First Church Messenger

Transcription

1 First Church Messenger First Church was gathered in 1685 November 2011 Faith Alive Faith in Action Stewardship Reflection By Kathleen McIntyre My Eyes Were Opened In June of 1969, I joined with 30 youth and 5 adults on a faith journey that changed me forever. Our group travelled by bus from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Papago Indian Reservation of southern Arizona. After four very long days on the bus, travelling more than 2500 miles, our group was well acquainted and ready to begin our work of building a chapel for the Papagos on their land. As we worked in the 100+ degree heat of the stark desert, I quickly learned about the poverty and the tremendous need of the people. This part of the experience opened my eyes and deepened my faith, but additional lessons were learned as I watched the 5 adults that had given up 18 days of their summer to be part of this summer youth trip. In addition to the very young, youth minister and his pregnant wife, three elderly men of my home church had joined with us on our western journey. One was a plumber, one was an electrician, and the third was a carpenter. They had the skills that were needed in this building project. Even though we had an age difference of more than fifty years, we learned from them as they worked their trades and they ever so patiently taught us along the way. Sleeping in bed rolls each night on the very hard floors was a great challenge for them. While the men seemed to enjoy the youth, they developed a friendship among themselves that was evidenced in their aging kindred spirits. I saw these men put their faith into action as we all worked together to complete our mission project. While I am sure that some of my memories have faded by the long passage of time, the change that I experienced in my faith after that 18 day mission trip is still very real to me. Others at The First Church have had similar opportunities as they have gone on recent mission trips. They too have witnessed individuals and groups putting their faith in action. Before that mission trip of my youth, my faith was alive as I participated in the church choir, youth group, and other church activities, but it was only after my return that I really knew the deeper meaning of my faith. Faith in action opens eyes and changes lives. The theme of our First Church Stewardship Campaign for this year is once again Faith Alive, but with additional emphasis placed on Faith in Action. As our eyes are opened and our faith grows deeper, so our personal commitment of time and finances grows. In the weeks to come, stewardship packets will be arriving at our homes, and Stewardship Sunday will be celebrated at The First Page 1 Church. As we each prayerfully consider our financial pledge to The First Church let us each think about our faith and how our eyes have been opened to the work of Christ in His kingdom here on earth. In Reflection Being Yourself by Craig Plummer Esse Quam Videri To be, rather than to seem. I recently read these words, not in an old and cracked Latin text book, but instead in the Blog written by an admissions officer at a prominent institution of higher learning. These words, and the sentiment behind them, truly reflect my philosophy when working with students on the brink of applying to college. Should I join the community service club this year? Should I quit the soccer team or will that look bad on my application? These questions and others like them lead me to respond with questions of my own. Why do you want to join the community service club? Has soccer lost its appeal to you? In essence I want the students and their families to truly look at themselves and decide who they are. What do they enjoy doing? Where do their passions lie? Only when students answer these questions honestly can they move on to the next step; deciding where to allocate their limited time. (Being yourself Continued on page 3)

2 First Church of Nashua United Church of Christ 1 Concord St., Nashua, NH Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 10:00a.m. Sunday School & Child Care: 10:00a.m. Fellowship: 11:00a.m. The Rev. James S. Chaloner, Sr. Minister The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey C. Evans, Assoc. Minister Patricia C. Harris, M.Ed., Min. Christian Ed. Joseph R. Olefirowicz, CAGO, Minister of Music Diane Matthes, Sunday School Superintendent Pamela Hickey, Admin. Asst./Financial Secretary Sue Englander, Secretary/Receptionist Paul Bonenfant & David Winn, Sextons Office Hours: 9:00a.m.-Noon and 1:00p.m.- 4:30p.m. Monday thru Friday 8:00 10:00a.m. & 11:00a.m. Noon Sunday Telephone: On the web: All Boards meet on Monday, November 7. The evening begins with worship at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. The Ladies Lunch Bunch will dine at The Common Man, 304 DW Highway, Merrimack, on Wednesday, November 9. All First Church women, members and friends, are welcome. Please call Donna Scott-Hober , for more information and to reserve a place. The Men s Munchers will dine at Estabrook Grill, 57 Palm St., Nashua, on Tuesday, November 1, at 12:00 noon. Contact Dick Zoerb, Women s Association Book Group- Join us on Sunday, November 20, 6:30-8:30 PM, Room 15, Walker Building for discussion of Shelter Me by Juielette F a y. C o n t a c t S u z a n n e R e g a n, sdregan@comcast.net or with questions. The Social Justice Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, November 15, at 7:00 PM in room 15, of