Gift Cards Orders Due September 8

As you may know the church participates in a gift card fundraiser.   It is ongoing, year round, and doesn’t cost the purchaser of the gift card anything.  I will be placing an order for cards Sept. 8 after church.  Read below for how you can plan ahead and truly assist the church with meeting its budget.

There are two ways to get the gift cards, the quick method and the slower method.  Here’s the slow method (though it is usually a week turnaround or less):  Fill out an order form for any gift cards you’d like to purchase.  (Order forms are on the table.) Write a check payable to the Northwood Congregational Church or (NCC) in the amount of your order.  Drop your order form and check off to the church.  For example, let’s say you’d like to give someone a $50 gift card to Best Buy for their birthday.  You would fill in the order form for one gift card to Best Buy and write a check to the NCC in the amount of $50.   After the church order is placed and received, I will bring your gift card(s) to church.  The church receives a percentage of each card, but you receive face value.

If you are interested in participating, please take a look at the attached list of participating stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc.  There are hundreds.  And many more options than is available by the “quick” method.

The quick way to get gift cards:  show up Sunday at church.  We have many cards on hand. 

Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Bertucci’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili’s, Chipotle, Cold Stone Creamery, Chuck E Cheese, D’Angelo’s, Ninety Nine, Pizza Hut, Panera Bread, , Ruby Tuesdays, Subway, TGIFridays, Texas Roadhouse, Uno’s, Darden Restaurants (which is about 6 different restaurants), Restaurant.com, Lowes, Home Depot,  Best Buy, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Claire’s, Bath & Body Works, iTunes, Cabela’s, Barnes & Noble, JC Penney, Sears, Kohl’s, LL Bean, Macy’s, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods, Michaels, Pottery Barn, Jo-Ann Fabrics, American Eagle, Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Athelta, Piperline, Staples, Circle K, Shell, AMC theatre tickets, Regal, etc.  etc.  

Thanks for considering purchasing your gift cards this “old school” way.   (There is a way to purchase online, but it costs the church money because we are a small congregation.)

Pam English

Announcements for last weekend of August, first week of September 2015

Our Guest Musician on Sunday is Lonnie Westcott

Lonnie Wescott is the Music Director for R. W. Traip Academy in Kittery, Maine.  Traip is the public high school for Kittery and Kittery Point.  He is originally from Casco, Maine.  Growing up, he attended the Casco Village Church, U.C.C., where his mother was the church organist for over 50 years and his dad sang bass in the choir.  He and his wife Leisa live in Berwick, Maine, and have four children and two grandsons.  They enjoy traveling, motorcycling, and on most weekends Lonnie plays piano and saxophone with his Motown band, “The SoulMate Band”.  Leisa never misses a show.

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 Gayle will be away

Next week, Gayle will be away on a study retreat to Squirrel Island with colleagues from seminary.  Gayle’s time will be spent planning for the fall and   summarizing her Sabbatical.  She will be available by phone or email, so please don’t hesitate to contact her if there is a need.

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 Want to Help Plan Worship?

Gayle is looking for a group of people who will meet with her weekly to determine what God has to say this week.  No homework!  No depth of knowledge required!  We will look at the Scripture passage and see what speaks to us, what is confusing, what is hard to accept.  Then we will outline the flow of sermon and what the service can do to carry the message.  This is a learning from my Sabbatical, and in Countryside Church the group finds it so exciting they plan their week around it and worship is much better.  See Gayle if you are interested.

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Report Back to the Church on Gayle’s Sabbatical

             Sept 13 - Unity Sunday - Reuniting with those who have been gone.

             Sept 20 - Worship Service will reflect the Sabbath/Sabbatical theme and thanks to all who made the Sabbatical so successful.

             Sept 27 - After Worship there will be a Slide show and Presentation of what Gayle did, studied, and thought about.  Gayle will provide treats.

