Meriden Congregational Church Newsletter

JULY 2024

Volume 7 Number 7 

Leadership Transition Update--JULY 2024



The month of June began with beauty. June 1 and June 2 could not have been more perfect days, weather-wise, and both the Saturday celebration and the Sunday farewell service for and by Susan and John could not have been more perfect. Jill Marshall and her amazing team put in a ton of effort to make it one memorable weekend.  We all laughed, we all cried, we all ate lots of great Tom Lappin mac and cheese and Peter Nolette cake. It felt good to be grateful. 

Now, as we near the end of June, the parish hall and the parsonage are busy places.. Meriden Community Camp has started, and the Parish Hall and the grounds around the church are filled with happy young voices. If you’ve ever packed up and moved, you know how emotional and stressful it can be. John and Susan are working through this as they prepare to pull out of the mountain air and head for the sea breeze, Two assiduous leadership team members, Lee Oxenham and Shawn Rogers, along with many others, have provided invaluable assistance to Susan and John, (and the church) during this process. As you might imagine, all sorts of quirky  issues have arisen, involving furniture, tires, dumpsters, and even an unexplained bathtub hiding in the garage, but Shawn and Lee have been on it.  We are immensely grateful to them for their efforts. 

Gail Kinney continues to lead worship services on most Sundays during the summer, with able assistance from other church members leading services when she has other commitments. For example, Ed Cousineau led a service celebrating Gay Pride Month, and I will be leading a poetry service on the Sunday after Independence Day. 

The leadership team continues to interview candidates for the interim pastor position. We did have one candidate whom we interviewed accept an offer from another church. This candidate would have had to relocate from another state, so we assume that entered into their decision. We have decided as a team that this is a very important time for our church, and we need to take the time to make sure we have a clear vision for our future. We will need your help with that. John and Susan, of course, were amazing and unique, so we feel it is important to resist the temptation to seek someone to “replace” them. Not only would replacing them be essentially impossible, but not desirable. As I said back in my January newsletter, this is going to be a hike. 

You know when you hike and you climb and climb, and then all of a sudden you can look to your left or right and see a vista with some ridges off in the distance or some terrain that you already climbed? I think that I, and some other team members, might have seen a vista that could lead to the summit, although it’s too early to tell. We have to share it with other team members and make a plan, but it’s exciting. Stay tuned. 

Bill Chappelle, Leadership Chair

Report on the Transition of Pastoral Leadership

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:  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

SUMMER LEADERSHIP COVERAGE

Points of Contact for Leadership Areas

 Administration: Kathy Wright, (Church Leadership Team)

Church email: secretary@meridenucc.org; church office: 469-3235; email: kathywright@myfairpoint.net; home phone: 675-5989 or Text 603-543-7663 Kathy Wright has office hours at the church every Wednesday 1-2:30 and Friday 1-2:20.

 Pastoral Coverage: Rev. Gail Kinney

Email: uniongale@aol.com; cell phone: 603-381-7324

Available for emergency and ongoing pastoral care needs

Kathy Wright will contact Gail as needed

If you have a pastoral care need (or know someone who does), please contact Kathy Wright—

Church email: secretary@meridenucc.org;

Church Office: 469-3235; email: kathywright@myfairpoint.net;

Home Phone: 675-5989

Cell Phone: 543-7663

Building & Grounds: Shawn Rogers, (Church Leadership Team)

Email: straightedge-arch@comcast.net; home phone: 603-790-8040   Cell 603-558-9351.        

Financial Transactions: Cindy Griffin, Church Treasurer

Church email: treasurer@meridenucc.org;

email: csvensen1s@gmail.com;

cell phone: 203-209-0922

Meriden Community Camp: Cindy Griffin, Camp Ministry Team

Church email: treasurer@meridenucc.org; email: csvensen1s@gmail.com; cell phone: 203-209-0922

Camp Director, Rosa Sousa (camp@meridenucc.org)

 Cell 508-837-9104

July Calendar

WELCOMING and CARING MINISTRY

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THE CELEBRATIONS FOR JOHN AND SUSAN GREGORY-DAVIS THE WONDERFUL SUCCESS THEY WERE! THEY WERE SO GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE. THE HELP WE GOT FROM THE RED APRONS OF THE HARTLAND FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY WAS OUTSTANDING. THANKS TO EVERYONE!!!

THE NEXT GATHERING OPPORTUNITY IS A POTLUCK SHARING DINNER ON JULY 19TH AT 6:00PM IN THE PARISH HOUSE. Our summer services in the Parish House around the circle table have already begun. (See Calendar)

HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US THIS JULY !

