News & Notes 2/11/2010
Hello My Friends,
No snow - how’s that strike you? I think it’s wonderful to hear how “no snow” rests with different folks. It witnesses to the diversity of people around us - which is a great metaphor for the church, which is made up of people possessing many and various gifts - all for the common good! Remember when we read that in worship a couple weeks ago? It also confirms the gift that God has given to us of creating each one of us uniquely. Some consider that a threat, but in God’s creation, it seems it must be part of God’s design for good.
This notice came from Rabbi Karol at Temple Israel: Members of the Dover area community are welcome to attend a “Neighbor Night” Sabbath service at Temple Israel of Dover, 515 Sixth Street, on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7:30 pm. For this service, congregants are inviting friends, neighbors, colleagues, classmates and co-workers to attend this Shabbat service. Rabbi Karol will explain Jewish prayers and practices within the flow of the service and during a question-and-answer period following the closing song. You are welcome to attend as Rabbi Karol’s guest(s) after you have contacted him by February 16 (send an email to lpkarol@aol.com or leave a message for Rabbi Karol at 603-742-3976). This service marks the end of National Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week, a celebration of unity founded by the National Conference for Community and Justice.
From the minutes of the Dover Cooperative Ministries meeting, I’m seeing that they are looking especially for personal care items to stock the Food Pantry; and brown paper bags to send food, etc. home with folks. Can you help? The collection “bins” are located in the narthex, to the left of the front door of the church.
St. John’s is having a fundraiser on Wednesday, May 13th. We will be going to UNO Chicago Grill at Week’s Crossing in Dover. A percentage of the sales will come back to St. John’s. If it’s in your budget, this would be a good opportunity for a family night out, or perhaps there are people in our church family that you might like to know better. Consider inviting them to go out to dinner with you. Pick up a coupon - necessary for St. John’s to receive credit - from the shelf outside Sandy’s office.
Memorial services for Rev. Dr. Samuel Williams Dixon, Jr. (Director of UMCOR) and Rev. Clinton Clark Rabb (Volunteer in Mission Coordinator for UMCOR) - both of whom died following the earthquakes in Haiti) will be held at Riverside Church in New York. You are invited to watch the service live online. Go to: http://gbgm-umc.org/memorial/ for more information and to view the broadcast on today, February 11, at 3 PM.
Dover High School is presenting the musical comedy, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Show times are Friday and Saturday (2/12 and 2/13) at 7:00PM and Sunday (2/14) at 2:00 - all at the Walker Auditorium at Dover High School. Our own Jeremy Korth will play the part of Jesus!! (Not too ragged, eh? But if you go, be sure to notice the robe Jesus is wearing. It’s from the wardrobe of a certain distinguished preacher in town!) The school says that this play is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
Last evening, our Outreach Committee filled 157 health kits with materials that you donated - plus we still have materials for 51 “partial” kits (to be completed by donations from the Committee members) - so we will have surpassed the 200 mark for kits. If you are so inclined, the Committee would love to receive monetary donations to help pay for the shipping costs. Just put your gift marked “Health Kits Shipping” in the offering plate - or mail it to the church. And just in case you hadn’t brought your material donations in, the collection boxes will remain in place through Sunday. Thank you very much for your faithfulness!!
Our Confirmation Class and I will be traveling to Portsmouth tomorrow evening, for an overnight “retreat.” We’ll be staying at First UMC in Portsmouth, and will be doing three of our classes between our arrival and departure around noon on Saturday. We have four members in this year’s Confirmation Class, and I’m looking forward to a great time with them. Please hold us in prayer!
Here’s a re-run of an article from the February “Bell-Wether”:
During the season of Lent, Pastor Mark will lead a series of three Inquirer’s/Membership Classes. These classes are great for folks who know already that they would like to join the church - or for folks who may have questions about United Methodist beliefs - or for folks who are considering membership but don’t yet know if it’s the thing for them to do - or even for folks who are already members, who would like to brush-up on United Methodism.
The classes will be held from 7 till 9 PM on February 16th, March 2nd and March 16th. In the classes Mark will cover discussions about St. John’s Church - its history, groups, committees, budget, resources, etc.; the beliefs of United Methodism; and also the history of Methodism, and how that history shapes our life together today.
Folks who are members of another United Methodist Church and wish to transfer their membership only need to attend the March 16th meeting - though they’re more than welcome at all three classes. Anyone desiring to join St. John’s, who holds membership in another church - whether United Methodist or of another denomination - needs to let Mark know the contact information of that former church, so he can begin the process of transferring your membership.
If childcare is an issue in your ability to attend the classes, speak to Mark. There are some folks who have offered to help provide childcare - in your home, or at the church, whichever would work better for you and your child(ren).
The season of Lent begins next Wednesday, with our Ash Wednesday service, at 7 PM, at the church. Come - get your hands dirty - and begin the Journey of Hope that we will share through Lent.
Did you hear about the Dover Cop who couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw a woman drive past him on the freeway, busily knitting. Quickly he pulled alongside the vehicle, rolled down his window and shouted, “Pull over!” “No,” the women yelled back cheerfully, “Socks!”
That’s it for this week. See you in church - for Transfiguration Sunday (the lasts Sunday of the season of Epiphany). Peace, Mark