August 2009
It’s hard to believe that the summer is flying by so quickly! Farewell Celebrations, Parades, Old Home Days activities and Church Picnic’s have surely kept the summer moving! As our Church Moderator, I’ve been asked to write this front page article until our Interim Minister has been selected. With that being said, what better topic for me to write about than our Interim Minister Selection process!
First and foremost, I want everyone to know that our church is in a very good place right now with everything going smoothly. Guest Ministers are scheduled for the balance of the summer, and they will continue to be scheduled until an Interim Minister is called. Our Church Council has reviewed our by-laws regarding Interim Minister selection and the Search Committee process, and after extensive discussions, we’ve agreed on how we should best move forward.
We have asked each of the 5 committees named in our bylaws for Search Committee representatives to first appoint a representative for the Interim Minister Selection Committee (First Things First..) These five committees are the Trustees, Deacons, Christian Ed, Missions, and Senior Outreach. I am pleased to inform you that this has been done, and I want to thank David Hart, Diane Farrell, Kara Downes, Mary Morris and Edna Hansen for agreeing to serve.
This group met on Wednesday, July 29th with Reverend Richard Slater from the New Hampshire Conference to start the process of selecting an Interim Minister. The conference has a “pool” of candidates who are available and fully trained in the field of Interim Ministry. Once our committee has gone through their process and identified an Interim Minister for our congregation, a Special Meeting of the Church will be conducted to affirm the selection by a minimum 2/3 majority vote of those present and voting. Once an Interim Minister has been affirmed by the congregation, the Interim Minister Selection committee is officially dissolved.
Our next step will be to organize a Search Committee to begin the process of finding our new minister. (We’ve waited to this point to start the Search Committee process as we felt it important the Interim Minister be a part of the process from the beginning.) We will go back to the same 5 committees identified above to appoint a representative to the Search Committee. They can appoint the same person that they appointed for the Interim committee, or they can appoint an entirely different person. In addition to these 5 representatives, the Council will appoint 3 Members At Large, and 1 person must be nominated from the floor to total 9 appointees to the Search Committee. They will then begin their process, which could take up to a year or more to complete. Once they have identified a candidate, we will again call a Special Meeting of the church which once again will require a 2/3 majority vote to affirm the selection.
So this is our plan! Be sure and contact me if you have any questions whatsoever about this process, or if you have interest in being nominated as one of the 3 Members-At-Large for the Search Committee (or if you want to nominate your spouse or a good friend!) Enjoy the summer!
David Henderson,
Church Moderator
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
REPORT
I trust most of you have noticed that the North side of the Church has its 2009 new coat. Frank
Baker and team added another side to the programmed painting of the four sides, plus the steeple. It DOES make a difference!
At our July meeting, Treasurer Bob reported that our
finances are in relatively good shape at themid-way
point of our fiscal year. It was noted
that Brendon Morrison will be giving tours of the
Following a mix-up on boundary lines, the Town flag pole has been neatly placed next to the gazebo. It looks very nice!
A very special item on the agenda was the presentation by Dennis Akerman. An anonymous donor has offered to replace the hanging lights in the sanctuary. Dennis noted that a plan that had been worked out about ten years ago with Laconia Electric and Will Ellis (local electrician). The six hanging lights would be replaced with twelve recessed fixtures (similar to those over the choir loft). The Trustees reviewed the plan in detail and voted to recommend to the Council acceptance of the gift and the installation of the new lighting system. The cost estimate is $3,200. (The Council voted to accept the gift and to proceed with the installation of the new lighting, which will be occurring in the very near future.)
Dave Hart graciously volunteered to be the Trustee representative on the Interim Search Committee.
Wally Strauch, Chair
DEACONS REPORT
Now that we’ve said our goodbyes to Patrice, we open our doors to several guest preachers. We’ve been lucky enough to see some familiar faces in Rev. Bob Curry and Rev. Dr. Cyndi Taylor Morse, and a new face in Rev. Dr. David Reynolds, who led a wonderful worship service on July 26. Expect to see more of Cyndi Taylor, as well as, Rev. Janet Heslam, and Rev. Sid Lovett in August.
