Monday, June 29, 2020

special message regarding email scam

This past week the email for Pastor Rich was used to send out a scam
message asking for assistance. The message looked like this: THIS IS
SCAM EMAIL:

Hello
How are you doing today ?

I need an assistance from you , Please let me know if you get this.
Kindly reply back to me.

Peace,
Rev. Richard Cullen.

The follow up is where the scam really begins:
From: Rev. Richard Cullen
To:
Sent: June 26, 2020 at 1:52 PM
Subject: Re: Blessings

Glad to hear from you,
I'm in a meeting,that's why i'm contacting you through here,I should
have called you instead of mailing you but phones are not allowed to
be used during meeting and I can't answer calls now.

I just need to get eBay gift card today for some women going through
cancer at the hospital but I can't do that right now because of my
busy schedule.

Can you get it from any store around you possibly now? and I will pay
you back later in cash or check. Let me know if you can get the cards
for these patients.

THIS WAS NOT FROM PASTOR RICH OR ANYONE ELSE AT MAIN STREET UMC DO
NOT REPLY to the message and DO NOT provide any assistance. THIS IS A
SCAM.

There is no need for any password change as the current e-mail address
has not been compromised. This scam is trying to
impersonate/look-like it came from our @mainstreet-umc.org e-mail, by
using: richard.mainstreetumc@gmail.com, which is really just a
standard @gmail.com address.

Friday, June 26, 2020

Mainstreeter On-line Blast June 26, 2020

 

  

 June 26,2020

 

Important Finance Committee Requests

 

We are leveraging our CARES Act loan to pay bills so far in 2020, as our giving has been reduced during these times.  We will keep a very close eye on our financial situation as our CARES amount will exhaust very soon.    Keeping an open church should involve a high number of new volunteers to wipe down surfaces in proper fashion as such work will be far beyond our paid help to accomplish.

 

We are temporarily asking for your second-mile giving to be directed to our general fund instead of HON for 2020 to help us survive these very difficult times.     While our attention today is rightly directed toward managing during our church closure and isolation, we are also planning to reduce the number of general fund categories for 2021 and are open to your input.

 

WHEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO RESUME IN PERSON WORSHIP?

 

The safety committee chaired by Kristy Besada met on Wednesday, June 17 to begin discussions regarding the reopening of MSUMC.  The committee has released the following statement to the congregation.

 

"The Safety Committee, in conjunction with other volunteers, are working with great care to envision and plan for the time when the church building can safely re-open for in-person worship and other activities.  We are doing this work in the spirit of love, inclusivity, and good stewardship of God's beloved community.  The committee will be looking for community feedback in the near future and is open to suggestions.  We understand that it is difficult to be apart from one another, and we ask for your prayers that the committee may be guided to work in ways that honor God's will in this unprecedented situation."

 

 Exit Interview with Pastor Rich

 

On Wednesday June 17, SPRC conducted an exit interview with Pastor Rich.  An exit interview was recommended during the Transition Workshop that the conference conducted in early June.  Pastor Rich was surprised and happy when SPRC requested an exit interview indicating in his entire career he'd never been ask to give an exit interview when he was departing a congregation for a new church.  SPRC wants to share the information that Pastor Rich provided in the interview. Please see link to the exit interview at the end of this blast.

 

Pastor Kelly and Steve Settling in

 

The moving truck for Pastor Kelly arrived at the parsonage on Monday, June 15.  Pastor Kelly and her husband Steve have begun the process of unpacking and bringing the parsonage back to life.  Many thanks to Donna Swanson and the Trustees for their efforts in cleaning and painting the parsonage.  Many thanks to Karrie Lam and MSUMC youth who put a significant amount of time in to take care of the yard work and spruce up the outside.  A total of 22 volunteers helped get the parsonage ready for Pastor Kelly and Steve to move in.  A job well done by the volunteers.  Thank you for your efforts.  Also a thank you to Chuck Emery and Kelly Rose who will help Pastor Kelly move into her office after the service on June 28.  Just a reminder Pastor Kelly's appointment at MSUMC begins on July 1.

 

 

A Hearty Welcome to New Appointments at MSUMC

 

As many of you are now aware, Reverend Kristy Besada has had her primary appointment changed by the conference and she will serve MSUMC as our associate pastor of discipleship and service.  The position will be a non-compensated full-time position beginning on August 1.  Pastor Kristy is very excited about her new role and wanted to pass along the following to the congregation:

 

"As a deacon, my ministry is to Word, Service, Compassion and Justice.  In this appointment, I will act as the coordinating point of Main Street UMC's urban ministries, working to enhance existing ministries of Compassion and Justice, while also fostering new partnerships with other justice-focused organizations in the community.  As I am leaving the role of a housing advocate in the community, I am already well connected in these networks. In addition, I will be in ministry of Word through teaching and preaching. I will be in ministry of Service as I not only nurture the congregation's gifts for service, but also lead them out to work in solidarity with the community."

