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The Clarion (OnLine):
October 2004
Pastor's Message
I caught my first whiff of
wood smoke the other day just as I was leaving the church after a late night
meeting. The air snapped and the night sky blazed and I stood stock still on the
new walkway taking it all in, air, sky and the sweet tang of flame on log.
Somewhere in the dark, thin whispers of home and hearth curled upward from a
neighbor’s chimney, what peace would smell like if peace had a smell. October
is my favorite month; I expect it is for many of you, too.
For church folk, October foreshadows another event, the onset of
stewardship season, that time of year when we are asked to reflect upon our
faith, our lives and our church, all three. How are we living out our faith?
What part of the world’s salvation is ours to fulfill? What piece of the
world’s suffering moves us to be generous? What part of our own story
convinces us of God’s love?
Articulating a vision for the future, especially the future of a church,
requires that we understand our past: who
we once were, what values we held dear, where we found joy, sorrow, challenge
and inspiration. What has held the Dunbarton Congregational Church together
through two centuries of life and strife? Which of these qualities, then and
now, will lead us boldly into tomorrow?
In preparation for this year’s pledge drive, the Stewardship Committee
has been laboring over these questions, as well as the contents of Irene’s
treasure chest of old church records. It has been a labor of love. Faded reports
hand typed on an old Underwood, yellowed announcements from the Ladies Aid
Society, Pastor’s letters, ancient ledgers written with ink and quill. Each of
these items tells a story, not of disparate individuals but of one “public”
and “embodied” family who like our founders understood with unwavering
conviction that Christian practice takes place in Christian community.
As the original Church Covenant proceeds, its members promise to “walk
together as a Church of Christ…always to promote the peace, happiness and well
being of this church…and to behave ourselves towards each other as brothers
(and sisters) in the Lord.” It is in this spirit that this year’s
Stewardship theme is titled “Called to Care,” to “love, obey, and serve
” not simply those beyond our borders, but those within our walls.
Frederick Buechner describes compassion as the “sometimes fatal
capacity for feeling what it’s like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It
is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until
there is peace and joy finally for you too.”
The days are long past when wood provided warmth in our meetinghouse on
Sundays. But I still believe that there are those who wait at our door, who
stand on our new walkway sniffing the air for a wisp of comfort. Will you be
waiting inside to welcome them when October brings a chill to their bones? Will
someone be there to welcome you if a shiver should
slide down your life? Will we each in a public manner answer God’s Call
to Care?
If peace has a sound, I think it is the call of a church bell on a crisp
October morning, crying out across village and vale, “Here is comfort! Here is
hope!” If peace has a sound, it is also a sanctuary full of caring people
silently praying, “How can we love one another better in Christ’s name?”
Blessings,
Board of Trustees
In the spirit
of providing a great educational opportunity for the community and establishing
a connection with another resourceful organization, the Board of Trustees
recently sponsored “A Conversation with John James Audubon.” On Sept. 25th,
the renowned American artist and naturalist visited our church and thoroughly
captivated an audience of about 50 people as he described his life’s work. Mr.
Audubon was portrayed by Tom Burack, a former Dunbarton resident who has been a
storyteller for 25 years and who now performs under the auspices of the New
Hampshire Humanities Council. The Council awarded a much-appreciated grant to us
for this program.
Thanks to the Trustees for organizing this wonderful event, and thanks
also to everyone who contributed all the tasty snacks and deserts that made the
evening a truly social event!
Walkway Work
By Dean Bacon
Come join the
trustees on June 26th and 27th and help finish the walkway.
If you aren't into walkways, there are plenty of other outdoor tasks that
need bodies (painting, brush removal and yard clean up). We can accommodate
your
schedule if you're willing to volunteer some time. Contact any trustee for
details!
Yet Another
Great Fundraiser
By Mike Shearin
Mark your calendars now for another great fundraising event coming up on
September 25th when we will have the chance to meet and ask questions
of John James Audubon, one of America's best known naturalists and artists. During
“An Evening with John James Audubon,” featuring Tom Burack as Mr. Audubon,
you'll be taken back to the year 1845 and have the opportunity to see some of
Audubon's beautiful drawings of birds and to hear about his adventures in the
American wilderness. You will also have a chance to ask Mr. Audubon about
his life's work, experiences and beliefs. After Mr. Audubon departs,
independent scholar, veteran Chautauquan, and former Dunbarton resident Tom
Burack will appear to answer modern-day questions about Audubon and his legacy.
The presentation will
last about an hour and is suitable for adults and children age 11 and above.
Desserts and beverages will be provided. Watch for more details on this
wonderful evening of entertainment!
Fund Raising Reminders
Remember our ongoing recycling effort! Save your old printer toner, ink cartridges and old cell phones. There’s a box at the Dunbarton Transfer Station for you to turn them in, or you can bring them to church. But don’t stop there! Consider asking local businesses, especially those that provide office services, to collect cartridges on our behalf. Bill Wetzel is already lugging home boxes from the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business! Please contact any trustee for more information.
Bylaws
Committee
By Dean Bacon
There will be a meeting after the church service on June 6th to go over the proposed revisions to the bylaws. Copies of the draft bylaws are available in the back of the church. Contact me if you have any questions
Church
School News
Christian Education
Church School
News
Have you ever invited a guest for
dinner? Have you ever organized a holiday meal, setting the table in a
special way befitting the occasion? On October 31st, as the table is set in
Church School, children will be asked if they have ever had company over for
lunch or dinner, seeing to a guests’ physical needs as they offer them
nourishing food.
