12/1/07   St. John’s News & Notes

Happy May, my friends!!

At least that’s what it seems like today.  It was 67 degrees (on the bank’s thermometer) when I drove through Dover early this morning!!  Amazing how God’s creation never ceases to surprise us!!  May we never cease to appreciate that creation!!

I’m writing late today, so I’m going to be brief. . . . I hope!

Tomorrow we have – by popular demand – the wreath making workshop, in Hartford Hall, from 2 till 5 PM.  Bring whatever greens you can – there are others here already.  This is always a great time!!

Then on Sunday, at both services, we’ll have the “Hanging of the Greens” service and communion.  The children will be invited to participate – by hanging a Chrismon (Christ monogram – ornament) on the tree, and by helping to create the nativity scene (costumes will be in their classrooms).  There won’t be any Sunday School this week, also.  And communion at the first service will probably be a little noisier than normal, with all the kids present.  Please be patient with them.

Then on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM, the Adult Music program of our congregation will present “Together for Christmas,” our 2006 Christmas Cantata.  This year the cantata is being offered in memory of Gail Parady – with whose memorial funds the cantata was purchased.  Remember that the Youth Groups are offering activities for children during the cantata.

Advent Studies are up and running.  If you haven’t been to one of them yet, have no fear.  You can “jump” in late, if you wish.  The studies take place at the church on Sunday evening’s at 7 PM; at 11 AM on Monday’s at Langdon Place; at 7 PM on Tuesday’s at the church – Junior High Classroom; and at 9 AM on Wednesday’s at Wentworth Home.  Each class is studying the same book:  “The Miracle of Christmas” by James W. Moore. 

Next Friday (December 8th), the Mission Team will present a Public Supper – New England Boiled Dinner, from 5 till 6:30 PM, to raise money for scholarships for members of the team.  The trip will take place during school vacation in February.  Please be supportive in whatever ways you can!!

Tickets to this year’s Peter Mayer concert are on sale.  Speak to Bob or Diana S.  The concert will take place at Dover High School, on Friday, December 15th. 

Minnett I. is looking for thirty-four dozen (34 doz.) brownies for the Strafford County Jail Christmas party.  Unfortunately there are 405 inmates at the prison right now, so the need is great – if we want to reach all the men and women.  How many dozen can we sign you up for?  Speak to Minnett if you can help. 

Christmas Eve falls on Sunday this year, so the Worship Committee has created the following worship schedule for that day:
Sunday morning – one service – at 9:30 AM – Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday evening – 6:30 PM Service for people of all ages – communion served
 9 PM A service of lessons and carols – communion served
 11 PM A service around the Word and Table (sermon and communion), concluding with candlelight and singing outdoors

Let me share some personal news with you – on several fronts.  First there are two engagements to announce – Holly (Guy and Joanne’s daughter) and her longtime boyfriend (graduate of Maine Maritime Academy) will marry on June of 2008.  And Anne (George and Gloria’s daughter) and Seamus became engaged the Monday before Thanksgiving.  I don’t know if a date has been set yet.  Praise God for these loving relationships!!

We share Keith McG’s sadness with him – at the death of his father, Bob, last Sunday morning.  And also, his wife, Aimee, has been hospitalized with more seizures.  They have given her new medications, and she hopes to go home either today or tomorrow. 

And on the employment “front,” both of the Bob & Diana S’s “kids” have (or will very soon have) new positions.  Kim will work with Myron Candell (sp?) from CNN – working on something related to a state initiative on security fraud education.  And Kirt will be working for Liberty Mutual – where he wife works – though not in the same area.  And Jim A. will have a new position with his present company come the first of the year.  He will be a Vice President – able to stay in Dover – but will have more traveling to do.  Finally, my wife, Wendy, will be working part-time with another Elder-Law attorney in Portland.  This will allow her time and energy to continue to build her own Law Practice in Yarmouth.  Praise God for all this good news. 

