The Deaconer
March, 2007

Index
Click on any link to go to that article (and you can click on any multicolored horizontal bar to return to this index page)

Happy Birthday
Notes, News and Notices
Church Council
Diaconate
Board of Trustees
Mission Ministries Team
Membership and Evangelism Committee
Men's Club
Music Committee
Listing of Worship Services for the Month
Children's Corner
Calendar for the Month
Extras From the Editor and any Articles

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Worship Services – March 2007


March 4 – 2nd Sunday in Lent – Communion Sunday

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-21

Lay Reader: Steve Henrikson

Sermon: Asking Tough Questions

Usher: Ken & Sandy Harding

Greeter: Betty Chenausky & Bernice Martin

Deacon of the Month: Jean Raymond


March 11 – 3rd Sunday in Lent Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-13

Lay Reader: Trudie Kalinen

Sermon: All You Can Eat

Usher: Bob & Cynthia Childs

Greeter: Norm & Lois May

Deacon of the Month: Jean Raymond


March 18 – 4th Sunday in Lent - OGHS (One Great Hour of Sharing)

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-9, Luke 4:1-13

Lay Reader: Laura Henrikson

Sermon: Put to the Test

Usher: Amy Lanza & Lisa Galante

Greeter: Mark Warner & Jeff Sonnega

Deacon of the Month: Jean Raymond


March 25 – 5th Sunday in Lent

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Lay Reader: Janet Kohlmorgen

Sermon: Amazing Grace

Usher: Ed & Marti Gagnon

Greeter: Dale & Sandy Pyer

Deacon of the Month: Jean Raymond

 




 









Notes, News & Notices
 






Apologies for the lateness of the March Deaconer


The combination of getting the 2006 Annual Report, sickness, weather and the printer operating hours were too much to overcome.


My goal normally is to have the Deaconer in the mail by the first of the month.









Outdoor Ministries

 

We are gathering together names of all those interested in attending Horton Center this summer.  If you are interested in going as either a camper or a Unit Leader, or if you want to know what Horton Center is all about, please call Jim or Cindy Melhorn, 899-2268

 

There will be a celebration of Gregg Pitman's 25 years of ministry with the NH Conference's outdoor ministries program on March 31, 2007 from 2-4 at the Laconia Congregational Church.  Please contact Pastor Jim for more details or directions.









Celebration of Discipline

The next session of our Celebration of Discipline study group will meet Tuesday, March 27, at 7 pm in the Sunday School room. 

It's never too late to join the group.  

Just come and find out what it's all about.

 




 
 


Calling All Drama Queens and Kings

 

Pastor Jim would like to put on a dramatic presentation during one of our Lenten Sunday services.

If you'd like to participate and try your hand at a bit of acting, please call Jim at the church office 899-5722.













TOWN – WIDE YARD / GARAGE SALE


MAY 5th, 2007 (8 AM to 3 PM)


The First Congregational Church in Rindge will host a town-wide yard / garage sale on May 5th, 2007 from 8 AM to 3 PM. (RAIN OR SHINE)


This event is open to all town residents. Sellers must pre-register and addresses will be put onto an up-dated map of Rindge.


The Church will charge a fee of $10 (10) dollars and will mark town maps with the location of all sellers. The Church will also have paid advertisements for this event in several newspapers so that we may attract shoppers from outside the Rindge area.


Sellers will be responsible for displaying, marking and selling their own goods. All monies received will remain with the seller.


Maps will be available to all buyers & bargain hunters, (FREE), beginning at 7 AM on May 5th at the Church. Coffee & donuts will also be sold at this time.


“House” Prizes will be found at 3 locations on the map. When shoppers pick-up their map they may buy tickets. These tickets will be dropped into contains where the prizes are found and a drawing will be held at 3 PM at each of the prize locations.


This is a great way for all townspeople to get a handle on their unwanted “stuff” before the summer begins. During these long, dark, cold and icy days, as you clean a closet, cabinet, the basement or garage, just set items aside & you will be ready for the sale.


For this to be a successful event, we will need a few volunteers – especially on the day of the event. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jane Hannon at 899-5789.

