VILLAGE www.gilfordcommunitychurch.org NEWSLETTER MAY 2015 MOTHER’S DAY CARDS FOR SALE April 26 and May 3 Purchase a Mother’s Day card at coffee hour or at the church office and Church World Service will provide blankets for those in need or in crisis throughout the world. You have the option of making a dedication in honor of or in memory of a mother in your life, and the dedication will be printed in the Mother’s Day Sunday bulletin. “Spring & Summer Fashions and Accessories” (T.J. Maxx) Friday, May 15 6:00 p.m. Dinner catered by Eloise Post Cost: $12.00 (make checks payable to Carolyn Ames) Deadline: Sunday, May 10th New Beginnings is in special need of bath towels (which can be reasonably purchased at Home Goods & Walmart). Village Newsletter * Gilford Community Church * Issue 5 10th Annual GCC FAMILY CRUISE NIGHT Thursday, May 21 5:00 pm (rain date May 28th) This event takes place in the church parking lot! High dollar hot rods, dragsters, funny cars, sports cars, Indianapolis racecars, fire engines, tractors, rare and not-so-rare antique cars and trucks! Admission free for all spectators as well as participants. A spectacular pulled-pork BBQ (hotdogs, too) by Ellie Murphy will begin at 6:00 pm. Tickets are $12.00 per person IN ADVANCE (at coffee hour or from the church office) until May 19th. A limited number will be on sale at the gate for $15.00. This year’s featured car (above) has been built by our own Dennis Franciosi. Dennis starts with an idea and transforms it into an amazing reality. The frame, including the running gear and body, were designed and hand-built by Dennis in his garage. He did all the finish bodywork and painting. It’s a work of art! Get your ticket at $12 before May 19th!! Issue 5 * May 2015 * Page 1 What comes to mind when you think of May? Some, I’m sure, are looking forward to the warmer, longer days of a theoretical spring as you check your yard for those first flowers. Bill, Warren, Don and Dennis, when they think of May, think of the Family Cruise Night that they’ve organized for a number of years. School children and teachers may be counting the days till summer vacation. I think of Dick Peterson and Doris MacHaffie. I met both of them May 1, 2002 - my first day on the job as the pastor of the Gilford Community Church. Of course, I already knew the members of the search committee and other church members were introduced to me when I candidated in February; but that weekend remains a blur. May 1st is still a vivid memory. I arrived early with thirty-two boxes of books to put into my new office. When I did, Dick was busy putting the finishing touches of a fresh coat of paint in the place I’d call my home away from home. Shaking his hand, I knew Dick was a very special person, but I had no way of knowing just how special. Doris manned or better, womanned the church office. Warmly she welcomed me as she assured me that whatever I needed, she’d do. There was one little caveat: she wouldn’t make my coffee and she liked hers black and very hot. So many wonderful things have happened over these years. Certainly the expansion of the Sanctuary/ Fellowship Hall and the addition of the Gilford Youth Center are at the top of the list of what we’ve accomplished. But right beside that, on my list anyway, are the loving relationships we’ve developed. Truly you all have become part of my life. It’s hard to remember B.Y. (before you). We’ve shared so many good moments and endured more than a few tough times. We’ve celebrated births and baptisms, we’ve been privileged to watch our children grow and flourish; some of our children are now having their own children. Young ones who were just starting first grade when I arrived are now making decisions about colleges and careers. Together we’ve also been visited by sorrow and disappointment. Our lives have been knit together by those joyful and tragic moments. Cindie and I thank you for bearing our pain. Thank you for all your support; may we continue to grow as a church and to be a blessing to our community and beyond. With love, Michael Village Newsletter * Gilford Community Church * Issue 5 * May 2015 * Page 2 Attendance April 5 403 April 12 218 April 19 258 April 26 187 New to our church? Would you like to learn more about it? Come join Rev. Michael Graham and others to learn about our church and what we can offer you. Watch this space for the date of the next Meet and Greet. The Village Newsletter is a monthly publication of Gilford Community Church 19 Potter Hill Road Gilford, New Hampshire 03249 (603) 524-6057 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.gilfordcommunitychurch.org Rev. Michael C. Graham, Pastor e-mail: [email protected] Carolyn