First Church Congregational, United Church of Christ                                  

63 S. Main Street, Rochester, NH  03867-2707                               

~~~ An Open and Affirming Congregation ~~~

 Sunday Worship

8:00am – Chapel (Elevator Access)

10:00am - Sanctuary (Elevator Access)

Children’s Christian Education Program - Sundays at 10:00am 

Television Ministry - 6 p.m. Sundays – Channel 12

Church Moderator - Alan Reed-Erickson

Church Staff

Rev. Mark Hamilton, Pastor, Rev. Mark@verizon.net

Richard Lavache, Organist/Choir Director

Ms. Linda Maynard, Administrative Assistant firstucc@verizon.net

To Reach US

Telephone: 332-1121

Fax: 335-6315E-mail: firstucc@verizon.net

Web Site: http://first-ucc.net/

FIRST CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT:

     Sharing God’s extravagant welcome, love and forgiveness for all, we joyfully live by Christ’s example, working together for healing and justice in our community and beyond.

Monthly men’s fellowship & breakfast

2^nd Saturday of each month

Our next gathering at the Remember When on Route 11 starts at 8AM on October 10^th and ends when we get sick of each other. This  being in the month of October we’ll have lots to talk about – like why certain teams can’t win, why some should, and why should I care anyway? But if you care about anything, come join us and we’ll pick on you!  Need more info? Contact Bill at 332-6209 or better yet, bill.sammis@unh.edu !

MONTHLY WOMEN’S BREAKFAST GROUP

A few women of First Church gather each month for breakfast on the last Saturday at 8:00am at the Remember When Diner on Rte 11 just before Wal- Mart.  (This month the gathering will be on 9/26.)  It’s a very informal time to enjoy a meal together, chat about women’s issues, politics, books, movies, the latest fashions, world affairs, solving the national debt, “you name it”.  If you have questions, please call the church office, 332-1121.

SPONSORSHIP OF “RIFKI”

Rifki is our Indonesian 6 year old whom the church school and CE Committee is sponsoring through the Christian Children’s Fund.  Each month we are looking for an individual or family who would be willing to sponsor Rifki for a month at $24.  Please speak with Rev. Mark if you are able and willing to do so…  We are still looking for a sponsor for October.  There are 2 letters from Rifki’s mom, accompanied by an English translation on the bulletin board in Parson Main Fellowship Hall.

The committee is charged to support and maintain an open relationship between the pastor and members of the congregation.  They shall act as the pastor’s advisor, serving as a liaison team between the pastor and the congregation, the purpose of which is to facilitate a positive, creative relationship between the pastor, staff, and members of the church family.  They shall maintain confidentiality whenever  appropriate.  Please feel free to call any of us with any questions or concerns.  Catherine Britton, 332-9668, Evelyn Schafer, 332-1989, or Caroline McCarley, 332-5550. 

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

            There are ways you can help without using any tools!!!

     Habitat has a foundation on Reservoir Road in Farmington - it can’t be too long before serious hammering begins. Get your hammers oiled! Also, there is a dedication planned for Sunday 10/4 – although I don’t know what time it will be! Here are lots of things that need doing that don’t require building skills but are way more important Because if these don’t get done, house don’t either!)!

     Public Relations/Communication - We need people who can WRITE and who are technically

savvy. We need press releases, newsletters, flyers, bloggers and more.
     Fundraising - We have a GREAT fundraising chair, who has an amazing vision for a non-event-centric development approach. However, she needs people on her team who are NOT afraid to make the ask. Sales people and people who are passionate about affordable housing make GREAT Fundraisers!! It wouldn't hurt us to have a grant-writer or two on this team either - bring it on!!
     Youth Relations - this team has yet to be started, but MAN we have some AMAZING ideas. We need a team of people interested in working with our Campus Chapters, church youth groups, high schools, grade schools and any other youth group who wants to be involved. I envision this team led by an energetic, passionate person, who will be surrounded by team members who are reps of the above-listed organizations. Do you love youth? Affordable housing? Wanna get involved? This is the place for you!!
