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PARSON MAIN MESSENG April 2008 Volume 08, Number 4 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 Lift &Nursery Care Provided) 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/
SATURDAY, APRIL 19 8:00 – gather, coffee &…. 8:30 – meeting begins simple lunch 1:30/2:00 – adjourn SATURDAY, APRIL 26 (same times as above) It’s 2012 – what would you like to be able to say about our church that you cannot say now?? EVERYONE, AND WE MEAN, EVERYONE… from age 16 to 116… should make an effort to attend. Light lunch will be provided and there will be child care. These organized sessions will give EVERYONE a voice in building our church. EVERYONE IS WELCOME (you’re not too old, you’re not too new, you can be 16, 66 or 106!!) EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE (your thoughts/opinions DO matter). You CAN make a difference!! These 2 Saturday sessions will be facilitated by Bill McGregor.
YARD SALE – JUNE 7 Mark your calendar… think of times you can help the day of or nights the week before, sorting and pricing. Watch the bulletin & May newsletter for more details.
CALLING ALL MEN… Monthly men’s fellowship & breakfast 2nd Saturday of each month We men of the “Fellowship” are great conversationalists. Or at least we talk big anyway. So, do join us for a slice of conversation with breakfast. We usually have several conversations going on at once with some participants joining in multiple discussions. It’s often quite a show! Come, listen, join in the conversations – Saturday, April 12 around 8AM, The Remember When Diner, around the lights near Wal-Mart on Route 11. The conversation end whenever! Questions? Bill.sammis@unh.edu or 332-6209.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MARCH DEACONS MEETING The Deacons voted to take $50 from their treasury to purchase food for our food cupboard as requests have kept the cupboard on the empty side even though our parishioners continue to bring in canned and boxed foods. Mark will be attending sessions on ethics and boundary awareness that the NH Conference, UCC is sponsoring. Sheparding: Roger Hopkins, Sr Deacon, distributed a new set of names for all the deacons and encouraged each deacon to take the program seriously and get in touch with each person on their list in whatever way they are comfortable. Mark reiterated how important the program is and hopes that the deacons will all be more involved in this outreach this year. Sponsorship: Roger suggested that we need to reinstate the sponsorship program where each new member is assigned a sponsor to check in and make sure that things are going well. The sponsor can be a deacon or another member of the church. Roger will be in touch with the proposed sponsors. A men-led worship service will be held on May 18. The Deacons are working on a new set of questions to be included in a survey of the parish.
“The Power of forgiveness” On Sunday eve, April 6th at 6:30pm Rev. Mark invites you to join him to watch and discuss the film, “The Power of Forgiveness”. This film was the best documentary of the 2007 Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival. It presents a “healing message” according to the Christian Science Monitor that features Thich Nhat Hanh, Elie Wiesel, authors Marianne Williamson and Thomas Moore, the Rev. James Forbes, and others. Come enjoy an evening together as we explore the Christian principle of forgiveness and how it can transform our lives. Please let Rev. Mark know if you plan to attend.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO PLEDGE A PORTION OF YOUR INCOME TO THE MINISTRY OF FIRST CHURCH A $32,000 deficit budget was approved at Annual Meeting in February. With the rising cost of oil, electricity, office supplies, etc., your pledge (whether weekly, monthly or once a year) is needed. If circumstances in your life should change and cause you to amend your “pledge”, just contact a member of the Stewardship Committee. Your support of First Church/YOUR church is so important. There are “Faith/Victory 2008” cards at the back of the chapel and sanctuary which you may include in the offering plate this morning or mail it to The Stewardship Committee at the church office, 63 S Main St, Rochester. Our thanks to all who have pledged or sent a financial contribution for 2008. The Stewardship Committee - Kenn Ortmann, Alan Reed-Erickson, Bill McGregor, Dan Harkinson, Debbie Bulger
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Work continues every Saturday (but always with an eye towards the weather). Habitat volunteers have been very appreciative of treats that have been delivered to the site by several First Church members. Individuals are always welcome. Groups need to schedule, as too many hands make an unsafe worksite! To find out the status of the Farmington houses or for other questions, call Bill Sammis at 332-6209 or email him at bill.sammis@unh.edu or visit www.senhhabitat.org for local news or www.habitat.org for national/international.
