South Congregational Church Newsletter
e-Lation! May 5, 2016
Issue 16
In This Issue
Save the Dates
Article Headline
VBS 2016
Senior Lunch
Spring Ring
Altar Flowers
Youth Sunday 
May 8th 

This Sunday is Youth Sunday.  The service was written by and will be administered by the Youth of South Church.  The children will remain for the entire service.
Thank you to our Guest Ministers
On Sunday, May 1, 2016 we had two Guest Ministers.  Thank you to Kris Bowen and Michelle DeCoste for the amazing service.  We all enjoyed it.

L 2 R
 
  Five Tuesdays starting June 7
 6:30pm in the Sanctuary
 
Learn to Ring is a no-risk zone for those who are curious about how to ring handbells! Cover the basics in five weeks, and share your new-found skill at the July 10 Summer service! No experience required. All you need to bring with you is a love of music and a willingness to be part of a team. If it clicks for you, great! If not, you'll be our biggest fan!
 
Contact me at [email protected]
 
Carlene Ruesenberg
Handbell Program Dir.

Save the Dates 
May 7th - 1:00 p.m. 
50+ year Member Tea

May 10th - 5:00 p.m.
Women's Birthday Dinner

May 15th - 10:00 a.m.
Confirmation Sunday

May 18th - 11:30 a.m.
Senior Luncheon

May 29th - 9:30 a.m.
Start of Summer Services

June 5th - 9:00 a.m.
Service Sunday

June 9th
179th Annual Meeting of South Church

June 12th - 9:30 a.m.
Mae Murdoch's celebration

June 26th - 9:30 a.m.
Jim Kinhan's celebration

Beyond the  
Garden Gate
 
The Seventh and Final Tour of Special Gardens 
June 25th 
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 

Special gardens in Concord, Bow, Epsom and Pembroke  will participate in the tour.

Proceeds will support South Church's general fund; as well as maintenance of the church's own gardens.

Tickets are $25 ($22 for Seniors) and can be purchased the day of the tour at South Church from 9-10:30 a.m.  Cash, check or credit card will be accepted.
Call to Deeper Waters
Church Council and Giving Ministry are beginning the budgeting process for the 2016-17 fiscal year which begins July 1, 2016.

We are $56,243 below last year's pledge total of $354,129.  We are still hoping to hear from a number of our members who usually pledge, but have not this year. If you are one of them, please make a pledge now!  Click here for your Pledge Card. We can't realistically plan a budget without knowing what our pledge income will be. We have great faith in the generosity of our congregation and in God's grace that we will have what we need, but we need to all pull together to sustain our vital ministries.
H20:  Bubbles of Bible Fun
South Church VBS 2016
Monday, August 22 to Friday, August 26, 2016
 
Put on your swimsuit!  We will be exploring New Hampshire waterways: rivers, lakes and oceans.  Throughout the week, we will ride the wave of various bible stories such as Noah; Jonah and the Whale; the Baptism of Jesus; the Woman at the Well; and Jesus catching some fish.  Each day, we will immerse ourselves in the message of these stories.  Our mornings will be flooded with songs, crafts and games.  In the afternoons we will embrace the story in unique ways that allows these stories to float in our daily lives.  We will venture on local field trips such as the Baptismal Font, Amoskeag Fishways and the Water Project.      
 
South Church will be hosting a Vacation Bible School the week of August 22 to August 26 from 9a.m. to 3p.m. for children in kindergarten through sixth grade.  The cost is $35 per child.  To sign-up or for more information please contact Alison Nyhan at 224-2521 or e-mail her at [email protected] before Sunday, June 26, 2016.
Senior Monthly Lunch 
Did you miss the April Senior lunch? It was a smashing success, both i n terms of the Middle Eastern culinary delight and also a timely program presented by Helen Fitzgerald and Joel Berman about their personal exper ience with the Israeli and Palestinian people as captured by them through the Compassionate Listening project.
 
The lunch theme was abundantly packaged with personal memories and collaborative service by Jim and his daughters and Ginny (see pictures attached).
 
Another splendid opportunity for a monthly senior lunch (BTW..ID's are not required, all ages welcomed) is around the corner on Wednesday, May 18th at 11:30am. It has both a special historical theme as well as an opportunity for some silly and laughable moments re-living the 6 0's theme.
 
About 5 decades or so a go, a group of South Church folk joined with some at large community folk and launched the first NH supportive residential living program for mentally challenged individuals. It was called "Opportunity House" and South Church purchased a building around the corner as the first site. The program grew and evolved into "Fellowship House" and for many years directed by Page Cannon. It is currently observing its 50th year and Page is about to enter the ranks of retirement. Several prominent names of South Church members come to memory...Anne and Bernie Heath ; Ellen Sheridan, Maidee Wilson etc.
 
In addition to Page's notes about the program, any old memories of South Church's role in this community outreach for the homeless are welcomed .
 
And...the silly side of the theme is that the lunch presentation will feature 60's and 70's food (like jello salad) and also 60's dress. You can be assured Ginny and Jim shall be vintagely attired...what is in your closet that can be r esurrected; worn or simply displayed?
 
Peace and joy....Jim

New Hampshire Spring Ring
 
On April 16, Betty Jacob, Pam LaFond, Linda Paslaski, and Cindy White from the Memorial Bell Choir participated in a fun day at Rundlett Middle School with 10 other bell choirs, all playing together. We attended workshops to hone our skills, learned new music, and met other handbell musicians from all over the state. The day was capped off with a final concert for friends and family. Everyone agreed it was a great experience, and we're looking forward to participating again next year!


Have you  ever thought where the flowers
 on the altar come from?
Each week flowers are given by members of the congregation for many different reasons. Some people give flowers in memory of a loved one who they want to remember. Others give as a celebration of a wedding, birth of a child or grandchild or a special occasion. Still others give as a thank you for good things that have happened in their lives.  This is all done through Mary Ewert our Flower Coordinator. She does everything through email.

Some folks want the same Sunday every year.  Mary stays ahead and e-mails them to reserve their Sunday.   
The flowers are ordered on Thursday, delivered on Saturday and the customer is billed directly by the florist.  The usual Altar arrangement costs $28.00 but some people want a larger arrangement or roses and are happy to pay extra.   You can contact Mary Ewert by phone 219-0042 or by email at [email protected]