Here it is--Volume 7, Issue 3 of our e-mail Newsletter!

FEATURED IN THIS NEWSLETTER

PASTORAL PONDERINGS--"Returning to LOVE for Lent"

Monthly Update on our Church's Pastoral Transition

Worship & Music Ministry News

• Our Sunday Faith Community Celebrations in March
• Spiritual Formation News for our Children, Youth, & Families
• Music and Ministry Notes
• Tenderly Held in our Hearts and Prayers
•  Into God’s Hands
• New Members Welcomed!

Welcoming and Caring Ministry

• Easter Breakfast March 31st 6:45 AM, following out Sunrise Service
• Invitation to Join our Church Caregiving Ministry Team

MARCH CALENDAR of EVENTS in the Life of our Spiritual Family

Holy Week

• Palm Sunday--One Great Hour of Sharing
• Maundy Thursday Agape Feast in the Parish House
• Good Friday Prayer & Meditation in the Bryant Parlor
• Easter Sunrise and Gala Celebration Services

Spiritual Formation for Adults

• "Wake Up Grateful" Book Study
• "Reel Soul" Women's Herstory Month Film--"Shirley"
• Virtual Mid-week Lenten Prayer & in-person Friday Morning Meditation

Administration & Finance News

• Report of Projects done in 2023
• Report of the Assistant Treasurers
• Stewardship Progress thus far
• COVID-19 Task Force Update

March Birthdays & Anniversaries

Growing a Just World for All

Economic Justice

* Raise the Minimum Wage Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney, Worker Justice Minister

* Support for the PRO Act

Immigrant Justice

* Monthly Vigils at the ICE Building

* Maranatha Indonesian UCC Twentieth Anniversary Celebration

Climate Justice

*UCC Programs, Resources, and Events

Antiracism Ministry

*Calling for CeaseFire NOW!

*Continuing Black Lives Matter Vigils on Wednesdays @ 4:00 PM

*Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson Antiracism speaker on April 7th

Legislator Contact Information

Revs. John & Susan Gregory-Davis,

Co-Pastors

Meriden Congregational Church

603-469-3235

john@meridenucc.org

susan@meridenucc.org

secretary@meridenucc.org 

www.meridenucc.org

“The Season of LENT invites us to remember that

we were created out of divine LOVE,

 which mends the pieces of our heart back together

whenever we return to it, always, always.

Repentance is simply about returning again to the heart of LOVE”

-         Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber (adapted)

With the Season of Lent well underway, this seems like a good time to ponder what Lent is all about. Among many Christians, Lent is experienced as a time for penitence and  self-denial, ostensibly as a way of preparing more fully for the Joy of Easter to come. Indeed, perhaps the most common Lenten question is something along the lines of “what are you giving up for Lent?” And many of us who grew up Christian may remember relinquishing some guilty pleasure as our Lenten discipline. To be sure, “fasting” from or letting go of behaviors that are not good for ourselves or others, or prevent us from being our truest selves, can be deeply meaningful and transformative, though probably more so if when Easter arrives, we find ourselves no longer needing or bound by whatever we “gave up.”

Yet, throughout our years here in Meriden, we have often shared the Native American wisdom about the two wolves within us, as pictured below. by way of urging us to be intentional not only about “fasting,” but also about feasting, affirming that our spiritual growth depends not only upon what we do not feed upon, but even more upon what we choose to  feast upon, to nurture more intentionally  within our souls. For truly we are what we eat, both physically and spiritually. Thus it is that we share once again a kind of Lenten litany that we find helpful in guiding our Lenten journey each year. None of the following suggestions  are meant to be  prescriptive, but rather descriptively suggestive of where the Spirit may be calling each of us to re-lent from whatever drags us down, limits our vision, closes our hearts, binds us with fear and anxiety, and/or hinders our love for ourselves and others, so that we may re-turn to the divinity within which endlessly seeks to lift us up, widen our vision, expand our hearts, liberate us with compassion and trust, and/or nurture our transformative love for ourselves, each other, and indeed all creation. 

To the extent that the operative word for Lent is often “repentance,” Lent can feel oppressive and dis-couraging so long as we think of repentance as ”feeling bad about being bad,” to use the evocative words of Lutheran Pastor, Nadia Bolz-Weber, also quoted above.  But in the spirit of our theme this year of “re-Imagining Love,” what if we recover the original meaning of the word repentance as being about changing direction, choosing to move more toward rather than away from the Love in and for which we were created? Perhaps we can learn from our Jewish and Muslim siblings, for whom their celebrations of Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur, and Ramadan, are joyous opportunities to renew, reset, and recommit to living and loving in the way of Allah and Yahweh.

