First Congregational Church of Pembroke THE MESSENGER

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1 First Congregational Church of Pembroke THE MESSENGER January 2014 Number 220 At this time of year we often pause to reflect on the year just past... First off, we remember those saints whom God called home to heaven: Viola Boulet Barbara Matava Helen Oldfield John Saturley Hu Topliff (former pastor) Next, we rejoice and celebrate the marriage of Athena Petrin and James Clements! And, with apologies to Dr. Seuss, we look back on: "Oh, the Places We've Been!" in 2013 We began the new year with a worship mini-series on the "surprising statements Jesus made." Scout Sunday included the first ever "Webelos Band!!" 45 of our congregation participated in small groups for "Unbinding Your Heart" in February and March. Beginning with Easter, we embarked on a "Year of Invitation and Outreach." Much of what follows falls under that banner. In early April we held a "Celebration Breakfast" to culminate "Unbinding Your Heart" and commence the "Year of Invitation and Outreach." We held a most inspiring Annual Meeting of the Church on May 19th highlighted by updates on our new church structure and volunteers on-the-spot willing to fill all the vacancies on church committees. Talk about the Spirit working miracles! A very successful Yard Sale welcomed in the month of June. June 9 saw two major moments when Youth Sunday worship culminated the Sunday School year, and then we held a "Visioning for the Future" luncheon at which participants invoked the Spirit and discerned the direction for our church to progress in the next year. The Christian Education Team hosted a wonderful and well-attended cookout and pool party at the Chase's at the end of July. The week of August 4 was the true highlight of the year as everyone pitched in for Mission Possible 2014 Work Camp and the concurrent God's Backyard Bible Camp. This year we invited work campers from Deerfield Community Church to join us, and for the first time ever, ALL residents attended the Friday night dinner and program culminating the week's work! The Spirit was also very present motivating our Old Home Day Parade Float and Prayer Booth at the Memorial Field Gazebo. And who can forget those "praying hands" out in front of the church! Catamount Backyard Bible Camp was held in evenings the week of Sept. 9th. Teen Challenge presented very moving testimonials and sang songs and anthems. Our "Unbinding the Gospel" Steering Committee joined with their counterparts from Deerfield and Kittery, Maine to share insights and experiences in late September. Sunday School classes began again in September and covered these topics: Who is Jesus? (a pretty important question!); Making Choices; The Good Samaritan; and, Christmas around the world. A very committed and enthusiastic group of 8 Confirmands began meeting weekly in September with leadership from Bree Hamel and Rev. Jim.

2 Sunday worship in the fall--under the great guidance and inspiration of our Worship Team--focused on "ACTION:" Ask, Confess, Trust, Instruct, Overcome, Navigate. Adult Study Classes began in October and continued through Advent. The best ever Halloween Party including Scouts and friends from Catamount was held on October 26th under the creative leadership of Eric Pearson. Four church leaders and Rev. Jim attended the How to Reach New People workshop with Rev. Paul Nickerson on November The annual and always amazing Thanksgiving Baskets assembly included, for the first time, "turkey hand print" prayer invitations from our Sunday School children! December 14 saw two wonderful events: Jesus Birthday Party where some 18 children did crafts, ate lunch, and had a visit from Santa. Joyce Sanborn Memorial Concert featuring Trillium was held in the evening to the delight of all attending. Sunday afternoon, Dec. 22, saw a dedicated group of carolers head over to Catamount Hill and along with the carols delivered 141 gift bags to every mobile home in the park. Finally, the sanctuary was filled with some 139 worshippers-including many old friends, a few new ones from Catamount and the community, and students home for the holidays-for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight service. I can scarcely imagine where the Spirit will take us in 2014! Unbinding Your Soul (Lent) Adult study Jan-Feb Be on the lookout for where the Spirit leads! Presence in the community. Support PA, Scout, Music, Drama opportunities ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Craft Social Please join me in a weekly gathering to work on your favorite craft project, learn a new one or just be in a spirit of sharing with one another. Every Tuesday, beginning January 6:30-8:00 and running through Feb 25, I will have the coffee/tea/cocoa ready! For more information contact Diane Boisvert, Tel. # or jdboisvert92@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2014 Donation Envelopes The 2014 Donation envelopes are finally here! You can pick yours up at the Welcome Center just outside of the coat room in the Parish hall. The new envelopes are not numbered this year. If you are donating cash and would like a record of your donation for the year please place your name on the envelope.

