NEWSLETTER
Beyond the Green Doors
The newsletter of the United Methodist Church
of Peterborough, NH
January-February 2011
Dear Christian Friends,
You have heard it said that, “Time flies.” For me it is a reminder not to take a day for granted. Each day is a gift from God. It is also a reminder that we should not take our family and friends for granted. I’ve come to realize more and more that our loved ones are a gift from the Lord and that I should spend as much time with them as possible, or at least find the time to make a call or write a note to let others know that I am thinking of them.
I think that this also applies to the time we need to spend with our Lord. I know that there have been times when I have said to the Lord, “You know that I am in a hurry…running late…I’ll talk to you later, Lord.” And yet this may be a missed opportunity to hear what the Lord may have wanted to tell me or something that might have made my day easier or more meaningful instead of running, rushing around and wondering if there is some way to get off the merry-go-round. Perhaps you can identify with some of this.
So I am purposing to make the New Year, 2012, a new beginning. Perhaps you might consider joining with me in this New Year in taking inventory of how we can spend more time in appreciation of others. Setting priorities is one suggestion but we may also need to ask ourselves how much time we really are spending with the Lord. Do we spend time daily reading His Word? May we all reflect then in this New Year on the words that King David wrote: “But I trust in you, O Lord; and I say, ‘you are my God. My times are in your hands;’…”. May all our days truly then be in God's hands as we surrender our fears and worries to the Lord and seek a time of new beginnings!
In Christian Love,
Pastor Betty
Transferred to the Church Triumphant
Lillian Snellman
May 16, 1931- December 28, 2011
January Birthdays
3 Jack Koester 14 Janet Mack Lewis
6 Keith Luscombe 18 Charlie Munroe
Jessica Nerz Kristel Gatcomb
8 Marty Stanton 20 Dick Dunning
9 Rob Morris 22 Gloria Lodge
12 Michael Robidoux 29 Pat Lawn
January Anniversaries
3 Ken and Charlene Schultz
Amanda and Anthony Dinino
February Birthdays
6 Nancy Luscombe 14 George Eastman
9 Charlene Schultz 20 Prisiclla Crowe
Katy Luscombe 26 Matt Keenan
13 Fern Eastman Ryan Lawn
28 Lillian Belletete
February Anniversaries
14 Tammy and Charlie Munroe
If your birthday or anniversary does not appear when it should, please contact Nancy Luscombe.
Congratulations to Ann Hampson
who celebrates 50 years as a member of the Peterborough United Methodist Church!
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Adult Fellowship
The Adult Fellowship is looking for new leadership. Barb and Jim have been doing it for 5 years, and feel there should be new input into our meetings. There will be a sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall. If you have an idea for a meeting, please sign-up for one of the months. Since you will also be organizing the pot-luck suppers, perhaps two people or couples could join forces for a month. We don't normally have a meeting in Jan. or Feb.
So put your thinking caps on, and let's see some interesting meetings starting in March! They can be simple. Most of us enjoy the fellowship almost as much as the program! If nothing else happens we will at least be having a cook out in June hosted by Jim and Barb.
United Methodist Women
The next meeting of the United Methodist Women will be on Mon., April 9th, at the home of Wendy Dunning. She will be talking to us about Rescue Dogs, a cause dear to her, and one she would like be to share with us.
Since this is not until spring, there will be further reminders, but mark it down on your calendar. All women of the church are welcome!
New Church Directories will be ready
by the end of January.
The Worship Committee sends a big thank you out to all those
who participated in the advent and Christmas services, hosted coffee hour and provided poinsettia plants for the altar. It was a wonderful time of celebration.
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If you use offering envelopes
There are “fifth Sunday” envelopes in the back of the box, for January, April, July, September and December.
No numbers have been assigned so if you wish your offering to be tracked, please be sure to put your name on the envelope.
The Worship Committee sends a big thank you out to all those
who participated in the advent and Christmas services, hosted coffee hour and provided poinsettia plants for the altar. It was a wonderful time of celebration.
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Save these Dates:
Ash Wednesday - February 22, 2012
Palm Sunday - April 1, 2012
Easter - Aril 8, 2012
In the coming weeks, look for information on
special Lent and Easter services.
Attention Committee Chairs…
Annual reports are due in the church office by Monday, January 23rd
Thanks to all who bought or sold Christmas wreaths.
$574 was raised and only the Crowes had to do much work.
Thank you to Ron and Priscilla for heading up
this project every year.
Natural Church Development
Thank you to all who submitted your opinions in the recent SWOT survey. The Church Health Team (CHT), members of the Worship Committee and Music met on November 29th to go over each response. The purpose of the meeting was to find 3-5 areas from the survey results in regards to our minimum factor of worship. The results are posted on the CHT bulletin board in the fellowship hall.
