News & Notes 1/14/10
A blessed day to you, my Friends!!
The news out of Haiti is very troubling these days. Locally, I know Patrick Murphy has connections there from many years ago - and I went on a mission trip there myself, back in 1983. I begin this issue of “News & Notes” with a request from our Bishop - and end it with news that we’ve received from our Annual Conference Office. In between will be the news of St. John’s.
Bishop Weaver Calls for Prayer for Haiti
Bishop Peter D. Weaver of the New England Annual Conference is calling all New England United Methodists to prayer for the people of Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake there. Support for relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency: UMCOR Advance # 418325 For more information on the situation and the relief efforts, read the UMNS news story here:
http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2433457&ct=7800627
A free H1N1 clinic will take place this afternoon and evening, at the Dover Middle School. If you haven’t received a vaccination, and would like one, you might want to head on over to the school between 33:30 and 6:30 PM.
Today marks the twenty-second anniversary of Sandy Dearborn serving as the Secretary/Office Manager/Financial Secretary at St. John’s Church!! I’m sure you join me in saying a huge “thanks” to Sandy!!
This coming Sunday is “Food Pantry Sunday.” It would be wonderful to see everyone who comes to church bring one or two items for the Dover Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry! Any non-perishable food item, or personal care item would be great. Thanks.
Sunday evening the Dover Area Religious Leaders Association and Dover Cooperative Ministries present this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, at 7 PM, at First Parish Church in Dover. Rev. Jeffrey Brown (Ex. Dir. of the Ten Point Coalition and Director of the Gang Mediation Initiative in Boston) will be the guest preacher, and the Dover High School Chorus and an Interfaith Choir will both sing. There’ll be a time of fellowship in the church’s fellowship hall following the service. Ii hope many from St. John’s will be able to attend.
I think the sign-up sheets for our first Public Supper of the new year will be posted this Sunday. Most of the suppers this year will be Turkey - what seems to be the most popular menu for our constituents! So I know the sign-up sheets will be looking for folks who are willing to cook one or more turkeys! How ’bout you?
I was thinking recently about the wonderful ministry that our music program creates for us! And in particular am I thankful for the sacrificial work of the Adult Choir. They all pulled together wonderfully - with several extra rehearsals and a trip to Newington - to put on the December 13th concert at the Mall, with Barb Johnson. Then many of them came with me to Wentworth Home on the Sunday before Christmas, to present a worship service for the residents there. As in previous years, they sang at the Christmas Eve services - many members singing at more than one service (with a couple singing at all three services!). And then this past Sunday twenty-two people came to the church to practice and share a meal together - from 1:30 till 6:30 PM - to help gear up for the coming weeks with our new Music Directors, Jeff and Steve! Such dedication, folks! Thank you very much!
Let me lift up the celebration that Lynn Devlin is a Grammie!! Her oldest daughter, Kate, and her husband, Anthony, had their first child - a little girl, Emma - born Monday in Texas!! Praise God! Mom and child, and even Dad, are doing fine! And I don’t think Grammie’s feet have touched the ground since Monday!
If you were around the church on Monday or Tuesday, you may have noticed the plumbers trucks . . . and big shovel!! It appears our sewer line was blocked again. After they did the search with the camera down into the line, they determined the blockage was 150 feet or so away from the building! The next day they came back with the “big shovel” (there’s another name for that, but I can’t think of it). They went into the woods - near where our line empties into the City sewer, and found roots growing in our sewer line! We’ll take a hit financially from this unexpected repair, but now our sewer system works wonderfully once again! Many thanks to Guy Eaton (our custodian) and Karen Schutt (the Chair of our Trustees) for coordinating this work!
On the positive side of “building issues,” Jinny Scott and Karen Schutt have completed painting and installing curtains in a third Sunday School room- below the sanctuary! It’s in the second grade classroom - where Betsey Bolton and Mary Avrett teach. Can you say “blue”? It looks great, and thanks Karen and Jinny! Just a note: where the plumbing issue cost us a good deal of money, the materials and labor to do the painting and curtains in the Sunday School area is all being donated!! So “thanks” to our donors, too!
Sandy Dearborn received a call from her Sister-in-law, who has asked for prayers for some specific folks in Haiti. The Prayer Chain request looks like this: Prayers for a student and 2 professors, from Lynn University, who were in the Hotel Montana, Haiti. Prayers that all will be found alive. Give them all peace and comfort in knowing that God is with them.
Now let me share with you some of the deep questions of life. Be careful, ’cause some of these might make your brain hurt!
Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?
If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?
If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?
Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?
Why does “slow down” and “slow up” mean the same thing?
Why does “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same thing?
Why do “tug” boats push their barges?
I guess that’s all that my hurting brain can stand for today. What follows is a bit of news about what the United Methodist Church is already doing to help the people of Haiti. Please - as Bishop Weaver requests - hold the peoples there in your prayers. We’ll do that in worship this Sunday - where I hope to see you!! Peace, Mark
UMCOR Responds to the Earthquake in Haiti
January 13, 2010 — A major earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday, causing widespread destruction. Millions of people are affected and thousands are feared dead. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has close ties with the Methodist Church in Haiti and is responding to the devastating earthquake with funding, material resources and prayers.
UMCOR executive, Melissa Crutchfield says, “We are working with our partners on the ground to provide immediate relief to the people in Haiti. UMCOR has worked in Haiti for many years. We anticipate that there will be years of rebuilding needed and are prepared to work with the people to help them through that process.”
Working with partners, Action by Churches Together, Church World Service, Global Medic and the Methodist Church, UMCOR is channeling its resources to respond effectively to the people most in need.
In a statement to Global Ministries staff, the General Secretary said, “Events such as these can challenge both our faith and sense of security. As a church we know that the heart of our ministry is continuing and extending Jesus Christ’s ministry of outreaching love.”
Volunteers from at least six different United Methodist annual (regional) conferences are in Haiti on mission trips. An email from two Kansas East volunteers reports they are safe in the guest house and, “We have a bunch of refugees in the front had have been giving first aid to those who were hurt, but we cannot get them anywhere at this time. There will be many deaths but it happened right before dark so rescue efforts are hampered. Some phone service and no police or UN radios working.”
Volunteers in Mission (VIM) executive, Clint Rabb, consultant, Jim Gulley and Sam Dixon, the top executive for UMCOR are in Haiti. Says UMCOR executive, Tom Hazelwood, “We have conflicting reports that say they were in a car on the way to the airport and another that they were in the Montana Hotel. We don’t have any absolute confirmation at this time and have not heard from them, but will be sure to communicate any news. Please continue praying.”
How to Help
There will be a great need for volunteers to help rebuild once the initial crisis has settled. At this time, it is not safe or possible for volunteers to go to Haiti. In order to frame a response that is consistent with the churches’ needs, people wishing to volunteer should contact their jurisdictional VIM coordinator to determine when and how to appropriately respond.
Gifts to support UMCOR’s Haiti Relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance #418325. Checks can be made to UMCOR with Advance #418325 http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760 Haiti Emergency in the memo line. Checks can be put in the church’s offering plate or mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. 100% of gifts made to this advance will go to help the people of Haiti.
UMCOR Sager Brown is coordinating a shipment of health kits to provide individuals with basic necessities. Instructions for assembling and shipping health kits are available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/health-kit/ .
Please pray for all of the people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Thank you for your faithful support for all of God’s children.
For continued updates visit www.umc.org/haiti