the Walker Building. The In-Reach Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 15, at 7:00 PM in room 10, of the Walker Building. The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 PM in the Family Room next to the Shaw Chapel. All knitters and/or crocheters interested in the Prayer Shawl Ministry are welcome to attend. Help is available for those who don t know how to knit or crochet. Contact Cheryl Cerato, PSM Coordinator, , or chezbah@msn.com for more information. Baptism Any adult desiring to be baptized or to have their child baptized is asked to call the church office to schedule an appointment with one of the pastors. Orientation Class All those considering becoming members of our faith community are invited to attend an orientation class and luncheon on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 11:30 AM in the dining room. Childcare will be provided. All who attend and decide to join the church will do so on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at the 10:00 AM worship service. For more information or to register for the class, please call the church office. Hospitalizations If you or a family member is hospitalized please contact the church office. The monthly newsletter is available via online notification. If you would like to receive the newsletter this way, and not by snail mail, please do the following: go to the First Church website, then go to Resources, drop down to News and then Newsletter. There you will see a place to sign up to have the newsletter ed to you. Please contact Sue for more information and to let her know that you wish to be removed from the newsletter mailing list. The weekly sermon information and bulletins are also available online. the staff at: jchaloner@firstchurchnashua.org jevans@firstchurchnashua.org pharris@firstchurchnashua.org jolefirowicz@firstchurchnashua.org phickey@firstchurchnashua.org senglander@firstchurchnashua.org dmatthes@firstchurchnashua.org Help Keep our Records Current. If you have a change of name, address, phone number or address please let the church office know. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list let us know that as well. Thank you. 2 THE DEADLINE FOR THE DECEM- BER/JANUARY NEWSLETTER ITEMS IS MONDAY NOVEMBER 14. PLEASE SEND ITEMS TO SUE ENGLANDER. SEE PAGE 7 FOR RELATED ARTICLE. Sympathy is extended to Walter Dankhoff and family on death of his wife, Julie; to Cindy Lelievre and family on the death of her father on September 4; to Randy Wilson and family on the death of his mother on September 25; to the friends and family of Dorothy Iverson who died October 9; and to Sue Lajoie and family on the death of her husband, Ray on October 25. Congratulations to Ron and Nancy Brickey on the birth of their granddaughter Lauren Ashley; to Shane and Corrine Zeman on the birth of Josiah Sam on September 21; to grandparents John and Lyn Micklovich on the birth of Teaghan Ann; and to grandparents Steve and Sue Haas on the birth of Ella on September 28. Congratulations to Don and Zenalia Eaves who married on August 6 ; and to Jim and Maribeth Stone who married on September 10.

3 (Being Yoursellf Continued from page 1) My advice to students is always the same, follow your true passions. For the mainstream athlete this may mean a travel team. For the budding equestrian hours upon hours of lessons are in store. For the nascent philanthropist researching what the needs are in a community and deciding how best to address them. The passion will always shine through. As members of First Church, Stacey and I have made a conscious decision to not only participate passionately in the life of our amazing church community, but also to provide our children with the opportunity to find their own passions. As they grow we see them becoming more and more involved. Both childrens interest in music and theater certainly had its beginnings in Chapel Chimers while witnessing Stacey s journey to South Dakota has instilled a strong desire in both of them to get involved in the mission program as soon as possible. I cannot help but be excited for all of the opportunities they will have because of their growing passion and not simply to fill in lines on an application. As I listen to an increasingly anxious population of families concerned that their children will never get into college unless they have a five page resume filled with world changing activities I say these two words. Be Yourself. A sentiment echoed by my colleagues in admissions offices around the country. For only in doing this will you ever achieve true happiness in the college application process and, more importantly, in life. Cookie Sale Sunday, December 4 The Mission Trip Task Force will hold its annual Christmas cookie sale to benefit the 2012 mission trips. Watch the weekly bulletins for more information. Come One, Come All! You re invited to the Fair on Friday, November 4 th from 4-8 PM (includes the public) and Saturday, November 5 th from 9 AM-2 PM. Shop for one of a kind items, have lunch, see friends and support the Pastoral Aid Fund that helps individuals in emergency situations throughout the year. There will be a wide variety of gifts and decorations, yummy baked goods made by church members, a large silent auction, New to You Christmas items at great prices, and hand knit and crocheted gifts. Lunch is offered by The Weathervane Restaurant in Nauss Hall this year from 11 AM 1:30 PM and the Thrift Shop will be open from 9 AM until noon. Go to for a preview of