Have you noticed that I’ve not used anyone’s last names in this issue of “News & Notes?”  That’s because we’ve become aware that folks outside St. John’s are reading this material – which is wonderful!! – but we feel to be fair to one another, we need to make sure that we balance confidentiality with sharing of information.  Let us know what you think. 

That’s it for today.  I’ll be sending this to you through a new “vehicle” – new to me, anyway.  I hope it gets through to you without a problem.  Have a great weekend.  See you in church . . . for many different things over the next couple of days!!  Peace, Mark

12/1/07   St. John’s News & Notes

Happy May, my friends!!

At least that’s what it seems like today.  It was 67 degrees (on the bank’s thermometer) when I drove through Dover early this morning!!  Amazing how God’s creation never ceases to surprise us!!  May we never cease to appreciate that creation!!

I’m writing late today, so I’m going to be brief. . . . I hope!

Tomorrow we have – by popular demand – the wreath making workshop, in Hartford Hall, from 2 till 5 PM.  Bring whatever greens you can – there are others here already.  This is always a great time!!

Then on Sunday, at both services, we’ll have the “Hanging of the Greens” service and communion.  The children will be invited to participate – by hanging a Chrismon (Christ monogram – ornament) on the tree, and by helping to create the nativity scene (costumes will be in their classrooms).  There won’t be any Sunday School this week, also.  And communion at the first service will probably be a little noisier than normal, with all the kids present.  Please be patient with them.

Then on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM, the Adult Music program of our congregation will present “Together for Christmas,” our 2006 Christmas Cantata.  This year the cantata is being offered in memory of Gail Parady – with whose memorial funds the cantata was purchased.  Remember that the Youth Groups are offering activities for children during the cantata.

Advent Studies are up and running.  If you haven’t been to one of them yet, have no fear.  You can “jump” in late, if you wish.  The studies take place at the church on Sunday evening’s at 7 PM; at 11 AM on Monday’s at Langdon Place; at 7 PM on Tuesday’s at the church – Junior High Classroom; and at 9 AM on Wednesday’s at Wentworth Home.  Each class is studying the same book:  “The Miracle of Christmas” by James W. Moore. 

Next Friday (December 8th), the Mission Team will present a Public Supper – New England Boiled Dinner, from 5 till 6:30 PM, to raise money for scholarships for members of the team.  The trip will take place during school vacation in February.  Please be supportive in whatever ways you can!!

Tickets to this year’s Peter Mayer concert are on sale.  Speak to Bob or Diana S.  The concert will take place at Dover High School, on Friday, December 15th. 

Minnett I. is looking for thirty-four dozen (34 doz.) brownies for the Strafford County Jail Christmas party.  Unfortunately there are 405 inmates at the prison right now, so the need is great – if we want to reach all the men and women.  How many dozen can we sign you up for?  Speak to Minnett if you can help. 

Christmas Eve falls on Sunday this year, so the Worship Committee has created the following worship schedule for that day:
Sunday morning – one service – at 9:30 AM – Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday evening – 6:30 PM Service for people of all ages – communion served
 9 PM A service of lessons and carols – communion served
 11 PM A service around the Word and Table (sermon and communion), concluding with candlelight and singing outdoors

Let me share some personal news with you – on several fronts.  First there are two engagements to announce – Holly (Guy and Joanne’s daughter) and her longtime boyfriend (graduate of Maine Maritime Academy) will marry on June of 2008.  And Anne (George and Gloria’s daughter) and Seamus became engaged the Monday before Thanksgiving.  I don’t know if a date has been set yet.  Praise God for these loving relationships!!

We share Keith McG’s sadness with him – at the death of his father, Bob, last Sunday morning.  And also, his wife, Aimee, has been hospitalized with more seizures.  They have given her new medications, and she hopes to go home either today or tomorrow. 