 


~ ~ Book Discussion ~ ~
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
 
* Discussions will be held at Charlie and Carleen Eicher’s home at 33 Daria Drive in Rindge.
* Discussions are scheduled for:
  -  Monday, March 19th, 2:00 - 3:30 pm.
  -  Tuesday, March 20th, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
  -  Wednesday, March 28th, 2:00 - 3:30 pm.

* Please sign up at Sunday Coffee hour or call one of your hosts.

* If these times don’t work for you, let us know and we’ll schedule additional discussions.

* Come join us for fun and fellowship!

Your Hosts:  Marcie Miller (899-5419) and Carleen Eicher (899-9892)



Membership Database

We’d like to update the membership database with e-mail addresses.  If you would, please e-mail your address to Marcie Miller (database coordinator) at millerm123@ptcnh.net



Electronic Deaconer

This is just a survey to find out if and how many folks would like to receive the Deaconer via e-mail.  The primary purpose is to keep postage expenses down.  If you would like to receive the Deaconer via e-mail, contact Steve Henrikson at henrikson@ptcnh.net.


Save these dates

Church Retreat - Talking Faith
May 18 and 19, 2007



Easter Flower Form
Again this year, an opportunity is available to place Memorial Flowers in the church on Easter Sunday.  Marie Marr will be accepting orders for Lilies, Tulips and Daffodils.  For your convenience, please use the order form below and return it to Marie in an envelope or call her at 899- 6430.

  (  )  Yes, I would like to order___________ plants to be used in
        the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday
  (  )  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 church family.
  (  )  I will Pick Up my plant(s) after the Service on Easter Sunday

Please Return this form to:
  Marie Marr
  134 Birch Drive
  Rindge, NH  03461

























 
 

Church Council Minutes

February 15, 2007


Present: Janet Kohlmorgen, Sue Campbell, Janet and Burt Goodrich, Tony and Mary Alice D’Ambrosio, Steve Henrikson, Jim Melhorn


Following the opening prayer by Pastor Jim, January council minutes were approved with the following amendments: Dec. minutes were approved at the January 25, 2007 meeting. The church retreat is scheduled for May 18 and 19, NOT April 18 and 19.


Treasurer’s Report: See written report. Burt Goodrich distributed and reviewed the monthly financial statements.


Pastor’s Report: See written report.


Old Business:

Retreat: The annual retreat will be held at Woodbound on May 18 and 19. The entire church family is invited to participate in the two-day event. Amy Lanza is developing the children’s program for the weekend. Jim is the point person for the retreat.

Committee reports:

Nominating Committee: Sue Campbell distributed the list of upcoming committee members. There is a need for additional deacons, in particular. All committee members are asked to make every effort to attend the All Church Committees Meeting on Thursday, March 15 at 7 PM. This will be a brief, but essential, organizational meeting for all committees to choose their chairman, recorder, and council representative, and to determine their meeting schedule for the upcoming year. Please make every effort to attend.


Deacon’s report: See written report. Congratulations to Vicki and Jon Flatgard on their recent marriage!


Trustees’ Report: Burt Goodrich reported


Membership: See written report.


Missions Ministries:


Music Committee report: See written report. Tony D’Ambrosio noted the organ will be tuned for Easter. Normally it is tuned three times a year, but, unless additional income becomes available, with the balanced budget there will only be funds for one tuning. The next organ concert will be October 21 at 3 PM.



LVA: On Friday, Sue Campbell, Sue Chatwin, and Lois May will be organizing the LVA storage space and tackling the freezer and refrigerator. Meetings will resume at the end of the month.


Men’s Club: The next men’s breakfast will be in March. Date and details to be announced.


Sharing Moment: Pastor Jim will be leading a workshop/seminar at the Prepared to Serve conference. Council members participated in a faith sharing activity based on that seminar.


Agenda item: All church committees are asked to give council any dates that needed to be reserved on the Town/Church calendar.


Janet Kohlmorgen closed the meeting with prayer.


Respectfully submitted,

Janet Goodrich, Clerk


 

Diaconate

February 8, 2007


In attendance were Sue Chatwin, Sue Campbell, Sandy Harding, Jean Raymond, Steve Chace, Barbara Wells and Rev. Jim Melhorn. Rev. Jim opened with prayer.


Jean Raymond will be the Deacon of the Month for March. Assisting her with communion by intinction will be Phyllis Groezinger.


