Planning Meeting Results

On April 27th we held a meeting where we discussed our event planning for the coming year. Several events are in the planning stages, such as:

We are considering a Vacation Bible School to be held August 11-15, perhaps in the evenings around a light supper.

We are exploring the possibility of a Women’s Retreat led by Betty Sweet at Singing Hills in Plainfield.

We may have an Epiphany celebration including blessing of the chalk for blessing our homes and burning of the greens on a weekend before or after January 6th to include sledding and fun.

We are considering holding a Thanksgiving worship service one evening during the week preceding Thanksgiving day.

We plan to invite Pastor Manasseh of the Rest for the Nations to present his mission program in Congo on a spring evening.

We are developing plans for our third Annual Community Picnic on or about September 7th.

We may have a concert with Promise from Hillsboro including dessert and fellowship this spring.

We are exploring the possibility of a fellowship event on the Belle of Brattleboro including communion.

Sharon Davis will be leading a book or Bible study this spring.

Details on these many events will be publicized as they become available. There are many events that we will participate in this year and are currently being planned, including:

May 17, 2008 at 6pm – Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction to benefit Marcia’s Militia Team for the Greater Keene Relay for Life. Contact Marcia Levesque at 603-446-4383 for details.

June 3, 17 and 24 from 6:00 - 9:00pm - The East Lempster Community Mission Team invites enthusiastic clergy and inspired laity to participate in exciting training sessions on the topic of church planting and church growth led by Rev. Curtis Brown, NE Conference Director of Congregational Development that will benefit both the work in East Lempster and individuals as they return to share their knowledge in their own or new communities. Potluck barbecue fellowship precedes each session at the church. Contact Pastor Cheryl Meachen at 603-491-2031 for details.

June 15, 2008 - 2nd Annual Marlow Blessing of Bikes – Ride departs I89 x2 Park and Ride in Concord NH at 7:45am then proceeds to Marlow UMC for lively worship service at 9:00 followed by blessing of bikes and riders and then an awesome $8 all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at Odd Fellows Hall next door; the ride continues through the scenic Lake Sunapee Region with a pit stop at beautiful Newbury Harbor and ends at the finish line at Arnie's Ice Cream on Loudon Road in Concord where dads get a delicious, free, home-made ice cream cone. Contact Jim Meachen at 603-731-6404 for details.

June 22, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at the East Lempster Community Mission Church- Rev. Ann Nelson will present her "personal impression" of Fanny Crosby. The service will include Rev. Nelson's portrayal of prolific hymnist Fanny Crosby and will last approximately 90 minutes. Ms. Crosby's accomplishment of having written lyrics to over 8000 hymns, including Blessed Assurance and Jesus is Tenderly Calling You Home, is particularly laudable in light of her lifelong blindness. The service includes time and opportunity for the congregation to dialog with Miss Crosby and then with Rev. Nelson as her presenter. Contact Ann Nelson at 603-357-2959 for details.

July 26, 2008 9-2 Marlow UMC Annual Auction - wonderful antiques, special finds, great fellowship and awesome food at the church. Contact Bud Jackson at 603-446-7539 for details.  

August 10, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. "Lake Gennesaret" at the pond in picturesque Marlow NH - Pastor Cheryl will re-enact Luke's story of Jesus' evangelistic teaching from the boat to the congregation on the lakeshore. Bring your lawn chair and a picnic lunch for this special worship service that is sure to inspire the imagination and rejuvenate the spirit. Contact Cheryl Meachen at 603-491-2031 for details.

General Conference Report

As you may know, United Methodist delegates from around the world have been meeting in Texas over the past few days to conduct business on behalf of the denomination. You may read more at umc.org. Here are some of the topics considered:

Future Meetings

Future gatherings of The United Methodist Church’s top legislative assembly could be limited to between 500 and 600 beginning with the 2012 assembly.

Four Areas of Focus

United Methodist officials say the church is approaching a “leadership crisis” of ordained clergy in the United States. A 2006 report revealed fewer than 5 percent of United Methodist elders are under age 35. The church wide Board of Higher Education and Ministry is leading efforts in this area of focus.

U.S. membership is shrinking at a time when 50 percent of the U.S. population has no ongoing relationship with a faith community. Since the most effective evangelism is through new churches, the church wants to start 650 new congregations with 63,000 members by 2012 as part of the proposed emphasis on church growth in the United States. The United Methodist Board of Discipleship has created Path One, an office of new congregational development, to lead this effort. Leaders say the goal is eventually to return the denomination to its evangelistic heyday of starting a new church every day.

