News & Notes 6/3/2010
Hello My Friends,
Wendy and I are home from vacation, with lots of pictures and stories, and great memories. It was wonderful to have the time away, and wonderful to be back home again, too. You may have heard that one of the “stories” from our trip wasn’t all that wonderful. I spent about 28 hours in the hospital on Martha’s Vineyard - with a kidney stone! As some of you know: ouch! Everything’s fine now, though, and it’s just one of those tales we’ll remember. What a beautiful place The Vineyard is! I commend it to you if you’ve never been there.
I’m thankful to Nancy Jo Johnson, who filled in for me as worship leader last Sunday! This congregation is “rich” with gifted people - both lay and clergy - who can take leadership positions like that. Thanks be to God!
I think I may have mentioned the plans that the Trustees have for transforming the former location of the Library (in the tunnel) into a storage room. Drew Williams has been at the church several times this week - constructing the wall; installing the door; painting; etc. It’s looking great! Thanks Drew. Now for constructing shelves and deciding what to keep and what to discard!! That may turn out to be the tough part of this project.
United Methodist Men will gather for our final breakfast meeting (before the summer break) this Sunday morning, at 7:30 AM. Come for the food, or the fellowship, or the devotions, of for all of it - but come!!
To the St John’s Methodist Youth Group Michaela Weinberger, Erica Lane, Brett Tibbetts, Avery Willett, Jodi Pomeroy, Anais Warfield Katrina Winnicki, Mike Weinberger and Brenda Borchers, Leader. A Big Thank You for all your help, tilling the soil, carrying buckets, shoveling the compost, and doing all those other things to get the soil ready for the church garden………….THANK SO MUCH! YOU’RE A GREAT GROUP OF KIDS!
Becca Cotter asked me to share this with you: In June I am taking part in the “Relay for Life” to raise money for the American Cancer Society. As you may or may not know, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 27, in 2004. I’ve had five neck surgeries and two rounds of radiation in the past six years. I am part of a relay team fundraising and if anyone would like to contribute any amount, you can do so in person on Sunday at church, or via my secure personal website, which is http://main.acsevents.org/goto/beccacotter . Thank you so much! Every donation makes a difference.
As we’re approaching Father’s Day, remember that we take this opportunity to remember or honor our Dad’s by making gifts to Church World Service “Tools of Hope.” Look for the form to fill out in the bulletin on Sunday.
I know that our Sunday School students and teachers are preparing for their last day of class (which will be this Sunday), which will help them prepare for our Children’s Sunday worship service (at 9:30 AM on June 13th). It’s been a great year, and I have nothing but admiration for Jinny Scott, the Education Committee and the teachers who have pulled together to make a wonderful ministry of education for the younger participants in our ministry! Praise God for each one of you!
When I look ahead on the calendar, I notice the “Friendly Ice Cream Fund Raiser” on Tuesday, June 15th, from 5-8 PM - at the Dover Friendly’s. As always, we don’t want to put undue stress on anyone’s budget, or encourage you to spend more that your budget allows - but if your budget allows for a dinner out next week and/or an ice cream - why not take it on Tuesday; meet up with some friends for the church; and help the church raise a little money in the process?!?! See you there?
This next piece comes from the Annual Conference Council on Youth Ministries (which has collected pennies each year at Conference - as a challenge between the districts, and as a means to raise money for their mission work):
Change Your change for Changing Youth
Due to the extreme effort it takes to count the pennies, the CCYM is asking you to cash in those pennies you have already collected and bring us a check, equal to or greater than the amount of money you raised.
Where does your donation go you ask???? Last year’s funds:
Supported four of our Conference youth on “Mission of Peace” to India
Funds were sent to the National Youth Service Fund (YSF)
$1500 was sent to Harbormarsh UMC for a mission trip
Sending 2 youth to the Global Youth Convocation in Berlin, Germany in July 2009
Hosting “BAM the sequel” which will happen on Oct 2, 2010 at Exeter UMC
Funding scholarships to help youth attend Youth 2011 at Purdue University in July 2011
Thank you for your continued support and donations to the New England Conference youth! (Note: if you’d like to make a contribution for Diana Schuman [our Lay Member of Annual Conference] or me to take on June 17th, you can place your gifts in the offering plate, or give them to Diana or me.)
The Rehab Unit from Frisbee Hospital is putting on a Spaghetti Supper fund raiser at St. John’s this Saturday, beginning at 4:30 PM. They’re raising money for the American Cancer Society. This is the Rehab Unit’s third year for this fund raiser.
Three interesting concerts are coming up this weekend, and I thought I’d mention them here:
A concert by two a cappella groups (”Tuckerman’s at 9″ and “Fourth Street Jazz Choir”) on Saturday, June 5th, at 7 PM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Dover - to benefit the Dover Share Fund. Suggested donation: adults $15/ under 18 y.o. for $12
And at the same time (Saturday at 7 PM) the choir from First United Methodist in Rochester will host a concert presented by themselves, the Granite State Choral Society and the Rochester Choral Society of Rochester, England. The program will include Requiem in d minor, Op 48 by Gabriel Faure, Coronation Anthems by G.F. Handel and traditional spirituals by William L. Dawson.
Tina Weinberger invites you to “Celebration of Gospel, Blues & Rock ‘n Roll” on Sunday, June 6 at 4:00pm. “Wonderful music and food! Would love to see you there 
”.
Event: Celebration of Gospel, Blues & Rock ‘n Roll
Start Time: Sunday, June 6 at 4:00pm
End Time: Sunday, June 6 at 7:00pm
Where: Spring Hill, 117 Pond Rd, South Berwick ME
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=130850200261833&mid=2705082G1e48e991G4db261bG7&n_m=markmonsonalley%40gmail.com
A kindergarten teacher gave her class a “show and tell” assignment. Each student was instructed to bring in an object to share with the class that represented their religion. The first student got up in front of the class and said, “My name is Benjamin and I am Jewish and this is a Star of David.” The second student got up in front of the class and said, “My name is Mary. I’m a Catholic and this is a Rosary.” The third student got in up front of the class and said, “My name is Tommy. I am a Methodist, and this is a casserole.”
I guess that’s it for this week. I missed being in worship with you last Sunday, and look forward to seeing all of you this week!! Please come! It’s not the same without you!
Peace, Mark