September, 2010

How does a place become a home? How does a community become a family? As I write this Shelly and I have just returned from a week long vacation in our hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. While it was terrific to spend time with our family, see dear friends and walk our old haunts, I found my heart longing for my home in New Hampshire. By the end of our vacation, I couldn’t wait to get back to my routine, my job, my garden and most of all my church.

For many it is important to have a place that they can call home. Home is not just about where one lives, but where one feels like they belong. Church communities such as ours provide a place for folk to find a community. Our beliefs are what bring us together but it is the care and concern for each other that keeps us together. It is what makes us a family.

The month of September is a time of homecoming for our church. Some of us are closing up our camps for the summer while others are wrapping up summer activities. As the kids get geared up for another school year, we begin another exciting program year for our church. We come back to the place where we know we belong because of the love of God that is manifest through the relationships we have with the community of Sanbornton Congregational Church, UCC.

I have found that community is one of the most important elements of living a life in faith. It is through community that I find hope and healing. It is in the midst of community that I find God. God created us in such a way that we are interdependent upon each other. There are many in the world who are not connected to a community of faith and may feel disconnected from God, especially in these times of economic uncertainty. Now more than ever we have an opportunity to reach out and invite these folk into the life of our church and welcome them into our family. By providing a place for people to belong through extravagant welcome, we are able to show what God’s love is all about.

Shalom,

Pastor Jean

CHURCH DIRECTORY

We will be printing a new Church Directory soon. Please check to be sure there are no changes needed in your address, Email, or phone #. If you have any additions, changes or corrections, please contact Phil Nichols, or use the Church Directory Update online at the end of the Belfry Newsletter. Changes must be received by September 15th 2010

CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER 2010

September 5, WORSHIP 9:30am Lay Participation Sunday

September 6, Labor Day

September 7, Belfry Deadline

September 8, Deacons 5:30pm, Undercroft; Council 7:00pm, Undercroft

September 9, Senior Choir 7:30pm

SEPTEMBER 12TH RALLY DAY…BREAKFAST 8:30am, Undercroft Church School Registration and Junior Choir conversation with Mrs. Scott,WORSHIP at 10am, Search Committee following worship.

September 14th Election meals for Town Officials (lunch and dinner) Undercroft

September 15th Book Group 6:30pm Akerman’s THE SOLOIST

September 16th Senior Choir 7:30pm

September 19th WORSHIP 10:00am; C.E. meeting following worship

September 21st Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:30pm Craft Room, Woodside , Taylor Community, Laconia

September 26th WORSHIP 10:00am, Search Committee following worship, Senior Dinner 12:15 Undercroft

September 30th Spirituality Group 5-6pm Undercroft, Senior Choir 7:30pm

From the Minister of Music

The choirs will begin their year on September 12. Senior Choir practice begins Thursday, September 9 at 7:30.

I am delighted that Mary Ruth Scott will be leading the Junior Choir this year. The juniors will rehearse after church on Sundays rather than Thursday evenings; we are hoping that this will be more convenient for all concerned, and that it will allow more singers to join the choir. On Sunday, the juniors will also practice at 9:30, as usual.

We are looking forward to a fine choir year. If you have an interest in joining, please speak with me or Mary Ruth.

Four of us enjoyed RSCM summer courses during August. Serena Downes attended the Newport (RI) singing week -- she says she had a wonderful week, and is already looking forward to another year. Kim and Katie Bossey, and I took part in the RSCM Exeter (England) Cathedral week, led by David Hill. It was the 10th year for Kim and me at this event. It was an excellent week.

Dennis

Missions Committee

Many of us have been concerned about the flooding in Pakistan. We’ve all heard the horrible details of the devastation and the millions of people affected. Another concern is to make sure our donations actually get to those in need and that they not be “diverted” to military use.

We’ve received information from the International Rescue Committee assuring us that donations to their organization are going directly into the field. The IRC was one of the first organizations to respond to the 2005 earthquake in that part of the world and because of that they have a well-established secure network of people already in the area working through local people to make good things happen. The Western Union Foundation has now offered a matching grant to the IRC for relief being sent to Pakistan.

