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1
Congregational
Church
of
Henniker March/April 2017
Cartoon by John McPherson, published in Concord
Monitor August 23, 2015
2
From our Pastor: This spring I will end my pastorate after 12 years
of preaching, leading
worship and creating a welcoming community
here in Henniker. The
transitions that Bob and I went through in 2016, culminating in my move to Concord are helping
to reform my vision of a new life. I am sure 2017 will be full of transitions in the life of the
congregation as you reform your vision of the
church’s role in your lives. The process of calling a new settled minister will mirror the
process you all go through in your personal
transitions, whether it be retirement, having children grow up and leave their family, or
moving from one home to another. Life never stays the same and though Jesus is the same
yesterday, today and tomorrow, the church is
called to transform because times do change.
World Service Committee Our committee continues to support Claire Aucoin's mission in Colombia. There are envelopes in the pews for donations or you can send them to the church office. We appreciate any amount you are able to donate. Our goal is to donate $100/month.
Thank you to all of the Family Promise volunteers who helped in February! It takes a lot of volunteers to host the families for the week. We are always looking for more volunteers for this program. Please contact Sally Auer at 428-7773,
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Karen Landes at 428-6359 or Sue Crawford at 670-4147 if you are able to help. You can also contact the church office.
The Food 4 Friends program provides snacks for about 45 children who may not have enough food over the weekend. Please contact the church office or Deb Dow if you would like to make a donation or help pack the bags.
Our committee is assembling school and hygiene kits for Church World Service. They will be shipped to families and communities in need around the world.
The hygiene kits need the following supplies:
One hand towel measuring approximately 15″ x 28″ to 16″ x 32″ (no fingertip, bath, dish towel or micro-fiber)
One washcloth One wide-tooth comb removed from the
package One fingernail or toenail clipper removed from
the package One bath-size bar of soap in the wrapper One toothbrush in the package Ten standard size Band-Aids
The school kits need the following supplies:
One pair of blunt scissors removed from the package (rounded tip, only)
Three 70-count bound notebooks or notebooks totaling 200-210 pages (no loose-leaf or filler paper)
One 30-centimeter / 12” ruler
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One hand-held pencil sharpener removed from the package
One large eraser (no pencil cap erasers) Six new, unsharpened pencils with erasers
removed from the package One box of 24 crayons (only 24) One 12”x14” to 14”x17” finished size cotton or
lightweight canvas bag (solid color or kid-friendly fabric) with cloth handles (no reusable shopping bags, backpacks, or bags with logos)
Save the date…May 13th we will be having a community event similar to our Mother’s Day Tea in 2016. More details to follow.
Thanks,
Karen
Letter from our Global Ministers The UCC has Global Ministries in many countries. Lindley Kinerk and the Rev. Andy Jepson are serving as longterm volunteers in Sri Lanka. Here is one of their recent reports from the field:
From February 10th:
Hip replacement surgery is hip replacement surgery
the world 'round but the Sri Lankan hospital
experience is quite another thing. I should have been ready for a unique experience by
the mere fact that the surgery was scheduled for
Sunday evening at 7:30. We had to arrive early
Sunday morning for blood tests and whatever. The
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place was hopping even on Sunday morning. Our
trishaw driver who had brought us all the way down
from our village, funnily, stayed with us throughout
the tests and checking in procedures and didn’t leave
till we were settled in the room a couple of hours
later. Our room had two beds, a standard hospital bed for
the patient and a twin bed for me, the ‘carer’. While
both beds had bottom sheets and a pillow there were
no blankets and no 2nd sheet. A nurse came in very
soon and asked for Andy’s wash cloth. Nope, we
hadn’t thought to bring one. Or toilet paper. So I
hopped on a bus and went to town and bought
blankets, a towel and washcloth and toilet paper and
hurried back to the hospital. Friends came by while she was in surgery and stayed
with me for the duration till the surgery was over at
about 11:00 pm. The surgeon came and told us that
everything went well. He was happy that she was in
good shape and had strong bones (thanks to
Fosamax, we assume) and should recover well. “My
parents live with me. So I especially like to help old
people because I am thinking of my parents.” Oh. (I
always have a hard time being an 'old people'.) We
went in to the recovery room one at a time to see that
she was doing just fine. The nurse asked me to bring
her some water but when I brought a cup of water the
nurse asked if I didn’t have a bottle of water that I
could bring instead. I could and I did. [Lindley
Kinerk]
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New at the Lending Library [found in the narthex on the right as you
exit the sanctuary]
Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way by John
Paul II
This Odd and Wondrous Calling by Lillian Daniel
and Martin B. Copenhaver
The Wounded Healer by Henri J. M. Nouwen
Who Do You Say I Am? : Meeting the Historical
Jesus in Prayer by William A. Barry
Henry Nouwen: A Restless Seeking for God by
Jurjen Beumer
Fridays at the Peak Paul and Milli Knudsen
are in their 3rd year of
doing Fridays at the Peak,
where everyone is
welcome to stop in on
Friday evenings at 6 to
eat and play. No
reservations necessary;
just show up. Like
“loaves and the fishes”
there always seems to be
enough to eat (and then
some!), and we have some interesting
conversations that flow from whatever
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activity we have going: board games,
making music, reading poetry, watching a
movie, talking about travel or experiences.