 None of this is to deny that there is always room for improvement in our lives, but rather to embrace the Season of Lent, not so much as a time to lament what is wrong with us, sometimes called our “original sin,” from which we need to be saved by the sacrifice of Jesus,  but rather as a joyous time to celebrate and deepen the belovedness of our  original blessing as demonstrated through the life and ministry of Jesus, a love so great that even death could not overcome it.   Thus, as we continue our Lenten journey through this fertile time of exploring where and how it is that we are being drawn ever more fully into the heart of God so that we may embrace even more joyously Easter’s resurrection vision of a whole new world, may we dare to imagine that which longs to be, both within ourselves and throughout our world, in ways that thereby empower and inspire our faithful participation as co-creative partners in the evolutionary impulse that bends the arc of the universe toward the justice and love of the world God intends for us, and for all creation. 

Wishing us all a Lenten Journey of fasting, and feasting,

In whatever ways most nurture our shared ministry of

“Transforming Lives as a Compassionate Community”

Your devoted Co-Pastors,

Susan & John

For Lent this year, what will you fast from…….

So that you can feast on……..

Fast from negativity; Feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from criticism; Feast on appreciation.

Fast from despair; Feast on joy.

Fast from self concern; Feast on compassion for others.

Fast from resentment; Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from fear; Feast on love.

Fast from self-doubt; Feast on trust.

Fast from discouragement; Feast on hope.

Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude.

Fast from selfishness; Feast on service.

Fast from helplessness; Feast on empowerment.

Fast from apathy; Feast on activism.

Fast from sameness; Feast on diversity.

Fast from apathy; Feast on wonder.

Fast from hostility; Feast on non-violence.

Fast from perfectionism; Feast on belovedness. 

“Transforming Lives as a Compassionate Community:

ReImagining Love”

OUR SUNDAY FAITH COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS IN MARCH

(In-Person and on Zoom,

in the Sanctuary,

with masks optional)

MARCH 3rd @ 10:00 AM

Third Sunday in LENT

Communion Celebration

Join us as we begin this Women's H(er)Story Month to celebrate the Sacred Feminine within and among us all with our Celebration of Communion on this Third Sunday in the Season of Lent!

MARCH 10th @ 10:00 AM

Fourth Sunday in LENT

Spring Forward an Hour!!

Come gather with us for our celebration of International Women's Day with special attention to the ways in which women continue to bless and enhance the life we all share together!

MARCH 17th @ 10:00 AM

Fifth Sunday in LENT

Celtic Spirituality Celebration 

What better way to celebrate this beginning of Spring than with a Celtic Prayer Service in the Spirit of St. Patrick?

MARCH 24th @ 10:00 AM

Palm Sunday

Come celebrate with us as we begin our journey through this Holy Week, remembering both the excitement and hope of the people as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the foreboding of trials and troubles to come on the way to Easter's resurrection JOY. In addition to our regular offering, we shall also be invited to give generously in support of One Great Hour of Sharing.

March 31st @ 6:00 & 10:00 AM

EASTER SUNDAY JOY!!

Our Celebration of Resurrection JOY begins at 6:00 AM with our much beloved outdoor Sunrise Service, followed by Easter Breakfast in the Parish House. Then, we will gather, whether in person or on zoom, for our intergenerational sharing of the Easter Story of God's never-ending Love for every one of us, featuring a live Easter Choir directed by "Doc" Winslow, sharing Easter Communion both together, and separately, and concluding with singing Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus," whether in church or in our homes, in soaring exultation of Easter JOY!  Please do plan to join us, and invite your friends, family, and neighbors too!

Whoever you are,

Whomever you love,

Wherever you are on

life's journey,

YOU are WELCOME to

share in all our

Spiritual Family Services, Celebrations,

and Activities!

SPIRITUAL FORMATION NEWS FOR OUR CHILDREN,

YOUTH AND FAMILIES!

Peaceful greetings and Happy March (almost spring!) to all our children, youth and families!!! During this month of March, we are also in the season of Lent--the forty days prior to Easter Sunday that call to mind the forty days Jesus spent in the desert prior to beginning his ministry. During this time, Jesus prayed and reflected on how he could most faithfully live in God's Way of Love. The forty days of Lent is an invitation for us, too, to think about and put into action deeper ways of loving, beginning in our families! What ways would you like to practice loving and caring for family members and friends in these weeks before Easter Sunday (March 31st)? Whenever we love in any way, we are walking in God's Way of Love!

This month, our church family is focusing on offering the Our Whole Lives (OWL) Lifespan Sexuality Education Program to many children in our church and wider community. Our Kindergartners and First Graders are enjoying OWL with their co-facilitators: Susan Sanzone Fauver, Kelsey MacNamee, & Glen Greenough! Our Fourth through Sixth Graders are joined by co-facilitators: Andrea Keen, Kevin Ramos-Glew, Greg Castell, and Karen Heaton; and our Seventh through Ninth Graders are doing their OWL Program with co-facilitators: Maura Hart, Tori Constantine, Jeff McGlone, and Steve Jameson. All together 14 children from 12 families are participating in this exceptional program which will run through the end of April/early May. Thank you to all our co-facilitators for your excellent work and incredible commitment to guiding our children and youth in developing healthy, well-informed, compas-sionate, and respect-based attitudes and understanding of their developing sexuality and life values. Please contact Kelsey MacNamee or Susan Gregory-Davis if you are interested in learning more about the OWL Program and/or joining us on the OWL Ministry Team.

