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