Following a discussion about how we
enjoy spending time with company, we will address the million-dollar question:
“Who does Jesus invite to be his guest?” If you want a head start on
the answer, read Luke 19:1-10. What would you do if Jesus came to your house for
a meal? What would you serve him? How would the table look? Every
time we take communion upon the altar we are nourished with the body and love of
Christ. At the altar or God’s table, we are
Christ’s guests. What dishes does Christ use to serve us? How many
times does Jesus invite us to be his guest?
As our children pursue these and other
questions of faith, they are invited to be Christ’s guests as we begin a new
lectionary-based church school curriculum, “Life Together.” We look forward
to a wonderful year!
Board
of Deacons
A Word About
Weddings
By Nick
Holmes
Since its inception, our historic meetinghouse has been a popular spot
for couples preparing to unite in holy matrimony. Given the increasing
attractiveness of our church for this purpose, the Board of Deacons has
developed a written policy that summarizes the
policies and practices we feel best represent the interests and values of the
congregation. This new document is intended to serve as a guide so wedding
ceremonies will be celebrated with both reverence and joy. A copy of the policy
is provided to each couple when they first express interest in holding their
wedding in the church. By simply and succinctly addressing such issues as
retaining an organist, taking photographs, and paying fees, the wedding policy
allows all concerned to focus on the joy of the wedding day! If you are
interested in viewing a copy of the Deacon’s Policy, please see Pastor Cindy.
WANTED: A Few Great Acolytes! Click the link for details
Blessing
of the Shawls
By Joyce Ray
“We pray that this shawl be a sign of
Your healing presence.
May the shawl warm her when she is weary.
May the shawl surround her with ease of her
suffering.
May the shawl encircle her with caring when she
is in pain.”
With these words from
a healing prayer, our prayer shawl knitters gathered with Pastor Cindy
on Friday afternoon, April 23rd to bless the shawls they have worked on through
the winter. The service was an extension of the Dedication prayer made for each
shawl and its recipient. Three shawls were completed, and a fourth is nearly
ready.
This ministry has offered double
blessings. The knitting and the prayers with each stitch have blessed the
knitters as well as the shawl receivers. The group hopes to resume in the
fall and is open to anyone interested in encircling those who are ill with love
and prayers. Contact Joyce Ray for information at 774-5105.
Youth
Group Happenings
By Diana Jenkins
October’s
Schedule:
Saturday 2nd:
Meet at the vestry at 8:30 a.m. to help with the church’s Roadside Cleanup
along Route 13.
Sunday 24th:
Youth Sunday and Confirmation of Jeremy Belanger - We will lead the church in
the worship service. Come join us!
November’s
Schedule:
Sunday 7th:
Meet at 12 noon at the vestry. We will make apple pies for the
Thanksgiving food baskets that we will put together later this month. We are
looking for donations of apples, piecrusts, and pie tins. Please call
Diana at 774-7240 if you are interested in making a donation.
Sunday 14th:
Food & Fellowship at 12 noon at the vestry.
Sunday 21st: At 11:30 at the
vestry, we will put together Thanksgiving baskets for those in need in our
community.
Please call Diana at 774-7240 if you are
interested in more information or attending any of these activities.
“Hidden Messages”
(Printed with permission from Group Magazine
Sept/Oct 2004)
You
know what teenage children say, but what are they trying
to tell you? After interviewing
hundreds of teenagers all over the United States, T. Suzanne Eller, author of Real
Issues, Real Teens (Cook), has learned
what teenagers really want their parents to know. In asking “If you could tell
your parents one thing, what would it be?” Eller found that overall responses
were simple and consistent:
“I’m
trying.” Teenagers are often
just as frustrated with their mistakes as their parents are.
“Don’t
be so hard on yourself.” Parents shouldn’t
judge themselves based on their kids’ actions.
“I
appreciate you.” Teenagers
know that a parent’s job is tough, and they appreciate it when you trust them.
“Thank
you for caring.” It’s encouraging to teenagers when
parents show concern, even in the smallest ways.
“I
love you.” Even teenagers who have conflict with
their parents still see love as the foundation of their relationships with them.
Missions
Visit
to Overlook Farm
By Patty Shearin
The morning of September 19th was a
brisk, sunny, glorious autumn day, a perfect day to do just about anything. And
a perfect day it was for those who traveled to Rutland, Massachusetts for our
church mission trip to Overlook Farm. As we piled into the 12-passenger van
(graciously donated by Steve Singer and Merchants Motors), we were greeted with
a smile and hot coffee from our cheerful driving attendant, Pastor Cindy Bagley.
The drive down was
filled with good conversation and homemade muffins. Upon arriving at the
Farm, we were greeted by a friendly border collie and the sounds of farm life.
The hilltop setting for our worship service was perfect for taking in all of
God’s creation. With a service focused on St. Francis of Assisi and our
natural world, both children and adults enjoyed searching for insects with the
bug catchers provided by the Missions Board. Our collected offering was
donated to Heifer Project International. This organization helps
impoverished families worldwide become self-reliant through the gift of
livestock and training in the care of the animals.
After sharing some
fellowship time and a picnic lunch, we were met by our tour guide, Justin. We
started our tour, watching and discussing the Heifer video The Promise
that highlighted Heifer’s successful efforts in several third world countries.
After a fun and bumpy hayride, we continued our tour through the barns and the
“World Village.”
