Present:  Don Umlauf, Janet Umlauf, Jim Melhorn, Tony D’Ambrosio, Jane Hannon, Steve Henrikson, Mark Warner, Marty Ferwerda, Bernice Ferwerda, Janet Goodrich, Janet Kohlmorgen

Pastor Jim opened the meeting with prayer.

The minutes of the October meeting were approved with the following correction:  The Education Committee purchased 21 new books for the library, not 2.  The Purpose Drive Life was purchased for use with the young people, not for the library.

Treasurer:  Accepted as presented.
Collector:  Accepted as presented.  It was noted that 83% of the year has passed.  71% of the budget has been spent; 89% of income has been received. 

Pastor’s report:  See written report.  The council approved donating $100 to the Memorial  Fund at the Lutheran Church in memory of Rev. Ron Fournier. 

Christian Education:  The committee to study the feasibility of a part time youth minister   has been formed and will be meeting shortly. 

Deacons:  See written report

Long Range Planning:  Will meet after the first of the year

Membership:  See written report.  The council expressed appreciation to the committee  for the article the submitted to the Rindge Reporter. 

Missions:  See written report.  Jim will be meeting with the committee to explain in detail  the UCC Basic Support contribution.

Music:  See written report.   Tony reviewed the copyright licensing fee for church music.

Pastor Relations:  Janet Umlauf reported the committee is completing the minister’s annual review. 

Trustees: See written report. 

Buildings and Grounds:  Mark Warner updated the council on the bids received to date for replacing the chairlift.  Don Umlauf will contact  the Town Administrator on  Monday to see if ADA standards apply to this situation.  If so, it appears the costs  may be shared by the Town, Ward Fund, and the Church  The Trustees will  review all the bids and make a recommendation to the council at the next meeting.   It will then be brought before the congregation for final approval of the proposal.

Stewardship: Pledge cards and letters have been sent to all members of the congregation.   Once they have been returned to the church, the proposed 2004 budget can be  finalized.

Men’s Club:  The group will meet Sunday at 8:30^am  for a coffee and muffin breakfast.   Next year’s budget is the main agenda item.

All committee reports were accepted as presented.

New Business:

Budget:  Mark Warner presented the first draft of the proposed 2004 budget which will be ‘fine-tuned’ at the next Trustees meeting once all pledge cards have been returned. 

The council accepted the budget as amended at the meeting pending the pledge information. 

The date of the annual meeting was set for January 18 with the warrant being read on January 4, 11, and 18.

Constitution:  Each committee represented at council was invited to present comments on the portions of the proposed Constitution that directly involve them. Jim noted the comments and will bring them to the Constitution Revision committee for further discussion.   The council began discussion on how the phase in the constitution should it be accepted as proposed. 

Closing prayer was offered by Janet Goodrich.  Janet Kohlmorgen will lead the closing prayer at the next meeting. 

 Next council meeting will be Monday, Dec, 15.  The Senior Dinner will be held at the Town Hall on the date the council would normally meet

Repectfully submitted,
Janet Goodrich, Clerk

                                     Happy Birthday
       December 1  - Laura Henrikson      December 6  - Elizabeth Sampson
       December 2  - Trudie Kalinen       December 10 - Lynn Carmichael
       December 3  - Sue Chatwin          December 19 - Jacob Robie
       December 4  - Eric Casey           December 23 - Lillian Bolduc

Diaconate

The Deacons met on November 13, 2003 at 7:00^pm in the Vestry.

Deacon of the month for December is Lee Mailloux.  Communion will be on December 7^th assisted by Penny Chace, Steve Henrikson and Sue Chatwin.

November 30^th is the first Sunday of Advent, December 7^th will be Communion, December 14^th will be a Sunday School Program, December 21^st will be Lessons and Carols and there will be a Christmas Eve Service on December 24^th at 7:00^pm.

We are looking into using Fair Trade Coffee from Equal Exchange.  This involves using coffee from Latin American farmers.  Farmers are paid directly eliminating the middleman.  In essence, this program is a mission project where we receive coffee (which we are going to buy anyway) and the farmer receives a fair price.  In addition, the coffee is shade grown and forests are not clear-cut helping to preserve wildlife habitats and protect the environment.

Submitted budget for 2004.

Reviewed the proposed Constitution and By-Law changes.

Next meeting will be December 11^th at 7:00^pm in the vestry.

