North United Methodist Church
Tidings Monthly Newsletter — May Issue Now Available
NEW!! - Listen to a Sermon
News — updated for April 2008
From the pastorPrayer Concerns
Knitting Ministry
Wesleyan Study Group
Blood Drive
MACC Food Pantry
Thank you, thank you
Newsletter Deadline
Meditation Group
Altar Flowers
Tidings — Monthly Newsletter
Sermons on Website and CD
Assisted Listening
Anchoring Your Well Being
Katrina Relief
Invitation to John
CPR Class
Youth Mission Trip
Events
Youth Group News and EventsCalendar
OVER 50'S Wednesday, April 2 & 16 at 12:00 pm
Discovering God's Work Among Us Forum, Sunday, April 6 at 11:30 am
"4" MACC Walk, Sunday April 20, 2008 1:00-3:30 pm
Women's Fellowship Brunch, April 26, 9:30 am
From the pastor
True North...
He Is Risen Indeed!
(Historic greeting of early Christians)
Alleluia! Amen! What a glorious Easter Celebration! I thank God for North Church and the amazing presence of grace among us.
As I reflect on the spiritual gift of God's love in the Risen Christ, I pray for all God's children to receive this amazing grace-filled gift.
Lent, Holy Week, and Easter are such powerful transforming forces in my life, that I am amazed when Easter Monday arrives and the world resumes its previous rhythms.
What about our searching? Our discipline? Did the empty tomb erase our experience of introspection and repentance? What of our joy of Son-Rise? The world may put away the basket and bunnies. Many are munching on candy, not mulling over new creation.
We each choose what rules our lives. No one person can control another's thoughts or actions. The most powerful tool of influence we have in any situation is the example of our lives. The only force that may influence or heal is the moral force of a life lived with grace, peace, and truth. All we can do is let the light of God's love shine through us, and pray that anything blocking that light will somehow be removed so that true light and love can enter every life.
Alleluia, Christ Is Risen!
In my life and in yours!
Pastor Margaret
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Prayer Concerns
We are a community of faith and we believe in the power of prayer. We have a weekly prayer list which is printed as the "Fellowship of Concern" in our bulletin. These are usually immediate concerns and remain listed for one month. We would like to list more long-term prayer concerns in our monthly "Tidings". These could remain for three months. You may call the office (649-3696) or email (northchurch@snet.net) and add names as the need arises, however, we ask that you seek permission of those involved so that we may protect their need for privacy as we reach out in faith.
- Lillian Fenn
- Etta Miner
- Joan Dewyer
- James Lapenta
- Joe(friend of the Fogels)
- Carole and Matthew (Liz Twarkins' daughter and grandson)
- Marilyn Wilks
- Gaye Fisher and Family
Knitting Ministry
The Knitting Ministry meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. The Knitting Ministry will meet on Monday, April 7 and 21, at 1:00 pm.. in the Church Memorial Room. We will continue making Prayer Shawls and Chemo Caps and we have started a project with Guidepost Ministries making sweaters for refugee children. Please join us for an afternoon of knitting and fellowship. If you are unable to attend our monthly meetings please help our Ministry by knitting at home. Call Lucy Falk at 647-1488 if you have any questions or need patterns.
TopWesleyan Study Group
The WSG will meet on April 8 and 22 at 7:00 pm in the Youth Lounge. During the month of April the WSG is continuing its study of Marcus Borg's book: Reading the Bible Again for the First Time- Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally. From the book's back cover: "Many inside and outside organized religion are searching for an enlightened, contemporary way to be believers and to appreciate the profound richness of the Bible. In this groundbreaking work, leading biblical expert Marcus Borg offers a bold new understanding of scripture that respects both tradition and reality, blending the best of biblical scholarship with a profound concern for authentic faith and how it can be lived today." We will be wrapping up our study of this book in May. Visitors are welcome to join one of our discussions and we always welcome new members. Please contact Carolyn Gimbrone (643-9310) if you are interested in finding out more about the WSG.
TopHelp Avoid a Blood Emergency - Give Blood!
Please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (800-448-3543) or visit Connecticut Blood Services Region or American Red Cross - Donate Blood Now and make an appointment today.
TopMACC Food Pantry
Thank you for your weekly generous donations to the Food Pantry. The Pantry is always low on soup, peanut butter and jelly, tuna and mayonnaise, sauce (for pasta), mac and cheese, canned fruit and cereal. Thank you for your help.
TopThank you, thank you
Thank you so much to all those who helped to make this Easter Service such an enriching experience.
Doris Timbrell coordinated the Easter Flower sales and the lovely display on the chancel.
The Chancel and PrISM choirs put in approximately 50+ hours of rehearsal time, plus additional at home rehearsal time with copies of the Cantata soundtrack.
Nick Spina, Charley Cappello, Caleb Cadman, and Bob Fogel all put in extra instrumental rehearsal time both collectively and on their own.