     Faith Relations - our faith community should be our backbone - but we need a team of people who can get out there and network with them, and get them to commit to praying, volunteering and fundraising with us. We have a team lead here, but need reps from area churches to fill out the team then grow this arm of our organization.
     Finance Team - we are currently desperately in need of help with budgeting and finances. We need people who have bookkeeping and accounting skills to help us pull together budgets, both for the affiliate and the ReStore. These people will help us determine our cash flow, so we can make educated decisions on the many proposed expenses our teams have put forward.
     Family Support/Selection - we have a family selection team in place, but we really need a full team for family support issues that happen from time to time. A team that can be responsible for communicating with the families, whether it’s about late payments, volunteer opportunities or speaking engagements. This team would also include family advocates, as well as recruiting those advocates.
     Volunteer Team - This team helps recruit volunteers for ALL aspects of our organization.
     Site Selection/Government Relations - we need people to help our site selection leader by reaching out to the cities and towns where we serve and asking them to give us some of the land they have put aside in trusts. We need people to go out and advocate for us, and to let them know that we are NOT looking for handouts, but looking to help be the solution that strengthens the backbone of their communities by building affordable housing and bringing in responsible, tax-paying homeowners.

     Don’t forget that shopping the Southeast NH Habitat ReStore helps to make this all happen! Located in Dover at the former Holmwood’s complex:

 Thursday and Friday 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday 8:30 am - 3 pm
Phone: 603-750-3200

Visit:  http://www.senhhabitat.org/restore/index.asp
Or Email:  ReStore@senhhabitat.org

 Questions? Contact bill.sammis@unh.edu or call 332-6209.

Newsletter Deadline

            If you or your committee have material for our newsletter, it is important that it

be submitted by the 15^th day of the month for the next month’s publication.  Articles   should be brief.  The editorial staff reserves the right to edit articles.  We will make every effort to include as much of your material as space allows.  In order not to pay additional fees, we need to make sure the newsletter does not exceed 5 pieces of  paper.  Thank you for noting the monthly deadline of the 15^th of the month.

WE DON’T KNOW IF YOU DON’T TELL!!

Please let the Pastor/church office know if you’re ill, facing surgery, or

have an event to celebrate

The church office and the minister do not know if someone in your family or perhaps yourself is ill and in the hospital if you do not call the office.   Because of the Confidentiality laws in health care we can not call a hospital to see if anyone of our congregation has been admitted, so please call us.   Also please call if you know of someone who is ill and in need of pastoral support at home perhaps even yourself.  You can even leave a confidential message on the answering  machine if you wish.  Also if you know of someone graduating from high school or college please call the church office so we can acknowledge and congratulate them in the bulletin.

< < < ALL ABOUT MISSIONS > > >

~~ MISSION COMMITTEE NEWS ~~~

Missions Committee — Shirley Dowd, Clare Howard, Kathy Nelson, Terry Sammis, Cathy

                                         Nickerson, Stacy DeColfmacker, Pat Fraser, Deb Frederick

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

You donate each Sunday and sometimes during the week, but there are still empty spots.

We could use the following:  

crackers, jello, powdered milk, instant mashed potatoes, canned fruit, soups, tuna, canned juices, jams/jelly, small jars of mayo, mustard & ketchup, canned vegetables, canned ravioli, spaghetti sauce, canned tomatoes, toilet tissue, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dishwash liquid.  Thank you, again.   (A NOTE:  Not needed are cans of red kidney beans, white and black  >>

beans, pie crust mix and cans of pumpkin (or other) pie filling.  We will keep you informed about the “fullness” of our cupboard!) 

                           PROFIT FROM SHIRTS TO AID CHICORE UCC, ZIMBABWE

Our sister church in Chicore, Zimbabwe is experiencing a time of great need. To provide them with some assistance, the Missions Committee will be forwarding to Chicore any profits made

from selling shirts and other items with the First Church logo.     

