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Window to the World Monthly Newsletter of the Plymouth United Methodist Church January 2014

Plymouth United Methodist Church

334 Fairgrounds Road Plymouth NH 03264

Phone: 603-536-1941 www.plymouthumc.wordpress.com

Lucas Boomsma, Pastor

Colin McIver, Music Director Ministers to the Community,

All of Us

Sunday Worship Service

& Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Holy Communion:

1st Sunday of the month Wednesday Bible Study:

10:00 - 12:00

Newsletter Submission Deadline: 20th of the month

Glory Kidger, editor gkidger@msn.com, 536-9620

Photo Credit: “The Rose Window” by Danni Downing Photography

Happy New Year!

from Pastor Lucas Boomsma We welcome in the New Year

with a wealth of possibilities.

We also look back over the past

year and take a look at our

accomplishments and also our

areas that leave some room for

improvement. It is truly a gift

to look back and see all the

wonderful work this

congregation has done for the

community. I look forward this

year to make sure I give all the

support I can to continue the

work that everyone is already

doing. I also welcome the

possibilities of expanding our

mission into new areas.

I pray that everyone had a

wonderful Christmas and New

Year’s and that we all can work

together this year to spread the

joy of Christ to Plymouth and

beyond.

Dinner at the

Bridge House Shelter

Monday, January 6th The staff and residents of the

Bridge House Homeless Shelter

have invited us to join them for

a potluck supper and singing at

5:30 on January 6th. If you are

interested in attending, please

contact Donna Gorton at 603-

960-1047 or

donnamgorton@yahoo.com and

she will RSVP for us all.

This past year Plymouth UMC

supported the Bridge House

through an ongoing collection

of cleaning supplies, donations

of hats, mittens, and cash, and

by providing 10 vouchers for

free admission to each of our

monthly fundraising dinners.

The Shelter has become a

regular stop for our December

Christmas Caroling singers.

For information about other

ways you can support the

Bridge House Shelter, visit their

website at www.tbhshelter.org,

or call Holly at 536-7631.

260 Highland St., Plymouth

Inside This Issue

News from the Pews..…page 2 Highlights from 2013….page 3 2013 Mission Review….page 5 Campus Corner……….….page 8 Happy New Year……......page 9

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News from the Pews

Society of St. Andrew:

Feeding America’s Hungry

Through Coin Collection Boxes For those who journeyed with Society of St.

Andrew through the Advent devotional booklet

“Miracle in the Manger”, please bring back your

coin collection boxes on Sunday, Jan. 5th.

Through your partnership in this ministry, you

demonstrate our Savior’s special concern for the

last, the least, and the lost, by reducing food waste

and feeding our neighbors in need.

Society of St. Andrew, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a

grassroots, ecumenical and interfaith ministry, has

been working toward a world without hunger

since 1979. www.endhunger.org

BIRTHDAYS 7 Niko Furbish

19 Sally Lenentine

Contact Information for Church

Activities and/or Needs: Church Office Phone: 536-1941, an answering

machine will take your message and someone will

address your call ASAP.

Pastoral Emergencies: Pastor Lucas Boomsma at

508-309-2449 or PUMC Lay Leader, Diane Randall

at 603-731-1186

To schedule building usage, please call Lois

McLoud at 536-9707

To help with the 9:30 Sunday Worship Services as

a greeter, usher, liturgist, or PowerPoint creator,

please contact Worship Committee chairperson,

Sandra Haskell at 536-4723

New PUMC Membership Directory

is Coming Soon! For a preview of the photo portraits that Danni

Downing took, go to www.dannidowningphotography.com/Family/Church/

Church-Portraits

Warm Hearts Help to Warm Residents’ Hands and Feet

The Women's Fellowship is gathering donations of

adult gloves (no mittens please) and adult knitted

slippers for the Bridge House Shelter. Residents

must remove their shoes during the winter

months. Contact Diane Randall (731-1186) or

Diane Tiffany (536-2822) for more information.

