Visit www.firstumcrochester.org and look for the link near the bottom of the page - or go to YouTube and search for “First United Methodist Church Rochester, NH.” The link is also posted on our church Facebook page.
THIS WEEK
January 24 -Third Sunday after Epiphany
Texts: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Mark 1:14-20
Title: There’s Still Time
Theme: Jesus proclaims that the time is fulfilled, for the kingdom of God has come near. The Ninevites don’t have much time to change their ways when Jonah speaks to them. Whether the time is near, at hand, or seemingly over, faithful action is called for. If true faith and repentance can save Nineveh, it can save us. There is still time.
A BIG FUMC “THANK YOU” to:
-Those who participated on short notice in our in-person and virtual prayer vigil yesterday in memory of over 400,000 Americans and over 2 million world-wide who have died as a result of COVID-19. You will find a video slideshow on the church Facebook page. We also thank Patrice Hunt for putting the slideshow together!ATTENTION COMMITTEE/GROUP TREASURERS - ANNUAL AUDIT INFORMATION
Please submit all appropriate materials for the annual audit to the church office by January 30th.
Thank you! - The Audit Committee
LENTEN STUDY/ANTI-RACISM DISCUSSION SERIES
TO BE OFFERED BEGINNING FEB.24/25 Because of the reality of individual and systemic racism in society and in the Church of Jesus Christ, we believe First UMC should have conversations about this uncomfortable subject. Regretfully, we haven’t done so already. To this end, Pastor Jeff and Annie DeVito will co-lead the discussion of a wonderful book entitled Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S. by Lenny Duncan. Lenny Duncan is ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and he currently serves in New York. He writes from his own perspective and experiences as a Lutheran and as a pastor in his denomination, but what he writes about is duplicated in every mainline denomination, including our own.
We will begin this discussion on February 24th at 6:30 PM and on the 25th at Noon. The discussions will be held on Zoom. More information will be forthcoming so please stay tuned. The book is available on Amazon in both print and electronic formats. It is also available from Christian Book Distributors. We hope you will plan to join us in this endeavor. Whether or not you plan to participate in the discussion, we recommend reading the book. Please contact Pastor Jeff if you have any questions.
NEWS From NOW For the Winter months we will not have a regular Mission of the month. Instead , we are inviting all to join in Nurturing Outreach. Let us all reach out to our church family in this time of separation from each other. For some it is not an easy time & a simple "reach out" by phone , text, email or letter can brighten the day!
Finally, we have a Blood Drive on2/27/21 from 9-2. For those wishing to donate, please sign up online at RedCross.org
Happy New Year wishes to all! Be well & be safe.
Blessings,
Pat Hewitt, N.O.W. Chairperson News from UMW The United Methodist Women decided it would be nice to send cards to homebound and other older members of our congregation. Please save the list for future use. If there are others, please let us know and we'll gladly add them. Thanks so much.
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For more information, contact:
Marianne Gustafson
(603) 534-3513 (cell) jjjmgus@gmail.com
Mrs. Vera Zajas Riverside Nursing Home 276 County Farm Road Dover, NH 03820
Lenten Devotional Booklet - please help!
Pastor Jeff is looking to create a “home-grown” Lenten Devotional Booklet that can be duplicated electronically and on paper and shared with the congregation. This project is an outgrowth of the Bible study on the Psalms last fall. As part of that study, we learned that one form of psalm used in both private and public worship was the Lament. A lament lifts up the reality of brokenness, fear, anger, helplessness and the like as part of the human experience, and is a remembrance of the unfailing presence of God in the midst of it all.
You are invited to create a lament (or more than one) to contribute to this booklet. You may do so following the specific form that laments in the Psalms follow (see below). You may also offer your lament in some other form like drawing, painting, photography, quilting, knitting, etc. (take a photo) as long as your chosen medium encompasses your interpretation of the lament format. Finally, participation in this project is open to people of all ages. Please be aware that all work is submitted without copyright restriction and may be duplicated for purposes of this project only. Submissions may be picked up in the church office after February 17th. Note: if artwork is the chosen method, please submit a photo of your work for purposes of the booklet. You may also submit the original and we will photograph it. Your work will be kept with the utmost care until it is returned. Deadline for submission is Wednesday, February 3rd.
