Beyond the Green Doors – November 2018
BEYOND THE GREEN DOORS
The newsletter of the
Peterborough United Methodist Church
43 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH
November 2018
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Weekly
Sun Worship Service 10a
Sun Adult Bible Study 11:30a
Mon Confidential Meeting 6-8p
Wed Office Hours 9-12
Wed Choir Rehearsal 11a
Wed Covenant Discipleship Group 6:30p
Thu Office Hours 9-12
November
6 Holiday Stroll Workshop 10a
6 Finance Committee Meeting 5:15p
6 Church/Administrative Council 6:30p
10 Lay Servant Certification @PUMC 8a
11 Free Community Breakfast 8a
13 Missions Meeting 6:30p
16 Open Mic Night 7p
17 Lay Servant Certification @Rindge 8a
17 Holiday Stroll 9a
20 Interfaith Thanksgiving @Unitarian 7p
24 Men’s Monthly Breakfast
25 Free Community Breakfast 8a
27 Newsletter submissions due
28 Prayer Shawl Group 1p
CHURCH FAMILY CELEBRATIONS
Birthdays:
Ann Hampson Nov 2
Jim Poplin Nov 3
Lucy Jane Benton Nov 6
Cindy Faust Nov 8
Ron Crowe Nov 22
Membership Anniversaries:
Patricia Echavarria 25 Years
Steve Venning 25 Years
PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH
Did you know that October was Pastor Appreciation Month? It is now November, but it is never too late to show appreciation for those pastors in our lives. During Pastor Appreciation Month, we pause to give thanks for all church leaders who selflessly offer their time, talents and service to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world. Here at Peterborough UMC we not only have our current wonderful Reverend Kathleene Card, but we are blessed with retired Pastor Arnie Johnson and Pastor Betty Davis. Take a few minutes to thank them for answering God’s call and offer prayers for their service.
2018 QUILT SILENT AUCTION
Four Patch Stars is ready for silent auction! Please take a look at the quilt on display over the sanctuary balcony rail. An auction clipboard with the measurement details of the quilt is available for bidding out in the fellowship hall… final bidding will take place at the Holiday Stroll and the quilt will go to its new home on that day, Saturday, November 17th. Good luck and happy bidding!
UMCOR UPDATE
A few weeks ago we were presented with a mission moment concerning United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Since then UMCOR has been very busy with relief efforts in a number of areas world-wide but especially here in the United States. Following Hurricane Michael, efforts are underway to field trained assessment and early responders to support volunteer teams that will be arriving in the area. Hurricane Florence relief efforts are underway and they are reaching out for additional Early Response Teams. In Puerto Rico UMCOR is fielding long-term recovery teams with construction skills for rebuilding. In St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands United Methodists Volunteers are combining efforts with Lutheran Disaster Response and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to field relief teams (If you are interested in going, FEMA will pay your airfare, according to the website).
You can read more details on these relief efforts on the UMC New England Conference website at www.neumc.org/disasterresponsenews
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT
The Finance Committee wants to let everyone in the church know what’s going on with the church finances. Therefore, we are publishing quarterly reports for you in the newsletter. Here is the information for the last quarter and the year-to-date numbers.
Month Income Expenses Difference Missions
Jul 13,272.90$ 4,960.21$ 8,612.69$ 180.00$
Aug 7,828.54$ 10,347.21$ (2,518.67)$ 709.00$
Sept 8,168.00$ 7,469.30$ (2,689.30)$ 630.00$
to-date 73,970.74$ 66,985.54$ 3,597.20$ 2,795.00$
Pledges are 99% up-to-date! Thank you for your faithfulness!
UMCOR SPECIAL OFFERING
PUMC has collected $730 for UMCOR in the Special Offering this past month! Thank you for your generosity and compassion in giving to this great organization. Remember, any time there’s a disaster that you’d like to help with, you can donate to UMCOR and know that 100% of your money goes to the people affected. Here’s a link to use to read about UMCOR and what they are doing right now:
https://www.umcor.org/
PASTOR’S PONDERING – The Colors of Advent
Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown.