Overlook Farm has done a remarkable job recreating some of the very rustic, yet
realistic dwellings of many people across the globe. We visited Guatemala,
Thailand, Peru, Tibet, Uganda, Poland and Maine, USA. It was a humbling
experience given all the luxuries we take for granted in our daily lives…
electricity, fresh food, a comfortable home, indoor plumbing and clean water. I
think we all came a way with a deeper sense of the many hardships faced by
people on this earth just to live each day.
Heifer International
is an organization that “gets it.” Drawing from the old proverb,
“Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, you feed him
for a lifetime,” Heifer International teaches people to be self-sufficient by
offering life-changing gifts of livestock. The Mission Board will once again be
offering alternative gift giving during the holiday season with proceeds
benefiting Heifer International.
By Patty Shearin
Food Pantry Sunday
If you would like to contribute to our Food Pantry, Bring your item with you to church and deposit it in the basket as you enter. Our Food Pantry
supports many community members in need of assistance, and your donations are
greatly appreciated!
Roadside
Clean Up
We are
currently in our sixth year as a participant in the New Hampshire’s
”Adopt–a-Highway” program. For the past six years, we have taken
ownership of a two-mile stretch of Rt. 13 and have agreed to keep it free of
trash. Our participation has a two-fold impact. First, the green and
white “Adopt-a-Highway” signs posted at the north and south borders of our
designated highway help make visible our church’s commitment to and caring of
the Dunbarton community. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, our
participation in this worthwhile program helps take care of our precious
environment.
Camp
Opportunities
Registration
for camp is now open. Exciting camp programs are available at the Horton Center
at Pine Mountain in Gorham, N.H. and Geneva Point Center in Center Harbor N.H.
Programs run from June 20th to Sept. 7th. Special
activities for all age groups are available. You can register as a single,
family or group.
Special
events this year include mountain climbing, rock climbing, a N.E. Missions trip,
mountain biking, canoeing, sailing on a schooner and a Plus 50 hike. There are
adventures available for all! Scholarships are available. Don’t miss out on an adventure
of a lifetime!
Contact
Tammie Sullivan at 4sullz@bit-net.com or
774-3818 for more information.
Stewardship
Team
Turn on the Lights!
By Linda Morse
Our 2004
Stewardship Program is just around the corner! As Pastor Cindy mentioned in her
Pastor’s message, our theme is titled “Called to Care,” exploring the
legacy of care that has made our church what it is today and what it can be in
the future. Spend any time looking over the church’s historical records,
dating back to the 1700’s, and you can’t help but come away with a sense of
how old this church really is, as well as the intense devotion of so many of its
members.
October 31st
All
Pastor’s Day!
The Stewardship Committee has especially enjoyed exploring the lives and
ministries of our many pastors, those individuals whose leadership has molded
our church in significant ways or influenced our lives in trying times. Be sure
to join us on Sunday, Oct. 31st, for what we call “All Pastor’s
Day.” During the service, be prepared to hear first hand from some of the
pastors who have served our church! While the performance may not be up to Tom
Burack’s standards, we guarantee the experience will be fun and educational!
November 14th
Sr. Briget
Haase – A Dedication Sunday to Remember
On Nov. 14th, Dedication Sunday, we urge you to mark your
calendars for a very special service featuring Sister Briget Haase, O.S.U. Sr.
Briget has devoted her life to mission through the teaching of children . From
Senegal to the Sudan, from Appalachia to a Day Care Center for HIV infants,
Briget has collected the wisdom of the world’s children in her book, “Well
Said!” After appearing as a guest on the Jordan Rich show last spring, WBZ
Radio volunteered to produce an audio version of her writings for the visually
impaired and all of us who are inspired by her “stories of wonder.” All
proceeds from the sale of her CDs, books and other products benefit Boston
Children’s Hospital and other charities. Our Annual All-Church Luncheon will
follow the service of worship. We are truly blessed to have Sr. Briget as a
guest in our church! For more information, visit her website at www.wisdomwonder.com.
We hope that this Stewardship season will inspire each of you to
consider your own legacy of care through a generous pledge on Nov. 14th.
Please join us on as many Sunday mornings as you can in October and
November!
Journeys To Our Church
By Margaret Venator
Jeremy Belanger, a
sophomore at Bishop Brady High School, and Lauren Jenkins, a junior at Goffstown
Area High School, are two members of our church family that deserve special
recognition. As Co-presidents of the church's Youth Group, they are truly a
"dynamic duo" reaching out to Dunbarton’s teens in a variety of
ways! Youth Group is open to teens in grades 7-12; up to thirty teenagers
are involved at different times during the year. In addition to monthly Bible
Study and recreational activities, this group assists the Missions Committee
with Food Baskets, serves meals at the New Horizon’s soup kitchen in
Manchester, organizes the Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast, provides Nursery
care during worship throughout the year, and conducts a special Worship Service
for Youth in the fall. Lauren and Jeremy are always to be found in the middle of
all this activity, serving as leaders and role models for teens throughout the
community.
When asked what they
would do if there was no church, Jeremy and Lauren had a hard time imagining
such a thing! Church has always been a part of their lives. For them,
congregational life offers a place to grow spiritually, to explore the meaning
of life, to affirm one’s uniqueness and identity, and to give and receive love
and comfort. Lauren's mother, Diana, organizes the Youth Group and is pivotal in
providing consistent and joyful adult leadership.
As if Youth Group
weren’t enough, Jeremy and Lauren have recently been selected to serve on the
prestigious New Hampshire Conference Youth Cabinet. This group oversees all of
the statewide events for UCC Youth, including a recent Middle School Retreat
held at Horton Center in Gorham. Being a “cabbie” involves a great deal of
time and self confidence. Only ten teens from around the state serve on this
Board. How proud we are that two of those ten are from the Dunbarton
Congregational Church!