And on the employment “front,” both of the Bob & Diana S’s “kids” have (or will very soon have) new positions.  Kim will work with Myron Candell (sp?) from CNN – working on something related to a state initiative on security fraud education.  And Kirt will be working for Liberty Mutual – where he wife works – though not in the same area.  And Jim A. will have a new position with his present company come the first of the year.  He will be a Vice President – able to stay in Dover – but will have more traveling to do.  Finally, my wife, Wendy, will be working part-time with another Elder-Law attorney in Portland.  This will allow her time and energy to continue to build her own Law Practice in Yarmouth.  Praise God for all this good news. 

Have you noticed that I’ve not used anyone’s last names in this issue of “News & Notes?”  That’s because we’ve become aware that folks outside St. John’s are reading this material – which is wonderful!! – but we feel to be fair to one another, we need to make sure that we balance confidentiality with sharing of information.  Let us know what you think. 

That’s it for today.  I’ll be sending this to you through a new “vehicle” – new to me, anyway.  I hope it gets through to you without a problem.  Have a great weekend.  See you in church . . . for many different things over the next couple of days!!  Peace, Mark

12/05/06 St. John’s News & Notes

Greetings to you, my friends,

Let me begin this issue of “News & Notes,” for the day after Thanksgiving, with a note from our Bishop, Pete Weaver:

I HAVE RETURNED FROM MOZAMBIQUE, AFRICA, FULL OF THANKSGIVING for all God has done and is doing through our United Methodist movement around the world. A small delegation of us went to visit President Guebuza who expressed his profound thanksgiving for the impact the United Methodist Church has made through churches, schools, hospitals and leadership in Mozambique. He spoke with moving conviction about the “values” of human rights, justice, peace, and hope that flow from the Christian Gospel. And I was thankful to be a small part of this United Methodist movement, representing those of you who faithfully lift up your prayers and offerings every Sunday to support our missions in thousands of places around the world.

As many of you have already heard or read, on the last night of the Council of Bishops’ meeting we were unexpectedly blessed to have Nelson Mandela and his spouse, Gracia Machel join us for dinner and share very powerful witnesses to their faith and thanksgiving for their Methodist upbringings. Both of them were born into extreme rural poverty. Both had courageous mothers of faith who, at great personal sacrifice, made sure their young children knew that God created them as worthy as any child in the world, and sought for them the opportunity for education which came through Methodist mission schools. And I thought of all the Methodists in Britain (Mandela was educated in British Methodist schools in South Africa) and America (Machel in United Methodist mission schools) who “cast the bread” of their prayers and contributions “upon the waters” decades and decades ago, never imagining that they were investing in the tran sformation of the world through these two great leaders.

Mandela is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and the father of freedom in South Africa. Machel, the widow of Mozambique President Machel, became the first woman Minister of Education for Mozambique in 1975. At independence, 93% of the country was illiterate, with mission schools providing most of the limited education that there was. Today, illiteracy has dropped to 23% due in large measure to the work of Gracia Machel. She said, “I am standing here mainly as a Methodist child….From the Methodist Church I had an obligation to give back to those who had supported me. I had to give back to the community.” One of the three persons who most profoundly influenced her life was Mabel, an United Methodist missionary, “who gave me my reference, principles, and values.”

In the two weeks we were in Africa, we met dozens of people who are making an extraordinary difference in this world…many you will never hear of….but who are alive today, and educated today, and committed to following Christ for the transformation of the world today….because of the commitment of people in our churches over the years to share the life changing, world changing Good News of Jesus Christ in this world. And I was thankful to be in the company of these saints, and to be a partner in ministry with you in our “mission shares”, which are touching young lives today who will be tomorrow’s world leaders.
Aren’t you glad….thankful….to be a part of this United Methodist movement also?
Grace and peace, Pete

That’s a nice way to start “News & Notes,” don’t you think? Well there’s more to share with you.

The first thing is to mention that Phyllis Casey’s brother, Lawrence Towne, died last Monday. His funeral was this afternoon. While his health hadn’t been good for quite some time, and while “no one would wish him back,” it’s still a loss. Please keep Phyllis and all her extended family in your prayers.

