Please enjoy our newsletter for October 2017.
Beyond the Green Doors
The newsletter of the
Peterborough United Methodist Church
43 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH
October 2017
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Weekly
Sun Worship Service 10a
Sun Adult Bible Class 11:15a
Wed Covenant Discipleship 6:30p
Thu Choir Rehearsal 6:30p
October
Tue 3 UMW Meeting 12p
Thu 5 Church Conference Reports due
Mon 9 Craft Workshop 10:30a
Mon 9 PUMC Quilters 1p
Tue 17 Church Conference 7p
Fri 20 Open Mic Night 7p
Sat 21 Naming Our Why 9a
Wed 25 Newsletter submissions due
Wed 25 Prayer Shawl Group 1p
Sat 28 Men’s Monthly Breakfast 7:30a
Sat 28 Bishop’s Day
Nov 1 Book Group 7p
Nov 18 Holiday Stroll
Nov 19 Greening of the Church
CHURCH FAMILY CELEBRATIONS
Birthdays:
Gladys Bugler Oct 1
Sue Norton-Poplin Oct 25
Anniversaries:
James Poplin 5 years
Susan Staley 14 years
STRAIGHT TALK WITH PASTOR LENA
Dear Friends;
Have you ever considered just how tricky doors can be? Glass patio doors in particular are notoriously sly and wily. They are the source of much snickering and guffawing when some poor, innocent soul is deceived into thinking the door is opened only to rudely discover the opposite through the painful introduction of plate glass to tender forehead and nose. The same can be said of the spiritual world. Doors we are so certain God has opened for us; we rudely and sometimes painfully learn were actually closed. At such times we can begin to doubt whether we have heard the Lord’s leading.
Years ago, some dear friends of ours called rejoicing that God had seemingly opened numerous doors for them to be missionaries to Guatemala. Every fleece they had put before the Lord had been miraculously met. A large church had taken on their entire support for the four years they would be on the mission field. All provisions were provided for the three months training at a specially designed cultural and language school for missionaries and their children. Visas, new laptops and airfare were provided by individuals who knew nothing of our friends’ fleeces before the Lord. The day before they left for Guatemala, we rejoiced together and thereafter continued praying with them for a mighty move of God in the area of Guatemala where they would be stationed.
A few weeks later, they called from their home in Canada to say that they would not be ministering in Guatemala. The husband had become violently ill and had been bed ridden the entire two week. His wife, who has extreme allergies to many species of trees, was heart sick to learn that the area they had been stationed was with the people of the mountains and not among the villages in the valleys as they had been told. But they were not disheartened. They did not beat themselves up. In the months that followed, they held on to the belief that they had been through a season of strengthening their faith, commitment, and especially obedience to follow Jesus wherever he lead.
The Apostle Paul experienced something similar when he felt called to Bithynia (Acts 16), but “the Spirit suffered them not.” (KJV) What?! He was all set to do Christ’s work only to find that the door was closed? George Matheson once wrote, “The Spirit has not only a service of work, but a service of waiting.” Our friends, as did the Apostle Paul and George Matheson, learned the great lessons of waiting, and may I add, praying. Less than a year later, God once again miraculously provided everything necessary for them to accept the call to a church in another province. During that time of waiting, God had been working! He had been preparing the members of congregation by giving them same vision, mission and call back to prayer that He had given our friends. God had been faithful! As the church no longer had a parsonage, God prepared a house along a famous river to be put on the market only weeks before our friends needed to relocate, a house which our friends were able to purchase with some unexpected monetary gifts. Oh! The wondrous workings of our God while we wait!
Long ago, I came across a verse that has been my anchor in the sometimes turbulent seas of waiting. As I shared with our friends during their time of waiting, I now share with you:
“When I cannot understand my Father’s leading,
And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate,
Still I hear that gentle whisper ever pleading
God is working, God is faithful, ONLY WAIT”
Always Hope,
Pastor Lena
FROM THE SHELF
This month’s book is called, “Here If you Need Me”, a true story by Kate Braestrup. Several years ago, Kate lost her husband, Drew, a Maine state trooper, in an automobile accident. Stunned and grieving, she decided to pursue what had been her husband’s dream and become a minister. She soon found a most unusual calling, serving as chaplain for search and rescue missions in the Maine woods, giving comfort to people whose loved ones are missing and to the wardens who sometimes have to deal with dreadful outcomes. This book recounts Kate Braestrup’s remarkable journey from grief to faith and happiness. It is a story about finding God by helping others and offers proof of the miracles that happen every day when a heart is grateful and life and love are restored.