Standard Reports

  1. Pastor Jim will perform a wedding for Victoria Skowronek on February 14th.

  2. An Ash Wednesday service will be held on February 21st at 7 P.M.

  3. Rev. Jim will not take a sabbatical in 2007 but will apply for a Lily Grant for 2008.

  4. Nine people attended the first Celebration of Discipline meeting.


Unfinished Business


New Business

  1. The Deacons reviewed and corrected the membership list. Five members will be sent letters because of non church attendance/ support asking if they wish to remain members.

  2. Marie Marr will be collecting Easter flower orders.

  3. Church directories should be updated with the following addresses:


George & Eileen Abbey

Langdon Place

136A Arch Street, Apt. #141

Keene, NH 03431


Barbara Rice

Good Shepherd Nursing Home

20 Plantation Drive, Room #F4

Jaffrey, NH 03452


Bob Shepherd

Langdon Place

136A Arch Street, Apt. #229

Keene, NH 03431


  1. Barbara said that, starting this year, all monies spent for the benefit of the church must be receipted by the church in order to qualify for an IRS charitable deduction. Sue Campbell will bring up this subject at Church Council.

  2. Steve Chace has served the limit of two terms as Deacon and will be leaving the board. He was thanked for his service and assured that he would be missed.


The meeting closed at 8:25 P.M. with prayer by Steve Chace. Sandy will close with prayer at the next meeting which will be on March 22nd at 7:00 P.M. in the vestry.


Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Wells, Secretary


 

 

Trustees

February, 2006


The Trustees met on February 13th with Burt Goodrich, Norman May, Jane Hannon, Cynthia Childs, Jim Melhorn and Nancy Bogar present. Burt began the meeting with a prayer.


The Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports were accepted as presented. Trustees went over the Year-End Reports.


Yard Sale – The Town-Wide Yard Sale has been scheduled for Sat., May 5th. Jane Hannon has set up committees and many people have already come forward to help. Please see Jane if you wish to help. In addition to yard sales, some other ideas are renting out space on the Common and also renting to crafters in the Meeting House. Keep the date open and hopefully find your special treasure at a neighbor’s house!


Oversight Committee – Burt Goodrich is now the chairman. He reported that the insulation of the basement has now been completed. Robert Forrest, from the Town, has been trying to regulate the boiler. The committee is also getting a quote to repair the steeple and putting together a list of the various items that need repair, i.e. windows, outside painting etc.


Budget: Annual Meeting is March 11th and committee discussed the balanced budget and how it will affect the Church. Ideas for improvement were discussed.


Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm. Next meeting will be Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at 7:00 pm.


Respectfully submitted, Nancy Bogar, Secretary


 




















Christian Education Committee
(no report)

 

 

Music Committee

February 11, 2006


The group met following church for its February meeting. In attendance were: Chair Mary Lu Mathis, Bob Popple, Tony D’Ambrosio, Mary Jane Sawyer, and guest Jean Raymond.


The organ concert, scheduled for October 21 at 3:00 PM, was discussed. Tony will make sure, at this week’s Council, that the date is identified on the church calendar of events.


This month’s session of Common Grounds Coffee House was discussed. The high caliber of musicianship of those participating was noted. We will promote the effort in any way we can.


Mary Lu reported that the bills in question at last month’s meeting have indeed been paid.


Tony has authorized that the $75 renewal fee be paid for ‘LicenSing’.


Tony reviewed items from Council, including the May town-wide garage sale, the possibility of pledge reminders being sent out quarterly, and the Church Retreat, scheduled for May 18-19.


Bob was authorized to arrange for organ and piano tuning prior to Palm Sunday.


The group thanked Mary Jane for her committee service, and welcomed Jean Raymond, who will replace Mary Jane starting next month. Mary Jane turned over committee minutes and records.


Mary Jane asked the group to consider holding their regular choir practices early Sunday mornings, thereby possibly attracting additional participants who cannot commit to a weekday evening each week. The group took the suggestion under advisement.


The next meeting is scheduled for March 18.


Mary Jane Sawyer - for the Committee


 




















Mission Ministries Team

February 11, 2007


The committee met on February 11, 2007 following coffee hour; attending were Mary Alice D’Ambrosio, Una Bigelow, and Laura Henrikson. Una began the meeting with a bible reading.