Also on the March schedule is our Monthly Pizza Pot-luck Supper for all our Young Parents/Families (with children and youth of any age!). Our next gathering will be on Friday, March 15! Join us for this gathering offering oodles of support for young parents! We begin with our family pizza time with your child/ren from 6-6:30pm, followed by a facilitated parent discussion from 6:30-7:30pm (free childcare offered during this time). Come with your joys, your struggles, your hopes, and your beloved children, as we celebrate the amazing work of parenting and share support for all its challenges! Please RSVP if you are able to join us! Invite friends! We look forward to welcoming you!

Faith Odyssey for our Seventh through Ninth graders: Susan and John are so looking forward to the next meeting for our students and mentors on Sunday, March 24th from 12:30-2pm. Pizza provided!

And if you have a high school student in your family who is interested in gathering for our Senior Seekers time for support and fun, please let Susan or Kelsey know! We would love to be of support to your high schooler and friends during this important and challenging time in their lives!

So much to celebrate!! Especially you and your family!!! We look forward to sharing any and all of these spirit-filled activities with you and your children and youth this month!

WELCOMING and CARING MINISTRY

Thanks for the many people who helped to make the Pancake Supper a reality again this Year. There were 35 people who came out for the Mardi Gras festivities including some beautiful jazz piano music offered by Dalton Winslow!! Susan Sanzone Fauver and Scrib Fauver cooked the pancakes!! Helping were, Kathy Wright, Lee and Evan Oxenham, Bill Chappelle and Kevin Moor on that evening and Cindy Griffin for shopping for the event. Lee and Evan also helped with set-up.

Thanks to Christine Heins, Kathy Wright, Marianne and Hugh McGraw, Penny Arcone, Steve and Karen Jameson and Ed and Laura Cousineau for providing food and clean up at Coffee Hour in February.

OUR NEXT GALA EVENT IS EASTER BREAKFAST at 6:45am on March 31st. The breakfast occurs right after the Sunrise Service which is the best service of the whole year if you ask me--listening to the birds sing and breaking bread on the hilltop is the peak experience. Of course others would point to the Easter Service in the church as the best with its music and Hallelujah Chorus--Come to both!!

There will be a Memorial Service and Reception in honor of Stuart Wilkie at 10:00am on March 9th. If there is anyone who could help me staff the reception, I would be grateful.

I will be calling people to ask for help with Coffee Hour and Ushering. Please say yes to help the Beloved Community! Ryan McGraw and Beau McGraw, Cathy Rodriguez, Peter Nolette and Ed Cousineau helped with ushering in February. MANY THANKS!!

If you would like to help with any of this please contact Kathy Wright at (603) 469-3235 or at home at (603) 675-5989.

HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US THIS MARCH!

Kathy Wright, Co-Coordinator of the Welcoming and Caring Ministry

Do you find a deep sense of 

joy and gratification

in reaching out and helping others? 

If so, Please join our

Church Caregivers Team!

Even if you have only a few minutes a month to write a short "thinking of you" or "get well" card, your loving care will be so appreciated by members of our church community. If you would rather make occasional phone calls or in-person home visits, there is a place for you on the Caregivers Team, too!!! Everyone is welcome to offer gifts of care with no effort ever too small! Our Team meets quarterly with the loving guidance of our Chair, Kathy Wright. If you are interested in joining or talking further, please contact Kathy at secretary@meridenucc.org or Susan (susan@meridenucc.org). We warmly welcome you to join in the very meaningful ministry of this small group with a BIG HEART! 

Our Church’s Upcoming Pastoral Transition:

A Loving Update for Members and Friends of the

Meriden Congregational Church

Dear Friends,

Each month between now and June our church newsletter will feature an update with current information on how our church is preparing for our pastoral transition prompted by the upcoming retirement of Susan & John. Written each month by our Co-Pastors or members of our church’s Leadership Ministry Team, you will be kept up to date on all relevant developments, as it is of utmost importance that the whole of our church family is vitally part of this time of transition. We are on this spiritual journey together and are here to support one another with faith, hope, and love! 

Please know that your questions and concerns are not only warmly welcomed but also needed, as each person’s input will help us more faithfully sojourn through these upcoming months. Thank you for being a loving and invaluable part of this special time in the life of our church family.  And please let us know how we can support you and your family as we grieve, celebrate, and give thanks for all we have experienced together these past twenty-eight years, all the while rejoicing that our steadfast and still-speaking God is lovingly companioning us every step of the way! 