CRAFT WORKSHOP
Karen Keenan will be leading a craft workshop on Monday, October 9th at 10:30 AM. We will be making a cute turkey decoration. If anyone has in their craft supplies the following items and would like to donate them contact Karen or Carol. The needed items are small googly eyes, brown and orange pipe cleaners, and narrow white ruffled lace. Karen already has the needed pine cones.
Plan to join us on October 9th at the church.
-Carol Owen
PRAYER CORNER
Let us make a special effort to be in prayer for Pastor Lena during this Pastor Appreciation Month!
“We naturally suppose it is no use praying for prominent people, God will look after them all right. [On the contrary,] The prominent people for God are marked for the wiles of the devil, and we must pray for them all the time; God gives us every now and again an alarming exhibition of what happens if we don’t.” —Oswald Chambers, If You Will Ask
Father, we pray for all those who preach the gospel. Thank you for all who tell out your love and grace through lives of holiness and radiant living. Help those who also try to put into words the message of hope and new life to be found in Jesus Christ. Give them the help of your Holy Spirit that their words may go straight to the minds and hearts and wills of those who hear. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.
Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”
Hebrews 13:7
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
The next meeting of the UMW will be held Tuesday, October 3rd at 12:00 PM at the church. Sandwiches, dessert, and beverage will be provided. The program will be a very short DVD entitled Rhythm which is about being in tune with God. A brief discussion will follow. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend.
DIRECTORY
Please check your listing in the December 2016 phone directory (https://goo.gl/yBr241). If you have any changes, please let Karen Keenan know by emailing her.
CAN-CAN SUNDAY,
November 12th, 2017
Join us in collecting 250 canned food items for the area food pantries!
Weekly updates will be posted in the What’s Happening on our Can-Can-o-meter!
NAMING OUR WHY
We will be holding our Naming Our Why seminar Saturday October 21, 9-3. It is highly recommended that you attend, this will be a discussion-based event, and you are encouraged to contribute! This will result in *the* visioning statement for our future missions and ministries.
Our UMC mission statement is:
“The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
Can we say:
“PUMC, Discipleship is happening.”
Why PUMC?
Where are you personally willing to serve? With your – Resources? Time? Talents?
What do you want to see happening at the church in 5 years? 10 years?
What do we want to be known as in the community? What should our virtues be?
Do we offer value to our congregation, and to our community? How do we bridge the gap?
Does Micah 6:8 still represent us? Prove it.
Is our virtue kindness? Justice?
Walking humbly with God? If so, how?
Fill in the Blank:
Peterborough United Methodist Church – ______________ is happening!
Some Examples:
Peterborough United Methodist Church – HEALING is happening
Peterborough United Methodist Church –
LOVE is happening!
CHURCH CONFERENCE
The Church Conference is coming up on Tuesday October 17 at 7pm! This end of the year worship service is intended to be a time of reflection and fellowship. There will be a time of song as we worship, remember church family that have passed this year, reaffirm our lay servants and vote for our lay leadership, celebrate our stewardship, and share in communion. All are welcome! Hope to see you there.
PUMC QUILTERS – Putting the Pieces Together
If you enjoyed the Homecoming Luncheon garland, you’re in for a treat in the next few weeks.
Those pretty little squares will be making their way into a full-sized quilt that will be a silent auction item at the Annual Holiday Stroll! Stay tuned!
The next meeting of the PUMC Quilters will be on Monday, October 9th @ 1 PM. The group will meet for an HST (half square triangle) tutorial and to cut fabric for the blocks that will be used to offset those pretty little four-square blocks! Then, it’s back to our sewing machines for a couple weeks before we lay out the quilt top and make the final design decisions.