3 Do you hear what I hear...? One of our most sung favorite hymns is "Here I Am, Lord". The refrain says this: "Here I am, Lord. Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart." Are you willing to go where God leads you in this new year? The worship theme for the weeks ahead is "Journey". Where is God calling you to serve Him? If you go where He leads, your journey will be the most fulfilling one you've ever embarked upon! It is easy to feel that our participation in Christ's service is insignificant, or to be overwhelmed with the immensity of the need among God's people. These feelings often lead us to indecision and non commitment, for fear we are not "qualified" or just can't do one more thing. That's not how God works. God does not call the equipped, He equips the called! And we, friends, are "the called"! It is time for us to prayerfully consider where God is leading us, and to go where He leads. How about this for starters? Have you ever considered how important the role of our greeters/ushers is? These folks set the tone of our worship experience as they are the first to welcome and greet everyone who walks in the door. They ensure that God's house is in order, and that all who enter are welcome and in God's presence! Serving as a greeter/usher is a very special ministry. In fact, hospitality is one of the Spiritual gifts! Do you have the gift of hospitality? Then you should be part of the greeter/usher team! Cecile Adams has answered God's call to serve in this role. But she can't do it alone. Cecile would like to lead a team of folks committed to serving as greeters/ushers to enhance our worship. You can serve once, or you can serve every month - it's your choice. You will see Cecile in the Parish Hall after church on some Sundays in January, with her warm smile, her calendar, and a very willing helping hand. Cecile's smile warms everyone's hearts, and her commitment and organization make working with her such a joy! Your only time commitment is on Sunday mornings on the dates you choose. No evening meetings, no "homework". It doesn't get easier than that! If God is calling you to serve His people in this way, do not delay in responding. In answering His call, you will be more blessed than you could ever hope or imagine! Eileen Herring Ministry Council

4 Stewardship Drive Results This year the Stewardship team decided to re-adopt the Quill program which teaches about giving through personal testimony. Through this process you should have received a letter of invitation to pledge from one of the volunteers on our Stewardship team. If you did not receive a letter and would still like to pledge there are pledge cards available at the Welcome Station in the Parish Hall or you may contact the church office. The results from this drive speak volumes to our willingness and desire as a congregation to give from our first fruits. I won t bore you with endless statistics about the success of the drive but I will say that our church is truly blessed with a generous and faithful membership. On behalf of the Stewardship team I would like to thank everyone who participated in this years drive and for your continued support of the ministries of our church. As you prepare your offering throughout 2014, whether it be writing your check or filling out an offering envelope, I pray that you will use that time to consider your blessings and raise up your offering to God in thanks and appreciation. And now for the results... Currently we have received 37 pledges and we expect to receive a few more before all is said and done. 8 Of the 37 pledges, nearly 22% were received from first time pledgers to our church! Of the 29 return pledging units we saw an average increase in giving of 35%. Total pledges for 2014 are $125,000 which is an average of $3,378 per giving unit (household). These numbers are truly something to celebrate! Marc Hall Ministry Council ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mitten Tree & Toys for Tots A Charlie Brown Christmas tree will be set up in Parish hall for those crafters (or not so crafty) to decorate with hats/mittens for delivery to Hill Elementary after Christmas holidays. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Support The Church With "SCRIP" Cards The Scrip program is a way that the church can earn money and all you have to do is buy things that you would buy anyway. This includes groceries, eating out and clothing. Order your cards online yourself with PrestoPay or simply see Marc Herring, Sundays after worship in the Parish House, or give him a call: (wk) or (hm). PLEASE REMEMBER BROWN BAG SUNDAY 2nd Sunday of each Month for January it is the 12th Benefits Ecumenical Food Pantry Items needed include: Ramen Noodles, Tuna, Peanut Butter Your support is much appreciated!

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6 TYPHOON HAIYAN The United Church of Christ issued an appeal for $250,000 to support Typhoon Haiyan response efforts. Typhoon Haiyan has killed as many as 10,000 people in the Philippines, the BBC reported. Nearly 4.5 million persons have been affected by the storm. Hardest hit is the central Philippine city of Tacloban, which is said to be flattened. Cities and towns in other parts of the Philippines are also facing huge losses. While the impact of the weakened typhoon in Vietnam is yet to be fully assessed, the UCC will respond there with recovery support if it is needed. Overall, the UCC will support the Long-term relief efforts which will most likely require multiple years for recovery. GIVE generously to support emergency relief and rebuilding efforts by going to and clicking on the link to make a secure online donation. Gifts may also be made at your local UCC congregation marked for "Typhoon Haiyan" with the request they be sent through your Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries. Donations may also be made out and sent directly to Wider Church Ministries, Financial Services - 6th Floor, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH Unbinding the Gospel Steering Committee Pip Adams, James Clements, Marie Chouinard, Judy Pearson, Angela Smith, Rev. Jim

7 Our Families Table Our Family's Table serves Free Meals at Suncook Methodist Church on Wednesdays. We are STILL in DESPARATE need of volunteer cooks. We also need an alternate person to make weekly bread run (usually Tues. afternoon or Wed. AM) Please speak with Pat Hill if you can help! Contact Information Sunday Worship and Children's Programs at 10 AM Church phone: Church Office Hours if possible, please call in advance to confirm Mondays - Closed Tuesdays - 9 am to 12 noon Wednesdays - 10 am to 2 pm Thursdays 9 am to 3 pm Fridays - 1 pm to 4 pm Unos Doughraiser Coupon for January 8th EAT IN or TAKEOUT! 20% of your food purchase will be donated back to the church