"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
The apostle Paul may not be your go-to guy when you need consolation or a spiritual re-set. As with many preachers (myself included), Paul was rarely at rest and apparently never got the message that sometimes you can say more by saying less. (I believe it was Mark Twain, “I would have written you a shorter letter but I didn’t have the time.”) Verbose though he was, there can be no disputing Paul’s devotion to Jesus and to nurturing us into the spiritual life.
In this case, Paul reminds me that the shortest path between God’s heart and my own is my weakness, and that it is the sharing my vulnerabilities that will shed divine light onto my path. There is a reason no support groups were never named Successful People Anonymous or Emotionally Stable and Economically Secure!
I had plenty of weaknesses before Parkinson’s, but now I’ve got shakiness in my right hand and arm and having to think harder to get my body to do what I want it to do to the long list of my imperfections. I’m trying to integrate weaknesses into my walk with God, trusting that they are gifts just waiting to be opened.
Gratefully,
Jed
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No Time Like the Future:
An Optimist Considers Mortality
The entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in Back to the Future; as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties; as Mike Flaherty in Spin City; and through numerous other movie roles and guest appearances. Diagnosed at age 29, Michael is equally engaged in Parkinson’s advocacy work, raising global awareness of the disease and helping find a cure through The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. His new memoir reassesses his outlook, as events in the past decade presented additional challenges.
In No Time Like the Future, Michael shares personal stories and observations about illness and health; aging; the strength of family and friends; and how our perceptions about time affect the way we approach mortality. Thoughtful and moving, but with Fox’s trademark sense of humor, his book provides a vehicle for reflection about our lives, our loves, and our losses. While each person with Parkinson's has a unique set of symptoms and strengths, given Jed Rardin's PD diagnosis a few years ago, this very accessible book is a good way for us as a congregation to experience one person's story. Jed will host a Zoom conversation about the book and about his own journey with Parkinson's on Wednesday, September 1 at 4:30 pm. To register email Jed. A copy of the book is available online or at Gibson's (mention the South Church book study and receive a discount).
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During the months of July and August, Evening Prayer with Gyme Hardy will take a pause until September. Wednesday morning prayer with Jed Rardin will continue weekly at 7:30 a.m.
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We have begun in-person worship with one service in the sanctuary at 9 a.m. (we will retire the 8 a.m. parking lot service)! Over the last few months, we have carefully begun offering alternatives to the now-familiar Sunday morning Zoom worship. Now that the percentage of adults in New Hampshire who have been fully vaccinated is high, we have decided to initiate a hybrid approach to worship.
All are welcome to join worship in-person, and in the spirit of continuing to exercise caution, for the first two or three weeks, all will be asked to wear their masks. We believe that requiring masks will not only minimize exposure for those who may have compromised immunity, but will help us all feel that much safer. For those who prefer a virtual option, we will continue to stream the 9 a.m. worship service live on Zoom in precisely the same way we have for the last year and a quarter.
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Here at South Church, we believe that fourth graders are at a point in their spiritual development where they can understand and truly appreciate the Bible. We give them their own Bible to use during class and to keep for their own. If your son/daughter is entering fourth grade this fall and is interested in receiving a Bible, please contact Alison.
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Get Movin' 184 Challenge Update |
Thanks to the generosity and creativity of so many South Churchers and many friends of South Church, we are happy to report that the 184 Challenge raised a total of $11,184 for South Church! That’s s $7,066 above and beyond our original goal! God is good!
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The New Hampshire Peace Action Conversation Series presents a Zoom presentation with Becky Field on, Monday, July 19 from 7 p.m. to
8 p.m. This event is free. The Immigrant and Refugee Support Group proudly announces that member Becky Field, in the national competitions for independently published books, has won two gold awards, one silver award, and a citation as an "Outstanding Book of the Year" for Finding Home.
You can hear live from one of the immigrants in Becky's book at her upcoming Zoom presentation on Monday, July 19. For more information visit the
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The Faith in Action Ministry has chosen the UCC Strengthen the Church as our Moment for Mission. Strengthen the Church (STC) reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. The funds collected in this offering will go towards leadership development, building new churches, funding activities for youth ministry and creating innovative programs in existing congregations. Because Strengthen the Church is part of the UCC's wider mission, conferences and the national setting equally share the donations from this offering. Your generosity will provide the support needed to continue building the UCC through education, programs and having places to worship. Thank you for your continued support to the Faith in Action Ministry! To donate to this mission, click here.
