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| A M I N I S T R Y O F C O R N E R S T O N E |
      Pastors Change the Atmosphere at the City of Manchester’s Mayoral Inaugural Ceremonies At the Palace Theater on Hanover Street, just a half-block from City Hall, Mr. Jay Ruais was sworn in as the Queen City’s 49th mayor yesterday,Tuesday January 2nd. As Mayor Ruais outlined his plans for making Manchester the best midsize city in the nation, his message hit very sincere notes that too often, in other contexts, just feel like empty rhetoric: commitments to transparency, to city leadership in the crisis issues, to the cutting of red tape for common-sense solutions, and to an agreement to disagree agreeably with rivals. Noting that he only had 734 days left in his two-year term, the ceremony lasted barely 40 minutes!  It is certainly a moment of great optimism for Manchester. I was most inspired, however, by the impact of the Church–and the apparent hunger in the room for such impact–on this civic ceremony. Beginning with the invocation delivered by Father Jason Jalbert, Rector of St. Joseph Cathedral, there was a palpable sense of shared desire for God’s blessing, leadership, and help in a most beloved city beset with challenges. Pastor John Rivera of Hope City Church, the recipient of this year’s Church Ambassador Network Award, delivered a powerful benediction in Spanish and in English. Citing King Solomon’s request for wisdom from God as he ascended his father David’s throne (see 1 Kings 3.1-15), Pastor John asked all present how we would react if God asked us what He could give us. He concluded in a heartfelt prayer for God’s supernatural wisdom for Mayor Ruais, the Alderman, and the School Committee, all of whom were sworn in yesterday. The response in the theater to both prayers, as evidenced by the hearty “Amens” clearly from Catholic and Protestant quarters alike, was electric! May we all be committed to the Queen City’s thriving. In many ways, as Manchester goes, so goes New Hampshire. See Jeremiah 29.4-7. Please use these photos below of yesterday’s program as your prayer cards for the mayor, alderman, and school committee of the City of Manchester. The New Hampshire Legislature OPENS Today Make A Positive Impact In Just FIVE MINUTES!  As per Part Two, Article 3 of the New Hampshire Constitution, the Granite State’s Legislature–officially, the General Court of New Hampshire–begins meeting today, the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in January. This even-numbered year is actually the second year of our legislators’ biennial terms, and is thus an election year.  The general election will occur on Tuesday, November 5th, and current legislators’ terms will expire at 12:01 AM on Wednesday, December 4th–the first Wednesday in December.What would you like to see God do in the hearts of our legislators and in their policy-making–which affects all of us 1.389 million Granite Staters–by then? Your capacity to positively impact this year’s legislative session cannot be overstated! DISCOVER. Find out who your legislators are. Click here, find your hometown in the drop-down menu, and write down the names of your one state senator and your multiple state representatives. Unlike all other U.S. states, New Hampshire’s General Court is comprised of your volunteer neighbors! COMMUNICATE. Drop them a quick note of encouragement and gratitude, regardless of their political party or policy positions. Their contact information is visible once you click on their names. It will only take you a minute to send a quick email; a phone call or a post card will be very memorable! PRAY. Commit to PRAY for them by name in a regular rhythm that you can realistically maintain consistently. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2.1-4, ESV * * * * * * * Watch today’s HOUSE Session, beginning at 9am, here! Watch today’s SENATE Session, beginning at 9am, here!  What We’re Watching And WHAT YOU CAN DO! This second year of the two-year legislative session will likely begin with a bang! In the next few days, we anticipate several key bills coming up for debate or for a vote. Below are the top three we are watching. Take a few moments to reach out to your legislators and let them know how you feel! L I F E A cohort of legislators have introduced a constitutional amendment attacking vulnerable life in New Hampshire: CACR 24, providing that all persons have the right to make their own reproductive decisions. CACR 24 asserts that an individual’s “right” to ending the life of viable, pre-born babies cannot be denied. CACR 24 will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee this Thursday, January 24th at 1:00PM. This constitutional amendment yet again indicates the extreme stance of progressive New Hampshire legislators when it comes to the lives of innocent citizens. Based on votes from last year, it appears that every Democrat legislator supports the abortion of a viable infant up to the moment the baby’s head crowns, a baby that could be delivered and survive. This position is not only extreme, but out of touch with the 68% of Granite Staters who favor limits on abortion. WHAT YOU CAN DO Register your opposition of CACR 24 by signing in in opposition of the constitutional amendment here.  