News & Notes
Dear St. John’s Church Family,
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
May we all continue to live in the “glow” of the hope of the resurrection, where the risen Christ calls us each by name, and lifts us above those (real or perceived) limitations in our life of faith!
I have too much information to share with you today - a few things coming from others sources - but things that I thought you’d be interested in.
This comes from Peg Mullins, writing about Tim: “Just to let you know, we went to the Lahey Clinic last week (yes, in that snowstorm) to have more testing done and to see the doc. We got stressful news on his ultrasound. It showed a mass on his kidney. While there is a possibility that it may be benign, there is also the possibility that it could be cancerous. We are hoping for the best, but can’t help but be extremely anxious. He will be having a CT scan done next week that will tell us if if is a benign or cancerous mass!!! They are also running a battery of lab tests, which should help figure out what’s going on with him. As far as his liver goes, his platelets are dropping and his spleen is enlarged, which also goes along with his diagnosis. He is doing pretty well, but extremely, extremely tired! As far as transplant goes, everything is on hold because of the work up that needs to be done about his kidney. The doc did, however, feel that his liver was stable at the moment and has added more meds to try and preserve that liver as long as possible. Thank you all for all the support you’ve given us and the space that we have needed…..”
TEMPLE ISRAEL OF DOVER TO COMMEMORATE HOLOCAUST WITH SERVING HONOR CONGREGANT ANJA LEGERSTEE
April 4, 2007 - Dover, NH a?” Temple Israel of Dover welcomes members and guests from the Seacoast community to join in remembering the victims of the Holocaust on April 13.
On Friday, April 13, 2007, at 7:30 pm, Temple Israel invites you to join the congregation in a special Sabbath Evening Service of Holocaust Remembrance open to the Seacoast community. This service will feature excerpts from the memoirs of Temple congregant Anja Legerstee, who survived the war after being sent from her home of Lublin, Poland to the Maidanek Concentration Camp, from which she escaped and later worked in the factory of a Nazi Slave Labor Camp.
For more information, call Temple Israel of Dover at 603.742.3976 or visit>the website at www.dovertemple.org.
Jinny Scott asked me to share with you that our next Red Cross Blood Drive will be Friday, April 20th, from 2pm to 7pm. Soup and “goodies” would be appreciated. If you would like someone to pick up the goodies to call her.
You may have heard that the Worship Committee is looking for folks who might be part of a rotating schedule to serve as ushers for the second service on Sunday mornings. There have been a number who have had to back out, and the Committee doesn’t want to overwork the few volunteers who remain. If you would be interested/willing to help out (even if you “normally” attend the first service), would you please speak to Claire Bloom or Jinny Scott? Thanks.
Our Bishop, Pete Weaver, will be conducting his “Bishop’s Day on the District,” this Saturday, from 10 AM till 2 PM, at the Eliot UMC. EVERYONE is invited to attend this event - whose theme will be “Stewardship.” Even though it’s a Saturday, I hope many from St. John’s Church will attend. I’ll see you there. In fact, if you’d like to ride together, give me a call.
After the day with the Bishop (or maybe someplace else) you might want to spend the evening with our youth, at “Fifties for Freedom” - sock hop, dinner, karaoke, and fun!! It all starts at 5 PM. I’m hoping that the tickets aren’t all sold out, ’cause I haven’t gotten ours yet!! See you there.
Looking ahead, we have the All-Church Retreat on Saturday, April 21st, from 9 AM till about 3 PM, at First UMC in Rochester. This is an important event for us, and I hope we have a great turnout. We need to know ahead of time if you’d like your lunch provided by the folks at First Church. Please call OUR Church office with your reservation.
A special Church Conference (congregational meeting for our church - all members of the church can vote - non-members/constituents are more than welcome, and have the privilege to speak, but not vote) has been called for Sunday, April 22nd, at 6 PM, to act on our Pastor/Staff-Parish Relations Committee’s recommendation that Bill Humphrey be accepted as a Certified Candidate for Ministry. This is an exciting time for Bill, and for St. John’s. On of our own has been called by God to serve in this representative ministry. The meeting is part of the formal process that Bill has to go through - ending up, most likely, as what the church calls a “Local Pastor.”
The Trustees have finished preparations for organizing a “Spring Clean-Up Day” around the church, on Saturday, April 28th. Details will come out at church this Sunday!! I know this is the third Saturday in a row that I’m asking you/inviting you to do something church-related! May there be multiple stars polished up for multiple crowns in the church!!
In the evening of the Clean-Up Day, we have our next Public Supper!!
Finally, just a quick reminder of the Mission Trip Team presentation and pot-luck supper, on Sunday, April 29th, at 4 PM, in Hartford Hall. Claire Bloom has created a wonderful presentation that you won’t want to miss!!
April is quite the month for wonderful things to take part in, isn’t it? I hope you’ll be able to enjoy as many as possible. I’ll close my part of “News & Notes,” and “paste” in two more things for your reading. Enjoy. See you in church. Peace, Mark
Letter from Bishop Peter D. Weaver: April, 2007
Dear Sisters and Brothers of the New England Conference,
Grace and peace to you in the name and spirit of Christ.
