News and Activities

This page includes various notes and news itmes from the mothly Newsletter and other sources. Please be sure to also check out the news and other tidbits on each group's page. Also see older Newsletter Issues.

Calling All 2007 Graduates (May 2007)

If you or a member of your family, are graduating this year from High School, College, Technical School, Community School or University, please e-mail shea@fpc-ucc.org with the following information for our Graduation Page in June’s Newsletter:
name of graduate, what school graduating from, location of school, degree in what field?, possible future plans .

A Note from the Assistant Treasurer (May 2007)

Many people checked off on their pledge card that they would like information about making automatic electronic contributions.  Because the assistant treasurer has to record the individual contributions, having your bank electronically transfer money would not work. 
However, if you bank on line (or go to your bank in person), you can set up a recurring monthly payment plan in which your bank will send a check to the church and the assistant treasurer will collect the check and be able to record and deposit it to the church account.  Please contact Pat Crowell, Assistant Treasurer, if you need clarification.

We Need Greeting Cards (May 2007)

Do you have any unused greeting cards around the house? The NH State Prison is in need of unused greeting cards of any kind. Yearly usage of greeting cards in the prisons is very high and supplies are running short. If you have cards you would like to donate, please leave them in the box on the Mission Table in the office foyer.
Thank you, Dick Hunter (Sponsored by Kairos of NH)

Spring Meeting of the Rockingham Association (May 2007)

The Spring Meeting of the Rockingham Association will be held in Chester at the Congregational Church on Sunday, May 6th.  Our meeting begins at 2:30 pm with refreshments and the business begins at 3:00 pm.  All clergy, delegates and friends are welcome.

This is our business meeting at which time we will pass the proposed budget for '08, vote on the slate of nominees and renew/welcome new in-care students and hear the report of the Committee on Ministry.  Our additional business will be to hear and discuss the changes to the By-laws that are proposed by the By-law Committee. 

We will also have a chance to wish our Synod delegates well, hear a very brief recap of the history-marking celebrations of the Chester Church and mark any milestone ordination anniversaries.  The Executive Committee looks forward to a meeting filled with good fellowship, discussion and celebrating. 

A Letter from Jay Bingel (May 2007)

NATURAL HIGHS  Hey everyone!

Just wanted to tell y’all I had my first drive, (the right flight), as they call it, in the Big Rig today! WOW!!! It was Really Cool :)  I didn't stall it, and didn't get into an accident, so I consider that pretty darn good for a rookie!  I was a lot more nervous before I got my turn to drive then when I actually started driving for the first time.  Shifting is a lot different in a big rig than in a passenger car, and it took me a handful of grinding gears to get the feel of it, but I'm getting it.  Up-shifting is a bit easier than down-shifting, even though you have to double clutch. When you downshift, you have to give it throttle to get your rpm's up enough to be able to go into the next lowest gear, let alone finding the gear.  There's 10 gears on the rig I was in, and thankful there's a gear chart on the dash, because I was getting a bit confused trying to keep track of them as well as driving straight.  Yeah, we all had our first drive on 495, talk about testing your nerves. But we all did pretty well.  Myself included, there were 4 students and the instructor in my class today.  Looking back on today, I'm really proud of myself :)  And for once in my life, I really feel like I'm doing the right thing without having to second guess my decision for a career, it just feels great :)   With time and experience, I'll feel more confident and comfortable, learning from my mistakes and others.  And before I know it, I'll have my license, a good paying job, and able to see the country or at least a lot of highway (lol!)   I'm sure y’all can imagine the smile on my face right now :)  Boy does it feel great!!!   

I love y’all, and want to thank everyone for all the support and encouragement you've given me along the way! It truly feels great and gives me the determination knowing that everyone has confidence in me, and believes in me.  THANK YOU:)!!!          

Sincerely, Truckn’ JayBird Bingel

Second Worship Service Committee (April 2007)

See the latest discussion and information.

2007-2008 Personnel Board Recommendations (April 2007)

See the preliminary report (PDF) presented at multiplie meetings in March and April.