Oliver! January 22-26 Silver Center for the Arts

Oliver! is Charles Dickens' beloved story filled with

familiar music, rousing dance and acted by an

intergenerational cast. This production will delight

all ages and build memories for years to come. It's

a huge undertaking for our community and a labor

of love and dedication by the Educational Theatre

Collaborative team. Oliver! pulls together another

huge cast of adults and kids (113) from 28 different

towns near and far, including our own Melissa

Furbish as Nancy with Mya & Ruby as orphans.

Don't miss it. For tickets call 535-ARTS (2787).

Several of our church’s committees need new or

additional members to carry out the “business” of

the church. You are invited to consider how you

might share your time, talents, and gifts in service

during this coming year.

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(courtesy of Danni Downing Photography)

Highlights from 2013:

A Year of Celebrations & Changes

The final loan payment for the church basement loan was paid in April, leaving us debt-free. We celebrated with a Dedication Service and Open House on June 9th.

Our Lenten Theme was taken from “The Summons” by John Bell, © 1987

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?

Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,

Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?

Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?

Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?

Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Rory and Cole Robison were baptized in March

(courtesy of Danni Downing Photography)

Coming Soon - pictures from Rev. Ed Charest’s retirement party

(Danni Downing Photography)

Rev. Ed Charest was presented with a

framed copy of Danni Downing’s photo of “The Rose Window”

(courtesy of Danni Downing Photography)

Happy Re-Retirement,

Rev. Ed! On Saturday, June 22nd we

celebrated his 7 years of ministry

at PUMC

2013

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Rev. Bill Torrey served as our Interim Pastor from July through September

The Children’s Choir performed on Dec. 22nd . Many thanks also to Heather Cassarino, Colin McIver, Josh Furbish, and Rich Delanoy

The Women’s Fellowship Cookie Walk was a hit at the Holiday Bazaar on Nov. 30th

Lucas Boomsma was

appointed as the new quarter-time Pastor on

Nov. 10th (Danni Downing Photography)

This is just a sampling of a busy

year at PUMC. Please excuse

anything I may have forgotten

and send your memories in for

next month’s newsletter. Thanks!

Sandy Haskell received a Special Mission Recognition pin from the Mission Team during the Laity Sunday service in October

Aquinnah, Maddox & Addison, among those who lit our Advent candles

Creative Fundraising: Barbara Griffin’s donated quilt sold for $500 to an anonymous buyer

“For where two or three

are gathered in my name,

I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20 (NRSV)

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A Look Back at PUMC’s

2013 Mission Outreach

by Diane Tiffany, Mission Team Chair

“How has the community around us become aware

of the presence of Christ through the ministry and

mission of our congregation?”

Through our outreach to those who are hungry.

We collect food continuously for the Plymouth

Area Community Closet (PACC) food pantry, as

well as provide assistance for the Holiday Baskets.

Some of our members are regular volunteers at the

food pantry. We participate in the national Souper

Bowl of Caring in February. We collect money for

the Society of St. Andrew’s work in providing food

by gleaning the fields.

PUMC members helped pack food boxes for the holidays with the Plymouth Area Community Closet

Through our outreach to those who are cold. The

Plymouth Area Community Closet’s “Keep the

Heat On” program receives a portion of our dinner

proceeds and other donations in October. Church

members have worked with Plymouth Area

Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) to install a

new roof on a home in need in energy upgrades,

and Women’s Fellowship served lunch to all the

workers. We hosted a “Button Up NH” workshop,

as well a Retired Senior Volunteer Program

presentation and learned about their assistance

keeping seniors safe and warm in their homes.

PUMC members helped repair the roof of a local home owner with the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative

Through our outreach to those who are homeless,

living outdoors in tent cities in Concord and

Manchester. We provided warm outdoor clothing,

boots, socks, tents, tarps, toilet paper, flashlights

and batteries to our brothers and sisters.

Through our outreach to those who are homeless,

living at the Bridge House in Plymouth. Every

month, ten vouchers are given to residents to

attend our fundraising supper, at no charge. This

is an opportunity for the residents to experience

meaningful fellowship with PUMC and community

members, a fellowship that is very much enjoyed.

A collection box for cleaning supplies (one of their

greatest needs) is in our foyer and our congregation

has been generous! The Women’s Fellowship

provides hand knit hats and gloves to the adults

there, and often makes the Bridge House the

beneficiary of their fundraising.

