News & Notes 9/24/09
A Blessed Autumn to you, my Friends!!
I have a lot to share with you this afternoon - hope it isn’t “overkill.”
Doesn’t feel much like Autumn, does it? You’ve always got to stay on your toes around here! Never know what God may have in store for us.
But I DO know what WE have in store for us. We have a delicious Public Meatloaf Supper happening this Saturday - from 4:30 till 6 PM. As always, our Hospitality Committee (which coordinates these events) could use your help. Over and above this normal request is the issue that several of their “regular” workers will be out of town, so the committee needs some “pinch hitters.” Can you help out?
During worship this Sunday we’ll hear some of the “stories” of how God has been working in the lives of three of our sisters or brothers. This is part of the ongoing work of our Church Health Team, which is addressing the “minimal factor” from our Natural Church Development inventory. Our minimal factor was “Passionate Spirituality,” which “deals with the question of how to make the Christian faith the holistic experience of a personal encounter with Christ.” (Natural Church Development: Implementation Guide,” Page 63) How is your relationship with Christ growing? Have you ever talked about it with anyone? Why not try. You don’t have to do it perfectly - if there is such a thing. Simply put it in your own words.
Our congregation has a bit of a challenge these days. We have two significant fund raisers coming upon us, and we do not have volunteers to lead them. The Rummage/Yard Sale is slated for October 2nd (5-8 PM) and 3rd (9 AM - Noon). And the “Harvest & Holly Fair and Silent Auction” are on the calendar for November 7th. The church’s Current Expense budget would be adversely affected if either one of these events didn’t take place, or if they were attempted half-heartedly. Would you consider chairing one of these - or you and a friend - or you and two friends? If there’s any chance of it, would you please contact Guy Eaton, the Chair of our Finance Committee VERY soon?
By the way, assuming that the Rummage/Yard sale is going to take place, you can begin bringing your donations to church with you this Sunday, and place them at the far end of Hartford Hall. After Sunday School is over, Yard Sale items can be placed in the Wesley Room downstairs.
This is “Christian Education Sunday” in our Conference. While we held our focus on Christian Education during worship a couple of weeks ago, we will use this Sunday to receive the special offering which will go to our Annual Conference to help provide for the Resource Library (from which we borrow regularly), and to provide scholarships for Chr. Ed. Directors and Sunday School teachers for training. May we be generous with our gifts. Special envelopes will be included in the bulletin.
World Communion Sunday will be October 4th. You may remember that each year we “highlight” a different nation in our service on that day. This year we’re emphasizing Germany. The Communion liturgy will be from an old Lutheran service. The hymns and the choir’s anthem will be by German composers. Maybe there’ll be a couple other surprises, too.
It hasn’t been mentioned too many times this fall, but we’ll hold our annual “Blessing of the Animals” on Sunday, October 11th, at 3 PM. We encourage you to bring your pet(s) to the church to receive a blessing from God. The special offering that will be received will be sent to the Cocheco Valley Humane Society.
Jay Whitehouse has a piano to give away. Here’s the notice he posted on the bulletin board in Hartford Hall: “Looking for a good home for an UPRIGHT PIANO. You move it - it’s FREE. See Jay or call him at 742-8679.
At our last monthly Public Supper, a guest sat next to one of our church members who prepares pear preserves - to give away. That guest has contacted the church office, looking for that woman, in order to give her some pears from his trees. Are you her? Can you call the office?
The Homeless Center for Strafford County will be hosting its 5th Annual Sleep-Out for the Homeless on Saturday, October 17th, at the Rochester Fair Grounds. Bring the whole family to Sleep-Out under the stars for a memorable, fun-filled evening. When your family camps out, you help raise funds for the important mission of the Center: to provide shelter to woman, children and families during the coldest months, while encouraging self-sufficiency and support. Get sponsors for your Sleep-Out; bring your tent and sleeping bag - a picnic dinner (they’ll provide the s’mores).
“Sickness, Suffering and Spiritual Care” an evening conference for clergy and lay leaders to reflect on sickness and suffering from a spiritual perspective. October 22, 5-9pm; Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Auditoriums, 2nd floor. Participants will also learn about medical alternatives for the treatment of chronic illness. Help initiate a conversation about training in spiritual caregiving for persons with chronic illness. Space is limited. Participation on a first-come-first-served basis. Five participants per faith community. Contact me if you’d be interested in attending. Hospital contacts: Julien Olivier or Bob Ervin at 603-740-2824.
Here are a couple other announcements from outside our church that I thought some of you might be interested in:
”Hi, all,
“Deb Hanson here. The Goodwins Mills UMC in Lyman, ME is celebrating its 170 year anniversary on October 3, 2009 with our Bishop Peter Weaver preaching and officiating at Holy Communion. We thought it would be nice if we had representation from others in our district as a way of showing support for the church. If you have a lay person who might be interested in coming to worship on October 4, the service is at 10:30 a.m. and there will be a soup/chowder and bread lunch following using breads from around the world (since it is World Communion Sunday, too) to make our own sandwiches. Members of the church will be making chowders and soups, especially fish, clam, and corn chowder. (One of the parishioners owns a farm and grows tons of corn, and we have a professional chef who makes a “wicked good” clam chowder. In addition, we will have a brief celebration. If you aren’t able to send a representative from your church, I would invite you to send a card so the congregation has a sense of our connectedness as United Methodists. They could use some moral support. By the way, if you have a representative attend, please let me know so I can be sure that our count for lunch is correct - they will be our guests. If nothing else, please keep us in your prayers as we step forward into another century of service and ministry in our communities. Thank you very much, and God bless! Deb” (Note: If you would like to represent St. John’s at this service, please let me know.)
Free Parenting Webinar
Concerned about your teenagers experimenting with cigarettes and other unhealthy behaviors? Arm them with self-esteem and courage to help them make healthy choices. Free webinar with Dr. Michael Popkin of Active Parenting, Monday September 28, 2009, 1 pm EST, on your computer. To learn more and to register, go to http://www.realparentsrealanswers.com/
CBS Special Looks at “Religion, Politics and Advocacy.” A half-hour television documentary on “Religion, Politics and Advocacy” will air nationwide Sept. 27 on CBS affiliates. The show examines how faith groups help shape policy. “We’re not trying to seek legislation here that benefits any of our faith groups,” says Jim Winkler, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society. “This is really for the society as a whole, and that has power that trumps, in the end, the power of money.” The special is produced by the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission with the cooperation of the National Council of Churches, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Islamic Society of North America, the Union for Reform Judaism and the New York Board of Rabbis. (Note: I don’t know what time it will air. Check your local listings.)
Here’s a link to a 41/2 minute video that may provide a blessing:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1785324681?bclid=1338935106&bctid=1913313052
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to ‘Honor thy father and thy mother,’ she asked, ‘Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?’ Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, ‘Thou shall not kill.’
That’s all the news that’s fit to print today. See you in church. Peace, Mark