From the Moderator

When arriving at the church for worship services on Sunday, many people, especially those who enter through the Pleasant Street Narthex, will notice something different. The American and Christian flags, which had been displayed in the front of the Sanctuary prior to the remodeling of the Chancel, will be in the Narthex. In this note, I will answer some of the questions I anticipate will be asked.

Why were the flags removed from the Sanctuary in the first place?

The flags were removed and safely stored at the beginning of the construction project to protect them from harm.

Why weren’t the flags put back in the Sanctuary when the remodeling project was finished?

It seems that since they were tucked away in a safe place, they were forgotten in the rush to clean up all of the construction dust and put everything back together for Easter Sunday. Many of us didn’t notice for quite some time! In the last month or so, there have been some inquiries about the flags. Please understand that in no way was there any intention to disparage the flags, or those who have served in the military.

Why are the flags in the Narthex now instead of the Sanctuary?

It has come to the attention of the Church Council that there are people who do not feel the Sanctuary is an appropriate place for national flags. This will surprise many of you, as it did me when I first learned about it. Most of us have grown up seeing the American and Christian flags in churches we have attended over the years, and haven’t thought much about it.

We would like to take some time to have an all-church discussion about the symbolism of flags and what they mean to us. We will learn about the history of the display of national flags in churches, the origin of the Christian flag, and hopefully learn more about one another as we discuss our feelings about displaying flags in the sanctuary or in the church building in general. Our hope for the conversation will be to listen deeply to one another, to understand one another’s positions, and to seek to find consensus about where the flags should be going forward. Stay tuned for information on when this conversation will be scheduled.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Yes, it’s beginning to feel like Christmas! 

 We’d love for you to join us for our first planning meeting for the Christmas Fair 

March 11, 2026, 11AM in the Crafts room, Outreach Building. 

 It’s a get-together planning meeting where we’ll chat about what went well and brainstorm some fresh ideas to make the fair truly special! 

Everyone is welcome, whether you’ve played before or are eager to jump in! 

Have any questions? Feel free to ask Beth Shehadi, Hollis Thompson, or Nancy Smath. We’re really looking forward to having you with us!

 The Historical Preservation Committee seeks your assistance in creating a display based on the Diaconates Lenten series titled “Hope” 

 We invite you to contribute a symbol that represents hope to our display, which will be showcased in the garden and elevator entrance of the church. 

 Kindly provide a brief written description explaining the significance of your chosen symbol. This display will evolve as we engage in collective reflection during the Lenten season. 

 The symbol is what ever has meaning to you. Some ideas that have been shared are an angel, a photograph of a meaningful place or event, such as a sunset or sunrise, or a piece of your favorite music. 

 The display cabinet currently contains several symbols. At this past Thursday’s Lenten supper, an amaryllis bulb was shared. We encourage you to visit the display to discover the reasons behind why what is being shared. 

 If you have questions please feel free to contact Beth Shehadi, Judy Genre, or Hollis Thompson.

 Please bring your symbol of hope to share at the next Lenten supper scheduled for February 12, 2026, at 5 p.m. and stay for the supper and discussion!!!

The Lenten season is approaching quickly. 



In order to continue our Soup Suppers, the Diaconate is requesting assistance from our church family. 

The suppers are to be held

March 12 and March 26, 5:00p.m. to 7:00p.m.

We will need to provide 4 Soups, bread, and dessert to share each week. 

If you are able to assist, please notify Judy Genre, Catherine Tokarz, or Carmen (in the church office) with the date and what you are able to bring. 

There are several open positions on this committee and we are grateful for your willingness to support our efforts to continue this thoughtful Lenten practice. 

This year Pastor Eliza will center the discussion on excerpts from the book 'Hope: A User's Manual' by MaryAnn McKibben Dana.

Sign Up for the Virtual Prayer Vigil will begin

on Friday March 13th

The link will be available in the News Blast and the information will be in the Bulletin on the 15th. It will be a Sign Up Genius link...

More to Come

Ride Assistance

For rides to Church or Medical Appointments contact Karen Gordon.

Ride requests must be made by text only (no phone calls, please).

 Karen Gordon: 508-942-7541

 Texting times:

• Tuesdays & Fridays after 3:00 pm
• Saturday mornings
• Sundays anytime

Thank you for respecting these boundaries so Karen can best assist everyone.  

In the spirit of caring for one another, we ask that ride requests be made at least 48 hours in advance whenever possible, so our volunteer drivers may plan accordingly.

Altar Flowers given by Richard & Maurine Bastille

In loving memory of family and friends

March 15th Altar Flowers are open for someone to donate.

Please let Maurine Bastille know if you would like to help.

Book Club - February 15th 1:00p.m.

in the Library

Theo of Golden

by Allen Levi

Women's Breakfast March 18th, 8:30AM

at the Water Street Cafe

Men's Breakfast 
March 6th & 20th, 8:00 AM

at the Water Street Cafe

Church Calendar - click here!

Outreach Office Hours

Monday & Wednesday

9:00am - 3:00pm

Friday

9:00am - 1:00pm

Pastor Eliza

603-524-0668 ext. 222

Tuesday - Thursday

Please call for an appointment

Friday

Drop-in office hours 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, or by appointment

~~~

Carmen D

Communications Associate

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

~ ~ ~

Carolyn Jorgensen

Financial Secretary

603-524-0668 ext 224

I'll be in the office on Mondays from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

working from home and the office.

Come and Worship

We welcome and invite you to worship with us in any of these ways. 

In Person at 9:30 AM, or via Live-stream

●      Via live-stream through YouTube Sundays starting at 9:10 AM

Go to YouTube and search for Congregational Church of Laconia

●      On our website www.laconiaucc.org any day and any time.

●      On Public Access TV Channel 25 Sundays at 4pm and 9:30pm

or Mondays at 5am.

If you are new to the church, please introduce yourself! Let the Church Office know if we can help you in any way! 603-524-0668. 

Seeking to be the church God desires for us to be.

Congregational Church of Laconia, UCC | 18 Veterans Square, Laconia, NH | 603.524.0668