December 2006 Parish News

"PARISH UPDATE" by Chris Porter - December 20, 2006

Greetings ...
    As the inventor of the name, "A Nichols Worth," I thought coming up with an equally catchy name for my first Senior Warden newsletter article would be easy. But "Porter's Pittance" sounds a bit skimpy, and "A Senior Moment" makes me feel way too old. So let me know if you come up with something better. In the meantime, here's an update on how things are going during this time of transition at St. Stephen's.
    First, and perhaps most importantly, my thanks go to Fr. Curtis Metzger for his service to the parish, his beautiful homilies, and his friendly, embracing manner. The vestry is working closely with the Diocese to ensure seamless pastoral coverage, and I anticipate sharing more good news with you in this regard very soon.
    The slate of Vestry members for 2007 is nearly complete and will be announced shortly. I'd like to extend my thanks to retiring Vestry members Ed Loomis, Yvonne Loomis and Don Ellison for their many years of gracious service. Barbara Barr will be moving into the Treasurer's position, filling a role that Ed has held for many years.
    My thanks go also to Jim Whinn for his incredible dedication as leader of our Building Team. Although Jim is stepping down from this role, I'm grateful for his willingness to serve as Pledge Secretary, where Marsha Conti has served us well for many years. Many thanks, Marsha.
    By all means, if anyone feels a call to help out with the Building Team, please let me know.
    Beginning in mid-January, and continuing up to Shrove Tuesday, our newly formed Stewardship Team will be organizing an extended, educational and entertaining Stewardship and Pledge season.
    The Rev. Charles LaFond, the Diocesan Canon for Stewardship, is working closely with this new team. Although our Stewardship and Pledge season will be time-shifted forward a bit this year, please keep up your weekly or monthly financial commitments and contributions to St. Stephen's.
    If you can afford to make even a small increase in your giving now and into the new year, it will make our annual budgeting process all the easier. St. Stephen's annual budget and meeting season are just around the corner, coming up the last two weeks of January. I'll be writing in more detail on these subjects in the coming weeks.
    Finally, don't forget there are two services on December 24 - at 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Hymns and Carols singing beginning at 6:30 p.m. - and two weeks later, Bishop Robinson will be with us.
    Thanks to all of you for everything you do for St. Stephen's, and for your support of me, as we walk this new path together.
Cheers and Merry Christmas,
Chris Porter

A CHRISTMAS BLESSING by Fr. Curtis Metzger

Dear Friends,
    What a joy it has been to be with you over the last number of weeks as we walk through Advent together. You have been so warm and welcoming that it has made it so easy for me to keep coming back!
    I truly hope that this Advent is giving you some time to think about this holy and contemplative season as we prepare our hearts once again for the radical love of God being born to a country girl from Galilee.
    Have you found some time in the busy season to rest and pray? As hard as it is for some of us to identify with this metaphor: Do you feel that you too can give birth to God's love in the world around you?
    When I retreat to silence I often take this verse from Psalm 62: "For God alone my soul in silence waits, from Him comes my salvation." I encourage you to take it with you through the busy weeks of the season and find little moments to remind yourself of the peace of God.
    The first week of Advent I shared this wonderful evening Canticle from the Canadian Prayer Book that is so appropriate for the season. Cut it out and post it on your fridge for a daily reminder:

    "Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe; creator of light and darkness.
    In this holy season, when the sun's light is swallowed up by the growing darkness of the night, You renew Your promise to reveal among us the splendour of Your glory, enfleshed and visible to us in Jesus Christ your Son. Through the prophets You teach us to hope for His reign of peace.
    Through the outpouring of His Spirit, You open our blindness to the glory of His presence. Strengthen us in our weakness. Support us in our stumbling efforts to do Your will, and free our tongues to sing Your praise.
    For to You all honor and blessing are due, now and for ever. Amen."

Holy Advent and Merry Christmas to all,
Fr. Curtis

PARISH PROFILES by Elvia Hetu

    Chris and Fayth Noyes are a relatively new couple at St. Stephen's who have just been with us since January 2006. They sit on the right side of the church in about the middle.
    Chris was born in Boston and lived in Randolph, Massachusetts, until after he graduated from high school. His father was a Chaplain for several Boston hospitals.
    Fayth was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, but when she was 6 years old her family moved to New Hampshire and she became a Granite State resident living in Concord, and then Chichester, before graduating from Plymouth State College.
    The couple met in Belmont, Massachusetts, and were married in 1980, with Chris' dad performing the ceremony. Chris' son by his first marriage, Shane, was 3 years old.
    Chris worked for Western Electric for 26 years. He is now a Material Expeditor for Velcro USA.
    Their daughter, Brooke, was born in 1982, and in 1983 they moved to Dracut, Massachusetts, where they lived for 20 years. When the children were young, Fayth worked in day care. She also worked with a florist and made deliveries. She began working for Wal-Mart and still does today.
    In 2004, Chris and Fayth moved to New Hampshire and bought a home in Pittsfield.
    Shane was married in 2005, and he and his wife, both Captains in the Air Force, are presently stationed near Anchorage, Alaska. Brooke, with an Associate's Degree in Illustration, lives in Arizona, and will be coming home for Christmas this year.
    Fayth loves gardening, and both of them are interested in photography.
    Chris is a football fan and they both root for the Patriots, of course. Chris' hobbies include computers and building and repairing in his workshop, but he is interested in much more.
    With their interest in St. Stephen's and willingness to work, we're fortunate to have Chris and Fayth Noyes as parishioners.