The 5 areas identified are:
Length of service, Sermon Message, Communion,
Mechanics of the Service, and Music
The CHT will meet in early January to begin the next stage of the process.
Ad Council meeting
January 23, 7:00 p.m.
(note the date change)
"Ash Wednesday is the start of the Lenten journey of 40 weekdays (Monday through Saturday) that takes the church to the eve of Easter. Sundays are not included in the count of 40 days, as they are intended to be "little Easter" celebrations within the more solemn Lenten Season. Remember, Lent is not primarily about the suffering of Jesus on the cross. Lent is primarily about identifying with and accompanying all those who are being driven by the Spirit to make the wilderness journey toward baptism, toward reconciliation, toward greater service in vocation and ministry as the people of God, and toward the re-affirmation of our baptismal vows.
“Lent is that season where we all, as the Church of God in this troubled world, begin our own journey through a Lenten wilderness time of purification and repentance (or "return") to the basics of our Christian faith. We embark on this Lenten journey so that we may return to our world with a deeper understanding of God's call on our life to truly be the "people of God" proclaiming the Good News of Christ Jesus to "heal the broken hearted and to set at liberty the oppressed."
“Ash Wednesday begins the wilderness journey of Lent that leads us onward to the promise of resurrection beyond the death of winter's wilderness. The "Imposition of the Ashes" during the Ash Wednesday service, signifies our willingness to participate in this Sacred Journey of Lent. We carry in ashes on our forehead the reminder that we are called and set apart to be a "Holy People." The ashes, a symbol of our mortality, are carefully prepared by burning the palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday Service and combining them with the anointing oil of healing which is a symbol of eternal life. Lent is about "simplifying," about letting go of whatever is distracting or hindering us from our Christian mission and getting "back to basics" both individually and corporately as a church body.
“Lent is about refocusing on our true identity and reclaiming our purpose as God's agents for change and preparing for the proclamation of the Good News of God's Kingdom. Fasting, prayer, repentance, and other devotional practices during this sacred season can bring renewed vision and strengthen us to fulfill our own purpose and destiny, even as we join Christ Jesusspiritually in the fullness of his journey towards Gethsemane and the Resurrection awaiting on the other side.”
-Mary Johnson
From the Trustees
In an effort to save energy the Trustees request that whenever possible committee meetings be held in homes. If that is not possible, please meet in the “Red Room.” There is an infra-red heater in that room that is more than adequate to heat the room. Please enter though the rear door of the church building. The same key fits both the side and rear door. The light switch is just inside the back door. This will not only save energy but will help with the budget as well. Thank you for your cooperation.
Recycling Helps in Mission
Aluminum Can Tabs
Bring in your aluminum can tabs from soda cans, soup cans, etc. (Be careful though because some of the cat food cans are not aluminum, check them with a magnet to be sure. Aluminum will not stick.) These get delivered to the Shriners’ Hospital in Springfield, MA. With the proceeds from their sale they are able to purchase major equipment for the hospital.
Campbell’s Labels
Keep your Campbell’s UPCs coming. They are still being sent to the Hattie B. Cooper Community Center in Roxbury, MA, a United Methodist Mission Project. They are redeemed with Campbell for school supplies, among other items necessary for their programs.
For more information on either of these projects see the bulletin boards in the Marion Bagley Memorial Fellowship Hall
or ask Nancy Luscombe.
Hattie B. Cooper Community Center
A Mission Project of the United Methodist Church
The Hattie B. Cooper Community Center is committed to providing children and youth with the strongest developmental foundation to inspire a lifelong excitement for learning and the skills to become caring and responsible citizens.
Cooper’s programs address the needs of children and their families living in
Roxbury, Dorchester, and Jamaica Plain. Most of the families are either
low-income and/or single parents. Cooper is located in the heart of the
highest concentration of public housing in Massachusetts, with fewer
resources available than in other parts of the city.
Cooper currently provides high-quality early education and care to 125 children daily through it’s Infant and Toddler program (located in the Bromley Heath Housing Development in Jamaica Plain), Preschool, and After schoolprogram. Cooper also offers the “Forget-Me-Not”program for seniors, community computer classes and public access hours at its Timothy Smith Computer Center, and a summer camp for 60 children at Hale Reservation in Westwood, Massachusetts. Cooper is dedicated to ensuring children and their families are provided a safe, educational facility that will facilitate in their growth and development; creating the foundation for future successes.
$500 from the Mission Fund was sent to help Cooper