 

SPRC is very pleased to announce that Emily Adams has accepted our offer to become the next Music Director of MSUMC.  Emily will begin her new role on July 1 and also continue as our primary organist and pianist.  Ultimately, once it is safe for choirs to return, she will lead the MSUMC choir.  It became very apparent during our last 3 months of live streaming of services that Emily is a unique talent and very capable filling the music director role.  Emily has expressed a strong desire to keep the musical team of Kelly Brown, Irene Harris and Andrea Weir together as they have worked very well together in our time of exile.

 

A hearty MSUMC welcome from the congregation to Pastor Kelly and Pastor Kristy and congratulations to Emily in her new position.

 

 

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE CONTINUES

 

Commencing with the worship service on June 21st and through Labor Day Sunday, the worship service will live stream at 9:30am each Sunday morning.  Of course, it can be viewed on Facebook or from the home page on the church website at any time. 

 

6/21 and 6/28    Pastor Dave Svenson will be guest preacher.

7/5         Rev. Kristy Besada will be our guest preacher and introduce the Rev. Kelly Turney as she commences her ministry at the Main Street UMC.

 

Worship Video

 

Although we are no longer able to do the live streaming of our worship service from the sanctuary, we are live streaming a service which is available on-demand on Facebook shortly after the service. You can use the Facebook app on a smartphone, or a web browser on a computer. "Like" our page and you will be notified when we go live each Sunday.

 

If you choose to not use a Facebook login, you can still access the live stream during the service time from our web site home page by going to the box to the right (you may need to refresh the page if you arrive early). Previous worship services are available by scrolling down through the postings.

 

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR

 

The latest option to help us all stay connected in this time of physical distancing is our "Virtual Coffee Hour" starting right after Sunday Worship (approximately 11:30am).     We have three "rooms" available each week.    Stop by the Vestry and catch up with your friends (bring your own coffee and snacks).     If it seems too crowded in the Vestry, and you can't get in a word in edgewise, move over to the Lobby or the Kitchen where it is usually quieter.    If you are a Facebook user, you can coordinate where to meet-up with others via the chat before/after Worship, or by indicating that you are "Going" to one of the three Facebook events each week.    The actual rooms are via Google Meet and don't require Facebook at all, and may be attended by phone, by app on iPhone/iPad/Android/or by Computer.   Access information is below.   If you need some hints at using Google Meet there are some instructions and screen shots at https://www.mainstreet-umc.org/activities/coffee-hour that might help you get acclimated.

 

Vestry:  https://meet.google.com/qmq-zxbb-sye or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?415 456 786 8524#

Lobby: https://meet.google.com/cen-uofo-ovh or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?566 126 046 3024#

Kitchen: https://meet.google.com/mfq-vdkf-ofj  or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?666 362 297 7893#

 

 

Announcements

 

Order of Worship June 28

 

Exit Interview Pastor Rich

 

 

 

Friday, June 19, 2020

Mainstreeter Blast 6-19-20

 

 

 June 19, 2020

 

 

 A Word from the Pastor

 

 

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift."

Second Corinthians 8:15

 

Dear beloved friends,

 

    For some time I had been dreading my final Sunday with you thinking that, given our current situation, it would prove to be less than satisfying.  How wrong I was to think this way!  In spite of the limitations due to the Covid-19 virus and to technological challenges in live streaming the service, it nonetheless proved to be an extremely meaningful day for me.  I am so grateful to Mike Brown and the Staff Parish Relations Committee for the part that they played in creating this farewell experience for me.  The pre-recorded messages of appreciation interspersed with photos from the eight years of my life with you brought joy and tears.  I am grateful for Pam Breniser's beautiful altar display, for the digital picture frame and for the beautifully framed photo of the church which I will cherish.  Both Mike Brown and former SPRC chair, Kelly Rose, shared kind and caring words live to go with those that were pre-recorded.

 

    Afterwards I was pleased to find that the parking lot was filling up with "masked" people all waiting to say good-bye in person.  What a special occasion it was to see so many of you and to be able to connect again in person after nearly three months apart.  My only regret is that I could not see all of you, but fully understand that it would have been too dangerous for many people to have come out. 

 

    I take away from my eight years of ministry with you in Nashua many happy memories and a sense of being appreciated and loved.  Please know that the feeling is mutual.  I hope and pray that God will continue to bless you all immensely as you begin a new chapter in the history of the Main Street UMC.  I trust that we will see each other face to face sometime in the not-too-distant future and when we do it will be a great day.

                                                                                                With Love and Appreciation,

 

                                                                                                Pastor Rich

 

 

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS JUNE 21ST

 

Commencing with the worship service on June 21st and through Labor Day Sunday, the worship service will live stream at 9:30am each Sunday morning.  Of course, it can be viewed on Facebook or from the home page on the church website at any time. 

