Saturday, October 31, 2009
November Tidings Newsletter Online
The November issue of the Tidings monthly newsletter is now online at the NUMC website.
Monday, October 26, 2009
October 25, 2009 Sermon Online
The sermon from October 25, 2009 is now online at the North United Methodist Church website.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Raise Money For North United Methodist Church With No Selling
“GIVE without GIVING?”
YES YOU CAN!!!
Raise Money For
North United Methodist Church With No Selling
Thousands of non-profit organizations across the United States are joining together with retailers to raise money. They do it with "Scrip" the revolutionary fundraising method that can raise tens of thousands of dollars for our non-profit organization without the hassles of traditional fundraisers.
Founded in 1994, Great Lakes Scrip Center has helped more than 14,000 non-profit organizations raise more than $250 million dollars with Scrip.
Shopping Cart Fundraising™
With Scrip fundraising, friends and member families of the church simply do their regular weekly shopping with gift cards from America's favorite retailers. With each purchase, NUMC earns cash rebates that can quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars a year - money that can be used for whatever our organization needs.
Scrip is a powerful fundraising tool because families generate revenue through purchases they would make anyway. Groceries, clothing, toys, gifts, even gasoline can be purchased with scrip. An organization of 150 families easily spends between one and two million dollars per year on food, clothing and other essentials. If those families use scrip for their purchases, they can raise as much as $40,000 to $80,000 per year for their organization --without spending an additional penny.
Great Lakes Scrip Center offers a deep selection of scrip gift cards from America's favorite retailers. GLSC works with our partner retailers to offer hundreds of gift cards with substantial rebates.
NUMC buys the scrip gift cards from Great Lakes Scrip Center at a discount, and re-sells them to our organization members for full face value. The discount - from two to fifteen percent or more - is a rebate retained by NUMC as revenue. It’s that easy!
A few examples of retailers and the discounts they offer:
99 Restaurant 13%Take a look at the complete list of hundreds of retailers in PDF format by checking the website at www.glscrip.com.
Amazon.com 4%
Borders 9%
Auto Zone 5%
Barnes and Noble 9%
Exxon 1.5%
Cheesecake Factory 5%
Chuck E. Cheese 8%
Express 10%
Cold Stone Creamery 8%
Dunkin’ Donuts 4%
Hallmark 4%
Dell Computer 4%
Fashion Bug 8%
Sears 4%
Foot Locker 9%
Great Harvest Bread 8%
KFC 8%
Harry and David 10%
Home Depot 4%
Stop and Shop 4%
Home Goods 7%
Hyatt Hotels 9%
Lord and Taylor 8%
This program will begin October 25th and continue on each Sunday. Cards may be ordered and paid for on any given Sunday, and then picked up on that next Sunday one week after ordering.
Anita Haynes will be available today in the Memorial Room to take orders and answer questions.
We also have a need for volunteers to take turns hosting the “Scrip” table on Sunday mornings. Please speak with Anita to schedule a Sunday. Thank you!
Set Your Clocks Back
Daylight Saving Time Ends at Midnight, October 31
This is a reminder to change your clocks next Saturday night so you will not be late for church on Sunday morning!
This is a reminder to change your clocks next Saturday night so you will not be late for church on Sunday morning!
All Saint's Day
On October 30, the eve of All Saints Day, in 1517, Martin Luther, a young professor of theology in Wittenberg, tacked to the local church door an open invitation to debate the issue of Christian penance and forgiveness. He posted 95 "theses" for consideration. It was the first act in what was to become the Protestant Reformation—a protest against various religious assumptions of that day and an attempt to reform certain teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Churches.
As United Methodists we are heirs of a renewal movement influenced by Luther's initiative and shaped by John Wesley and others looking toward reform in the late 18th century Church of England.
The annual Reformation Sunday, the last Sunday of October, is a time to remember, to praise the courage of men and women who have dared to raise their voices and exert the energy of their faith to gain clearer understandings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Reformation Sunday is also a time to confess the fractures within the church as the Body of Christ in the world. It is a time to thank God for the ecumenical spirit that in recent decades has brought many Protestant denominations closer together and also begun to bridge divides between Protestant and Roman Catholic.
All Saint's Sunday is next Sunday, November 1. We will acknowledge members of NUMC who have passed away in the past year with the sounding of the bell.
We will also provide an opportunity to acknowledge friends and loved ones who are no longer with us by inviting members to place a flower (in remembrance of those loved ones) on the altar in a communal vase.
