Greetings friends!
Pastor Cheryl apologizes for not blogging about the conference as hoped, but upon learning that Internet would cost $14 a day, I chose to save the $70 and wait until I returned to digest the material and share it with you. I hope some of you were able to view the webcast at the General Board of Discipleship site. There was truly amazing preaching and inspired teaching shared by leaders from across the country.
WORSHIP: This week you are invited to worship at 10:00 am in the sanctuary. Pastor Cheryl Meachen’s sermon, entitled "Hate Has No Home Here" will focus on the Christian value of truly loving one's neighbor while breaking down barriers of prejudice and thereby transforming a culture of intolerance into a culture of justice. Specifically, we will focus on the painting of swastikas in Dummerston and our response. You are encouraged to contribute generously through the offering to the ad we will place with other faith communities uplifting our shared message that we are Standing on the Side of Love. Margaret Fogg, flutist and Timothy Fogg, guitarist will accompany the hymns including "Seek Ye First" and provide inspiring special music throughout the service.
BLUEBERRIES: Plans for the church’s Annual Blueberry Festival on Saturday, August 14th from 8-3pm are rolling into high gear with Marlene Rose’s famous blueberry breakfast and the church ladies’ delectable blueberry jam and baked offerings. There will also be crafters with items such as ethnic jewelry, painted silk, woodcraft and homemade goats’ milk beauty products for sale. Music will be provided by House of Purpose on tour, a coffee house venue from Hillsboro NH specializing in gospel, Christian and sacred music. A variety of musical artists, including Purpose and Timothy and Margaret Fogg will play.
ACTS OF HATE AND BIGOTRY IN WINDHAM COUNTY ARE UNACCEPTABLE! Let us be a community free of prejudice and unlawful discrimination. Everyone regardless of age, race, gender, religion, ethnicity, skin tone, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic standing marital status, physical or mental abilities deserves to live or visit here without the fear of bullying, harassment, bigotry or violence. Vermont Partnership is looking for sponsors from the faith community for a half page, color advertisement in The Brattleboro Reformer, The Observer, and The Commons newspapers to run once a week for two weeks with each sponsoring faith community contributing $250 or any other amount. Earmark your contribution in today’s offering by writing “Hate has no home here” on the memo line of your check.
HELPING HANDS GARDEN: The harvest is in full gear! 199.5 pounds have been harvested from the garden so far this season including 33 lbs of mostly mostly cabbages and rutabagas Tuesday Night that Jenny delivered to the AIDS Project. She has also begun to harvest potatoes, delivering those to the Drop-In-Center. The glorious spread she left on the table for the AA meeting here on Saturday night were gratefully "gobbled up." Take a moment to offer to help Jenny pick and deliver God's bounty to our neighbors in need. If you physically cannot help, your thanks to her and prayers would go a long way towards watering our harvest with your expression of God's grace.
SABBATH SPACE: Please join us on August 13th and monthly on each second Friday at 7pm for Sabbath Space, a new opportunity to step out of the rigors and rituals of daily life and work and into a period of spirituality and Sabbath renewal. There will be opportunities for prayer, candlelighting, contemplative coloring of mandalas, and a labyrinth walk. Please also consider donating old magazines for pictures to be cut and used in prayerful collages to the mail pocket beside Pastor Cheryl’s office door.
AN AFTERNOON OF RETREAT AND RENEWAL ON THE MANITOU LAND on Sunday, August 8th from 1-4pm (Sunset Lake Rd, 1.4 miles up from Williamsville, or approximately 5 miles from the Rt. 9 intersection at the Chelsea Royal Diner.) Co-sponsored by The Manitou Project and the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Initiative: Facilitators: Fred Taylor and Rupa Cousins. A time of visioning for anyone who wants to deepen their spiritual connection with nature. Contact r_taylor@antiochne.edu or 387-5276 for directions and information.
HELPING HANDS GARDEN: The harvest is in full gear! 199.5 pounds have been harvested from the garden so far this season including 33 lbs of mostly cabbages and rutabagas Tuesday Night that Jenny delivered to the AIDS Project. She has also begun to harvest potatoes, delivering those to the Drop-In-Center. The glorious spread she left on the table for the AA meeting here on Saturday night were gratefully "gobbled up." Take a moment to offer to help Jenny pick and deliver God's bounty to our neighbors in need. If you physically cannot help, your thanks to her and prayers would go a long way towards watering our harvest with your expression of God's grace.
GAME NIGHT: Join Pastor Cheryl and others for a night of games, pizza and fun at 6pm on August 11th. We’ll play board games, video games and have some great conversation and fellowship. Kids of any age are welcome!
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: The prophet Isaiah tells us in 55:11 that God has affirmed, “my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Do you want to explore the scripture shared on Sunday and take the next step putting what you heard and felt on Sunday morning into action with others who feel the same way? Join Pastor Cheryl and others for an hour beginning at 10:30am on Monday mornings for discussions seeded by Sunday sermons and proceeding as the Spirit leads.
SUMMER FELLOWSHIP FUN: Please join us on Friday, August 27th at 7pm for miniature golfing at Hidden Acres Campground at a cost of $3.00 a game. Please sign up on the table in the fellowship hall or see Bunny Fogg of WOW for details. If the cost is prohibitive for you but you wish to participate, please see Pastor Cheryl or leave a message at 254-4218, ext. 2 for financial assistance.
YES WE CAN: Please consider picking up extra food for the food pantry as part of your regular shopping routine. There has been a decline in giving and an increase in need due to the economy. Thirty cans of vegetables and twenty cans of soup are needed each month to feed the Brattleboro area families we serve in Christian love. The UMW encourage us to contribute full meals like tuna and noodles, stews, spaghetti and sauce and breakfast items to meet our neighbors’ needs. Cat food for pets also welcome. Together we CAN!
UNION SERVICES WITH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH: We will invite our ecumenical neighbors at the First Baptist Church to join us on Sunday, August 29th sharing songs of praise, heartfelt prayer, inspired scripture and preaching. To help welcome our guests, please sign up to bring special fellowship snacks, set up, clean up and break down tables.
MEN’S GROUP: The Men’s Group is planning a dinner/silent auction for Friday, Sept. 17 as a fundraiser, a portion of which will be for the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. The dinner will be with one seating, with auction items to be bid upon prior to, and during the meal. Your contribution of auction items is invited on the signup sheets.
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