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 New Fiscal Year begins in September

Sunday September 6 begins the new Church Fiscal year and the new pledge offering year.  If you would like a new set of offering envelopes for this year, there is a sign up sheet in Fellowship Hall to request them.  Matt will check and put out requested sets starting this Sunday for those already requesting them.  You can contact Matt request new envelopes.  These are available for any member, pledging or otherwise for their convenience.  If you had envelopes this past year, the set number will change again as we  exhaust our supply.  This will not affect the tracking of your giving for your annual statements.
Thank you all for your continued support of our Church.  ~ Matt Caron

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Unity Sunday!! - Sunday, September 13

Come one, come all to celebrate, share Fellowship, and worship together again.  The Northwood Congregational Church will rally and re-unite from summer travel, Sabbatical leave, finding God in other  places, and WE WANT YOU HERE!   Unity Sunday will be the kick-off to the new year, Sunday School, choir, and small groups.  Be a part of the anticipation and excitement of the new year. 

Immediately after Worship, we will have a Quarterly Congregational Meeting to vote on items for our starting renovation project, keep you informed about what is going on, share some exciting fall plans, and receive your guidance in our new structure.   Then, because our Sunday morning brunches have been such a hit, we invite you to eat with us.  It is a great spread and a sign-up poster will be in Fellowship Hall for the next 3 weeks.

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 Choir Starts Up Again on September 10

We will host an ice cream social for all choir members and those who might like to become a part of our Church Choir.  The first Sunday for choir participation is September 20.

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Have a great week everyone!! ~ Mona

We are looking for a Music Director and Accompanist

We are looking for a Music Director and Accompanist

The Northwood Congregational Church, UCC is a small progressive church looking for a Music Director and Accompanist.   Please contact the church at ncc@myfairpoint.net for a detailed job description and application.  The right person could do both of the positions.

ACCOMPANIST

We are seeking a talented musician on keyboard with the ability to sight read music (understanding liturgical music is a plus).   The accompanist would participate in weekly worship, attend weekly choir rehearsals, and participate in weddings, funerals, and holiday services.  

MUSIC DIRECTOR

The Music Director would work closely with the Pastor to plan worship and choose music, direct and rehearse weekly a small Adult Choir, and work with occasional guest musicians.    Creativity is encouraged.      

Announcements for our fourth week of August

August Mission:  End 68 Hours of Hunger

This is a nationwide program housed locally here at our Church.  Each weekend for 68 hours children don’t have school lunches or breakfasts, so this program gives them backpacks filled with kid-friendly, nutritionally sound, shelf stable foods.  You can help by bringing in food for the backpacks, money to fill holes in donations, or volunteer your time.  The foods they would like are: peanut butter and jelly (no glass jars), soup, mac + cheese, fruit cups, canned pasta, real fruit juice boxes, chili, protein bars, crackers, cereal, tuna + chicken (canned), baked beans, pudding cups, fruit snacks, and ramen noodles.

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Our Co-Worship leader and Guest Musician is Matt Mackay

Matt MacKay is an artist and songwriter who creates infectious and inspiring songs that are to glorify the Lord and lead others to do the same every day.  From leading college services, spontaneous worship experiences, Sunday services, and guest worship leading, Matt is an effective communicator and Worship leader.  His relevant and growing ministry has been a blessing to the body of Christ for years.  Matt began leading in ministry from a young age and has lead to exalt God through his talents of music and design for over 15 years.  He loves the local church and has played many roles on church teams as a Worship leader, youth ministry director, Sunday School teacher, media coordinator, and even serving a great deal in building his first home church!  With all of that said, nothing Matt does is for his own fame - his ministry, music, designs, and anything else he does is to give glory to the Lord.  His servant heart and humbling testimony help make him an effective minister for where he knows God has been leading him.

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Construction Update

*Preservation Timber Frame Co. of Maine has been hired to do our Restoration work and the contract is signed.  *Details of the project have been submitted to LCHIP.  *Structural engineer will visit within the week.  *Hopefully it will be an early September start!  Thank you for the generosity which has made this happen.  ~  Chris Kofer..

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Unity Sunday!! - Sunday, September 13

Come one, come all to celebrate, share Fellowship, and worship together again.  The Northwood Congregational Church will rally and re-unite from summer travel, Sabbatical leave, finding God in other  places, and WE WANT YOU HERE!   Unity Sunday will be the kick-off to the new year, Sunday School, choir, and small groups.  Be a part of the anticipation and excitement of the new year. 

