News & Notes 12/8/2011
Dear St. John’s Folks,
Lots to share today, so I’ll jump right in. What a wonderful event Steve and Jeff (and all their partners in crime) gave to our congregation and community last Sunday evening. Even though I was in it, I still feel that I can say the concert was a blessing for our souls. I want to say “thanks” to everyone who participated, and everyone who came to be fed!! Praise God!
Tomorrow evening is our Christmas Caroling social time at St. John’s. Folks will gather in the parking lot of the church at 6:30 PM, and head out to bring some “live” Christmas cheer to homes in the area. Sounds like fun! Won’t you come along?
Saturday evening, December 10th, from 4:30 till 6 PM, our Mission Team will present a Public Supper to raise funds for this coming April’s trip. The menu includes classic Yankee pot roast sided with maque choux (don’t ask me - I don’t have any idea!), Cajun green beans, scalloped potatoes, trinity rice and authentic bread pudding with warm praline sauce. Please come support our Mission Team!
Did you adopt one or more of the yellow stars from our “Angle Tree?” Please remember that these need to be returned by this Sunday. Our Outreach Committee will meet on Monday to sort, wrap and deliver your wonderfully generous gifts!! Thanks folks.
Also, just a quick reminder that poinsettia orders are due this coming Sunday at the latest. If you’ve lost your order form, I’m sure there’ll be another one in the bulletin this Sunday. But be sure to turn it in if you want to honor or remember loved ones.
In the event that you want to listen to some holiday music big band style, our own George Reagan is performing again with some incredible musicians in the Chris Humphrey Big Band on Saturday, December 17th at 7pm, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 7 Portland Rd, Kennebunk, Maine. This is their 5th Annual Christmas Big Band Benefit. It’s a great venue and a great time for the band and the audience as well! No reservations necessary. There will be a free will offering during the performance.
Other performances (that I know of) by members of St. John’s include:
*Tina W. in “Rock My Soul” on Sat., 12/17, at 4 PM at St. John’s - tickets are $12/$10; kids 12 and under are free
*Sue Wms in Amare Cantare on 12/10 at 7:30 PM at Christ Church, Exeter; 12/11 at 2:30 PM at St. George’s Episcopal in Durham; 12/14 at 7:30 PM at Immaculate Conception Church in Portsmouth
*Sue is also in the Portsmouth Symphony Pops on 12/21 at 7:30 PM, at the Music Hall in Portsmouth
Are you one of the persons that was chosen by the Sunday School children in September - to pray for them? How’s that working? I hope you’re being faithful to that, and that you make contact with that child every once in awhile, so they know that you haven’t forgotten them, and that they matter - to you, and to God! Christmas would be a great time to seek him/her out, to give them a card.
As we have a different Sunday School class join us for worship each month - in our effort to help children learn how to worship - we will welcome the 6, 7 & 8th grade class into worship this week!! Why not look this Sunday for one of the class members (students or teachers), to make sure you welcome them to worship?
In an article about 10 ways to make visitors feel welcome at our church during the Advent/Christmas season, this was included: “Encourage church members to show hospitality through attentiveness and warmth to those taking seats near them - making sure each person has a hymnal, a service bulletin, enough room, or a friendly word of guidance about where to turn in the hymnal. Ushers and greeters are important, but what will make a lasting and loving impression is the demonstration of grace and caring by the people in the pews who share the journey.” This would be true any time of the year, but especially true during the holidays. Won’t you make that extra effort?
Speaking of “extra effort,” someone has expressed interest in coming to the Carillon concert (8 PM) and 9 PM service on Christmas Eve, but doesn’t have a ride. They live in Maple Suites, off Back River Road in Dover. Do you know anyone who is coming to either or both of those events who would be willing to give a ride? Please speak to me soon.
I happened to notice that no one has signed up for Coffee Fellowship for Christmas Day - after our 10:30 AM service. That would be a great day to visit with folks at church. Any takers? Please sign-up on the board next to the kitchen serving window.
At their meeting on Monday, our Finance Committee celebrated the increase in pledges for 2012 - both the number of new pledgers as well as the increased dollar amount from “repeat” pledgers. It was mentioned, though, that there are still a number of folks who have not turned their pledge sheets in to Sandy, our Financial Secretary. I know that we’re in a busy time of the year, but if you haven’t taken the time to do that yet, could we encourage you to bring/send it in soon? If you’ve misplaced yours - have no fear - Sandy has many more, so she can give you a new one!
Does something seem different about this Advent season? Perhaps something, or someone, will be missing for Christmas; or maybe we can’t meet the emotional or financial expectations we see constantly on TV. If you feel that this Christmas just isn’t for you - of if you simply would like a deeper, more spiritual experience this season - then we welcome you to the Blue Christmas Service on Wednesday, December 21 at 7:00 PM, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Through song, prayer and an invitation of the Holy Spirit we will celebrate the fact that the true gift of Christmas can’t be wrapped - only shared.
Plans for our Christmas Eve celebrations are falling into place, as we plan three different celebrations - at 6:30, 9 & 11 PM - with the Carillon Concert at 8 PM. At 6:30 PM an angel returns to check up on “things” - to see how we’re doing following the arrival of the Christ, 2000 years ago. Rev. Earle C. will be leading our 9 PM service. And I’ll lead our 11 PM service which will conclude outdoors (weather permitting) in candlelight. At all three services we’ll celebrate the sacrament of Communion as rejoicing over the gift to us of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Judith C. told us last Sunday about the Dover Moose Lodge (45 Chestnut St., Dover) hosting a breakfast to help support the Dover SHARE Fund this Sunday, from 7:30 AM till Noon. Cost is $5 per person at the door. You can go before or after church and enjoy a wonderful breakfast while supporting a great cause.
Remember that we’ll have a single service on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day - both at 10:30 AM. On Christmas everyone is invited/encouraged to bring a gift that they received, for a blessing of the gifts.
This rather large request just came to the church. In the event God may be calling someone to this, I thought I’d pass is along: “Might you have some volunteers in your church group that could help us (i.e. Southeastern New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity) next week? We will be receiving pretty much a full hardware store as a donation. It’s in Amesbury, MA and we will be removing items from the shelves, packaging them up in boxes, etc., and loading tractor trailers. We start Tuesday the 13th at 7am, go through Friday the 16th and then the 19th and 20th if we need it. If you can offer any help we can use it. Thanks! Doug Willey (manager@nhrestore.org), ReStore Manager , 603-750-3200 / 603-427-8150″ If you’re interested, please call Doug directly.
Diana S. shared another good joke with me: While we were eating lunch after church one Sunday, my youngest son asked me what the highest number I had ever counted up to was. I said I didn’t know. Then I asked him how high he has counted. “5,372,” came the prompt reply. “Oh,” I said. “Why did you stop there?” “The sermon was over.”
Will it ever end!! See you in church. Peace, Mark