Ames, Music Director/Organist AJ Coppola, Choir Director Scott Hodsdon, Director of Youth & Family Programs e-mail: [email protected] Rick Edson - Treasurer email: [email protected] Jane Karagianis—Financial Accountant email: [email protected] Dru Chatterton—Office Secretary email: [email protected] Church Office Hours: M-Th 9:00 to 2:00 pm THE OFFICE IS CLOSED ON FRIDAYS OUR CHURCH COMMITTEE CHAIRS 2015 CHURCH COUNCIL Jessica Fleck [email protected] 728-5671 PASTOR/STAFF FACILITIES Carl Carder Keith Gandini Derek Blackwelder [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 520-8405 387-1755 556-7164 FINANCE OUTREACH Walter Berghahn Jessica Fleck [email protected] [email protected] 528-7679 728-5671 DIACONATE FLOWER COMMITTEE Stacey Pate Sandy Stafford Jan Briggs [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 370-8248 387-8011 630-6593 MEMBERSHIP Irene Santaniello [email protected] 279-6726 EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES Rebecca Watson [email protected] 293-1103 CARE & CONCERN FAIR COMMITTEE Nancy Peterson Barbara Allard Dan Vieten (Christmas) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 455-6675 279-1070 387-4899 MEMORIAL GIFTS Doris MacHaffie [email protected] 524-1169 VILLAGE NURSERY SCHOOL Katie Bryant [email protected] 520-6660 FELLOWSHIP & KITCHEN Eloise Post [email protected] 986-6723 PRAYER LINE COORDINATOR Barbara Hauck [email protected] 524-3381 Village Newsletter * Gilford Community Church * Issue 5 * May 2015 * Page 3 Music Notes MAY BIRTHDAYS 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 11 14 15 17 18 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 Tom Guerin Alex Stewart, Harold Dexter, Amy Tripp Dana Brown Sara Stewart Debby Mercer, Steve Anthony Joe Scattergood John Babcock, Soren Babcock Zach Youssef Riley Marsh Heather Labonte Barbara Carey, Cynthia Tomlinson, Patrick Gandini Robin Baron Bethany King Stacy Briggs, Jesse Ross, Michael Marsh May Stewart Lani Voivod, Kathy Arenstam, Alan Beard Keira & Ella Squires, Britni Baron Steven Richardson Donna Snow Dennis McAllister, Randy Pike Dianne Anthony Keith Gandini MAY ANNIVERSARIES 2 8 13 14 16 19 23 24 29 Mary & Walter Flinn Wanda & Carl Carder Mary & Warren Hutchins Martha & John Sepe Steve & Dianne Anthony Brenda & Rick Nelson Pat and Irene Santaniello Barry & Cheryl LaBrancheArvidson Derek & Kris Blackwelder 1953 1976 1978 1960 1976 1984 1991 2004 Carolyn Ames (Music Director/Organist) AJ Coppola (Choir Director) It’s been an exciting month for the Chancel Choir! The nice weather has brought some of our traveling members back: Judy Brown returned from Virginia and Morris Harrison from Florida. Also, Stu Boysen joined our choir, so we’re looking pretty good these days! We were excited to share some special music on Easter. May Stewart, Will Gunn and 9th grader (and recent confirmand) Tyler Hanf joined our anthem on his trumpet. The end of the service was celebrated with the Hallelujah Chorus, with many from the congregation joining the choir up front. There will be some special music coming to our sanctuary on May 7th. The Pemi Choral Society will be singing their spring program, featuring our own Will Gunn as the assistant director! Carol Gellert and AJ Coppola also sing in the choir, so we hope to see you all there! If you have any interest in joining the choir, it’s not too late! With 6 Sundays left in the choir season, we would love to add your voice! Rehearsals are every Thursday evening from 6-7 in the sanctuary. Join us! - AJ Coppola Prayers of comfort and strength to family and friends. Memorial Services scheduled in May: May 9 May 10 Village Newsletter * Gilford Community Church * 9:00 Betty Persons 1:00 Lee Elder Issue 5 May 2015 * Page 4 1st Annual Lakes Region Inter-Faith Prayer Breakfast “Many Voices, United in Prayer” St. Andre Bessette Parish Hall 31 Gilford Avenue, Laconia Thursday, May 7th, 2015 National Day of Prayer Doors open………………..6:30 am Breakfast Served………….6:45 am Program Begins…………...7:40 am Program Ends……………..8:59 am Tickets are $12.00 per person. See Michael for a free ticket! Net proceeds to support: Hands Across the Table Website: www.standrebessette.org/hatt1 ----------------------The National Day of Prayer enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions. It stands as a call to us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as people. The Lakes Region Inter-Faith Prayer Breakfast is being started as a means of bringing together people of different backgrounds and affiliations to celebrate the blessings of the year and to join in inclusive fellowship for the spiritual renewal of community, state and nation. OUTREACH REQUEST The Outreach Committee is