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

Music and Ministry

August Openings

There are two openings in the Summer Worship schedule for August. Ed Cousineau has generously offered to work with the people who are inspired to offer a worship service, helping them with prayers, bulletin writing and then sharing the presentation on Sunday.

The open dates are August 4th and August 25th. Perhaps this speaks to YOU—Create your own program with assistance!

Contact Ed Cousineau (cousineaued@gmail.com)

or Kathy Wright (secretary@meridenucc.org)

MCC Young Families Summer Meet-ups

Monday, July 15 at 6pm, Colburn Park in Lebanon

Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy some music by The Frogz (classic rock, soul) as part of Lebanon's Monday night concerts in the park! We'll gather starting around 6pm to chat and eat. The concert begins at 6:30pm and there is a small playground there where the kids can play while we listen, dance, and socialize.

Larissa Pyer

For Spiritual Formation Ministry

larissa.pyer@gmail.com

Tenderly Held in our Hearts and Prayers

   As we journey throughout these Summer months, we give joyous thanks for all that makes our faith community such a welcome home for all of us.  So too do we celebrate with all those bearing new life, and pray with those yet hoping to conceive, or seeking to adopt a beloved child of God.        

           We also pray for John and Susan Gregory-Davis and send love and best wishes as they begin their retirement.

 So too do we pray for Shideko Terai’s friend, Cindy Patalano; Penny Arcone’s son, Alex; Jim Lenz’s friend, Conor; Susan Pullen’s friend, Jean and her husband, Carl; Dan Beaupre’; Rosa Sousa; Valerie Stender; Marianne McGraw’s friend, Jeff Gold; Peter Nolette’s brother, Michael; Betty Pardoe; Rev. Greg Marshall, as well as Greg’s sister, Donna; Carol Hartman’s step-granddaughter, Alyssa, and Carol’s daughter-in-law, Michelle; Roger Burch’s sister-in-law’s family; Angie Hinton’s friend, Margaret Maxham; Connie Kousman’s grand-nephew, Graham, and Connie’s sister Joyce; 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; Judy Croitoru; Chris Dye; and Linda Perkins’ friends, Dorothy, Albert, & Doug.

         Likewise are our prayers with these members and friends of our faith community currently receiving treatment for cancer: Carol Hartman’s sister, Priscilla; Susan Pullen; Andrea Brown’s Uncle Mike; Ryan McGraw’s co-worker’s mother, Jeannie Berube; 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 LaHaye; 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; Laura Cousineau’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; Connie Kousman; Gail Kinney’s brothers, Charles & David; Linda Perkins’ friend, Linda Stone; Ed Foltyn; Robert Bryant; Jeff McNamara; Lauryn Moeller’s daughter-in-law, Lisa Rae Moeller; and  Kevin Ramos-Glew’s nephew, Duncan.

          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, South Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, North Korea, Yemen, 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!”

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

Into God's Hands

  As summer warms us and our gardens grow, so too have our hearts ached with the loss of dearly beloved friends and relatives of our faith community.

We extend our sympathy to Steve and Donna Beaupre' on the loss of Donna's cousin, Bill Moore.

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.

Save the Date!

The All Church Retreat IS Happening this Year!

September 27-28 at Horton Center

This year the Horton Center Retreat in the White Mountains is being organized by Larissa Pyer, Odile Clavier and Emma Greenough. Save the date and plan to stay over night for this fun get away!

More Information to follow!

Continuing in JULY, Kathy Wright, Our Secretary/Administrator will hold Weekly Office Hours for Questions/Information

Since I still need to work on the new Directory in July, it makes sense to me to have office hours every Wednesday 1 - 2:30 pm and Friday 1-2:30 pm. I plan to be in the church office at (603-469-3235)

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT TREASURERS

 As of June 9th we have received $2,205 in pledge payments, We have received $1,369 in Plate payments. The monthly total was $3,574. All of these were for 2024. The amounts collected this year so far are a total of $78,141. Donations for Meriden Community Camp were $1,000.

Thanks for your donations!!

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

Kathy Wright

Jim Lenz

Notes from the COVID Task Force

Here at Meriden Congregational Church this summer we’re still standing vigilant. And you should be too. Nothing beyond the simple norms we’ve established and then thoughtfully evolved through the intervening years. Our church will continue to make available masks and hand-sanitizers. Plus, it's easy to heed this tried and true wisdom:

If you feel unwell—just stay home. 

Stay “boosted” and “current” as best you can.

           Consider a mask when you’re in a crowd.

                      Wash your hands frequently.

The Church Leadership Team and the MCC Covid-19 TF will be ready to review new information should any new circumstances warrant.

