JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
THIS SUNDAY, February 25th, The Second
Sunday in Lent, there will be two services at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.
There is a service of Morning Prayer on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
We hope you will join us for worship and
fellowship.
READINGS FOR SUNDAY
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Second Sunday in Lent
Year B
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:22-30
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38
FROM THE RECTOR
If you were at
the 10:00 service last Sunday,
you heard me mention a young Mexican American woman who is a member of the
House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church and has experienced discrimination in
the church due to her race and gender. She has written a reflection for a
Lenten series of reflections, essays, and meditations on sexual harassment and
exploitation in the church sponsored by the House of Deputies. Her reflection
is titled, “Difficult
But Necessary Work: A Lay Leader’s #metoo Reflection”. If you would like to
read the full reflection, it can be found here: http://houseofdeputies.org/2018/02/15/difficult-necessary-work-lay-leaders-metoo-reflection/
I applaud the
intent of the series;
The Episcopal Church has its full share of misogyny and bias of all sorts, like
most institutions, and it is good for us to examine ourselves and our churches
in this Lenten season. But there is a broader discussion to have as well, that
encompasses bias and discrimination of any form – gender, race, gender identification,
sexual preference, etc. It’s part of what our Presiding Bishop means when he
talks about becoming beloved community. How can we better live into this vision
of treating each other with love and respect regardless of our differences? We
are beginning this conversation after the 10:00 (or 9:00) service during Lent.
We began last Sunday by sharing our experiences and witness of racial
discrimination and will continue that this week. We are also beginning discussion
of the book, Living into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America, edited by
Catherine Weeks. It’s not too late to join us, even if you don’t have time to
get a copy of the book. We’ll be in the Prince Room about 15 minutes after the
service ends.
Note: Your new Rector has a
new email address!
JUDGES NEEDED
Hello Everyone, We are in need of judges for our
2018 4-H County Activities Day. Activities Day is a
communication event for 4-H members of all ages. Youth practice their
public speaking skills by giving demonstrations, speeches, action exhibits and
more. It’s a really fun event and a great chance to see all the
hard work these kids put into their projects.
Judges
responsibilities are to watch youth presentations, score them based on a score
sheet with specific requirements for their presentation, give them constructive
feedback on how well they did, and ways they can improve (a sample score sheet
is attached). Judging takes place roughly from 8:30am-1pm. The
event is held on Saturday March 24th at the Meredith Community Center.
Please
consider helping out a judge, this is a really important event for our 4-H
members and we need parent & community support to keep these programs
running.
4-H County Activities Day
Saturday March 24th
Meredith Community Center
Thanks,
Amanda
Royce
Program
Manager, 4-H Youth Development
UNH
Cooperative Extension
73
Main St. PO Box 1480
Conway,
NH 03818
(p)
603-447-3834
(f)
603-447-5192
FUNDRAISING
St. Patrick's Day
Dinner
Friday March 16th, 2018 6 pm
Join us for a traditional Corn Beef and Cabbage Dinner .
and live music provided by Chris and Carolyn Boldt!
Adults $10.00 Kids 6-16 $5.00 5&under free
Family Rate 2A/3K $25.00
For more info Call DAVID MANLEY @ 603-651-1744
DINNER BELL
Dinner Bell cook team for this Sunday February 25th
Slader
Dinner Bell cook team for next Sunday March 4th
??
~
Thank you for your volunteer
work in this special Outreach program!
COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions throughout the year.
The monthly item
for March is JELLO.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A Prayer for the Human Family
O God, you made us in
your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on
the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our
hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and
work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth;
that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around
your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, p. 815)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT OF A DIFFERENT SORT
Bishops
Against Gun Violence is
a group of more than 70 Episcopal bishops (including our own Bishop Rob Hirschfeld)
working to curtail the epidemic of gun violence in the United States.
To read the group’s statement and call
to action in response to the Ash Wednesday shootings in Florida, go to https://www.episcopalcafe.com/bishops-against-gun-violence-responds-to-florida-shooting/
FORWARD DAY BY DAY
FOR TODAY
THURSDAY, February 22, 2018
Luke 6:31-32 Do to others as you would have them do
to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even
sinners love those who love them.
Practicing the golden
rule can be hard—just ask my sisters.
In this portion of
Luke, Jesus takes the golden rule to the next level by telling us not only to
treat others as we want to be treated but also to treat them better than they
treat us. He wants us to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, to pray
for those who abuse us. Really, Jesus?
I struggle with these
verses, imagining how to offer authentic prayers and love on behalf of those
who hurt or abuse me, or more importantly, my family and friends. But I think
there’s an important distinction to draw: Jesus never says perpetrators won’t
face consequences or suffer repercussions for their actions.
Jesus tells us that if
we can love everyone, in all circumstances, even those who may not deserve our
love, then we become vessels of mercy, just as God is merciful and forgiving
when we don’t deserve it either.
MOVING FORWARD: Intentionally add the name of a person
you actively do not like to your personal prayer list.
FROM Deb IN THE OFFICE
I will be on vacation in Florida
February 28th thru March 9th. The office will be staffed with a volunteer
on Tuesday and Friday mornings- from 9-noon.
If you
need immediate assistance please
contact Caroline at 603-553-9254. Office voicemail messages will be checked
daily.
March BIRTHDAYS &
ANNIVERSARIES
If you do not see your birthday or anniversary listed, please make
sure Deb in the office has an information sheet on file for you.
Birthdays
Feb 26 Melissa
Bunker
March
10 Susan Ines
13 Trudy Thompson
16 Caroline Hines
20 Albert Bunker
30 Kaitlyn Marshall, Barbara Lord
31 Claudia Kennedy
PHOTO GALLERY
LINKS FOR MOBILE VIEWERS
