Who We Are
For over 50 years, the United Church of Christ (UCC) Star Gathering Conferences have welcomed individuals and families to the breathtaking shores of Star Island, offering a week of renewal, community, and spiritual growth. Nestled among the historic Isles of Shoals, nearly ten miles off the New Hampshire coast, Star Island provides a truly unique setting to step away from the everyday and reconnect — with nature, with others, and with your spirit.
A Place for Everyone
Our Family Conferences are open to all — singles, couples, families of every shape and size, and individuals of all ages. Whether you're coming for quiet reflection or joyful connection, Star offers something for everyone. Each week features a Guest Speaker and a Minister of the Week who guide our mornings together through reflections, discussions, and daily chapel services centered around a weekly theme. Some conferees who enjoy relaxed and unstructured time to rest and reflect with the community do not attend the weekly programs.
In the mornings, children from infancy through high school enjoy enriching, age-appropriate programming led by dedicated staff. Afternoons and evenings are filled with multigenerational activities — crafts, games, nature walks, music, and plenty of free time to explore or relax. You can join in as much or as little as you like — this is your week to shape.
Youth Conference
Running parallel to our Family Conference during Week 1, our Star Gathering 1 Youth Conference welcomes 9th graders through graduating seniors into a vibrant and affirming community all their own. Here, young people grow together in faith and friendship through cherished traditions like candlelit chapel services, island softball, and new and engaging experiences introduced each year. Youth attending this conference register and attend independently of their families, and are housed together with the Youth Leaders, separate from the Family Conference. Youth may come to this conference without their families on the island, with appropriate medical forms.
The Star Gathering Family 2 Week offers Youth programming within the Family Conference. 9th graders through graduating seniors register and attend Star Gathering 2 with their families, where they have the opportunity to meet new friends and participate in island activities during structured teen programming, which is offered each morning and evening.
A Sacred Island Setting
Star Island is one of nine islands in the Isles of Shoals, straddling the border between Maine and New Hampshire. Surrounded by open ocean and stunning landscapes, Star invites you into a world that feels set apart — a place where sunrises stretch across the sea, seabirds call overhead, and the rhythm of island life sets the pace.
The island is a haven for both natural wonder and historic richness, home to species of fish, birds, and marine life documented by the Shoals Marine Lab, and dotted with storied buildings that echo with generations of memories. From the peaceful paths of the island’s flower-filled center to the awe-inspiring views from East Rock, Star offers moments of beauty, reflection, and connection at every turn.
Come be part of the tradition.
Immerse yourself in the island's rich history and legends, quiet your mind while carrying a lantern up the path to light the chapel for evening service, or enjoy time on the porch reconnecting with dear friends and meeting new ones.
Whether you're seeking rest, community, or spiritual inspiration, the Star Gathering Conferences welcome you to a week that could become a lifelong memory.