With love from our Co-Pastors, Susan and John, and our Church Leadership Ministry Team—Bill Chappelle (Chair), Jill Marshall (Vice-Chair), Cindy Griffin, Melanie Henry, Gail Kinney, Kelsey MacNamee, Larissa Pyer, Cathy Rodriguez, Peter Nolette, Elaine Lenz, Lee Oxenham, Kathy Wright, Shawn Rogers, Ryan McGraw, and Shideko Terai.

Leadership Transition Update--March 2024



I teach special education now, but I began my teaching career as an

English teacher. As such, I do have some pet peeves about certain words,

and one of them is the word “unique.” People say that something is “very

unique” or “kind of unique,” and they really shouldn’t. Unique is one of a

kind– if something is unique, it is as unique as it can get. Our church is

unique. With Susan and John as our leaders for the past twenty-nine years,

It has developed its own spiritual genetic code, its “DNA.” (I also have a

pet peeve about acronyms, so today’s fun fact from high school biology is

that DNA stands for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid.)

Our leadership team met in January and February to make some important

decisions. Our main task now is to complete the “Request for Pastoral

Leadership for our Time of Transition. We have to fill out this form

very carefully so that the New Hampshire conference of the UCC will know

just what kind of church we are and what we are looking for in an interim

pastor. At our February meeting we had a lively discussion about the

components of our church’s “DNA,” as well as the components of a

potential interim pastor’s DNA.

What did we think were the components of our DNA? What characteristics

define our church? We came up with many spot-on characteristics, but, to

summarize, the team agreed that we are a compassionate community that

not only normalizes, but celebrates, diversity. We are progressive

“edge-walkers” who put our faith into action through outreach– embracing

love and social justice. We are welcoming, inclusive, open and affirming.

We love our families, our children, and our music!

Keeping all of this in mind, we asked ourselves what should be the

components of a potential interim pastor’s DNA? What skills, knowledge,

and aptitudes are we looking for in that person? The team agreed that this

person must possess curiosity and empathy; they must be a good teacher

and communicator, someone who puts people at ease with their

personality. We also felt that our interim pastor should have knowledge and

appreciation for other religions. We are so used to Susan and John’s

meeting folks wherever they are on their spiritual journey that we take it for

granted, and we felt it was important that our interim pastor maintains that

perspective.

We are looking forward to another rich discussion during our March

meeting to finalize the wording of our request. It’s important, though, that

we reach a consensus and complete this form, so that Sara Marean and

the good folks at the New Hampshire state conference of the UCC can take

the information on this form, post it, and start sending us potential

candidates!

I hope that everyone had a chance to check out Jill Marshall’s “Save the

Date” email, which is full of useful info. Let’s all mark June 1 and 2 on our

calendars to honor Susan and John and celebrate the amazing gift of their

ministry. It will be one unique weekend, that’s for sure!

Bill Chappelle, Leadership Chair

Report on the Transition of Pastoral Leadership

Music and Ministry March 2024

Our last Sunday of February marked the completion of Black

History /Black Futures Month. A highlight of last Sundays service

was receiving Ryan McGraw and Glenn Robinson into official

membership within our church family.

A memorial service for Stuart Wilkie is to take place in the church

on Saturday, March 9 at 10:00 AM

Mid-week prayer and Koinonia continue on Wednesdays at 7:00

AM via Zoom, and Lenten Prayers takes place on Fridays at 7:00 in

the Bryant Parlor.

This Sunday, being the first Sunday of the month, will be

communion Sunday, as is our custom.

The season of Lent is well underway and it barely seems possible

that Easter will be here before long. Our Maundy Thursday service will be an Agape Meal beginning at 6:00 PM in our Parish House this year, followed by Good Friday prayers the next morning at 7:00 AM in the Bryant Parlor.

Easter Sunday will feature the 6:00 AM Sunrise Easter Service

followed by Easter Breakfast as we have done in past years. The

10:00 AM in-church Easter service will take place and Zoom will be

available to those who wish to use it. Choir rehearsal for this

service will begin at 8:30 AM that morning.

Please stay tuned for the weekly electronic communications

regarding more specifics regarding the Lenten services leading up

to Easter.



Planning for John and Susan’s Gala Weekend continues.

Peter Nolette

Tenderly Held  in our Hearts and Prayers

 During this Women’s HerStory Month, we give thanks for all the women through whom God has so wondrously enriched our lives, even as we grieve the ways in which women throughout our world continue to be oppressed by physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and distorted societal expectations.  



And as we journey together throughout the Season of Lent, we give joyous thanks for the caring and sharing which make this community of faith such a welcome home us all. We celebrate with those bearing new life, and we pray with those yet trying to conceive or seeking to adopt, even as we also  pray for our friends in Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and Zimbabwe, and all those living in such troubled lands as Gaza, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Haiti, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, North Korea, Yemen, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Congo.   We pray for all immigrants & refugees seeking sanctuary & welcome throughout our world, that we may be among those who offer an oasis of hospitality & compassion within the kin-dom of God’s heart. And we pray too for our  BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) friends and neighbors, seeking to build with them a world wherein “Black Lives Matter!”