our unique and handmade items for sale. If you d like to volunteer the day of the Fair, call Carolyn Mulrooney at or Jocelyn Henning at as soon as possible. Thanks for helping us make the Fair a success and raise money for the Pastoral Aid Fund. New Option offered for Church Pledges Beginning in January 2012, you will be able to have your pledge to First Church deducted directly from your checking account. You no longer will have to worry about writing a weekly, monthly or quarterly check, and you will be able to keep up with your pledge to the church even when you are not able to attend the weekly service. For monthly pledges, you 3 can select to have the money withdrawn on the 1 st or 15 th of each month. For weekly pledges, the money is withdrawn each Friday. The Nashua Bank is generously providing this service to our congregation at no charge. A form will be included in the 2012 Stewardship packages for those who are interested in participating. There has been a small test group utilizing the service since the beginning of this year, and we are happy to report that the service has been flawless. For those of us who would still like to put something in the plate each week, you can still request pledge envelopes and drop those in the offering plate as you wish. If you have any questions about this service, please contact the church office. Church Women United to Celebrate World Community Day 2011 Friday, November 4, 2011 Nashua Presbyterian Church 1010 West Hollis St Nashua, NH 9:30 AM: Coffee & Fellowship 10:30 AM: Service The theme, Living Our Faith, Unlocking Action, relates the goals from Micah of justice and mercy to Jesus demand that we reexamine our own hypocrisy. Only then can action be unlocked. Salvation Army Captain Norma Moore will be our speaker. All women are invited to attend. For information call Bobbie Knickerbocker,

4 Provide Someone with a Thanksgiving Meal If you would be interested in supplying a Thanksgiving meal for a family in the community (either by yourself or with other church families or individuals), please see either Carol Butler ( ) or Judy Root ( ) on Sunday, November 6 following the service. We usually have at least 22 families and individuals who come to the church asking for assistance for Thanksgiving dinner and each year we have been able to meet these requests through the generosity of many of our First Church families. Annual White Dove/ Silver Dove Program to Begin The sign-up for the annual White Dove/Silver Dove Program will occur on Sundays, November 13, November 27 and December 1. (Please note...no sign up on November 20). For the past several years, many families and individuals from First Church have joined together to assist in making a Christmas for many families and senior citizens in our community who might otherwise be alone and forgotten on this holiday. For many families in our church, participating in the White Dove/ Silver Dove Program has become a very important, much-anticipated part of their own Christmas tradition. If you have any questions about this program prior to the sign-up dates, please call Carol Butler ( ). If you are not able to participate in the general program but would be willing to donate food to supplement what is given to these families, please contact Carol. If you would be interested in helping deliver the gifts to the families on Sunday, December 18, after the 11 AM service, please either see Carol or give her a call. The more people we have involved in the delivery process, the easier it is. Help Decorate the Church for Christmas Come join this yearly tradition, on Friday, November 25 th at 7 PM. It is a fun evening of fellowship that is always enjoyed by all. Look for sign-ups in Fellowship Hall, call the church office or contact Melissa S a k e l l a r ( o r jmsakellar@comcast.net). Health Ministry Offers Old Fashioned Remedies Grandma s Cures: Old & New Fashioned Folk Remedies Sometimes it is okay to give some natural remedies a try for the minor things that can affect us! However, if infections, sore throats and coughs are not clearing up, it is always best to see your doctor! Stuffy nose peppermint Altoids will clear up a stuffy nose. Achy muscles from flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles. Sore throat & cough mix ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (organic preferred) with ¼ cup of honey and take 1 Tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria, the honey soothes the cough. 4 Skin blemishes cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Toenail fungus get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again. Splinter removal pour a drop of Elmer s Glue over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue. Broken blister dab on a few drops of Listerine to disinfect. Bruises soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process. The Health Ministry Team wishes you a healthy and Happy Thanksgiving! Space still available for Adult Winter Retreat The Adult Winter Retreat will be held on the weekend of January 27-29, The retreat is held at the Marie Joseph Spiritual Center located right beside the ocean, in Biddeford Pool, Maine. Rev. Jim and Rev. Jeff will be the leaders this year. The cost for the weekend is $ per person and includes lodging for two nights and 5 meals. A nonrefundable deposit of $75 per person is due by November 18, For more information and to reserve a space, please call Pam in the church office. All previous and new retreaters must reserve a space.