working with the Gilford Elementary School nurse to make sure that the students have warm, dry clothing this spring. Now that the snow has melted, and the kids are allowed to play on the playground, slip and fall accidents on the wet/muddy ground can cause the students to have wet sneakers, pants and shirts. As you go through your children’s clothes to buy new and bigger clothes, remember that we can use your “outgrown” pants, shirts, socks, sneakers and undies. We are not asking for new clothing. Gently used is best; the children only need a couple of hours in them to finish off the school day. Sizes needed are items that fit kindergarten through 4th grade. Please bring them to the Outreach Closet at church and label them for Outreach/GES. Thank you for your help! Village Newsletter * Gilford Community Church * Issue 5 * May 2015 * Page 5 How to Donate Food That Won’t go to Waste Give like a hungry person. If all you had to eat was in a bag of donated food, what would you want in it? Don’t give out of the ordinary items. If they don’t know what to do with it, it will get thrown out. Give no-cook items. Give Granola bars, crackers, Spam, tuna, peanut butter and jelly. When you are homeless, you may not have access to a microwave or stove. The easier the better. Look for items that say Just add water such as instant oatmeal. Pull top cans are better. It’s hard to be hungry and not have any way to open the can. Avoid glass jars. They break too easily. Buy what’s needed. It’s best to stick with the items on the wish list than to buy an item that can’t be used. Check your grocery store. Many stores will assemble bags of food you can donate for $5 or $10. Look for discounted dented cans. Be thoughtful. Try to include at least one item you’d choose as a treat for your kids. Someone else’s child will love You for it. Consider donating cash. Some programs can get much better deals on food than you can. $100 to Gilford Got Lunch can help feed a local child all summer. Most importantly, do what you can. You can’t go wrong! The first Sunday of every month (Communion Sunday) is also Food Collection Sunday. Bring your donations to church for the Food Pantry (as well as donations for New Beginnings.) Specific needs are stated in the Sunday bulletin the last Sunday of the month, and are also in the newsletter. -----------------------------We have been gone for well over a year now…..leaving Gilford to chase grandkids in the South. Our absence from Gilford left a hole in our hearts. I wonder if people recognize the hidden value of church community that they have there? I wonder if anybody really understands how much they mean to each other—each person providing just a little bit of reassurance & community? Fairs, festivals, parades, car shows, fundraisers in small town America where you know so many and so many others are familiar— it’s irreplaceable! We remember one of the church ladies walking by the front pew of children, all dressed for a Christmas pageant, and she kissed each one on the forehead! Incredible! We are still searching for that Gilford Community Church in Panama City Beach. Thus far, the options seem to range from Disney productions with remote broadcast Sony Tron sermons or churches altogether unable to engage youth—that was something we gave to our grand girls in Gilford, thanks to the church and the Sunday School volunteer teachers, and every other opportunity you presented to our family! GCC has a unique, effective blend and the congregation needs to know they are irreplaceable! Thank you for what you gave us!! - Dale and Cathy Squires Village Newsletter * Gilford Community Church * Issue 5 * May 2015 * Page 6 From the Care And Concern Committee: Since our March sign up, our volunteers have been responding to requests for assistance. Thanks to all of you for your gracious attention to our Church family. (The first Sunday of every month is FOOD COLLECTION SUNDAY and parishioners are invited to bring donations for the Food Pantry to church with them.) Food Pantry Needs for the month of May: Minute Rice/Instant Potatoes, grape jelly and cereals. For New Beginnings: (Please label these donations “New Beginnings” and bring to church): razors and shaving cream, used magazines and silverware. If any members of our congregation would like to join us as a volunteer, the good news is that you don't have to wait until next March! Just speak with one of our Committee members (we wear green name tags) and you will be added to the list. Please note also that anyone may ask for help for themselves or for anyone else when the need arises. Barbara Allard & Nancy Peterson, Cochairs. JoAnn Cowan Lauretta Dwyer Carole Williams Eloise Post