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We will be hosting families in the program the week of August 8 to 15. Please mark your calendars as we will need assistance from you to make this happen and be a meaningful experience for the families in our care. Opportunities include, preparing dinner and dropping it off at the church, serving dinner or breakfast and visiting with the families, as well as staying overnight. Additionally, we will need assistance setting up the family space, moving their belongings to the next location and laundry services. For the safety of everyone, COVID procedures will be observed regardless of vaccination status. You can determine your level of comfort interacting with the families and we will have a volunteer position just right for you. For more information contact Peggy Scott. To sign-up to volunteer click here.
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Celebrating Rev. Hal Harrison |
Rev. Hal Harrison passed into God's eternal care on Sunday, June 6, 2021. Hal was ordained to the Christian Ministry July 10, 1956 at the Cromwell Congregational Church, Cromwell, Iowa. Hal served as the Director of Christian Education at Bethany Congregational; at the Congregational Church in Saxonville, MA; the Federated Church in Stoughton, MA; Congregational Church, Cromwell, IA; and as minister of the Congregational Churches of Salisbury and Webster, NH. From 1976 until he retired in 1995, Hal served as the Associate Conference Minister of the Vermont Conference, UCC.
Hal's greatest love was Christian Education and Faith Formation, culminating in his selection to receive the Founders Award from the Association of United Church Educators in 2013. The award was instituted to recognize a person whose lifelong ministry has been the advocacy of Christian education and faith formation. Friends and colleagues from all over New England were in attendance to celebrate Hal as he was honored with the receipt of this award.
Hal's life and ministry touched many lives over the years, and we will be remembering Hal with a Service of Thanksgiving for his life on Saturday, July 24 at 10:30 a.m. at South Church, followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall. For those who plan to be with us in person, please bring a mask with you. For those of you who are unable to join us in person and want to participate virtually, follow this Zoom link. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Harrison Scholarship Fund, Vermont Conference, UCC. 36 North Main St., Randolph, VT 05060 or their website.
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Please keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers...
Cheryl Simmers
Ann Winterling: In Memoriam
Nancy Roberts' son in-law Joe
Sean Dunker-Bendigo's mom Patsy
Jean Parady: Pegi Frostholm’s mother-in-law
Dona Roberson: Carlene Ruesenberg’s mother
If you would like the congregation to pray for someone and be added to our prayer list, please contact LouAnn Poirier. She will also make Rev. Jed aware of your prayers.
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We want to wish our members who have July Birthdays
“A Very Happy Birthday!!”
If we missed your birthday that means it wasn’t in the directory; so please send it to Alison Nyhan and she will update the Directory.
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July 1
Cameron Borton, Emma Burbank,
Joan Davis, Adam Fennelly and
Elisabeth Yohe
July 5
Katelyn Caswell, Lorraine Fournier,
Michael Minnaugh and Nancy Roberts
July 7
Betty Jacob
July 8
Lillian Lantiegne
July 9
Kim Arndt
July 10
Nancy Haigh and Rebecca Yohe
July 11
Christopher French and Emma Tillotson
July 12
Judy Signor and Janet Zeller
July 13
Jill Smart
July 14
Sylvia Larsen, Aaron Pelletier
and Lisa Richards
July 15
Tracie Carpenter and Cheryl Coletti
July 16
Debra Sondwregger
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July 17
Bob Baker
July 18
Rodney Doucet and Paula Roberts
July 19
Brenna Dean and Joanne Varga
July 20
Leigh-Ann French and Myrna Prevost
July 21
Carolyn Palange
July 22
AJ Fennelly and Bernadette Pelczar
July 24
Toni Callahan and Meredith Frost
July 26
Jonathan Stiles
July 28
Peg Stumb
July 29
Paige Annis and Jane Bredeson
July 30
Ron Jobel, Rachel Pelletier
and Ray Phelan
July 31
Al Garlo and Kevin Nyhan
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As my 5 1/2 years of being your Volunteer and Communications Director is coming to an end, I would like to thank you for all that you have done to make these years successful and fun. Thank you to all of my volunteers that have stepped up to the plate over and over to make our services, fundraisers, making meals and activities so successful. Thank you to the members of the Guild and all of the bakers who have helped with communion and so many receptions, I appreciate all that you have done. South Church has been more than a job to me, but a family. I will miss you all and hope to see you around Concord.
Blessings,
Peg Wenzel
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Peg, we all join in saying thank you to you for five and a half years of faithful support as our Volunteer and Communications Coordinator! Your kind spirit, your effervescent joy, and your love of the church sustained us in many ways, some of them visible to us and some not so easily seen. For all the bulletins and e-Lation newsletters and website updates, for organizing so many volunteers: readers, greeters, ushers, Advent Candle lighters and more, we thank you with full hearts! May God go with you in whatever comes next in your life’s journey. We look forward to seeing you often in the weeks and months to come! Bless you, David and Michael in all that you do! |
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Throughout the summer the staff will be in the building, but always call the office before you stop by just to be sure someone is in the building. |
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