If you would like to make a donation, please make your checks payable to the church and in the memo section put Pakistan-IRC. We will collect over the next few weeks and then send one large (we hope) check directly to IRC for the matching grant. Again, please make checks out to Sanbornton Congregational U.C.C. and note “Pakistan IRC” in the memo section. This is a wonderful outreach opportunity.

At home we continue to support the two food pantries in town and serve a meal quarterly at the Bread & Roses Kitchen in Franklin. Your donations, whether food stuffs or money, on the first Sunday of every month go a long way to helping our neighbors in need.

Respectfully submitted,

Ann Emerson-Knott, Edna Hansen & Patsy Wells

Rally Sunday!

Sanbornton Congregational Church, UCC, is planning a special event on September 12, beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Christian Education Committee. We are calling the day Rally Sunday, a day to welcome those who have been away all summer; anyone who has been thinking of trying a church, but is not sure how to begin; and our Junior and Senior Choir members who will be returning to sing at the 10 a.m. Services each Sunday. All are welcome to enjoy the pancakes, bacon, sausage, and maple syrup from a local farm. There is no charge, but a small donation to cover the cost of the food will be appreciated. There will be registration for Church School in the morning, and Church School will begin during the Sunday Service. Children who would like to join the Junior Choir should go upstairs after breakfast and speak to Mrs. Scott. Adults who are interested in joining the Senior Choir should call the Director, Dennis Akerman at 286-4798, before the first rehearsal on Thursday evening, September 9.

The Church School will be using the Rock Solid curriculum which teachers, parents and children found so satisfying last year. There will be classes for four age groups plus nursery care for babies and toddlers. We are looking for newcomers of all ages. We hope you will take this opportunity to meet our Pastor, Jean O‘Bresky, and our caring, friendly congregation. Our members come from 9 local communities. Most visitors enjoy seeing our attractive, historic building with its beautiful windows, and listening to the classical sacred music that is a vital part of our worship. Our organist has been playing our 1827 Estey Pipe organ for 30 plus years, and our Choir Director, who is the first UCC Commissioned Minister of Music in NH, has been with us for over 40 years. We offer warmth and fellowship at 21 Meetinghouse Hill Road, off Route 132 in Sanbornton Square. We hope you will join us for breakfast and the Service or just the Service, if you prefer.

Diane Farrell

LABOR DAY SERVICE

Our Deacons gave us a gift at the Labor Day Sunday Service. In the absence of Pastor Jean who was on a well earned vacation, four of our own spoke during the sermon time about out reach. Here, for those of you who missed out, and the rest of us who might enjoy reading these presentations are the stories and ideas we heard and enjoyed. Our thanks to Ann, Marge, Liz and Patsy, as well as to Shirley who led the service and Kara and Serena who also participated.

Liz Merry talked about NAMI NH (National Alliance on Mental Illness) which provides support services for families of those who live with mental health challenges. She has just ended her session as President of the Board of NAMI NH and continues on as a Board member. You can learn more on www.naminh.org, but for your information, NAMI is in the process of setting up a group in the Lakes Region and you can call them to find out more if you wish at: 225-5359 and ask for Annette Carbonneau.

As one in five live with mental illness during their lifetime, its important that we provide resources to those in need. NAMI NH also works in an advocacy role and collaborates with schools, corrections facilities and other service agencies. They have initiated the Community Based Suicide Prevention Program (Connect) which is now a best practice and which is being used nationally. NAMI NH is initiating some programs with the faith communities and Liz will talk with Missions about how to engage with them. Liz has placed a brochure on the cork board in the Undercroft if you wish to learn more about NAMI NH and its WALK in October.