Please note the name(s) you would like to recognize and honor on the back of your attendance slip.
If you choose to submit a name(s), please bring flowers with you on Sunday, Nov. 1 to add to the vase during worship.
As United Methodists we are heirs of a renewal movement influenced by Luther's initiative and shaped by John Wesley and others looking toward reform in the late 18th century Church of England.
The annual Reformation Sunday, the last Sunday of October, is a time to remember, to praise the courage of men and women who have dared to raise their voices and exert the energy of their faith to gain clearer understandings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Reformation Sunday is also a time to confess the fractures within the church as the Body of Christ in the world. It is a time to thank God for the ecumenical spirit that in recent decades has brought many Protestant denominations closer together and also begun to bridge divides between Protestant and Roman Catholic.
All Saint's Sunday is next Sunday, November 1. We will acknowledge members of NUMC who have passed away in the past year with the sounding of the bell.
We will also provide an opportunity to acknowledge friends and loved ones who are no longer with us by inviting members to place a flower (in remembrance of those loved ones) on the altar in a communal vase.
Please note the name(s) you would like to recognize and honor on the back of your attendance slip.
If you choose to submit a name(s), please bring flowers with you on Sunday, Nov. 1 to add to the vase during worship.
*REMINDER, Please wear name tags every Sunday
Pastor Laurel is still learning names, and we would also like to be ready for and inviting to visitors. Thank you so much!
Anyone in need of a name tag, please note it on the back of your attendance slip on Sunday morning and one will be made for you.
Anyone in need of a name tag, please note it on the back of your attendance slip on Sunday morning and one will be made for you.
MYF Fellowship in October
October 25th Bring a Friend Bowling Night
MACC Christmas House Tour and Holiday Shopping Boutique Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Manchester Area Conference of Churches Cordially Invite You to a Benefit Christmas House Tour and Holiday Shopping Boutique Saturday, December 5, 2009. Click the image to the left to see the flyer.Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of their Historic home at 123 Boulder Road in Manchester, the Rainville family welcomes guests to tour their historic home decorated from top to bottom. There will be dedicated areas in the house set up for guests to purchase delightful holiday gifts.
Limited tickets available, early reservations recommended. Tickets are available at Inspirations, 65 East Center Street located to the right of Cavey's and Rocco's. Store hours Tuesday through Saturday 10-4. Tickets also available by phone. Call 860-643-9884.
Donation $25.00.
Each donor will receive a $10.00 coupon for Inspirations in 2010. There will be no tickets available at the door. Kindly make checks payable to MACC Food Pantry. Easy parking for the tour. A shuttle service will bring you right to Rainville's front door!
Leadership Workshop Saturday, December 5th from 8:30am to 2:00pm
This workshop will include breakfast and lunch. Pastor Laurel would like to have as close to 100% attendance as possible. The purpose of the workshop is to plan programs and the budget for 2010 and there will be reports of the workshops attended at the Leadership Institute in Leawood, Kansas by Pastor Laurel, Jim Glass, and Irene Fitzgerald..
All church leaders have been contacted by email and are requested to put this date on their calendars and make their best effort to be present for this important session. If you have not already done so—Please R.S.V.P. as soon as possible. There is also a sign-up in the Memorial Room.
*Please note – While all leaders and administrators of the church are requested to attend, this session is open to ALL members and friends of NUMC. Please prayerfully consider joining us as we plan for 2010.
All church leaders have been contacted by email and are requested to put this date on their calendars and make their best effort to be present for this important session. If you have not already done so—Please R.S.V.P. as soon as possible. There is also a sign-up in the Memorial Room.
*Please note – While all leaders and administrators of the church are requested to attend, this session is open to ALL members and friends of NUMC. Please prayerfully consider joining us as we plan for 2010.
Help Rocco's Support MACC Thursday, November 26, 2009
Join Team Rocco's and help those less fortunate this Thanksgiving! Donate $10 or more to become a 2009 Team Rocco's member & get a free t-shirt.
Help us beat our 2008 donation of $1600 to MACC! All proceeds will be donated to MACC in support of the Community Soup Kitchen, Emergency Homeless Shelter and Community Food Pantry in Manchester.
Watch the Manchester Road Race at Rocco's - Rain or shine!
Fashion for Good Annual Fashion Show Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 2-4 p.m.
