News & Notes — 6/28/07
A warm Summer greeting to you, my friends!
I hope that you have someplace to stay cool on days like this. And I hope that you might be thinking of others - particularly the elderly - who may be struggling in the heat and humidity. Are there people that you could check on - just give them a call to make sure they have plenty of fluids to drink, and a fan (if not an air conditioner)?
I may repeat a similar message to this in the August issue of “Bell-Wether,” but I want to start us thinking about this now. Over the last two years, when we reached the point in our annual stewardship campaign where we invite one another to make pledges, or faith promises, for the next year’s budget, there has been a decided “chill” in the air at St. John’s. After deciding not to take this personally, I have tried reflecting on the cause of this atmospheric change - occurring when we are getting too close to meddling. As in EVERY congregation, there are some of us who are already giving sacrificially - as well as some who just don’t have two nickels to rub together, let alone tithe! But there’s a large group of us between those two. For all of us - but for these in-between-folks in particular - I long for us to develop a deeper sense that “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (Ps. 24:1) and it has all been given to us to enjoy and care for. I also pray for us to gain a sense of joy in returning to the Lord just a portion of that fullness, in thanksgiving.
To work on that attitude, as well as others, our Stewardship and Finance Committee is looking at presenting a special program this fall. It’s entitled “Treasures of the Transformed Life,” and it will ask us to commit to a period of forty days of reading (just a couple pages each day), reflecting and talking with one another about our prayers, presence, gifts and service. I would ask that you pray about this program, and for each of our hearts to be open to what God may have to say to us. This isn’t a program to “pay the bills,” or to “meet the requirements” of the denomination. If the committee decides to offer it, it will be offered to transform us, and move us onward in this journey of faith (Wesley called it sanctification).
Don’t tell anyone, but this has been a rather quiet week around the church! God is good! It’s given the staff some time to catch up on some of our “regular” tasks, and to catch our breath. What this means, though, is that there isn’t allot to share about the goin’s on around here.
MaryAnne MacKenzie was in this morning, to ask Sandy and me to share with the congregation an invitation to a fiftieth birthday party for Stephen!! I would make some snide comment about his age, but it would only be taken as jealousy! The party is not a surprise - that would be too difficult to pull off with him! The invitation poster says, “Family, Friends, Students and former Students are invited to share his joy/pain at an OPEN HOUSE on July 8, from 2-4 PM,” at Hartford Hall. The invitation closes with “Your cards are welcome but no gifts please. If you play an instrument, bring it along and jam a bit with Steve.”
Let me remind you of the Memorial Service this Saturday, for Michael Graff (Deanna and Kenny Gallant’s son), at 11 AM, at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.
Here are a couple repeat items from last week’s “News & Notes”:
The Trustees are asking for your help. Two “painting party days” that have been scheduled for July 14 and 21. In an attempt to save the church some money the Trustees would love YOUR volunteer help to paint the “easily reachable” sections of the church buildings - to scrape, prime and paint. If we had ten to twenty people each Saturday morning (we’ll be here from 8 AM till Noon), we’d get this done in a flash. I know these are Saturday’s in the summer - and those are rare birds - but your help could make a huge difference in what we have to pay to care well for our buildings. If everybody was too busy we’d never get anything done. If we all pitched in a little, it would be wonderful. Men, women, youth! Y’all come, now.
There’s a fun sort of fund raiser coming up in a couple of weeks. On Wednesday evening, July 11th, Friendly Ice Cream, on Central Avenue in Dover, will give St. John’s Church a percentage of all of their sales between 5 and 8 PM! It sounds like an odd thing for them to do, but it’s a way for them to give to the community (while at the same time increasing their sales, I’m sure). So if you happen to be planning to go out to eat - or go out for ice cream - sometime that week, why not make it on Wednesday at Friendly’s? The money we raise will go toward our Current Expense budget.
The next Red Cross Blood Drive at St. John’s will be Friday, July 20th. Got it on your calendar?
Our annual summer tent revival will happen on Sunday, July 29th - with one service on that day - at 9:30 AM. The Reverend Dr. Martin McLee, of Union UMC in Boston, will be our guest preacher. Martin was our preacher four or five years ago. He’s back by popular demand!
Another item for your calendar is Vacation Bible School, which will take place August 13th through 17th. It’s always a great week, and I hope that all our children will be able to participate!
Finally, for those who like to plan WAY ahead, I can tell you that we have a date for our annual Church Conference (our annual meeting). It’ll take place on Tuesday, November 27th, at 7 PM (with the SPRC meeting with the District Superintendent at 6 PM).
That’s it for today. See you in church! Got company coming for the weekend? Bring them along!! Peace, Mark