News & Notes 11/25/09
Happy Thanksgiving My Friends,
I love all of you, but I’m not coming into the office tomorrow to create our “regular” Thursday issue of “News & Notes.” So you’re getting’ it early!!
St. Thomas Episcopal Church was comfortably full for last Sunday evening’s Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. It was a wonderful time of worship with our neighbors - setting aside differences in faith traditions, and affirming our common thanks for all that God has given to us. Our Choir and dancer (Shawne Freeman) represented St. John’s well!
Things seemed to go well last evening at our Church Conference with our District Superintendent, Mike Davis. As he mentioned in his opening, this was his fifth Church Conference with us. We worshipped together - removed eight people from the membership of the church (people whose addresses we have lost, or who have not responded to communication for at least two years) - accepted the bequest of Marion Stevens (which stands at the moment at $70,000) - approved our four Lay Speakers (Bill McWilliams, Cheri Nixon, Diana Schuman & Betty Small) - created a Permanent Endowment Committee - elected or officers and committee members for the next year - received reports from six retired pastors or pastors on Incapacity Leave (three of whom were present at the meeting: Earle Custer, David Thompson and Les Pettit - set the pastor’s salary for 2010 - and shared a brief discussion with Mike Davis about “rethinking church”, that it become more of a “thing we do,” rather than a place we go; that it be taken out to the people.
Please, please, please remember that we have just one worship service this coming Sunday - at 9:30 AM - and that there is no Sunday School. BUT the Sunday School children will take part in the service - to decorate the tree, and create a live nativity scene. So bring the kids to church with you!! The new Brass Choir (with one woodwind player who has infiltrated the group) will take part in the service. We’ll be “Hanging the Greens” this Sunday. I hope you’ll be there on this first Sunday in Advent.
The Council of Bishops and the “Connectional Table,” (our denominations equivalent to our Church Council) meeting in Lake Junaluska, N.C., in early November made an urgent appeal to the people of The United Methodist Church to ease the suffering of our sisters and brothers in the Philippines. Recent flooding and subsequent landslides have claimed lives and caused great suffering. The death toll exceeds 1,000 because of four successive typhoons and the related health issues that followed. With more than 9 million persons affected, an estimated 1.3 million persons are displaced while the economic and agricultural impact is still being assessed. The Churchwide Appeal for Philippines Disasters will provide humanitarian relief and support the ministries and congregations of The United Methodist Church in the Philippines. Our United Methodist brothers and sisters desperately need our support. More than 200,000 United Methodists in 1,372 local churches in the Philippines pray that we will stand beside them through these storms.
In Christ,
Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, President, The Council of Bishops
Bishop John Hopkins, Chairperson, The Connectional Table
(Note: I you wish to give to this appeal, place your gift in the offering plate - anytime between now and the end of the year - and clearly mark it “Appeal for Philippine Relief.”)
Members of our 2010 Mission Team to St. Bernard’s Parish, in Louisiana, will be offering a Public Supper on Saturday, December 5th, from 4:30 till 6 PM. With decorations and music and food (not too spicy) from the Louisiana area, the evening should be great fun. Come on out for a great time, and for support to the Mission Team!
Many of you will remember that the Worship Committee has requested dozens and dozens of homemade cookies to give out at the Mall on December 13th. Well someone raised an interesting issue: with concerns of health as high as they are today - relative to colds and flu, etc. - would a large number of folks not want to take homemade items from folks that they don’t know? The Committee would hate to ask you to “bake your little fingers to the bone” only to have your hard work refused or thrown into the trash at the mall. So the Committee has tentatively decided that they will purchase things like commercially produced and wrapped candy canes and Hershey’s kisses - put a few in a bag - attach a tag with an invitation to St. John’s - and give those away as the Choir and Brass Choir sing and play. It’s not as personal, but perhaps more “attractive.” But thanks to all of you who expressed interest in supporting this venture!!! Now you’ll have to come to the Mall on Sunday, December 13th, at 3 PM, to support the program!!
This Sunday is “United Methodist Student Day” in our denomination - a time to lift up and celebrate the importance of Education, and our denomination’s heritage relative to institutions of higher education. We will do two special things during the service on Sunday. The first is to recognize Carolyn Capern, who is the recipient of a loan or grant (I’m not sure which she received) from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the UMC. And the second is to receive a special offering (with other UMC’s) to support the ongoing loan/grant/scholarship program on the Church. Special offering envelopes will be in the bulletin.
There is another way that you might be of service - this time for one of our own. On December 12th, Sheryl Wentworth is moving from an apartment in Newington to a new place on Silver Street in Dover. She would love to have some help from her church family in completing the move. We need strong backs and even stronger pick-up trucks! Can you let me know of you can help? I have two volunteers so far, but if we had 10 or 12 more, the move would go much more easily and quickly!! Can you let me know if that’s a possibility for you to help out? Women - men - youth - we’ll take ‘em all!
I visited Harriett Marshall recently, and received final confirmation about the funeral for her husband, Bob. It will take place at the church on Saturday, December 5th, at 10 AM - and will be followed by a reception in Hartford Hall. I know many in our church family will want to be present.
Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center will host its 3rd annual Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 9am-3pm in the majestic mansion at 660 Great Pond Rd, North Andover, MA. Over 30 vendors, on multiple floors of the mansion will sell hand made crafts amongst the festive beauty and tranquility of Rolling Ridge.
Among the many items for sale you’ll find Handbags, Candles, Glass Pendants, Knit Clothing, Skin Care Items, Assorted Jewelry, Fashion Scarves, Doll Clothes, Prayer Beads and much, much more. Also on this day is a Toy Drive to benefit North Andover & Methuen Family Self-Sufficiency Program: “Breaking the cycle of poverty.” Stop by the Ridge Cafe for a delicious luncheon by Chef Tobi, and browse the Rolling Ridge Art Gallery while adding some special gifts to your holiday list. The Holiday decorations by Natural Designs of Plaistow, NH will delight your visit to Rolling Ridge. For further information, call 978-682-8815, or visit www.rollingridge.org.
Here are some interesting “alternative” definitions to think on:
ADULT: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle.
BEAUTY PARLOUR: A place where women curl up and dye.
CANNIBAL: Someone who is fed up with people.
CHICKENS: The only animals you eat before they are born and after they are dead.
COMMITTEE: A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.
DUST: Mud with the juice squeezed out.
EGOTIST: Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation.
HANDKERCHIEF: Cold Storage.
That’s it for today. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your household! See you in Church. Peace, Mark