~~ MISSION COMMITTEE NEWS ~~~ Missions Committee — Shirley Dowd, Clare Howard, Kathy Nelson, Terry Sammis, Cathy Nickerson, Sue Lanzara, Stacy DeColfmacker
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! You have continued to supply our cupboard but there are many empty spots… The items we could use at this time are the following: canned/bottled juices (or juice mixes), crackers, cereal, jam/jellies, peanut butter, powdered milk, evaporated milk, canned vegetables (tomatoes, peas, carrots, green beans, corn, potatoes, mixed veg.), canned fruit (peaches, fruit cocktail, pineapple, pears), pudding mixes (not sugar free), small containers of mayo/mustard/ketchup, spaghetti sauce, 1 lb boxes of elbow macaroni, soups/chowders/chili, shampoo, deodorant, dishwash liquid, disposable diapers, toilet tissue. Thank you, again. (A NOTE: Most people, who come for help with food, are looking for easy foods to heat in a microwave or fix on the stove – basic foods. This is the reason we ask for a lot of canned and boxed easy to fix foods. Not needed are cans of red kidney beans, white and black beans, pie crust mix and cans of pumpkin pie 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. A more complete list of items is posted in the Parson Main Fellowship Hall. Orders may be placed with any member of the Missions Committee (Terry Sammis, Cathy Nickerson, Kathy Nelson, Clare Howard, Shirley Dowd, Sue Lanzara, Stacy DeColfmacker) or through the church office.
A PEACE & JUSTICE LEARNING MOMENT Parents and grandparents did you ever wonder why there seem to be more children with learning disabilities, allergies, and asthma? Did you ask yourself why more adults in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are now being diagnosed with cancer? The National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program states that “as people of faith we are called to be stewards of Creation, and to care for our bodies and the most vulnerable among us. Yet many everyday products [we use] contain toxic ingredients that can be especially dangerous for children, communities of color, and pregnant women.” About 50 years ago, the chemical industry grew exponentially, and now in the US we are using 80,000 synthetic chemicals, most of which are unregulated by the federal government. Now scientists are measuring our body tissues and finding hundreds of chemicals in us. These toxics represent one of the greatest threats to the health of God’s people and the entirety of God’s Creation. We can begin to change this by looking around our homes for products which contain dangerous chemicals and replace them with old-fashioned remedies or environmentally safe products. Let us also remember that all plastic bottles contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which when burned produces dioxins that enter the food chain and get into our bodies and women’s breast milk. On the P&J bulletin board, which will be installed in Fellowship Hall soon, you will find a list of ingredients to avoid and some safer alternatives, but here is a sample: Avoid: aerosol products, may contain propane formaldehyde and methylene chloride, which are carcinogens, neurotoxins and central nervous system depressants. Avoid: alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs), surfactants found in laundry detergents, stain removers, and all-purpose cleaners. Avoid: sodium hypochlorite (bleach), a corrosive chemical, eye, skin and respiratory irritant, especially hazardous to people with heart conditions or asthma, found in a wide range of household cleaners. Safer alternatives: Baking soda, cleans, deodorizes, soften water, scours Borax, cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans painted walls and floors Cornstarch, to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs Soap, unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using sops which contain petroleum distillates. For a list of alternative products as well as recipes for homemade nontoxic cleaning products go to www.nccecojustice.org and look for Green Cleaning Presentation Script. In the supermarket there are now products available which are environmentally safe. One catalog which contains such products is Gaiam Living/harmony, which can be seen on their website www.gaiam.com. This is certainly an issue which those concerned with peace and justice issues need to address, because presently there are 180 diseases and disorders in humans and other parts of Creation, ranging from fertility problems to endometriosis, asthma, and even cancer, linked to the toxic chemicals we use every day.
More News from the Peace & Justice Committee The Committee offers these tips in acknowledgment of Earth Day, April 22. · Use compact fluorescents. They cost more but last MUCH longer, save A LOT of electricity and create less waste. · Consider choosing a more fuel efficient car, and one no larger than you really need. There are many highly rated cars now that get at least 35 mpg. · Recycle. But when you receive catalogs or junk mail you don’t want, YOU CAN STOP THEM! Here’s how: · Contact one or more of the following: (These tips thanks to Robin and Mark Walkup)
MONTHLY WOMEN’S BREAKFAST GROUP Will Skip April So… Women can attend the “Future of First Church” Saturday sessions Women at First Church have a monthly breakfast get together on the last Saturday of each month at 8:00am. However, for the month of April, we will skip our group breakfast so we can attend the gathering (see page 1) on the last Saturday, April 26. We will resume our monthly breakfasts on Saturday, May 31.
