News & Notes 5/14/09
Greetings, My Friends!!
With our Office Manager, Sandy, on vacation, it has been terribly quiet around the offices this week. That comment could be taken a couple of different ways, and I’ll just let you grab hold of that however you wish. Suffice it to say it’s opportunities like this that make me extra thankful that St. John’s Church has an Office Manager, and that Sandy fills that role so well! Hurry back Sandy!
Mike Weinberger wrote to me yesterday: Hi Mark, Zack will be at Maine Medical Center today, Thursday and Friday for a 72 hour EEG. They will collect a huge amount of data and will introduce various stimuli as well as lowering his medication in the hope that it will trigger a seizure and provide them (and us) with some answers as to what kind of sezures we are dealing with. If we know what we’re fighting, it’ll make it far more easy to treat. Any prays from our church family would be greatly and honestly appreciated. He’s a great kid and he’s very strong but this is a scary time for him and it would be wonderful for him to feel the power of prayer. Thank you, Mike
This evening, a “Service of Recollection and Prayer” will be offered by the Dover Cooperative Ministries Council, at 7 PM, at the Dover Friends Meeting — on Central Avenue, beside Pinehill Cemetery. Everyone is welcome.
There are three special things to look forward to this Sunday. During our worship services, our Cherub Choir will sing once again. We’ll also be blessing two Prayer Shawls - one for Wanda Winnicki’s . . . oops, I’m forgetting, but I think it’s her granddaughter, Trisha - and the other one for Jane Pomeroy’s Mom, Paulette Hilchie. Finally, the Cluster Choir Festival will take place at 4:30 PM, at First UMC in Rochester - and our choir will be participating - and Steve MacKenzie will be directing the Massed Choir!! Don’t miss any of these things!!
Next week, Hartford Hall will be used by our Conference, for a training session for “coaches” for the Natural Church Development. If you come around the church Monday through Friday, from 9 AM till 4 PM, you’ll see a group in the Hall. If you have some activity that usually takes place during those hours, we’re asking that you might relocate just for this week. The rest of the building is free - other than “normal” activities. I would also invite us to be in prayer for these future “coaches” and their teachers - that they might be used by God for the renewing of the Church. May the people of St. John’s truly reflect “people at prayer” during this next week, in a special way.
Blame Jinny Scott for this: Sign on a church in England:
Adam blamed Eve.
Eve blamed the snake
and the snake didn’t have a leg to stand on.
Believe it or not, that’s all I have for this week. Let me share a couple Conference notices to close. Have a great weekend. See you in church . . . it’s just not the same when you’re not here! Peace, Mark
Church & Society invites you to a Day for Dialogue
“Deep Listening and Honest Sharing on Social Principles Statement on Human Sexuality”
Saturday, May 16 from 11 am till 1:30 pm
(Luncheon with $5 donation)
At First UMC, North Andover, MA
2008 Annual Conference adopted the Resolution 214: A Witness to Conscience, charging Church and Society to initiate the process of dialogue and consultation and to bring a statement on Human Sexuality to 2009 annual conference that is grounded in grace and reflects the embracing and welcoming spirit of this annual conference. We are inviting the members of our conference to a time for holy listening and dialogue. Dialogue Day is co-sponsored by Evangelical Renewal Fellowship and Methodist Federation for Social Action of New England that have worked together to create a report on the issue of human sexuality. Click here for a copy of the draft report. Please review the report and bring your faith, discernment, and open spirit to our time together. If you have any question, please contact pastor We Chang at ftofkingdom@myfairpoint.net New England Conference United Methodist Men
Conference Convention: Reconstitution and Affirmation of Christian Men’s Ministry
Saturday, May 16, 2009
2:30 pm Registration
3:00 pm Afternoon Session, Special Guest, Rev. Curtis Brown
Dinner and Order of Evening Worship
Special Guest: Rev. David Adams, General Secretary General Commission on United Methodist Men
Asbury UMC, 143 Ann Mary Brown Dr, Warwick, RI
Register on the website, www.neumm.org or by calling interim Conference President, Paul Cobb, (207) 252-9704
Optional: Make a weekend of it.
Friday, May 15th at 6 pm Evening Dinner, Retreat and Fellowship at Camp Aldersgate with General Secretary Rev. David Adams and your fellow local mens ministry leaders Saturday Morning, Breakfast at Aldersgate, Mission work at Aldersgate and Saturday Afternoon Conference at Asbury UMC. Saturday evening resting at Camp Aldersgate, Breakfast Sunday Morning at Asbury UC, Celebrating Mens Ministry Sunday at Asbury with Gen. Secretary Rev. David Adams Preaching. It is important you register if you intend to make a weekend of it to ensure accommodations and best arrange transportation. Please dont hesitate to contact Paul with any questions. Much more information can be found on the website, www.neumm.org.