So too do  we pray for Gail Kinney’s husband, John Murray; Marianne McGraw’s friend, Jeff Gold; Peter Nolette’s brother, Michael; Betty Pardoe; Rev. Greg Marshall; Roger Burch’s sister-in-law’s family; Larry Wolkin; Angie Hinton’s friend, Margaret Maxham; Connie Kousman’s grand-nephew, Graham, and Connie’s sister, Joyce; Gina Marzilli-Ericson’s mother, Paula; Sue Richardson’s aunt; Amy Lappin’s mother, Sheila Spence; Co-Pastor Susan’s mom, Betty Davis; Robyn & Bob Carpenter; Karen Sutton’s husband, Robert; Laine Gillespie’s friends, Josh & Perry;  Erik Heaton; Betty Walker; Penny Arcone’s friend, Dick Slubin; Beth Kopp’s father, Jim Kane; Linda Perkins; Jody Schubert’s brother, Rick; Jim Schubert’s sister, Martha & her daughter, Wendy; Joan Burch; Suzanne Lenz; Carol Hartman’s daughter-in-law, Michelle; Judy Croitoru; Chris Dye; Linda Perkins’ friends, Dorothy, Albert, & Doug; Susan Turner’s brother, Kurt Turner, as well as Sue’s cousin, Buddy Stevenson, and Sue’s friend, Barbara Zenker.

Likewise are our prayers are with  these  members and friends of our faith community currently receiving treatment for cancer: Susan Pullen; Ryan McGraw’s co-worker’s mother, Jeannie Berube;  Donna Beaupre’s cousin, Bill; Odile Clavier’s colleague;  Christine Greenough’s friend, Karen; Penny Arcone’s son, Anthony; Amaia Leach; Anne Cragin’s sister, Beth; Angie Hinton’s friend, Mickey LeHaye;  Martha Zoerheide’s neighbor, John; Vicki Ramos-Glew’s mother, Carole Spencer; Juliette Hampton’s teacher, Melissa Thaxton; Bill & Laine’s neighbor, Barbara Gifford; Becky Luce; Shideko Terai’s  Uncle, Ted De Luca; Laura Cousineau’s Laura’s brother-in-law, Eric; Cecilia Hampton’s best friend Victoria’s mother, Bev; Sue Turner’s brother, Kurt, as well as Sue’s sister-in-law Bev, and Bev’s step-daughter, Sarah, and Sue’s cousin Jesse’s husband, Ron Letterchio; Connie Kousman; Gail Kinney’s brothers, Charles & David; Linda Perkins’ friend, Linda Stone; Ed Foltyn; Jo Evarts; Robert Bryant; Jeff McNamara; Lauryn Moeller’s daughter-in-law, Lisa Rae Moeller; and  Kevin Ramos-Glew’s nephew, Duncan.

If you or someone you know would like a name to be added to our Prayer List, please let us know.  In an effort to keep it as up-to-date as possible, please also let us know when you would like a name removed. 

. 

Into God's Hands

 Throughout these bleak mid-winter days, our hearts have been saddened with the loss of dearly beloved friends and relatives of our faith community.

Our hearts ache with Otis Irvine, and with Stuart’s family and everyone who knew, worked with, and loved Otis’ partner, Stuart Wilkie, as we grieve his sudden death in Trinidad Wednesday—February 14th, 2024. It was Stuart who introduced his mother, Cynthia, and father, Arnold, to our church years ago, and we are deeply saddened to lose him.   

So too do we extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Jeff Moore, as they grieve the end of Jeff’s valiant and gracious struggle with cancer on Saturday—February 24th, 2024.  

As each of these dearly departed ones have returned to the source of Love from which all life comes, may their families and loved ones be comforted with Love’s healing embrace in the midst of this time of mourning.

“Feminism is the struggle to end sexist oppression. Therefore, it is necessarily a struggle to eradicate the ideology of domination that permeates Western culture on various levels, as well as a commitment to reorganizing society so that the self-development of people can take precedence over imperialism, economic expansion, and material desires.” ― bell hooks, Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center

Lenten Mid-Week

Prayer & Community

By way of reflecting upon and sharing our Lenten journeys together, we are invited to gather virtually each Wednesday evening during the Season of Lent at 7:00 PM for a time of prayer and reflection, at this zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89809682070?pwd=bWJ0R01BS1VwVTIwaGh1RnVDdWtLdz09

(Passcode, if requested: 979891)

For regular phones:

call 1 929 205 6099 US (toll call to New York),

or 1 312 626 6799 (toll call Chicago)

and enter the Meeting ID 898 0968 2070, 

followed by # and then # again.

as well as in person in the Bryant Parlor each Friday morning, including Good Friday—March 29^th, at 7:00 AM for a time of prayer and meditation.

