News & Notes 7/23/09
Dear St. John’s Church Family,
It is good to sit at the computer to communicate to you once again. There are allot of exciting things happening in and through the life of St. John’s Church.
The Church Council established a new set of goals for the next thirty months. You’ll be hearing more about them in the weeks ahead. I think they’re very exciting. May God grant us the ability to reach each of the goals. Much work has even gone in to establishing the goals - from the twenty, or so, people who gathered on a Saturday morning in April to brainstorm - and Stuart Johnson who facilitated that gathering - to the Ad Hoc Committee of four that took that “raw” information and polished it for presentation to the Council - and finally to the Council that provided input and final “crossing of ‘t’s’ and dotting of ‘i’s’” in order to accept the goals.
Jay Whitehouse spent a good part of Monday at the church trimming up many of the shrubs around our buildings. It’s lookin’ good! Thanks Jay!
You may have read in the newspaper yesterday that one of our sisters in Christ, Eva Colbath, passed away last Sunday. Eva was 92 years old, and was grateful for every day of those 92 years! A celebration of her life will happen here at the church tomorrow morning at 11 AM. There will be a reception afterward, and Claramae has asked me to put the word out that donated cookies, squares, etc. would be MOST appreciated!
Because of the funeral, the “Holy Folders” are at the church this morning, getting the August issue of “The Bell-Wether” ready for mailing. It is wonderful of them to be flexible in the schedule, to accommodate the funeral!
Speaking of “The Bell-Wether,” you’ll see something different about it this month. The back side of each sheet of paper is printed in red ink. Sandy wasn’t trying to be creative or original with this move. When she needed to refill the black ink, she discovered the new ink containers that had been shipped to her were not in the correct sized container. So she “plugged” the red ink-drum into the Risograph and finished duplicating the newsletter. Just thought I’d share with you “the rest of the story.”
Saturday’s Public Supper - the chicken BBQ — is all set. . . . except for some workers, that is. We could use some more help on Saturday morning, at 9 AM, in the kitchen - and some help on the serving table - and that ever popular, clean-up crew! Can you help? Please call the church office to let us know. See you at the supper.
We’ll celebrate a baptism this Sunday - for a baby born to a young couple who were married at St. John’s Church six or seven years ago. I hope you will make the whole family feel welcome on the great day in their lives. On that morning, too, Karen Schutt’s quartet will be singing a couple songs in worship! The Spirit will be moving in our midst. Come prepared for worship!
With my encouragement, Brenda Borchers sends this note to you: With Angela Ferullo returning to school and getting married, Alan Eastman having moved away and Dave Lepine “retiring”, our youth group leadership is down to me, which obviously isn’t enough to keep the program going. I am hoping there are people out there feeling the tug I felt years ago because I have a prayer. I have a prayer that St. John’s youth will learn they can do things that seem impossible because of the One who makes all things possible. In my prayer, I have been asking God for leaders who have a heart for God and youth and some specific gifts: one with the gift of music to help the youth develop their already awesome talents, one with the gift of service to teach the youth to reach out to humanity in the name of Christ, one with the gift for sharing his/her faith to lead the youth in their own spiritual journeys, one with the gift of a listening ear and loving heart to provide our youth with the support they need to get through the teen years and one with the gift of laughter and play to keep our youth children for as long as we can. Tall order? Not for the God I know! If you’re feeling the call, make the call! You won’t regret it! Our youth are AWESOME and they need adults like YOU. Thanks, Brenda (534-7856 or Godcayers4uandme [at] yahoo [dot] com)
Many of those who have been a part of St. John’s for years will remember Ruth McCarty. Ruth is 92 years old, and is afflicted with a significant form of dementia - whether it’s Alzheimer’s Disease or not, I don’t know. She still lives at her home, with her daughter, Kerry. Ruth has recently been diagnosed with cancer. So far there doesn’t seem to be any pain - she’s happily singing songs and dancing and talking to her friend in the mirror (aka herself). Kerry mentions that she enjoys visits. Please keep Ruth and Kerry in your prayers.
There are two events that take place next weekend which may be of interest to some of our church family. “Soulfest” will take place at Gunstock Mountain from Thursday evening through Saturday evening. You can find the details at www.thesoulfest.com/ And the “New England Assembly of the Laity” will convene in Framingham, MA from Friday evening through Sunday (check your July “Bell-Wether” for details).
If you have one or more children who are between the age of 4 and in the fifth grade, I hope you’ve written Vacation Bible School on your calendar! It’ll happen August 10-14, here at the church. Lot’s of great fun and learning.
I think I overheard someone at church talking about a new venture. She said, “I felt like my body had gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor’s permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.
I ain’t tellin’ who was talking!! See you in church. Peace, Mark