Shea King Kim Francoeur FRIENDLY KITCHEN is Friday, May 22nd. Please bring your donations of American Chop Suey and/or brownies to the church kitchen by 9:30 a.m. COFFEE HOUR Coffee hours are a very important part of our church. It is a time for us to gather after a wonderful service to meet and to socialize with each other. We are looking for two families each Sunday to volunteer to host coffee hour. We want to keep the coffee hour simple! If you are interested in volunteering to help out with coffee hour or if you have questions, please contact Bea Snow at 832-3195 or [email protected]. Village Newsletter * Gilford Community Church * Issue 5 * May 2015 * Page 7 The Pemigewasset Choral Society presents “American Tapestry” 42nd Season 2015 Spring Concert Series In our church sanctuary on Thursday, May 7th at 7:30 p.m. (admission by donation). Will Gunn, assistant Music Director (Carol Gellert and AJ Coppola are in the choir) The Pemi Choral Society will be performing at St.Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Franklin, NH on Friday, May 8th at 7:30 (admission by donation) and at the PSU Silver Center for the Arts on Sunday, May 10th at 3:00 pm (adults $12.00; students and seniors $5.00) THE ART OF LAST THINGS Conversations and Resources for Living and Dying Well 1st Congregational Church, 115 S. Main St., Wolfeboro ART EXHIBIT (Deidre Scherer) May 1-June 16th Artist’s Talk June 16th, 7 pm Presentations with Discussion (Tuesdays 4-6 pm) Admission: Donations Welcome May 12 and 19 “Legal and Financial Planning” May 26 “Funeral Planning” June 2 “Advanced Care Planning” June 9 “Grief and Bereavement Resources” Village Newsletter * Gilford Community Church * Issue 5 * May 2015 * Page 8 Youth News Church Clean-Up Day Saturday, May 2nd, 7am Youth members of all ages are invited to attend our annual Church Clean-Up Day, Saturday, May 2nd, 7am. We will be working around the property (Raking, bagging leaves, etc). High School Volunteers Needed!! 8 am – 12 May 16th If you are able/willing to help, please contact Scott. Thanks to all the youth members who attended our Christ Quest: Spring Fling!!!! May 2015 Car Wash Sunday, May 31 During Service We will be holding a car wash during the Sunday service on Sunday, May 31. Proceeds from the event will help fund this year’s Mission Trip. All youth members in High School and Middle School are invited to help. Please be at the church by 9:30am. Senior Breakfast and Bingo Saturday, May 23 9-10:30 We will be continuing our senior outreach this month with a breakfast and bingo event for the seniors of the Village Knolls. The past events were a huge success. We are in need of both middle and high school students to help set-up, cook, serve, run bingo, and clean up. If you wish to help, please contact Scott. Helpers should be at Fellowship Hall at 8:15am. SUN 3 10:00 Worship/ Communion FOOD COLLECTION 11:15 Diaconate Mother’s Day cards for Sale 10 9:40 Hymn Sing 10:00 Worship 1:00 Memorial Service for Lee Elder 17 10:00 Worship 24 10:00 Worship 11:15 Outreach 31 10:00 Worship CAR WASH DURING SERVICE MON 4 1-3:30 Opechee Garden 4:15 Troop 10249 7:15 Chordsmen MAY 2015 6 WED 5 TUES 3:45 Al-Anon 6-7 Troop 10249 6:30 CNHARC 7 THURS 6:30-9 Inter-Faith Prayer Breakfast (St. Andre Bessette Parish Hall) 6:00 Chancel Choir 7:30 Pemigewasset Choral Society Spring Concert 14 6:00 Chancel Choir 5:00 FAMILY CRUISE NIGHT 21 12 noon ADULT STUDY 5-6 Troop 10124 7-8:30 Troop 243 6:00 Chancel Choir 2 SAT 1 7-noon Outdoor Church Clean-Up (bring a friend and a rake!) FRI 4:45 Troop 10578 9 10-12 Troop 12481 11-2 Baby Shower 3:30 Wedding 30 3:00 Wedding 9-10:30 Senior Breakfast & Bingo 23 10-12 Troop 12481 16 8-12 Super Hero Breakfast (GYC) 10-12 Troop 12481 9:00 Memorial Service—Betty Persons 8 4:45 Troop 10578 15 4:45 Troop 10578 6:00 Ladies’ Night Out 22 FRIENDLY KITCHEN 4:45 Troop 10578 5-9 Chinese Cooking Class 6:00 Wedding Rehearsal 28 29 11:30-1 2nd Graders Lunch 4:00 Wedding Rehearsal Here 4:45 Troop 10578 27 10:30-12 Tai Chi 12 noon Adult Study 5-6 Troop 10124 7-8:30 Troop 243 20 10:30-12 Tai Chi 7-8:30 Troop 243 12 noon ADULT STUDY 5-6 Troop 10124 13 10:30-12 Tai Chi 10:30-12 Tai Chi 12 noon ADULT STUDY 5-6 Troop 10124 7-8:30 Troop 243 3:45 Al-Anon 6-7 Troop 10249 19 12 11 11:30-2:30 Senior Momen. 3:45 Al-Anon 4:15 Troop 10249 5:30 Membership 6-7 Troop 10249 6:30 Church Council 6:30 CNHARC Steering 7:15 Chordsmen 18 8:30-12 Senior Momen. 1:30-3:30 D.A.R. 4:15 Troop 10249 6:30 Rotary Board 7:00 Troop 243 Comm. 7:15 Chordsmen 25 26 11:30-2:30 Senior Momen 11:30-1 2nd Graders Lunch Here 3:45 Al-Anon 6-7 Troop 10249 4:15 Troop 10249 7:15 Chordsmen
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