The

Newsletter of The Congregational Church of Hollis (UCC) 3 Monument Square Hollis, NH 03049

March 2013 Volume LI, No. 3

A Message from the Pastor… The Congregational Church of Hollis (UCC) “’s Radiant Hope”

The Harper’s Bible Dictionary reminds us that the word “Easter” comes from the name of the Norse goddess, Eastre, whose festival was observed Pastor at the vernal equinox, and is akin to the word for “dawn” and the Rev. Larry W. Smith Greek word for “east.” Also, for all of us who have a hard time remem- [email protected] bering how the date for Easter is set each year, the Dictionary provides us

Christian Education Director with the answer: “observed on the first after the full moon on or Amy Zapp following the vernal equinox.” And, yes, this year Easter comes earlier [email protected] than usual – on March 31.

Christian Education Assistant Easter comes at the culmination of the Lenten season following the events Michelle Gehan of that begin on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. [email protected] is observed during Holy Week and recalls the that had with his disciples. marks the day of Church Administrator Jesus’ crucifixion. But, as we know, on the third day after his death on the Eileen Widner — that day of darkness and apparent defeat — there were those who [email protected] experienced the , and who continued to experience

Music Staff Jesus “as a living spiritual reality, a figure of the present, not simply a Organist memory from the past.” (Marcus Borg, The Heart of ) Easter Edward Scibilia was God’s “YES” to life and love and all that was lifted up in the life and Senior Choir Director . With all that in mind, the late Dr. Ralph W. Sockman, M. Sylvia Eggleston who served as the pastor of Christ Church Methodist in New York City for Handbell Choir Director 44 years, adds some helpful comments and a wonderful illustration in a Janet Sterritt piece he once wrote about “Easter’s Radiant Hope”…

Contact us: “But mere logic is cold comfort when loved ones are taken. Moreo- Office: 603-465-7797 ver, when death strikes close to home, it stuns the mind so that we do 603-465-7099 not think clearly. And then comes Christ to bring our minds out of the Visit our website at: dusk and into the dawn. www.HollisChurch.org “And when we live close enough to Christ to catch his spirit, our belief

in immortality is illuminated with radiant hope. “Jesus showed his mastery of death both by The Chimes is published monthly the way he faced it and by the way he September to May. One edition is emerged from it. And the Easter events published for the summer months. convince me that Christ did emerge from All submissions for the newsletter the grave. I cannot account for the church th are due by the 15 of the month without the Resurrection. preceding publication. (continued on page 4)

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Confirmation Calendar Children in Mission –

The Class will meet for one th Children Reaching Out to Children class session in March on Wednesday the 6 from 5-6:15. Are foster children On March 24, class members are to meet at Forgotten children? the Brookdale packing plant after the 10:30 No. Palm Sunday service, at 11:45, to pack the East- We remember. er food boxes. They are Confirmation Class members are also ex- God's Children. pected to attend Palm Sunday (March 24), Together, Maundy Thursday (March 28), and Easter We share Sunday (March 31) services. Our Love. by Charlotte Gehan The Confirmation Class will be conducting the Easter at 6 a.m. on Each year our 5th grade class selects and organizes a March 31. The service takes service project to encourage all of us to walk in God’s place on the hill at the corner ways. This year our fifth graders have chosen to reach of Route 122 and North Pep- out to foster children in our community. They have perell Road, just south of Bud asked some tough questions; are foster children forgot- and Phyllis King’s Triple ten children, do they feel like they are alone and no one Knoll Farm (in the meeting- is thinking or caring about them, and can we change house if it’s rainy). that feeling by giving a basket of love that lets them The class also hosts the know that someone is thinking about them and that God Easter breakfast in Hardy Hall following the cares? The 5th graders believe we can, and for their sunrise service. service project they will be collecting new or barely- used items for children of all ages to create welcome Twelve Hour Lock-in baskets that will be distributed to foster children en- tering a new home. Who’s invited: All 6th and 7th Graders The class is asking for disposable cameras, small Where: Hardy Hall photo albums, toys, blankets, sheets, pillows, card When: March 8 - 9, 8pm to 8am games, board games, footballs, soccer balls, or any oth- Join us for an evening of fun run by our fabu- er item that would make for a nice welcome gift. They lous High School Youth! There will be games, will be collecting donations in Hardy Hall until March food, devotions and a movie all jammed into our 31. Our 5th graders need your help. Won’t you please 12 hours of lock-in madness. Oh and don’t for- consider supporting this meaningful Lenten Project? get we will sleep as well!!! Pack a sleeping bag, pillow and signed permission slip (available on the church website or in the Christian Education office) and come join the fun.