Next time you pass Jeremy, Lauren or any one of our teens, please take the time to say “thank you” for the many ways in which they enrich the lives of our faith community.
New
At DCC: A Health Ministry Program!
(A Stewardship at the Edges
Initiative)
By Laura Anderson
This is an exciting
time for the Dunbarton Congregational Church! I am Laura Anderson, a registered
nurse at Concord Hospital. I have traveled to Romania and Guatemala on medical
missions. These trips have given me so much satisfaction that I began to wonder,
“What can I do closer to home?” One day I had a vision---a vision to reach
out to those in our congregation and community in need of basic healthcare, to
offer support, resources, and a shoulder to cry on. I had heard about “Parish
Nursing” as a field of practice but did not know much about it. I went online
and found more information than I could possibly download! After reading several
articles, I knew this is what I was called to do. I then asked Pastor Cindy if
she thought our church needed a Parish Nurse and her eyes grew wide with
excitement! I submitted my idea to the Deacons, who immediately embraced the
concept and assigned me a “shepherd,” Marie Jones, whose role is to assist
me and oversee the fulfillment of this dream. It is wonderful to have a coach
who is also a nurse! Together we wrestled with some dangling legal and
logistical issues, did some more research, and together presented the final plan
to the Deacons last month, earning their unanimous support!
Let me give you an
idea of what exactly a Health Ministry Program and a Parish Nurse will do for
our church and community. With our ever-changing and very busy lives, church is
often the one place to slow down and take a few moments to reflect. Our church
gives us a sense of connectedness; it is also a place to share joys and sorrows.
A Health Ministry program promotes wholeness, healing and health, the three
“H’s,” if you will! As we all
know, to be healed does not always mean to be cured. However, our Health
Ministry program will involve integrating mind, body, and spirit to achieve a
sense of wholeness, health, and well-being, even in the face of life threatening
situations. The ultimate goal of this program is to create healthy lifestyles
and a healthy faith community utilizing prevention, education, training, and
support.
While in nursing
school at Worcester City Hospital, our training was modeled after Sister Calista
Roy’s holistic health theory. Holistic health focuses not only on the body,
but the mind, spirit and family---in other words, the “whole” person.
Health promotion and maintenance is so very important for all of us. As
your new Parish Nurse, I will work to connect you with resources for most
anything that you might need; physicians, support groups, and Meals on Wheels
are just a few examples. I will offer health screenings and training in CPR,
first-aid, and a variety of other subjects. The list is endless.
We are currently in the very beginning stages of this program. Working with Marie and Pastor Cindy, we will be developing ways that we can proactively promote wellness within the congregation and extend our reach to the Dunbarton Community. We also need your help! If you or someone you know needs assistance, please let me know. If there is a program you would like to have at our church, I will do my best to arrange it. Please remember that as a nurse, I cannot make diagnoses, but can assist you in finding treatment options. I would also like to emphasize that any discussions that I have with you or anyone else will always be kept confidential, unless there is someone you would like me to share it with.
Music
Committee
Music Notes
Hidden in our
congregation is a wealth of musical talent! In an effort to enhance the role of
music in worship, we have added a line on our Worship Schedule for anyone of
any age who would like to play, sing or perform a dance during the
Offertory. Please consider sharing your talents so that we might bring God’s
spirit closer through the gift of song and movement. We are a judgment-free
zone! Questions? Contact Lizz Ferdina (lizzardsings@aol.com)
or James Davenport (jamesd@gsinet.net).
Spiritual
Drumming Resumes
Back by popular demand, James Davenport will lead church members in
another session of our Spiritual Drumming Group at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
October 20th . No talent or instruments are required, just an
openness to receive the Holy Spirit as we meet in the vestry to collectively
create rhythms and explore world music on percussion instruments of every kind.
All ages are welcome! Questions can be directed to James Davenport at jamesd@gsinet.net.
Communications
Let’s Keep the Presses
Running!
By Linda Morse
Would you like to adopt a piece of the Clarion production costs for this
summer? Because we have so many activities and much news to report, we are
planning on producing the Clarion through the summer this year, although it will
be a smaller issue.
Since the cost of printing and mailing for July and August was not
budgeted, we are looking for people to “adopt” a portion of the costs.
Printing will run about $38 each month, and mailing runs about $33 per month, or
$71 total each month, and any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated!
Please see me or Pastor Cindy if you would like to help.
Community
Notes
Town Common
Project
By Donna Dunn
Fundraising
continues! Look for our homemade jams and conserves at the Town
Office & Dunbarton Country Store. Yummy all natural, all wild Dunbarton
berries include: blackberry, blueberry, elderberry & apple, wild
concord grape and "very" berry. Several sizes are
available. Call 774-4567 for a custom gift basket for a holiday present or
hostess gift for those get-togethers just around the corner. (PS: If
anyone can donate small canning jars, we'd appreciate it!)
Dunbarton Has a New Play Group!
The vestry of the Dunbarton Congregational Church is now the site for a brand new Young Parents’ Community Play Group! All are welcome! Bring your children and a desire for fellowship to the vestry at 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday afternoon. For more information, please contact Stacey at 774-8481.
June 2004
Pastor's Message
On Children’s
Sunday, June 13th, the members of our church school will lead us in a
service based on the theme of weaving. On this
special day, the children will visually demonstrate how bible stories woven
together create a rich and colorful understanding of God and Jesus Christ. This
seems to me an appropriate metaphor for life today at the Dunbarton
Congregational Church. We too, have moved through another liturgical year
blending scripture, tradition, community life and personal experience into one
whole cloth, a rich and colorful tapestry of love and faith and commitment.
