Beyond the Green Doors – December 2018
BEYOND THE GREEN DOORS
The newsletter of the
Peterborough United Methodist Church
43 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH
December 2018
CHURCH FAMILY CELEBRATIONS
Birthdays:
Susan Miller-Lindquist Dec 10
Lena Mark Dec 11
Don’t see your birthday? Email info@PeterboroughUMC.org or just leave a note in the church office!
Membership Anniversaries:
Bruce Batten
Deb Batten
Richard Clason
Richard Clason II
Amy Clason-Gilmet
Priscilla Crowe
Ronald Crowe
Kristel Gatcombe
Ann Hampson
Ernie Hoffman
Gail Hoffman
Robert Johnson
David Ladeau
Susan Lindquist
Hiel Lindquist
Sue Norton
Carol Owen
Hether Shulman
Andrew Wallenstein
Linda Wallenstein
Leslie Crossman
CHURCH CLOSING NOTICES IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER
It is getting to be that time of year again, time to remind everyone about our church closing procedures in the event of inclement weather. Rev Card, in conjunction with our Lay Leader, Jim Poplin, will decide whether church services will close due to inclement weather. In the event they decide to cancel church services a notice will be posted on WMUR TV. While an effort will be made to hold church services when possible, the congregation should use their best judgment on attending church during inclement weather events.
THE JOURNEY: WALKING THE ROAD TO BETHLEHEM
We have an exciting new opportunity for our church. It’s a Bible Study that includes a book and a video that can be a powerful tool for energizing our congregation and perhaps introducing new people to Peterborough United Methodist Church.
The program is called “The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem,” and it is based on the writings of Adam Hamilton, pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.
“The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem” is a study that will be open to the entire community. This study consists of resources for adults, youth, and children. We hope to have everyone working and studying together.
In this program, Adam Hamilton travels with us from Nazareth to Bethlehem in this fascinating look at the birth of Jesus Christ. Using historical information, archaeological findings, and personal reflections, Hamilton illuminates this most amazing moment in history. We follow the footsteps of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and others, gaining insight into our own journeys with Christ.
“The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem” was instrumental at the Church of the Resurrection, where worship attendance increased dramatically.
• We have publicized the study to church members through the newsletter, online, handouts at worship, and announcements from the pulpit. We are encouraging our friends and members to invite others who may be interested in discovering more about that original journey before Jesus was born.
• Our adult Sunday school class is participating, and we also have a Wednesday morning class at 9:45, as well as an online opportunity. Our Children’s Church study is following the same texts. Each class can stand alone—so it is all right to miss one.
• Here are the subjects that will be covered during the five weeks of the program:
1. Mary of Nazareth
2. Joseph of Bethlehem
3. Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth
4. From Nazareth to Bethlehem
5. The Manger
• When the series ends, we will evaluate and analyze what we learned, using tools provided with the program.
Using this series, we hope to touch people deeply. You can help by bringing new people to participate, or by reminding people about the birth of Jesus and what it means to each of us. You can help this beloved community grow by participating. Let’s all take this journey and learn together.
Blessings, Rev. Kathleene Card
SUNDAY SCHOOL FUNDRAISER
The Sunday School raised $150 for the Peterborough Food Pantry at the Holiday Stroll – that’s 300 meals! Good job guys!
WORLD THANK OFFERING DONATIONS
The UMW hopes that you have had fun participating in the Thank Offering Calendar daily thoughts of gratitude.
Any donations can be given to Karen Keenan or Carol Owen by December 2nd. Checks should be written to UMW.
Thank you
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
The December Christmas meeting of the United Methodist Women will be held Tuesday, December 4th at 2:00 PM at Carol Owen’s home in Hancock. Bring your favorite Christmas cookies to share for the annual cookie exchange.
This is an important meeting to elect officers for next year and to distribute our funds to mission projects.
Who is your favorite Christmas person (shepherds, wise men, the Grinch)? Plan to tell us why!
There can be car-pooling from the church and I will email directions to all the women.
All the women are invited to attend.
MANY THANKS
So glad to say our church quilt sold at auction for $250… someone is getting a lovely Christmas gift this year! Thank you to everyone who helped to make this quilt happen, and everyone who placed a bid.
– PUMC Quilters, Laura Constantine, Debbie Batten, Cindy Faust, Karen Keenan, Susan Lindquist, and Joanne Martin
PRAYER CORNER
Make us ever eager, Lord, to share the good things that we have.
Grant us such a measure of your Spirit that we may find more joy in giving than in getting.
Make us ready to give cheerfully without grudging, secretly without praise,
and in sincerity without looking for gratitude,
for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES
Come one – come all! Pray for someone – be prayed for by someone. Opptunities for prayer abound here at PUMC. Here are two:
Prayer Partners
For several years, we have engaged in a prayer partner program. You are invited to join us. All are welcome.
What is the prayer partner program? When you become part of the program, you will receive the name of someone for whom to pray and at the same time someone will receive your name and pray for you. It’s just that simple. Whenever you have your prayer time, you pray for that person. It is suggested that you contact that person to see whether or not there is something specific for which they wish you to pray.
Usually the same prayer partners are kept for a two month period and then they are changed and you receive a new one. It is a wonderful feeling to know that someone is praying for you and even more gratifying to pray for one of your fellow parishoners. So join us. Don’t be shy.
Phyllis will handle all the mechanical details. Just give your name to Phyll or fill in the sign-up sheet found in your bulletin. She will add your name for the next pairing.
Prayer Chain
We also have a prayer chain. This provides a mechanism for prayer in an acute or crisis situation. If you are a member of the prayer chain you will be contacted and asked to pray for someone or some situation that is of immediate concern. Persons on the prayer chain are expected to call their contacts as soon as possible. To institute the chain call either Phyllis Porter or Pat Woodward and they will activate the chain. Want to join us? Tell Phyllis or fill in the sign-up sheet in your bulletin.
BEYOND THE GREEN DOORS
Everyone is invited to contribute to the newsletter! Send in your thank yous, birthdays, photos, events, testimonials, prayer submissions…
Please submit all materials for the next newsletter (January) to our editors by TUESDAY, December 18 (note the due date is rolled back a week from the 25th!). This is the newsletter that will be released December 30 and cover until Sunday February 3. Send to Melissa French at 924-4294 or email info@PeterboroughUMC.org, with the subject “Newsletter submission.” Thanks!
PETERBOROUGH UMC COMMUNICATIONS
In addition to “Beyond the Green Doors,” Peterborough UMC offers the following ways you can keep in touch.
We are at the church. Come visit us, Sunday at 10 am!
We are on the web: http://www.PeterboroughUMC.org
We are on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/peterboroughunitedmethodist/
This newsletter was compiled by Melissa French. Any concerns with content can be addressed with Reverend Card.