Immediately after Worship, we will have a Quarterly Congregational Meeting to vote on items for our starting renovation project, keep you informed about what is going on, share some exciting fall plans, and  receive your guidance in our new structure.   Then, because our Sunday morning brunches have been such a hit, we invite you to eat with us.  It is a great spread and a sign-up poster will be in Fellowship Hall for the next 3 weeks.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Fiscal Year begins in September

Sunday September 6 begins the new Church Fiscal year and the new pledge offering year.  If you would like a new set of offering envelopes for this year, there is a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall to request them.  Matt will check and put out requested sets starting this Sunday for those already requesting them.  You can also email Matt to request new envelopes.  These are available for any member, pledging or otherwise for their convenience.  If you had envelopes this past year, the set number will change again as we  exhaust our supply.  This will not affect the tracking of your giving for your annual statements.
Thank you all for your continued support of our Church.  ~ Matt Caron

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Choir Starts Up Again on September 10

We will host an ice cream social for all choir members and those who might like to become a part of our Church Choir.  The first Sunday for choir participation is September 20.

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Strawberry Festival Yard Sale Final Wrap-Up

There are several items that did not sell in June that we would like to try selling on craigslist.  If you would be interested in taking pictures of these items and posting them on-line, please speak to or call Faith Levesque.

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Fellowship Meals

We would like you to approach our fellowship dinners in a new way.  When asked for meals for the sick or needy, people think to themselves that they are not a good cook, or they have no time, or it is too expensive.  When it comes to helping a church family member, gourmet meals are not needed.  We are looking for Fresh Homemade comfort food.

This is not Meals On Wheels.  The intention is to provide two meals a week to supplement the quick meals that their caregivers are preparing.  We are sending a warm meal along with our prayers!  Please ask yourselves:

*  What do you like to cook?

*  Do you have a meal you can double easily?

*  Is it affordable?

*  Do you make it a couple times a month?

*  Does it  freeze well?

*  How is it reheated?

If you can commit to cooking one meal a month we should be able to extend this fellowship.  Please let me know your thoughts on this approach or any other helpful comments.  Thank you !

~  Diane Kizirian 

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Items for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

As a new school year begins, great deals can be found on crayons, colored pencils, chalk, glue sticks, erasers, small notebooks, stationery, pens, pencils, and hand-held sharpeners at Wal-Mart, Target, Staples, Office Max, etc.  Please keep our shoeboxes in mind, when you walk by these store displays or get flyers in the mail.  Our Operation Christmas Child “gold box” will be set up in Fellowship Hall to accept your donation(s) until National Collection Week in November.  If you have any questions, please contact Faith Levesque.

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Have a great week everyone!!  ~  Mona

Announcements for our third week of August 2015

August Mission:  End 68 Hours of Hunger

This is a nationwide program housed locally here at our Church.  Each weekend for 68 hours children don’t have school lunches or breakfasts, so this program gives them backpacks filled with kid-friendly, nutritionally sound, shelf stable foods.  You can help by bringing in food for the backpacks, money to fill holes in donations, or volunteer your time.  The foods they would like are: peanut butter and jelly (no glass jars), soup, mac + cheese, fruit cups, canned pasta, real fruit juice boxes, chili, protein bars, crackers, cereal, tuna + chicken (canned), baked beans, pudding cups, fruit snacks, and ramen noodles.

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Our Guest Musician on Sunday is Patricia Savage

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Save the Date!!  Fisher Cats Game, next Saturday, August 22

Join us for a fun, family evening with the Fisher Cats.  We will meet here at the church to carpool to the game.  The ticket fee has been generously donated by Revitalizing Touch Therapeutic Massage.  We plan to leave the church parking lot by 3:30pm.  For more information or to reserve your ticket, you may contact Michael Magoon.

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New Fiscal Year begins in September

Sunday September 6 begins the new Church Fiscal year and the new pledge offering year.  If you would like a new set of offering envelopes for this year, there is a sign up sheet in Fellowship Hall to request them.  Matt will check and put out requested sets starting this Sunday for those already requesting them.  You can also email Matt to request new envelopes.  These are available for any member, pledging or otherwise for their convenience.  If you had envelopes this past year, the set number will change again as we  exhaust our supply.  This will not affect the tracking of your giving for your annual statements.
Thank you all for your continued support of our Church.  ~ Matt Caron

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Rally Day - September 13

This is the kick-off day to the Program Year and a Celebration of Worship.  After church, Gayle will make a presentation about her Sabbatical and we will have a brunch together.

