Dear Friends in Christ,

As I prepare to conclude my ministry as Bishop of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire, my heart is filled with gratitude. For fourteen years, it has been the deepest honor of my life to serve alongside you — to worship, to lead, to listen, and to walk together through seasons of joy and challenge.

We have shared so much: moments of celebration, times of sorrow, and countless expressions of faith in action. I give thanks to God for each of you, and for what God has done in and through this faithful community.

As I reflect on these years, there is one hope that rises above the rest – something I wish I had been able to nurture even more fully: our ministry with children and youth.

We live in what the Prayer Book describes as “an unsteady and confusing world.” I see this every time I visit a congregation. And yet, I also see something deeply hopeful. New families are finding their way into our churches. Children and young people are not only returning – they are discovering, often for the first time, communities of faith where they are known, welcomed, and loved.

In a culture that can feel isolating, overwhelming, and at times unkind, the Episcopal Church offers something essential: belonging, meaning, and the peace of God that passes all understanding. Increasingly, young people are seeking exactly this.

This calling is deeply personal for me. When I was a child, I desperately needed to know whether God loved me and what my life might mean. The Church was there for me. It shaped me, sustained me, and, in many ways, saved me. It is my deepest hope that the Church will be there in the same way for the children of today – and for generations to come.

For these reasons, and as I prepare to take leave of this Diocese, I am delighted to hear a call from so many, of every age, to strengthen and expand ministry to and with children and teenagers across New Hampshire. I am excited to support this special initiative: Belonging and Thriving in Jesus: The Fund for Youth Ministry.  I invite you to join me.

This effort will help ensure that our congregations are equipped to welcome, nurture, and walk alongside young people in meaningful and life-giving ways. It will support leadership, programs, and resources so that every child and young person who seeks a spiritual home can find one in our Church.

Jesus showed deep compassion for children and their families. I believe we are called to do the same; with intention, with joy, and with renewed commitment.

Supporting this fund is a way to invest in the future of our Church and to share in a legacy that will endure far beyond my time as your Bishop. Together, we can ensure that the Episcopal Church in New Hampshire continues to be a place where young people truly belong and where they can grow, in faith and in life.

Thank you for the many ways you have supported me and this Diocese over the years. It has been a blessing beyond words to serve among you.

Faithfully,

The Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, Bishop of New Hampshire