Submitted by,
Steve Henrikson

Mission Ministries Team
November 9, 2003

Items of correspondence discussed/read: 

• Straight Ahead letter for bulletin board 
• Mississippi Christian Family Services thank you letter for money received 
• Campus Crusade letter from Jon Ayers - he is looking for monthly support 
• Christmas Fun info. posted on bulletin board - members of congregation are encouraged to read any of these items & even take them home to read & return them to the board when done.

Discussion over UCC Basic Support, question was posed as to how up-to-date the membership roll of the church is, as the monetary total to UCC is based on this.  Marty suggested that deacons should check into this.

Missions Ministries giving budget reviewed & totals of what has been disbursed so far this year & what will be disbursed discussed.

Upcoming items: Christmas Fund Promotion & Mitten Tree.

A volunteer was sought to oversee Josue (the boy in Haiti that is supported by our church), Mary Alice volunteered. 

Next meeting December 7, 2003.

Respectfully submitted,
Penny Chace

Christian Education Committee
November 9, 2003

Present:  Rev. Melhorn, Cindy Melhorn, Jennifer Skelton, Phyllis Ames and Bernice Ferwerda

Rev. Melhorn opened the meeting with prayer.  Secretary's October report read and accepted with one correction.

Rev. Melhorn reported on purchasing much needed Bibles for church school classes.  Many types are available, mostly age related.  He recommended buying 3 to 5 volumes for each age group.  "Living Gods Way" by Ralph Milton for youngest children, another for 1^st grade through 5^th grade, "The Message" for middle school and high-schoolers.  A few "Basic" Bibles will be purchased for classroom use and the "Adventure" Bible for presenting to 3^rd graders.  Rev. Melhorn will purchase all these.

A lengthy discussion ensued on budget development for next year.  Each item was discussed and decisions made.  The final budget figure is close to last year's amount.

We will look into our Constitution regulations concerning attendance at our meetings.  Christian Ed. Committee will need a Chairperson, Council Representative and Superintendent for next year.

Bernice closed with prayer.

Next meeting will be Dec. 14^th.

Respectfully submitted,
Phyllis Ames

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee met on November 6, 2003 at 7:00^pm in the vestry.

We continued to discuss the Welcome Baskets.  We have distributed 12 baskets so far.  Steve wrote an article for the Rindge Reporter. 

Submitted budget for 2004.

Reviewed the proposed Constitution and By-Law changes.

The next meeting will be Thursday, December 4, 2003 at 7:00^pm in the Vestry. 

Submitted by,
Steve Henrikson

December Worship Services

December 7 – 2^nd Sunday in Advent - Communion Sunday  The Joyful Noise Bell Choir will play, and we will dedicate the beautiful altar rug given to the church as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-25
Sermon:  “Yours is no disgrace”
Greeters: Susan Casey and Katie Duffy
Ushers: Ethan and Michelle Perry
Lay Reader: Lois May
Acolyte: Emily Thomas

December 14 – 3^rd Sunday in Advent – Sunday School Program  Our youth and children bring us ‘good tidings of great joy’ as they lead us in worship through song, drama, and story.
Greeters: John and Michelle Cormier
Ushers: Doug Popp and Don Umlauf
Lay Reader: Martin Ferwerda
Acolyte: Kyle Sewell

December 21 – 4^th Sunday in Advent – “The Jesse Tree”, a service of lessons and carols     In scripture and song, we tell the story of Jesus’ “family tree” in this intergenerational service.  Our children and youth will make ornaments during the service that remind us of God’s promises to Jesus’ ancestors, and we celebrate what God’s promises mean for us today.
Greeters: Martin Ferwerda and Nada Foster
Ushers: Burt and Janet Goodrich
Lay Reader: Janet Goodrich
Acolyte: Vanessa L'Heureux

December 24 – Candlelight Christmas Eve Service – 7:00^pm.  Our family-oriented, kid-friendly service blends traditional  and new music, and features a Christmas message, the reading of the familiar Christmas story from Luke’s gospel, and the lighting of candles while singing ‘Silent Night’

December 28 – Carol Sing – Just in case you haven’t had enough Christmas music by this time, our Deacons will lead a service centered around the singing of our favorite songs and carols.
Greeters: Ernest and Marge St. Pierre
Ushers: Steve Henrikson and Penny Chace
Lay Reader: Janet Kohlmorgan
Acolyte: Micaela Crowe

Pastor Jim will be on vacation from December 25^th to January 6^th.  Anyone in need of Pastoral care during this time should call Head Deacon Stephen Chace @ 978-297-3404.

Computer Corner

The web site continues with updates.