Girls - Please bring a snack to share. Boys - Please bring a drink to share. Palm Sunday

Contact Amy Zapp Have you heard? We are having our [email protected] Palm Sunday Procession on March or 465-7797, by March th 24th. Jesus, our beautiful children, 7 , with any questions palms and more palms…you don’t and to let us know want to miss it! you’re coming! 2 Annual Easter The Nurture Corner Easter is right around the corner. Put a little Respectfully submitted by Andrea Seddon spring in your step and hop on down to our I am sharing with you excerpts from a powerful article I annual hunt hosted by the 6th and read in The Sun Magazine (December 2012, Issue 444) that 7th grade classes. This year's activity will was an interview by Mary DeMocker of nature writer and take place on Palm Sunday directly philosophy professor Kathleen Dean Moore. Moore poses following the 10:30 worship service. So three questions to her philosophy students: What is na- parents, bring your ture? What is the relation of humans to the rest of the children to Little natural world? And how, then, shall we live? This last Nichol’s field question by Moore, "How, then, shall we live," really immediately after stuck with me. Every day we make choices of how we church, on March 24th live: paper or plastic; go for a walk or sit on the couch; oil, to enjoy a traditional gas or wood heat; etc... Then there are the things like decid- Easter egg hunt. Please ing not to drive to the chain store and buy that cheap pair of make sure the children imported shoes. That act of refusal is an act of assent says are dressed appropriately Moore. "Every time we say no to consumer culture, we say as this is an outdoor rain or shine activity, yes to something more beautiful and sustaining. Life is not and don't forget you camera to record those something we go through or that happens to us; it's some- precious memories. thing we create by our decisions. We can drift through our lives, or we can use our time, our money, and our strength to model behaviors we believe in, to say, 'This is who I 2013 Mission Trip am.'" So I ask you, who are you? What choices will you The workcampers of the make that reclaim your relationship to the natural world? upcoming Mission Trip More important reading for teens and adults: would like to thank the springcreek.oregonstate.edu; congregation for your con- www.moralground.com (hard copy: Moral Ground: Ethical tinued support of our yearly trip to help Action for a Planet in Peril) those in need. We enjoyed serving you at Moral Ground brings together the testimony of over 80 vi- the Spaghetti Supper and hope that you had sionaries — theologians and religious leaders, scientists, a nice evening with us. We know that we elected officials, business leaders, naturists, activists, and are blessed to have the support from our writers — to present a diverse and compelling call to honor church family to continue this program each our individual and collective moral responsibilities to our year. Your ticket purchases and placemat planet. In the face of environmental degradation and global donations helped us raise approximately climate change, scientific knowledge alone does not tell us $1,600.00 what we ought to do. The missing premise of the argument We were also thrilled to once again have and much-needed centerpiece in the debate to date has been the added excitement of the Mission Trip the need for ethical values, moral guidance, and principled quilt raffle. Gail Harrison created another reasons for doing the right thing for our planet, its animals, beautiful quilt to help raise funds for a mis- its plants, and its people. This book encourages a newly sion she truly stands behind. Our theme this discovered, or rediscovered, commitment to consensus coming summer is: What do you stand for? about our ethical obligation to the future and why it’s It’s pretty clear that Gail knows what she wrong to wreck the world. stands for! The quilt brought in approxi- Children's books: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, On Meadowview mately $900.00, a significant contribution to Street by Henry Cole our fundraising needs. The supper and quilt Movie suggestion: Earth: The Power of the Planet, 2008; together, raised enough money to cover the Shop 'Til You Drop: The Crisis of Consumerism, 2010 rental costs of one of our 15 passenger vans. More Resources: Union of Concerned Scientists Special thanks to Gail and to all who sup- (http://www.ucsusa.org/); ported these two very important fundraisers! http://awakeningthedreamer.org; http://genup.net/