In the meantime, here’s hoping everyone is getting some ideas for all their ‘trading squares’ so they can put their own four-square quilt together!
PUMC BOOK GROUP – November 1st Read
The PUMC book group will be reading Shanghai Faithful – Betrayal and Forgiveness in a
Chinese Christian Family (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31616769-shanghai-faithful), Jenner Lin’s memoir of her family’s spiritual and cultural voyage.
Anyone is welcome to join this reading group. Books can be requested through local library inter-library loan or through purchase either on-line or through your local bookseller. The next meeting of the book group will be on Wednesday, November 1st. Please check the church bulletin for location as we get closer to the meeting date.
GEORGE AND BOB!
I was able to visit with two of our Senior Church members this week, George Eastman, ( who will be 100 this coming February), and Bob Johnson, ( whose Birthday was this past Friday.) George lived in Portland, Maine and Bob resides here in Peterborough at Rivermead. Both these wonderful church members were in great spirits and I was so fortunate to get to spend some time with them.
Thank you and God Bless;
Andrew Dunbar
BISHOP’S DAY IN THE NH DISTRICT
Sat. Oct. 28, 2017, 3pm – 6pm
Wesley UMC, 79 Clinton Street, Concord, NH 03301
3pm Welcome and Worship with NH District Superintendent Taesung Kang
3:20pm Teaching from Bishop Devadhar Introduction to “Wonder, Love and Praise: Sharing a Vision of the Church”
3:50pm Discussion: Gather feedback for the Way Forward Commission
5pm Covered Dish Meal
Please register by Oct. 20, 2017 Email nhdistrict@neumc.org or call us at 603-225-3455
“Lord, hear my voice, let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” Psalms 130:2 (KJV)
Read more: https://www.neumc.org/eventdetail/bishops-day-in-the-nh-district-8775409
THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!
Oct Wreath Fundraiser orders due
Oct 5 Church Conference reports due
Oct 9 Craft Workshop 10:30a
Oct 16 Church Conference 7p
Nov 18 Holiday Stroll
Nov 19 Greening of the Church & Potluck
Dec Poinsettia orders due
Dec 3 Advent begins
Dec 17 Christmas Program
Dec 21 Candlelight Vigil for Homeless
Jan 31 Annual Report due
DISTRICT STICKY NOTE
“…What do you see? What makes your heart move and what breaks your heart, that is where your call is,” Rev. Taesung Kang said. “The difficult part is knowing where to start and how to keep pursuing and seeking after God’s own heart.”
Rev. Kang, New Hampshire District Superintendent, offered the NH District a “sticky note” as a reminder of some steps to take.
First, he said, “Be Still.” He asked the district to join in a 5.5.5. Prayer: To pray “for our district; our pastors, our churches, and our concerns” on the fifth day of the week, Friday, at 5 p.m. for five minutes.
“Being in the stillness with God, we can see who we are and whom we are serving,” Rev. Kang said.
Second, he said, “Get Ready.”
“I would like to see more holistic small groups in our churches and district,” Rev. Kang said. “I believe that the real transformation happens in authentic small group dynamics. In order to realize that we are not alone in this battle, we need to be in our support groups, and create more small groups.”
“Third, I want to invite us to commit ourselves to the very core of the church, for us to become no less than a 100 percent missional church (‘Go Out’),” Rev. Kang said.
Read more: http://www.neumc.org/newsdetail/new-hampshire-district-welcomes-new-superintendent-9316864
A MERRY HEART
Whoops!
An inexperienced preacher was to hold a graveside burial service at a pauper’s cemetery for an indigent man with no family or friends. Not knowing where the cemetery was, he made several wrong turns and got lost. When he eventually arrived an hour late, the hearse was nowhere in sight, the backhoe was next to the open hole, and the workmen were sitting under a tree eating lunch.
The diligent young pastor went to the open grave and found the vault lid already in place. Feeling guilty because of his tardiness, he preached an impassioned and lengthy service, sending the deceased to the great beyond in style.
As he returned to his car, he overheard one of the workman say to the other, “I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years and I ain’t never seen anything like that.”