Our fellow church member, Sheryl Wentworth is in the hospital, with blood clots in her leg. This comes on top of broken vertebrae in her back!! God have mercy!! Please keep Sheryl in your prayers.

This Sunday morning, our worship services will be quite different. It is “Christ the King” Sunday in the church – the last Sunday of the Christian Year. Our services themselves will be the message. We’ll be tracing the entire Christian year, from Advent through Christ the King Sunday, in scripture and liturgy and song. I hope the service will be a blessing for you – as well as a learning experience – as well as a unique opportunity for you to experience Christ. A couple of the highlights of the services will be the baptism of two babies (at the first service) and the singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus,” from Handel’s “Messiah”! I truly hope you’ll do your best to attend worship on Sunday!!

On Sunday evening we’ll begin our Advent Study, at 7 PM. Our Student Intern, Karen Williams, and I will be co-leading the study, entitled “The Miracle of Christmas,” by James W. Moore. Only two people are signed up so far (well at least the leadership won’t outnumber the participants!!), and there’s still time to join the class. The same study will also be offered at Langdon Place (lead by Jinny Scott, I think) and Wentworth Home (lead by Judith Custer). And there’s interest in having another class – on another evening besides Sunday. Check all of this out on the rolling bulletin board in Hartford Hall!!

The “Holy Folders” arrived this morning to collate, fold, seal, address and mail the December issue of “The Bell-Wether.” What a great crew we have!! So you can look for all the wonderful things coming up, when your copy arrives in the mail. But let me just give you a heads-up, and extra reminder on a couple things.

The Wreath Making workshop is back by popular demand. It’ll be on Saturday, December 2nd, from 2 till 5 PM!! Yeah!!

“Hanging of the Greens” will take place on Sunday, December 3rd, at both services! It’ll be modified a bit, as we’ll be celebrating communion at those services, too. Most of the church will be decorated as you arrive – with just finishing touches occurring during the service. But explanations will be given for the meaning of all the symbols. I’ve never done a “Hanging of the Greens” service this way, and am looking forward to it!! I hope you will too.

Later in the afternoon (on Dec. 3rd), our Adult Music ministries will present “Together for Christmas” – this year’s cantata. It all begins at 3:30 PM.

On Friday, Dec. 8th, there will be a Public Supper – a New England Boiled Dinner – to raise money for scholarship assistance for our Mission Trip to Louisiana. I hope you’ll support this event. There are sign-up sheets in Hartford Hall.

Let me just list the next items to highlight:
Dec. 15th, 7:30 PM, Peter Mayer Concert at Dover High School
Dec., 24th, only one worship service in the morning – at 9:30 AM, to complete our Advent worship
Dec. 24th, at 6:30, 9 & 11 PM Christmas Eve Services

Did you see the large “lift” in the parking lot last weekend? The Trustees had rented it so Andy Galt and Tim MacKenzie could reach the bells in our tower – to make some needed repairs (have you noticed they haven’t been rung recently?). Well the lift was so heavy that it sank right into the lawn, and couldn’t be driven down to the tower. Rats!! We’ve got to wait until the ground freezes or dries out next spring, before we can try it again. Thanks for trying, Tim and Andy!!

Kudo’s to some of the youth that Bill Simon works with. I think the program is called Alternatives for Youth (though that might not even be close!). Bill brought the kids here on Tuesday to clean up the remnants of the “Pumpkin Patch.” A farmer had taken a good deal of what was there, but the kids cleaned up . . . shall we call it the “messier” . . . portion of the Patch. That was great, Bill. Please send our thanks to all the kids you work with.

You may recall that during Advent we light a candle on the Advent wreath each week, to help focus us on our journey toward Christmas. Many times we’ve had individuals or families light the candles. This year, there will be “characters” from first century Bethlehem, who will come to share their personal experiences of the child-king, who will light the candles.