A Word of Thanks ... (April 2007)

To our First Parish Family,
Thank you for all your cards, kind words, prayers, hugs and offers of help as we struggled with the death of our beloved nephew (and Hero!) HN Lucas W. Emch, “Luke” in Iraq on March 2, 2007.  Also, thank you for praying for his immediate family, Wes, Julie and Sammie in Kent, Ohio.  Your love and concern are soooooo appreciated by Mike and me.  Thank you for being a soft place to fall.  Mary-Ann Schroeder

SONH Penguin Plunge (Feb. 2007)

Many thanks to everyone in our church family who encouraged and supported me for the SONH Penquin Plunge.

This was a wonderful, enriching experience: like a super bowl for GOD.  At the end of Feb. 4, 2007, 720 plungers and chickens [I was a plunger, of course], had raised $505,000 for the New Hampshire Special Olympics and checks are still coming in
 
What a super event. Thanks again! Melanie VanSteensburg

Tips for 2007 from the First Parish Family 5 Road Race (Feb. 2007)

Want to avoid that winter cold? Take a hike or a brisk walk.

Taking a brisk walk 5 times a week can dramatically slash you risk of catching a winter cold, according to a year long study by Researcher Cornelia Ulrick, PHD.

Even more impressive, during the last three months of the study, the risk of colds was a full 2/3rds less for walkers and exercisers according to the study at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

The 14th annual First Parish Family 5 Road Race is scheduled to happen on Nov. 4th 2007.  We are hoping to add a walking division this year.  Watch your newsletter each month for helpful tips on getting moving toward race/walk day. (See photos from our successful 2006 Road Race.)

Your Race Directors, David and Diane Breeden

Rockingham VNA and Hospice Bereavement Support Groups (Feb. 2007)

Rockingham VNA and Hospice will be running two 6-week bereavement support groups starting Tuesday, February 27th and concluding April 3, 2007.  The first is a General Group supporting those who have experienced the death of a spouse, sibling, friend, etc.  The second is a Motherless Daughter Group open to any women who have experienced the death of her mother, no matter how long it has been. 

The General Group will meet on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 to noon and the Motherless Daughter group will meet Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  Both groups will meet at the Rockingham VNA and Hospice office at 137 Epping Road in Exeter, N.H.

The goal of a bereavement support group is to help individuals better understand the grief process and meet others who have also experienced the death of a loved one.  Sharing the pain can help ease some of the loneliness and feelings of isolation.  If you are interested in joining the group, please call Lee Maher, Bereavement Coordinator, at 772-2981 or 1-800-540-2981 to register.

Rockingham VNA and Hospice is a Member Agency of the United Way and is a subsidiary of Exeter Health Resources, Inc.

Helping New Orleans (Feb. 2007)

The New Orleans clean-up effort that nine of us just participated in was a part of a much larger UCC cooperative effort.  We have reason to be very proud of the way our church is at work in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Read more (PDF).

Church Events (Dec. 2006)

New Member — On Sunday, December 10, we welcomed Paula Frank into membership at First Parish.  Paula and her husband Eric live in Derry with their sons: Evan (6th grade) and Peter (4th grade). Paula is a graphic designer.  Welcome, Paula!

Recent Weddings — Glenn Hampoian & Angela Girard, November 12, 2006, by Rev. Lucy M. Alexander;  Ronald Hayward & Carole Sarcione, November 11, 2006, by Rev. Alice M.C. Ling.

Office Note (Nov. 2006)

You are an amazing congregation, and a blessing to many people in this community. I would like you to know that I enjoy working with you and I am happy to help you any way I can ... and to be able to help you, I need your assistance with some of the following:

• Would you be willing to e-mail the articles to me for the Newsletter by the 20th of the month? They seem to be coming in later and later!

• Did you know that we keep a copy of the minutes for all Board and Committee meetings in the church office?  It would be great if you could e-mail a copy to me as soon as the minutes are complete.   

• The church has many wonderful activities happening in the building.  Please remember to check if your meeting date and chosen room are available before you advertise.

• To expedite a check request, please attach your receipts and have an authorized person from your group co-sign the form. 

• If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.  Thank you!

Shea Morgan, Administrative Assistant
shea@fpc-ucc.org
tel.  434 -0628