5 Mission: 1 11/1/11 11/11/11 One United Church on a shared mission to feed the hungry and confront food-related injustice Is this not the fast that I choose, to loose the bonds of injustice, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor in your house? Isaiah 58:6-7 Holy One, protect them in your name, those that you have given me, so that they may all be one, as we are one. John 17:11b What is Mission: 1? Mission:1 is an opportunity to make real Jesus prayer for his disciples: That they may all be one. It is also an opportunity to live out our faith in unity by offering the worship that God most desires from us: loosening the bonds of injustice and sharing our bread with the hungry. The staggering facts compel us to act with compassion and to be voices for justice. 925 million people still suffer from chronic hunger worldwide. In the United States alone, 50.2 million people, including 17.2 million children, are food insecure. They do not have the money or assistance to provide food for themselves and their families. We can be God s instruments of change. For the first 11 days of November, United Church of Christ congregations, colleges, seminaries, and health and human service agencies, will join in a collective mission campaign. The purpose of Mission: 1 is to have UCC folk participate in three separate, but related offerings. The first goal is to collect more than one million food items for local food banks. The second is to raise $111,111 in donations (through envelopes and on-line) for Neighbors in Need and $111,111 for East Africa famine relief. The third goal is to write 11,111 letters to Congress (in support of Bread for the World s 2011 Offering of Letters campaign) asking that U.S. foreign assistance be reformed to more effectively serve the world s poorest and hungriest people. For First Church s participation in Mission: 1, the Board of Christian Outreach has set its own challenge goals. The goal for Neighbors in Need is $1,111. This offering, for donations made using NIN envelopes, will be received on Sunday, November 6. If you prefer to donate on-line, please go to click on the button donate now ; under search by name scroll to Neighbors in Need. The goal for the Healthy Food Items is eleven items from each member. Please bring donations of food items to the church beginning on Tuesday, November 1. (See next page) Please leave items in the reception area adjacent to Fellowship Hall in the corner to the right of the fireplace. The chairpersons of the Holiday Fair have graciously allowed Outreach to reserve that section of the room during the Fair. Members of Outreach will build a Mountain of Food in that corner from donated items. The primary day to bring in your food offering is Sunday, November 6. The final day of the offering is Sunday, November 13. During the 10 o clock worship service, our Sunday School students will participate in the offering with their annual Food Procession. The goal for the Offering of Letters is 111 letters. A sample letter is available at the Outreach Booth with traditional and electronic mail addresses for our two Senators and Representatives. On Sunday, November 13 at the 10 o clock worship service, in addition to the food procession, there will be a Litany of Celebration and Blessing for the Neighbors in Need Offering, 5 the Offering of Letters, and the Healthy Food Offering made by First Church as part of Mission: 1. Mr. Green Jeans says Do you find that you sometimes throw out a lot of food? Here are some ways to prevent food from going to waste. 1. Plan meals for the week and stick to it. Take a grocery list to the store. 2. Store extra bits of food in freezer like half an onion and small pieces of carrot, then use later in soups. 3. Make croutons from heels of bread or make bread pudding. 4. Leftover pieces of chicken or fish can be used in salads the next day or in soups. 5. Freeze leftover rice, soup, sauces. Use an ice cube tray for purees and sauces to make gravy later. 6. Serve correct portion size to cut waste and calories. You should get 2 servings from a boneless skinless chicken breast. Freeze what you don't eat right away to cut down on what you are scraping off the plate. 7. Don't put scraps in the trash; compost them for your garden. 8. Be a savvy shopper with a menu plan for the week, and serve proper portions. You will save money and preserve our natural resources.