 

6/21 and 6/28    Pastor Dave Svenson will be guest preacher.

7/5         Rev. Kristy Besada will be our guest preacher and introduce the Rev. Kelly Turney as she commences her ministry at the Main Street UMC.

 

Worship Visuals

 

Both of today's scripture readings talk about being in the wilderness. In 1 Kings 19:5-8 Elijah was sleeping under a broom tree in the desert when an angel woke him up and instructed him to eat and drink the provided loaf of bread and jug of water in preparation for his long journey through the wilderness to the mountain of God. In Mark 1:9-15, after Jesus' baptism, "God's spirit, looking like a dove, came down upon him" and then sent him into the wilderness where he was tested by Satan.  The toolboxes under the cross are a reminder that we celebrate Father's Day every year with our offerings to Tools of Hope through Church World Service.

 

SO, WHEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO RESUME IN PERSON WORSHIP?

 

This is the question that is on all our minds as we continue to live with this pandemic.  Unfortunately, there are no clear answers.  By the time you read this our Church Council will have settled on a process to both determine when and how in person worship will resume.  We will have to abide by the guidelines provided by the state of NH as well as those provided by Bishop Devadhar.  In all likelihood the movement towards in person worship will happen incrementally over a few months time.  As decisions are made you will be informed using all of the communication tools that are available to us.  In the meantime, and afterwards as well, we will continue to live stream our worship service on Sunday morning.  We hope that you are able to access the worship service either live via facebook or after the fact through our web site.

 

STAYING CONNECTED

 

Over the course of the "stay at home" time that we find ourselves in, volunteers from the congregation have been reaching out by phone to our entire membership.  One of things we have found though is that so many of you have given up your land lines or otherwise changed your phone number and we no longer have the correct number for you.  We would love to up-date our data base with this correct information so please either e-mail the church office at office@mainstreet-umc.org or call at 603-882-3361.  We have begun round 2 of our calling and hope to connect with you!

 

Worship Video

 

Although we are no longer able to do the live streaming of our worship service from the sanctuary, Pastor Rich is live streaming a service from home which is available on-demand on Facebook shortly after the service. You can use the Facebook app on a smartphone, or a web browser on a computer. "Like" our page and you will be notified when we go live each Sunday.

 

If you choose to not use a Facebook login, you can still access the live stream during the service time from our web site home page by going to the box to the right (you may need to refresh the page if you arrive early). Previous worship services are available by scrolling down through the postings.

 

Giving During This Uncertain Time

 

Although we are scaling back most of our church activities which will reduce our expenses during this time, we still have staff who will be working- cleaning the church thoroughly; providing office assistance from home; providing pastoral care remotely, etc.- so  we will still be incurring expenses that will need to be covered as best we can.  To the extent that you are able please maintain your financial pledge or give regularly.  Contributions can either be mailed in to the church or you can utilize our on-line giving options by going to the following web address:

 

www.mainstreet-umc.org/giving

 

Thank you for your on-going support, for your prayers, and for your faithfulness to God and one another.

 

 

 

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR

 

The latest option to help us all stay connected in this time of physical distancing is our "Virtual Coffee Hour" starting right after Sunday Worship (approximately 11:30am).     We have three "rooms" available each week.    Stop by the Vestry and catch up with your friends (bring your own coffee and snacks).     If it seems too crowded in the Vestry, and you can't get in a word in edgewise, move over to the Lobby or the Kitchen where it is usually quieter.    If you are a Facebook user, you can coordinate where to meet-up with others via the chat before/after Worship, or by indicating that you are "Going" to one of the three Facebook events each week.    The actual rooms are via Google Meet and don't require Facebook at all, and may be attended by phone, by app on iPhone/iPad/Android/or by Computer.   Access information is below.   If you need some hints at using Google Meet there are some instructions and screen shots at https://www.mainstreet-umc.org/activities/coffee-hour that might help you get acclimated.

 

Vestry:  https://meet.google.com/qmq-zxbb-sye or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?415 456 786 8524#

Lobby: https://meet.google.com/cen-uofo-ovh or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?566 126 046 3024#

Kitchen: https://meet.google.com/mfq-vdkf-ofj  or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?666 362 297 7893#

 

 

ARE YOU IN NEED OF A FACE MASK?

 

As we increasingly look forward to the day when we can begin to get out more and hopefully even gather for worship in our sanctuary we are faced with a new reality- that of wearing face masks anytime we are in public places.  In order to do this we will all need to have more than one cloth face mask available to us and we have a group of church folks who are gearing up to make some to have available both at church and to give out.  If you would like to have a couple of the masks please call the church office at 882-3361 or e-mail the church office at office@mainstreet-umc.org and your name will be added to the list.  Once they are available we will be in touch with you and arrange to get the masks to you.