Chris Collins, our rehearsal choral director, put in much time and energy at Wednesday night rehearsals, and even joined us, unsolicited, at one of the Saturday morning rehearsals singing with the choir to reinforce sections of the Cantata.
An extra special thanks to Nick. He spent many a morning on his long drives to and from work listening to the cantata and reinforcing his conducting. And, he once again, made such a great selection of cantata and praise music that is both spiritually meaningful, and showcases the musical gifts of the choirs so beautifully.
Last, but not least, thank you to our Pastor, Rev. Margaret Goad, for such an eloquent narration during the cantata.
TopNewsletter Deadline
This is a reminder that all articles and notices for the May Issue of Tidings should be submitted to the church office by April 15th.
TopMeditation Group
Tuesdays from 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Join in practicing engaged Buddhist meditation. All are welcome regardless of your backgrounds or affiliation.
Additional information is available in the Memorial Room.
TopAltar Flowers
Altar Flowers are a wonderful way to acknowledge the Memory of a Loved One or Celebrate a special person or occasion. Forms are available in the Memorial Room to make such requests. If you have any questions, please speak with Doris Timbrell, our Flower Steward (649-6494).
TopTidings — Monthly Newsletter
Did you know that all the information included in Tidings each month - and more! - is posted on the North Church website every month? Tidings appears in an identical format to what has been mailed out in the past with all the lovely decorative touches. Just click where it says 'Tidings' under 'News and events' in the menu on the left edge of the screen 
and you will be presented with a list of the months of Tidings that are available. Just click the one you are looking for and enjoy!
Sermons on Website and CD
Sermons are available for your listening pleasure on the church website or by borrowing a CD from church. Please Call the church office with any questions.
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Assisted Listening
Please note that the church now has several listening aid devices for use during worship. Please see one of the ushers for assistance.
Be sure to check it out.
Come visit!!
TopAnchoring Your Well Being Howard Clinebell, PhD
If you are TOO BUSY or TOO STRESSED to think about self-care, this may be an opportunity for You!
We are friendly folks who are committed to supporting one another as we cultivate health-full lifestyles of spiritually empowered wholeness. As we grow and nurture one another, we hope to share what we learn with others in need of caring and healing.
Our group meets after the 10 AM worship service on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, usually from 11:30-12:30(so we're not late for Sunday dinner)!
Meetings April 13 & 27
We invite you to greet one another at coffee fellowship, then bring your refreshments downstairs and join us. This month we will focus on Nurturing Loving Well Being in Intimate Relationships---including spouses, significant others, family members and friends. All are welcome! Facilitators are Bob and Cathy Fogel.
TopKatrina Relief
What a joy it was for us to have so many people turn out for Dale Kimball’s report on the volunteer-in-mission work in Louisiana. And when we gathered up our lists, we found so many new names of interested people. We thought we would be in touch right away.
We will be leaving on vacation and to work in Slidell at the end of the week and will be gone for about a month. We will try to answer any e-mails before we leave.While we understand that your name on the list is no guarantee (or even indication) of a commitment to journey with us, we will write as if that were a possibility. Please sort out whatever portion of this you need.
DATES: The next week that we are helping to put together would be under the leadership of Skip and Mary Ann Danforth on November 2 - 8 in 2008. If you would like to get a group together for a different time, let us know and we will work with you. We have already heard that there might be some interest in a summer week. It’s a lot hotter there then, but more people are free to go, including maybe some youth. We also know that at least one adult is interested in trying to tie in with something for the April school vacation week in 2009.
REGISTRATION: It would be important to get your name on the list as soon as possible, so be in touch with us via e-mail or telephone as soon as you are reasonably sure that you want to go. We do ask for a refundable deposit of half the money as time goes on to demonstrate genuine interest, but for now you can simply be in touch with Jane at 860-647-7099 (or spotanpuff@aol.com) to get that taken care of. Even if you think we might already have your name, it doesn’t hurt to be in touch again and confirm that you are on our list.
COST: The cost of being in New Orleans is about $225. This covers room, board, van rentals, gasoline, accident insurance (if you need it), a meal out in New Orleans one evening, and (typically) a donation to the hosting church and to the rebuilding program. The cost of getting there (either plane/train fare or shared driving costs and lodging) is additional. We may be able to arrange for group rates on the airline if there is sufficient interest.It is expected that you will try to arrive in New Orleans on that Sunday and return home on the following Saturday. We will also be publishing times when transportation will be available from the airport or train station to the church, so that you can try to arrange your arrival times accordingly.
ACCOMMODATIONS: We sleep in churches on cots or bunk beds. We prepare our own group meals in the church, trying to be responsive to any dietary needs/preferences of our team. More details on this will be available as time goes by.
OUR WORK: We don’t know what we will be asked to do until we get there. You will be encouraged to develop new skills but also to let us know if the job assigned is beyond your experience or strength levels. We want everyone to come home feeling healthy (if tired) and that they have done quality work.
