throughout New Hampshire. Every Sunday we in our community remind each other that "service is our prayer." Stacy and those she works with are living that out loud, every day.
This Sunday, I will help welcome Stacy back into our sanctuary to hear from her about their work and see a bit of it in action via video. With Divine inspiration, we will co-create a setting of welcoming with our good hearts, minds and spirits, with some sweet music filling the air as well. All who come in peace are welcome – just as you are.
_____________________

We will gather in-person in our sanctuary and stream the service via our church's Facebook group. To request access to our community forum, send email with the subject "NCC page Request" to me at [email protected]. I will probably write back to inquire about your interest as we've had a number of "posers" trying to enter our space for purposes that seem not to align with our values or intention. May they find peace and belonging in just ways.

"there is a Love holding me,
there is a Love holding you,
there is a Love holding all,
I rest in this Love."

words by Rev. Rebecca Parker
sung to a melody by Rev. Deirdre Drennen

01/21/2023

"Seeing to Center"

Sunday, January 22, 2023, 10:00 AM
Nottingham Community Church (UU)
Nottingham, New Hampshire

This is the view when I look skyward in our driveway. I am comforted by our first significant snowfall this week. Winter + New England = Snow has not been so steady a formula in these years. When it happens, it gives me comfort. that.. "things, in this small way, are as they should be"... or as I want them to be.
Our oft-mentioned bird feeder is alight with lessons about bird behavior. Just as with most anything I start to pay careful attention to, I'm offered more complexity that I have been aware of. I have been making some slow-motion videos of birds at the feeder from about 18 inches away. The relationships among the species have patterns. In our neck of the woods, the feeder's big-cheese is the hairy woodpecker - ruling over all. Next comes the downy woodpecker, then the tufted titmouse and, finally, the diminutive chickadee. Chickadees seem quite savvy. Not so much timid as careful and strategic. There was a hairy woodpecker that inspired the voluntary, speedy retreat of a downy at the suet cage. Right beside the suet, the seed tube was vacated by all for some while, until a chickadee flew onto the furthest perch from the hairy woodpecker's position. The chickadee leaned away from the tube, peering around it to watch the hairy for a while – gauge its focus on the suet, its body position, its demeanor... then the chickadee decided it was safe enough to perch hop, select a choice sunflower seed and get-out-while-the-gettin's-good with its prize. I am thinking about how we humans gauge each other and behave in response... how we determine the safety and opportunity of a situation. I'm also thinking how much on the surface we judge each other and how seldom we look below the surface at the center of each other - the places where we are most alike and most connected. I'll have something to say about this on Sunday.

We'll share music and song aplenty, and worship and honor as we are moved to, each in our own ways, as we gather around principles of compassion and justice for all.

_____________________

We will gather in-person in our sanctuary and stream the service via our church's Facebook group. To request access to our community forum, send email with the subject "NCC page Request" to me at [email protected]. I will probably write back to inquire about your interest as we've had a number of "posers" trying to enter our space for purposes that seem not to align with our values or intention. May they find peace and belonging in just ways.

"there is a Love holding me,
there is a Love holding you,
there is a Love holding all,
I rest in this Love."

words by Rev. Rebecca Parker
sung to a melody by Rev. Deirdre Drennen

Rev. Craig Werth, Interfaith Chaplain and Pastor
Nottingham Community Church (UU)
106 Church Street
Nottingham, New Hampshire
[email protected]

01/06/2023

"Finding Your Center"
Nottingham Community Church (UU)
Sunday, January 8, 2023, 10:00 AM

I was recently retaught how to fold these cranes – a favorite and powerful origami figure, traditionally representing honor, good fortune, loyalty, and longevity. It has come to represent peace and healing in my own life, and today it has me thinking of friends, past and present.

One of my favorite people among many favorite people, is my friend Judy Ringer. Judy has shared a multitude of gifts with me. One of them is the use of the martial art of Aikido as a metaphor for understanding and living life in a strong and peaceful way. As we continue to look at the month's topic of "Finding Your Center," we'll visit Aikido for just a bit on Sunday, and contemplate the forces in life, including faith, that help us center and balance.

As always, music will play a major role in our gathering. Andrea is back with us on piano and, possibly, our sweet organ, which found its voice again after long silence. Others will join in.

We are a small and mighty community of justice-oriented, compassionate people, always filled with humility, acceptance and warmth. Visit us in our sanctuary if it fits for you, or ask to join our church page for our Sunday stream.

All who come in peace, whoever and however you are, are welcome, just as you are.

