News & Notes 12/20/07
December 20, 2007 St. John’s Church “News & Notes”
Greetings St. John’s Church Community,
Enough already!! I think too many of you have been singing “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.” Your wishes have apparently come true. Not that I’m a curmudgeon or anything, but I wish you’d stop the chorus!!
I anticipate the present snowstorm will make things quiet around the church today - not many folks traveling unless they absolutely have to.
I feel badly for all those folks who were ready to lead worship last Sunday while I was on vacation - especially Bill McWillams, who was ready to preach! That’s the first time we’ve had to cancel worship since I’ve been serving St. John’s Church. I hope it’s a looooong time before we have to do that again!
For those who requested offering envelopes for the new year, they are all set to be picked up. The next time you’re here, look for yours - on the cart, just inside the door of Hartford Hall. If you didn’t ask for envelopes but would like them, there are plenty of boxes left.
Sandy also asked me to lift up the reminder that if you wish to make a gift to the church and want it credited to your 2007 tax records, the church must receive the gift before December 31st. I would add to that the fact that our church finances will probably take a “hit” because of last Sunday’s canceled services. Could I be crass and ask everyone to make sure they bring last week’s offering to church with them this week - along with this week’s offering? There is much to celebrate about how we’re doing with our finances this year, but we still have “miles to go before we” get all our bills paid and put the 2007 financial records to bed! I have heard many news reports about how giving to charities is down this Christmas season, so I’m asking us to buck the trend and be as generous as we can between now and the end of the year . . . please!
Tomorrow our troop of “Holy Folders” will be gathering to prepare the January “Bell-Wether” for mailing!! What a great time they have - and what a wonderful “service” they provide for our congregation! We all owe them a word of thanks as they help to facilitate the communications of our parish.
Cheri Nixon asked me to send this message along. “We’re setting up the poinsettias Saturday at 9:30. If you have a bit of extra time, please come by and bring two or three empty boxes - shoe box size or slightly larger.
We’ll also need help on Wednesday, December 26, delivering poinsettias that are donated to our homebound members and others that need a blessing. Come between 9 AM and Noon to lend a hand. If you want to deliver one or two but can’t come during that time period, give Cheri Nixon a call and leave a message (749-1865). We can set an assignment aside for you. Thanks to all who bought poinsettia’s. We’ll have over 90 flowers to grace our chancel. God Bless, Cheri”
You’ve seen it written in a number of places before, but let me share the Christmas Eve worship schedule with you one more time:
At 6:30 PM, we have our family-friendly service with carols and a story - I’m telling “The Legend of the Poinsettia,” retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola.
At 8 PM there will be the reflective service - presented on the Carillion.
At 9 PM Nancy Jo Johnson and I will lead the service together. Nancy Jo will be preaching.
And at 11 PM I’ll lead worship using a service entitled “Love and Miracles.”
I think you’ll enjoy all of our services. Communion will be served at 6:30, 9 and 11 - and there’ll be special music at all of those services as well. Please be sure to invite family, neighbors and friends who don’t already have a church home to join you when you come to church - you’ll be glad that you did!!
Next week I’ll be on vacation once again. “What!” you say. “Didn’t you just take last week off?!?!” Yup! I liked it so much that I’m going to do it again! But I won’t make a habit of it . . . promise! While I’m off, Rev. Deb Shipp (pastor of First UMC, Portsmouth) will be covering for me again. Her contact info is: Ch: 436-6038; Home: 778-0371; Cell: 303-8344. So this will be the last edition of “News & Notes” that you receive in 2007.
For those who know the pastor of our church in Hampton, NH: “Great news! Carroll [who had a major heart attack early in December] came home today [Wednesday]! Therapists and the nursing staff checked him out at the hospital and determined that he didn’t really need to go through any more formal rehab. He will have visiting nurse visits here and will be continuing a rehab program on an out-patient basis. He is delighted to be home, sleeping in his own bed, and enjoying his own house. He is, still, quite tired and asks that visitors refrain from stopping . . . Again, we both thank you for all your prayers, thoughts, expressions of care and concern. We truly know what ‘being ministered to’ means. Love, Lora”
And I asked Peg Mullin if I could share these two things with you - about her husband and son: “Tim [Mullin - with liver disease] continues to need prayers for healing, peace, comfort, etc..
”And, if folks say anything about [our son] Steve [who made, by his own admission, a poor decision and is in trouble with the law] and want to do anything, letters of support, character reference letters would be sooo appreciated. We have received perhaps 20 or so….he needs all the help he can get! They could be sent via e-mail to me, pmpm12356 [at] yahoo [dot] com or mailed to our home, 27 Riverside Drive, Dover, NH 03820…..made out to “To whom it may concern” and we have been bringing them to attorney….hoping it will show the proper people the real Steve that we KNOW and LOVE!!”
There once was a Russian Tsar whose name was Rudolph the Great. He was standing in his house one day with his wife. He looked out the window and saw something happening. He says to his wife, “Look honey. It’s raining.” She, being the obstinate type, responded, “I don’t think so, dear. I think it’s snowing.” But Rudolph knew better. So he said to his wife, “Let’s step outside and we’ll find out.” Lo and behold, they stepped outside and discovered it was in fact rain. And Rudolph turned to his wife and replies, “I knew it was raining. Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear!”
That’s all the news that I have for this week. My wife, Wendy, and I pray for all of you that the light of Christ, who came into the world to cast out darkness and bring healing and salvation, will fill your hearts with joy this Christmas. See you in church! Peace, Mark