• November Deaconer
• Announcements
• Mission Ministries Team Soup, Bread and Dessert Supper
• Talent Auction
• Dress Down Sunday Article
• Updates to the Week in Review (on a weekly basis).

Another area that increasingly needs attention is SPAM – those unwanted e-mails that try to sell you everything from – well, you know what I’m talking about.  This is getting more and more attention as it is reaching epidemic proportion.  There are several things you can do to help prevent or minimize spam.  The first and most important, DO NOT click the reply link at the bottom of the message to get off their list – all that does is validate your e-mail address as a real address which will flood you with more spam.  You can subscribe to spam filters (your ISP may already provide one), but even without a professional filter, you can create your own filters.  Most e-mail clients provide a way for you to set up filters for incoming mail.  For example, you can have e-mail with specific words go into a special folder you create.  Then when e-mail comes in with those words, the e-mail will go into the folder.  At your leisure, you can scan the contents of the folder to see if there are any legitimate messages you want to move into the Inbox and the rest you just delete (don’t forget to empty your trash folder periodically).  You can have the filter automatically delete messages but you may delete a valid one that gets put in your spam folder.  For example, suppose you order prescriptions online.  However, you receive tons of spam messages for prescription drugs.  Say you set up a filter to screen out all incoming messages with the word prescription.  All those messages will go to your spam folder, including a legitimate one from your real drug provider.

 There is another form of spam that is starting to take hold – it’s the use of the Windows Messenger Service.  This is not related to messenger programs such as MSN or Yahoo Messenger, but is a program that is part of windows.  Windows Messenger Service is designed to be used in a corporate environment so that network administrators can notify everyone on the network of important information.  Unfortunately, spammers have discovered this tool and are having spam messages pop up on your screen (the pop up will say Messenger Service in the title bar).  In a home environment, Windows Messenger Service is not needed.  You can disable it as follows;

For Windows 2000 and XP:

• Go to start and click Run
• Type services.msc
• Double-click on Messenger.
• In the Messenger Properties window, select Stop and then choose Disable as the Startup Type.
• Click OK.

• Under Control Panel, select Add/Remove.
• Select Windows Setup.
• Select System Tools.
• Click Details.
• Uncheck WinPopUp.
• Click OK. 

On a more positive note – have you ever heard a song on the radio but you didn’t catch or they didn’t say what the name of the song was?  Here is a neat little site to solve your problem.
http://yes.net/

Steve Henrikson – webspirit – henrikson@surfbest.net

Picture of the Month - Damascas Road

On November 8th, this contemporary Christian praise band joined us for an evening of fellowship and spirited worship.  Formed several years ago at the Ashburnham Community Church, UCC, Damascas Road leads the 8:30am contemporary worship service and travels to other churches, sharing their musical talents and their love of the gospel.  Recently, Damascas Road served as the ‘house band’ for our Vacation Bible School, held jointly with The Ashburnham church at Toah Nipi. Preceding the worship service was potluck supper at 5:30pm in the Town Hall room of the church.

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 18^th, 11:30^am -- after our service. 
Please save the date.

Sunday School News

The “joyful noise” of Sunday school is back in full swing, with a dedicated staff of teachers and an enthusiastic group of students.  We started the year by playing a game that involved learning interesting facts about the teachers.  The object of the game was for each team to match the facts with the teacher to whom it belonged.  Whenever a team answered correctly, they received a Lego piece.  The team that collected enough Legos to build a cross won the game.

Some of the facts revealed included who has the longest hair (Robin Crowe), whose picture was aboard the Challenger (Bernice Ferwerda), who played the trombone and wanted to be a professional musician (Steve Chase), and who’s been a member of First Congregational Church the longest (Victoria Skowroneck).  Amazingly enough, the game ended in a tie. 

Each Sunday before class begins, the students and teachers gather for a “good news circle” and a prayer.  During this time, we celebrate accomplishments or milestones in our lives, and acknowledge birthdays with a donation to the birthday bank.  Last year, the money collected in the bank was used to buy animals for the Heifer Project.  This year, we will be using the money to purchase supplies to send to Haiti.

The nursery has received some updated toys and equipment this year, thanks to Victoria Skowronek and Cindy Melhorn.  Nursery duty is shared by our two paid nursery attendants, Colleen Keegan and Andrea Popp.

The Sunday school classes have also been invited to participate in a church library challenge.  After completing three publications (books, videos or magazines) and obtaining verification with a parent signature, students will receive an award.  An additional award is available for anyone who is willing to write a review for a future issue of the Deaconer.  There has already been several books checked out, and a review may be coming soon!

