Please enjoy our newsletter for June 2018.
Beyond the Green Doors
The newsletter of the Peterborough United Methodist Church
43 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH
June 2018
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Weekly
Sun Worship Service 10a
Sun Adult Bible Class 11:15a
Sun Bible Study 11:30a
Mon Confidential Meeting 6-8p
Wed Office Hours 9-12
Wed Choir Rehearsal 11:15a
Wed Covenant Discipleship Group 6:30p
Jun 5 UMW Salad Supper 5p
Jun 6 New Hampshire Giving Day
Jun 9 Benefit Dinner for MATS & SFTS 5p
Jun 10 Free Community Breakfast 8a
Jun 10 Worship Committee Mtg 11:15 a
Jun 12 PUMC Book Group @Parker & Sons 1p
Jun 13 Holiday Stroll Committee Mtg 6:30p
Jun 15 Open Mic Night 7p
Jun 16 John Faust Memorial Service 2p
Jun 24 Free Community Breakfast 8a
Jun 26 Newsletter submissions due
Jun 27 Prayer Shawl Group 1p
Jun 30 Men’s Monthly Breakfast 7:30a
Jul 1 Reception for Rev Card
CHURCH FAMILY CELEBRATIONS
Birthdays:
Jeanette Regis Jun 21
Clara Regis Jun 30
Church Membership Anniversaries:
John and Violet Banks 44 Years
Gladys Bugler 4 Years
Karen Dreyer Ravndal 27 Years
Courtney Dunning 21 Years
Ed and Gail Hernandez 4 Years
Nathan Luscombe 21 Years
Michael Robidoux 4 Years
FREE COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
If you haven’t already, why not join us for a free breakfast on the 2nd or 4th Sunday of the month from 8 – 9:30 AM. Come and join in the fun and let us serve you. And bring a friend (or 2 or 3) if you want. Like that song from Beauty and the Beast – “Be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test.”
– The Missions Team
REV KATHLEENE CARD – PRAYER PRAISE & PURPOSE
I offer this original poem that I wrote as a way to encourage delving deeply into the Scriptures. In Seminary, we were taught to read the Scripture text in context. I believe we cannot underestimate learning about the culture in which Scripture was written as well as how we encounter each word on the page. By reading from many different translations, and seeking insight from people who have studied the Scripture in the original languages, we can unpack meanings and see where the first century Church and the twenty-first century Church face many of the same challenges.
So while searching the Scriptures is the first order, the Wesleyan system of study is fourfold: in that it honors Scripture, tradition, reason and Christian experience.
If you have a desire to go deeper in understanding this fourfold method—please let me know. I would love to form a group to do this.
The Gospel is Always Good News
Inspired by, Dr. Dennis R. Wiles’ Sermon 2/26/2017
First Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas
The Gospel is always good news
And really it’s not for a few,
It loves to explain
How freedom is gained
By showing God’s image in You.
It started with Father and Son
And Spirit united as One
Creating a world
That God did unfurl
With grace that is second to none.
As people became more aware
And questioned how all this got here
A man who was old
Was told to bold
And leave his abode if he dared!
So Abram was quick to obey
He took to the road right away.
The tales he could tell
Did not all go well,
But nevertheless he did pray!
The Torah was first to explain
How love is the focus—God’s aim.
But people were sly
And tried to slip by
Looking for rules they could game
So rather than love and let live
They tried to take and not give
When jealousy reigned
They lied and called names
Revenge was the rule—no forgive!
So God sent God’s Son as the man
Reminding us that we began
With a purposeful life,
Jesus dealt with all strife,
Showing us in God’s image to stand.
The Gospel as news is quite swell
With heroes that tell it so well
Staying close to God’s way
Coming back if you stray
To remember God’s image indwells.
The goal of these words on this page
Is really to help us engage.
Reading Scripture each day,
Is a wonderful way,
For God’s image to make us more sage.
May the image of God that’s in you
Inform everything that you do.
May God’s love light a fire,
So that all you desire
Is to love as God loves through and through.
RECEPTION FOR REV CARD – MARK THE DATE
Sunday 1 July 2018, PUMC is having an indoor Bar-B-Que picnic reception to welcome Rev. Kathleene Card on her appointment as our minister. Details will be provided in the What’s Happening and Service Bulletins in June.
WORSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING
Before everyone scoots for summertime activities, the Worship Team would like to have a meeting to set the date for this fall’s PUMC Homecoming Sunday
Worship and Luncheon. Please plan to meet in the sanctuary after the June 10th Sunday service. If anyone has ideas for a Homecoming theme, please come to the meeting and share them! All are welcome!!!
Other items on the agenda will be discussing ideas for a few special music offerings during the PUMC Choir’s summer hiatus, and planning for some hymn sings during the summer. Everyone’s ideas are welcome! Come join the Worship Team!
PUMC BOOK GROUP
Due to an unforeseen emergency, PUMC Book Group did not meet on the 29th of May to discuss Through Gates of Splendor, the account of a fateful missionary encounter with the Auca tribe in Amazonian Ecuador. Instead, the last meeting before summer break will be held on Tuesday, June 12th at Parker & Sons Coffeehouse, 50 Jaffrey Rd in Peterborough.