The Old Home Day service was well attended with parishioners from all three churches in Sanbornton, along with their respective church leadership. It was particularly special with Cyndi providing the sermon for that day, as she is a Sanbornton native & her family has such a rich history in our town.
Over the last couple of months, prior to Patrice’s departure, we worked to modify our wedding policy, and our schedule of fees associated with weddings. It was quite an undertaking, but with everyone’s help and Patrice’s leadership, we got it done. The new fee schedule & policy are hanging on the bulleting board in the undercroft. One notable change is that we will be allowing outside clergy to come and perform ceremonies at our church, when we are not able to provide our “own” pastor. This will allow couples interested in getting married on a particular date, the opportunity to do so, by calling on our supply pastors when necessary.
If anyone is in need of pastoral care, or knows of another church member who is in need, please contact a deacon. You are not alone during this transition time, and we will get you the support that you need. It is important (now and always) that we keep our lines of communication open and we remain strong.
Michelle Chapman, for
the Board of Deacons
Old Home Day Community Worship Service
Old Home Day, as the Rev. Dr. Cyndi Taylor Morse noted before the Service, is a secular holiday, which makes it difficult to construct an appropriate sermon. Some Old Home Day preachers have used the Town’s history as their subject. This worked, perhaps, because the Congregational Church was established before the Town itself, and for a number of years the Church was the Town’s government. Nathan Taylor, an ancestor of Dr. Morse was one of the founders of Sanbornton Congregational Church. Instead of resorting to history, however, Dr. Morse preached on homecoming itself, taking as her text Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. She quoted Marcus Borg, a biblical scholar who believes that the entire Bible can be understood in terms of three macro-narratives: exile and return; bondage and liberation; sin and forgiveness. The prodigal was a willing exile who wanted to leave his home. When he squandered all of his money on wild living, his sin, he was forced into a kind of bondage, a job keeping and feeding pigs with only the pig slop to eat himself. He decided to return, to beg his father to allow him to become one of his father’s servants, liberation. Instead his father welcomed him and killed the fatted calf to celebrate his return, forgiveness. Now his older brother becomes so angry at this that he exiles himself. He will not take part in the celebration. He refuses to forgive his brother (his sin) and is in bondage to his anger.
Dr. Morse continued, telling us that Jesus was using the parable to teach that God’s grace, love and forgiveness are limitless. Old Home Day can be looked at as example of the exile and return story. Not that those who left and went elsewhere were off on pleasure-seeking junkets; they left to go to school or to look for work or for many other good reasons. But there is still an element of exile in being away from home. Returning gives us an opportunity to reconnect with our roots, to make sense of our life experiences and to return to relationships, real, remembered and symbolic.
Eighty members of Sanbornton’s three churches attended the Service. The Rev. Chris McMicken, Pastor of The Second Baptist Church and Scott Manning, Pastor of The First Baptist Church, together with lay readers from both churches, Sharon Hill and Toni Manning, took part in the Service. Deacons’ Chair Michelle Chapman and Deacon Rea Alkema, both of the Congregational Church, gave out the traditional prizes to the youngest and oldest persons present, the family with the largest number of members, and the person who had come the greatest distance to attend. The gifts were from local vendors and the Farmers’ Market.
Fifty-five members of the congregation, including all three ministers, went downstairs to a sumptuous buffet of baked ham, roast turkey, deviled eggs, cole slaw, carrot slaw, carrot and raisin salad, potato salad, jellied fruit salad, rolls, butter, hot and cold beverages and three varieties of cream pie: chocolate, strawberry and banana. Patsy Wells was the chef, assisted by Edna Hansen, Jean Surowiec, and Elizabeth and Richard Cotsibas.
Diane Farrell
Mrs. New England States Globe
I am excited to announce that I have been selected Mrs. New
England States Globe as a delegate for the WIN Foundation and Ms. U.S. Globe contestant! This is a very great honor for me, as I will
represent
This is not an ordinary beauty pageant—it is the primary fundraiser and voice for the Foundation. The WIN Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to helping women who are, or who have been abused. WIN is a 501C3 non-profit foundation that specializes in personal empowerment for women. From abuse to recovery, to self-esteem enhancement, to Destiny Management (creating your dreams, visions and purpose), we offer classes, outreach programs, and conferences that empower women to become their personal best (since 1996) and operates under a 13 member volunteer Board of Directors.