In Ghana and other
West African countries, the weaving of Kente cloth is considered a calling.
Beginning at age twelve, generations of craftsmen carry on this tradition
weaving brilliant strips of fabric that when cut and sewn are used to make
clothing for special occasions. Tracing its roots back thousands of years, the
art of Kente is lush with symbolism. Each cloth has a name and each color a
meaning. Naming a cloth is a deeply spiritual task, calling upon the weaver’s
dreams or his communion with the spiritual world. Colors also have special
significance: yellow represents royalty and vitality, red signifies sacrifice
and struggle, and blue symbolizes peacefulness and harmony, while green denotes
abundance and prosperity.
Just as our children
will weave liturgical colors into a
special design on June 13th, so too do we weave the seasons of the
church year into our hearts and lives. Each color, each season, traces its
significance to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ: we wait for his birth
and rebirth with the blue of Advent, we prepare for his passion with the purple
of Lent, we celebrate his resurrection with the white of Eastertide, and feel
the rush of the Holy Spirit in the blazing red of Pentecost. Finally, we settle
into green and the long season of Ordinary Time, a period custom-made for
peacefulness, reflection and a re-visioning of who we are and who we want to be.
We have done a lot of weaving this year, long strips of accomplishments that when sewn together capture all the colors and dimensions of congregational life! Be it Trustees, Deacons, Missions, or Christian Education, By-Laws, Stewardship, Communications or Music, each Board and Committee has been alive with activity and imagination, weaving dreams and ideas into realities!
Take one look at our
walkway project, the new vestry roof, the many weddings and funerals we have
hosted this year, two adult education series, a vibrant church school and Youth
Group, serving meals at the New Horizons Soup Kitchen, special worship services
we have sponsored, a new spiritual drumming group, the excitement of a
prospective new organist and a new set of By-laws, four additional new members
who have enriched our lives and committees, and the ongoing care of individuals
in need.
If
I were to select a Kente cloth for our church it would be called, WOFRO DUA PA A
NA YEPIA WO, which means "one who climbs a tree worth
climbing gets the help deserved." This pattern was designed to express the
thought that any individual effort deserves to be supported by the community.
This is the essence of the work and changes we have undertaken this year. When a
man or woman climbs a good tree that has fruits on it, people around will
naturally give a push since they know they will enjoy the fruits of his or her
labor. This Kente design reinforces the importance of hope, of mutual reward, of
aspiring toward a worthy cause. Certainly we are on this path!
There is so much
Gospel inherent in this imagery: many parts, one body; many threads, one cloth.
When our children process on June 13th waving their own strips of
cloth, let us remember the simplest truth: one thread alone is weak and brittle;
many threads together can create an indestructible whole. I think Jesus would be
proud of what we have woven this year, just as I am proud of our ability to live
out our hopes and dreams, supporting one another in a tapestry of love.
Blessings,
Board of Trustees
By Bill Jenkins
The Big One!
Mark Your Calendars!
Here’s a N.H.
International Speedway fundraising update:
we have been confirmed by NHIS for 25 volunteers to work the parking
detail on Saturday, July 24th! Please sign up in the church to
participate (sign-up sheet is in the narthex on the bulletin board). We need a
minimum of 25 and a maximum of 30 people. Cindy has informed me that a donor
will match what we raise, so please consider volunteering for this event. Ask
your co-worker or neighbor to help! Questions? See me!
Walkway Work
By Dean Bacon
Come join the
trustees on June 26th and 27th and help finish the walkway.
If you aren't into walkways, there are plenty of other outdoor tasks that
need bodies (painting, brush removal and yard clean up). We can accommodate
your
schedule if you're willing to volunteer some time. Contact any trustee for
details!
Yet Another
Great Fundraiser
By Mike Shearin
Mark your calendars now for another great fundraising event coming up on
September 25th when we will have the chance to meet and ask questions
of John James Audubon, one of America's best known naturalists and artists. During
“An Evening with John James Audubon,” featuring Tom Burack as Mr. Audubon,
you'll be taken back to the year 1845 and have the opportunity to see some of
Audubon's beautiful drawings of birds and to hear about his adventures in the
American wilderness. You will also have a chance to ask Mr. Audubon about
his life's work, experiences and beliefs. After Mr. Audubon departs,
independent scholar, veteran Chautauquan, and former Dunbarton resident Tom
Burack will appear to answer modern-day questions about Audubon and his legacy.
The presentation will
last about an hour and is suitable for adults and children age 11 and above.
Desserts and beverages will be provided. Watch for more details on this
wonderful evening of entertainment!
Fund Raising Reminders
Remember our ongoing recycling effort! Save your old printer toner, ink cartridges and old cell phones. There’s a box at the Dunbarton Transfer Station for you to turn them in, or you can bring them to church. But don’t stop there! Consider asking local businesses, especially those that provide office services, to collect cartridges on our behalf. Bill Wetzel is already lugging home boxes from the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business! Please contact any trustee for more information.
Bylaws
Committee
By Dean Bacon
There will be a meeting after the church service on June 6th to go over the proposed revisions to the bylaws. Copies of the draft bylaws are available in the back of the church. Contact me if you have any questions
Church
School News
Christian Education
By Joyce Ray
While children play a
part in each Sunday’s service as acolytes, Psalm readers and, occasionally, as
special presenters, Children’s Sunday is a time to help them celebrate their
role in the life of our church.