The Hamilton restaurant is once again open, and we invite those who have yet to enjoy one of our dinners to join us for an evening of good food and conversation at our home, 13 Orchard St, in Rochester. The evening begins at 6:00. Please sign up on the sheet in the Parson Main Fellowship Hall for the date when you’d like to come – April 26 or June 7. We are limited to 6 guests per evening. Rev. Mark & Sally Hamilton
Tri-City Christian Academy presents "REACH FOR THE STARS AUCTION AND DINNER GALA" Did you know that our own Kenn Ortmann is an extraordinary auctioneer? Come see him do his stuff at the Tri-City Christian Academy (TCCA) Auction on April 12, 2008 at Great Bay Gallery in Somersworth, NH. It starts at 5:30pm and includes Silent and Live Auctions, Appetizers, and a Sit-Down Dinner along with Raffles and Free Childcare available at TCCA. All proceeds will benefit the recent expansion at TCCA. TCCA serves families with children from Beginners (age 3) through High School in providing a quality Christian education. If you would like to support their effort by making a donation or attending the auction, or if you need more information please contact Roger or Linda Corriveau at 603-755-9729.
Tri-City Christian Academy150 West High Street and 12 Rocky Hill Road, Somersworth, NH 03878 603-692-2093 ~ www.tcca-nh.com ~ auction@tcca-nh.com
OFFERING ENVELOPES - 2008 If you want envelopes please call the church office, 332-1121. Using envelopes means you will receive a statement of your giving at the end of each quarter. This statement can be used at tax time.
To the Members of First Church, I cannot thank you enough for making it possible for me to go on the trip to Biloxi trip. Not only did I have a lot of fun and make new friends, I learned to open my eyes and see the hardships that people still face down in Biloxi. It almost makes it hard to go home when you see all the empty lots and steps leading to no where. But thanks to you I was able to help and even though I didn’t build a house, I was able to make one better. I’m very glad I was given the opportunity to make a small difference. Thank you so much! Katie Howard
ANNUAL REPORT Annual Reports are at the back of the chapel and sanctuary. Please take one for your information. If you are unable to be in worship and would like a report, call the church office, 332-1121 and one will be mailed 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@verizon.net. Thanks.
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 3rd 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@verizon.net with any change in address, phone number or email address. Thank you very much!
CHURCH RELATED OR PERSONNEL CONCERNS?? The Personnel/Pastoral Relations Committee, with members Sylvia Berry, Chair., Mary Timmons, Sec., and Catherine Britton, meets on the second Tuesday of each month. We are available to meet with our employees or Church members who have Church related or Personnel concerns and wish to discuss the issues in confidence. We welcome you to contact one of the committee members for an appointment to meet with us. -Sylvia Berry
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.
A PRAYER OF THANKS Dear Lord, I wish to thank You and my friends of First Church Congregational for all of their prayers, cards, and continuous support. I thank You for the church’s pastors for their care and friendship. I am deeply grateful for the love and care of my family during this long-term illness. I hope and pray for continued strength and support in these difficult days until You call me home Lord unto your eternal care. Thank You, Lord, thank you all! William (Bill) Fraser
FROM AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE: “One day’s expenses for the war in Iraq costs $720 million or roughly $500, 000 per minute. Imagine what this money could be used for: 6482 families with homes, or 84 new elementary schools, or 34,900 four-year scholarships to university students, or 12,478 elementary school teachers, or 95,364 places for kids in Head Start, or 1.2 million homes outfitted for renewable energy, or 1.5 million free school lunches, or 423,500 children with health care.” We all know there are many ways to count the values of these lost opportunities, and many arguments can be made for differing assumptions and computations, but the believable yet enormous scale of these numbers stands quite starkly as sad testimony to the ways we’ve squandered our future.
Newsletter Deadline If you or your committee have material for our newsletter, it is important that it be submitted by the 15th 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 15th of the month.
A Letter of Transfer Dear Friends of First Church Congregational – It is with mixed emotions that Kay and I write to tell you we are transferring our membership to South Congregational Church, UCC in Concord as of April 1, 2008. We will both fulfill our 2008 pledges and will continue to send monthly checks to the church treasurer. We have come to the realization that although our hearts will always be with First Church, part of our commitment and pledge has always been both monetary and great involvement in a myriad of church-based projects, committees and fund raisers, etc. We are unable to take part in those extra-curricular activities living so far from Rochester. This is not fair to the church or to us. Over the past fifteen years I enjoyed serving a five-year term as a Deacon. I worked on the Holiday Fair, on the Personnel Committee, the Transition Team and the Welcome Committee. Kay has been Clerk of the Church, Head of the Ushers, worked on the Bean Suppers and the Holiday Fair. We both served on the Open & Affirming Committee for the three-year period it took to hold forums, write the Statement of Faith and bring the issue to a vote. It has been rewarding to see the Statement on the back of the church bulletin each week but we were saddened when Peace and Justice put O&A on the back burner and never took it off to at least give it annual recognition. There were two, ours was one, Blessing Ceremonies in the sanctuary which Peace and Justice now erroneously refers to as Civil Unions. That’s a sad commentary on how unimportant our civil rights are viewed. Both Kay and I wish you farewell and may God continue to Bless you all. Kay Amsden and Mary Lou Fuller
GIFT BASKETS BIG SUCCESS AT WINTER FAIRE Basket-makers ARE collecting items for 2008 Faire baskets! The two women who put together the baskets for the Faire this past year are ready to make more for 2008! You can help by donating: large (and medium size) clear bags for packaging and colored tissue paper other than green and red which we have oodles of already........anything related to Old School Days or Office Work BEFORE computers hit the scene.....any Scottish items....Noah's Ark.....Red Hat.....automotive....you bring in the items; we'll create!! Many thanks from The Basket-Ladies...and more ideas will appear in April and May!! Do not contribute anything at this time that will outdate or perish. We will ask for more seasonal items as needed.
