News & Notes 1/26/2012
Dear St. John’s Church Community,
This is one of those filled-with-extra-blessings-days, so I must get right to the news.
The youth did a great job last Sunday of leading our congregation in worship! Thank you to each of them - and to their leaders, who helped them create the service.
Drew Wms told me that we have been doing wonderfully at bringing canned goods for the Food Bank - in order to save money on our new windows. He told me that we need only about 100 more cans to have met our goal. So if you haven’t brought any in yet, would you consider doing that this Sunday? The cans for this special request can be placed on one of the tables against the right hand wall of Hartford Hall! And thanks ahead of time!!
Remember that we have our first Public Supper of 2012 THIS SATURDAY, from 4:30 till 6 PM!! There are still a number of jobs that haven’t been “signed up for.” There are three turkeys that haven’t been adopted yet - to be cooked!! Then there’s the Saturday morning turkey carvers, Saturday morning potato peelers, and kitchen crew from 4-6 PM. Any takers?
Great news this Sunday!! The Cherub Choir and Bell Choir will both be contributing to our worship experience!! Praise God for willing souls who lead and sing/play in these choirs!!
What could be better than a Patriots’ appearance in the Super Bowl? Delicious food, prepared just for you and delivered in time for the game, that supports a great cause! It’s a win-win for all (hopefully including the home team) when you support the youth group by purchasing food for game time. We’re offering a variety of chicken wings, subs, veggie platters and chili. You’ll find an order form in the bulletin this week or you can contact Brenda B. (534-7856 or Godcayers4uandme [at] yahoo [dot] com) to have an order form emailed to you. The money earned will be used for Snow Camp scholarships. Thank you!!!
Super Bowl Sunday will also double as “Souper Bowl Sunday” when the youth will dress in their favorite team gear and stand at the back of the church to collect money to stop hunger. This year’s collection will benefit the Dover Food Pantry, Dover Friendly Kitchen and End 68 Hours of Hunger. We thank you in advance for your generosity to the community.
Our brothers and sisters at the Exeter UMC are undertaking a study that we have done at St. John’s: Treasures of the Transformed Life” by John Ed Mathison. If you have a copy of that book on your shelves and would like to loan or donate it to the folks in Exeter, would you bring it to church with you this Sunday? Thanks.
Next Monday we’ll have a single, ninety-minute “class” at church to talk about the welcome that we offer to visitors to our congregation. This class is being offered particularly for the members of the Church Council, Witness Committee, Ushers and Greeters - but EVERYONE is welcome!! We’re doing this to accomplish one of the goals that the Council set for our church back in 2010 - and will bring to completion that whole set of goals.
Looking ahead, please remember that we’re having our special Church Conference on Sunday, November 5th at 11 AM - after our single 9:30 AM worship service for that day. The Church Conference is being held to act on the motion that St. John’s becomes a Reconciling Congregation.
Reminder: Nurturing Passionate Spirituality Event on February 8th
A Life Changing and Enriching Day for Clergy and Laity of the New England Annual Conference
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sponsored by the New England Conference Spiritual Formation Initiative and Rolling Ridge Retreat & Conference Center
Join Bishop Peter Weaver and folks from the New England Conference for a day focused on nurturing your spiritual journey and transforming the local congregation.
Bishop Weaver will deliver the keynote address, “No longer my own, but Thine”, during opening worship.
The day’s schedule includes morning worship, morning and afternoon workshops, and closing worship with Holy Communion. The registration fee includes a gourmet lunch.
Cost: $45 for early registration; $55 after February 1, 2012.
Click here for a flyer with details of the workshops and registration information.
http://www.neumc.org/console/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/BISHOPS_DAY_2012_RX2XXP7X.pdf
A Sunday school teacher asked, “Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?” “No,” replied Johnny. “How could he, with just two worms.”
Watch throughout this day for ways that God is speaking a word of hope or encouragement to you. See you in church. Peace, Mark