6 Help build a mountain of food and hope. For 11 days in early November, the entire United Church of Christ will make good on its that they all be one motto with a coordinated mission campaign to gather more than one million food and household items for local food banks and to marshal its 5300 congregations to advocate collectively and loudly for hunger-related causes, both domestically and around the world. as asked by the United Church of Christ. ( The Christian Outreach Board of The First Church asks your help to build a mountain of food on Sunday, 11/6/11. Help us reach our goal of providing 11,111 food/personal/household items to the Nashua Soup Kitchen by each church member contributing at least 11 pieces of hope. If you are not able to be at church on 11/6/11, donations will be accepted at the church between 1/1/11 and 1/13/11 during office hours. Please leave your donation near the fireplace in the reception area (next to Fellowship Hall where coat racks are located). Suggested food/household items (please all non perishable and non-glass): Soup, any brand, any type Peanut butter Beans, any brand, any type, dry (bagged) or canned Cereal Pasta and sauce Diapers, medium, large, or X-large; any brand, any size package Body wash/bar soap Toothbrushes/toothpaste Shampoo New tube socks to keep feet warm In combination with the Sunday School food procession on Sunday, November 13 th, we can build a mountain of hope! In faith, hope, and peace, The Outreach Board 6

7 In-Reach Celebrates Membership It was very exciting for us to recognize our past church members who have been members for 50 years or more, as well as this year s two newest honorees: Rev. James Chaloner and Eli Whitney. On the very same day we welcomed our new members into our church family: Faith Armington, Vicki Cullen, Jeanne Fitzgerald, David and Jennifer Hotham and David and Karen Parsons. What a beautiful example of the circle of church life, the new supported by the more experienced. The reception for both was lovely and everyone enjoyed cake in their honor! It was a nice celebration of membership. Our project of knitting wool caps for the troops continues, so stop by the In-Reach table to pick up that information if you are a knitter. The Sharing Dinners Sign up will continue in January and February for a March start-up again. It is a great way to meet other members in our church family. We have an exciting co-adventure coming up in November, joining with Social Justice and Outreach. After church on November 6 there will be an OPEN CIRCLE WALK. (See related article following this one.) If you have any questions about this wonderful connection, contact Ralph Mack from Social Justice. This will be a way for us to voluntarily and prayerfully spend 20 minutes exploring the neighborhoods that surround our church. Reaching In is what we do best and if any one of you have an idea for how else you feel we can better connect folks, please do not hesitate to contact Sue Haas at Have a grateful and blessed Thanksgiving. Change for the January Newsletter Because of the busy December schedule, we are going to try something a little different this year. We will not publish a January newsletter. The information that would normally be included in that newsletter will be published in the December newsletter. Board chairs, please convey this to your board members and subcommittees so they can prepare accordingly. A notice will be sent out to inform folks of the change. Feel free to contact Sue, in the church office, with any questions or feedback. Committees Sponsor Open Circle Walk In our lives, we drive to church, we do things here, and then we drive home. Walking in pairs a few blocks from our door, seeing and reflecting, God can guide us on how we can be a part of the neighborhood in which we worship. Please join us on November 6th after the 10 AM service for a short walk in the neighborhood, sponsored by the In-Reach, Outreach, and Social Justice committees. The walks are designed to take no more than 20 minutes, with prayer and reflection together afterward. The walk will involve several routes so different people will be doing different walks and experiencing different parts of the neighborhood. We will pray before and after in pairs and then get together to discuss and reflect on our experiences and what insights we have received along our different paths. We are encouraging people to pray and walk with people they may not know well rather than with close friends, as doing so engages us in the