 | | Message from the Pastor | |  | TheQuiltMaker's Journey by Jeff Brumbeau, is a beautiful and poignant fable about the value of generosity and the spirit of community as a brave young girl leaves her village in search of the true meaning of happiness. Once outside her village, she discovers that there are less-fortunate people in the world. At firstshe thinks that she is unable to help them, but finally she realizes that she does have something to give. As she unearths the meanings of kindness and love, the young girl finds a strength and peace she never knew before.
Here's how the tale begins: "You may have once heard the story of a quiltmaker who lived in a wee house on the side of a mountain. Each day she toiled away on the beautiful quilts that all said were the loveliest in the land. "Few had ever see her but many knew who she was by her deeds. They said she was the most gifted and giving woman ever known, and thatshe could have grown immensely rich by selling her wondrous quilts. But she would only give them to those in need. And so, every night by the last of the candle-light, the quiltmaker was remembered in the prayers of many.
"But if by luck you should happen upon her, and ask if she had always been such a giving person, the quiltmaker would tell you that she was once quite different indeed. As a young woman, she gave no thought to people in need. It was not that she was selfish, but because she and all the children of the town had lived their lives in a world where poverty was unknown...."
The video of the book read by Pastor Kelly will be available on our church website beginning October 25, along with the sequel, The Quiltmaker's Gift. Each week we invite kids to use a quilt pattern to color and add one thing to every space. For example on Nov 1, All Saints Sunday, we invite folks to put in the names of those who make up their "great cloud of witnesses." All those loved ones who are no longer with us (or who they don't get to see often) who are important to them. It can be a grandparent, or a former teacher, a pet, or friend who has moved away. On Nov 8, put some gift or skill you have to share with the world in each space. On Nov 22, list something you're grateful for in each space. And we'd love for you to share your colorful, patterned creations. Take a photo and send to office@mainstreet-umc.org or drop your quilt piece by the church. And of course, you can loan us actual quilts for the sanctuary –film your ideas about what you've learned from your quilts.
Pastor Kelly shared her answers on the meditative moment Wednesdays at 1 (10/21). We'd love to hear from you. | |  | | 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 10:30am). Stop by the Vestry and catch up with your friends (bring your own coffee and snacks).
The virtual 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# | |  | Super Saturday October 24th!
This is a drop by/come and go opportunity to connect with our Main Street Church home and the wider Downtown Nashua community! Saturday October 24 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. we encourage those of all ages to come out and adorn the sidewalks with encouraging messages for those who work or visit or live downtown. We also need all the children for our prep work of Advent -- we'll invite each family into the sanctuary for a brief video showing their child(ren) bringing in pieces of the nativity scene. All Covid precautions will be in place. Please bring a mask to wear. Sidewalk Chalk will be provided. Costumes are welcome!
Families can pick up November Sunday School materials during this event. | |  | | "All Saints" Sunday is coming up (Nov 1) and we want remember not only all our members who have died this last year but all your loved ones who died since All Saints last year.... so please send to the office the name of the person who died, the date of their death and how related to you. | |  | ANNUAL DISTRICT CHURCH CONFERENCE
Our annual Church/Charge Conference date has been set for Monday, November 2nd at 6:30 pm. District Superintendent, Rev. Taesung Kang will meet with the Staff Parish Relations Committee at 5:30 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a church community to celebrate our ministries and prepare for the future. All are encouraged to attend.
