12/7/06 News & Notes
12/7/06 St. John’s News & Notes
Dear Friends of St. John’s,
I’m writing a day early getting “News & Notes” to you because I’ll be out of town for a good part of tomorrow - going to pick my father up, to come for another visit. Let me begin with an invitation to learn more about our “movement” (the United Methodist Church). This comes from an electronic newsletter I receive, entitled “Newscope”:
“Join the next session of UM101 for free. It is usually $12. UM101 is an online, interactive multi-media course about the basics of the UMC. Registration for the next session begins Dec. 6. Participants can access the class any time between Dec. 15 and Feb. 15 on their own time schedule. The course can be completed in three hours, but most participants prefer to take more time in order to participate in activities and the discussion board. It is never too late to register or start the class. For more information and to register, please go to http://training.umcom.org. UM101 is offered by UM Communications. - UMCom”
Join us for a special supper tomorrow, Friday, December 8, from 5:00-6:30 pm at the church. Money raised from this supper will support our mission trip which leaves in February to help rebuild the community of Slidell, Louisiana, an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The “north-south” menu includes both New England Boiled Dinner and southern specialties, in addition to beverages and a great dessert bar. The cost is $7.00 adults, $6.00 senior citizens, $3.00 children, and $20.00 for a family of four or more.
Our Christian Ed. Director, Betsey B., has asked me to remind you of the stars that remain on the Gift Tree, in the narthex of the church. These stars have the gender, age and desired gift for a young person at a number of different places in the area. If you haven’t picked a star up yet (or maybe even if you have), won’t you check out the tree to see if you can “claim” one of the stars? This is the last Sunday to pick them up - we need the gifts returned (with the star attached) by the next Sunday (December 17th). Thanks very much.
A member of St. John’s Church, Alice Dr., passed away on Monday. Alice, who was 92 years old, was Betty G’s aunt. Because of Alzheimer’s Disease (and maybe other issues that I don’t know about) she has been living in Riverside Rest Home. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, at 11 AM, at First Parish Church in Somersworth.
Any of you men willing/interested in singing in a men’s choir at the 6:30 PM Christmas Eve service? There’ll be a rehearsal tonight (Thursday) at 6:45 PM, for about half an hour - and then again on December 21st, at the same time - to practice the piece we’ll sing. It’s not difficult, and you don’t need to know how to read music. We’d love to have you sing with us. See you tonight.
Have you got your Christmas shopping done? Having a hard time thinking of just the right gift for that person who has everything? What about “buying” an “alternative” gift in their name - honoring them, and giving to a mission that really needs the support? There are things from Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project and Church World Service. Want to know more? Check out the green photocopied sheets on the bulletin board in the entrance of Hartford Hall. “In as much as you have done it for one of the least of these my brothers or sisters, you have done it to me.”
Last Sunday morning, at the first service, Tracie R. spoke about the “Pease Greeters” who meet flights of military folks either heading to, or coming home from Iraq. She has sent this note along, with specific information for those who are interested: “Folks can call me with questions and updates (988-8445). If St. John’s folks want to be on the Pease list, which is the only way to find out last minute changes, I can help them do that.” Here is the present list of flights:
Arriving Saturday, 12/9/06 at 7:45 AM and departing at 9:15 AM - Returning from overseas
Arriving Friday, 12/15/06 at 3:40 PM and departing at 5:10 PM - Returning from overseas
Arriving Saturday, 12/16/06 at 11:40 AM and departing at 12:40 PM - Heading overseas
Arriving Saturday, 12/16/06 at 9:30 PM and departing at 11:30 PM - Returning from overseas
Arriving Monday, 12/18/06 at 11:40 PM and departing Tuesday, 12/19/06 at 1:10 AM - Returning from overseas
Arriving Wednesday, 12/20/06 at 7:35 PM and departing at 9:30 PM - Returning from overseas
Don’t forget the Pease Greeters’ Fund which provides refreshments during the troop visits to Portsmouth. For information, contact Ed Johnson at (603) 964-5929 or captedmun [at] aol [dot] com. Checks can also be made out to Pease Greeters’ Fund, P.O. Box 178, Rye, NH 03871. Donations are tax deductible.