"there is a Love holding me,
there is a Love holding you,
there is a Love holding all,
I rest in this Love."

words by Rev. Rebecca Parker
sung to a melody by Rev. Deirdre Drennen

Rev. Craig Werth, Interfaith Chaplain and Pastor
Nottingham Community Church (UU)
106 Church Street
Nottingham, New Hampshire
[email protected]

12/30/2022

"Finding Your Center"

Nottingham Community Church
Sunday, January 1, 2023, 10:00 AM

There's a longer story to the subjects in this photo. In short, these are pieces of "sea glass" collected on a rocky eastern shore in Nova Scotia by our son, Ben, and me 20 years ago along the trail of a much-needed father-son trek to Newfoundland. I'd never before, and haven't since, seen such sea glass bounty in my life. No doubt the rough seas and ship traffic of this region concentrated the supply over the ages. You'll see a pebble of red in there. It's very old red... and it was the last piece we found after hours of searching for that particular color with no luck until the very last moment as we turned to leave. We'd given up on finding it, in fact. I'll talk more about that in relation to our month's theme of "Finding Your Center" on Sunday. For those able and inclined to gather in the sanctuary on a New Year's Day, we'll co-create an in-person service. We will also stream live to our church's Facebook group page.

Wishing you peace and joy, good health, and just the right amount of challenge for 2023.

________________________

"there is a Love holding me,
there is a Love holding you,
there is a Love holding all,
I rest in this Love."

words by Rev. Rebecca Parker
sung to a melody by Rev. Deirdre Drennen

Rev. Craig Werth, Interfaith Chaplain and Pastor
Nottingham Community Church (UU)
106 Church Street
Nottingham, New Hampshire

12/24/2022

Video of a short Interfaith Christmas Eve service Liz and I put together in lieu of our cancelled community service will be uploaded soon. I will include the link below. Uploading by weak phone signal, but it may be up by now. Music planned for today and so beautifully prepared by our ten community musicians will be shared in the weeks to come. Gratitude to all for the beautiful intention and hard work preparing for this service. Wishing safety and comfort for all in this tough weather and these challenging times.
https://youtu.be/-5JLjwBE9iI

12/24/2022

Sadly, our Christmas Eve service is cancelled. With the wisdom from our church board, we are cancelling our planned Christmas Eve service (4:00 PM today). The church is without power and temperatures are dropping rapidly. Safety concerns prevail. Liz and I have been without power and internet at home since 5:30 yesterday. Small inconvenience for us, as we have wood heat and plenty of emergency gear. Many will be disappointed and are in need of support at this time. Please reach out to someone, including us, if you are in need. We will bring all this music and Spirit into services ahead.

12/23/2022

"Gathering on Christmas Eve"

Saturday, December 24, 2022, 4:00 PM

This was a once-in-the-history-of-the-universe configuration of critters in our home one afternoon. I'm glad I was there to witness and capture it in this way. Today it serves to remind me of our opportunities to find common ground even in the face of potent marked differences. So we shall gather at Nottingham Community Church on Saturday's early evening for a service comprised of 92.3% music. We will have at least 10 musicians in the sanctuary of our church and we'll be inviting all who join us to chime in on some familiar songs and learn a new one or two with us.

Whatever you believe or don't believe... whether you are feeling joyful and hopeful or sad and discouraged at this time (or both and all), we will welcome you in with warmth, compassion and respect. Our music will honor Christmas tradition, Hanukkah, Humanity... I hope and expect everyone gathered will find at least one piece of music or song chosen specifically for them, as we strive to welcome all on the common ground of love and peace and hope... dare I say, Joy, in the midst of it all.

We'll be in-person in our sanctuary and trying to stream to our church's group page. If you are not a member of the group, write me ASAP at the email address below and I'll try to help you join in time.

Even if we don't see you Saturday - we will include you in our prayers and hopes and wishes for the new year ahead.

"there is a Love holding me,
there is a Love holding you,
there is a Love holding all,
I rest in this Love."

words by Rev. Rebecca Parker
sung to a melody by Rev. Deirdre Drennen

Rev. Craig Werth, Interfaith Chaplain and Pastor
Nottingham Community Church (UU)
106 Church Street
Nottingham, New Hampshire
[email protected]

Nottingham Community Church

11/11/2023

03/25/2023

02/25/2023

02/11/2023

01/28/2023

01/21/2023

01/06/2023

12/30/2022

12/24/2022

12/24/2022

12/23/2022

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