3 (continued from page 1) Let’s Ring in Spring! “When I was thirteen, I was riding home from school one night and had to cross a stream which the rain had Combined Ring ~ experienced raised. Darkness had fallen, and my horse refused to and new ringers play together. enter the rushing water. Suddenly a farmer opened the Everyone come on and ring! door of a farmhouse on the other side of the stream. From the open door came a path of lamplight. In that Practice: 11:45 to 12:45, March 3 and 10 path of light my horse and I took courage and crossed Play: March 17 at the 10:30 service the flooded creek. ****************** “So Christ opened the door on the other side of death’s stream and ‘brought life and immortality to life.’” Naomi Circle

The Naomi Circle will meet in Emerson A glorious and joyful Easter to all! Chapel on Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m. We Larry W. Smith will work to assemble Hygiene Kits for Church World Service. Check your postcard for your ‘assigned item’ for the kits! All wom- ******************** en of the church are invited to join us for fel- Soup / Video / Discussion programs lowship.

are scheduled to be held on the To assemble a Hygiene Kit you will need: following three evenings in :  One hand towel measuring approximately Wednesday, March 6 … 16" x 28" (no fingertip or bath towels) Wednesday, March 20 … and  One washcloth Monday, March 25. A simple  One wide-tooth comb Lenten fellowship meal will be  One nail clipper served at 6:15, which will feature  One bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)  One toothbrush (in original packaging) a choice of 2 homemade soups prepared by members of  Six standard size Band-Aids® our church family as well as bread and dessert. The vid- Place all items in a one-gallon plastic bag with eo presentation will begin not earlier than but as close to a zipper closure and seal. 7:00 as possible. If you cannot join us for the meal, please feel free to arrive at 7:00 for the video presentation ****************** followed by discussion. Only those who intend to be present for the meal are asked to make a reservation Our Church Records no later than the Sunday before each of the three pro- Baptisms grams by signing the sheet that will be posted on the bul- February 10, 2013 letin board across from Rev. Smith’s office or by calling Parker Melvin Ferguson, son of Matthew and the church office. There will be no charge for the meal, Katharine Ferguson but a basket will be set out to receive any free-will offer- ings to help cover the cost of the meal. Deaths This year we shall be watching videos from the Faith January 22, 2013 and Reason series that will feature Marcus Borg, Craig Elwin Charles ‘Stub’ Hardy

Evans, A. J. Levine, and Tex Sample. Each video pro- Gifts gram is 25 minutes long. The programs and dates are as In loving memory of Bertrand Sommer to the follows: Ladies Reading and Charitable Society by: Wednesday, March 6: Don and Ginny Brooks Claire Boucher What can we know about the historical Jesus? Bertrand Sommer, Jr. Susan Ballou Wednesday, March 20: Judy and Don McCoy Carleton Nelson What did Jesus really believe about God? William and Susan Gorham

Monday, March 25: In loving memory of Elwin Hardy by: Is what we believe about Jesus important William and Susan Gorham Ann Siglin

4 Summer Camp…already?? Yes, it is time to start planning for summer church camp. Registration is open! Our New Hampshire Confer- ence has a fabulous program that is open to all children entering grades 3 - 12, and offers a variety of programs like backpacking, canoeing and family camp. For more information you can check out the Conference website http://www.nhcucc.org/NHCUCC/ or contact Amy Zapp (who LOVES to talk about summer camp) 465-7797.

