New in this Issue:

SOS - Save Our Spuds! Need a volunteer to help cook potatoes on Friday!
Bishop's Day on District - this Saturday!
Annual Reports now available.
New 6-week book study!
College Care Package Donations needed.
UMM Meeting, Postponed - new date, March 9th
Help us Welcome new worshippers!
Nora's new play - buy tickets now!

Click Here to Donate Today to MSUMC

Gifts of the Dark Wood

Beginning February 14, 2024

Watch Live

So glad to have an extra day this leap year. As our Confirmation mascot, a frog reminds us to FULLY RELY ON GOD.

That leaping frog is necessary because we're hard at work preparing for the 2020 General Conference which is just 52 days away in Charlotte NC. Since I've been involved in 7 General Conferences since 1996 in Denver, Colorado, I'm familiar with this final push to get things ready for our gathering.

But I was surprised this morning when a colleague called saying she had decided to attend as a chaplain in the Convention Center prayer room. She's never gone to GC before and plans to retire in the next few years, so why now I wondered?

The short answer is a realization that the church IS Christ's presence in human society–however flawed or grace-filled, who we are represents Christ to a world who are suspicious of faith. Whatever happens at GC, whoever we choose to be, however we act, whomever we fight for or against, we represent the denomination, the church universal, and Christianity.

The world will be watching.
Whatever we decide for the future of our denomination –
what we say we believe, how we spend our money,
who we aspire to be in the world. The world will be watching,

I was amazed to hear that after GC Tampa in 2012, there were seminary students from other denominations who switched to methodism because they saw our efforts to stand up for LGBTQ persons, the anti-racism work, the commitments to international voices and social witness. How we show up for the least, the lost and the left-out matters.

Please put April 23 - May 4 on your prayer calendar. Those of us on-site rely on the support of those back home to make it through.

Thanks,

Pastor Kelly

Lent Devotional

Climate & Faith

Click Here to Download

Bishop's Day on the Granite District
Saturday, March 2, 2024 - hybrid

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
First UMC - 18 Wesley Way, Gilford, NH 03249

Click Here for Sunday's Bulletin

Below is our Lent Reflections submissions.

We received a call today from Lucille's son, Joseph. Lucille passed away this past Tuesday, February 27th. They had just moved her down to Florida to be closer to them the previous week. Plans are being made for a celebration of life here at MSUMC in June. More details to follow.

Buy Tickets Here to See Nora!

UNITED METHODIST MEN MEETING - POSTPONED

NEW DATE, SATURDAY, MARCH 9TH

We will continue our discussions on our UMM study on the feasibility of transforming MSUMC power to solar power in the future. I have contacted Revision Energy and they have assigned an engineer to prepare a preliminary study about how we might go about a solar power transformation and we will address that at the next meeting. They will come to our church and review our roof suitability to hold solar panels and to look at where else we might place such panels on church property. As stated previously, please come and bring anyone you know that might help us understand the basic information we might need to assist in this effort to include decisions that will be required to move forward. I will provide more information on how Revision Energy conducts its work so we can understand what they are offering and what they cannot do. At this point, there is no agreement for payment for any of their services until they do their formal presentation and our church decides whether or not to move forward with the project.

In Christ,

Kent Swanson

The youth will pack and ship snacks to college students in April on behalf of MSUMC. We would appreciate donated prepackaged snacks such as granola bars, cracker sandwiches, cookies, microwave popcorn, hot cocoa, oatmeal packets, tea bags, Raman noodles, Starbucks $10 gift cards, and assorted chips, including the most popular Takis Chips. A box will be outside the office for your donations. We will also welcome monetary donations to defray the shipping & supplies costs. Please send a check payable to MSUMC and write Youth College Care on the memo line. If you know of any college students who would benefit from a Main Street Care Package, please email the name of the student, college address, year in college, and their Major to Karrie Lam, Youth Ministries Coordinator, at karrie.lam@mainstreet-umc.org.