Raise Your Standards is a program specifically designed to reach out to young college and university women. This program offers classes to assist these women in raising their standards by being aware of the signs of control and abuse, and by teaching them about the dangers of drinking on campus.
As a part of the Mrs. Globe organization, I am proud and
excited to represent all of
As a survivor of childhood abuse who has succeeded in becoming an educator with a B.F.A. in drama, an M.A. in Comparative Literature, a M.Ed. in English Education, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies, and a mother and wife continuing to work toward a doctorate in education, I know that people can overcome abuse and create a positive life. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your support.
JoAnn Marchant, Mrs.
New England States Globe
THANKS TO THE GRANGE
The shrubs and potted plants decorating the grounds of the Church have been given by the Harmony Grange No.99. The gift is appreciated!
“You have walked among us a spirit and your
shadow has been a light upon our faces.”
From The
Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
We sent Patrice off in style on June 28, her last Sunday
with us. She wrote a beautiful Service
which was held at
First Michelle and Patrice exchanged symbols. From the
Congregation, Michelle presented Patrice with a piece of polished granite to
represent
After the Service, there was a potluck luncheon in the Undercroft and under two tents set up outside. There was an amazing array of casseroles and salads with a separate dessert buffet that included a chocolate truffle cake, a white chocolate chip cake, a lemon cake, an upside down cake, a heart shaped fruit tart with vanilla custard, chocolate chip cookies, and a raspberry cheese cake. Patsy Wells gave the blessing and called the tables up to the buffet so that no one had to stand in a long line. On the wall there was a continuous slide show of photos of Patrice and church members engaged in all the activities that had taken place during her five years with us. Michelle and her team of servers, Tammy Nute, Mary Morris, and Tracy Wood, set out the buffet and served coffee and cold drinks. Liz and Marty Merry donated and served ice cream to go with the cakes. John Whedon, Marg’s husband, was everywhere, snapping pictures.
When everyone had eaten, and Patrice had made rounds of the
tables, all climbed back up the stairs to the sanctuary where David Henderson,
Moderator, acted as Master of Ceremonies.
Patrice and Fred were seated in two armchairs in the chancel, in front
of the altar. The children under Mary Ruth Scott’s direction,
sang two delightful songs. Our two
photographers, Phil Nichols and Marg Whedon, presented Patrice with a photo album that contained
two hundred pictures and the CD of the slide show. “You have been telling us that you will never
forget us,” said Marg, Here are two hundred pictures
of us to be sure you won’t! Phil thanked Patrice for all her gifts to us. Diane Farrell presented Patrice with a Memory
Book that contained messages from church members, songs, poems, quotations and
love letters. David Henderson had written a poem that was set to the tune of
the hymn, Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”; the
whole assembly sang it. Lee Hart spoke about Fred’s help on the Green Team, a
subcommittee of Peace and Justice, and presented Fred with a card which
contained a gift card to Border’s. Dave
Henderson presented Patrice with a brightly wrapped package which she opened.
It contained an embroidered stole and an embroidered table runner, both from
Mayan Hands, a fair trade organization of Guatemalan weavers and needle
workers. Then Wally presented Patrice with a check from the Congregation for
$1035.00. She was astonished at the amount.
All of the gifts were donations and represented the Congregation’s
outpouring of love for Patrice and appreciation for all that she gave to each
and every one of us during her years in Sanbornton. We shall miss her greatly,
but we want only her happiness and well being.
David asked us all to remain in our seats to let Patrice and Fred get to
their car to get on the highway before the Nascar
Race broke up. They were on their way to
Postscript.
A thank you letter from Patrice was read at church on the following Sunday. In it she told us what she was learning and how much she was enjoying her studies. We were glad to hear that she was happy with what she was doing. We shall not hear from her again for several years if then. UCC rules forbid her contact with us until well after the next pastor is chosen and settled in. And we know from experience that Patrice who does everything well, will abide by the rule.
Diane Farrell, for the
Committee
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
SUMMER TRIP TO OVERLOOK FARM POSTPONED - We have been unable to find a date when the Farm had openings for our group. We aren’t giving up but will continue looking to find a date for the Fall. Check out www.heifer.org/overlook.
