April 2018 Church of the New Jerusalem Monthly Newsletter A community united by faith in God and love to the neighbor

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1 April 2018 Church of the New Jerusalem Monthly Newsletter A community united by faith in God and love to the neighbor April Greetings, dear Readers! I hope you had a beautiful Easter! After the worship service was over and Easter activities were winding down here at FNC, I said to Greg Huang- Dale (our beloved Choir Director), "Greg, what are we going to do now? Easter is over on April 1st! What are we going to do for the rest of April - just coast along?" "Plant!" he said with a smile, "No coasting along the rest of April - it is time to plant!" Do you have any ideas yet for your spring and summer gardening? If you are looking for seeds, please see the information in this newsletter about our church fundraiser with seed company Sow True Seed! (Thank you, Donnette Barnes, for setting this up!) It has been such a joy for me lately to walk around the parsonage to the garden area in the back, seeing the snow recede a little every day, noticing perennials emerge into the light with new growth at their base it is exciting to see the garden again! One of my favorite garden stories comes to mind just now...the story of Findhorn. Have you heard of it? It was like a miracle: in the 1960s, on windswept and barren sand dunes in Northern Scotland, the most wonderful flowers, trees and vegetables began to grow, with a small community of people helping to create the garden. Once the word got out, people began to flock to the garden, scratching their heads at how this miraculous garden could grow in such a place. It turned out that this amazing garden wasn't just the product of a group of people who knew just how to make the perfect compost, or plant the exact right kind of vegetable or flower in just the perfect spot; the women and men who grew the garden eventually shared the story that they were co-creators. Eileen Caddy, one of the founders, was able to hear the voice of God, and they took time as a group to meditate and share the wisdom they received. They believed God was helping them to create this garden...and helping them to become aware of and work other realms: including landscape angels and nature spirits (like devas and fairies). They learned that these nature spirits are part of the angelic hierarchy. Devas, for example, are nature spirits that help bring plants into form. This garden was to be an experiment to see if humans and nature spirits could work together consciously. They heard this: The Fryeburg New Church aka The Church of the New Jerusalem 12 Oxford Street Fryeburg, ME Rev. Alison Lane-Olsen, Pastor pastorfnc@gmail.com Office: (207) , Cell phone (620) Office Hours: Pastor ~ Wednesday thru Friday 1:00 p.m., Saturday by appointment Secretary ~ Wednesday thru Friday 1:00 p.m.

2 "Man must learn to commune with nature, for in order to properly exercise his creative dominion, he needs to have information, knowledge of the results of his actions, love, understanding and the ability to gain the cooperation of all who may be affected. The powers within man are potent. For his own safety and that of his world they cannot be fully actualized if they might be misused." This new requirement of cooperating with the nature spirits that is being explored in this center is not a loss to man of his dominion. It is a step of growth towards expressing that dominion differently, with more love and awareness, as God intended from the beginning. "He who would be the greatest of all must be the servant of all - through love, through understanding, through cooperation...god is within all life. The nature kingdoms are not less than you, nor greater; they are only different. Working with the angels and nature spirits in your garden may not be topics of everyday conversation in your household...do you believe in nature spirits? Can you see yourself working with them this spring? I believe the story of Findhorn, and I am open to sharing here that I too have seen the fairy lights and felt the presence of angels and devas attending to the flowers. The Divine leaves no one alone on this journey - not you, not me, nor the flowers or vegetables. If this is a topic you are interested in hearing more about - please let me know! I would love to hear from you. This beautiful earth holds many life forms; what a blessing it is to be alive and to be part of it. I'll close with a message the Findhorn community received from the spirit attending the Daffodil, "What extra joy there will be in Spring when the mind of man joins in!" With Blessings for your April and your gardens, Rev Alison Office Hours: Weds - Friday 9:00 am-1:00 pm, Saturday by appointment pastorfnc@gmail.com Office phone: Cell phone: (620) Spring Yin Yoga with Anna Allocco Join us Thursday mornings at the church, 8-9 am., for Yin Yoga! Yin is a gentle style of yoga, and beginners are welcome! Please enter through the front door of the church to join us! $5 donation suggested. New Book Group Forming! Other Planets - Starting in May, time TBA (From the publisher): Cast in the form of a travelogue, Swedenborg describes having contact with the spirits of people who had lived on Mercury, Jupiter, and other planets and satellites in our solar system and beyond. This may present a challenge for those who interpret it literally, but just as it is with other of Swedenborg s memorable occurrences in the spiritual world, the goal is to consider and explore the deeper insights that he reveals regarding the universal principles that unite the human with the Divine. The discussions of faith in Other Planets are framed by Swedenborg s own Christian beliefs; however, a key takeaway for readers will certainly be the feeling that there are multiple ways of approaching belief and religious practice that can all lead to heaven. Books available from the Swedenborg Foundation or Amazon $6.99 Paperback, $1 Kindle edition