On this year’s
Children’s Sunday, June 13th, our children will lead the worship service. A
very special celebration is being planned to mark the close of the church school
year. The theme is “Weaving God’s Word,” and the congregation will witness
our young weavers at work. They will craft a piece of art related to stories
learned this year, and rhythm will weave its way throughout the sanctuary in
different forms of music.
Board
of Deacons
By
Nick Holmes
WANTED: A Few Great Acolytes! Click the link for details
Blessing
of the Shawls
By Joyce Ray
“We pray that this shawl be a sign of
Your healing presence.
May the shawl warm her when she is weary.
May the shawl surround her with ease of her
suffering.
May the shawl encircle her with caring when she
is in pain.”
With these words from
a healing prayer, our prayer shawl knitters gathered with Pastor Cindy
on Friday afternoon, April 23rd to bless the shawls they have worked on through
the winter. The service was an extension of the Dedication prayer made for each
shawl and its recipient. Three shawls were completed, and a fourth is nearly
ready.
This ministry has offered double
blessings. The knitting and the prayers with each stitch have blessed the
knitters as well as the shawl receivers. The group hopes to resume in the
fall and is open to anyone interested in encircling those who are ill with love
and prayers. Contact Joyce Ray for information at 774-5105.
Youth
Group Happenings
By Diana Jenkins
We ended our year
with our annual Foodees pizza and glow bowling. Group activities will begin
again in late August. Information will be sent to current members during
the summer. If you are not a member yet and will be in grades 7-12 this fall and
are interested in joining, please contact me at 774-7240 or djenkinsz@aol.com.
Creating Connections
Every shared activity
with your teenager not only presents an opportunity for communication but also
creates common memories that spark later conversations. Lawrence Kutner
offers the following talk-conducive activities in "Let's Connect: A guide
to Communication-Friendly Parenting."
Share
a hobby. Shared interests will offer
naturally flowing, mutually interesting conversation.
Look
at baby pictures. Memory lane is a great avenue for
talk about awkward topics and physical or emotional changes in your teenager's
life.
Make
use of car time. Pay attention and initiate talk
with this opportunity for a captive audience. If friends are riding along,
you can learn a lot from kids' conversations.
Read
together. When your teenager is assigned a
book for school, buy a copy for yourself and use it to trigger talk about your
lives together.
Get
involved. Volunteer to lend a hand with
your teenager's extracurricular activities or events. You may discover a side to
your child that you've never seen before.
Missions
Visit
to Overlook Farm
By Nancy Lang
By Patty Shearin
Food Pantry Sunday
If you would like to contribute to our Food Pantry, Bring your item with you to church and deposit it in the basket as you enter. Our Food Pantry
supports many community members in need of assistance, and your donations are
greatly appreciated!
Roadside
Clean Up
We are
currently in our sixth year as a participant in the New Hampshire’s
”Adopt–a-Highway” program. For the past six years, we have taken
ownership of a two-mile stretch of Rt. 13 and have agreed to keep it free of
trash. Our participation has a two-fold impact. First, the green and
white “Adopt-a-Highway” signs posted at the north and south borders of our
designated highway help make visible our church’s commitment to and caring of
the Dunbarton community. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, our
participation in this worthwhile program helps take care of our precious
environment.
Camp
Opportunities
Registration
for camp is now open. Exciting camp programs are available at the Horton Center
at Pine Mountain in Gorham, N.H. and Geneva Point Center in Center Harbor N.H.
Programs run from June 20th to Sept. 7th. Special
activities for all age groups are available. You can register as a single,
family or group.
Special
events this year include mountain climbing, rock climbing, a N.E. Missions trip,
mountain biking, canoeing, sailing on a schooner and a Plus 50 hike. There are
adventures available for all! Scholarships are available. Don’t miss out on an adventure
of a lifetime!
Contact
Tammie Sullivan at 4sullz@bit-net.com or
774-3818 for more information.
Stewardship
Team
Turn on the Lights!
By Linda Morse
Got an idea for a
church activity, event or fundraiser? Use our new, handy-dandy one-page proposal
form, complete with a light bulb logo, to describe your idea! Just fill it out
and turn it in to Pastor Cindy. She will pass it on to the appropriate board or
committee who will assign the project a “shepherd” to help with its
implementation. If your project involves fundraising, the Stewardship Committee
will review the proposal and help each Committee evaluate outlays vs. potential.
Working as a team, members and boards will work together to make things happen!
It all begins with
you, each and every member who has ever said, “I’ve always wanted to do
(great idea) at our church!” Forms are now available in the back of the
sanctuary. Let’s live into our legacy as a church with pizzazz!
Journeys To Our Church
By Margaret Venator
Jeremy Belanger, a
sophomore at Bishop Brady High School, and Lauren Jenkins, a junior at Goffstown
Area High School, are two members of our church family that deserve special
recognition. As Co-presidents of the church's Youth Group, they are truly a
"dynamic duo" reaching out to Dunbarton’s teens in a variety of
ways! Youth Group is open to teens in grades 7-12; up to thirty teenagers
are involved at different times during the year. In addition to monthly Bible
Study and recreational activities, this group assists the Missions Committee
with Food Baskets, serves meals at the New Horizon’s soup kitchen in
Manchester, organizes the Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast, provides Nursery
care during worship throughout the year, and conducts a special Worship Service
for Youth in the fall. Lauren and Jeremy are always to be found in the middle of
all this activity, serving as leaders and role models for teens throughout the
community.