The Children’s Christmas pageant is right around the corner, on December 14.  To see just how brightly the Sunday school stars can shine, please plan to attend.  The energy of the Sunday school is abundant and contagious - if you would like to volunteer to help in any capacity, call Cindy Melhorn at 899-2268.

Children's Choir is Back!!!

The angelic melodies of our youngest singers will soon return to worship, under the direction of Katrina Fleming.  Katrina is the daughter of church members Donna and Dick Docekal, is married to Mark Fleming, and has two children, Zachary and Nicole.  With a background in both vocal and instrumental performance as well as a career in education, Katrina is the perfect addition to our church family.  Rehearsals will immediately follow the church service, will a short snack break in between.  We welcome Katrina, and look forward to the return of our Children's Choir!

Altar Rug Donation

The Deacons are pleased to announce that the church has received a wonderful gift, a hand wrought altar rug, given by Mary E. Williams.  This beautiful rug was made by Mary’s mother, Marion H. Torrey, in honor of her husband and Mary’s Father, the Rev Arthur J. Torrey, Episcopal minister.

Rev. Torrey was born in Bennington, VT, and lived mostly with his grandparents in Shoftsbury, VT.  As a young boy, he walk from Shoftsbury to Bennington to the First Congregational Church (UCC) on the hill near the Bennington Revolutionary War Monument.  Later, he became a Methodist minister, then many years later, became an Episcopal minister, serving parishes from Washington, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.  He died in 1959.

His wife intended to give the rug to his last parish in New Jersey, but there had been a change in the placement of the altar, and there was no room for it.  She did not know this, and worked on it until she had a stroke, and died in 1979.  At that time, the rug was two thirds finished, and Mary had the rug completed by two other people over the next several years.  The rug was designed by Mary’s mother, who copied a pattern she had seen exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of New York.

Mary has stored and preserved the rug until she found the ‘right place’ for it to be displayed and used, and has found that place here at our church.  She gives it in the name of her parents and returns it to a Congregational church in memory of her father’s theological ‘home’, where he first felt his calling to the ministry of the Lord.

There will be an official dedication of this gift on December 7^th, prior to our service of communion.  Thanks to Mary and her family for sharing this gift of beauty and enhancing our worship space.  May it continue to remind us, and generations to come, to give thanks to God for the gifts and talents we have been given, and may it proclaim ‘welcome’ to all who worship here.

Our Favorite Hymns 

Several weeks ago, those in attendance at Sunday morning worship were asked to list their favorite hymns, and the response was significant.  We really have a lot of favorites!  Now that this list is compiled, we will from time to time have worship services that contain these ‘People’s Choice’ hymns to make sure that no one’s favorites are left out.  Take a look at the list in this month’s Deaconer and see how many of your favorites are there.  If you have suggestions to add to the list, please send a note or an email to the church office and let us know what music you would like to hear.  The hymns we sing say a lot about who we are and what we believe.  Let’s glorify God in whatever we sing!
 

43	A Mighty Fortress	580	Jesus Calls Us
229	Lift High the Cross	182	Brightest and Best of the Stars
20	Joyful, Joyful , We Adore Thee	692	Faith of Our Fathers
776	Let Us Break Bread Together	353	For the Beauty
4	Father, I Adore You	376	We Gather Together
768	I Come With Joy	502	Amazing Grace (both traditional and
774	Bread of the World		Horton Center version)
204	All Glory, Laud and Honor	2	Holy, Holy, Holy
517	The Solid Rock	151	Go, Tell it on the Mountain
721	Shine, Jesus, Shine	227	Rock of Ages
532	Be Thou My Vision	416	Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory
535	Day by Day	21	How Great thou Art
	Lord, I Lift Your Name on High		When the Roll is Called Up Yonder
10	Glorify Your Name	410	He Touched Me
694	Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken		Peace in the Valley
73	God Moves in a Mysterious Way	514	Blessed Assurance
619	God Will Take Care of You	530	Be Still, My Soul
639	Surely Goodness and Mercy	748	Onward, Christian Soldiers
60	Great is Thy Faithfulness	362	Morning Has Broken
571	What Does the Lord Require of You	57	All Things Bright and Beautiful
523	Trust and Obey	115	Fairest Lord Jesus
452	Turn Your Eyes	216	Beneath the Cross of Jesus
118	We Will Glorify	218	Were You There
733	We’ve a Story to Tell	290	Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
242	In The Garden	358	Eternal Father, Strong to Save
484	The Old, Rugged Cross	540	Take Time to be Holy
309	Wonderful Words of Life	531	O Love, That Will Not Let Me Go
788	There’s a Quiet Understanding	87	His Name is Wonderful
623	Sweet Hour of Prayer	445	Just As I Am
663	Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus	297	Spirit of the Living God
441	Softly and Tenderly	580	Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult
306	Standing on the Promises	538	I Need Thee Every Hour
510	At Calvary	470	Jesus Loves Me, This I Know
231	Ah, Holy Jesus	417	My Country Tis of Thee
208	Alas, and Did the Savior Bleed	126	O Come Let Us Adore Him
473	And Can it Be	164	Silent Night
84	Children of the	622	What A Friend We Have in Jesus
122	Come Into	330	The Lord’s My Shepherd
634	Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah		This Little Light of Mine
22	Come, We Who Love the Lord		Three Crosses on the Hill
365	Abide With Me	213	When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
534	Draw Me Nearer	697	In Christ There is no East or West
54	God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens		Will Your Anchor Hold
498	I Love to tell the Story	708	Blest Be the Tie that Binds
279	My Lord, What a Morning	630	Kum Bah Yah
648	O, Jesus I have Promised	518	He’s Got the Whole World
557	Open My Eyes, Lord	135	Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
568	Take My Life	539	I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
5	Come, Thou Almighty King

