Sunday's service at Greeley Park was beautiful (not weather-wise: it was windy and some said cold) but it was beautiful because so many turned out despite the weather bundled in hats and scarves and hoodies. They were determined to be among the community of faith even outdoors in the gusty wind. Carol Riley had baked fresh bread for communion and Charlie and Sue had prepared it for the sacrament. Mike brought his guitar and sang "Rainbow Connection" (a favorite of mine). And there were dogs! So many adorable dogs, who all got along somehow for the duration of the service. There were collars and pictures that stood in for some animal companions who couldn't make it. And Paul and Andrea brought their new puppy –so soft and adorable. Unfortunately, no one took pictures of the service, so you'll just have to imagine it. Or here's Carolyn Elke's reflection on the day:
Today's Bible reading in the NKJV describes the scene where Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water and Peter saw that "the wind was boisterous". And so it was in the Park this morning "boisterous"! As we focused on a theme of Reshaping, we were in the midst of reshaping of the natural environment. Perhaps we, too, were being reshaped by the wind: blowing away that which was no longer beneficial like the dead twig which was pulled off an overhead tree limb and landed at my feet ready for microbes to renew its purpose; like leaves ready to release a habit of clinging to a branch and moving on to a new life nourishing the soil. The wind stirring our bodies, filling our lungs, sweeping out cobwebs from our brain matter, creating space for new possibilities.
And then the Blessing of the Animals, harbingers of wisdom and encouragement in our lives as Job 12:7-10 notes: Ask the animals and they will teach you; and the birds of the air will tell you; speak to the earth and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all humanity?" I'm sure we bless our creature sojourners daily but the recognition of that in the context of community was powerful and enriching.
For me, personally, sharing communion immersed in the environment from which the elements come is life-giving, transforming a ritual act of remembrance (as Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me") into a celebration of all that is in the natural realm of Creation.
I am deeply grateful; thank you!
Carolyn Elke
----Pastor Kelly Turney | | |
Coffee Hour and Fellowship
Coffee Hour and Fellowship will return to the Vestry on Sunday, October 9th.
Be sure to join us in person!
Fellowship will be hosted on October 9th by the Weirs' in celebration of Micah's Blessing with Coffee and Cupcakes. | | | All Saints Service - November 6th We have begun preparation for this very important service. If you have a loved one you've lost since the pandemic, that you'd like honored in our bulletin on this day, please email office@mainstreet-umc.org. | | |  | |
SECURITY GRANT
As you may have read in local media, the church has applied for and received a generous grant from the NH Department of Homeland Security. This grant is offered to states by the Federal government to help houses of faith to secure their buildings in ways that can prevent crime, no strings attached. The bad news is that certain chaos-making groups seem to be attracted to downtown, so we had a strong case for needing better security.
The GOOD news is that this money will be used to both save money on existing systems and replace our old-fashioned key/lock system of building access. The tech team will use some of the money to replace our rented security cameras with an equally effective but significantly less expensive purchased system. In addition, Trustees will utilize some of the funds to install card-access doors with a remote camera buzz-in feature, much like schools and businesses have used for years. This will eliminate the cumbersome process of signing out keys and hoping they are not lost. It will also allow us to give limited-time access to folks using the building for specific purposes, turning their cards off when they no longer need access. All of these upgrades have been needed for some time, and we are delighted to use the grant money to do them soon.
Due to the complicated processes around Federal and State funding, we are not entirely clear when the funds will come to us, but we know that we cannot start the improvements until that happens. Stay tuned!
If you have any questions about the security grant, please reach out to Pastor Kristy or Pastor Kelly. | |  | Global Mission Fellows US-2 applications are now open The Global Mission Fellows (GMF) program of The United Methodist Church places young adults, ages 20–30, in social justice ministries for two years of service. The program offers the opportunity for service in the U.S. (US-2 track) and around the world (international track). We are now accepting applications for the 2023-25 cohort for the U.S.-2 track.
Learn more. | |  | | GSOP invites you to help canvass neglected neighborhoods to ensure everyone knows how to participate in our democracy:
You are invited to join the Manchester NAACP, Unitarian Universalist Action, the Granite State Organizing Project and the NH Alliance of Immigrants and Refugees in our non-partisan get out the vote outreach! We will go out in teams and knock on doors in communities that are generally neglected at election time. We will make sure people know where and when to vote, and how to register at the polls on Election Day. We'll also ensure that people know their rights; including the rights of formerly incarcerated to vote and the right to request language and other assistance with voting. Shifts are available in Manchester and Nashua – sign up today! Please Click-On the link: GSOP Volunteer Canvassing The location to meet for canvassing will be confirmed once you register. For Manchester most Saturdays we will leave from the Manchester UU Church and most Sundays from the GSOP office. Nashua location will usually be 427 Amherst Street 2nd floor, Nashua | |  | Saturday Oct. 8, 2022 Auto Tour and Picnic departs at 10:00am Where – Greeley Park, 100 Concord Street, Nashua, NH 03064. The fourth annual event will head from Nashua to Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, NH and then return. We will be travelling in groups on the back roads of the Monadnock Region enjoying the scenic autumn views. Everyone invited to participate: Antiques, Muscle Cars, Custom Cars, Sports Cars, Foreign, Exotic, Classics, Motorcycles and even your SUV daily driver.