When asked what they
would do if there was no church, Jeremy and Lauren had a hard time imagining
such a thing! Church has always been a part of their lives. For them,
congregational life offers a place to grow spiritually, to explore the meaning
of life, to affirm one’s uniqueness and identity, and to give and receive love
and comfort. Lauren's mother, Diana, organizes the Youth Group and is pivotal in
providing consistent and joyful adult leadership.
As if Youth Group
weren’t enough, Jeremy and Lauren have recently been selected to serve on the
prestigious New Hampshire Conference Youth Cabinet. This group oversees all of
the statewide events for UCC Youth, including a recent Middle School Retreat
held at Horton Center in Gorham. Being a “cabbie” involves a great deal of
time and self confidence. Only ten teens from around the state serve on this
Board. How proud we are that two of those ten are from the Dunbarton
Congregational Church!
Next time you pass Jeremy, Lauren or any one of our teens, please take the time to say “thank you” for the many ways in which they enrich the lives of our faith community.
New
At DCC: A Health Ministry Program!
(A Stewardship at the Edges
Initiative)
By Laura Anderson
This is an exciting
time for the Dunbarton Congregational Church! I am Laura Anderson, a registered
nurse at Concord Hospital. I have traveled to Romania and Guatemala on medical
missions. These trips have given me so much satisfaction that I began to wonder,
“What can I do closer to home?” One day I had a vision---a vision to reach
out to those in our congregation and community in need of basic healthcare, to
offer support, resources, and a shoulder to cry on. I had heard about “Parish
Nursing” as a field of practice but did not know much about it. I went online
and found more information than I could possibly download! After reading several
articles, I knew this is what I was called to do. I then asked Pastor Cindy if
she thought our church needed a Parish Nurse and her eyes grew wide with
excitement! I submitted my idea to the Deacons, who immediately embraced the
concept and assigned me a “shepherd,” Marie Jones, whose role is to assist
me and oversee the fulfillment of this dream. It is wonderful to have a coach
who is also a nurse! Together we wrestled with some dangling legal and
logistical issues, did some more research, and together presented the final plan
to the Deacons last month, earning their unanimous support!
Let me give you an
idea of what exactly a Health Ministry Program and a Parish Nurse will do for
our church and community. With our ever-changing and very busy lives, church is
often the one place to slow down and take a few moments to reflect. Our church
gives us a sense of connectedness; it is also a place to share joys and sorrows.
A Health Ministry program promotes wholeness, healing and health, the three
“H’s,” if you will! As we all
know, to be healed does not always mean to be cured. However, our Health
Ministry program will involve integrating mind, body, and spirit to achieve a
sense of wholeness, health, and well-being, even in the face of life threatening
situations. The ultimate goal of this program is to create healthy lifestyles
and a healthy faith community utilizing prevention, education, training, and
support.
While in nursing
school at Worcester City Hospital, our training was modeled after Sister Calista
Roy’s holistic health theory. Holistic health focuses not only on the body,
but the mind, spirit and family---in other words, the “whole” person.
Health promotion and maintenance is so very important for all of us. As
your new Parish Nurse, I will work to connect you with resources for most
anything that you might need; physicians, support groups, and Meals on Wheels
are just a few examples. I will offer health screenings and training in CPR,
first-aid, and a variety of other subjects. The list is endless.
We are currently in the very beginning stages of this program. Working with Marie and Pastor Cindy, we will be developing ways that we can proactively promote wellness within the congregation and extend our reach to the Dunbarton Community. We also need your help! If you or someone you know needs assistance, please let me know. If there is a program you would like to have at our church, I will do my best to arrange it. Please remember that as a nurse, I cannot make diagnoses, but can assist you in finding treatment options. I would also like to emphasize that any discussions that I have with you or anyone else will always be kept confidential, unless there is someone you would like me to share it with.
Music
Committee
Music Notes
Hidden in our
congregation is a wealth of musical talent! In an effort to enhance the role of
music in worship, we have added a line on our Worship Schedule for anyone of
any age who would like to play, sing or perform a dance during the
Offertory. Please consider sharing your talents so that we might bring God’s
spirit closer through the gift of song and movement. We are a judgment-free
zone! Questions? Contact Lizz Ferdina (lizzardsings@aol.com)
or James Davenport (jamesd@gsinet.net).
Back by popular
demand, the next Spiritual Drumming Circle will be held on Wednesday evening,
June ??th at 7:00 p.m. in the Vestry. As before, all are welcome. No
prior experience is necessary. If you have a percussion instrument, please bring
it along to share. Not a member of the church? Please join us if this
opportunity intrigues you! Questions can be directed to James Davenport at jamesd@gsinet.net.
Communications
Let’s Keep the Presses
Running!
By Linda Morse
Would you like to adopt a piece of the Clarion production costs for this
summer? Because we have so many activities and much news to report, we are
planning on producing the Clarion through the summer this year, although it will
be a smaller issue.
Since the cost of printing and mailing for July and August was not
budgeted, we are looking for people to “adopt” a portion of the costs.
Printing will run about $38 each month, and mailing runs about $33 per month, or
$71 total each month, and any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated!
Please see me or Pastor Cindy if you would like to help.
Community
Notes
Dunbarton
Old Home Days
By Nancy Lang
Old Home Day will be
a two- day celebration this summer, July 17th and 18th.
Saturday's events will include the 10 a.m. parade, a flea market/yard sale/craft
fair, library book sale and fun and games for the whole family. A street
dance is being planned for the evening. The fireworks will be Sunday
evening, with an ice cream social and musical entertainment preceding them. Other
events are being planned as well.
