News & Notes 9/18/08
September 18, 2008 St. John’s Church “News & Notes”
Blessings on you, my Friends,
There are allot of items to share with you this week, so I’m going to jump right into the news and reminders.
We have been approached by a social service organization (to the deaf) to help move a woman named Rosalie from Somersworth to Dover. The move will take place THIS SATURDAY, September 20th, beginning at 9 AM. I’ve been told that the woman is all packed - and she has hired some men for a couple hours (all she could afford) to move the large, heavy items. She needs help with everything else. If you can help, and have a pick-up truck, that would be particularly useful, too. She is moving from: 7 Parkview Terrace (next to Somersworth Plaza; near City Hall), Somersworth. She is moving to: Olde English Village, Apt. #107 (behind Wendy’s Rest. on Central Ave.), Dover NH. If you can help, simply show up at her “old” apartment on Saturday at 9 AM. I’m sorry about the lateness of this request, but we didn’t receive all the information in time to send this out earlier. Drop me a quick email if you can help - so I’ll know what to tell Rosalie when I see her on Saturday. I hope we can offer some assistance to this “neighbor.”
Looking for something to do this Saturday evening? Remember the “Sock-Hop” at Church!! - from 7 till 10 PM. “DJ” Todd will be spinning the platters . . . so to speak . . . and there’ll be Hot Dogs, Chips and Soda to fill your tummies! Cost of admission? It’s one or more pairs of socks, and/or a financial contribution which will be used to purchase socks! And if you’re so inclined, you’re encouraged to dress is 1950’s costumes. This is sponsored by our Outreach Committee.
If you’re not going to the Sock Hop, you might be interested in the “Rock My Soul Gospel Choir” concert - Saturday, at 7:30 PM, at the Community Church of Durham. Tina Weinberger writes: “Please join us for a great night of music and incredible food! There is still time to get tickets if anyone would like to come. The tickets for just the concert are $15. One of our special guests is Rev. Jeff McIlwain, from the “Pearl” parish in Portsmouth. He adds wonderful energy to our shows! Hope you can attend. love, Tina”
Did you read the article in Tuesday’s issue of “Foster’s?” There was an article about the Dover SHARE Fund, and their lack of money to help residents of Dover who have a financial need, but are ineligible for local, state or federal agencies. Unless SHARE receives an influx on cash very soon, they will have to shut down for the winter - the time that they are needed most. If you’re inclined to give, you donations can be given through our church, or you can mail them to Dover Share Fund, P.O. Box 385, Dover, NH 03820.
And in a similar vein, the Dover Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry is in great need of our support. The list of items they are looking for include Canned vegetables, fruit and tuna; Spam; Treat; Corned beef hash; Pork and beans; Peanut butter; soups; any kind of pasta; Oatmeal; Mac & cheese; toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, shampoo and bar soap. They could also use paper bags and/or canvas bags for bagging food. You can bring your contributions to the church and leave them in the narthex - to the left as you come through the door. Our neighbors thank us.
Here are a couple of the smaller highlights from this week’s Church Council meeting: Hospitality Committee would love to have folks sign-up to host coffee fellowship; the auditor’s report for the 2007 financial records was predominantly good news, with nothing significant to report; the Trustees are sponsoring another all-church Clean-Up Day on October 25, with painting and brush clearing dominating the list of “things to do”; the annual gathering/luncheon for everyone who is 70 years of age and older (plus their spouses and/or drivers) will take place on Tuesday, October 28th; the Men’s retreat will be a one-day-affair this year, on October 18; Claire Bloom would like to step down as editor of “The Bell-Wether” (anyone interested?); we started the Sunday School year with about 45 children/youth in class, and could use two more team-teachers.
Many folks will remember Tracie Russell. She has moved to Mass. for work, and can’t be with us often, but she has sent this note: Friends, After many months of preparation, it is with a sense of great gratitude that today I launch my new ministry, The Animal Healing Project. I hope you’ll visit the website and come to the opening celebration on October 5 if you’re able. Please keep TAHP’s mission in prayer as I move forward in hope that I’m honoring God by serving his creatures. http://www.theanimalhealingproject.org/ Grace and peace, Tracie Russell
And Diana Schuman forwarded this information to me:
Help Pass Senate Bill 1738-The PROTECT Our Children Act
Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year. Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have. The PROTECT Our Children Act will:
* Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.
* Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal funding.
* Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators.
Act Now! Our U.S. senators will be voting on the bill soon, so it is crucial you contact them immediately. Go to www.senate.gov to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking on the arrow from either dropdown menu. Contact information is provided here. To send an e-mail, click on “Web Form” below his or her name, and e-mail your letter to make a difference!
Call Your Senators
If you choose to contact your senators by phone, be sure to tell them, “Vote yes on Senate Bill 1738-The PROTECT Our Children Act.”
Write to Your Senators
If you choose to write a letter, fax, telegram or e-mail, you may use the following sample letter-and modify it how you see fit.
Dear Senator:
I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.
Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Child pornography trafficking over the Internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.
As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of petty partisan politics.
Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.
(Your name here)
That’s it for me this week. See you in church. Peace, Mark