 

CHANGE OF CHURCH MAILING ADDRESS

 

On Tuesday, May 12th we discovered that our mail box at church had been broken into and the mail removed.  Thankfully the person left behind the envelopes so that we could notify people that their checks written to the church had been stolen.  If you happened to put anything in the mail to the church sometime around May 8th and haven't heard from us, please be attentive to whether your check gets cashed or not and notify us.  We are certain that it was only one day's worth of mail that was vandalized.

 

Given this situation we have also begun to rent a Post Office Box at the Post Office.  Therefore the church's new mailing address is:

PO Box 1517, Nashua, NH 03061.  From now on please use this mailing address for all church mail.

 

Thank you for your understanding and assistance in this matter. 

 

 

May 2020 Finance Snapshot

General Fund (GF)

Total GF Income Received as of 5/31/2020:             $208,046.42*

Total GF Income Budgeted through 5/31/2020:     $188,280.00

Total GF Expenses Paid through 5/31/2020:            $162,496.37**

Total GF Expenses Budgeted through 5/31/2020:  $194,390.54

   * Includes $23,302.30 received and designated for Heart of Nashua Continued and CARES Act PPP

      money $18,033.99 received and used for GF expenses in May  [balance ($19,351.01) of CARES Act

      PPP loan remains in designated funds and will transfer to GF as needed]

 ** A/C expenses (unbudgeted gift) not included; includes Heart of Nashua Cont.  payments of $13,930.80

***Difference in GF income and GF expense includes designated HON Cont.  funds ($13,171.80) for

       future payments as well as GF money for upcoming expenses. 

 

Notes on General Fund

- Current on payments due to providers other than the Conference.

- The New England Conference waived payment of three months of CRSP Pension payments of

   $975.60/month and two months of Property Insurance of $2486/month which we used in April

   and May.  The conference also allowed us to delay payment of health insurance of $1522/month. 

   In May, April health insurance was paid by us.   CARES  PPP funds  paid May health insurance. 

 -  In May we caught up on Ministerial Support.

-  World and New England Missions remain unpaid except for one month of each.  Designated

   donations covered a portion of each.   Hopefully we can pay in full by year end.

 

Heart of Nashua 1 & 2 (GiF) (Capital Campaign/Elevator, Connector, Renovations)

- Balance Due on HON Loan as of 5/31/2020:  approx. $165,724.54 (Loan was $358,343.45)

- In May the monthly payment of $1,769.53 was paid.  We now have enough to make the remaining

  2020 payments.  Additional funds received will go to principal pay down. 

- Total Received Heart of Nashua 1 & 2 (2013-12/31/19):  $1,848,782.64

- Total Paid Out Using HON 1 & 2 Funds:  (2013-1/27/2020):  $1,848,782.64

- Total Paid as of 5/31/2020:  $1,862,713.44.

 

Funding for the Future, 100 for $150 (Endowment) – Received Jan.- May 31, 2020:  $1695.00

   Our goal is to have 100 people or families give $150 each year to this fund to grow our endowment for future generations of the church.  Other amounts are gratefully accepted.

 

Thank You

- We appreciate the financial relief provided by the Conference (mentioned above) during this time.

- We received a CARES Act PPP loan May 1 which will cover May and June payroll and some utilities.

- Thank you to J. Lawrence Hall for a donation to cover PMs and one of the AA groups that was meeting in the church

   even though they cannot meet here now.

- Thank you for the donation for the electric car outlet at the parsonage.

- Thank you for your support of this church in so many ways.

 

Various Expenses

- Moving expenses for our new pastor will be around $5800. 

- New appliances have been purchased for the parsonage.  If you wish to donate toward them, please

  contact Paul Curtis or Phyllis Bowden.

- The church roof has been replaced.  Part of it is covered and designated maintenance funds will

  cover the balance although donations will be gratefully received.

- Please continue to support us financially if you can.   Checks may be mailed to Main St. UMC,

   PO Box 1571 Nashua, NH 03061, Attn.:  Financial Secretary.  Donations may also be made via

   PayPal, Vanco or direct deposit to our bank account.

 

Announcements

 

Order Of Worship Sunday, June 21

Friday, June 12, 2020

E-mail Blast Friday June 12,2020

 

 

 June 12, 2020

 

 

 A Word from the Pastor

 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell.  Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.  Greet one another with a holy kiss…The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you."

Second Corinthians 13:11-13

 

     When the apostle Paul wants to take his leave literarily from the Christians in Corinth he uses a Greek word that can be translated in a variety of ways in English.  The word, kairete, can sometimes mean "hello" or "good-bye" or "farewell" or even "rejoice".  It seems to me that each of these translations are appropriate both to what the apostle Paul wanted to say to the Corinthians and to what I want to say to you in this final e-mail blast.  On the one hand, it wasn't too long ago that we did indeed say "hello" to one another.  These last eight years have gone by quickly though and now it is time to say "farewell".  In doing so, we can also "rejoice" in that we have had a good season of ministry together and although we will both continue our ministry separately, we will nonetheless continue to serve God as we have been doing already.