Historically, the primary sanctuary color of Advent is Purple. This is the color of penitence and fasting as well as the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King. Purple is still used in Catholic churches. The purple of Advent is also the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week. This points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. The nativity, the Incarnation, cannot be separated from the crucifixion. The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world, of the “Word made flesh” and dwelling among us, is to reveal God and His grace to the world through Jesus’ life and teaching, but also through his suffering, death, and resurrection. To reflect this emphasis, originally Advent was a time of penitence and fasting, much as the Season of Lent and so shared the color of Lent.
In the four weeks of Advent the third Sunday came to be a time of rejoicing that the fasting was almost over (in some traditions it is called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word for “rejoice”). The shift from the purple of the Season to pink or rose for the third Sunday Advent candles reflected this lessening emphasis on penitence as attention turned more to celebration of the season.
In recent times, however, Advent has undergone a shift in emphasis, reflected in a change of colors used in many churches. Except in the Eastern churches, the penitential aspect of the Season has been almost totally replaced by an emphasis on hope and anticipation.
In many churches the third Sunday remains the Sunday of Joy marked by pink or rose. However, most Protestant churches now use blue to distinguish the Season of Advent from Lent. Royal Blue is sometimes used as a symbol of royalty. Some churches use Bright Blue to symbolize the night sky, the anticipation of the impending announcement of the King’s coming, or to symbolize the waters of Genesis 1, the beginning of a new creation. Some churches, including some Catholic churches, use blue violet to preserve the traditional use of purple while providing a visual distinction between the purple or red violet of Lent.
With the shift to blue for Advent in most non-Catholic churches, there is also a tendency to move pink to the Fourth Sunday of Advent. It still remains associated with Joy, but is increasingly used as the climax of the Advent Season on the last Sunday before Christmas.
Red and Green are more secular colors of Christmas. Although they derive from older European practices of using evergreens and holly to symbolize ongoing life and hope that Christ’s birth brings into a cold world, they are not used as liturgical colors during Advent since they have other uses in other parts of the church year.
The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.
In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation, as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live “between the times” and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s inbreaking into history in the Incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which “all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption,” it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
HELP US CELEBRATE THE 25TH (WOW) HOLIDAY STROLL!
Since 1993, churches across Peterborough have hosted craft fairs on the same day so folks can come and “stroll” the streets of Peterborough to get in the
holiday spirit. The fun day takes place the Saturday before Thanksgiving each year.
On Saturday, November 17th PUMC will host a craft fair to take part in this stroll. Your participation is needed!
Rather than have one person serving as organizer for the full event, we thought this responsibility could be shared by having “captains”. We thank the following folks who have already agreed to participate:
Priscilla and Ron Crowe – Greening Table
• Pat Woodward, Wendy Dunning – Pies and Goodie Table
• Christine Robidoux and Sue Poplin- Fair Trade Table
• Susan Lindquist, Karen Keenan and Carol Owen – Christmas Gifts and Decorations
• Morning Floater – Phyllis Porter
• Laura Nerz – Lunchtime Cafe
• Laura Constantine – cash counter at end of sale
In addition to these positions, there is a need for helpers on the three days before the Stroll. Setting up tables and laying out the fellowship room on Tuesday, bring boxes of sale items up from the basement, sorting and arranging things, and helping to price and place items out will take place Wednesday through Friday. We will need as many folks as possible to bake, craft and man tables on the day of the stroll. Please look for a volunteer sign-up sheet on Sunday November 4th to get your favorite job! If you have questions, see one of the table captains. They can let you know what they need in the way of specific help.
Thank you!
Karen and Susan
PUMC BOOK GROUP
The Words of Florence Nightingale – Lesser Saint, Philosopher, Social Activist, Political Reformer, and Accidental Nurse – Anne G. Peirce
The next meeting of the PUMC book group will be on Tuesday, November 27th at 1 PM. The new location of Parker and Sons Coffee at 166 Hancock Rd in Peterborough. We will discuss the journal entries, essays, letters and such. Her ideas on religion and society will provide rich discussion, no doubt! Copies of the book are available at the Peterborough UMC. Simply ask Rev. Card for a copy! All are welcome to join the discussion and we will be trying to contact Ann Peirce to see if she would like to join in the discussion also.