Last Saturday’s Church Conference went well . . . I think. I want to extend my thanks for the affirmation that was made for me and the ministry that we conduct together at St. John’s Church. Those who attended the meeting were MOST kind, and I appreciate your expressions.

That’s it for today. I’m outta news and outta time! Continue to be thankful for all that God has given you!! See you in worship!! Grace & peace, Mark

11/24/06 St. John�s News & Notes

Greetings to you, my friends,

Let me begin this issue of �News & Notes,� for the day after
Thanksgiving, with a note from our Bishop, Pete Weaver:

*I HAVE RETURNED FROM **MOZAMBIQUE**, **AFRICA**, FULL OF THANKSGIVING
*for all God has done and is doing through our United Methodist movement
around the world. A small delegation of us went to visit President
Guebuza who expressed his profound thanksgiving for the impact the
United Methodist Church has made through churches, schools, hospitals
and leadership in Mozambique. He spoke with moving conviction about the
“values” of human rights, justice, peace, and hope that flow from the
Christian Gospel. And I was thankful to be a small part of this United
Methodist movement, representing those of you who faithfully lift up
your prayers and offerings every Sunday to support our missions in
thousands of places around the world.

As many of you have already heard or read, on the last night of the
Council of Bishops’ meeting we were unexpectedly blessed to have Nelson
Mandela and his spouse, Gracia Machel join us for dinner and share very
powerful witnesses to their faith and thanksgiving for their Methodist
upbringings. Both of them were born into extreme rural poverty. Both had
courageous mothers of faith who, at great personal sacrifice, made sure
their young children knew that God created them as worthy as any child
in the world, and sought for them the opportunity for education which
came through Methodist mission schools. And I thought of all the
Methodists in Britain (Mandela was educated in British Methodist schools
in South Africa) and America (Machel in United Methodist mission
schools) who “cast the bread” of their prayers and contributions “upon
the waters” decades and decades ago, never imagining that they were
investing in the tran sformation of the world through these two great
leaders.

Mandela is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and the father of freedom in South
Africa. Machel, the widow of Mozambique President Machel, became the
first woman Minister of Education for Mozambique in 1975. At
independence, 93% of the country was illiterate, with mission schools
providing most of the limited education that there was. Today,
illiteracy has dropped to 23% due in large measure to the work of Gracia
Machel. She said, “I am standing here mainly as a Methodist
child….From the Methodist Church I had an obligation to give back to
those who had supported me. I had to give back to the community.” One of
the three persons who most profoundly influenced her life was Mabel, an
United Methodist missionary, “who gave me my reference, principles, and
values.”

In the two weeks we were in Africa, we met dozens of people who are
making an extraordinary difference in this world…many you will never
hear of….but who are alive today, and educated today, and committed to
following Christ for the transformation of the world today….because of
the commitment of people in our churches over the years to share the
life changing, world changing Good News of Jesus Christ in this world.
And I was thankful to be in the company of these saints, and to be a
partner in ministry with you in our “mission shares”, which are touching
young lives today who will be tomorrow�s world leaders.

Aren’t you glad….thankful….to be a part of this United Methodist
movement also?

Grace and peace, Pete

That�s a nice way to start �News & Notes,� don�t you think? Well there�s
more to share with you.

The first thing is to mention that Phyllis Casey�s brother, Lawrence
Towne, died last Monday. His funeral was this afternoon. While his
health hadn�t been good for quite some time, and while �no one would
wish him back,� it�s still a loss. Please keep Phyllis and all her
extended family in your prayers.

Our fellow church member, Sheryl Wentworth is in the hospital, with
blood clots in her leg. This comes on top of broken vertebrae in her
back!! God have mercy!! Please keep Sheryl in your prayers.