    We have been blessed to accomplish a great deal together over these last eight years beginning with the momentous decision made in April of 2013 to recommit ourselves to being a downtown church and to begin a capital campaign that would allow us to both renovate the existing spaces and create new spaces that would better allow the church to serve the community well into the future.  In what seems short order now, although at the time it seemed to drag on, we were able to demolish the storefronts in front of the Wesley Building, create greenspace on Main Street, build the connector with an elevator and accessible bathrooms, totally renovate the sanctuary with the addition of a new sound system and projectors and screens, and make innumerable other changes to both the church and Wesley Buildings.

    All the while we continued to focus on the ministry of showing hospitality to our neighbours through our food pantry ministry and Café Agape.  Through these efforts we were able to provide food both for the body and for the soul.  We came to know many of our neighbours by name and to include them in the life of the church- Big Paul and little Paul, Craig and Justin, Joe and Kristy, and others along with them whose presence has enriched our life together.  Likewise we continued to be called upon to open our hearts and our doors to new refugee families, this time from the Congo, Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan.  These too along with our Burundian friends added more spice to our lives together.

    What is clear to me is that I have a life time of memories to look back upon and at the heart of them all is a beautiful people from many different states, countries, cultures, and ethnicities, all of whom have enabled me to grow as a person and as a pastor.  I will cherish these memories and I trust that they will sustain me for a long time to come.

    As I say "goodbye" to you I am also preparing to say "hello" to others of God's saints who are members of the Cox Memorial United Methodist Church located in Hallowell, Maine.  Just as I will have to say goodbye to you "virtually" rather than in person so too I will have to say hello to them virtually rather than in person.  It is a strange way to transition from one community of God's children to another, but it is what our current situation requires and with that we will each have to be content.

    While I will no longer be your pastor (I officially retire on June 30th, but unofficially on June 14th when my vacation begins) I hope that you will continue to be in touch.  I would love to know how you are doing from time to time and especially hear about the accomplishments of your children and grandchildren.  My contact information is as follows:

 

Rev. Richard Cullen

80 Grant Road

Litchfield, ME 04350

Richcullen55@gmail.com

 

    I am excited for the Main Street United Methodist Church as you begin a new chapter in the long history of the congregation.  I have been favourably impressed by Pastor Kelly and the gifts that she will bring to providing pastoral leadership for the church.  Embrace her as you have embraced me and although these are strange times in which to be welcoming someone new into the community of faith know that "this too shall pass" and hopefully you will have a long ministry together.

    I leave with no regrets (although there seem to be hundreds of loose ends) and am grateful for each of you.  May God's richest blessing be upon you, your family, and the family of faith known as the Main Street United Methodist Church.

 

                                                                                                With Love and Appreciation,

 

                                                                                                Pastor Rich

 

WORSHIP AHEAD

 

6/14       The Second Sunday after Pentecost/ The Thirteenth Sunday in Exile

                Special Music: Levitical Levites

Scripture: Second Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20

Theme:  Jesus, Paul and Pastor Rich Say Farewell.  Saying goodbye is an important thing to do when people who have been in a relationship with each other know that that relationship is changing or ceasing.  Jesus, the apostle Paul, and pastors have all had to say "good-bye" and as this is my last Sunday with you I will do my best to have a "good" farewell.

 

 

Worship Visuals Sunday June 14

 

Our worship area has an international flair today.  Not only does it remind us of the diversity of our church family, but of the words in Matthew 18:19 as Jesus says goodbye to the disciples "...go and make disciples of all nations..." The altar is filled with colorful cloths from other countries and there are banners from Zimbabwe on the lectern and pulpit.  The dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit that is always with us all, hovers over the world.  Above the altar are words in many languages that mean goodbye. We think of our saying "goodbye" to Pastor Rich and of his "goodbye" to us as we hear the reading of Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth 13:11. "Finally, brothers and sisters, goodbye.  Put things in order, respond to my encouragement, be in harmony with each other, and live in peace--and the God of love and peace will be with you." (CEB version)

 

According to Webster's dictionary, the word goodbye was an altered version of "God be with you" starting around 1580. Here are the words for goodbye and the language they are in: Addio - Italian,  Adios - Spanish,  Annyeong - Korean,  Auf Wiedersehen - German,  Au revoir - French,  Cehecares – Mvscogee Creek (means I'll see you soon, no word for goodbye),  Kwaheri - Swahili,  Paalam – Filipino/Tagalog,  Zaijian - Chinese. The unusual writing is Hindi. The colorful hands are signing "goodbye".  In the center right above the altar reading right to left, are the Hebrew words Shabbot Shalom, Sabbath Peace.