Christmas Flowers 

Again this year, an opportunity is available to place Memorial Flowers in the church for the Christmas Season.  Barbara Wells will be accepting orders for plants.  For your convenience, please use the order form, make the check out to Barbara Wells, and return it to her in an envelope or call her at 899-5460.

(  )  Yes, I would like to order___________ plants to be used in the Sanctuary

(  )  I am enclosing cash / check ($10 per plant)

(  )  I will bring a plant(s)

This plant is given (  ) in loving memory of: __________________________________.

                            (  ) in honor of: ________________________________________.

                            (  ) (your choice) ______________________________________.

                             ___________________________________________________.

                            ___________________________________________________.

                            ___________________________________________________.

Signed: ___________________________________________________________.

Phone: ___________________________________________________________.

(  )  I wish my plant(s) to Be Delivered to friends or members of our chuch family.

Please Return this form to: Barbara Wells
                                         PO Box 152
                                         Rindge, NH  03461

Talent Auction

Our Annual Talent Auction will be held on Sunday, April18^th after our church service.  We will have a potluck lunch this year.  Please put this date on your calendar and start thinking about what you might offer. We all have special talents or objects that others would love to have.  Janet Kohlmorgen will chair the event with help from others.

2004 Annual Meeting - Warrant

---

First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Rindge, New Hampshire

Church Clerk                                                                                                          899-5780
Janet Goodrich                                                                                   21Paradise Island Road
                                                                                                                            Rindge, NH 

To the members of the First Congregational Church and Society of the United Church of Christ in Rindge, New Hampshire qualified to vote in Church affairs:

You are hereby notified to meet in the Sanctuary on Sunday, January 18, 2004 at 11:30^am to hear and transact the following business:

Article I      To hear and act upon all reports of Officers and Committees

Article II     To choose all necessary Officers and Committee Members for their delegated terms

Article III    To adopt the budget for the Fiscal Year 2003

Article IV    To act upon any other business that may legally come before this meeting

Given this 4^th day of January, in the year of our Lord 2004

Janet Goodrich - Clerk

First Reading:  January 04, 2004
Second Reading: January 11, 2004
Third Reading:  January 18, 2004

Rindge Food Pantry

We have so much to be thankful for at this time of the year -- Remember those who are not as fortunate and bring something with you for the Rindge Food Pantry.  A collection container is located inside the church -- Let's fill it up.

UCCOSSN Website 

Dear Church office staff,

Wanted to let you know that the (United Church of Christ Office Support Staff Network) UCCOSSN Website now has online the “preview” information about the 2004 Gathering in Cleveland at the Church House April 16-18, 2004.

Go to www.uccossn.org - Click on "meetings" - then click on "2004" - As soon as the registration form is avilable (January), it will added that to the website along with the details about workshops and agenda.  Check the Leader Feeder for information as well.  I hope many of you will consider attending this event - especially if you have never visited the Church House in Cleveland.  You will find the experience very helpful in your work for the Church.  Contact me if you have any questions. 

• Friday breakfast, lunch & dinner, Saturday breakfast & lunch, Sunday breakfast.
• Plus, all workshops, plenary & materials unless noted.
• Double Occupancy $225 Single Room $350
• Deadline for Registrations will be April 2, 2004.