September 2010

Church Council is meeting September 8 at 5:30pm at the church. The agenda will include completing a job description/request for the next pastor.

We will be holding Bible Study at Beverly's house, 25 Parker Ridge, on Wednesday September 22. The group will be selecting a new book for the fall.

Ministry Update:

Joan announced that she and her daughter have completed their goal of making 200 school bags for UMCOR. These bags are stocked with school supplies and will be sent to children in Africa. They have also assembled and sent over 160 health kits for Haiti. Praise God and thank you to all who have donated!

Duncan reported that he was able to purchase over $800 in food and personal care items for the Pettengill House, Our Neighbor's Table and the Salvation Army last week through the donations from the Ice Cream Social and the congregation.

Training Opportunities (See Pastor Pam for details):

• District training based on two books by Paul Nixon, "I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church" and "Finding Jesus on the Metro" will be held October 14
• Pastor Approved Lay Ministry training will start on Wednesdays in September

Please join us for "Back to Church Sunday" worship on September 12 - make regular worship or Bible Study attendance part of your fall schedule! Worship begins at 9am every Sunday and new Bible Studies will be starting up as well - we'll be publishing schedules here!

Mothers of South End Summer (MOSES)

Hey South End moms, can you give us a hand? We are planning a FREE summer Monday Moms program for you and your kids. We have some ideas, but would love to hear from you to get it right. Could you please answer this short questionnaire? Thanks!

Please keep your eyes open to see what we come up with for you and your kids. Hope to see you in June!

The MOSES Committee: Pastor Pam Maden & Lori Davis

April 2010

Today we recognized three newly trained CareGivers in our congregation.

The next Bible Study is May 4 at Emma's house

April 30 all are invited to Stand Against Racism by joining us and other members of the community at Waterfront Park at 6:30pm.

Holy Week Services and Activities

Tuesday March 30:

Bible Study at Gloria's house in Amesbury at 7pm. Call the church for directions.

Quilt Group at church at 7pm

Thursday April 1:

Choir rehearsal 3-4pm

Emotions Anonymous 7-8pm

Joint Maunday Thursday Service at Merrimacport UMC at 7pm

Friday April 2:

Special Service to remember the Last Words of Christ at 1:45 - 3pm

Saturday April 3:

The church will be open from 8am to 8pm for prayer and reflection

Sunday April 4:

Easter!

Sunrise service at Carey Park in Merrimacport

9am Worship at People's

Bible Study March 9

March 9 (Tuesday) Bible Study will be at Jane's house, 22 Parker Ridge, at 7pm.

March 14 Worship at the Sullivan Building

Join us at 2pm on March 14 at the Sullivan Building in Newburyport for a special worship service!

March 2010

Tuesday March 2:

There will be Bible Study at 4:30pm at LeeAnn's home. There will also be Bible Study at Beverly's home at 7pm. Both groups are starting Growing Older and Wiser.

Regular weekly events:

• The Angel Gabriel Quilters meet Tuesdays at 7pm at the church.
• Emotions Anonymous meets Thursdays at 7pm at the church
• The Choir rehearses at 3pm on Thursdays at the church.
• A special Cantata choir rehearses at 4pm on Sundays at the church. They will present a Palm Sunday Cantata on March 28.

Upcoming Sermons:

March 7 (Third Sunday of Lent): Praying from the Belly of the Great Big Fish - Jonah 2:1-10

March 14 (Fourth Sunday of Lent): The God of the Second Chance - Jonah 3:1-4

March 21 (Fifth Sunday of Lent): About Face! - Jonah 3: 5-10

March 28 (Palm Sunday): We will celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem with Palms, then end the service with preparation for Jesus' trials on the cross.

Lenten Events:

April 1: Maunday Thursday service at Merrimacport UMC at 7pm

April 4: Sunrise Service at Carey Park in Merrimacport at 6:15am

April 4: Easter Worship Service at 9am at People's UMC

January 2010

We have welcomed the First Church of Christ - Scientist Newburyport to our building. They meet at 11am on Sundays and on Wednesday evenings. We enjoyed meeting together over coffee in January, and are so happy to be able to provide them a temporary facility.

We are collecting supplies and cash donations to send Health Kits to Haiti through UMCOR. Joan Eaton is leading this effort. So far she and her family have assembled 56 kits that are ready to send!

Be sure to tune into the Opportunity Works Lend-a-Hand Auction on February 20 to see Pastor Pam auction off items from our sponsored table.

THANK YOU to the Newburyport Five Cent Savings Bank for your generous grant sponsoring one month of meals for the Meals on Wheels program.

Bible Study will be meeting at Beverly's house, 25 Parker Ridge, on Tuesday at 7pm. There is also a Bible Study at LeeAnn's house at 4pm followed by prayer shawl group meeting at the church at 7pm.