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Choir Starts Up Again

We will host an ice cream social for all choir members and those who might like to become a part of our Church Choir.  The first Sunday for choir participation is September 20.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strawberry Festival Yard Sale Final Wrap-Up

There are several items that did not sell in June that we would like to try selling on craigslist.  If you would be interested in taking pictures of these items and posting them on-line, please speak to or call Faith Levesque.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fellowship Meals

We would like you to approach our fellowship dinners in a new way.  When asked for meals for the sick or needy, people think to themselves that they are not a good cook, or they have no time, or it is too expensive.  When it comes to helping a church family member, gourmet meals are not needed.  We are looking for Fresh Homemade comfort food.

This is not Meals On Wheels.  The intention is to provide two meals a week to supplement the quick meals that their caregivers are preparing.  We are sending a warm meal along with our prayers!  Please ask    yourselves:

*  What do you like to cook?

*  Do you have a meal you can double easily?

*  Is it affordable?

*  Do you make it a couple times a month?

*  Does it  freeze well?

*  How is it reheated?

If you can commit to cooking one meal a month we should be able to extend this fellowship.  Please let me know your thoughts on this approach or any other helpful comments.  Thank you !

~  Diane Kizirian

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Items for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

As a new school year begins, great deals can be found on crayons, colored pencils, chalk, glue sticks, erasers, small notebooks, stationery, pens, pencils, and hand-held sharpeners at Wal-Mart, Target, Staples, Office Max, etc.  Please keep our shoeboxes in mind, when you walk by these store displays or get flyers in the mail.  Our Operation Christmas Child “gold box” will be set up in Fellowship Hall to accept your donation(s) until National Collection Week in November.  If you have any questions, please contact Faith Levesque.

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Have a great week everyone!  ~ Mona

Announcements for our second week of August 2015

Pastor Gayle has Returned!

You gave a great gift to Gayle of a 10-week Sabbatical.  This was not a vacation, but the opportunity to explore and experience new ideas and practices.  Gayle visited other churches, talked with other pastors, went to other churches for worship, read many books, experienced other churches, and prayed.  Gayle has come back filled, renewed, and eager to share. 

This congregation was nothing less than amazing to cover worship, leadership, pastoral care, continuing community connections, and learning opportunities.  There were more than 40 people doing behind the scenes and direct leadership.  You are amazing!

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Our Guest Pianist is Bob Kroepel

Continuing through Sunday, August 9, Northwood Congregational Church welcomes Bob Kroepel (KRAY-Pull) as our guest pianist.  Bob lives in New Durham, NH, with Janice (Mrs. K!) and Bingo (Yellow Lab - The World’s Finest Dog!).

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August Mission:  End 68 Hours of Hunger

This is a nationwide program housed locally here at our Church.  Each weekend for 68 hours children don’t have school lunches or breakfasts, so this program gives them backpacks filled with kid-friendly, nutritionally sound, shelf stable foods.  You can help by bringing in food for the backpacks, money to fill holes in donations, or volunteer your time.  The foods they would like are: peanut butter and jelly (no glass jars), soup, mac + cheese, fruit cups, canned pasta, real fruit juice boxes, chili, protein bars, crackers, cereal, tuna + chicken (canned), baked beans, pudding cups, fruit snacks, and ramen noodles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Save the Date!!  Fisher Cats Game, Saturday, August 22

Join us for a fun, family evening with the Fisher Cats.  We will meet here at the church to carpool to the game.  The ticket fee has been generously donated by Revitalizing Touch Therapeutic Massage.  We plan to leave the church parking lot by 3:30pm.  For more information or to reserve your ticket, you may contact Michael Magoon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Items for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

As a new school year begins, great deals can be found on crayons, colored pencils, chalk, glue sticks, erasers, small notebooks, stationery, pens, pencils, and hand-held sharpeners at Wal-Mart, Target, Staples, Office Max, etc.  Please keep your shoeboxes in mind, when you walk by these store displays or get flyers in the mail.  Our Operation Christmas Child “gold box” will be set up in Fellowship Hall to accept your donation(s) beginning next Sunday, August 16.  If you have any questions, please contact Faith Levesque.

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Have a great week everyone!!  ~ Mona