December 15, The Congregational Church of Laconia United Church of Christ 18 Veterans Square Laconia NH

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1 December 15, 2017 The Congregational Church of Laconia United Church of Christ 18 Veterans Square Laconia NH (603) (603) fax Church Staff Interim Senior Pastor: Rev. Ed Koonz Associate Pastor: Rev. Paula B. Gile Office Administrator: Financial Secretary: Director of Music: Sexton: Jessica Alward Carolyn Jorgensen K. Robert Bengtson Chuck Laurent **Office hours 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P. M. Monday thru Friday A Note from Paula- One my way to the grocery store and in a hurry to get something for dinner, the car in front of me suddenly stopped. A little annoyed, I wondered what the person was doing. Then I saw a person slowly crossing the street and realized that the person in front of me was being compassionate and kind.waiting for the person struggling with a light coat to cross the street on this miserable wet and cold evening. In my hurried state of mind, I stopped for a moment and gave thanks for the safety of the person crossing the street and for the young person in the car in front of me who was living out the true spirit of love and compassion in their life that evening by stopping. My heart was filled with joy at the thoughtfulness of this young man; I was embarrassed by my own impatience and reminded of the importance of simple acts of kindness. I was reminded of the meaning of Christmas; love, hope, joy and peace for all. Sometimes that means being patient; sometimes it means sacrificing; sometimes it means sharing and caring for others. Oh that we could all live everyday with the spirit of Christmas in our hearts.

2 Advent & Christmas Tidings Dear Members & Friends, It s beginning to look a lot like Christmas but not at our house. Our daughters are not going to be home this year, so Barb and I going minimalist in our decorating. There will be no Christmas tree, no Christmas lights on the bushes, and no candles in the windows. No angel chimes will chime, no wreath will hang on the front door or the windows. From the street, our house appears as barren as the house next to us and the house across the street. These neighbors are practicing Jews and Muslims! Still, there are plenty of Christmas lights and decorations throughout our neighborhood though, interestingly, none of them suggest any sign that Christmas is a religious holiday. There are inflatable creatures and characters of all kinds including, of course, plenty of Santas, elves, sleighs, reindeer, and snowmen. Just no Jesus figures, mangers, sheep, shepherds, or wise magi, let alone churches appear to my wondering eyes. I m kind of glad we re in the dark at our house. It reminds me of the darkened world into which Jesus came and comes, still, as we live out our Christian faith. It s also kind of a relief not to have to climb the attic ladder and bring down the storage bins (let alone return them to their appointed places in just a few short weeks)! Still, I have suggested to Barb that we ought to put out one decoration. And, we will, but, for now, we re considering which one it shall be! Which raises an interesting question amidst all your own annual routines of decorating: If you were to choose only one Christmas decoration to put out, which one would it be? And why? However, your home is decorated, I hope you are drawn to the reason we celebrate this holiday as Christians: the birth of a savior who shows us the way of salvation. And, whether your home is full of many decorations or just a few, I wish you a Merry Christmas! Rev. Ed DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 2 Joni Stover 2 Patricia Williams 2 3 Natalie St. Pierre Dave Frost 3 Andrew Hazelton 4 5 Evelyn MacMillan Virginia Wakeman 5 Stephen Tucker 7 9 Robert Durfee Diane Maher 10 Marilyn Lynch Paula Gile Del Kennard 11 Sophia Joyal 13 David Williams 14 Steven Austin 16 Noah Marshall 19 Mary Conly 19 Tina Levasseur 19 Carson Tucker 20 Brad Jorgensen 21 Paul Stanley 23 Barbara Crawford 23 Debra Nugent 24 Steve Santy 24 James Coddington 25 Betsey Hines 27 Jean Davie 30 Muff Kruse Jo Connelly Clara Turner Wedding Anniversaries Congratulations to all celebrating the joining of their lives together in marriage in the month of: DECEMBER 11 Brian & Shannon Sullivan 18 Earl & Shirley Clough Nancy & Philip Grow Gerald & Diane Maher William & Barbara Zeckhausen Richard & Ruth Stuart

3 Full Registration Registrations are non-refundable. $125 before February 15, 2018 $150 February 16 March 26, 2018 Saturday-Only Registration $100 before February 15, 2018 Registrations are non-refundable. $125 February 16 March 26, 2018 SPECIAL MEAL PACKAGE: $125 (includes all 5 meals / not box lunch) Keynote Speakers Rev. Traci Blackmon, UCC Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries; Rev. Deborah J. Blood, Maine Conference Minister; Rev. Sarah Buteux, Associate Pastor Minister of Christian Education and Outreach; Founding Pastor of Common Ground; Leslie Adelson Lewin, Director of Seeds of Peace; Rev. Renee Rouse, Warner, NH Workshops 35 workshops over two sessions on Saturday. Holy Mall (vendors, displays, refreshments, and some surprises) Saturday Entertainment Women of Harmonya cappella choir of local talent