A Basic Format for Lament Psalms
The Address - usually directly to God, "Hear me O God"
The Lament Proper - a description of the occurrence(s) for which assistance is requested
Confession of Trust - a statement showing belief that God will hear their prayers
The Petition Proper - Motivation - a usually very specific statement of what we want God to do
Exclamation of Certainty- That the psalmists prayer has been or will be heard by God
Vow of Praise - promise to offer thanksgiving once seeing God's intervention
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THANKS-LIVING IN 2021 Our annual stewardship campaign is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on God’s generosity, and to prayerfully consider our giving of time, talent, and treasure as a faithful response to the goodness of God. Estimate of Giving cards may be mailed to the church office or dropped off during office hours. Extra cards are available at the church. Please help us by completing your estimate today!
2021 Offering envelopes are ready to go! They are located in the Welcome Center, and can be picked up Monday through Friday from 9 AM - Noon or by special arrangement. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the church office. Thank you for helping by saving the postage to mail them out.
ELECTRONIC GIVING SUPPORTS FUMC - A reminder that our expenses continue even during the COVID-19 crisis. If you have the means and desire to temporarily give more to offset what others cannot, please do so. We are all in this together! Thank you!
Please consider using the Give+ app (download from the App Store or Google Play store, or set up automatic ACH payments through Vanco. Contact Kate Marcotte for more information at simplek79@yahoo.com . WEAR A MASK - SAVE A LIFE! Mask wearing during the pandemic not only protects the wearer, it also protects those the wearer comes into contact with. It may help save a life! Thank you for being good to yourself and to others! Masks are available upon entering the FUMC Welcome Center. CASSEROLE COMMITTEE - provides meals for people in our church family during difficult times. Anyone who is in need of meals may call one of the two Chairpersons: Diane Marzoli 332-1766 or Dottie Bickford-Longo 664-5552, or contact the office for assistance. Please let us know whether you have any dietary restrictions! We always bring enough food for the whole family. If you can help, either by cooking or buying a meal, we need you! Thanks.
ONLINE PRAYER REQUESTS: may be sent to Pastor Jeff (jjhrev@gmail.com) by 11 AM on Wednesdays for inclusion in the Weekly Prayer List, by noon on Thursdays to have a prayer request shared during online worship (services are recorded on Thursday evenings), and by 6 PM of Saturdays for inclusion during worship on Sunday morning.
TWO key leadership position needs to be filled! First, we have been unable to secure a chairperson for the Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee for over a year. Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to serve in this role. To receive more information or volunteer, please contact Pastor Jeff. Training is provided.
Second, we are looking for someone to take over as chairperson of the Altar Guild. This role has been held by Lorie Tweedy and Debra Boynton for several years and both are stepping down (please be sure to thank them for their wonderful work!). The chair may be held by a team or an individual. The primary responsibility is to remind the Guild members when it is their month to handle altar flowers. Beyond that, coordination of holiday flowers, decorations, and other seasonal worship visuals also falls under the bailiwick of the chair or chairs. The chair is a member of the worship committee, meeting monthly with that group for liturgical season planning - particularly related to visuals.To receive more information or volunteer, please contact Pastor Jeff. Training is provided.
UPCOMING F.U.M.C. EVENTS:
January 20 Advent Study Concludes at 6:30 PM (Zoom)
January 21 Advent Study Concludes at 12 Noon (Zoom)
January 24 Worship Service (Online)
January 25 SPPRC Meeting at 7 PM (Zoom)
January 31 Worship Service (Online)
___________ February 1 Finance Meeting at 7 PM (Zoom)
February 7 Worship Service (Online)
February 8 Worship Committee at 6:30 PM (Zoom)
February 14 Worship Service (Online)
February 15 Presidents Day (Office Closed)
Administrative Council at 7 PM (Zoom) Newsletter Article Deadline
February 17 Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday Worship Service at 7 PM (Zoom) Help First UMC While You Shop - If you shop Amazon, particularly while remaining socially distant during the COVID-19 crisis, use this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/02-6009459 . When you do, a percentage of what you spend is donated to our church. In addition, AmazonSmile customers can now support First United Methodist Church in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations. Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings' Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, update your app. Thank you for supporting FUMC! “See” you in church!!!