2013 Horton Center Schedule

May 31- June 2 All Things New Work Weekend - - For volunteers with all levels of ability. June 18-25th Staff Training – Training for the summer staff June 26-29 Getting Started- Half week for campers entering 3rd - 5th grades June 30- July 6 *Senior High – For campers entering 10th grade through post-grad year. July 7-13 Middler 1 – For campers entering 7th-9th grades July 7-13 *Senior High Hut-to-Hut – White Mountain backpacking for campers en- tering 10th - post-grad year. July 14-20 All Things New Week – For campers entering 4th - 6th grades July 14-20 Middler Hut to Hut – White Mountain backpacking for campers entering 7th – 9th grades July 21-27 Middler II - For campers entering 7th – 9th grades July 21-27 *High School Canoe – Canoe expedition for campers entering 10th through post-grad year. July 28-August 3 NEW! Horton Center and Pilgrim Lodge - “Best of Both Worlds” – For campers entering 7-9 grade. Starting at Horton Center for half a week, this camp ends at Pilgrim Lodge for the second half of the week! July 31-August 3 NEW! Junior Half Week – Half week for campers entering 4th – 6th grades August 4- 10 *Senior High Service Project Camp - For campers entering 10th through post-grad year. August 11-13 NEW! Grandparent & Grandchild – For Grandparents and their grand- children (must be at least 5 years old), Half week. August 13-18 NEW! “Lighten Up, Loosen Up” Adult camp. Come for a day, the whole week, or somewhere in-between! Aug. 30-Sept 2 Family Camp – For families of all sizes and configurations! October 11-13 Fall Work Weekend – For volunteers with all levels of ability.

*This year only, those who would have been post-grad in 2012 are welcome to come for their last summer as a camper!

5 March 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

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Our church pro- 9:00 am – Communion Worship 7:15 am – Men’s 7 pm – Steward- 6:15 pm – Lenten 10 am – Knitting vides dinner at 10:30 am – Communion Worship and Breakfast at Denny’s ship Board Soup and Study Pro- Group Ash St. Shelter NO Sunday School 7 pm – CE Board meet- meeting gram #1 of 3 7 pm – Senior Choir 11:30 am – Music Board meeting ing 6th & 7th Grade Lock-In 11:45 am – All Handbell Ringers 8pm – 8 am In Hardy Hall 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Daylight Savings Time begins! 7:15 am – Men’s 7 pm – Mission & 5 pm – Facilities 7 pm – Senior Choir April Chimes One Great Hour of Sharing offering Breakfast at Denny’s Action Board Committee meeting deadline 9:00 am – Worship 7 pm – Trustees meeting meeting 5:00-6:15 pm - Con- 10:30 am – Worship and Sunday School 7:15 pm – Deacons firmation class 11:45 am – All Handbell Ringers meeting 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

9:00 am – Worship 7:15 am – Men’s 7 pm – Church 6:15 pm – Lenten 10 am – Knitting 10:30 am – Worship and Sunday School Breakfast at Denny’s Council meeting Soup and Study Pro- Group 2:00 pm – Naomi Circle gram #2 of 3 7 pm – Senior Choir Easter flower orders due today 10 am – 3 pm Hardy Hall 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday 7:15 am – Men’s Easter Sunrise 9:00 am – Worship Breakfast at Denny’s 7:30 pm - Communion breakfast prep in 10:30 am – Worship and Sunday School 6:15 pm – Lenten Soup Service Hardy Hall 11:30 am – Easter Egg Hunt and Study Program (Confirmands attend) (final) 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Easter Sunday Mission Items of the Month: 6:00 am – Sunrise Service — Breakfast in Hardy Hall following the service Powdered Laundry Detergent

9:00 am – Family Worship for the Corpus Christi Food Pantry

10:30 am – Family Worship 31

6 Daylight Savings Time begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 10. For Kids Only… Remember to turn your clocks forward on Saturday night!

From the Church Office A BIG Thank You goes to Nancy Bell, Doris Rafferty, Lydia Schellenberg and Joyce Toli who braved snow and no heat at church in preparing the Febru- ary Chimes for delivery to your mailboxes.