The recent immigration raid in New Bedford, Massachusetts with the subsequent detention of hundreds of persons and the separation of scores of parents from their children reflects similar events in many other communities in New England and around the country. The national political debate on immigration has generated considerable heat, but little light. As many concerns and passions are aroused in our politically polarized time, it is important for the New England Conference community to be reminded of some teaching positions of our church which frame this important issue differently.
Several years ago, the Council of Bishops authored a document, To Love the Sojourner (http://gbgm-umc.org/mission/resolutions/3-biblic.html), which saw the experience of immigrants and refugees in the Biblical context as strangers without homes, uprooted people, whom God has called us to protect. There are dozens of images from the Old and New Testaments which support this view. The most familiar of these, perhaps, is the story of the love of God expressed to a sojourner through the compassion of a stranger: “But a certain Samaritan…had compassion on him, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”(Luke 10:33-44).
As Bishops we are concerned about a climate of “misinformation, mistrust, and fear” which often accompanies the conversation about immigrants and immigration to the United States. “Many people in the US have let themselves be vulnerable to the hysteria that says they are no longer in control of their borders or their destiny.”
United Methodist Resolution #118 (in the 2004 Book of Resolutions) refers more specifically to undocumented or illegal immigrants. Through this resolution, the UMC is on record as reminding us that “…being an undocumented person is NOT a crime.” Immigration law enforcement of the 1996 immigration law (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Resolution Act) “…results in immediate and insufferable human rights violations, discrimination, and oppression.” The United Methodist Church is on record as encouraging new legislation and policies which protect the rights of all persons, especially undocumented immigrants living within the United States (see also Social Principles, paragraph 162).
Faithful people will obviously have differing perspectives on one of more aspects of this complex issue. As persons of faith, however, I hope that we can approach our conversations with mutual respect and love for our neighbors - all our neighbors - affirming our common ground in God’s compassion and love through Christ Jesus.
May we together seek a prayerful and humble spirit, acknowledging the Biblical call to us as the community of God which gives “shelter, protection and help to sojourners living amongst us, reminding us that we, too, were foreigners in other times.” {To Love the Sojourner} Grace and peace, Peter D. Weaver
Professionals Bring Knowledge, Experience to Bear on Homelessness
Free public forum April 17, 2007 , at the Dover Public Library
N.H. has entered a period when increasing numbers of families are either unable to find housing they can afford or are paying unreasonable percentages of their incomes for housing. That, according to the N.H. Housing Coalition. Is the Seacoast immune this blight or its corollary, homelessness? No, says Nancy Lawrence, Executive Director of the Homeless Center for Strafford County. “I continue to see an increase in homelessness, most commonly children,” she says, adding that, “Children make up over 60% of our residents!”
Lawrence is one of four professionals who will address the issue of homelessness in the Seacoast Area at 7pm on April 17 at the Dover Public Library. The forum is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Dover Area Religious Leaders Association (DARLA). The other panelists are Bob O’Connell of My Friend’s Place, Pati Frew-Waters of the Seacoast Interfaith Hospitality Network, and Jack Buckley of the Dover Housing Authority.
The Homeless Center for Strafford County is located in Rochester. Its primary mission is to provide safe, overnight emergency shelter for single women and families during the winter months. Lawrence has been its director since 2004. Previously she had volunteered for eight years and then served in a staff overnight position. She holds a B.A. in Human Service, a teaching degree and an A.A. degree in Accounting. What keeps her going in this difficult work? A member of Grace Community Church in Rochester, she says, “My faith is very important to me.”
Bob O’Connell has served as Executive Director of My Friend’s Place in Dover since 1995. MFP is a 24-hour facility which provides housing for individuals and families in emergency or adverse situations. O’Connell brings to his task 25 years of experience with programs and services that assist low-income or disadvantaged citizens. His educational background includes M.A., B.A. and A.A. degrees. There is an on-going need for MFP, he says, because “even with adequate affordable housing units, there will be a segment of our population who will need emergency housing to bridge the gap…from one home to another.”
The Seacoast Hospitality Network is a network of volunteers from various faith communities demonstrating their strength of compassion and generosity, putting faith into action. It is headquartered in Stratham, and its Network Director is Pati Frew-Watters. “Homelessness is a very non-segregating blight that has taken root in the working class,” says Frew-Watters. Of the SIHN, she adds, “I feel that programs like mine are what is needed to combat the problem, not just give it a quick fix.” The Network started operations in N.H. in 2003. Frew-Watters is a former news director, cable TV host and non-profit administrator for 15 years, both in Florida and N.H.
Jack Buckley is the Executive Director of the Dover Housing Authority, which owns and manages 458 residential dwelling units under the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Public Housing Program in eight different locations throughout the City of Dover. Buckley says that, “The homeless do not fit one general description and people become homeless for a variety of reasons.” Buckley has been at his job since 1979, having previously taught and worked in the social services area. Known for his community service, Buckley has numerous in city and state capacities including mayor of Dover, as well as governmental and private boards. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration.
The Cocheco Forum has been presenting programs of community interest at the Dover Public Library since 2005. For more information, visit the DARLA website at http://darladover.tripod.com.