Newsletters

The First Congregational Church of Wilmot, UCC publishes a weekly newsletter. If you would like us to add your email address to our mailing, please contact us at: wilmotucc@gmail.com.

Thoughts, Prayers and Ministries from FCCW

January 17, 2020

Dear Friends,

This week as I was researching the writings of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I came across a name I wasn’t familiar with. King said in his sermon ‘The Drum Major Instinct’,

“The drum major instinct can lead to exclusivism in one’s thinking and can lead one to feel that because he has some training, he’s a little better than that person who doesn’t have it. Or because he has some economic security, that he’s a little better than that person who doesn’t have it. And that’s the uncontrolled, perverted use of the drum major instinct.

Now the other thing is, that it leads to tragic—and we’ve seen it happen so often—tragic race prejudice. Many who have written about this problem—Lillian Smith used to say it beautifully in some of her books. And she would say it to the point of getting men and women to see the source of the problem. Do you know that a lot of the race problem grows out of the drum major instinct? A need that some people have to feel superior. A need that some people have to feel that they are first, and to feel that their white skin ordained them to be first.”

So I thought, ‘who is this Lillian Smith’? It turns out she has a fascinating story, so I thought I would share it with you. Here it is…

Lillian Smith (author)

Smith was born on December 12, 1897, to a prominent family in Jasper, Florida, the seventh of nine children. Her…

Upcoming Events and Meetings-

Sunday, January 19- Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday

Green Team presentation after church

Sunday, January 26- Annual Meeting with a Thank You Brunch for All!

Sunday, February 2- Intergenerational Communion Service

– Board games after church!

Sunday, February 9- After Church Epiphany Study

Tuesday, February 11- 4:00- Deacons Meeting

6:30 Mental Health Group Meeting

Sunday, February 16- Valentine’s Breakfast BEFORE Church

Announcements…

WARRANT of the ANNUAL MEETING

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of WILMOT, N. H., UCC

You are hereby notified to meet in the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church on Sunday, January 26, 2020, immediately following worship to act on the following:

1. To elect the following:

For ONE (1) year:

Moderator

Clerk

Treasurer

Assistant Treasurer

Christian Education Coordinator

Auditor

Collector

One (1) At-large Parish Committee

Three (3) delegates to Merrimack Association

Three (3) delegates to Conference Annual Meeting

For TWO (2) years

Four (4) Deacons

For THREE (3) years

One (1) Trustee

One (1) Stewardship

Two (2) New Horizons Mission Committee

One (1) Nominating Committee

1. To adopt the budget for 2020

2. To transact any other business that may legally come before this meeting.

Given under my hand, a true attest of warrant

Paul Fenton

Moderator

January 14, 2020

Announcements from The Trustees

The Trustees would like to know who has a key to the church. Would anyone who has a key to the lower entrance door please let Robin Walkup, Bill Partridge or Doug MacDonald know. Thank you.

And We Need Eyes on the Church!

Want to see if it’s snowing in Wilmot? Want to see who goes to church while you’re away? Want to keep an eye on the chicken cookers at our BBQ? Download our Live Camera App and help us watch for unwanted visitors. There is a disk in the office for PC’s and instructions are available.

After Worship Epiphany Study 2020

On February 9, grab a cup of coffee and some goodies and join Rev. Nancy De Vries and Lucy Mueller, who will lead us in considering the meaning of Epiphany for our time and in our lives. We will do this intellectually, experientially and artistically. This session will begin about ten minutes after worship and will be completed by noon.

February 9: Are New Beginnings Possible? Are new beginnings truly possible? How does the presence of God and all the possibilities that brings open new life for us? What does it mean for us that the Bible says God “makes all things new”?

Green Team Ministry Kick-off

Sunday, January 19 after worship

We all have justice issues which tug at our heartstrings: immigration, race, LGBTQ, income inequality, health care, gender, and the list goes on. But at this point in our history, one is head and shoulders above the rest: climate change. It’s nothing less than an existential threat and a great source of anxiety for our children.

When we consider the enormity of the problem, we feel so powerless, and we ask: What can I do? Our church’s Green Team wants to help you with this.

Over the coming months we’ll be passing on ways you can act so that you can become part of the solution. Our kick-off is Sunday, January 19 after worship, when Allan MacDonald will describe why climate change is a crisis and what you can do in the public domain – as a neighbor, as a citizen, and as a voter (~20-30 minutes). In February, our focus will be on lighting, and we will have a display of various types of light bulbs and their energy usage after worship one Sunday. The Green Team is also looking at ways to make our building as efficient as possible.