practice of opening ourselves to being a part of a larger community. If you are interested, just show up. If you have questions, contact Ralph Mack, , Jim Casey, , Sue Haas, , or any of the members of the Social Justice, In-Reach, or Outreach committees. November 11/02 Davis Bryant 11/08 Jeanne Fitzgerald 11/11 Evie Marshall 11/15 Suzanne Shattuck 11/15 Carroll Towle 11/16 Shirley Van Vliet 11/19 Millie Lyford 11/20 Walter Dankhoff 11/20 Barbara Gale 11/21 Lars Christiansen 11/26 Kay Schell 11/27 Dick Zoerb 11/27 Richard Lamerand 11/30 Martha Smith Labyrinth Walk The First Church labyrinth will be available to walk on Tuesday, November 29, 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM, in Fellowship Hall. The Board of Deacons invites you to partake of a quiet and peaceful walk. 7

8 Christian Education Corner Sign up for Free Leaf Raking! CHAOS, the Senior High youth group, will rake yards for Nashua residents who need help with this annual chore. Nominate a friend, neighbor or family member who needs help raking leaves this fall and members of Senior High CHAOS will show up between 12:30and 2:30 PM on the afternoon of Sunday, November 6 to take care of it. If you are among the first to sign up, a carload of teen and adults will pull up to the house of your nominee, rake their yard, bag the leaves and disappear into the afternoon. There is no charge for this service; it is the youth s gift to the community. To make a nomination, please provide your name and telephone number, as well as the name, telephone number and street address of your nominee. CHAOS will contact that person to make arrangements so that this service can be a nice surprise, not a startling invasion! Because of time constraints, only yards in Nashua can be accommodated. Please do not assume your name is on the list. Contact Pat at or pharris@firstchurchnashua.org. Homeowners: you must provide the bags if you want your leaves bagged. Sunday School Food Drive Each November the children of First Church participate in a major food drive for the Nashua Soup Kitchen. Non-perishable food and paper products can be brought to the classrooms any time, but should be in no later than November 13. This is a tremendous service for the Greater Nashua community and helps teach our children about the joy and importance of giving to others. Please be as generous as you can. Children will process into the sanctuary with their classes during the 10 AM service on November 13, returning to the classrooms for the remainder of the Sunday school period. Confirmation The confirmation year is well underway with high school youth and their adult mentors exploring issues of faith, working on service projects, becoming better acquainted with themselves, each other and First Church. CONFIRMATION November 6, 8:30-11:15 AM: Confirmands worship in the sanctuary at 8:30, then gather in the Fireside Room for class on the topic of God as Creator. Bring something you have created: a craft, art, writing, etc. Mission Project Proposals are due. Bring in-church and community service proposals to class or them ahead of time to pharris@firstchurchnashua.org November 13, 9:40 AM-1:00 PM: 9:40 AM: Confirmands and mentors gather in the dining room to walk together to the Unitarian Universalist Church on Lowell Street for worship. 11:15 AM: Confirmands and mentors return to First Church for lunch in the dining room, followed by an historical tour of First Church. Class ends at 1:00 PM. 8 SPIRIT SPIRIT stands for Serving, PrayIng, RejoicIng Together. It s the name given to the fellowship group for all students in Grades 7 and 8. Everyone is welcome. Sunday, November 6, 5:30-7:30 PM: Regressive Dinner. Gather at church by 5:30, travel to three different homes for dessert, entrée and appetizer, in that order. Return to church by 7:30 PM. Sunday, November 13, 2:00 PM: The Sound of Music! SPIRIT s own Craig Neth is in the orchestra and several other First Church members are in the cast, including Cayden Plummer, Katrina, Cindy and Jon Fisher. Don Smith-Weiss is the set designer. SPIRIT has group tickets. Contact Pat to buy your ticket: pharris@firstchurchnashua.org. CHAOS CHAOS is the Senior High youth fellowship group. CHAOS stands for Christ Honored and Others Served. The group meets on Sunday afternoons or evenings for fun and service. Sunday, November 6, 11:30 AM- 3:00 PM: Stealth Raking! A huge hit the past several years and a huge service for the older people of our community. Bring rakes, work gloves and your lunch and meet in the parlor at 11:15. Carpool to various neighborhoods throughout Nashua doing good deeds. Sunday, November 13, 2:00 PM: The Sound of Music will be performed by the Actorsingers at the