Patsy Wells - As Chair of the Missions Committee, I’ve often asked for the food from your table and the clothes off your back. Earlier this morning Anne spoke about one of our many projects. It’s somewhat easy and natural to share from our abundance; and, sometimes, it’s even more challenging to share from our basic necessities. But, we DO share because that’s what God’s love and mercy means to us. Being Christians and a family of faith, we do reach out beyond these church walls because that’s what we are CALLED to do - to BE God’s hands and voice in the world.

Today, I’d like to talk with you about what’s not so easy to share – OURSELVES.

The members of the SEARCH Committee have been asking themselves some hard questions. We are about to share with the greater faith community who we – this family of faith – TRULY ARE - OUR PAST - OUR PRESENT - AND OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE. We are reaching OUT in faith to find a new settled pastor and candidates are reaching OUT in faith to find a new spiritual home.

We are truly an amazing family of faith - we come from different backgrounds, different places, different perspectives – each one of us adding a color to the tapestry that is Sanbornton Congregational United Church of Christ. When you become a member of our church, we say a prayer in which we give thanks to all the families of faith that have nurtured your journey to this place and to this time.

BUT, how many times have we shared our faith journey with someone or heard their faith journey? I’m not talking about Evangelical witnessing, but truly LISTENING to each other with our ears, our hearts, and our spirit in a caring, non-judgmental way?

Today I’m inviting you to share not only with each other, but with our final candidates. I’m inviting you to write out your faith journey – a paragraph or several pages; typed or handwritten; signed or unsigned – whatever is easiest for you. I’ll place this notebook filled with empty plastic sleeves on the shelf in the back of the sanctuary. You can just slip in your story – your faith journey – into any sleeve. I know it might be challenging, but please consider sharing. Please let’s continue this faith journey together; and please keep the SEARCH Committee, the process, and this family of faith in your prayers always.

Ann Emerson-Knott - Several of you have recently asked me if the servicemen and women care packages are still an ongoing project with the missions committee. I will answer that with a resounding YES of course! The original enthusiasm has died down a little but I still get names and donations and I will still shop and ship, with your continuing donations.

This week I received e-mail about two local young men who will be deployed at the end of this month, I already had one other on my list and am just awaiting their permanent APO address in Afghanistan, because that is where these new fighting men are going.

The news has been filled with the news about troops that are coming home, BUT that doesn’t mean it is over for these service men and women. Many are staying on in Iraq and are still in danger every day. Many more are deploying to Afghanistan.

I will continue this mission from this church as long as it takes and as long as you continue to support the project. I would like to ask you to pray for the three new men being sent to protect our freedom. Ray, Michael and Jeff will, in the coming weeks, be putting their training into practice, learning how to be real soldiers, and facing a real enemy with the intent to kill them and the principles of American freedom.

Notice from our Friends at Second Baptist (aka the Bay Church)

The Second Baptist Church will be holding a pig roast fundraiser on Saturday, September 18th. Seating will be at 5:00pm and again at 6:30pm. The pig roast will feature Sid's Special Southern Sauce as well as baked beans, pasta salad, coleslaw, hush puppies, Brunswick stew, homemade pies, and drink. Cost is $10 and ticket purchase/reservations can be made by calling 528-5113 or 524-6745. Proceeds will benefit interior repair of the church. The church is located at 322 Upper Bay Road, Sanbornton.

From the Church Historian….shared by Milly Shaw

THE YEAR IS 1910 - One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes! Here are some statistics from the Year 1910:

· The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.

· Fuel for the 1910 Ford Model R was sold in drugstores.

· Only 14% of the homes had bathtubs.

· Only 8% of the homes had a telephone.

· There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.

· The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10mph.

· The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

· The average wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.

· The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

· A dentist made $2,500 per year and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

· More than 95% of births took place at home.

· Ninety percent of all doctors had no college education! Instead they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were assessed as sub standard.

· Sugar cost 4 cents a pound. Eggs were 14 cents a dozen. Coffee was 15 cents a pound.

· Most women only washed their hair once a month and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

· Five leading causes of death were: Pneumonia and influenza, Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, Heart disease and Stroke

What a difference 100 years makes!