OUR PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Gail Pearson – In January, Gail Pearson, secretary at the Rochester Library, was recognized by Rochester City Manager, John Scruton, for 30 years of dedication.
Patrick L. Redmond – has been names to the fall 2007 dean’s list at Michael’s College in Burlington VT. He is the son of Wen and Dr Patrick Redmond and is a computer science major. Kay Amsden & Mary Lou Fuller – In February, Kay and Mary Lou joined in a civil union on their 28th anniversary together. The couple call themselves the “Two Outrageous Women” and have written a book hoping other elderly couples will not fear joining in civil unions.
BREAKING NEWS FROM THE MISSIONS COMMITTEE “A Greater Gift” (SERRV) Cabinet will be open and products will be available for purchase on Sunday, April 27 after each service. This will be a good time to consider these products for a Mother’s Day gift! You will be purchasing a quality hand made item at a reasonable price which helps craftspeople in developing countries.
COMMITTEES FOR 2008-2009 Please post Deacons: Roger Hopkins (Sr Deacon) Janice Page Gayle Furber Michael Ashcroft Caroline McCarley Marty Osborne Patty Dunlap Kevin Nickerson Linda Hamilton Paul Sherwood Linda Stevens
Trustees: Carl Helander – Chair Dave Berry Martha Maynard Don Hawkins Ray Atwood Roger Corriveau
Christian Education Committee: Deb Frederick – Chair Dan Frazier Maureen Steer Amber Tilton Karen Good Kim Dube Sarah Demers
Music Committee: Colleen Fisher – Chair (Sr Choir rep) Dave Berry (Bell Choir dir.) Dick Lavache (organist/choir director) Sally Hamilton Marilyn McGregor – Chair Donna Souther Paula Beaudin Madeline Goodwin Jean Gilman
World Missions Committee: Cathy Nickerson – Chair Kathy Nelson Clare Howard Shirley Dowd Stacy DeColfmacker Terry Sammis
Peace and Justice Committee: Sharon & Alan Reed-Erickson Martha Ortmann Bill Sammis Rev. Ellen Lankhorst Bob Lemoine
Stewardship Committee: Kenn Ortmann Bill McGregor Dan Harkinson Alan Reed-Erickson Debbie Bulger
Altar Guild: Linda Maynard Madeline Goodwin Phyllis Lane Carol Brown Evelyn Schafer
Delegates: Mary Timmons Shirley Dowd Phyllis Morneault Clare Howard Katie Howard
Personnel/Pastoral Relations Committee: Sylvia Berry Mary Timmons Catherine Britton Konni Atwood
Long Range Planning Committee: Sue Lanzara
250th Endowment Fund Committee: Sharon Reed-Erickson Mary Timmons Martha Maynard Don Hawkins
Nominating Committee: Co-Chairs – Konni Atwood, Linda Stevens, Paul Sherwood (Outgoing Sr Deacons) Gayle Furber Roger Hopkins Janice Page Linda Maynard Evelyn Schafer Debbie Bulger
FLOWER CHART We have a yearly flower calendar posted in the Parson Main Fellowship Hall. If you would like to give flowers/plants in memory of or honor of loved ones all you need to do is sign up on the calendar. Call the office with the wording you wish to have in the Sunday bulletin and tell us whether you will take the flowers/plant after worship or you wish to have them taken to a church shut in. In most instances the flowers will be placed on the communion table where they are more visible for all to see. Remember that a rose or other single flower may be placed on the pulpit in celebration of an important event.
LOOSE CHANGE FOR HEIFER PROJECT Dollar Bills & Checks will also be accepted! This is an ongoing project by the Christian Education Committee to raise funds toPurchase animals for Heifer International. There is a decorated water jug in the sanctuary and chapel on Sundays for our loose change (or bills or checks). The containers will remain until sometime in April or May. It is the committee’s hope that we will have $1,000 by that time. “When our kids learn about ending hunger and poverty, they can help build… A WORLD WITHOUT NEED.”
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@verizon.net at your earliest convenience. Thanks to those who have responded. |
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