9 Elm Street auditorium. Several First Church folks are in the cast and crew. Contact Pat to buy your ticket: Sunday, November 20, 11:15 AM- 1:30 PM: Santa Fund Shopping! Come to the dining room at 11:15 for pizza, then it s off to WalMart to shop till you drop for the Telegraph Santa Fund. Return to church by 1:30 PM. MAD MAD 7 th and 8 th graders Make A Difference (MAD) each Sunday morning. Students participate in Drama or Service. Last month MAD combined efforts to raise $900 for the mission trip fund by picking and peeling apples, and baking apple pies at Crosby Bakery. A huge thank you to Mike and Gale Cummings of Crosby Bakery for providing the spices, crusts, boxes, expertise and kitchen for this annual project. Thanks, also, to Apple Girl Carly Lovas for lending her marketing expertise. Also in October, Jay Darrin drove a bus load of MAD students and advisors to Heifer International s Overlook Farm in Rutland, MA, to learn more about Heifer s worldwide efforts to alleviate hunger. November MAD activities include: Drama: The MAD drama group will continue to rehearse for the Advent Event. Drama will meet in Nauss Hall on Sundays, November 6, 13 and 20. Service: November service activities include cooking, assisting with the Sunday school food procession, and playing with the children at the Norwell. On Sunday, November 27, all MAD students worship with their families in the sanctuary at the 10 AM service. Students leave the sanctuary on the second hymn, gathering in Nauss Hall for all-mad discussion and activities. Basic Bible for Beginners Basic Bible for Beginners is a twosession class offered at various times throughout the year for anyone looking to become acquainted or reacquainted with the wonders of the Bible. Pat Harris will lead the final 2011 sessions on Wednesdays, November 9 and 16, 7:00-8:30 PM, in room 15. Call the church office or sign up at the CE Corner in Fellowship Hall. If you have a Bible, bring it. If not, a Bible will be provided for you. This class is designed to be very non-threatening, informative and fun. Everyone is grade 8 and older is welcome. Advent Event The annual Advent Event will be held on Sunday, December 4, 5:30-7:00 PM, immediately following the 9 Christmas Concert. People of all ages are sure to enjoy this time of fun, food and fellowship! There is no cost for the dinner. Bring either a main dish or a side dish (salad or such) to feed 8-10 people. Please bring your food, fully prepared, to the kitchen before the 3:30 PM concert. Ovens will be on to keep food warm and ready to be served by 5:30. Following the Pot Luck Family Supper in the dining room, the MAD Drama Troupe will present O Little Town of Bennington! on the stage in Nauss Hall. This promises to be a festive day of music, food and Advent fun for all. First Church goes to Heifer International Learning Center at Overlook Farm When: July 16-20, 2012 Who: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade First Church youth and adult chaperones What: Summer Alternative Break Program (4-nights) Where: Overlook Farm in Rutland, MA The mission of Heifer International is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the Earth. Through the Summer Action Program our group will become empowered to take action to change the world. During our time at the Overlook Farm Learning Center, our group will engage in a series of activities that promote team-building, cooperation, and communication skills. We hope to instill a better understanding of global hunger and poverty, their causes and possible solutions; and inspire a desire to enact change as a global citizen. The Mission Trip Task Force is offering this pre-mission opportunity so that our younger youth can engage in activities that will foster their understanding and passion for mission. Minimum Age: Rising 6th Grade Youth Adult to Youth Ratio: 1:7 Cost: Approximately $225 per person depending on enrollment Tuition Fees Include: Transportation, program activities, lodging and meals. Complete a Summer Action at Overlook Farm Application and turn it in to the church office along with your $25.00 deposit no later than Sunday, November 20th. Attend mission trip meetings and mission trip fundraising activities to become part of the First Church Mission Trip team. For more information, contact Nancy Rottman, or nancer@comcast.net.