A Feast of Love—March 28^th, 2024

Please join us to break bread and share a meal together at 6:00 PM

In the Parish House

As we have for the past few years, we plan to reprise a somewhat modified version this Maundy Thursday—March 28th, beginning at 6:00 PM, of a  simple Agape (Love) Feast, gathering this year in person in our Parish House.

Since the Jewish festival of Passover begins later this year than what Christians call Maundy Thursday, we will not be sharing in a Passover/Pesach Seder. But in the Spirit of  that Passover Meal so long ago when Jesus shared his Last Supper with his dearest friends—women, men, and children,  we are invited to gather around tables in our Parish House to break bread and share a meal together, by way of re-membering the Love living through the stories of our lives within God’s heart, and  to affirm our communal identity as the Beloved Community, wherein there is a place for everyone, rejoicing that we all belong and are deeply cherished within the heart of the Love animating our universe.

Meriden Congregational Church Annual Meeting

Our 243rd Annual Meeting was held on Sunday--January 28th, 2024. A quorum of members was present both in person plus by zoom. The Reports were accepted and the budget was passed. Copies of the Annual Report and Ministry Spending Plan (Budget) are available both at the back of the church and on the Secretary's Desk. The officials elected and serving on our Leadership Ministry Team are:

Members of our Church Leadership Ministry Team:

Chair: Bill Chappelle

Vice-Chair/Clerk/ Stewardship: Jill Marshall

Worship & Music Ministry: Peter Nolette & Elaine Lenz

Welcoming and Caring Ministry: Kathy Wright & Lee Oxenham

Administration & Finance Ministry:  

Melanie Henry, Shawn Rogers, & Ryan McGraw

Outreach, Peace, & Justice Ministry: Shideko Terai

Worker Justice Minister: Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney:

Spiritual Formation Ministry: Larissa Pyer & Cathy Rodriguez

Spiritual Formation Coordinator: Kelsey MacNamee

Treasurer: Cindy Griffin

Assistant Treasurer(s):  

Kathy Wright, Evan Oxenham, & Steve Beaupre

Auditor:  Melanie Henry 

Faith Odyssey for Adults!!

“Wake Up Grateful:

The Transformative Practice of

Taking Nothing for Granted”

• Kristi Nelson

Beginning on Friday—March 8th, 2024

at 11:00 AM at the home of Selden & Jan Lord

27 Serenity Drive, Cornish, NH

And on zoom here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86446806052?pwd=SjcvUGpiSXhQRllQWnBYbFg5UXppZz09 

Having now completed our study of Indigenous Kinship, we are invited to explore together the spiritual practice and blessing of grateful living in and through all the challenges and joys of our lives.

The book we will be using is available on Amazon for $17.00, and hopefully at local libraries as well. When we gather, we hope to have already read the Introduction and first chapter, though all are welcome even if only curious to learn more. 

Report from Buildings and Grounds of MCC Administration

The following news was taken from the Annual Report of Administration and Finance

Projects Planned

After a couple years of searching, we have begun the process of trying to use an independent company or contractor for the facility and/or maintenance manager. Local contractor and part time facility manger for the Town of Plainfield, Brad Atwater has agreed to work for MCC at a small scale initially and potentially larger scale in the future. The MCC leadership group is excited to have the talent and knowledge base that Brad has to work for us. His initial projects will be addressing the safety concerns of the following:



1. Large Norway spruce and the exposed roots

2. Misplaced and unsafe granite steps to the sunken garden

3. Basement under slab plumbing drainage pipes

4. Sunken garden flooding problem annually

5. Architect code review interview process

6. On call services for John, Susan, Shawn and Summer Camp Staff

Shawn Rogers and Melanie Henry (Co-Coordinators)

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT TREASURERS

. As of February 18th, 2024 we have received $8,050 in pledge payments, We have received $1539 in Plate payments. The monthly total was $9,589. All of these were for 2024. The amounts collected in this year so far are a total of $11,517.

Thanks for your donations!!

There have been stock payments that are not listed here. Thanks for all your contributions.

Kathy Wright

Jim Lenz

Pledges are still needed and Welcomed!!

Notes from the COVID Task Force

New Year//Old Worries//New Hopes

This little note was supposed to be a brief reminder about Covid from the Church’s COVID-19 Task Force. You already know it as the usual “mask-up, wash-hands, stay-home-if-you’re-sick” message. However, as I write my mood is tempered by the darker moments of recent months as well as dim hope for brighter thoughts for the coming year. 

A number of us are carrying around the weight of senseless wars and conflict, impending climate changes, worrisome Covid and myriad personal health challenges and, perhaps, an empty loneliness even in the midst of loving, supportive family, friends and this beloved church community. (Spoiler alert—I’ll give no quick fixes below, just a point or two for your reflection.)

