E-News from New Hampshire Council of Churches, 19 December 2009

The Winter Solstice.   The First Night of Winter.   The Longest Night of the Year. Please plan to spend a short part of it with us, in a candlelight vigil for our brothers and sisters who have died this year because of homelessness.  Let us gather our hearts in prayerful reflection on the gift of their lives and the tragedy of homelessness in a land of great wealth.   There are vigils planned in at least three communities-Concord, Manchester and Lebanon. These coincide with vigils in all 50 states on the same evening. More may be planned in Keene and Nashua. Contact Maggie Fogarty 224-2407 or mfogarty@afsc.org for more info. Scheduled vigils are: Concord: 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. State House Plaza Bring a non-perishable food item to share with a local food pantry Contact:  Maggie Fogarty, 224-2407 or mfogarty@afsc.org   Manchester: 6:00 p.m. Veterans Park, Elm Street Bring a candle Contact:  Cindy Carlson nhunderthebridge@gmail.com   Lebanon: 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. First Congregational Church, Lebanon (across from the Green) Bring a non-perishable food item Contact:  Jeremy, 443-6150 or tccapjerem@gmail.com Get On the Bus! Ecumenical Advocacy Days Delegation Forming March 19 - 22, 2010 Washington D.C. "A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples" And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' -Luke 9:58 Jesus had no place to lay his head. Neither do tens of millions of migrants, refugees and displaced persons. Be a part of an action weekend addressing this global injustice. Join hundreds of faith-based advocates in taking action on U.S. legislation that will welcome immigrants, protect refugees, and prevent displacement of millions. Worship, study and dialogue with hundreds of people of faith at the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days. Then join us as we go to Capitol Hill to advocate for our members of Congress to remedy these global injustices. NH delegation is forming now! Please contact Laurel Redden at 894-5931 or laurel@nhchurches.org with your interest. More information and registration here. Quick Takes: New Hampshire Senate and House reconvene Wednesday, January 6. The House takes up carry-over bills from 2009 session. Work begins on new legislation. US House reconvenes January 12 US Senate reconvenes January 18

The New Hampshire Council of Churches consists of 10 member denominations, dedicated to working together as New Hampshire's religious voice for peace, for the poor, and for the planet.