*PLEASE NOTE:
All submissions for What’s Happening, Bulletin, and Newsletter are now due on TUESDAY.
PRAYING OUR WAY FORWARD
Praying Our Way Forward was created by the Council of Bishops for intentional prayer across the denomination for the mission of The United Methodist Church and for the work of the Commission on a Way Forward. Praying Our Way Forward began January 1, 2017 and continues through June 2018. Each annual conference will take one week.
Our week of prayer is October 8 – 14, 2017. In the New England Conference, there will be three prayers for us to say each day, written by United Methodists from around the Conference. The prayers will be posted on the website and will come via email to all subscribers to the UMCatalyst*. Links to the prayers will be posted on Facebook and Twitter as well.
A downloadable, printable version of the prayers – including one for use in worship on Sunday, Ocober 8th – will be made available for churches in advance. Find more information on our website.
Read more: http://www.neumc.org/neumcweekofprayer
ECHO
In North Ft. Myers, FL. there is an unusual farm called ECHO, which is a global Christian organization that equips community leaders and missionaries in 180 developing countries with agricultural resources and skills to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor. ECHO stands for Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization. Many interns and volunteers work in different “climate” areas of the farm.
One of the most interesting groups that help out at ECHO are the NOMADS-which stands for Nomads on Mission, Active in Divine Service and is a United Methodist organization, made up of retirees who live in their RV’s. These 1,000 members help to build or repair homes, churches, camps and other Methodist related ministry sites all over the country. Every year some of them work at ECHO.
ECHO’s original five acres were donated by a local Methodist Church. Check out www.echonet.org if you want to read more about it.
BOOK STUDY – CREED
We will be starting a six-week study some time in October on the book Creed: What Christians Believe and Why by Adam Hamilton. The book will help us explore our Christian beliefs by way of a detailed study of the Apostles’ Creed. Sessions will make use of a short DVD presentation, after which participants will discuss both the week’s reading and the DVD.
By the time we wrap up our study, it is hoped that we will have a much better understanding of just what we mean when we say that we are Christians. We also hope to gain a new-found appreciation for what we are really saying when we recite the Apostles’ Creed. Sessions will be facilitated by Daryl Hazel.
TRUSTEES REPORT
Unfortunately one of our sump pumps failed so we had a flood in the basement during a late spring rain. A new sump pump was installed by Greg Nerz and Steve Gatcombe. Many items were damaged beyond salvaging so we took a truckload to the Transfer Station for disposal. The furnace also sustained damage and had to be repaired. a second sump pump has been installed.
The Emergency Defibrillator has been purchased and we hope to get it installed this fall. Training sessions on its use will be planned for all interested.
The driveway and parking lot have been crack filled, sealed and markings painted. We have added lines to delineate two new spaces by the back door.
We are struggling to obtain quotes for repair work for our roofs and siding. Apparently contractors have plenty of work and are not interested in our small job!
We have been soliciting bids for snow plowing and salting of our lot for the upcoming year.
An official “thank you” goes to Hiel for repairing the clock in the sanctuary. We were on the waiting list for the repair shop which is out 6 months! Perhaps there’s more opportunities for Hiel’s clock handiwork!
Best regards,
Matt Keenan
HURRICANE RECOVERY
Many of you have been so generous in donating to those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Thank you.
There are many ways to help, but one of the best is to be trained as an Early Response Team member or if you are an ERT, to be sure your certification is up to date.
The New England Conference offers a variety of trainings to help individuals and churches be prepared in case of disaster. Visit the link below to learn more.
An ERT re-certification training is coming up on Oct. 7, 2017 in Eliot, ME. Find more online.
You can donate to disaster recovery efforts in the U.S. through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Advance #901670.
You can also visit the website to learn how to make health kits/cleaning buckets. http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies
Find out about training, building kits, and more: http://www.neumc.org/disasterresponsenews
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 (November) to our editors by the last TUESDAY of the month, October 31. This is the newsletter that will be released on November 5 and cover until Sunday December 3. Send to Melissa French at 924-6960 or email, 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 Pastor Lena.
43 Concord Street (Rt. 202)
Peterborough, NH 03458
Address service requested