 

The flowers on the altar, a butterfly garden, are in honor of Pastor Rich, his love of nature and enjoyment of the outdoors.

 

Farewell Pastor Rich - Virtual Coffee Hour- Sunday June 14

 

Stop by the virtual Vestry on this Sunday, June 14th immediately after worship and wish Pastor Rich well on his "semi-retirement" in Maine.   Bring your own Coffee, Snacks, and good wishes for our beloved Pastor.

Connect with 
https://meet.google.com/qmq-zxbb-sye
or by phone +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?415 456 786 8524#

 

 

Father's Day/Tools of Hope:

On June 21, Father's Day, we will celebrate with gifts that can purchase tools that will add to a family's ability to make a living.  The tools may be hand tools for working the land or working with wood, fishing nets, a sewing machine, or even a well for a village.  Normally, we would take a "tool" note to the bulletin board in the front of the church so that we can honor and remember our fathers and those who have acted as fathers to us.  Since we can't do that this year, here is the link to the Tools donation part of the Church World Service site.  https://cwstools.org/donate/  Please write your father's name in the chat section of the Facebook live stream so that we can all remember and celebrate.    You can also mail your check to the Church with CWS Tools of Hope in the memo line.  Thank you!

 

 

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS JUNE 21ST

 

Commencing with the worship service on June 21st and through Labor Day Sunday, the worship service will live stream at 9:30am each Sunday morning.  Of course, it can be viewed on Facebook or from the home page on the church website at any time. 

 

6/21 and 6/28    Pastor Dave Svenson will be guest preacher.

7/5         Rev. Kristy Besada will be our guest preacher and introduce the Rev. Kelly Turney as she commences her ministry at the Main Street UMC.

 

SO, WHEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO RESUME IN PERSON WORSHIP?

 

This is the question that is on all our minds as we continue to live with this pandemic.  Unfortunately, there are no clear answers.  By the time you read this our Church Council will have settled on a process to both determine when and how in person worship will resume.  We will have to abide by the guidelines provided by the state of NH as well as those provided by Bishop Devadhar.  In all likelihood the movement towards in person worship will happen incrementally over a few months time.  As decisions are made you will be informed using all of the communication tools that are available to us.  In the meantime, and afterwards as well, we will continue to live stream our worship service on Sunday morning.  We hope that you are able to access the worship service either live via facebook or after the fact through our web site.

 

 

STAYING CONNECTED

 

Over the course of the "stay at home" time that we find ourselves in, volunteers from the congregation have been reaching out by phone to our entire membership.  One of things we have found though is that so many of you have given up your land lines or otherwise changed your phone number and we no longer have the correct number for you.  We would love to up-date our data base with this correct information so please either e-mail the church office at office@mainstreet-umc.org or call at 603-882-3361.  We have begun round 2 of our calling and hope to connect with you!

 

 

Worship Video

 

Although we are no longer able to do the live streaming of our worship service from the sanctuary, Pastor Rich is live streaming a service from home which is available on-demand on Facebook shortly after the service. You can use the Facebook app on a smartphone, or a web browser on a computer. "Like" our page and you will be notified when we go live each Sunday.

 

If you choose to not use a Facebook login, you can still access the live stream during the service time from our web site home page by going to the box to the right (you may need to refresh the page if you arrive early). Previous worship services are available by scrolling down through the postings.

 

Giving During This Uncertain Time

 

Although we are scaling back most of our church activities which will reduce our expenses during this time, we still have staff who will be working- cleaning the church thoroughly; providing office assistance from home; providing pastoral care remotely, etc.- so  we will still be incurring expenses that will need to be covered as best we can.  To the extent that you are able please maintain your financial pledge or give regularly.  Contributions can either be mailed in to the church or you can utilize our on-line giving options by going to the following web address:

 

www.mainstreet-umc.org/giving

 

Thank you for your on-going support, for your prayers, and for your faithfulness to God and one another.

 

ARE YOU IN NEED OF A FACE MASK?

 

As we increasingly look forward to the day when we can begin to get out more and hopefully even gather for worship in our sanctuary we are faced with a new reality- that of wearing face masks anytime we are in public places.  In order to do this we will all need to have more than one cloth face mask available to us and we have a group of church folks who are gearing up to make some to have available both at church and to give out.  If you would like to have a couple of the masks please call the church office at 882-3361 or e-mail the church office at office@mainstreet-umc.org and your name will be added to the list.  Once they are available we will be in touch with you and arrange to get the masks to you.

 

 

CHANGE OF CHURCH MAILING ADDRESS

 

On Tuesday, May 12th we discovered that our mail box at church had been broken into and the mail removed.  Thankfully the person left behind the envelopes so that we could notify people that their checks written to the church had been stolen.  If you happened to put anything in the mail to the church sometime around May 8th and haven't heard from us, please be attentive to whether your check gets cashed or not and notify us.  We are certain that it was only one day's worth of mail that was vandalized.