SUCCESSFUL ENTRY IN OLD HOME DAYS PARADE- A wonderful turnout of families(8) and children(18) participated in our portrayal of the parade theme ‘Growing Roots in our Town’. The replica of our Church was constructed by many people, but the engineers of the job were Wally Strauch and Bob Ilgenfritz. If you didn’t see it maybe it will appear in a future parade. Many children and adults contributed to painting and last minute details. Sue Long contributed her expertise in making bookmarks that the children and adults handed out to people along the parade route...GROWING IN FAITH...Come grow with us. If you want a copy, you may find one at the Sanbornton Public Library. Of course, our appreciation goes to Marty Merry for providing the truck and trailer for our entry as well as driving the truck in the Parade. A big thank you to all who participated and helped make this venture an outreach to the community.
SUMMER WORSHIP FOR CHILDREN - The Quiet Bags are available for ‘younger’ and older’ children in the back of the Sanctuary. There is a wonderful rocking chair in the back of the sanctuary, and the Nursery Area in the Undercroft is available for parents and their young children.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FALL - Registration for children will
begin with the start of
Shirley Strauch for
the Christian Education Committee: Sue Long, Sarah Harbrook,
Mary Morris,
Shirley Powers, and Marg Whedon
Church Picnic
The weather did not cooperate on July 26. Torrential rains were forecast. Frank Baker felt he should cancel. But then as the morning wore on, he thought, “Some people may not get the word; they might come. So he put up a tent for shade and put out a grill which he fired up.
People did arrive - at least 16 or so and the rains did come. But Frank’s screen house was dry. The big table accommodated all the diners and snackers. We missed the children, but we told stories and waited for the rain to stop. When it did, some folks went out in kayaks or on Frank’s pedal boat. The rest of us sat at the table under the tent and watched.
Frank had a brand new red kayak this year. He won it at the
Firefighters Barbecue a few nights before the picnic! He never wins anything,
he said; and he was so pleased. It was
such a relaxing day. We sat and enjoyed the view of
Other years we have watched the children swim or run sack races or play badminton or volley ball. Sunday it was enough, during this rainy summer, to sit out of doors, listen to the water lap the shore and enjoy the view. Clumps of yellow and white daisies were blooming along the shore line. The grass was thick and green from all the rain. When the wind came up again and rattled the tent so that we felt it might just blow away, Marg and John Whedon helped Frank take it down; and we all said goodbye.
Frank offers us a beautiful spot for a picnic each summer.
It is less than half an hour on route 11 from
Diane Farrell
TIDBITS FROM THE
CHURCH RECORDS RE: CENTRE CEMETERY HISTORY
By Milly Shaw, Historian
John Gibson was the first person to be buried next to the site of the original meeting house (circa 1770). In March 1838 at town meeting “it was voted to relinquish the town’s right to the land where the old meetinghouse stood, in view of having it wholly or in part used for enlarging the burying ground, provided the neighborhood will fence it with a good stone wall, free of expense to the town.”
In 1866 the Sanbornton Square Cemetery Association was formed and included Rev. Moses T. Runnells and seven church members: Chase Jaques, Richard Ward, A.B. Sanborn, Ira Ordway, Geo. Woodward, Thomas W. Taylor, and John M. Blaisdell. A Constitution was adopted, which read in part, “a respect for the memory of loved and lamented dead should prompt the inhabitants of every Christian community to make timely, judicious and concerted efforts for preservation and adornment of their last resting place. All persons…who are interested are invited to unite and take systematic action for its improvement.”
Records show much work was accomplished. The last entry in the records was Nov. 28, 1872.
Esther Woodman (daughter of Joseph) married Thomas W. Perkins, son of Chase Perkins. Her will provided $1000.00 for the church at the Square as a permanent fund for the church: “$10.00 of income must be spent yearly for upkeep of the Woodman lot, paint fences, as well as gate to the cemetery. Remainder of the $10.00 was to keep yard in general repair and balance of interest to support Trinitarian Congregational preaching for Church and Society.”
To
be continued in the September Belfry.