In December 2023 the men’s group pondered some wise sayings of the Jewish Rabbi/philosopher Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972). One particular sentence read: “...[M]orally speaking, there is no limit to the concern one must feel for the suffering of human beings, that indifference to evil is worse than evil itself, that in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.” We had some fun with this thought—yes, “fun” as in playing with Heschel’s words to extrapolate the meaning of “responsibility” for all of us. 

Our men’s group (what goes on in men’s group stays in men’s group) tapped into some of the seriousness of our world. That night I think we walked away richer for our discussion. It was a good way the begin the holidays, though I won’t (can’t) say more.

So now we’re in the post-Christmas time and this morning I opened an on-line site and read a late Advent blog: “Advent affords us the time to remember the birth of the historical Jesus and to remember his life as showing us how to live. In that memory is hope, a hope that expands its fulfillment in the yet-to-be cosmic event….” 

The blogger remarked on a silk screened poster by 1960’s graphic artist Corita Kent, who captures this pending moment well. Quoting words variously attributed either to Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel or to the personalist French philosopher Gabriel Marcel, Kent created a colorful graphic, making a characteristic personal addition to the quote,

“Hope is the memory of the future”

... have a hand in it.

Kent’s contemporary addition of “have a hand in it” seems to harken back to the Heschel notion of “responsibility” for and to the world. We have it in our very own hands to start the needed change and to set aright for the future.

Covid’s assaults, the threats of ongoing wars, enduring injustices, constant climate degradation and their companions are not going away. The usual call to “mask-up, wash-hands, stay-home-if-you’re-sick” message may work for individuals trying to avoid Covid. Yet for the rest of the above crises maybe each of us should all adopt the counter strategy “speak-up, hands-on, take-to-the-streets” as our responsible, hopeful new communal mantra for 2024.

Ed Cousineau for the MCC Covid 19 Task Force

MARCH

BIRTHDAYS

3/1       Rosa Sousa

3/1       Carole Spencer

3/1      Eloise Hampton

3/1      Scott Zenz

3/1      Darrell Beaupre’

3/1      Tabor Chichakly

3/1      Beth Houde

3/2      John McGovern, Jr.

3/2      Sam Lappin

3/2      Margaret Smallwood

3/3      Steve Sheehan

3/3      Caroline Sheehan

3/4      Jennifer Bliven

3/4      Karlyce Rogers

3/5      Valerie Stender

3/7      Amelia Good

3/8      Anne Cragin

3/8      Anna Wolke

3/11    Anthony Arcone

3/11    Sara Greenstein

3/11    Ian Oxenham

3/12    Karen Rogers

3/12    Karen Jameson

3/13    Ray Webb

3/13    MikeAnikis                   3/13    Harper Custer

3/13    Katie Chakoien

3/14    Alexander Good

3/15    Jeffrey Taylor

3/16    Ashley Brooks

3/16    Julia Salsbury

3/16    Miranda Guaraldi

 3/16   Fiona Greenough

 3/16   Grace Perotti

3/16    Jerry Diamond

 3/17   Aaron Franklin

 3/17   Stephanie Smarsik

 3/17   Karen McArthur

 3/17   Audrey Perotti

 3/18   Joan Burch

 3/19   Joachim McClellan

 3/20   Debbie Griffiths

 3/20   Vernon Braswell

 3/20   Frank Perotti

 3/22   Kathleen Raynak

 3/22   Michelle Chamley

 3/24   Jessica Giaccone

 3/24   Tucker Williams

 3/25    Indigo Kopp

 3/25   Kaitlyn Johnson

 3/25   Tom Chellis

 3/27   Kalin Gregory-Davis

 3/27   Matthew Houde

 3/27   Henry Wilbur

3/27    Theodor Heaton

 3/29   Hugh McGraw

 3/29   Liam Cook

  3/30  Susan Turner

 3/30  Nancy Franklin

 3/30   Phoebe Garfield

 3/30  Tim Goodwin

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES

3/4/72           Christine and John Brooks

Outreach News

Outreach, Peace, and Justice

Ministry Teams

News for March 2024 

"The way to heal the soul of the nation is to pass policies that heal the body of the nation. It’s the just thing to do. That’s how we as a nation can move forward together"  ~Rev. Dr. William J. Barber 

OUTREACH

Listen Community Dinners Meriden Congregational Church has offered the commitment to prepare and serve dinners the FIRST Thursdays of the odd-numbered months. The next date is March 7th. If you know of anyone, including the broader community, who would be interested, please text, phone or email Shideko Terai. 603-252-7898 The director, Larry Lowndes has discontinued the use of the volunteer hub; therefore, Shideko will send out a notice a week beforehand to seek volunteers. Many thanks to Ed Cousineau, Anne Cragin, Martha Zoerheide, and Linda Leone for volunteering in March. 

