Please enjoy our newsletter for November 2017.
Beyond the Green Doors
The newsletter of the Peterborough United Methodist Church
43 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH
November 2017
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Weekly
Sun Worship Service 10a
Sun Adult Bible Class 11:15a
Wed Prayer Group 12:30p
Wed Study of Apostles’ Creed 6:30p
Thu Choir Rehearsal 6:30p
November
Sun 5 Naming Our Why 11a
Sun 12 Pledge Cards due
Fri 17 Open Mic Night 7p
Sat 18 Holiday Stroll 9a
Sun 19 CAN-CAN Sunday 10a
Wed 22 Prayer Shawl Group 1p
Sat 25 Men’s Monthly Breakfast 7:30a
Sun 26 Greening of the Church 11a
Tue 28 Newsletter submissions due
December
3 Advent begins
5 UMW Meeting @Janet Hazel 7p
10 Cantata 10a
17 Christmas Program 10a
21 Candlelight Vigil for Homeless
24 Christmas Eve service 10a
24 Candlelight service 7p
CHURCH FAMILY CELEBRATIONS
Birthdays:
Richard Clason II Nov
Anniversaries:
Wendy Dunning 29 Years
Patricia Echavarria 25 Years
Steven Griggs 4 Years
Patrick Troy 4 Years
Steve Venning 25 Years
Patricia Woodward 29 Years
STRAIGHT TALK WITH PASTOR LENA
Dear Friends,
As we enter the season of gratitude, I offer these words…
Treasures
One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most,
Until I was empty-handed;
Every glittering toy was lost.
And I walked earth’s highways, grieving.
In my rags and poverty.
Till I heard His voice inviting,
“Lift your empty hands to Me!”
So I held my hands toward heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches,
Till they could contain no more.
And at last I comprehended
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God COULD not pour His riches
Into hands already full!
Author: Martha Snell Nicholson
Grateful for treasures God bestows,
Pastor Lena
PUMC PHONE DIRECTORY
The PUMC phone directory will be updated by the end of the year. All changes need to be submitted to Karen Keenan by December 1st. Please look over your posting in the December 2016 directory and let Karen know of any changes.
PLEDGE CARDS
Dear Church Family,
This note is to remind you that your church needs your financial support next year. We started the year with our typical deficit budget assuming our cash surplus would get us over any surprises. Unfortunately, snow plowing and heating costs were more that we had planned for and we have struggled in the last few months to meet payroll and mission share obligations. Frankly expenses have exceeded donations received by almost a thousand dollars a month so far this year. We cannot over-stress the importance of your pledge this year.
The Finance Committee will have to make some hard choices if we cannot meet our most basic needs. So we ask you to pray on this in earnest and offer what you can to support the church we love so much. As most of you know our church is active in many ways bringing help and support to those in need in our area. With a very active and direct outreach to our friends and neighbors through the hard work of the Missions Committee.
You may have noticed the annual pledge letter in your mail box this week. The letter included a return envelope and pledge card which you may use to offer your gifts to the work of the church. We are not only asking for a pledge but other ways in which you may want to contribute to the work of the church. Please take the time to consider these aspects carefully and check the areas you are interested in serving or groups with which you would like to participate.
It is important to make your decision and return your pledge card by Sunday, 12 November 2017. The Finance Committee is waiting to make the decisions necessary for what is possible next year. You may send your pledge card by return mail or drop it in the offering basket on Sunday. Remember your pledge can always be changed, if circumstances warrant an adjustment.
Grace and Peace
Richard Clason
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
The United Methodist Women will meet Tuesday, December 5th at 7:00 PM at the home of Janet Hazel in Francestown. Sue Norton will show and explain her artwork titled “Who Tells The Truth”, that is a collage encased in plexiglass. The annual Christmas cookie exchange will be held. This is an important meeting to elect officers and distribute funds.
There will be carpooling from the church. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend.
Carol Owen
FROM THE SHELF
Joyce Meyer is a charismatic Christian speaker and author. She has been teaching the Word of God since 1978. Her ministries are dedicated to sharing the Gospel, helping Christians grow in faith and helping people in need.
We have two of her books in our church library: “Look Great, Feel Great–12 Keys to Enjoying a Healthy Life Now” and “Ending Your Day Right (Devotions for every evening.)”
In “Look Great, Feel Great” she provides a 12 key plan for overcoming the poor eating and exercise habits that keep us from doing all God has called us to do. She reminds us that turning every issue over to God gives us the strength to make lasting changes.