There were no changes to the minutes of the last meeting.


Laura discussed correspondence pertaining to programs that Samaritan’s Purse is doing, a letter from FOCUS and Straight Ahead Ministries.


Council has not met since the last report at last month’s meeting.


The Chili Supper went very well and we donated all the monies collected ($200) to the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter. There was an article about the program that MATS presented in this week’s Home Companion, unfortunately no mention of us hosting a chile supper and profits being donated to them.


The coffee supply is almost deleted and we will be placing another order. Thanks to everyone for the great support of this program!


The OGHS (One Great Hour of Sharing) collection will take place on Sunday, March 18, 2007. We will purchase OGHS boxes for the children and give the Sunday school some of the resource material to use.

Missions will again participate in the Rindge Family Festival on Saturday, July 7, selling ice cream sundaes and water. This year the Recreation Department is asking all non-profit groups to donate 10% of the proceeds.


We received information from Monadnock Habitant for Humanity and hope to participate in some way in the future.


The next meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2007. Closing prayer was given by MaryAlice.


Respectfully submitted,

Laura A. Henrikson

 

It was decided the next meeting would be February 11, at 11:30am. Rev. Jim closed the meeting with a prayer.

Respectfully submitted,
Marie Marr, Acting Secretary
 















Men’s Club
(no report)


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Membership and Evangelism Committee

January 24, 2007


The Membership and Evangelism Committee met on Wednesday January 24th at 6:00pm in the Vestry. Those in attendance were Steve Henrikson, Lois May and Marcie Miller. Steve opened with a prayer.

Membership Database – Marcie indicated that there have been 4 additions, 6 updates and 1 status changes. She provided membership lists to the Deacons and Trustees so that they are working from the latest data, and a list of the children for the Christian Education Committee.

Web Site – Tony continues to work on the web site. Please take an opportunity to see the work Tony has done. Lots of good info.

The meeting closed at 7:30pm. Our next meeting will be Thursday February 22, 2007 at 7:00pm.















Kids Corner




Extras From the Editor 
& 
Special Articles





Remember to Proofread

Church Bulletin Entries (not ours!)


  • The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

  • The sermon this morning. "Jesus Walks on the Water."  The sermon tonight.  "Searching for Jesus."

  • Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the Recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.

  • Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

  • The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

  • Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

  • Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

  • Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. 

  • For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

  • Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

  • The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing. "Break Forth Into Joy."

  • Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

  • A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

  • At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

  • Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

  • Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

  • Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

  • The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

  • Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

  • The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

  • This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

  • Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.

  • The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

  • Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

  • The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church Basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

  • Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church.  Please use large double door at the side entrance.


March 2007 - Church Calendar

Sunday – March 4, 2007


Monday - March 5, 2007

Wednesday - March 7, 2007


Friday - March 9, 2007


Sunday - March 11, 2007

Monday - March 12, 2007

Tuesday - March 13, 2007

Stewardship - Vestry


Wednesday - March 14, 2007


Thursday - March 15, 2007


Friday - March 16, 2007


Sunday - March 18, 2007

Monday - March 19, 2007


Tuesday - March 20, 2007


Wednesday - March 21, 2007


Thursday - March 22, 2007


Sunday - March 25, 2007

Town Hall

Monday - March 26, 2007

Tuesday - March 27, 2007


Wednesday - March 28, 2007

 


  

March Birthdays


March 1 – Heather Wunschel

March 2 – Michael Picinisco

March 5 – Brian Kohlmorgen

March 6 – Elise Perry

March 8 – Adam Sesia

March 9 – Janet Goodrich

March 10 – Philip Casey

March 11 – Arthur Fitzwater

March 13 – Katrina Fleming

March 15 – Hayden Skelton

March 16 – Carter Jack Cormier

March 16 – Peter Wells

March 21 – Lisa Galante

March 21 – Dale Pyer

March 23 – Michele Perry

March 24 – Jon Cormier

March 24 – Evan Popp

March 25 – Maria Dauphinais

March 25 – James Melhorn

March 26 – Marti Gagnon

March 27 – Marie Marr

March 28 – Perry Thomas

March 31 – Katherine Fitzwater



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