News & Notes 1/29/09
Happy New-Fallen-Snow to you, my friends!!
I have been spending a few minutes each day this week “cleaning up” those clutter-collecting areas in my office. One of the things that I was reminded of was the commitments that many of you made in the fall of 2007 - as part of the Stewardship Emphasis - to pray for the church regularly, and to be present in worship regularly! I had written the numbers of commitments on a post-it note, and looked at it periodically through 2008, finding encouragement and hope for St. John’s. I’m hoping that you’ll continue to pray for St. John’s Church - ALL it’s ministries - ALL it’s members - and ALL it’s staff members - regularly this year, too, even though no formal commitments were sought last fall. And please make every effort you can to be in worship whenever you’re in town. It’s just not the same without you here!!
Do you have children in the Sunday School? Have they brought home a small box of offering envelopes in the last couple of weeks? Every once in awhile I hear of a parent becoming agitated when the church asks children and youth to support the mission and ministry of the church. “After all, isn’t what I give enough for our family?” The important issue isn’t a matter of more money for the coffers of the church, but rather the invaluable lesson of teaching our children to give. If they don’t learn it when they are young, it is much less likely that they will learn it when they become adults. And giving is such a blessing, it would be a shame for them not to share the privilege of connecting with God through their giving. I would even encourage parents not to give their children money for the Sunday School offering - but to ask the kids to give a portion of their own allowance (their “income”). It helps to teach them to set priorities within their own “budgets.” Think about that. There are still a number of boxes of offering envelopes, that haven’t yet been picked up, in the Sunday School rooms. Why not remind your child(ren) to get theirs this Sunday?
What an incredible Interfaith Martin Luther King, Jr. Service we hosted last Sunday evening! The music was rockin’ and the preacher was dynamic. The crowd was wonderful and the whole event was Spirit-filled. I offer my thanks to all those who helped to make it so special! You’re the best.
Earlier this week Keith Launchbury and Lenny Colongione installed a new telephone system at the church. It was no small task - Lenny was here the best part of two days! But we have new equipment that replaces our tired, old, occasionally-malfunctioning Merlin telephone system. This was made possible by Lenny and Keith’s gracious offer of time and talent - and by the gift of an anonymous donor. Thanks be to God!
Did you notice that the calendar you received this week in the February issue of “The Bell-Wether” was the January calendar? If you, you’re not the first!! Oops! We made a mistake in the office! There’ll be copies of the February Calendar ready for you to pick up in the narthex this Sunday - along with the calendar for the whole year, for those who like to look ahead!
This Saturday we will offer the first St. John’s Public Supper of 2009! It’s one of our favorites - Turkey!! You folks have been wonderful in offering to bring some of the fixin’s. I hope you’ll turn-out in great numbers to help work the supper (particularly the clean-up), and to attend the supper.
I received a note this morning telling me we’re still looking for one more individual/household who might be willing to cook one of the turkeys for the supper. The turkeys will be available for pick-up at the church tomorrow, Friday, morning by 10:30 AM - and need to be returned to the church by Saturday morning - by 7:30 AM. Any volunteers? Please call Patrick Murphy if you can help!! Thanks.
The United Methodist Men will meet this Sunday, at 7:30 AM, for their monthly breakfast meeting. All the men of St. John’s are invited to this terrific time of food and fellowship. Hope to see you there.
This Sunday’s worship services will be lead by our incredible Youth Ministry. The kids and their leaders have planned a pair of wonderful services that you won’t want to miss! It’s also Communion Sunday, when we receive a special offering for the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s also “Souper Bowl Sunday” when youth all over the country invite the people in their churches to contribute at least $1 apiece to help support programs that feed the hungry. Our youth will be standing in the narthex at the conclusion of both services - cooking pots in hand - ready to receive your contributions. Last year we gave $170.24. What will we do this year?
Next Wednesday is the training for volunteers at Strafford County Jail. If this is a ministry that interests you, and you would like to attend the training, Rev. Bob Ervin, the Chaplain at the Jail, would like to hear from you - that you are coming. Please call him at 516-5154.
Arrangements were completed at the end of last week to bring Christian guitarist Gary Richardson to St. John’s for the “Second Sunday Concert,” on February 8th, at 3:30 PM, in our sanctuary. Gary came to St. John’s over a year ago, and took part in our morning worship services. He is a very gifted musician whom you will not want to miss! There is no fee for the concert, but a freewill offering will be received. And I think Gary will have some of his CD’s here to sell as well.
A great event is coming twice to Wanakee and they still have room for participants-call 603-279-7950 or email mail [at] wanakee [dot] org to register. Wild Wanakee Women: Need that break from the family and job? Need to be rejuvenated? Come be a Wild Wanakee Women and enjoy a different side of Wanakee! Be a couch potato without guilt or enjoy the snow with your skis or snowshoes. Come and enjoy Wanakee as Spring is breaking forth. Hike in the woods or down to the lake. No matter the season, you’ll enjoy the company of other women to grow in faith and friendship. Two dates: February 6-8 2009 and May 1-3, 2009 $75. These weekends are for Women ages 18+.
And for your own planning purposes, though I have no information about the theme of the leadership, our St. John’s Women’s Retreat will take place March 20 - 22, at the Notre Dame Spiritual Center in Alfred, Maine. What a way to connect with God!!
An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services, when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: ‘Stop! Acts 2:38!’ (Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven.) The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: ‘Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you.’ ‘Scripture?’ replied the burglar. ‘She said she had an Ax and two 38s!’ Knowing scripture can save your life - in more ways than one!
That’s it for this week. See you in church! Peace, Mark