4 Dear Church Family, Some of you may have noticed that we have a homeless woman sleeping on the front steps of the church. The steps are fairly protected from the elements and it appears relatively safe; or at least that is her perception. Please know that we, the church staff, are doing what we can to assist her to get the help she needs. Even though we are doing what we can, we are discovering limited services available to her. She does not appear to present any danger to us. Yet, the Laconia Library has had a different experience and has placed a no trespassing order on her for her behavior in the library. Most times when we have approached her she does not respond - so our communication with her has been very limited. Her issues do not appear to be drug related - we are communicating with mental health, adult protective services and the police. Adult protective services will be interviewing her to determine what services are available to her. We are working together; yet, if an adult does not want services, there is no provision in the law to force an adult to receive services. As disciples of Christ, we are called to help - we have given her a donated warm sleeping bags; we assist with a cup of soup or snacks when she is receptive, we have offered her a more protected place for her to store her shopping cart full of possessions and we have left notes with community services that are available to her. Please pray for her and all the other homeless in our community, throughout New Hampshire and the world. She is not alone - may God bless her and guide us in showing her the love, grace and peace of Christ s love. Blessings Paula & Ed Adult Faith Formation: Studying the Gospel of Mark part 2- a Listen Up! Bible Study by Talitha Arnold. We will be meeting in the Multipurpose Room at 11 AM after worship today. The study guides are $5 each (scholarships available see Paula) FELLOWSHIP TIME SCHEDULE 1-7 Diaconate/Education Music/Worship Outreach Ministry 1-28 Parish Activities Diaconate Education Ministry 2-18 Property/Finance Membership Music/Worship Outreach Ministry Parish Activities Further comments on the Worship and Music Committee The Committee of the Month This has been a particularly gratifying time to participate in the deliberations of the Worship and Music Committee. In the interim between pastors, all aspects of our services have been reviewed. Pastor Ed has been extremely knowledgeable and creative in suggesting possible ways of making our services more meaningful and beautiful. Wonderfully, our outstanding music program is designed to work in total partnership with the inspiration and teaching of the Word. The members of the Committee have been challenged and gratified by many thoughtful discussions. The results will keep our mission vital and fresh. Bill Bell

5 Faith Formation News! CHRISTMAS PAGEANT On December 10, we celebrated the birth of Jesus with adorable sheep and beautiful angels surrounding this year's Jesus, Emilia Prescott. Emilia's Dad, Shawn Prescott, has been in our pageant many times since he was a little boy, but his brave wife Kelly experienced it for the first time this year as Mary! They were surrounded by the love of many of their Prescott family members and the Church family too. Bernie Chapman was once again the Innkeeper who turns away Joseph and Marysomething Bernie would never do to anyone! High school student Lydia Tucker and Emily Clement were excellent narrators as they guided us through the story. Special thanks to Bob Bengtson for the music, Lorienne Valovanie for directing, and the Educational Ministries Committee for all the preparation and planning. During Faith Formation time the youth had a small pageant in the classroom that was really fun. Three of those pictured couldn't be at the full pageant so it was a very special way to include them too- look at the smiles and laughter!

6 FROM THE OFFICE ANNUAL REPORTS- Committee Chairs should plan to have their annual reports to the church office no later than Tuesday January 2nd. Reports should be single spaced and if possible typed in a Tahoma font at size 14. Printed copies of the full annual report will be available in the office about a week prior to the annual meeting in late January. If you have any questions at all, please don t hesitate to give Jessica a call at the office. Thank you for all you do for the church! 2018 PLEDGES/ACH SETUP- Some of you have expressed a desire to have your pledges for next year directly withdrawn from a bank account. Our Financial Secretary, Carolyn Jorgensen will be in the church hall after the 9:30 service on Dec. 17th and 24th to assist with the setup process. You can stop by the office any afternoon Mon.- Thurs. to do the paperwork as well. Any questions please call Carolyn at the office. REMINDERS- HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS - The office has reduced hours during the holidays. We will be closed on Christmas Day and the day after as well as New Year s Day. TOWER TIDINGS - Submissions should be sent totowertidings@laconiaucc.org only and are due by the 10th or 25th of the month. Late submissions may not make the current edition and all articles may be edited for space and content. MEMBER CONTACT INFO- The office is working hard to make sure we have the correct contact information for all our members and friends. Please remember to update us with your mailing address, telephone numbers and s any time you have a change! A new directory will be in the works soon and our database is being updated to reflect any changes in marriages, births, deaths, new members, relocations and more. Send any information updates to the office at churchoffice@laconiaucc.org.

7 DECEMBER 2017 SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 1 Family Advent Dinner 5:30 Worship 9:30 am Exec. Council 10:45 am Worship 8:00 am Worship 9:30 am 3 10 Christmas Pageant 4pm TT Submission Deadline! 17 Worship 8:00 am Worship 9:30 am Pageant Snow Date- 4pm 24 Worship 9:30 am Worship 5:00 pm Worship 11:00 pm *10:30pm prelude One Service 9:30 31 MERRY CHRISTMAS OFFICE CLOSED 4 5 Membership 6:30 Stitches 7: Prop/Fin 6:00 Ed Min 6:30 Stitches 7: Council 6:30 Stitches 7:00 26 MERRY CHRISTMAS OFFICE CLOSED Stitches 7:00 Search 5:30 Outreach 6: Search 5:30 Diaconate 6:30 Worship 7:00 Search 5:30 20 Choir 7:00 Choir 7:00 Choir 7: Choir 7:00 Community Carol Sing 7:

8 T O W E R I D I N G S The Congregational Church United Church of Christ 18 Veterans Square Laconia, NH «FMailing label» «Address1» «Address2»«City State» «Zip code» NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 67 LACONIA NH Upcoming Coffee Hour Hosts 24-Dec Parish Activities 31-Dec Potluck /07/2018 Diaconate/Education 01/14/2018 Music/Worship 01/21/2018 Outreach Ministry 01/28/2018 Parish Activities Tower Tidings Schedule Tower Tidings is sent bi-monthly prior to the 1st and 15th. Deadlines for submissions are the 10th and 25th of each month. PLEASE SEND INFORMATION TO: towertidings@laconiaucc.org ONLY Submissions may be edited lightly due to space considerations.