News & Notes 6/5/08
Greetings My Friends!
Lots of “stuff” to share with you this week, so I’ll jump right in.
The Conference United Methodist Men will gather this Saturday, beginning at 3 PM, at the Berwick UMC (we couldn’t get this event much closer, could we?). It should be a great event. Please let the host church know if you’re coming - so they can plan for supper.
This Sunday will conclude our collections for three different mission opportunities through Annual Conference (which will take place next weekend). The first collection is for “The Penny Challenge” - between Districts. Remember that every penny in our bucket earns one point for our District - and every silver coin or bill subtracts the appropriate points from the “other” District. Many of us have been fired up for this challenge - to think that we could take the “crown” away from John Blackadar, the District Superintendent of the New Hampshire District.
The second collection is for the old cellphones - which will be refurbished and given to “Safe Havens against Domestic Violence.” Please put the cords and any other “stuff” that goes with the cellphone in a plastic bag with the phone, and place them in the collection box just inside the door to Hartford Hall.
Finally, our Youth sponsored the “Nothing But Nets” campaign last Sunday. There were many who took part. We have collected enough money, throughout the year, to purchase almost 72 nets. The goal that was set for the year was to purchase 100. Can we make it? They’re $10 per net, and you can give enough to purchase part of a net - a whole net - or a number of nets! No gift is too small or too large! We’ll see!
Sunday morning we’ll do a couple special things during worship - one is to bless a shawl for, and commission Jana Marie Whitten as she begins her ministry of Congregational Health Minister among us. The shawl has been knit specially for her by her Mom, Madaleine W. The second is that we’ll baptize the six year old daughter of a new family to our church (I forgot to ask if I could put their name in News & Notes - so you’ll just have to come to see who it is!!).
Then Sunday continues to be special, as this note from Shawne Freeman suggests:
Hi Everyone! This is an open invitation:
Event #1-Beignet Sunday:
Just wanted to remind you all of Beignet Sunday next Sunday, June 8, 2008, after both church services to help us celebrate Miranda’s graduation. (Note: For those who have never experienced a beignet [pronounced bin-yeah], they are Louisiana’s version of a donut - wonderful when freshly made and covered with powdered sugar!!)
Event #2 Miranda’s Graduation:
Also, please join us if you can for her graduation ceremony and reception:
Eliot Baptist Church, 7pm, June 9th (Follow Rt 236 from Rt 4 in South Berwick to Eliot, ME. The church is about 5 miles on the left.) p.s. By the way, Miranda is class valedictorian! She would probably never tell you unless you asked, but since I’m the mama, I can be the excited one and spread the news around!!!!
Event #3 Miranda’s Voice Recital:
We hope that many more of you will be able to join in the fun at Miranda’s
Voice Recital, which has been rescheduled to Friday, June 27, 2008 at 6:30
in the sanctuary of our church, with refreshments following in Hartford Hall.
Please call if you need more detailed instructions to the graduation location
or other information! My cell is now our main contact number: 603-617-6559
Thank you all so much for celebrating these special events with us! Let’s Party!!!
~Shawne Freeman
And if that’s not enough for Sunday, we have our next “Second Sunday Concert” at 3:30 PM - with Billy and Jess Humphrey - known as “MiXed Company” presenting a concert with their special style of jazz (with a message). For those who have never heard them, Jess is the vocalist, and Billy plays saxophone. A freewill offering will be received at the program. Hope to see you there.
I’ve heard that the bus is half-full for next Tuesday’s trip for our Seniors. They’re heading off to Holyoke, Mass - for a Lobster Feast and concert by “Big John” Hartman. This trip is for members of St. John’s who are 65 or older and it is on a first come first served basis. It costs $10 per person (The Helen Burnham Senior Program Fund and the Chase Senior Fund pay a large portion of the real cost.). For non-members or people under 65, the cost is $79, if there are seats available. The bus leaves St. John’s at 8:30 AM, and will return at about 5:30 PM. Call Claramae Hebert at 742-6106 to make your reservation.
Annual Conference will take place next week - from Friday through Sunday. I would join our Bishop, who has asked for our prayers for this event - that God’s will might be done. Folks attending from St. John’s include Deanna Gallant, Wanda Winnicki, MaryAnne MacKenzie and me.
Let me mention briefly that Ginny Dichard hasn’t heard from anyone who might have a stationary bike to loan her sister — who is recovering from a broken hip. If that has just slipped your mind, could you try to remember to call Ginny soon? Thanks.
Looking ahead, let me just briefly lift up a couple things:
“Tools of Hope” Sunday is Father’s Day - June 15th
Children’s Sunday (and the first Sunday for our Summer worship schedule - i.e. one service each Sunday, at 9:30 AM) will be June 22nd
Our Mission Teams’ presentation and Pot-Luck supper will happen on Sunday, June 22nd, at 4 PM
Our next Public Turkey Supper will be June 28th.
Did you hear about the minister who parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn’t find a space with a meter? He put a note under the windshield wiper that read: “I have circled the block ten times. If I don’t park here, I’ll miss my appointment. ‘Forgive us our trespasses.’” When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note: “I’ve circled this block for ten years. If I don’t give you a ticket I’ll lose my job. ‘Lead us not into temptation.’”
See you in church! Yours in Christ, Mark