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2013 Mission Outreach - continued from page5

Through our outreach to those children who need

love.

The PUMC Mission Team (pictured) and others took a guided tour of the programs at Mayhew Island

The Faith, Hope and Love Foundation (for girls)

was introduced to us this year and is one of new

groups we support. Several church members and

their children attended a fall clean-up day at Camp

Wanakee.

Several members of our Methodist Youth Fellowship helped to pack cartons with Operation Christmas Child

The Women’s Fellowship hosts two baby showers

every year for mothers in need, selected by the

Plymouth Ob-gyn office.

One of our members has recently joined the Board

of United Campus Ministry of Plymouth State

University.

Our newly formed Methodist Youth Fellowship is

engaging in service opportunities to help other

children in need. We reach out to the unborn and

their parents through our financial and prayerful

support of the CareNet Pregnancy Center.

Through our outreach to those who need healing.

“Voices Against Violence”, helping women and

children become safe, is one of our monthly focus

organizations. “Keeping You, Me & Memories

Alive” works to help local adults who are living

with cancer in their lives. One of our members is on

the Board. The Hospice “Love Lights Tree” is a

way for us to remember and honor those we have

lost. A veteran’s support group meets at PUMC

weekly.

We hosted a Red Cross blood drive this year, which was very successful and will become a new annual outreach.

Through our love for one another. The community

has witnessed how our members support each

other, and others in the community, in times of joy,

sorrow, and sickness with offerings of love, time,

prayers, and presence. We support others who are

doing God’s work in the community, by inviting

our non-profit friends to participate in our holiday

bazaar and sharing their mission by speaking at

church.

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2013 Mission Outreach - continued from page 6

Our Christmas caroling brought us out into the community, spreading cheer to the patients and staff at Speare Memorial Hospital, the residents and staff at the Bridge House shelter, the residents of a local senior living community, and a shut-in. Plans are being made to make this sharing of joy an annual event.

As I prepare this report, I realize the above is a

small sampling of the ways our congregation has

reached out to the community this past year.

PUMC is an active, involved and growing church.

More people are participating in mission projects

than in the past few years, encouraging each other

to try something new, growing in faith as a result.

However they chose to do their “mission work”,

each member is showing the presence of Christ in

his or her life every day.

[Diane’s report was prepared for the Annual Charge

Conference in November 2013]

Letters Received

December 18, 2013

Dear Plymouth United Methodist Church,

Thank you so much for your donation of $54 to the

Keep The Heat On! Fuel Assistance Fundraiser. We

couldn’t do it without you!

Over the last eight years we’ve raised over $175,000

with 100% of all proceeds given to the Plymouth

Area Community Closet. They distribute these

funds to our neighbors in need of assistance in

paying their fuel bills. This year the need is greater

than ever, and our goal is to raise $35,000.

On behalf of the Plymouth Area Community Closet

and the Plymouth Area Democrats, who organize

this event, we thank you for your generosity.

[The $54 was 10% of the proceeds from the

November Church Buffet Dinner.]

In response to the gift collection organized by the MYF

group…..

December 20, 3013

“Dear Plymouth United Methodist Church,

I want to extend my sincere gratitude for helping to

make Christmas very special for one of our Pemi

Youth Center families. We are thankful for the role

that you play in sending the message to our youth

that they are valued and loved. I am always moved

each year while watching the pure joy on the faces

of the kids while they open their gifts. Their

excitement definitely reminds me of what is truly

important during the holiday season.

Thank you for significantly impacting our youth

during this time of year when many families have a

difficult time finding extra resources for gifts. You

definitely make a difference in our community, and

we thank you for being a part of our Pemi Youth

Center family! May you enjoy a blessed holiday

season!”

Sincerely,

Jessica Dutile,

Executive Director

Net Income Raised through Monthly Church

Buffet Fundraising Dinners in 2013: $5726,

affording us the opportunity to give a total of

$566 to these charitable organizations:

UMCOR, Voices Against Violence,

Care Net Pregnancy Center,

Camp Wanakee, The Mayhew Program,

the Faith Hope & Love Foundation,

Keeping You Me & Memories Alive,

and the Plymouth Area Community Closet.