Doors open at 1 p.m. Show starts at 2
TICKETS $25 : Call 860-647-0440
See Marlene Camper for tickets on Sunday mornings.
Clothes from Chico's and White House/Black Market, Somerset Square, Glastonbury and Fashion commentary from Stylist Claudette Fried
Don't miss this fun event in the beautiful and spacious Church of Christ, 595 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, CT.
Parking and wheelchair access
Knitting Ministry November 2nd at 1:00 pm
The Knitting Ministry will meet on the first Monday of each month at 1:00 pm. Our next meeting will be on November 2nd. We continue to make Prayer Shawls, Chemo Caps for local Cancer Centers, Lap Blankets for Hospice patients, and ICU Blankets for Manchester Hospital. For those unable to attend our Knitting Group, please continue to knit or crochet, at home. We appreciate all that you can contribute to our Ministry. If you would like to donate yarn, or funds to purchase yarn, for our projects, please let Irene know. If you need answers to any questions, please contact Lucy Falk.
Annual Charge Conference Tuesday October 27th at 7:00 pm
Annual Charge Conference Tuesday October 27th at 7:00 pm
Wesleyan Study Group October 20th at 7:00 pm
Next Book Discussion: What Jesus Meant- The Beatitudes and a Meaningful Life . The cost of the book is $6.40. We will have our first discussion on the book at our Oct. 20th meeting at 7:00 pm. Contact Carolyn Gimbrone (643-9310) with any questions.
Image Permission
NUMC is working to further extend our outreach and evangelism to the community. As such, a beautiful brochure has been created and the website is continually being updated with pictures of church events. Please contact the church office to let us know A.S.A.P. ,if you DO NOT want your image published by the church.
Seasonal Sharing
Seasonal Sharing sign-ups are in the Memorial Room.
We need turkeys for Thanksgiving, turkeys and hams for Christmas.
We will start collecting canned goods for both holidays in early November.
Christmas gift lists will be ready in early November.
We need turkeys for Thanksgiving, turkeys and hams for Christmas.
We will start collecting canned goods for both holidays in early November.
Christmas gift lists will be ready in early November.
Property Committee Requests
We would like to remind everyone that several years ago the Trustees established a sub-committee - "Property Committee". This committee is solely responsible for organizing and addressing all repairs and maintenance of our buildings. As a result, the policy for any repairs, modifications, or maintenance in and around the building is as follows:
If you notice a need within the church building or on the grounds, it is to be brought to the attention of the Property Committee by filling out a Request Form. These request forms are found in the narthex information center by the mailboxes. Once you have completed a form you may place it into the 'Property Committee' mailbox. The committee will then asses the need and decide on an appropriate course of action to meet the need. We respectfully ask that all members and friends of North Church use this policy and forms for all requests and trustee approval.Any questions regarding this policy may be directed to:
Co-Presidents of Trustees, Jan Miller and Jim Williamson.
Assisted Listening
Please note that the church now has several listening aid devices for use during worship. Please see one of the ushers for assistance.Be sure to check it out.
Come visit!!
Sermons on Website and CD
Listen to a Sermon
Sermons are available for your listening pleasure on the church website or by borrowing a CD from church. Please Call the church office with any questions at 860-649-3696.
Sermons are available for your listening pleasure on the church website or by borrowing a CD from church. Please Call the church office with any questions at 860-649-3696.
Tidings, The NUMC Monthly Newsletter
Did you know that all the information included in Tidings each month - and more! - is posted on the North Church website every month? Tidings appears in an identical format to what has been mailed out in the past with all the lovely decorative touches. Just click where it says "Tidings" under "News and events" in the menu on the left edge of the screen and you will be presented with a list of the months of Tidings that are available. Just click the one you are looking for and enjoy!
Altar Flowers
Altar Flowers are a wonderful way to acknowledge the Memory of a Loved One or Celebrate a special person or occasion. Forms are available in the Memorial Room to make such requests. If you have any questions, please speak with Doris Timbrell, our Flower Steward (649-6494).
Meditation Group
Tuesdays from 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Join in practicing engaged Buddhist meditation. All are welcome regardless of your backgrounds or affiliation
Additional information is available in the Memorial Room
Questions may be directed to Tom Duva, 729-2342.
Join in practicing engaged Buddhist meditation. All are welcome regardless of your backgrounds or affiliation
Additional information is available in the Memorial Room
Questions may be directed to Tom Duva, 729-2342.
