Serving God with Energy, Intelligence, Imagination, and Love
PNNE Seeks Volunteer Treasurer
See info on "Staff and Leadership" page
The Presbytery of Northern New England (PNNE) is a mid-council of the Presbyterian Church (USA). PNNE consists of all the ministers and churches in New Hampshire, Maine, most of Vermont and northeastern Massachusetts. A formal description of the PNNE boundaries is found in the PNNE Bylaws, Article I.C.
At the end of 2024, 28 PNNE member congregations and one fellowship reported 2,029 members. More PNNE statistics are available on the PCUSA statistics page for PNNE. You can view a list of our churches on our CHURCHES page. Our approximately 112 active and retired Ministers of Word and Sacrament provides PNNE with a significant strength. The PNNE is one of the 19 presbyteries in the Synod of the Northeast.
Upcoming Conferences
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Mid Council Leaders Gathering
November 9– 12; Louisville -
Moderators’ Conference
November 13 – 15; Louisville and online -
Mid-Council Financial Conference
November 19-21, Chicago
Synod Grant makes Church survey tools available thru COM
How recently have you looked at your congregation’s purpose? Who are the groups in your community with whom you can partner to serve your neighbor? What is unique about your calling to prepare members for ministry? The Synod has provided funds to help sessions study their community and to survey their congregation. Mission InSite and Church Assessment resources are available to you at half your cost. Contact Resource Presbyter Scott DeBlock via EMAIL to sign up.
Seeds of Community Mission
Grants thru COM
Is it time for a re-set on your congregation’s engagement in local mission?
Have you retired a program because interest shifted, volunteers aged out, or enthusiasm sagged?
Do you still long for a way to show Christ’s love in your community?
If so, reaching out to community partner might be a path to explore? Many congregations have discovered new opportunities for mission and witness through conversations that lead to partnerships with community groups such as:
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Schools, Daycare Centers, and Adult Education Programs
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Libraries, Historical Societies, and Community Social Service Programs
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Health Care Clinics, Long Term Care Facilities, and Residential Treatment Centers
Your Committee on Ministry “Seeds of Community Mission” will fund 2-3 congregations engaging in collaborative projects in their neighborhoods! These grants will be disbursed by mid-October…so now is the time to dream, explore, draft a plan, and ask for funding. There is $5,000 total available and the Synod Grant Work Group will help you in turning your dreams into Matthew 25 realities! Contact: Kay.Huggins@me.com for information and to apply.
Wee Kirk - A small church conference
Grants available thru COM
You are invited to register for Wee Kirk Northeast: a small church conference October 13-25, Laurelville Retreat Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA.
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Registration $200 or $175 if before August 1;
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Grant from COM $500 for two attendees from the same congregation;
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AND: there are grants for 2 congregations – that means 4 individuals attending Wee Kirk!
Why attend Wee Kirk?
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If you’re an active member or ruling elder in a small church, you likely feel a bit overwhelmed by “keeping the church going”…you need some spiritual rest and inspiration.
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If you are pastoring, even part-time, a small church, you may also know the experience of being overwhelmed…plus you may be wondering what are the best practices for leading small congregations.
Wee Kirk’s purpose: to inspire, equip, motivate and encourage small churches of any denomination and to provide rest and refreshment for the clergy and lay leaders like YOU!
We urge you as individuals, as pastors, as sessions: Consider the benefits. Read the Conference Brochure. Register. Request funds from Committee on Ministry, contact Kay.Huggins@me.com.
And begin thinking/praying/rejoicing…now!
Wee Kirk will also be at Montreat this October 20-22.
Info at: https://montreat.org/events/wee-kirk-25
The PNNE Synod Taskforce has seed money from our Synod of the Northeast for new initiatives of ministry developed with a community partner. Many leadership consultants advocate the value, and the gospel call for connecting with our neighbors in intentional face to face ways. Budgets seldom have money for dreams. This seed money could partner with you as you jump in to such an adventure in ministry. Some of our churches have done this through the Maine seed grants or the pastoral support given by the Synod Grant in the last two years and reported to us of its value and the excitement it opened in the congregation. If your session is interested in knowing more, for a PDF info sheet, click HERE, and send an email of your interest to Marnie Silbert.
Applications must be submitted by October 15, 2025.
Send your request from session to Marnie Silbert.
Community Together
Apply for funding prior to October 15, 2025
Is Your Congregation Embarking on a Time of Transition?
The Grant PNNE received from our Synod of the Northeast has funds to partner with you! It can help pay for tools like the Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT) (ask Scott DeBlock) and MissionINSITE (ask Al Timm) to help learn about your broader community trends and data that could influence the shape of a future job description. Or maybe a grant could help pay the honorarium of a trained leader for a mission study. Or maybe it could partner with you to advertise your position. If your session is interested in knowing more, for an info sheet, click HERE. Applications must be submitted by December 15, 2025. Send session’s request to Marnie Silbert.
Ongoing Care for Ukraine
Composer and conductor John Rutter writes: "‘How can a composer respond to a global tragedy? By writing music is the most obvious thing. Like everybody, I’ve been shocked and dismayed by the events of recent days, and the first thing I wanted to do was write some music that would respond in my own way." Thus was born this new setting of A Ukrainian Prayer —
Боже, Україну храни
Дай нам силу, вірі, й надії
Отче наш, Отче наш
Амінь
A literal translation of the text is:
Good Lord, protect Ukraine.
Give her strength, courage, faith, hope. Amen.
Read more from Rutter. The score is available for free by submitting this form. You are welcome to duplicate the score for the sole use of your own choir. You may like to make a donation to a Ukrainian relief charity, perhaps equivalent to the approximate cost of the copies had you purchased them. If you wish, you are free to make an audio or video recording of the piece without a special license to do so.
For every contribution to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 17% of designated gifts are allocated for PCUSA operational services, and the remaining 83% goes directly to the emergency response, in this case to organizations working directly with those fleeing Ukraine. Gifts can be made online, by calling (800) 872-3283, by texting PDAUKR to 41444, or by check made payable to Presbyterian Church U.S.A. with "DR000156-Ukraine" on the memo line.
Mail to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264.
The church is to be a community of faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its life.
The Book of Order