News & Notes 10/25/07
My greetings to you, Sisters and Brothers in Christ!
I hope your day is going well — especially as the sun has begun to shine!! I’m late getting News & Notes out today due to complications with my computer. Hope you receive this in a timely fashion.
Claramae Hebert has served faithfully as church treasurer for 40+ years. As of October 8 she resigned her position and we wish to thank her for her many years of service. She will continue doing her Sunday and Monday “stuff.” As you may know, Claramae isn’t one to be comfortable with public recognition, but individual gestures might be accepted, so please take a moment to thank her for her longstanding commitment to St. John’s! As a result, we will be advertising in the newspaper to fill the church treasurer position. Anyone at St. John’s who might be interested in the position should speak with Jana Whitten, Chair of the Staff/Parish Relations Committee, or me.
At our “Harvest & Holly Fair,” I will be taking orders for Christmas Wreaths (to be available for pick-up on December 1st). I’m not crafty enough to make the wreaths themselves - but will be decorating them. One of the things that I need - and would rather not have to purchase from a craft-store - is pine cones - not the long variety, but the short “stubby” variety. If you have a lawn covered with them, or know where I might find some, would you please let me know? I’ll come and fill a couple grocery bags - thereby earning a couple extra dollars for the church. Thanks.
This reminds me of our two upcoming fundraisers - the Chicken Pot Pie Public Supper this Saturday, from 4:30 till 6:30 PM. It sounds great. Please come to help out, and to have supper, too!!
And it’s only nine days till our “Harvest and Holly Fair and Silent Auction” - on Saturday, November 3rd. I hope you’re finishing up all your crafts - and planning to bake goodies - and make fudge - and bring a few high quality, clean, saleable white elephant items, as well as items for “Hannah’s Closet”! Breakfast and lunch will be served, and there’ll be lots of socializing, I’m sure. Let’s pass the word around, and make it a great event!!
These things are falling out of order, but let me remind you of our busy upcoming Saturday - two days from now. We begin with the Trustee’s Fall Clean-Up Day, from 8 till 10 AM (notice the shortened hours). There’s work for everyone!! Please offer a hand. Then at 11 AM we’ll be celebrating Aura Smith’s life, at her Memorial Service. This will be followed by a reception in Hartford Hall. I think there’s a need for goodies for the dessert, too - if you’re so inclined. Then, as mentioned previously, we have the Public Supper beginning at 4:30 PM.
The Education Committee is looking for an item to make one of their project in November go more smoothly. Does anyone have what I’m inclined to call a “Puzzle Mat” - one of those surfaces that you put a puzzle together on, which can be rolled up and put away between work sessions? If so, would you let the committee borrow it from November 18th through early December? Please let Brenda Borchers know if you have one. Thanks
That’s all that I have for today. The last couple of things come from “Newscope” or our Conference emails, and are shared FYI. Peace, Mark
Conference Boundaries Listening Sessions
Members of Troy Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church met on Oct. 6, concurrent with special sessions in North Central, Western New York and Wyoming annual conferences, to vote on a resolution requesting that the Northeast Jurisdictional Conference create a new Episcopal area and a new annual conference from all or portions of these and/or other contiguous conferences. At the end of the day long session, members of all four conferences overwhelmingly approved supporting the resolution. The proposal allows for the Vermont portion of Troy to pursue conversations with New England Annual Conference. In New England, we are scheduling several “Listening Sessions” in late October. At these events we will provide the most current available information on this ongoing process, respond to questions as we are able (and record questions that others will need to answer), and outline the next steps in the process in the Northeastern Jurisdiction.
For those wishing to attend those sessions, the locations and (remaining) dates are:
– Green Street UMC, Augusta, ME - 10/25
– Byfield Community Church, Byfield, MA - 10/28
– Oxford UMC, Oxford, MA - 10/30
All meetings will begin at 7pm.
I know we’re not all “of one mind” about the war in Iraq - nor about what to do about our participation as a country. And I know that there is a difference or opinion about how best to support our troops there - and elsewhere. But I think it important to share this next notice - for those to whom it would be important.
Looking for a Way to Voice Your Opposition to the Iraq War?
The Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) of the New England Conference invites all United Methodists to gather at noon on Saturday, October 27, on the Boston Common to unite our voices in a call to end United States participation in the Iraq war and to bring our troops home. Such rallies will be taking place in 11 major cities across the country this day.
As United Methodists we will gather at 11:30 on the landing at the foot of the steps directly across the street from the State House (corner of Beacon Street and Park Street) at the Robert Gould Shaw & 54th Regiment Memorial (Civil War Memorial). We will pray and sing and speak of why we have gathered before we process to the Parkman Bandstand to join the rally. We urge you to bring people from your congregations to the rally and ask you to produce a petition for people to sign. The [petitions will be delivered to Washington, DC where Kathryn Johnson (National Director of MFSA) and Jim Winkler (Board of Church and Society) will deliver them to the President and Congress. For a sample petition, Click Here. After hearing speakers, the rally will continue with a march to Copley Square at 2:00. For more details about the rally, please see the following web sites: http://www.oct27.org/ http://justicewithpeace.org/
Upcoming Events at Rolling Ridge, Andover, MA
The full details are posted on the bulletin board just inside the door of Hartford Hall
Come join us for one or more of our upcoming events. Full program descriptions and registration forms may be found on our website at www.rollingridge.org or by calling Carol Rabs at 978-682-8815 x11.
“DAY APART” RETREATS
The Extraordinary in the Ordinary: Finding God on the Go
Tuesday, November 6 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Leader: Judy Proctor
Christian Meditation: An Ancient Path Comes Alive
Tuesday, November 20 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Leader: Dr Robert Jonas
Wrapped in Swaddling Cloths: The Presence of God as Infant
Tuesday, December 4 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Leader: Rev. Victoria Gaskell
Registration fee for all “Day Apart” retreats is $40 in advance/ $45 at the door. Fee includes program, all day tea/coffee/hot chocolate and a delicious lunch.
EVENINGS AT THE RIDGE
“Drumming for Joy”, Monday Evening - November 19
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Leader: Jane Gossard $15 in advance / $20 at the door
SPECIAL EVENTS:
“De-Stress: Spirit at Work”
November 2 9:30 am - 3 pm Leaders: Margaret Benefiel, PhD, Rev. Debora Jackson and Kerry Hamilton This event is co-sponsored by EXECUTIVE SOUL. Registration Fee: $100 (some scholarship assistance is available)
Holiday Craft Faire
Saturday, December 8
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.