The denomination has longstanding ministries with people in poverty as well as programs aimed at combating diseases of poverty. United Methodists seek to alleviate poverty as an expression of Christian discipleship and an outgrowth of the Methodist heritage of social action against conditions that are unjust, alienating and disempowering.

War

The bishops of The United Methodist Church have adopted statements calling for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and urging nations around the world to develop a plan to help rebuild Iraq and other Middle East nations. At their fall 2007 meeting, the bishops also urged against deploying additional troops to Iraq and against establishing permanent military bases there. In 2005 and 2007 statements, the bishops have noted that the denomination’s Book of Discipline declares war “incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ.”

Sexuality

At least 11 annual conferences want to make clear that no person shall be excluded from membership in The United Methodist Church. The conferences challenge a Judicial Council Decision 1032 that allows clergy the right to decide who will be received into membership.

A survey found that slightly more than half of clergy and laity at least “agree somewhat” with The United Methodist Church’s position that it does not condone the practice of homosexuality, reflecting split public opinion on the issue in the United States. At the same time, a significant minority–30 percent of clergy and 28 percent of laity “disagree strongly” with the church’s position on the issues.

Board of Church and Society directors voted 21-17 to ask General Conference to delete the sentence, “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching” from Paragraph 161G of the 2004 Book of Discipline and replace it with the declaration that “Christians of good faith differ on what Christian teaching reveals regarding homosexuality.” Last quadrennium a similar request from the Washington, D.C.,-based agency was defeated.

Study of Ministry

A study group formed by the 2004 General Conference has issued a 49-page report (available at www.gbhem.org) that makes eight suggestions for reordering the ministry, but the 28-member group will ask General Conference to refer the report back to the committee for four additional years of study.

The group recommends doing away with the practice of commissioning–which it describes as ”poorly developed intermediate steps”–and simply ordaining deacons and elders when candidates have met basic requirements. In addition, the commission calls for all current associate members to be eligible for ordination as elder and election as conference member in full connection. The category of associate member would be discontinued. Because nearly one-third of all pastors are presiding over the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion without ordination, the commission proposes expanding the range of those who qualify for ordination as elder.

Stem Cell Research

One caucus wants delegates to favor use of embryonic stem cell research from donated embryos that would otherwise be discarded as long as this is done voluntarily. The caucus also supports research into adult stem cells.

Social Creed

The 2004 United Methodist General Conference designated 2005-2008 as a time of celebration, education and study of the Social Creed and Social Principles leading up to the 100th anniversary of the 1908 Social Creed. The original creed was written as a denominational statement decrying child labor and supporting the economic rights of workers, better workplace conditions, better wages and worker safety.

A task force of the Board of Church and Society has written a contemporary version of the creed to replace a 1972 revision. The task force aimed to make the creed reflect the global nature of the church. The proposed revision follows the sequence of the Social Principles from the natural community to the world community. Board members have expressed hope that the proposed revision will be set to musical arrangements in a variety of genres and that it will become more widely used by congregations.

The final document was approved at the board’s meeting in September 2007, and the proposed revision is going to General Conference for action.

Proposed Social Creed

God in the Spirit revealed in Jesus Christ,
calls us by grace

to be renewed in the image of our Creator,
that we may be one
in divine love for the world.

Today is the day

God cares for the integrity of creation,
      wills the healing and wholeness of all life,
     weeps at the plunder of earth's goodness

And so shall we.

Today is the day

God embraces all hues of humanity,
      delights in diversity and difference,
      favors solidarity transforming strangers into friends.

And so shall we.

Today is the day

God cries with the masses of starving people,
      despises growing disparity between rich land poor,
      demands justice for workers in the marketplace.

And so shall we.

Today is the day

God deplores violence in our homes and streets,
      rebukes the world's warring madness,
      humbles the powerful and lifts up the lowly.

And so shall we.

Today is the day

God calls for nations and peoples to live in peace,
      celebrates where justice and mercyembrace,
      exults when the wolf grazes with the lamb.

And so shall we.

Today is the day
God brings good news to the poor,
proclaims release to the captives,
gives sight to the blind, and
sets the oppressed free.
And so shall we.

