News & Notes 6/16/2010
Hello My Friends,
I’m writing to you a day early ’cause I’m just about to leave for Annual Conference, and won’t be on the computer tomorrow . . . probably. So here’s the scoop for today.
Speak of “scoop,” it was fun to see so many people at Friendly’s last night - for our Friendly’s fund raiser. Our Finance Committee says “thanks” to all who came!
Remember the Youth Mission Team from Pennsylvania that stayed overnight at St. John’s last Saturday/Sunday - and that came to worship with us on Children’s Sunday? Well, they’ll be back again this Friday - on their return trip. They have also given us a basket of Pennsylvania-made items - many of which will be set out for our Coffee Fellowship this coming Sunday. That was nice!
Let me lift up a reminder that we’re on our “Summer Schedule”, which means we have one worship service each Sunday morning, and that begins at 9:30 AM. If you’d like to sing in the summer choir, rehearsals begin at 8:15 AM each Sunday morning - and new folks are always welcome.
I would lift up a “call” to all the families with Sunday School age children and youth - particularly those who don’t come often to worship in the summer. I want to encourage you to come to church and to bring your children this summer - maybe not every Sunday, but hopefully at least three or four times this summer. One of the “horses” that I’ve been riding (figuratively speaking, that is) is that our children and youth don’t know how to worship. They don’t know what we do, nor why we do it on a Sunday morning. So when they grow up and go to college and/or become young adults, it’s no wonder that they don’t attend worship (here or anywhere), because it’s not something they’ve ever been taught to do. And it’s in worship - as in no other place - that we are shaped into disciples of Jesus Christ. It’s where we learn how to worship this God that we believe in. It’s where we connect as the whole body of Christ that is “St. John’s United Methodist Church.” I hope you’ll consider this.
This coming Sunday - which is the third Sunday of the month - is Food Pantry Sunday. Please remember to bring a non-perishable food item; personal care item; paper products; diapers; or a monetary donation to church with you. It helps our neighbors nearby.
And this Sunday is also Father’s Day, which means it’s “Tools of Hope” Sunday. If you haven’t already made a gift to remember or honor your Dad, you can still make a gift this Sunday. We won’t, however, be able to include his/their name(s) in the bulletin. To date we have received $455 for this special ministry - to help our neighbors far away!
Since I’ll be on vacation next week, I won’t be creating another issue of “News & Notes” for next week, so let me just lift up a reminder that we have our next Public Supper on Saturday, June 26th. It would be great to have a full “staff” for this event - including Turkey roasters? Check out the sign-up sheet on the rolling bulletin board this Sunday!! Many hands makes light work . . . or maybe you’ve heard that before?
We’ve had some “church mice” working ’round the place this week, once again. Lenny Colongione and Jim Miller outfitted the clothes racks that we use for the Rummage Sales, so that they can be put together and taken apart much more easily!! All those aching backs say “thank you, guys!” Lenny also whipped out his trusty paintbrush and touched up some places in Sandy’s office - making things look nicer! And even as I type, Kenny Gallant is installing an “on-demand” hot water heater in the church kitchen. This will save us considerable amounts of money in the long run. That’s a great move by the Trustees! And thanks, Kenny!
Tom and Patsy Koelker JUST HAPPENED to mention that their first grandchild was born . . . I think it was this last Sunday. And they just happened to send along a link to some pictures of her. Here’s the link: http://www.pbase.com/tkoelker/first_grandson Be sure to offer congratulations to Patsy and Tom when you see them - and congratulate Betty and Gene Koelker for this, another great-grandchild!!
These next two things are repeats from last week - but are worth repeating!
Annual Conference LIVE!
This year, the Conference will be webcasting many of the Annual Conference sessions during the event! Church members and friends can view the schedule and the webcast at www.neumc.org/ACstream during the Conference sessions from Thursday, June 17 to Saturday June 19. Some of the events that might be of particular interest to watch are:
*Memorial Service - Thursday at 2 PM
*Conferencing Session with Worship (A River Runs Through Us), with Rev. Dr. Zan Holmes preaching - Thursday at 6:30 PM
*Mission Celebration - including Lee Dormann and the 2010 Ziegler Award Preacher - Friday at 7 PM
*Ordination service - Saturday at 2 PM
Hi Pastor Mark, I am writing to you to see if it is possible to get a message out to members of the church asking for some help. I am moving back to NH as you know to help with mom and to be closer to family. I will arrive in town some time on the 28th and am looking for help to unload the truck on the 29th. I know it is a weekday and a work day for most, but any help I could get would be greatly, GREATLY appreciated. I have to have the truck turned back in that afternoon/evening. Our home is in Barrington, right across from the mobile home park. There is a shipping company, On The Way Shipping, at the end of our driveway. You enter that same driveway, go behind the building and there is a house out there — the only house — and that is where I will be. I’ll be up early in the morning, so if people want to come by as early as 8am that is fine with me. The address is #156 Rt 202/9 in Barrington, the business out front is #154. Thank you for your help with this. Can’t wait to be back!! Kaera Sawler (Note: this is Ann & Martin Kippley’s daughter)
Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Over the years, they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their activities had been limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards. One day, they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said, “Now don’t get mad at me … I know
we’ve been friends for a long time, but I just can’t think of your name! I’ve thought and thought, but I can’t remember it. Please tell me what your name is.” Her friend glared at her for at least three minutes she just stared and glared at her. Finally she said, “How soon do you need to know?”
That’s the news for today! See you in church. Peace, Mark