3 Church Report The Trustees The Trustees next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 7:00 pm. The meetings are open to all, but you should contact the Chair prior to the meeting to get an item on the agenda. Also, please speak to any of the Trustees with your questions, concerns, compliments or complaints. We are here to serve you. Currently Serving Trustees Worship Schedule Sunday School 9:00 AM 10:00 AM April 8: The Disciples after the Resurrection and the Law of Ideals April 15: Getting your vitamin N: Cultivating a Nature Rich Life April 22: Vitamin N: Celebrating Earth Day! We will use the 2018 theme of our National Conservation Districts: Stew Frost, Chair Donnette Barnes, Vice Chair Cindy Priest, Treasurer Jim Gibson, Trustee TBA, Trustee Susan Logan, Secretary Judy Hatch, Trustee Women s Alliance Representative: Patricia Swett Women s Alliance The next meeting of the Women s Alliance is TBA at the Church. Please bring a bag lunch.all ladies are welcome! 2018 Officers for the Women s Alliance are: President... Jean Cressy Vice-President... Claire Kiesman Secretary... TBA Treasurer... Patty Swett Chaplain... TBA April 29: Vitamin N continued In our Prayers We lift up our congregation and our Universe in prayer. We send prayers of healing to Patty Swett, Barbara Ferguson, and Joyce Syracuse. Prayers for Donnette Barnes and anyone else who has recently lost a pet. Blessings offered for Leone Dyer and her Life Coaching practice (and her new office in the church!). Our prayers are always with those in our world who are hungry, cold, homeless, and lonely may they find shelter, love and be nourished.

4 Fish and Game Supper Apr 2nd, 6: p.m. All suppers are $9.00 each Announcing our Spring Fundraiser!! We are working with Sow True Seed! They offer non-gmo, open-pollinated, heirloom seeds! 25% of the sale price of each order will be donated to the Fryeburg New Church! Make money for our Church while supporting sustainable agriculture and heirloom seed preservation. You may order online or browse through the catalog we have at the Church and use the order forms available there. Thank you, Spring is just around the corner (When purchasing, type in "fnchurch2018" in promo code box) Social Fund for Steeple repairs The Fryeburg New Church has set up this fund to help pay for work, done in the summer of 2017, to our Bell Tower Steeple and Spire. The building was erected in by master carpenter Calvin Merrill after designs by Portland architect Charles H Kimball. The church was dedicated in August 1879 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in Our church contracted with a local Maine contractor to repair and paint the steeple and spire. The old steel roofing was replaced by new asphalt shingles on the tower roof and 25% of the church roof at the base of the tower. A gear on the bell's mechanism needed to be replaced, as well. This work came in at a quoted price of $22, The discovery of rot and extensive damage found in and around the spire added on extra $9, for a total due of $31, Fryeburg New Church Assembly A Swedenborgian Family Camp in Fryeburg, Maine This year's camp session: August 4-August 19, 2018 Registration Is Open! Visit for more information We raised $12, through fundraising efforts, Capital Campaign,funds and generous donations/grants. A loan of $10, from our General Convention made it possible to pay the original quoted price in October. This fund is to help our church repay the $10, loan and pay the extra $9, due. A donation of any dollar amount will be greatly appreciated and all funds donated come to the Fryeburg New Church. For more information about our church check out our website at Fryeburgnewchurch.org. Thank you and please share.

5 Influenced by Swedenborg Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ( ) - German writer "I am more willing than others to believe in a different world than the visible, and I have enough poetic potential and enough vitality to even extend my own limited identity to a Swedenborgian spiritual cosmos." "American Lit: 1914-Present." American Lit: 1914-Present Flashcards Quizlet. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov We are continuing to work on updating our church directory. Dawn Crowe is taking pictures please find her after church! We would love to have your updated photo and information to share with our church family. If you are unable to be in church but would like to be included in the directory with a photo, please feel free to send in a recent picture to office@fryeburgnewchurch.org Thank you!!

6 New Address Sue Davidson would like everyone to know that she has a new address and would love to hear from you! It is: 852 Forest Glen Dr. Apt. B Bozeman, MT (406)

7 Welcomers for April Apr 1 open Apr 8 Debbie Dolley Apr15 Martha Richardson Apr 22 Sally Gibson Apr 29 open Ushers for April Apr 1 Stew Frost & Guest Apr 8 Stanley Dolley & Chuck Priest Apr 15 David & Jen Richardson Apr 22 TBA Apr 29 Jean Cressy & Dean Harnden Coffee Hour for April Apr 1 Easter Sunday Potluck Apr 8 Debbie Dolley Apr 15 Jen Richardson Apr 22 Cindy Priest Apr 29 Anna Allocco WORSHIP SERVICE ATTENDANCE MARCH 4 - MARCH 25, 2018 Date Adults Children March March March March Calendar for April 2018 (held at our Church unless indicated) 1 Sun Easter Sunrise service on Jockey Cap Adult Choir Potluck Brunch 5:30 a.m. 2 Mon Fish and Game Supper 6:30 p.m. 3 Tue Trustees meeting 7:00 p.m. 4 Wed MSAD #72 Early release FNC Office closes early Dinner Bell 5 Thu Yin Yoga with Anna FNC (suggested donation $5) please come in the front doors of the Church since we will be practicing in the Narthex. 8 Sun Adult Choir Sunday School 12 noon 5:00 p.m. 8 9 a.m. 12 Wed Dinner Bell 5:00 p.m. 13 Thu Yin Yoga with Anna FNC 15 Sun Adult Choir Sunday School 16 Mon School vacation week 19 Thu Yin Yoga with Anna FNC Constitution Bylaws review Group Meditation 22 Sun Earth Day Adult Choir Sunday School 25 Wed Dinner Bell Worship Committee 26 Thu Yin Yoga with Anna FNC 29 Sun Birthday Bank Sunday Food Pantry Sunday Adult Choir Sunday School 8 9 a.m. 8 9 a.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8 9 a.m.

8 Church of the New Jerusalem a.k.a. Fryeburg New Church 12 Oxford Street Fryeburg, ME Address Service Requested