Claremont Soup Kitchen Bill Chapelle continues to lead volunteer participation at the Claremont Soup Kitchen on the fourth Saturday of every month and this slot covers the hours 2-5:30 PM. No cooking experience necessary. March 23rd is the next opportunity. “We always have a lot of fun. Your Saturday night begins with a good feeling that you have given nice people a delicious meal.” ~Bill Chapelle

JUSTICE

Economic Justice 

Please read Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney’s article below. Also, please urge passage of the PRO Act as detailed below.

Social Justice 

"There are millions of poor people in this country who have very little, or even nothing, to lose. If they can be helped to take action together, they...will be a new and unsettling force..." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Immigrant Justice

Our church is a member of the NH Immigrant Solidary Network. Organizations include GSOP, AFSC, and clergy. It is interfaith and non-partisan. Please contact John if you would like to get involved.

Our Indonesian Friends have invited us to join them for their church's 20th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday--March 17th.   

Climate Justice

Please see update from our denomination, the United Church of Christ, as noted below.

Racial Justice /Antiracism

   A few years ago our church formed a Racial Justice Ministry Team that has been guiding us in learning about the ways in which systemic racism and white supremacy undergird so much of our history and identity. Now, in keeping with the call of our denomination, the United Church of Christ, to become an antiracist church, our Racial Justice ministry team has evolved our name to become the Antiracism Ministry Team.  

    One of the ways that our Church Leadership recently chose to live more fully into our antiracism commitment is through declaring ourselves to be an "Apartheid-Free" congregation, thereby affirming our theological and moral conviction that "ALL people are equal and should be treated with dignity and respect."  We expect to share soon opportunities for education and action in fulfillment of this commitment.

With a particular focus upon the oppression of the Palestinian people, this commitment is in keeping with the national Resolution calling for a Just Peace Between Israel and Palestine which our church co-sponsored. Seeking to be in solidarity especially with the people of war-ravaged Gaza,  let us continue urging Senators Hassan and Shaheen, as well as Representative Kuster, and President Biden, to call for a CeaseFire NOW!  

    Our weekly BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigils continue on Wednesday afternoons, from 4:00 to 4:30 PM, and all are welcome to join us anytime.

The Anti-racism Ministry Team of the NH Conference is hosting a presentation by our denomination's new, and first African-American woman, Minister and General President, the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, at Brookside Congregational Church in Manchester on Sunday--April 7th @ 5:00 PM, to which we are all invited.

In solidarity and hope, 

Shideko Terai (she/her), Outreach, Peace & Justice Coordinator

text or phone 603-252-7898, email shideko.terai@gmail.com

America has a history of banning Black studies. We can learn from that past (Derecka Purnell, The Guardian) - “This history is important because it helps us realize that today’s book banning efforts belong to a broader political backlash to the current Black liberation movement that started with the murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012. The ideas and demands that Black people, and all people, deserve freedom from police violence, deserve quality housing, deserve universal healthcare, deserve a world that has different problems from what Dr. King identified as the triple evils of racism, capitalism and militarism. It is no accident that these ideas are found in the very same books that prisons ban, including mine. Prison officials, politicians and rightwing pundits target knowledge found in critical race theory because they know that theory leads to action for people who care about love, liberty and justice. They want to stop people from being inspired to fight for better lives.”

A Note from our Environmental Justice Team--

UCC Programs, Resources, and Events--A new UCC resource page looks ahead to a number of opportunities for advancing climate justice ministries in the coming year. Learn about the Vote for Climate Hope Art Contest for children and youth, the UCC Earth Summit featuring Bill McKibben, and a range of initiatives and campaigns. Read about it here: !Launching into Climate Justice in 2024 - United Church of Christ (ucc.org)

Steve Beaupre' faithfully rings our church bell

each Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 PM as a clarion call to

our Community BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigil

Thank you, Steve!!

 We are continuing our Showing Up for Racial Justice BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigils each Wednesday afternoon, now happening from 3:30 to 4:00 PM on the SouthWest corner of the intersection of Rte 120 & Main Street (at the blinking traffic light). We have “BLACK LIVES MATTER” signs available for folk to hold, but please feel free to make and/or bring your own signs.

  Come join us in “showing up for racial justice,” and Standing for  LOVE, and AGAINST racism, white supremacy, hatred, and violence, here in our community and beyond!  Together, let us publicly declare that we will NOT be complicit in white terror, and let us call our friends and neighbors to rise up with us in our resolute affirmation of the inherent and sacred value of us all within Beloved Community. 

STATE

Rep. Margaret Drye

1136 Rt. 12A

Plainfield, NH 03781

Phone: 603-675-9159

Email: margaret.dry@leg.state.nh.us

Rep. Bill Palmer

603-675-2117

Email wpalmernh@gmail.com

Sen. Suzanne Prentiss

Legislative Office Building, Room 102

33 State Street

Concord, NH 03301

Phone: 603-271-3092

Email: Suzanne.Prentiss@leg.state.nh.us