This ongoing sale offers T-shirts ($15. adult, $12. youth sizes); short-sleeve sport shirts ($25.); crewneck sweatshirts ($20.); hoodie sweatshirts ($25.); ball caps ($15.).  The profit is about $5.00 per shirt, and all profits will go to our sister church.      

Orders may be placed with any member of the Missions Committee or the church office.

ROCHESTER FELLOWSHIP KITCHEN

Come help --- Serve food --- Find fellowship --- On the job training

     Thursday, October 29 is the next time First Church will be providing this community dinner --- 3:30 to 6:00 at the Methodist Church.  Organizer is Clare Howard, so PLEASE call her if you will help.  You are also invited to call her if you have questions --- at 332-9172 or call the church office.

     PLEASE NOTE:  Needed for this meal – 2 gal whole milk, 1 sugar-free pie from Hannafords, 2 containers of apple juice – if you can supply any of these items, please call the church office, 332-1121.

> < > < > < > < > <

Calling all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles…

A NOTE FROM THE NURSERY

Volunteers regularly needed

If many people step forward, no one has to volunteer every Sunday!

     If anyone would like to volunteer a Sunday or two (or more!) to care for our little ones in the Nursery during the 10:00 worship service, please call Deb Frederick, 335-4710, or the church office, 332-1121.

NOTE TO PEOPLE CHANGING ADDRESS,

PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL ADDRESS

There is so much to remember when you move and so many places to notify when you move or change from a mailbox at your residence to a Post Office box.  Because the church newsletter is 3^rd class mail, people often forget to notify the church of a change of address.  However, we are charged a “return to sender” fee when we do not have your current address.  If you can, please call the church office, 332-1121, or email us at firstucc@myfairpoint.net with any change in address, phone number or email address.  Thank you very much!

FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE. . .

     A FEW WAYS YOU MIGHT HELP CUT OFFICE EXPENSES

Office supplies – paper, stamps, ink cartridges, etc. – account for a large part of the church budget.  If you are able and would like to help, you could donate a ream of 8½ x 14 white copy paper, stamps, and used ink cartridges.  Staples gives $3 credit for each cartridge.  You can leave them on a Sunday or drop them off during the week.  Thanks for considering this idea.

(Many of you have already brought in reams of paper, stamps, many ink cartridges that have resulted in $100 or so that we can spend at Staples.  THANK YOU!!)

UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL AVAILABLE

The Upper Room, a daily devotional guide, is available at the back of the chapel and sanctuary. 

It is provided FREE as a ministry of First Church.  You may pick one up and use personally, give to a shut-in, carry with you, give to a friend, etc.  If you should want a copy and don’t find one or

would like one mailed to you, please call the church office, 332-1121.  We also have some enlarged print copies. 

OFFERING ENVELOPES – 2009

Offering envelopes are available for you to pick up on a Sunday morning or during the week from the church office.  If you want to use envelopes and are unable to come and pick them up, please call the church office, 332-1121, and we will send them or have them delivered to you.

E-MAIL ADDRESSES REQUESTED

We have many email addresses of our First Church folk.  We’re not sure how up to date they are & may not have any for some of you.  If we don’t already have yours & you would like us to or yours has changed, please send your e-mail address to firstucc@myfairpoint.net.  

Thanks.

UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL AVAILABLE

The Upper Room, a daily devotional guide, is available at the back of the chapel and sanctuary.  It is provided FREE as a ministry of First Church.  You may pick one up and use personally, give to a shut-in, carry with you, give to a friend, etc. 

If you should want a copy and don’t find one or would like one mailed to you, please call the church office, 332-1121.  We also have some enlarged print copies.

NEWSLETTER VIA EMAIL???

In an effort to be good stewards of all kinds of resources, the staff and Trustees would like to send the monthly newsletter via email to those who would like to receive it in that manner.  It would save money for postage, paper and labor

while saving our environment.  If you would like to participate in this effort, please email us your address at firstucc@myfairpoint.net at your earliest convenience. 

Thanks to those who have responded.