WORSHIP TEAM REPORT by Yvonne Loomis

    The Worship Team met on November 5. This was a very busy meeting and several important decisions were made. This was Father Kevin's last worship meeting with the team, and someone needed to be found to lead the team. This decision was tabled until the Vestry meeting the next evening to discuss this opening along with the needs of the Vestry's upcoming vacancies.
    Since Yvonne Loomis' term as Junior Warden is up, she offered to lead the team until a new rector could be called to St. Stephen's Church.
Call by Name
    A special welcome to all who were called by name this year:
    Virginia Haffner has joined the altar guild, Keala (Diane Steward's adopted daughter) is to be a new acolyte, Fayth and Chris Noyes as lectors, Diane Steward, Pate Kelley and Chris Noyes as ushers.
    Congratulations to you all for your willingness to serve! Thanks, also, to those who made the training night run so smoothly.
Music
    The choir is working hard in preparation for the Christmas Eve service. Anyone interested in singing with the choir is welcome to join. Choir practice is on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.The choir is working hard in preparation for the Christmas Eve service. Anyone interested in singing with the choir is welcome to join. Choir practice is on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.
    Parishioners will find a laminated copy of the "Celtic Alleluia" in their pews to be sung as a Gospel Acclamation.
Dates to Note
    Poinsettias for the Christmas Eve service are $8 each. Please see Charlotte Berry for further details.
    The Fourth Advent will be observed on the morning of December 24 at 9:30 a.m.: Rite 2.
    Christmas Eve service will be in the evening on the same day: December 24 at 7 p.m.: Rite 1, with Hymns and Christmas Carols singing beginning at 6:30 p.m. .
    The Bishop will be visiting St. Stephen's on the Furst Sunday after The Epiphany, January 7, at 9:30 a.m.
A Word on Advent
    In Latin, the word Advent means "to come to" or "arrival." Here at St. Stephen's, we honor Advent with the lighting of specific candles in our Advent wreath. These four candles - three purple and one pink - represent four weeks of preparation and expectation as we await the birth of our Savior. As each week passes and another candle is lit, we are reminded of the growing light of Christ's presence in the world and in our lives.
    I'm not sure if many of you know the meaning of each candle, so I will list them, hoping that this might deepen your Advent experience. The first purple candle represents expectation or hope. The second purple candle stands for love, and the third (pink candle) is for joy. The last purple candle stands for peace.
    Sometimes there is a center candle in the Advent wreath, often colored white. This candle is called the Christ Candle, and it is traditionally lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
    I know that some of you may be feeling a little overwhelmed lately, what with Christmas preparations and with Father Kevin gone. Indeed, it might seem like a dark time. The nights are longer, the weather is colder, and our beloved rector has answered a call to another parish. So I want to speak to you as your people's warden and your "senior" LEM.
    Yes, it's dark out now, but as with everything, expect changes. I venture to say that we are in our own little Advent season here at St. Stephen's. We are expecting and we are awaiting the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and we are also awaiting the call of a new rector.
    How can we all feel anything but hope, love and peace knowing that great things await each one of us and the parish family that is St. Stephen's? Take heart.
    I will leave you with a special Advent prayer, a prayer that will seem familiar to many of you. It's the prayer that we say during the lighting of the Advent candles. Let it guide you through Advent and beyond:
    "Lord, grant by your light, that being rid of the darkness of our hearts, we may come to the true light which is Christ."
Respectfully yours,
Yvonne Loomis

OUTREACH TEAM REPORT by Margaret Porter

    A number of items were discussed at the November 19 Outreach meeting. Among them:
Distribution of Funds
    About $2,000 is designated as Inreach money. Approximately $450 is needed for the new stove, but this could come from the George Owen Fund.
    About $2,000 is designated as Outreach money. Based on a recommendation from the Team Leader and Senior Warden, the Treasurer has already sent $100 to the diocesan CHIPS program for supplemental gift purchases.
    The Team will recommend to the Vestry these year-end donations:
        $100 (or more)Brock Home
        $250 Pittsfield Youth Workshop
        $200 Northwood Food Pantry
        $200 Strafford Food Pantry
        $200 Pittsfield Food Pantry
        $200 Barnstead Food Pantry
        $200 CATCH Neighborhood Housing
        $100 Pittsfield Fire and Rescue
        $100 Pittsfield Police Association
    This leaves approximately $1,350, depending on the size of the donation to the Brock Home. An amount may be reserved for a 2007 donation to Millennium Development Goals (.7 percent of Budget Line A designated to global outreach) or other things.
Lutheran Social Services
    We felt that in this time of transition, the Outreach Team and the congregation should not undertake outreach to a refugee family. We could reschedule Becky Vinson's visit (cancelled due to Fr. Kevin's departure). We plan to revisit this issue at mid-year, when we'll have a better sense of how we may be of help in this effort.
Sox Appeal
    The Team decided to continue this activity in the giving season. The gifts will be divided among the welfare offices in Barnstead, Pittsfield, Northwood and Strafford.
Food Gathering
    In addition to boosting our donation to area pantries, the Team discussed designating a different area pantry each month to receive our food items. The need all around the state is very great. Typically, the pantries receive an abundance of food around the holidays … the need for donations spikes during other times of the year, and we want to be responsive.
Newcomer packets
    Rector's letter will be removed and a Senior Warden's letter substituted. Also to be removed are the pledge card, blue Skills & Interests sheet, and Church school registration form (The warden's letter will mention we have two, six-week church school sessions per year). Packets will include Dave's article on "Year-Round Need," which is available in a back issue or from the website.
Evangelism Grant
    We have until the end of the year to seek a grant from the Commission on Evangelism. A new sign for outside the church will cost $122, and two, eight-foot posts are $29.50 each. Shipping for an order up to $199 would be $14.95. There is a chance we can place a sign on Route 4 at North Road. We would also like to re-position the sign outside the church closer to the sidewalk - better visibility for passing traffic.