Newsletter Deadline
This is a reminder that all articles and notices for the November Issue of Tidings should be submitted to the church office by October 15th.
Thank you, thank you
Thank you to all for your appreciation of our work with the Youth. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with them. A special thank you to the Arendt family for hosting a fantastic gathering at their home and ordering up a beautiful day!
Tim and Charlene
MACC Food Pantry
North Church welcomes food donations which may be placed in the grocery cart in the church Narthex. These on-going donations are delivered to the Food Pantry weekly. The pantry is always in need of the following: soup, peanut butter, jelly, tuna, mayonnaise, pasta sauce, mac & cheese, canned fruit, cereal.
Thank you for your continued support!
Thank you for your continued support!
Tell me the Story...Prayer is the life line…
I love books in fact I love information — however it comes to me. Until now, it has mostly been in the form of books. I attend many conferences and in the large group atmosphere of a convention/conference I enjoy the ritualistic visit to vendors who ply the tools of the trade — which often includes books. In my case, it is the trade of Faith.
At last year's United Methodist General Conference I collected my usual share of books, and since I never have the time to read all the books I collect, they usually sit on a shelf in my library until the occasion comes for them to be used. Recently as I looked around for other books to use for an impending meeting, the title of a book sitting in an unpacked box caught my attention: TOO BUSY NOT TO PRAY.
I had been thinking of the rigorous and tight schedule I had been following of late. Still trying to settle into a reasonable routine in this new place, I sometimes pray on the run. "Lord you know how busy I am, so in the midst of all the things I am responsible for, I am asking that you put some order into my life and forgive me for not stopping to pray."
That title brought me back to reality. TOO BUSY NOT TO PRAY. None of us should be too busy to pray, for prayer is our lifeline. In fact, what author Bill Hybels (who incidentally pastors one of the nation's largest churches, located in Illinois) was saying in that book is that the busier we are the more we need to pray — especially those of us who are leaders in the Christian faith.
Hybels himself admits that there were times in his life when he thought he was too busy to pray; times when his prayers seem hollow; times when he did not know what to say to God.
But through realizing that he could not face the challenges confronting him alone, that he could accomplish far more if he connected with the divine power that created and sustains us, he began again to have a disciplined prayer time with amazing results.
Sometimes the lure of the world gets to us — even pastors. We sometimes feel an obligation to be all things to all people, forgetting that our business is God's business and that Godpower is ultimate, far more than we could ever possess by ourselves.
When we take time to be alone with God, to just sit and listen to God, we find that we come away from that time with clearer minds, with guidance for everything and anything we might face.
God loves each of us and delights to hear from us, Hybels says. And Jesus reminded us that if we seek first God's kingdom, all necessary things would be added to our lives. So no matter how busy we might be, we should always find time to pray, and somehow the ten minutes we set aside for God each day expands to a delightful twenty, then thirty and soon we find that we don't want the day to go by unless we have first checked in with heaven.
At last year's United Methodist General Conference I collected my usual share of books, and since I never have the time to read all the books I collect, they usually sit on a shelf in my library until the occasion comes for them to be used. Recently as I looked around for other books to use for an impending meeting, the title of a book sitting in an unpacked box caught my attention: TOO BUSY NOT TO PRAY.
I had been thinking of the rigorous and tight schedule I had been following of late. Still trying to settle into a reasonable routine in this new place, I sometimes pray on the run. "Lord you know how busy I am, so in the midst of all the things I am responsible for, I am asking that you put some order into my life and forgive me for not stopping to pray."
That title brought me back to reality. TOO BUSY NOT TO PRAY. None of us should be too busy to pray, for prayer is our lifeline. In fact, what author Bill Hybels (who incidentally pastors one of the nation's largest churches, located in Illinois) was saying in that book is that the busier we are the more we need to pray — especially those of us who are leaders in the Christian faith.
Hybels himself admits that there were times in his life when he thought he was too busy to pray; times when his prayers seem hollow; times when he did not know what to say to God.
But through realizing that he could not face the challenges confronting him alone, that he could accomplish far more if he connected with the divine power that created and sustains us, he began again to have a disciplined prayer time with amazing results.
Sometimes the lure of the world gets to us — even pastors. We sometimes feel an obligation to be all things to all people, forgetting that our business is God's business and that Godpower is ultimate, far more than we could ever possess by ourselves.