TopInvitation to John
Sundays at 6:30 pm beginning April 13
The invitation from Christ is: "Come and see, Follow me". Experience the magnificent passages in John including the I am statements (I am the truth, the life and the way, I am the living water and more). Revisit stories only told in John's gospel including Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene and the raising of Lazarus. During the weekly video segments, travel into the scripture as you hear the Word, experience the grand artwork connected with each story and interview the scholar. Each week wraps up with a small group discussion on the video to spark our own conversation.
Participants for this Invitation to John do not have to have an in-depth knowledge of the Bible to enjoy and benefit from participation. Reading just two chapters of John a week, you will discover the life altering stories that will invite you to follow Christ as true disciples.
Those interested may sign-up for this eleven week study in the Memorial Room. Questions may be directed to John Chadwick @ 643-0943.
TopCPR Class
CPR classes are being offered at North Church by Julie Dutton. Each class has a maximum of 8 persons so please sign-up in the Memorial Room to indicate your interest. An April 20th class is being planned. Cost is $7 per person. Questions may be directed to Cathy Fogel @ 644-1353.
TopYouth Mission Trip
Appalachian Mission Week
FLIGHT SCHOOL 2008
Coppermill, TN
July 12-19, 2008
The youth are planning a mission trip for this summer. The youth will be involved in working with Habitat, and interactive work with people – hands on.
Cost will be approximately $300 per person.
NUMC members will have an opportunity to donate scholarship money to sponsor a youth, and to participate in various fund raising events that will help to offset the cost to participants.
We are very excited for our youth and chaperons to have this opportunity.
Thank you to former member, Everett Barber, who has sent a donation to be used for the Youth Mission Trip.
TopClick Here for Youth Group News and Events
TopOVER 50'S Wednesday, April 2 & 16 at 12:00 pm
Pizza and a movie on April 2. Please call Linda at 647-9756 to make a reservation so that enough pizza will be ordered. Dessert and beverages will be provided. Next meeting for fellowship will be Wed., April 16 at 12 noon. Bring a sandwich as usual. - Linda Gates
TopDiscovering God's Work Among Us Forum, Sunday, April 6 at 11:30 am
What a blessing to experience Easter among a faith family! The resurrection is also renewed for us every Sunday in worship.
Some of our leaders have been praying and working together (for the last several months) about our future and God's vision for North United Methodist Church. This visioning team is called
"Discovering God's Work Among Us!"
Therefore -
You are invited to an All-Church Forum which will occur at the close of the 10:00 am worship on next Sunday, April 6. The forum will conclude by 11:30 a.m.
This church FORUM will present an overview of our work and proposed process to continue that discovery. North is committed to living the Gospel. Come to this information forum, and learn how your gifts are part of God's plan.
Ad Council Chairperson
Jane Hopkins
SPRC Chairperson
Jim Glass
Lay Leader
Deb Tedford
"Discovering God's Work Among Us" Leader
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"4" MACC Walk, Sunday April 20, 2008 1:00-3:30 pm
MACC Charities Does a Community Good 2008
"Step out in FOURS with MACC"
In the 4th month (April), during the 4th week (Sunday, April 20th), walking 4 miles for 4 critical programs: food, clothing, shelter, and advocacy, 4 our community.
- 4 Who?
- Our hungry, homeless, sick, and pour neighbors who need a hand up.
- 4 What?
- To provide food, clothing, shelter, and advocacy for the unmet basic needs of people in our community ~ MACC's Mission.
- When?
- SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2008 (rain or shine)
- Time?
- 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
- Where?
- Step out at 1:00 p.m. from Saint Bartholomew Church parking lot (45 Ludlow Road), walk 2 miles to the MACC homeless shelter/soup kitchen (466 Main Street) stop for light refreshments, and walk back 2 miles to Saint Bartholomew Church for an Awards Ceremony.
MACC Charities work to STOP Hunger * Homelessness Eviction * Fears Isolation * Addiction and Barriers to: clothing, well being, employment, self sufficiency
100% of "4" MACC Charities stays in our community
4 things needed to participate
- team of 4 walkers or more
- collect individual sponsorships and/or a member church special sunday collection in March/April "4" MACC
- sneakers and casual wear 4 walking
- love 4 people
Women's Fellowship Brunch, April 26, 9:30 am
We're inviting women of all ages to gather together at Kris Pelletier's house for a joyful springtime brunch. We will begin the festivities at 9:30 a.m. but there will be food and beverages available all morning so plan on joining us whenever you are able to get there. Carolyn has kindly offered to serve tea. Vickie is bringing Christian music. You may bring a dish to share if you choose but your presence is much more important to us than your presents, so just come! Wear your PJs if you want. Ask your husband to watch the kids for a couple of hours. It has been a while since the women of the church have gathered in fellowship. Let's rekindle our friendships our spirits!
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