BELOVED IN CHRIST:
Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As we observe All Saint’s Day, one of the many saints who has recently joined the cloud of witnesses is the Rev. Eugene Peterson, author of the popular biblical paraphrase, “The Message.” After his death, this commentary was offered:
“While some took issue with the paraphrase of Christian Scriptures, ‘The Message’ has been praised by many — from laypeople who struggle to understand the language of the Bible to U2 frontman Bono, who said it ‘speaks to me in my own language.’” (Religious News Service, Oct. 22, 2018).
The language of “The Message” has indeed touched countless people of all cultures, ages, and languages.
One of the lectionary passages for All Saints Day is from Revelation 21, paraphrased by Rev. Peterson as follows:
“I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: ‘Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes.’” (Revelation 21:3).
May we prayerfully consider this verse and imagine its meaning. Moreover, may we do so in the context of our Christian discipleship!
What would it look like if we truly believed God is in our neighborhoods and acted out that belief sincerely? How different would our neighborhoods be?
How different would our committee meetings be if we truly believed and acted as if the person sitting beside us is a fellow child of God?
As we celebrate All Saints Day, we are reminded of recent atrocities in our communities: innocent worshipers killed by an unconscionable human act of violence, young children mowed down as they boarded their school bus, people fleeing persecution and hunger only to be turned away from sanctuary and relief, and, as I write this letter, so many in the Merrimack Valley still without heat as winter approaches.
Does the message “God will wipe every tear from your eye” bring hope and healing?
Keeping in mind that one definition of saint is “agent of God,” how can we become saints for those who are suffering?
As we partake in Holy Communion this coming Sunday, we will hear the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
What are the ways we can indeed remember Him by demonstrating sacramental living in our neighborhoods, nation, and world? While we may not be able to go to some of these places ourselves, certainly our prayers and dollars can make a difference!
As we remember the saints in our own lives, may we pause to reflect on how they have enabled us to see and experience God, and in that spirit, consider how we can show others that God is indeed present in their lives, wiping every tear from every eye.
Beloved in Christ, do we believe God has moved into our neighborhood? If so, let us act it! Or to quote Rev. Peterson: “Let’s go!” (Religious News Service, Oct. 22, 2018).
May God fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ, so we may glorify God as we witness to all that God has indeed moved into our neighborhoods.
Prema and I wish you and your loved ones a happy and blessed Thanksgiving and God’s traveling mercies during the holidays.
In Christ’s love,
Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar
WORLD THANK OFFERING CALENDAR
The World Thank Offering is one of the national missions of the United Methodist Women. The money collected is used to help women and children around the world in about 110 countries.
The November calendars are on the piano in the sanctuary for you to participate in a fun way. There is a thought of gratitude for each day, starting Nov 1st. Some have a suggestion for a donation and others let you make that decision.
For instance were you blessed by attending church or how many hymns did we sing. How many TV shows did you watch or how many windows or doors in your home are also a couple of examples. This can be a daily family activity.
You can do as many or few as you like or you might prefer to just give a donation. Checks should be made out to UMW and not to the church.
I hope you will enjoy this. But it is more important that you take a special time each day to express gratitude to God for all of your blessings.
You can download the calendar here: https://www.peterboroughumc.org/world-thank-offering-calendar/
We will be having a collection for the World Thank Offering on December 2.
Thank you for participating.
DECEMBER MEETING
The UMW will meet Tuesday, December 4th at 2:00 PM at Carol Owen’s home in Hancock. The annual cookie exchange will be held. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend. Additional details will follow.
Carol Owen
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 (December) to our editors by the last TUESDAY of the month, November 27. This is the newsletter that will be released December 2 and cover until Sunday December 30. 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.