Fellowship of the concerned

Healing and/or Sustaining:

Rebecca Mis (arthritis); Racheal Trudon (cancer); Jellian Jessup (cancer); Daryl; Bill Cantrell; Pastor Bill; Krista Huslander; Tom Ference (son of John & Betty Ference, cancer); Paul; Fusaye; Mishelle; Coleen (choosing the right treatment); Gail Woolridge (cancer surgery); Paul Plourde; Shannon Swett; Thomas Oliver; David Bedell (healing from addiction to cigerettes); Gerry Pelletier; Carol; Mrs. Dunlop; Mrs. Perkins; Bob Harris; Kim; Lou French; Ellen Jackson

Prayers and/or Comfort:

All Our USA Service people in the world; Family of Sophie Dudak (passed away); Wendell & Sara Brown; For thoughts not spoken; Nancy Ramsey; Lucy; To all Young Adults prayers for guidance; Anderson Family; Families of the 2 fires in Marlow who lost their homes; Family of John Perkins, Jr.

Celebration and/or Safe Travel:

Scott Chase; Christopher Bissell; Katie & her classmates; Bith of Bryce Andrew Mackey; Cortney Hersom.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

May

Birthdays:  

Anniversaries:

June

Birthdays:

Anniversaries:  

PRAYER WARRIOR

A deeply religious man was perched on his roof loudly praying while floodwaters licked at his feet. His pastor came by in a boat and said, "Get in!" The religious man replied, "No, I'm up here praying, and I know God will grant me a miracle."

Later the water was up to his waist, and another boat floated by and that res­cuer yelled for him to get in. The pray-er responded that God would answer his prayers and give him a miracle.

With the water chin high, a helicopter threw down a rope ladder and told him to climb to safety. He again turned down the offer. "My prayers will be answered."

Finally he gulped his last breath and found himself at the gates of heaven. With broken faith he cried to St. Peter, "I thought God would grant me a miracle. He let me down."

"I don't know why you're complaining." St. Peter chuckled. "We sent you two boats and a helicopter."

Notices

2nd Wednesday at 4:00 - Women’s Fellowship of Christian Service Meeting at Chapel.

The Children’s Programs: Choir rehearses the 1st & 3rd Sunday during worship. Sunday School is the 2nd, 4th, 5th Sunday during worship. Youth Group is the 3 Saturday of the month @ 6:00pm. Contact Marcia Levesque for details

Food Pantry: On the 3rd Sunday. Alan and Shirley Plumb deliver dry, canned and freshly baked goods you have generously donated to needy Marlow families. We gladly receive and store your nonperishable donations anytime on the back pew. Fresh items are a special treat and should be brought on the 3rd Sunday. Thank you for your contributions!

Volunteers Needed! Consider your personal gifts and which (NOT whether) of these church tasks you can help with: Organize Coffee Hour (contact Sharon Davis) / Read Scripture (contact Gerry Plotts) / Weed (Just do it!) / Sing with Choir (contact Sharon Davis) / Bake for food pantry (Just do it!) / Write for newsletter (e-mail to Dave Stewart at autumnsden@webryders.net) / Prepare Communion (contact Barb White to get on schedule) / Help with Sunday School (contact Marcia Levesque) / Sweep Narthex and Steps (Just do it!) / Community and Shut-in Visitation (contact Pastor Cheryl).

Have You Hosted a “Fellowship Coffee Hour???” Sign-up sheet on back table.

Men’s Fellowship: We’re looking for a few good men! Join Gary Levesque and others in a new mission adventure which will meet periodically to share a hearty breakfast and then provide handyman services to local elderly or infirm residents such as painting and carpentry.

Tape Ministry: A tape machine and tapes have been donated to share our worship service with homebound members and now we need to put together a list of people who would like to receive the tapes and another list of those who would be willing to deliver them. Contact Jim Meachen to volunteer.

In the Hospital? Please let Pastor Cheryl, your family and church friends know your room number. In keeping with the Privacy of Information Law, the current policy at Cheshire Medical Center is to tell the registrar that you want clergy to visit you, and that you want to be listed on the church admissions list with your name and church affiliation noted.

Check the bulletin board, table in the entryway, & back pews for new items and/or information. Out-of-date items should be removed.

Please, help us!!! When there’s an Event coming up please let me know so it will get into the Church Program. It would also be a BIG help, if someone after that Event write a short paragraph or two about that Event awhile still fresh in their mind and send it to me. That way I’ll have it ready to go into the next Newsletter. Phone & Fax: 446.6230 - Email: autumnsden@webryders.net

Please, help us!!! When there’s an Event coming up please let me know so it will get into the Church Program & Newsletter. It would also be a BIG help, if someone after that Event write a short paragraph or two about that Event awhile still fresh in their mind and send it to me. That way I’ll have it ready to go into the next Newsletter. Phone & Fax: 446.6230 - Email: autumnsden@webryders.net