When we take time to be alone with God, to just sit and listen to God, we find that we come away from that time with clearer minds, with guidance for everything and anything we might face.
God loves each of us and delights to hear from us, Hybels says. And Jesus reminded us that if we seek first God's kingdom, all necessary things would be added to our lives. So no matter how busy we might be, we should always find time to pray, and somehow the ten minutes we set aside for God each day expands to a delightful twenty, then thirty and soon we find that we don't want the day to go by unless we have first checked in with heaven.
Letter From The Pastor's Desk
Dear North UMC,
Thank God for diversity and thank God for convenience. When my hours are long at the office and I don't feel like preparing a meal at home, take out restaurants are indeed a blessing.
The custom at Chinese restaurants is to receive a fortune cookie with each meal — even take out. I recall that not so long ago, the pieces of paper found in these fortune cookies contained Chinese proverbs or sayings. Lately, though, they have had a distinctively Western ring to them. Often I don't read them, but a few weeks ago as I enjoyed a Chinese meal at the office late one afternoon I decided to read the fortune cookie I had received. One side read: "Learn Chinese" with the Chinese word for Orange, and the pronunciation (chéng). On the other side was the "proverb": "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit." How true I thought, we have to practice excellence. Excellence doesn't just happen. There is nothing casual or lukewarm about excellence. We have to be intentional about excellence.
Excellence requires that we get out of bed half an hour earlier, (not a pleasant thought at this time of the year) that we practice with an eye towards accomplishment, improvement and growth. We can only say "It'll be alright" when we have prepared ourselves, when we have put in hours of practice and preparation. This is true for the Olympic athlete, the artist, the actor, the singer, the instrumentalist, the writer, the preacher. It is also true for every member of Christ's church. In order to move towards the perfection that is our goal, to be like Christ we must practice being like Christ, every day in every way, not just when others are watching. Excellence must become for us a habit doing all things well. This is especially true when we are gathered as a community that is representative of the body of Christ. All worship leader — liturgists, ushers/greeters, Sunday School teachers, choir and congregation. Let's make excellence our habit.
Blessings,
Pastor Laurel
Pastor Laurel
Rethink Church
When you hear the word “church” what do you think of? A building? A sanctuary? A quiet place? A tall steeple?
How about people? Do you think of people when you think of church?
The new United Methodist Church campaign invites us to rethink church. Church visionaries have been engaged in the process of re-envisioning church, and are encouraging the rest of us to do the same.
In being the church we become the Word of God, a word of love, a word of hope, a word of abundance a word of grace for a world that too often senses hatred, despair, cruelty and lack.
In being the church we invite all of God’s people to join us. In being the church we truly have open hearts, minds and doors (I know, lots of you liked that one!)
Rethink church is a challenge for not only are we asking those outside the church to rethink how they think of us, we challenge ourselves to re-think how we “be” church and then do church in a new way. Not just because it is trendy to reinvent oneself, but because, quite frankly, as we look at God’s blueprints and honestly examine our lives, we have much to improve. SO let’s together rethink church and redo church for the sake of the gospel.
For more information see the links to the Rethink Church campaign and to the 10thousanddoors.org website that is an aspect of the campaign as found on a new page on our website, Links To United Methodist Resources.
How about people? Do you think of people when you think of church?
The new United Methodist Church campaign invites us to rethink church. Church visionaries have been engaged in the process of re-envisioning church, and are encouraging the rest of us to do the same.
“The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people”says the first verse of UMH # 558.
"I am the church, you are the church we are the church together."And so we are all encouraged to be church, not just go to church. We are encouraged to “Stand on the promises" (of God) rather than just “sit on the premises” (a book title).
In being the church we become the Word of God, a word of love, a word of hope, a word of abundance a word of grace for a world that too often senses hatred, despair, cruelty and lack.
In being the church we invite all of God’s people to join us. In being the church we truly have open hearts, minds and doors (I know, lots of you liked that one!)
Rethink church is a challenge for not only are we asking those outside the church to rethink how they think of us, we challenge ourselves to re-think how we “be” church and then do church in a new way. Not just because it is trendy to reinvent oneself, but because, quite frankly, as we look at God’s blueprints and honestly examine our lives, we have much to improve. SO let’s together rethink church and redo church for the sake of the gospel.
For more information see the links to the Rethink Church campaign and to the 10thousanddoors.org website that is an aspect of the campaign as found on a new page on our website, Links To United Methodist Resources.
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