This Sunday morning, our worship services will be quite different. It is
�Christ the King� Sunday in the church � the last Sunday of the
Christian Year. Our services themselves will be the message. We�ll be
tracing the entire Christian year, from Advent through Christ the King
Sunday, in scripture and liturgy and song. I hope the service will be a
blessing for you � as well as a learning experience � as well as a
unique opportunity for you to experience Christ. A couple of the
highlights of the services will be the baptism of two babies (at the
first service) and the singing of the �Hallelujah Chorus,� from Handel�s
�Messiah�! I truly hope you�ll do your best to attend worship on Sunday!!

On Sunday evening we�ll begin our Advent Study, at 7 PM. Our Student
Intern, Karen Williams, and I will be co-leading the study, entitled
�The Miracle of Christmas,� by James W. Moore. Only two people are
signed up so far (well at least the leadership won�t outnumber the
participants!!), and there�s still time to join the class. The same
study will also be offered at Langdon Place (lead by Jinny Scott, I
think) and Wentworth Home (lead by Judith Custer). And there�s interest
in having another class � on another evening besides Sunday. Check all
of this out on the rolling bulletin board in Hartford Hall!!

The �Holy Folders� arrived this morning to collate, fold, seal, address
and mail the December issue of �The Bell-Wether.� What a great crew we
have!! So you can look for all the wonderful things coming up, when your
copy arrives in the mail. But let me just give you a heads-up, and extra
reminder on a couple things.

The Wreath Making workshop is back by popular demand. It�ll be on
Saturday, December 2^nd , from 2 till 5 PM!! Yeah!!

�Hanging of the Greens� will take place on Sunday, December 3^rd , at
_both services_! It�ll be modified a bit, as we�ll be celebrating
communion at those services, too. Most of the church will be decorated
as you arrive � with just finishing touches occurring during the
service. But explanations will be given for the meaning of all the
symbols. I�ve never done a �Hanging of the Greens� service this way, and
am looking forward to it!! I hope you will too.

Later in the afternoon (on Dec. 3^rd ), our Adult Music ministries will
present �Together for Christmas� � this year�s cantata. It all begins at
3:30 PM.

On Friday, Dec. 8^th , there will be a Public Supper � a New England
Boiled Dinner � to raise money for scholarship assistance for our
Mission Trip to Louisiana. I hope you�ll support this event. There are
sign-up sheets in Hartford Hall.

Let me just list the next items to highlight:

Dec. 15^th , 7:30 PM, Peter Mayer Concert at Dover High School

Dec., 24^th , only one worship service in the morning � at 9:30 AM, to
complete our Advent worship

Dec. 24^th , at 6:30, 9 & 11 PM Christmas Eve Services

Did you see the large �lift� in the parking lot last weekend? The
Trustees had rented it so Andy Galt and Tim MacKenzie could reach the
bells in our tower � to make some needed repairs (have you noticed they
haven�t been rung recently?). Well the lift was so heavy that it sank
right into the lawn, and couldn�t be driven down to the tower. Rats!!
We�ve got to wait until the ground freezes or dries out next spring,
before we can try it again. Thanks for trying, Tim and Andy!!

Kudo�s to some of the youth that Bill Simon works with. I think the
program is called Alternatives for Youth (though that might not even be
close!). Bill brought the kids here on Tuesday to clean up the remnants
of the �Pumpkin Patch.� A farmer had taken a good deal of what was
there, but the kids cleaned up . . . shall we call it the �messier� . .
.. portion of the Patch. That was great, Bill. Please send our thanks to
all the kids you work with.

You may recall that during Advent we light a candle on the Advent wreath
each week, to help focus us on our journey toward Christmas. Many times
we�ve had individuals or families light the candles. This year, there
will be �characters� from first century Bethlehem, who will come to
share their personal experiences of the child-king, who will light the
candles.

Last Saturday�s Church Conference went well . . . I think. I want to
extend my thanks for the affirmation that was made for me and the
ministry that we conduct together at St. John�s Church. Those who
attended the meeting were MOST kind, and I appreciate your expressions.

That�s it for today. I�m outta news and outta time! Continue to be
thankful for all that God has given you!! See you in worship!! Grace &
peace, Mark

~Mark