The group will be reading two books this summer that will give readers a glimpse of the cultural and historical aspects families in crisis during times of great social change … Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance and The Hidden Light of Northern Fires by Daren Wang. The first is a memoir of Vance’s family’s roots in Kentucky and migration into Ohio post-WWII. The latter is a novel about a Northern abolitionist family’s involvement in sheltering runaway slaves during their migration north to Canada during the Civil War era. The PUMC Reading Group will meet on September 25th @ 1 PM. New members are always welcome, so put your feet up and read the books while you vacation and we’ll see you in the fall!
PUMC QUILTERS
The church quilt is done and now it’s time to discuss just how the group would like to auction it, where the funds should go once someone has purchased, it, and what plans the group has for future projects. Please come to a meeting in the sanctuary on Sunday, June 17th after the service. Bring ideas and thoughts on projects for future fundraising, charity gifts, Holiday Stroll contributions, etc … the sky’s the limit!
UMW SALAD SUPPER
The UMW annual Salad Supper will be held Tuesday, June 5th, at 5 PM at the home of Laura Constantine in Hancock. The business meeting will be held before the supper so that we can totally relax and enjoy the delicious food and great fellowship. This will also allow those who work to arrive when able before the meal.
It would be helpful to respond if you can attend and reply to all what salad you are bringing so that we will have a variety of food. There can be carpooling from the church.
Saturday, July 28th, we will have a booth of baked goods at the Jaffrey RiverFest Day to raise funds for Arun. We will need your help!! Also remember we have a calendar in fellowship hall for contributions for Arun. How nice to mark your favorite days of the year! Checks should be made to United Methodist Women.
HILLSBOROUGH UMC PASTORAL TRANSITION
As some may know, the Hillsborough UMC will be transitioning pastors at the end of June. Rev Joseph Saunders, their current pastor, will be relocating to Maine and their new pastor, Rev Paul O’Neil will begin on July 1. The Hillsborough UMC will be hosting a farewell party for pastor Joseph on Sunday, June 17 from 12 – 3 PM. Reggie Gerbert, who has played guitar for us on several occasions, wanted to let us know that everyone is invited to attend, whether members of the church or not.
BALCONY ITEMS
During our spring cleaning event all the material from the balcony was removed, with the exception of the pray shawl materials. Those things that have not been used in years and were no longer needed were included in the yard sale. The remaining items were sorted, labeled, put in bins, and stored on the racks in the basement. A complete list of the items that are in the basement is available in the church office.
At this time the only items that should be stored in the balcony are the prayer shawl materials. Please do not store other items in the balcony without first checking with a member of the Ad Council.
OUR GRADUATES
MICHAEL ROBIDOUX is graduating with honors from Suffield Academy on May 25th, 2018. Over the past four years, Michael has held many leadership roles ultimately leading to the job of President of the Student Council. Michael and his team led the school’s effort to raise $43,000 for PPMD through several community-wide events including a telethon held this past March. He is a four-year varsity athlete as a member of the Cross Country, Track and Wrestling teams, and qualified for the National Prep School Wrestling Tournament this year. Michael is honored to be a member of the Suffield Academy Torch Society. He will be attending the University of Maryland as part of their Criminology and Criminal Justice program, with his first semester taking him to Sydney, Australia.
ISABELLE SOUTHWICK is graduating Conant High School June 8,2018. She has filled her high school years with many volunteer hours at the Villi Pony Farm and raising money for the New Hampshire Food Bank. She also participated in multiple missions including trips to Maine and the upcoming trip to Texas to help rebuild homes damaged during the hurricanes this past year. She helped plan, organize, and work two Vacation Bible Schools at PUMC. She enjoyed working on the Set Crew for Drama Club, and One Acts. She also rode horses for the ConVal Equestrian Team where she has made to the State level competition. She plans on starting a Vet Tech program in the fall, and then on to university to where she hopes to continue her education in veterinary medicine.
Belle’s Graduation Celebration BBQ
Saturday, June 9 at 12 PM
Greenfield State Park
Bring your beach Things. We will have Kayaks and lots of food. Bring a letter or celebration, love, encouragements, memories, and wisdoms for Belle’s Box.
NEW HAMPSHIRE GIVING DAY
Help Us Make History
Have you dreamed of making history? Of course, we all have. And now we have a chance to be a part of New Hampshire’s day of giving – an opportunity to unite our community around causes in which we truly believe and help nonprofit organizations connect to the larger community.
Get ready to give! On June 6-June 7, starting at 6PM on June 6, visit https://www.nhgives.org and make a donation to any of the great participating nonprofit organizations in New Hampshire. You will have 24 hours to make your donation, and all giving will end at 6:00PM on June 7.
MATS is looking for Fundraising Champions to help reach their goal.
BENEFIT DINNER
Please join us at Peterborough United Methodist Church for the Ham and Bean Dinner to benefit transitional housing efforts on Saturday, June 9 from 5:00 – 7:30 pm. The menu will include ham, beans (vegetarian option, too), macaroni & cheese, macaroni salad, cole slaw, corn bread, and strawberry shortcake for dessert! All for only $9/adult, $4/child under 12, and $25 max/family. All proceeds will go to Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter and Shelter from the Storm. Hope to see you there!
BEYOND THE GREEN DOORS
Church leaders shouldn’t be the only ones contributing to the newsletter! Send in your thank yous, birthdays, photos, events, testimonials, prayer submissions…
Please submit all materials for the next newsletter (July) including summer break dates to our editors by the last TUESDAY of the month, June 26. This is the newsletter that will be released on and cover July 1 until Sunday August 5. Send to Melissa French at 924-6960 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.