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Campus Corner by Amy Robson

United Campus Ministry at PSU joins the

undergraduates in taking a break for the holidays

and most of the month of January. Spring semester

will start up on January 27th.

It should make PUMC proud to know that we are

leading the pack by reinstituting an annual

donation to UCM. The PUMC 2014 budget

approved at November's Charge Conference

included a $100 donation to UCM. That sum may

seem small, but it is certainly appreciated and

signals our church's support of on-campus

ministry. While UCM at PSU receives significant

financial support at the denominational level from

the Episcopals and Presbyterians, local

congregations stopped giving when their budgets

got tight, and PUMC is the first to reinstate its

contribution. Praise the Lord!

At our December UCM board meeting, one

member reported that there are currently 22

homeless students attending PSU. We were unclear

about what exactly this meant, but planned to

inquire with Student Affairs and learn more about

how UCM can help local students in need. We

would like to support the Student Food Bank as

well, which is run completely by PSU students for

students. We spoke more generally about the local

problem of homelessness. Bridge House Director

Cathy Bentwood is currently working on a

veterans' homeless shelter in Ashland.

As always, if you have ideas for campus

community outreach or spiritual experiences,

please share them with me, and I'll pass them along

at the next UCM board meeting in February!

For more information, see the United Campus Ministry

website at www.plymouth.edu/office/campus-ministry

As part of the connectional United Methodist

denomination, the Plymouth United Methodist

Church is asked to contribute towards established

Mission Share Funds. An amount is assigned to us

each year based on our membership and previous

financial performance. For the first time in several

years, we have been able to fully pay our

contribution to these Mission Shares:

World Missions: ministries beyond our conference,

13 Methodist seminaries, and ministerial education

programs

New England Missions: such as youth camps,

conference and retreat centers, urban ministries

addressing the needs of the poor, covenants with

Nicaragua and West Angola conferences, campus

ministries at Bridgewater State College

Ministry Support: assuring pastoral leadership for

congregations all across the New England

Conference who are unable to provide an

acceptable minimum salary, salaries and office

support for District Superintendents and the

conference office

Be a Cereal Giver! Non-perishable canned and

boxed foods are always needed at

the Plymouth Area Community

Closet’s Food Pantry - especially

hot and cold cereals. Place items

in the basket in the front foyer at

church and we will get them to

the pantry.

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How to Have a Happy New Year

Wishes for the New Year Faith that increaseth, walking in light;

Hope that aboundeth, happy and bright;

Love that is perfect, casting out fear;

These shall insure thee a happy New Year.

Peace in the Savior, rest at his feet,

Smile on his countenance, radiant and sweet.

Joy in his presence, Christ ever near!

This will insure thee a happy New Year.

—Frances Ridley Havergal

Editor’s Note: Content for this page taken from The

NEWSLETTER Newsletter, www.newsletternewsletter.com

Wanting his sons to learn not to judge too quickly,

a man sent each, in turn, on a quest to look at a

pear tree far away and report what he saw. The

first son went in winter, the second in spring, the

third in summer and the fourth in fall. Finally, the

father gathered the young men together. “What did

you see?” he asked.

The first son reported seeing an ugly tree, bent and

lifeless. The second disagreed, saying it was

budding with fresh new life. The third son reported

finding a tree laden with sweet-smelling, beautiful

blossoms, while the fourth insisted it drooped with

ripe fruit.

The father said his sons were all correct, for they’d

seen the same tree, though at different seasons of

its life. “Don’t judge a tree — or a person — based

on just one season of life,” he counseled his

children. “Who they are can only be known at the

end, when all life’s seasons have been lived.

“Furthermore,” he added, “don’t give up on your

own life if you experience a hard season, such as

winter, or you’ll miss out on the renewal of spring,

the joy of summer, the fulfillment of autumn.”

Count Your Blessings

Need a new tradition to begin the new year? One

way to reflect on your blessings as the days and

months pass is to fill a Blessing Jar. Simply find a

container (ideally with a lid) and place it in a

prominent place in your home. Next to it, set slips

of paper and writing utensils.

Encourage every family member to jot down one

thing they’re grateful for every day. Every week, sit

down together and review the many ways that God

is present in your lives.