10 Notes from the Chancel Chancel Choir to Lead Music at Interfaith Thanksgiving This year, First Church has the honor of hosting the Interfaith Thanksgiving worship service for Nashua. On Tuesday November 22, at 7:30 PM, come represent your church community as we host this city-wide event. The Chancel Choir will lead the musical offerings that evening, including an anthem in the Hebrew language, based on Psalm 19:14, from the 1931 Ernest Bloch masterp i e c e, S i l e n t D e v o t i o n a n d Reponse, from the Sacred Service. Take a time out of the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving week to unite with your brothers and sisters of all faiths! All-Church Choir Following the grand flash mob choir of about 60 singers on Rally Sunday as an awareness of the musical talent within our congregation, and as announced in the September newsletter, the All-Church Choir project- new to the music ministry this season- offers an opportunity to those in the congregation who may not have the time to commit fully to one of our regular ensembles, or perhaps just wish to try out the music ministry to see if it is a place where they can find a home, serving the Lord through song at The First Church. The contemporary cantata: A STAR TO FOLLOW (by Douglas Wagner) will be offered as the second half of the Christmas Concert on December 4 at 3:30 PM, in the Sanctuary. The flexible rehearsal schedule is posted below, and we ask that participants make at least three rehearsals, including the required dress rehearsal date. Contact the music office ( x15) or jolefirowicz@firstchurchnashua.org to register. All voice parts (SATB) are needed, as the choir is completely independent of the regular adult and youth ensembles. Ages high school through adult are welcome! Sunday, November 6 11:30am 1:00pm Saturday, November 12 10:00 11:30am Sunday, November 20 11:30am 1:00pm Monday, November 28 7:00pm 8:30pm (suggested) Saturday, December 3 12:30pm 3:00pm (required dress rehearsal) The All-Choir Pizza Luncheon Celebrating the diversity of our music ministry, members of all choirs (Chapel Chimers, Joyful Noise, Jubellation, First Schola, First Chamber, First Folk, Chancel Choir, Decibells) are invited to a pizza luncheon sponsored by the music committee on December 3 at 11:30 AM in the dining room. This event is a great time for all choirs to get together to share a fun meal (parents of the younger members are also more than welcome!) prior to the dress rehearsal for the Christmas Concert at 12:30 PM, which runs until approximately 3:00 PM. (Chapel Chimers, Joyful Noise, and Jubellation should finish by around 1:30, 1:45 at the latest) Come and share in the fun together! The All-Church Pot Luck Following in the long tradition of a Pot Luck before the Advent Event, the Christmas Concert on Sunday December 4, at 3:30 PM, will be followed by an all-church potluck in 10 the Dining Room at approximately 5:30 PM. This year s Advent Event has been scheduled on the same day as the concert, to try to encourage our entire membership to support both programs. The potential of food and fellowship when Christian Education and Music Ministries unite is an exciting prospect. (See related article on page 9.) We ask that food be brought to the dining room prior to the concert, be fully prepared, and the ovens will be on to keep food warm for the few hours prior to the feast. Come as you are, and experience the culinary delights of First Church, as the Music and Christian Ed ministries dovetail their offerings into an exciting Advent afternoon at church! Sunday, November 6 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Communion Sunday 8:30 Chancel Choir 10:00 Chancel Choir Joyful Noise Sunday, November 13 22nd Sunday after Pentecost 8:30 First Chamber 10:00 Chancel Choir First Chamber Sunday, November 20 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Stewardship Sunday 8:30 & 10:00 First Folk & Decibells Tuesday, November 22 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service 7:30 PM Chancel Choir Sunday, November 27 First Sunday of Advent 8:30 & 10:00 Dana Schnitzer, soprano

11 Come One! Come All! The First Church of Nashua Music Ministry presents A Christmas Concert December 4 at 3:30 PM featuring The All-Church Choir (a new ensemble presenting an exciting modern cantata!) Chapel Chimers Decibells First Chamber First Folk First Schola Joyful Noise Jubellation Admission is free Bring the whole family! Stay after the concert for the and the Stay after the concert for the All-Church Potluck CE Ministry s Advent Event! 11

12 First Church, United Church of Christ 1 Concord Street Nashua NH Published monthly September through June at Nashua, NH by the First Church, UCC. November 2011 issue Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Nashua NH Permit No. 365 Return Service Requested Faith Alive Faith in Action CELEBRATORY BRUNCH Sunday, November 20, :30 AM First Church members and friends are invited to brunch to celebrate Stewardship Sunday. Sign up in Fellowship Hall on Sundays November 6 and 13 or call the church office, , by November 17. A gluten free entrée will be offered Holiday Fair Friday, November 4 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Saturday, November 5 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM * Crafts * Knitted Items * Baked Goods * * Cheese * Jams * Jellies * Candies * * Silent Auction * New-to-You items * * Gift Baskets * Decorations * Lunch Café * See page 3 for more information. Poinsettias for Christmas Sunday Orders for Poinsettias will be taken after services on November 27, December 4 and December 11. An order form will be included in the December newsletter or you may stop by the table in Fellowship Hall. Contact the church office with any questions. The Interfaith Thanksgiving service will be held at First Church on Tuesday, November 22, at 7:30 PM. Music will be provided by the Chancel Choir and representatives from the area faith communities will participate. All are welcome to attend.