We look forward to your active participation in this ministry. If you’re interested in joining the team, just ask.

Green Team: Robin Walkup (chair), Steve Allenby, Kristin & Megan Lizotte, Paul Currier, Margaret Campbell, Carol Foss, Bethany Balford, Lucy Mueller, Zeph & Sara Marean, Allan & Marie MacDonald, Holly Tabor -Hall

Come Play Games After Church!

On Sunday, February 2 you’re invited to bring games to coffee hour! We’ll gather to eat, talk and play!

Back Pack program update

First of all, the middle school is very appreciative of all the foods you have donated! I went through their current supplies and here is what is most needed: jelly in plastic containers (to go with the ample supply of peanut butter), canned ravioli or spaghettios, even in individual servings, fruits – even fresh such as clementines, – these all would be most helpful at this point. Talk with me if you have ideas or questions – Marie MacDonald

Valentine Breakfast

Our traditional breakfast to support KREM will be Sunday morning, Feb. 16th, so mark you calendars, invite your friends and family, and sign up on the clipboard to help. Thanks – Marie & Allan MacDonald and Julianne Gachelin

UP-DATING our MAILING LISTOur mailing list is an important resource for us as we communicate with
one another and, therefore, is only helpful when it is current. Keeping
the information accurate requires input from everyone! At the beginning
of the year, it’s good to thoroughly go over the list and make sure it’s
up-to-date.

A copy of the list is posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship
Hall. Please take a moment to check your listing for accuracy, make any
changes, then put a check by your listing indicating that you’ve looked
at it.

For those of you unable to physically be here, let me know if there have
been any changes to your address or phone, and I’ll see that your
listing is correct.You may email me at jwhowe1@tds.net or phone me at 526-4559.

Many thanks!~ Janet Howe

“Changing Systems, Changing Ourselves: Anti-racist practice for sanctuary, accompaniment, and resistance.“

Many activists across the U.S. are searching for deeper, more meaningful ways to stand with immigrant communities against racism and injustice.
This free, interactive e-course was designed for congregations and other groups and individuals interested in learning, reflecting, and acting for social change—while following the leadership of immigrants and others impacted by injustice. The e-course begins Jan. 28 and will take place every fourth Tuesday evening through May.
In five sessions, we will also explore the history of racial exclusion in the U.S.; criminalization, immigration, and the prison industrial complex; and skills to accompany immigrants at ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) check-ins, in detention centers, and in other contexts. For more information see Robin Walkup

Join us for Changing Systems, Changing Ourselves

Join our five-session self-study e-course, Changing Systems, Changing Ourselves: Anti-racist practice for Sanctu…

Registration is now open for Prepared to Serve 2020.

This training event for all of God’s people (local church members, lay leaders, visitors, and clergy) will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Pembroke Academy, 209 Academy Road, Pembroke, NH.

We are planning a full schedule for the day with time for worship, attending workshops, viewing exhibits, and enjoying food and fellowship with folks from all over New Hampshire. There will be over 50 different workshops on topics including Stewardship, Church Finances, Music, Outreach, Christian Education, Social Justice, Worship Resources and Personal Enrichment. We are hopeful that this day will be meaningful and productive for all who attend.

Download the event brochure or visit the registration site to see this year’s offerings.

Prepared To Serve 2020

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SAVE THE DATE!

New England Environmental Justice Youth Summit

Sponsored by the NH Conference of the United Church of Christ

March 21, 2020 ~ 9 AM-4 PM

South Congregational Church, Concord, NH

Census Job?

Our church was contacted recently and asked if we knew of anyone in our congregation/community who’d be interested in working in the 2020 census. The job requires a car, from 8-40 hrs./week, and pays $17.50/hr. plus mileage. (Income earned is excluded from “countable” income for people receiving various types of assistance.) There is a packet of information on the table downstairs in Fellowship Hall. If you know of anyone who might be interested in earning some extra income, please share the contact information included in the packet with them.

Flash Mission

If you know of someone who needs a helping hand (food, yard work, etc.) let Steve Allenby know and he’ll organize help.

Food Pantry During January, we are asked to provide large juice.

Scripture for Sunday is Mark 10:35-45