$35 charity donation per car. Organized & sponsored by The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd All proceeds are for The Front Door Agency. | | | Funeral Notice
Peggy St. Hilaire (Charlie's Sister)
(Margaret Alice St. Hilaire (March 3, 1939 - September 7, 2022)
Funeral Arrangements have been made for:
October 12, 2022 at 2:30 PM
at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Hwy,
Boscawen, NH 03303.
All are welcome to support Charlie Flagler and his family. | | | | Last minute Fall Fair Information
Sat. Oct. 15 will be here before we know it! Remember that this important fundraiser event is supporting global and local missions.
We are looking for crafts of all kinds, Grandma's attic items (Grandma is looking for used jewelry too), used adult and children's books and puzzles. Start dropping them off at the church Sun. Oct. 9 after worship and Mon., Wed., and Thurs. from 9-2:00. Friday, Oct 14th, we will be setting up and pricing and would like to have everything there. If you need an evening drop off time or have questions, please email Kathy at umwfair20@gmail.com.
We need LOTS of YUMMY baked goods for the bake table and cookies for the cookie walk. Email the name of what you are baking and list of ingredients to umwfair20@gmail.com by Sun. Oct.9 so that labels can be made up. If you need the list of Nashua baking guidelines, email Kathy at that address as well. Baked goods may be dropped off at the church Fri. the 14th or early Sat. the morning of the fair.
| |  | Other ways to help our fair be a success:
Volunteers are needed to help with all areas ahead of time and for shifts on fair day, including clean up afterwards. If you have some time available, please email, or speak to Kathy Romano, Pam Breniser or Phyllis Appler on Sunday.
Can you put out a yard sign promoting the fair near where you live or at a busy intersection that has a patch of grass? Great if they can be seen starting from Oct. 9 on. See Kathy Romano or Pam Breniser on Sunday or email umwfair20@gmail.com. | | For the next several weeks, the Vestry Class will be exploring New Testament professor Amy-Jill Levine's new curriculum called "Signs and Wonders: a Beginner's Guide to the Miracles of Jesus."
Paul Pederzani will lead the class, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday in hybrid format--in the Vestry and through Zoom.
Here is the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88185355974?pwd=SEpQemJ3ZzRRWm9lMFFQSlpwdUhzQT09 | |  | Every year, Main Street Church has thrown open its doors for the Downtown Nashua Winter Holiday Stroll. This is a perfect opportunity for us to welcome our community a give them glimpse of what we are all about. Do you know where the sanctuary is? Do you know where the restrooms are? Then you are qualified!
In order for us to register as a venue, we need a minimum of 9 committed volunteers for the evening (three two-hour shifts of three people each).This is complicated somewhat in that it would not be reasonable to enforce a mask requirement for the general public for this event, therefore volunteers would need to be comfortable in large presumably unmasked crowds though as a volunteer you are encouraged to wear a mask based up on your comfort and typical practice. Church Venue Host/Hostess Your presence is simply to provide assistance/directions to visitors who will be attending the entertainment hosted in the sanctuary. Help us put a good foot forward as the community visits us to enjoy our Chancel Choir and other entertainment. Direct visitors to the sanctuary venue, restrooms, and other activities in the church. How You Can Help! Volunteer for one (or more) of the 2-hour timeslots available during the stroll. No experience necessary. Contact Jerry Harrow to commit to volunteering and enable us to participate as a venue. For more information contact Jerry at 673-6024 or Jerry.Harrow@mainstreet-umc.org. | | | City Year New Hampshire is recruiting young adults
to serve as tutors and mentors! Not only will these mentors help students grow academically and socially, they'll gain valuable work experience and join an inclusive, supportive community. It's paid, fulltime, and has a $4,500 grant for future education and weekly professional development days. | | | Know someone? Interested in serving yourself?
Fill out this form: https://bit.ly/cynhrec1
City Year would love to meet them and consider together this life-changing opportunity. They're accepting applications now for positions that start in October—apply by Sept. 27—or any future academic year. Please take a moment to nominate someone you know. | | GREATER NASHUA CROP Hunger Walk: "We walk because they walk." This is our 38th year! The walk will take place on Sunday, October 30th beginning and ending at Temple Beth Abraham, 4 Raymond Street in Nashua. Registration is from 12 to 1pm with opening ceremonies at 1pm and stepping out at 1:30pm. Registration and celebration are in the TBA tent to keep us safe.
The Greater Nashua Area CROP Hunger Walk has raised over one million dollars in its previous 38 years. We now have 21 teams and last year we raised $57084! Each of our 5 recipient agencies received $2849. The money raised fights hunger and poverty around the world and locally and provides refugee and disaster relief through Church World Service. The Nashua Area Interfaith Council sponsors the event.
You can also find us on Facebook! Just look for Nashua Cropwalk.
To sign up, see Mission Co-chairs, Jennifer or Maggie to make sure that you have all the tools you need to be a CROP walker! (Each team or faith community has a recruiter.) You can also "walk on the web." Your recruiter will set up a team page on the website or you can start your own team and raise money online. Just google Greater Nashua Crop Hunger Walk or go to this link: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/event/nashuanh
If you can't walk, be sure to sponsor a walker, or make a team donation. We can also always use volunteer help at the event if your feet aren't made for walking!
For any questions or to volunteer please contact Becky Green at nashuacropwalk@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you! | | Pastors' Sabbath days:
Pastor Kelly: Tuesday Pastor Kristy: Friday | | | | | |
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