Ed Cousineau

For the MCC Covid-19 Task Force

Outreach News

Outreach, Peace, and Justice

Ministry Teams

News for July 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 September 5th. 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 May. 

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. July 27th 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 

The various unionized student groups at Dartmouth – the undergraduate dining services workers, the Undergraduate Advisors (UGAs – a.k.a. resident assistants) and the graduate teaching and research assistants have all expressed deep appreciation for the encouragement and solidarity they have received from MCC members via our Worker Justice Ministry. Our steadfast support truly matters to the Dartmouth unions! This is an important part of how the MCC “does church.” After a difficult 59-day strike, the Graduate Organized Laborers of Dartmouth (GOLD-UE) and the Dartmouth College administration have come to an agreement on a first contract for the college’s 800 or so essential graduate workers. We joined the grad students in celebration on June 28th . To read more about the strike and settlement, see https://indepthnh.org/2024/06/29/grad-students-end-strike-at-dartmouth-with-better-pay-and-benefits/

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 me if you would like to get involved.

Climate Justice

Anyone who may have missed viewing last month with us the powerful environmental justice film, "Common Ground," is encouraged to reach out to Lee Oxenham to borrow and view what this film reveals as to how unjust practices forged our current farm system in which farmers of all colors are literally dying to feed us. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy – before it’s too late.

.

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."

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 4:30 to 5:00 PM, and all are welcome to join us anytime.

In solidarity and hope, 

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

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

 We are continuing our Showing Up for Racial Justice BLACK LIVES MATTER Vigils each Wednesday afternoon, now happening from 4:30 to 5:00 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. 

July

BIRTHDAYS

7/2         Heather Hildebrant

7/2         Sarah Lappin

7/2         Donna Beaupre’

7/3         Christine Brooks

7/3         Erin Gregory-Davis

7/3        Jan Kilfeather-Mackey

7/4         Lion Herfort

7/4         Becky Van Dolah

7/4         Eveline Georgia Wood

7/5         Nancy Chapman Elliot

7/6        Robin Kilfeather-Mackey

7/6         Finn Kopp

7/6        Mahlon Ward

7/7         Lea Castell

7/7         Galen Moynihan

7/8         Jane Fielder

7/9         Sarah Calderone

7/9         Greg Hardy

7/9         Alex Jameson

7/10       Kayla Sneiderman

7/10       Deb Lewis

7/10 Josh Diamond

7/11       Sierra Rogers

7/12       Sawyer Grace Kells

7/12       Lee Walker Oxenham

7/14       Ben Cherington

7/15       Emily Dewey

7/15       Meredith Finch

7/16       Alex Arcone

7/16      Gianna Marzilli-Ericson

7/16 Sadie Lappin

7/18       Wally Caswell

7/19       Nicole Guaraldi

7/19       Jenny Lenz

7/19       Adara Greenstein

7/20       Allen Winslow

7/21       Aaron Luce

7/21      Conor Zuberi LaVoie

7/22       Elaine Calderone

7/22      Jaine Perotti

7/22       Laura Franklin

7/23       Jeff Robbins

7/23       Ethan Wright

7/23       Sarah (Pensgen) Sirlin

7/24       Rex Miller

7/24       Sophia Filiault

7/25       Sarah Stender

7/25       Carla Bucklin

7/26       Andrew Taylor

7/26       Thom Wolke

7/27       Laura Borchert

7/27       John Borchert

7/27       Rosemary Mills

7/27       Kelsey Hardy MacNamee

7/28       Conor Beaupre’

7/28       Mike Jaeger

7/29       Matthew Taylor

7/29       Laine Gillespie

7/30       Bill Clerkin

7/30       Jayden Foster

7/30       Larry Wolkin

7/31       Denise Thorburn

JULY ANNIVERSARIES

7/4/82          Steve & Sharon Zuckerman

7/5/86       Debbie & Jim Griffiths

7/6             Dale & Bob Cunningham

7/6/13          Natalie Ruppertsberger & Noah Lynd

7/7/07          Robin & Jan Kilfeather-Mackey

7/9/05         Keith & Gianna Marzilli-Ericson

7/10/04        Mike & Becky Van Dolah

7/11/98        Beth and Brian Garfield

7/15/95     Pam & Bob Annis

7/15/95     Susan Turner & Richard Atkinson

7/21/18        John Custer & Pam Miller

7/20/91     Liz & Bill Taylor

7/22/61     Gwen & Rob Fuller

7/25/86     Jan & Keith Timmons

7/25/20        Olivia (Fauver) & Jeff Nicholson

7/27/91     Glen & Christine Greenough

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