PRAYER CORNER, honoring Native American Heritage Month
“Come near to God, and he will come near to you.”
James 4:8, The Jesus Way New Testament, created by and for Native peoples
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
– Psalm 130:5-6 ESV
“How steadily all through the Old and New Testament God calls us to stand on the watch and wait for His indications, and how often God’s answers to our prayers have been squandered because we do not watch and wait.”
—Oswald Chambers, If You Will Ask
Father-Creator, Provider-from-of-old, Ancient-of-days—
fresh-born from the womb of night are we.
In the first dawning of the new day draw we nigh unto Thee.
Forlorn are the eyes till they have seen the Chief.
The covering for our altar is an authentic Cherokee blessing blanket.
NEW LIFE HOME
It’s the time of year when we are again privileged to make Christmas giving and receiving a special occasion for the group home children at New Life Home.
This home is a well-taken care of residence for women with addiction problems. it is unique because it accepts mothers with young children an provides for their needs too. There are very few places like this. Another home has opened directly across the street from the original home. No government funds support these places as they are Christian-based. Donations such as this church provides are warmly accepted.
We are working with their social directory and have agreed to provide gifts for the children. A basket of usable adult gift-items for the women will take place of individual adults gifts.
As soon as the list of names and suggestions arrives it will be available. Hopefully, with adequate time to shop. In the past the array of beautifully wrapped gifts has been heartwarming.
Thanking you all in advance for your loving concern.
Priscilla & Ron Crowe
CAN-CAN SUNDAY
CAN-CAN Sunday is coming up on the 19th. Help us keep the food pantry stocked with 100 cans. Stir up that Thanksgiving spirit and donate! We need some warms-your-belly stuff like hearty soups, pumpkin, and tuna.
24TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY STROLL November 18th 9am – 2pm
Each year since 1994, the churches of Peterborough have joined together the Saturday before Thanksgiving in hosting a town wide craft fair. Each church puts their own flair and uniqueness to the day and people from all around the area spend the day strolling from church to church starting their Christmas shopping and enjoying the day.
We have chosen to participate once again this year and are starting to make plans. Bagley Hall will be decked out with red tables full of Christmas offerings: everything from home-made apple pies to lovingly made Christmas crafts to gently used Christmas decorations, while the Sunday School rooms will be used to offer a Soup & Bread luncheon to the hungry shoppers (and the hungry workers!)
~ Please keep us in mind as you sort your stored items and holiday decorations, we are looking for donations of gently used holiday items and new items suitable for regifting.
~ Also as you shop for holiday ingredients and treats, remember we will be accepting baked goods.
~ If you make fine crafts you can make extras to donate for our craft table. We would encourage some “craft nights” for our church family.
~ If you would like to volunteer or otherwise get involved please contact our Stroll team, including Laura Nerz and Gladys Bugler.
The Plan:
Deck the Halls – Recycled Christmas items and decor
The Christmas Shop – Fine handcrafted items, new Christmas decorations including plant materials and wreaths
Grandma’s Goodies – Pies, breads, cookies, candies, etc
We Three Kings Gifts – Re-gifting of nearly new/unused items, Christmas storybooks (please save yard sale quality items for next May’s yard sale!)
Fair Trade – Unique handcrafted products offered through UMCOR’s Serrv program.
Luncheon – Soups, muffins/bread, and desserts
The Schedule:
Set up:
Sunday, November 12th after church/fellowship hour
Tuesday, November 14th, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Wednesday, November 15th, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Thursday, November 16th 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Friday, November 17th 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Saturday, November 18th 8:00 – 9:00 am
Drop off:
Donations: Sunday November 12th after church,
or during scheduled setup times November 14th through 18th
Bake Sale items: Friday November 17th 4:00 – 6:00 pm
or Saturday November 18th before 9:00 am
Fair:
Saturday, November 18th 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Cleanup 2:00 – 3:00 pm
PEAK INTO PETERBOROUGH
Thank you to everyone who helped – we had quite a few volunteers!
BEYOND THE GREEN DOORS
Church leaders should not 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 (December) to our editors by the last TUESDAY of the month, November 28. This is the newsletter that will be released on December 3 and cover until Sunday December 31.
Please note next month submissions will be due the day after Christmas – you may want to send those early! Send to Melissa French. 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 Pastor Lena.