News & Notes 8/28/08
Dear St. John’s Church Family and Friends,
Good afternoon. This morning we celebrated the life of Murray Billington, Carolyn’s husband, who died of a heart attack, suddenly, this past Sunday. May God bless Carolyn and her extended family in their grief! It has meant that I didn’t have the opportunity to create “News & Notes” until right now - making me later than usual.
My head is sort of flooding with things to share with you. I hope I remember all of them. I can hear Wendy reminding me to write things down - and once again, I haven’t!! But here goes.
Week after next, our Office Manager, Sandy will be on vacation. She’ll be creating the bulletin for September 14th on September 5th! So let me encourage you to think about whether or not you have anything you want put in the 9/14 bulletin. If so, please get it to Sandy by next Thursday!! Thanks.
The orientation meeting for our 2009 Mission Team is scheduled for September 26th. Will you be there? I realize how difficult it is for many of us not only to give up a week’s vacation - or go without a week’s income - as well as “put out” an additional ~$360 for this event– as well as leave your family for a week - but I encourage you to think about making that sacrifice. It is a blessing to participate, not just to build a house, but to give of yourself and receive the “gift” that the homeowners and people of Louisiana become to us. If you haven’t already made the commitment to attend, please prayerfully consider it. God may be calling you to this.
We’ve heard recently about a call from a number of college and university Presidents to lower the drinking age. Our General Board of Church and Society has published a thought provoking article at http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=4427899&ct=5846751&tr=y&auid=3937982 That’s quite an address, but it’ll get you to an interesting article.
This is from our own Judith Custer:
“Goodbye! Hello?: To everything there is a season.”
Join us for a weekend retreat to explore the transitions and changes in our lives and our Christian faith, at Wanakee United Methodist Center, in Meredith, NH - in the farmhouse at 75 Upper New Hampton Road. It all begins at 7 p.m., Friday to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept 26-28, 2008, and costs $75. The retreat fee covers all meals, snacks, and materials. For more information, call Judith Custer 603-743-3348 or Lora Moore 603-397-0694. To register call Wanakee at 603-279-7950. We are limited to 15 participants, so register early! Here’s a list of things to bring: yourselves, bed and bath linens, personal items, your Bible. And be ready to have a good time because there will be celebration and merriment!
Sunday School registration will happen on Sunday, September 7th - the same day that we offer a “Blessing of the Children.” There is an “outdated” registration form online - at our website (www.stjohnsdover.org). Click on “Ministries” - then “Education” - then “Registration Form (pdf).” Maybe we can get that update quickly!! We’ll see.
The first day of Sunday School classes will be September 14th!! I haven’t received a recent update on teacher recruitment, but would suspect that we might still need some. If you can serve in this ministry - as a teacher or a helper - please be in touch with Amie McGlauflin soon!! Thanks.
I’ve mentioned this before, but don’t forget that on September 7th, the United Methodist Men will gather for their first breakfast/meeting of the fall - and that we’ll return to offering two worship services each Sunday morning!! They’ll be at 9 and 10:30 AM.
Have you noticed the new dining tables in Hartford Hall? I think I mentioned them when they first arrived - purchased with some memorial funds. Well Lenny Colongione and Patrick Murphy spent two and a half hours - completing an hour-long job - of labeling the tables with our church name, and the message that they not be used as “loaner” tables. Thanks, guys!! Great job. (By the way, if you need to borrow a table or two, there are “loaner” tables on the rack in the corner of Hartford Hall. Please check it out with Sandy!)
Sign-up sheets have been posted on the rolling bulletin boards for the September 12 & 13 Rummage/White Elephant Sale!! This is probably a standard line, but we’ll need tons of help with set up - sale-day help - and clean-up. At we’ll also need lots of “product” to sell. The church needs you! Maybe you’ve never helped before. This would be a great time to get involved. Give Debbie Hollis a call if you have any questions.
Our brothers and sisters of the Greek Orthodox Church in Dover are holding their annual Greek Festival this Friday and Saturday - at the Hellenic Center on Long Hill Road in Dover. I’ve not had a chance to attend, but I understand the food is great and the dancing is even greater! Why not check it out?
Before I went on Vacation earlier this month, I mentioned the possibility of offering “Disciple Bible Study.” Here’s the original article:
I was wondering if there might be any in our church who would be interested in taking part in a “Disciple Bible Study.” I’m actually pretty late in getting this invitation out, so if you have interest, please speak to me ASAP. The possible courses are:
Disciple: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study (we’ll read 70% of the Bible in the 34 weeks of the course)
Disciple: Into the Word Into the World - focusing on Genesis/Exodus & Luke/Acts
Disciple: Remember Who You Are - focusing on the Old Testament Prophets and the Letters of Paul
Disciple: Under the Tree of Life - focusing on the Gospel According to John and the Book of Revelation
The last three possibilities are 32 week commitments
We also have an eight-week study available entitled Disciple: Invitation to the New Testament
It is strongly encouraged that you would have taken the first class, “Disciple: Becoming Disciple Through Bible Study,” before you take any of the 32 week classes. There is no prerequisite for the 8 week class. Let me know if you have any questions, or have interest in one of the classes. Thanks.
I’ve had a couple folks speak to me about these classes, but we need a minimum of eight to ten to make it work well. I would love to do one of these studies again. Interested in joining me? You don’t have to know a thing about the Bible to take the class - or you could be Bible College graduated. It doesn’t matter. Speak to me soon, please.
Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly neologisms, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.
The winners are:
1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
This is only half of the list. I’ll share the rest of it next week.
That’s all the news for today. Have a great holiday weekend. If you’re around, I hope you’ll take time to worship with your church family on Sunday!! See you in church. Peace, Mark