 

Given this situation we have also begun to rent a Post Office Box at the Post Office.  Therefore the church's new mailing address is:

PO Box 1517, Nashua, NH 03061.  From now on please use this mailing address for all church mail.

 

Thank you for your understanding and assistance in this matter. 

 

 

Sunday June 14 Order of Worship

 

Announcements

 

Friday, June 5, 2020

Mainstreeter Blast June 5, 2020

 

 

 June 5, 2020

 

 

 A Word from the Pastor

 

It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, 
Standin' in the need of prayer. 
It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, 
Standin' in the need of prayer. 

 

We stand before you, O Lord, hurting, confused, angry, fearful, and ashamed. We stand in the need of prayer, for we have sinned.

Today we pause to recognize especially our shame and to seek your forgiveness, so that we can forgive one another. We come before you to seek the grace and wisdom that will empower us to be justice-seekers.

Forgive us for the sin of racism and for failing to make justice the way of life for all people.

Forgive us for permitting the differences that make us special to become stumbling blocks of division.

Forgive us for not using our power responsibly.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us that "a riot is the language of the unheard."

Forgive us for not listening to the voices crying out for freedom, for mercy, for justice.

Forgive us for tuning out stories of those whose lives have been needlessly lost and the voices of those who live in fear, anger, and despair.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called out our complacency, observing: "our nation's summers of riots are caused by our nation's winters of delay."

Forgive us for waiting for a riot to pay attention to the anger and the hurt.

Forgive us for caring more about our own comforts than the full humanity of your beloved children.

Forgive us for our satisfaction with racist systems, policies, laws, and institutions.

Forgive us for thinking "if things are fine for me, they are fine for everyone."

Through growing wisdom, and penitent spirits for our own provincialism, enable us to make a difference, and to demonstrate the way of love.

Show us the way to justice! Show us the way to mutual respect and trust! Enable us to see value in those different from us, and to celebrate your Beloved Community.

It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, 
Standin' in the need of prayer. 
It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, 
Standin' in the need of prayer. 

We are all standing in the need of prayer.

In the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar

Jacquelyn Brannen

Bill Burnside

David Calhoun

We Hyun Chang 

Jill Colley Robinson

Ted Crass

Beth DiCocco

Andrew L. Foster III

Taesung Kang

Rick McKinley

Karen Munson

Erica Robinson-Johnson

Megan Stowe

Rene Wilbur

Dr. King quotes excerpted from 1967 "The Other America" speech at Stanford University, full text found here: https://www.crmvet.org/docs/otheram.htm 

"It's Me" is in the UMH #352 

    Each day since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic either our Bishop or one of the members of the extended cabinet have offered a "prayer for the day" as a way to help us focus our lives in the midst of this most trying of times.  This past Monday, given the gravity of our national life after a week of protests following the death of George Floyd, the decision was made to write a prayer jointly and that is what we have here.  It is a powerful prayer that speaks clearly to the reality of racism in our nation and of our need to collectively listen to the voices of people of color who have so often experienced discrimination and worse throughout our nation's history.  I invite you to read this prayer in a prayerful spirit and allow its message to become ingrained in your own spirit.  May it lead each of us to listen, to learn, to grow, to connect, and to act in ways that will enable our nation to repent and change for the better.

 

                                                                                                            With a grieving heart,

 

                                                                                                            Pastor Rich

 

WORSHIP AHEAD

 

6/7         Trinity Sunday/Children's Sunday/ The Twelfth Sunday in Exile

                Special Music: Levitical Levites

Scripture: Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8

Theme:  The Love of God Compels Us.  The apostle notes that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us".  Having experienced God's love that love compels us to act in loving others as well.  How has God's love compelled you?      

 

HEIFER PROJECT THANK YOU

 

Recently we received a thank you note from the Heifer Project for the gift received as a result of our Lenten/Easter Project- the Easter Tree of Life.  It reads:

 

Dear Main Street United Methodist Church,

 

Now more than ever, your gift is making a crucial difference in the lives of a farming family like Vivian's in Uganda or right here in Arkansas with Heifer USA.  Your gift provides a living income, savings, nutrition, and so much more.  Thank you for caring for your global neighbors!

 

For a Better World,

 

Rachel Merrill, Heifer Project     

 

SO, WHEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO RESUME IN PERSON WORSHIP?

 

This is the question that is on all our minds as we continue to live with this pandemic.  Unfortunately, there are no clear answers.  By the time you read this our Church Council will have settled on a process to both determine when and how in person worship will resume.  We will have to abide by the guidelines provided by the state of NH as well as those provided by Bishop Devadhar.  In all likelihood the movement towards in person worship will happen incrementally over a few months time.  As decisions are made you will be informed using all of the communication tools that are available to us.  In the meantime, and afterwards as well, we will continue to live stream our worship service on Sunday morning.  We hope that you are able to access the worship service either live via facebook or after the fact through our web site.