You can find step-by-step instructions on how to sign in here. Submit written testimony. You can do this when you sign in. Simply hit “choose file” under step number four to upload a document with your testimony, or type your testimony into the provided box. Come testify in person. We have step-by-step instructions on how to testify here. You can also contact cornerstone@nhcornerstone.org if you have any questions about the testifying process. Important Note: A number of people have had issues with the House remote sign-in page. If you are encountering problems, you can also email the Senate Judiciary Committee directly registering your opposition of the constitutional amendment and/or submitting written testimony. You can find their contact info here. W O M E N ‘ S   S A F E T Y HB 396 is a bill that was retained from last year and may come up for consideration again in these first few opening days of the House session. The full House is scheduled to meet today and tomorrow. HB 396 is a straightforward bill that preserves the state’s ability to differentiate between biological sexes in areas such as athletic competitions, prisons, restrooms, or places of intimate privacy. HB 396 will clarify that nothing in New Hampshire law prevents public facilities from differentiating between the biological sexes in athletic competitions, prisons, locker rooms, restrooms, or places of intimate privacy. HB 396 is necessary to address the threats to the safety of our women and young girls that arise from the careless use of only self-declared gender identity to separate sensitive areas such as bathrooms, locker rooms, athletics, prisons, and other private areas. Please contact your representatives and urge them to vote OTP on HB 396, with or without an amendment. E D U C A T I O N SB 219 is a bill that was retained from last year and may come up for consideration again in the Senate’s early sessions this year. A proposed amendment to SB 219 would require school districts to report six-figure salaries of highly-paid administrators before school budget meetings. The purpose of this amendment is to make plain the disparity between relatively stagnant teacher wages and ballooning administrative payrolls. Despite decades of increasing school expenses around New Hampshire, school tax increases are not resulting in corresponding teacher pay increases. Instead, school districts are creating well-paid administrative bureaucracies focused on expensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and staffing, all at the expense of teachers and students. Cornerstone supports this version of the bill and advocates for the passage of the bill with the reporting requirement in place. We need your help making sure it advances through the Senate and is signed into law. Please contact your Senator to ask them to support this amendment and take a firm stand to prevent school administrators from concealing this information while continuing to quietly prioritize “diversity, equity, and inclusion” over the foundational quality of school education.    Schedule A Concord 101 Class Today The 2024 Legislative Session has now begun! Book a Concord 101 for your church, class, or group today. Are you… – intimately acquainted with God’s heart for civic government according to the Scriptures?- aware of the unparalleled opportunity we believers in the Granite State have to influence our civic government for good? – knowledgeable about how a bill becomes a law in NH and how you can effectively participate in that process? – ready for what’s coming legislatively THIS SESSION now underway? If not, email lgawlak@nhcornerstone.org today for more information and to schedule an interactive Concord 101 seminar! BOOK NOW for January, February, or March of 2024! Remember: 2024 Resources for Every Granite State Church From our National Partners The Association of Churches and Ministries Join The Family Research Council’s ACM for resources especially curated for pastors & churches, including access to a Crisis Response Team in case your church or ministry is targeted by “cancel-culture” tactics Community Impact Teams Empower 3-5 laypersons to lead a CIT at your local church to coordinate engagement with local school boards, state legislators, and NH’s federal Congressional delegation The Center for Biblical Worldview Enrich your messaging & preaching with access to exclusive Barna data relative to the status of Americans’ worldviews, and much more See The Family Research Council for a complete list of ministries and resources Subscribe to the Family Update: Policy Updates/Calls to ActionShareTweetForward Thank you for supporting Cornerstone’s Church Ambassador Network with your donation! 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