Let me share with you some information about our sisters and brothers in Christ. Gerry C. had surgery on November 27th, to make repairs on her heart. The surgery went wonderfully. She’s at Langdon Place now for a short period of rehab, and will head home. She’s in wonderful spirits.
Those on our Prayer Chain received word that Keith D., Lynn D.’s husband, has been very recently diagnosed with stage four cancer - in and around his sinuses. It would be wonderful for them to hear from you (even if you don’t know them very well) through cards and notes. Their address is in the Church Directory, or you can call the Church Office (742-3046).
DONALD F. - update - today’s X-rays show 5 weeks into recovery healing has occurred at an accelerated rate. New, full cast on left wrist and forearm, removable cast on right wrist and forearm. Praise the Lord. Please keep up the prayers for continued accelerated healing of both wrists.
This is partially self-congratulatory, but didn’t last Sunday’s Cantata go well? It seemed great to me, and we’ve heard lots of nice comments from many of you who attended. Many thanks to Barbara J. and Steve M. who worked so hard to pull this all together. And thanks to the instrumentalists and choir members who have been working since September. May the message of the music shape our hearts and lives.
The deadline for articles for the January “Bell-Wether” is this coming Monday. It helps Claire B. immensely if you can yet your material to her on time. You can send it to bellwether [at] stjohnsdover [dot] org.
Only a week until the Peter Mayer concert. It’ll be Friday, December 15th, at the Dover High School. Get in touch with Bob or Diana S. for tickets. They’d love to sell you some. The revenues will benefit the Dover Police Charities. It’s sad that we had to shift from being the sponsors of this event - but having the Dover Police sponsor it has just opened so many more doors for publicity, etc. Since many of the same organizations will benefit from the event (regardless of whether it was St. John’s or the Police who sponsor it), it seems to make sense to go this root.
This Sunday, Part One of Handel’s “Messiah” will be presented at First Parish Church in Dover. There’s no admission charge, but donations will be accepted. If you’d like a “participatory” event relative to the “Messiah,” the Portland Choral Arts Society will present a “Messiah Sing-a-long” on Monday, at 7:30 PM, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Portland. I’ve attended this many times in the past, and have enjoyed it immensely. I’m sure you would too. It costs $5, and they encourage you to bring your own score along if you have one.
Let me remind you again of our Christmas Eve schedule. On Sunday morning, we’ll have just one worship service (no Sunday School) at 9:30 AM. This service will focus on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Then in the evening, we’ll begin our Christmas celebrations. At 6:30 PM, we have our service suitable for all ages - with carols, a retelling of the Christmas story, my telling of “The Christmas Candle” by Richard Paul Evans, and communion. The 9 PM service will be a service of Lessons and Carols, ending with communion. And at 11 PM, we’ll share a traditional Christmas Eve service with carols, a meditation, communion and candle lighting (outside!) while we sing “Silent Night.”
Who do you know that doesn’t have a church home? Could you invite them to join you for worship during these blessed weeks of Advent, as well as for the Christmas celebration? “They” tell us this is a prime time for people to be open to an invitation to attend church. Let’s seize this opportunity and act on it.
The flip side of that is that ALL of us need to be aware of visitors to our church. Please take the initiative to introduce yourself to someone you don’t know, and take a minute to get to know them. Worried that the person you approach might NOT be a visitor, and might be someone who has been a part of St. John’s Church for twenty years? Don’t let that deter you. Approach them with a comment like “Forgive me if I’m forgetting, or if we just haven’t crossed paths before, but are you visiting St. John’s today?” And if someone comes up to you with a “line” like that, be patient with them as well! Won’t it be great to make a new friend in the church?
Well I’ve blabbed on long enough for this issue of “News & Notes,” so I’ll close. Have a great weekend. Take time for yourself. And take time to worship God. See you in church. Peace, Mark