 

STAYING CONNECTED

 

Over the course of the "stay at home" time that we find ourselves in, volunteers from the congregation have been reaching out by phone to our entire membership.  One of things we have found though is that so many of you have given up your land lines or otherwise changed your phone number and we no longer have the correct number for you.  We would love to up-date our data base with this correct information so please either e-mail the church office at office@mainstreet-umc.org or call at 603-882-3361.  We have begun round 2 of our calling and hope to connect with you!

 

Worship Video

 

Although we are no longer able to do the live streaming of our worship service from the sanctuary, Pastor Rich is live streaming a service from home which is available on-demand on Facebook shortly after the service. You can use the Facebook app on a smartphone, or a web browser on a computer. "Like" our page and you will be notified when we go live each Sunday.

 

If you choose to not use a Facebook login, you can still access the live stream during the service time from our web site home page by going to the box to the right (you may need to refresh the page if you arrive early). Previous worship services are available by scrolling down through the postings.

 

Giving During This Uncertain Time

 

Although we are scaling back most of our church activities which will reduce our expenses during this time, we still have staff who will be working- cleaning the church thoroughly; providing office assistance from home; providing pastoral care remotely, etc.- so  we will still be incurring expenses that will need to be covered as best we can.  To the extent that you are able please maintain your financial pledge or give regularly.  Contributions can either be mailed in to the church or you can utilize our on-line giving options by going to the following web address:

 

www.mainstreet-umc.org/giving

 

Thank you for your on-going support, for your prayers, and for your faithfulness to God and one another.

 

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR

 

The latest option to help us all stay connected in this time of physical distancing is our "Virtual Coffee Hour" starting right after Sunday Worship (approximately 11:30am).     We have three "rooms" available each week.    Stop by the Vestry and catch up with your friends (bring your own coffee and snacks).     If it seems too crowded in the Vestry, and you can't get in a word in edgewise, move over to the Lobby or the Kitchen where it is usually quieter.    If you are a Facebook user, you can coordinate where to meet-up with others via the chat before/after Worship, or by indicating that you are "Going" to one of the three Facebook events each week.    The actual rooms are via Google Meet and don't require Facebook at all, and may be attended by phone, by app on iPhone/iPad/Android/or by Computer.   Access information is below.   If you need some hints at using Google Meet there are some instructions and screen shots at https://www.mainstreet-umc.org/activities/coffee-hour that might help you get acclimated.

 

Vestry:  https://meet.google.com/qmq-zxbb-sye or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?415 456 786 8524#

Lobby: https://meet.google.com/cen-uofo-ovh or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?566 126 046 3024#

Kitchen: https://meet.google.com/mfq-vdkf-ofj  or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?666 362 297 7893#

 

 

ARE YOU IN NEED OF A FACE MASK?

 

As we increasingly look forward to the day when we can begin to get out more and hopefully even gather for worship in our sanctuary we are faced with a new reality- that of wearing face masks anytime we are in public places.  In order to do this we will all need to have more than one cloth face mask available to us and we have a group of church folks who are gearing up to make some to have available both at church and to give out.  If you would like to have a couple of the masks please call the church office at 882-3361 or e-mail the church office at office@mainstreet-umc.org and your name will be added to the list.  Once they are available we will be in touch with you and arrange to get the masks to you.

 

CHANGE OF CHURCH MAILING ADDRESS

 

On Tuesday, May 12th we discovered that our mail box at church had been broken into and the mail removed.  Thankfully the person left behind the envelopes so that we could notify people that their checks written to the church had been stolen.  If you happened to put anything in the mail to the church sometime around May 8th and haven't heard from us, please be attentive to whether your check gets cashed or not and notify us.  We are certain that it was only one day's worth of mail that was vandalized.

 

Given this situation we have also begun to rent a Post Office Box at the Post Office.  Therefore the church's new mailing address is:

PO Box 1517, Nashua, NH 03061.  From now on please use this mailing address for all church mail.

 

Thank you for your understanding and assistance in this matter. 

 

 

Worship Visuals

Like those ancient people in Psalm 137 who lamented their captivity in Babylon by hanging their harps on trees, we have a tree full of children's tambourines, bells and triangles reminding us that we are not able to gather and make music together in the usual way.  Along with those are some toys from our empty nursery. There is a graduation cap reminding us of the less festive than usual high school and college graduations this year.  In this time of isolation, loss, injustice, unrest and fear, may we think of the words of Fred Roger's mother: "Look for the helpers."  Then if we are paying attention, we will see God's light and love shining so brightly we need sunglasses.  This is our hope for the future.

 

Sunday June 7 Order of Worship

 

Announcements