Zoom meeting information: Topic: SPRC Meeting/Church Conference - Taesung Presiding
Time: Various
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| |  | UMW Virtual Fair
Details are still being worked out for the United Methodist Women's virtual fair this year. But rest assured you will be able to find the great items you have always shopped for in person: lots of unique gift items, knit and crocheted mittens and scarves, handmade jewelry and notecards, items for babies and children, wreaths, dried flower arrangements and Thanksgiving decor, Christmas items of all types, Nick Long's paintings and a few special items from Grandma's Attic. Notices will go out as soon as the site is ready for shopping. Our pick up dates are the same as our original fair dates: Saturdays, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. Keep watching for more news. | |  | | The ministry with The Soup Kitchen will begin anew on Sunday afternoons from 2-4p.m. with a SMALL group of NO MORE THAN 10 people from MainStreet UMC who will gather to pack food boxes for distribution on Monday. So there will be no community contact and the building will be empty except for the MSUMC team. Safety protocols will be followed. Contact Phyllis Appler if you can help out (phyllis.k.appler@gmail.com) for these next few weeks or months. | | Charge Conference Report – Finance and Stewardship – Main Street UMC
As shown by our finance snapshot below through September, we are meeting our current bills except for World and NE Missions where we need generous fourth quarter giving by our congregants. Our $346,796 received to date includes our CARES Act loan, HON Continuing Fund, and some up-front annual pledge fulfillments. Our revised COVID budget plan has about $426,000 in general fund expenses for 2020. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by COVID-19.
September 2020 Finance Snapshot:
General Fund (GF)
Total GF Income Received as of 9/30/2020: $346,796.84*
Total GF Income Budgeted through 9/30/2020: $320,178.32 (revised budget) ($331,727 orig. bud.)
Total GF Expenses Paid through 9/302020: $295,002.41
Total GF Expenses Budgeted through 9/30/2020: $309,775.84 (revised budget) ($331,288.54 orig.)
* Includes $38,740.47 designated for Heart of Nashua Continued ($28,088.77 spent)
and CARES Act PPP $37,385 received and used for GF expenses in May and June
Notes on General Fund
- Current on payments due to providers other than Conference payments for World and New England
Mission shares. We have paid a bit more than four months of each and are hoping to catch up by year end. To do so, we
need to pay the balance of $14,718.05 on World and NE Missions (and $8979.28 for Ministerial Support).
Heart of Nashua 1 & 2 (GiF) & HON Cont. (Capital Campaign/Elevator, Connector, Renovations)
- Balance Due on HON Loan as of 9/30/2020: est. $154,160 (Loan was $358,343.45)
- In September the monthly payment of $1,769.53 was paid and $2200 was paid on the principal.
HON Cont. funds on hand ($10,651.70) will pay the remaining 2020 payments and payments for the
first three months in 2021 and additional principal.
- Total Paid Using HON 1, 2 & Continued as of 9/30/2020: $1,876,871.41
Funding for the Future, 100 for $150 (Endowment) – Received Jan.-Sept. 30, 2020: $2250.00
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. Of course, other amounts are gratefully accepted.
How to Help
- If you can donate to the General Fund, it would be greatly appreciated. This fund pays most of our
programs and operating expenses. Our goal is to pay all bills including mission shares.
- Please consider donating to the General Fund for the rest of this year rather than to Heart of Nashua
Continued (HON Cont.). This is a difficult year for MSUMC financially and the general fund is where
funds are most needed. (General funds may be used for any expense.) Please note that all funds
received for HON Cont. are used to pay the loan and additional principal. Your donations are used as
directed by you.
- Please continue to support us financially if you can. Checks may be mailed to Main St. UMC,
PO Box 1517, Nashua, NH 03061, Attn.: Financial Secretary. Donations may also be made via
PayPal, Vanco or by direct deposit to our bank account.
Thank You
- Thank you for your prayers, your presence at our virtual services, your service and your gifts. We
need them to continue the work of the church. Any extra giving is especially appreciated.
Items
-The Finance Committee is carefully tracking income and expenses for 2020
- The Finance Committee continues to monitor the 2020 finances and prepare the 2021 budget.
- Expenses increase in the fall and winter. Insurance has increased to $2710.50/month for 10 months
and heating will increase even though the church is not open. We still have money from a snowplow
donation that will cover most of November and December expenses. | | | | |
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