The address is 81 Stonehenge Drive, on the
side of Whisper Trail at Pat’s Peak. In the
weekly newsletter, the menu is usually
announced ahead of time. If you have
dietary issues,
bring whatever
you like to eat.
The fun is in the
gathering. The
last week for Fridays at the Peak will be
March 31st for this year. Plenty more
Fridays for you to come!
At a recent Friday gathering, we had a
poetry reading session. This one offered by
Joyce Morrison is from a collection called
The Best Loved Poems of the American
People:
“It Isn’t The Church---It’s You”
(anonymous author) If you want to have the kind of church
Like the kind of church you like,
You needn’t slip your clothes in a grip
And start on a long, long hike.
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You’ll only find what you left behind,
For there’s nothing really new.
It’s a knock at yourself when you knock your church;
It isn’t the church---it’s you.
When everything seems to be going wrong,
And trouble seems everywhere brewing;
When prayer meeting, Young People’s meeting, and all,
Seem simmering slowly---stewing,
Just take a look at yourself and say,
“What’s the use of being blue?”
Are you doing your “bit” to make things “hit”?
It isn’t the church---it’s you.
It’s really strange sometimes, don’t you know,
That things go as well as they do,
When we think of the little---the very small mite---
We add to the work of the few.
We sit, and stand around, and complain of what’s done,
And do very little but fuss.
Are we bearing our share of the burdens to bear?
It isn’t the church---it’s us.
So, if you want to have the kind of a church
Like the kind of church you like,
Put off your guile, and put on your best smile,
And hike, my brother, just hike,
To the work in hand that has to be done---
The work of saving a few.
It isn’t the church that is wrong, my boy;
It isn’t the church---it’s you.
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And Tom Ellis brought this poem called
“Farmer’s Prayer Poem”:
As I rise with the dawn, I drink in the
morning.
I taste the goodness of your creation and
smell the crispness of new
beginnings.
I sense you beside me, my good shepherd
watching over me as I care for the
farm.
I whistle a tune of praise as I go about my
work.
I feel blessed to walk in the long lived
rhythms of sowing, feeding and
reaping.
Fill me anew today, Lord, with your Spirit.
Give me strength and health when I feel
tired or weary.
I release my anxious thoughts to you,
Knowing that you hear my prayer.
Please bless my farm, my home, my family.
Please bless the work of my hands.
Please remind me each morning
To give thanks to you anew, my Lord and
Saviour.
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Women’s Prison at Goffstown
Besides being a constant presence in
town, The New Life Thrift Shop also
supports many charities in the greater
Concord area. One that gives a lot of us
great pleasure is giving arts and craft items
to the women’s prison in Goffstown. What
started 3 years ago with the donation of a
sewing machine that had been sitting in the
Shop for weeks has now become a regular
donating cycle. About once a month, Milli
Knudsen drives down to Goffstown with a
carload of yarn, fabric, sewing notions,
plastic crochet hooks & knitting needles,
and the occasional sewing machine. We
were delighted to find that the inmates also
regularly donate their knitted and crocheted
items to many local charities: the animal
rescue league, aprons for church volunteers,
blankets, prayer shawls, scarves and mittens
for children, the Boys & Girls Club,
Headstart, New Horizons, nursing homes
and elementary schools. They provided us
with many items for our Christmas Fair in
December of 2016. Just another way of
showing that when you give to the New Life
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Thrift Shop, your donation ripples out into
the greater community. Thank you!
Looking for a Little Magic in Your Life?
