News & Notes — 1/12/2012
Dear St. John’s Church Family,
Greetings! Today is a day of remembrance and prayer - the anniversary date of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. For the past two years, teams of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission have selflessly donated their time, finances and energy to assist in the recovery and rebuilding effort. Today, the Haiti Response Plan kneel with the people of Haiti and the Methodist Church of Haiti in prayer and remembrance. At the same time, we rise to meet the challenge of our continuing ministry with our Haitian brothers and sisters. May God bless our efforts in 2012. The Staff of the Haiti Response Plan
My Continuing Education event in Bangor went well - I learned lots, was renewed in worship, renewed friendships with some friends from years-gone-by, and learned some new ideas for mission and ministry in the twenty-first century. I look forward to sharing some of that with you in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you for giving me the freedom for events like this.
Choir rehearsal and the Safe Sanctuaries Task Force have been canceled for this evening -due to the storm. Don’t’ come out, folks!! Stay home - safe and warm.
A special edition of “The Bell-Wether” will be heading out in the mail tomorrow. It contains budgets and leadership lists and other “stuff” (remember that deep theological term?) that I hope you find interesting and helpful. Look for it in your mailbox soon. I want to thank Carl M. and his crew of Happy Holy Folders for steppin’ up to prepare this mailing!!
St. John’s Friendly Kitchen crew did another great job preparing for Tuesday’s meal - AND preparing a meal for the folks at My Friends’ Place. They received a thank you note that said “there were no leftovers from that meal!!” Good stuff. Thanks, folks.
Let me remind all the committee chairpersons and Lay Leaders that we have a Leadership Training time scheduled for this coming Saturday, from 8 till 11 AM (at the latest), in Hartford Hall. I hope to see as many of you as possible.
This coming Sunday is Human Relations Day, which includes an offering to support vital community ministries that teach and advocate for justice, especially among people struggling to survive in the margins of society. As one example: students at UM-related Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., are becoming more involved in social concerns with help from the UM Voluntary Service program. Special envelopes will be included in the bulletin. Please give generously.
This Sunday evening is the 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. observance - at St. John’s Church, beginning at 7 PM. Included in the event, we will be making a collage that amplifies the theme of unity within diversity… breaking down barriers and other lessons King has shown us. If you have favorite sayings, favorite pictures of the world in harmony or pictures of people of different colors or cultures working together, anything related to MLKing or the theme, bring them for the collage! If everyone brings some, we’ll have enough!
Wild Wanakee Women: Wanakee’s annual winter get-away, led by Lynne Lemay, will take place January 27-29, 2012, with a cost of $75. Need that break from the family and job? Need to be rejuvenated? Come be a Wild Wanakee Woman and enjoy a different side of Wanakee! Be a couch potato without guilt or get out in the snow with your cross country skis or snow shoes. Enjoy wintery Wanakee with a cup of cocoa, a friend and a blazing fire. Hike in the woods or down to the water. No matter what the weather, you will enjoy the company of other women and grow in faith and friendship. To register: Call Wanakee 603-279-7950 or register on-line or download and mail in forms at our website
The Farm Bar and Grille in Dover, at 25A Portland St., is hosting a fund raiser for “End 68 Hours of Hunger” on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm. A portion of your bill will be donated to help feed hungry children! Some of the “End 68 Hours of Hunger” volunteers will be on hand to talk about the program. We hope you will publicize this event at your place of work and plan to participate!
A little boy was waiting for his mother to come out of the grocery store.
As he waited, he was approached by a man who asked, “Son, can you
tell me where the Post Office is?” The little boy replied, “Sure! Just go straight down this street a coupla blocks and turn to your right.” The man thanked the boy kindly and said, “I’m the new pastor in town. I’d like for you to come to church on Sunday. I’ll show you how to get to Heaven.” The little boy replied with a chuckle. “Awww, come on… You don’t even know the way to the Post Office.”
I think that’s it for this week. See you in church. Peace, Mark