News & Notes 6/12/08
Hello Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Today is the day that I must travel to Annual Conference, and I have a number of things to accomplish before I leave, so I suspect this issue of “News & Notes” will be briefer than normal . . . but we’ll see!!
Let me start with some financial news. Do you remember that we had a “St. John’s Church Night at Friendly’s Ice Cream” back in May? The check for our “share” of the evening’s sales arrived yesterday, and we received $313.95!! Not bad for going out to dinner, eh? The restaurant manager told Lenny Colongione that we were such a great crowd, and there were so many still in line at the scheduled cut-off point, that he was going to extend the cut-off point an extra hour!! Yeah!
Do you remember me mentioning the “Nothing But Nets” campaign last week - and our desire to raise $1,000 to buy 100 nets? We almost met the goal, but then the Outreach Committee has come through, and authorized the payment of the remaining goal from the designated funds that they administer! So St. John’s will have contributed enough money to purchase 100 nets - to save the lives of folks in Africa, who might otherwise be bitten and infected with malaria by mosquitos.
Another collection that we were receiving for Annual Conference, is “retired” cellphones - to be refurbished and given to victims of abuse. Well there were twenty-three cellphones contributed! Praise God! These will be taken to Conference by Wand Winnicki.
Finally (relative to Annual Conference), we were collecting for the Conference Council on Youth Ministry’s “Penny Challenge.” You and I have contributed approximately seventy dollars ($70) worth of pennies toward the Tri-State District’s total!! And you have also contribute silver coins and paper money to place in the New Hampshire District’s bucket - a total of one hundred and five dollars ($105)! So while we’re having fun competing with their District Superintendent (John Blackadar - pastor of St. John’s from 1984-1990), we’re also helping the youth of our Conference to be in mission!! Oh, my back hurts just thinking about carrying all that money!!
This Saturday, June 14th, Isabella White and her husband will be moving from Dover to Derry. Isabella has asked if there might be some folks who could help load the truck here in Dover, on Saturday morning, beginning at 9 AM. Her address is 4 Old English Village, #301 - down behind the Wendy’s Restaurant on Central Avenue. (I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you wanted to chase them to Derry and help unload, too, but first she’s asking for help with the loading.)
A week from this Sunday, June 22nd, our Nursery Coordinator, Sandy Shepard will be away, and we’re looking for two adults, who have had the background check done, who might be willing to volunteer for Nursery duty - at our one service at 9:30 AM!! What a great opportunity - to get to know and to play with some of our smallest rug-rats!! If you can help out (and please don’t assume that someone else will do it), please speak to Sandy THIS Sunday!! Thanks!!
As I look ahead on the Church’s calendar, there are a few things that I’d just like to mention/list briefly here:
June 22nd we begin our Summer Worship Schedule -with one service, at 9:30AM (this will carry on through Labor Day weekend)
AT 4 PM on June 22nd, there’ll be a Pot-Luck supper and presentation by our two Mission Teams, on their trip to Louisiana in February/March. Bring a salad, casserole or dessert to share - as well as your won place setting.
Our next Public Supper will be on Saturday, June 28th - and it’s Turkey again!!
Two guys wanted to eat at a restaurant but they had their dogs with them, and the sign on the door said, “No Dogs Allowed.” The first guy said, “Watch this.” He put on his sunglasses and walked to the door and asked for a table. The hostess said, “No dogs.” The guy said, “He’s my seeing eye dog.” The woman took him to a table and returned to find the next guy with sunglasses on and a dog with him too. She said, “Sorry, no dogs.” He said, “But this is my seeing eye dog.” The hostess said, “It’s a chihuahua!” The guy said, “A chihuahua?! They gave me a chihuahua?!”
I think that all that you can bear today!! Have a great day! Won’t see you in church as I’ll be at Annual Conference - but I’ve heard a brief summary of Diana Schuman’s sermon, and you won’t want to miss it - nor miss the opportunity to gather with your sisters and brothers simply to worship God!!
Happy Father’s Day to all our Dad’s! God bless you all. Peace, Mark