May 2004
Pastor's Message
I do not know of many
emotions more excruciating than waiting: waiting for test results, waiting for
healing, waiting for college admissions letters, waiting to hear from a
prospective employer, waiting for a healthy child to be born, waiting for a
loved one to die, waiting for a joyful reunion, waiting for God to reveal our
true purpose in life, waiting for the risen Christ to come and comfort us with
words of assurance. To wait is to live in that space between uncertainty and
hope, that place where God invites us to abandon our fears and make an active
decision for faith. For all who wait or have waited, this relinquishment is
agony. Even the promise of peace everlasting is not enough to persuade most of
us to “Let go and let God.”
The Bible is full of
stories of faith and waiting: from Noah bobbing endlessly in that infernal
beast-laden ark, to a band of cranky Israelites wandering endlessly in the
desert. From Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth waiting for impossible births, to Mary
waiting for the most impossible birth of all. From the prophets awaiting the
destruction of the two Kingdoms of Israel, to the disciples waiting for Jesus’
return and the coming of a new Kingdom altogether. To be human is to wait. To be
faithful is the challenge, as anger, stress, fear and exhaustion consume our
best efforts at optimism.
Last winter, a close
friend of mine reminded me of a special kind of waiting. Her son, a young
Captain in the Marines, was heading overseas for his second tour in Iraq. Stoic
by nature, I was leveled by her suffering, the tears that would not cease and
the battle she waged with God, “What do love and war have to do with one
another?” When our conversation ended, I found myself asking, “What is the
church’s role in this geopolitical quagmire? How, especially, can we
communicate Jesus’ love and support to those in our community who wait for
loved ones to return from war?”
In late February, I
met with members of the Dunbarton American Legion Post 116 to devise a response.
The result is only a beginning, but a meaningful one we hope. On Sunday, May 23rd at 10:30 a.m. in our sanctuary we will
hold a special ecumenical service of worship “For Those Who Wait.” This
is not a political rally. It is not a time to debate Bush Administration
policies. It is not a time to bludgeon one another with our opinions. It is
certainly not a time to critique our soldiers who regardless of what we believe,
continue to hold duty and country above all else. This is
a time to offer spiritual nourishment and support to those families who live in
the real world of these issues every day, praying only that their loved ones
return safely home.
As partners, the
Legion will be preparing a list of individuals in the area who have servicemen
and women, regular military and reservists, currently serving in one of several
“hot spots” around the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea and
the Balkans. If you know of someone impacted by these conflicts, please let us
know so that invitations can be sent (cebagley@gsinet.net). We intend for this
to be a community-wide event and will be contacting other groups in Dunbarton to
invite their involvement. If you represent such a group and are interested in
participating (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Garden Club, etc.), please contact the
Church office (774-4601) or the above email address.
Today there are
135,000 US troops stationed in Iraq. Just under half are guardsmen and
reservists. Sixty-three percent of America’s regular Army force is stationed
in one of the global “hot spots” mentioned above. Rumors abound that a
military draft might be reinstated, though Administration officials firmly deny
this. Claims are emerging that citizen soldiers are not being afforded the same
respect and supplies as full-time military personnel. April 15th,
Defense Secretary Rumsfeld announced the detainment of 20,000 troops poised to
return home. Reservists are serving up to eighteen-month terms, half again as
long as originally promised. The explosion of insurgent activity in Iraq over
the past several weeks has resulted in the highest death toll since the onset of
the war last March.
And for families
waiting back home? Notes Omar Sacirbey, staff writer for the Valley News, “long separations and fear for the safety of loved
ones in the combat theater are testing the mettle of many
. . . families.” Many feel betrayed, that a promise has been broken.
Bonnie Robbins, wife of N.H. Guardsman Scott Robbins, already worries that when
her husband’s time to leave comes, he may be asked to stay longer. “I
can’t wait for this to be over,” she tells the newspaper, “It’s a lot
harder than I ever expected it to be.” The impact of the waiting on children
is even greater. According to Sacirbey, one soldier’s four-year old daughter
informed her mother, “I prayed that Daddy’s not dead today.”
Please help us honor those families who wait in that space between uncertainty and hope, those who wait in anguish, like we all do, for love and peace to return to their lives. Let us hear their stories and offer words of strength and comfort. To be human is to wait; let us wait together.
Blessings,
Board of Trustees
By Bill Jenkins
Special Thank You's…
To all who
volunteered their time during our annual spring clean-up. What a turnout,
and a great effort by everyone! Many thanks! Also a Very Special Thank You
to an anonymous donor who generously sent a check to cover half the cost of
repairing the vestry roof! Keep a look out for a wonderful rendering of the
Arabell Caudill Memorial Walkway. A hearty Thank You goes to Brian Bacon
(Dean's son) for this amazing depiction of what's to come!
Fund Raising Reminders
Your Krispy Kreme
donuts (“You Buy, We Fly”) can be picked up on Saturday, May 8th,
from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Dunbarton town office parking lot.
Remember our ongoing
recycling effort! Save your old printer toner, ink cartridges and old cell
phones. There’s a box at the Dunbarton Transfer Station for you to turn them
in, or you can bring them to church. But don’t stop there! Consider asking
local businesses, especially those that provide office services, to collect
cartridges on our behalf. Bill Wetzel is already lugging home boxes from the
University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business! Please contact
any trustee for more information.
Bylaws
Committee
By Dean Bacon
The Bylaws Committee has been working on revising the bylaws of the church for over a year. Now it’s time for input from church members! There will be copies of the revised bylaws in the rear o