Coming to Henniker Community
School, Saturday, March 11 at 2 PM, you
can see Ben Pratt, professional illusionist.
At the age of 7, Ben saw his favorite
magician David Copperfield saw himself in
half on a television show, and suddenly he
was hooked on life’s journey to entertain
and amaze people. Originally from
Stoddard, NH, he has performed all over
New England. Recently, Ben won an award
for being the best stage magician in greater
New England for the second year in a row!
Seating is “first come, first served” so get
there early on March 11th. Tickets are $5 for
kids and $10 for adults.
Screening of Oscar-nominated Film
“White Helmets” South
Congregational Church of
Concord is hosting a
screening of the film
“White Helmets”, which is about a volunteer
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corps which acts as first responders in the
Syrian civil war. The film will be shown at
2 PM on Sunday, March 5th, with a
discussion following the 40-minute movie.
A free will offering will benefit 2
resettlement agencies: Ascentria and the
International Institute of New England.
A Word from Family Promise Another successful week [February 12th through 19th]
has been hosted by our wonderful volunteers. I would
like to share a few comments/observations; "who
made those delicious cookies with the surprise
strawberry jam in them?" "chocolate cream pie!!!" and
second servings on shepherd's pie and beef stew are
compliments for all of our meal makers. I would also
like to recognize some other behind the scenes
persons: Thank you to the food shoppers, the set-up
and take-down crew, and the laundry crew. Every
volunteer in the FPGC program is a necessary part of
the "Body of Christ". Thanks once again! [Rita
Murdough]
A Committee Update
Since we had so many vacancies discussed
at the Annual Meeting on February 12th, the
office thought we could include an updated
list of committee members:
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Committee List – 2017
Moderator Heidi Edwards Dunn
[email protected] 2017
Assistant Moderator Marilyn Paul
[email protected] 428-7587 2017
Clerk Vacancy 2017
Treasurer Ellie Grande
[email protected] 428-7415 2017
Assistant Treasurer Karen Landes
[email protected] 428-6359 2017
Deacons [4 vacancies]
Marilyn Paul
[email protected] 428-7587 2020
Emily O’Rourke
[email protected] 428-3690 2019
Norm McFall
[email protected] 428-3037 2019
David Mercier 2019
Leo Mercier
[email protected] 369-1980 2018
Nicole Girardet
[email protected] 428-6206 2018
Church Property
Ron Hewitt
[email protected] 428-7272 2020
Susan Adams
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]%20428-6206mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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774-644-1239 2020
Keith Boden
[email protected] 443-254-4730 2020 Ron Taylor
[email protected] 428-7037 2019
Bruce Ballou
[email protected] 529-7424 2019
Bob Hunter
[email protected] 428-7991 2019
John Foss
[email protected] 529-3041 2018
Rob Howard
[email protected] 428-3232 2018
Lisa Hustis
[email protected] 491-7065 2018
Music Committee [5 vacancies] Becky Mercier
[email protected] 933-3992 2019
Christian Education [1 vacancy] Kristin Mason
[email protected] 930-3954 2020
Colleen Gagnon 995-6047 2020
Mary McFall
[email protected] 428-3037 2019
Marcus McFall 428-3037 2019
Marilyn Paul
[email protected] 428-7587 2-2018
Pastor/Parish Relations [1 vacancy] George Allen
[email protected] 428-6665 2020
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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Joyce Morrison
[email protected] 529-4568 2019
Howard Miller
[email protected] 428-6106 2019
*Judy Miller
[email protected] 428-6106 2018
Diane Allen
[email protected] 428-6665 2018
UCC Conference Delegates Heidi Edwards Dunn
428-3037 2018
Paul Knudsen
320-9283 2018
Judy Miller
[email protected] 428-6106 2018
Association Delegates
Judy Miller
[email protected] 428-610 2018
Paul Knudsen
320-9283 2018
World Service Committee Sally Auer [email protected] 428-7773
Pat Clement [email protected] 428-3249
*Sue Crawford
[email protected] 670-4147
Deb Dow [email protected] 428-3114
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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Carol Hamilton
428-7576
Karen Landes [email protected] 428-6359
Linda Davis [email protected] 860-559-
0192
Church Council Member At-Large (chosen by
Council)
Anne Hunter [email protected]
Finance & Stewardship Committee
(subcommittee of the Council) [1 vacancy]
Sue Gauthier
[email protected] 428-3761 2019
Karen Landes
[email protected] 428-6359 2019
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]