May we pray for you? The prophet Isaiah wrote, “…for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” The Prayer Chain’s members are committed to praying for others’ needs. No request is too big or too small and all requests are held in strictest confidence. Please contact Rev. Larry Smith at 465-7797 or Lydia Schellenberg at 465-2495.

Hearts Fellowship News Kudos to the hardy (or ‘heart-y’?) souls who braved the February 9 blizzard to join in the Hearts Adult Fellowship night. Special prizes were awarded to the Queen and King of Hearts, Ginny Brooks and Mike Secules, and to the Joker, Jerry Amos. A good time was had by all!

Congratulations to Peg Gilmour! She was the lucky person who took home this year’s Mis- sion Trip raffle quilt. What good timing ~ a quilt to stay warm through the last month’s snowstorms!

7 Mission and Action News

One Great Hour of Sharing Bridges - Phone Volunteers Needed: March 10 Bridges is a nonprofit agency dedicated to helping victims and survivors of domes- One Great Hour of Sharing is an offering tic and sexual violence. Bridges maintains that makes the love of Christ real for individ- a 24/7 hr. support line (603-883-3044) and uals and communities around the world who volunteers are needed to answer the calls suffer the effects of disaster, conflict, or se- for help at all hours. Bridges has offices in vere economic hardship, and for those who Milford and Nashua. If you can help serve them through gifts of money and time. please see the web site for information and Today, projects are underway in more than an application. www.BridgesNH.org 100 countries, including the United States and Training sessions are provided. Canada. In the 1990s, receipts have exceeded $20 million annually. While specific alloca- Heating oil Assistance Available: tions differ in each denomination, all use their Do you know of anyone needing assis- One Great Hour of Sharing funds to make possible disaster tance in paying for heating oil? If so, relief, refugee assistance, development aid and more. We ask please ask them contact Rev. Larry Smith. for your help by donating in the special offering on March In addition to the 1000 gallons of oil do- 10. Watch for the special envelope inserted in your Sunday nated by our partnering oil supplier, the bulletin. Additional information can be found at generous Eve offering permit- www.onegreathourofsharing.org. ted the purchase of 2100 more gallons.

March Item of the Month: Ash Street Shelter Powdered Laundry Detergent Volunteers are needed to prepare a din- for the Corpus Christi Food Pantry ner each month for Ash Street Shelter. Not only does the Corpus Christi Food Pantry serve the Certificates are available to cover the food community with assorted food items – they also provide toi- needed to cover the cost of the meal. For letries and other essential personal care products to families details please contact Janet Griffin at 465- and individuals in need. This month, please help them with 3284 or [email protected]. your donation of powdered laundry detergent of any size con- tainer or box. After we deliver our donation, the staff will February item of the Month: “divide up” the detergent to ensure that all may benefit from Your donations of pasta and sauce for the a few cups (and clean loads of laundry!) at a time. St. John Neumann Food Pantry are much Thank you for your ongoing and generous support! appreciated. Thank you! The Food Pantry directly helps families in need right here in Blood Drive Hollis and in other local communities such Saturday, March 23 as Nashua, Merrimack and Amherst. 10am – 3pm Hardy Hall Welcome New Members to M&A! Janis Louzek, Marilene Sawaf and Car- A blood drive will be held at the olAnn Williams have joined our commit- church on Saturday, March 23. Volunteers are needed to tee. Thank you for stepping forward to help with the drive. Please contact Kenric Nelson at 603- help with the outreach of the church. 508-9827 or [email protected] if you can assist.

8 Easter Flowers

You may place flowers in the church on Easter

Sunday in memory or in honor of loved ones. Fill out the form below to place your order. Call What is your Purse-on-ality Wendy Longland at 465-3466 with any questions.

The Contents of Me I would like to order _____ tulips and/or _____ lilies (please indicate quantity & flower choice) to be placed in church on Easter Sunday. The items we carry with us.

______Total cash/check enclosed at $7.50 per plant. Checks Your Hosts are members of Naomi Circle should be made payable to: The Congregational Church of Hollis with Easter flowers on the memo line. and the Christian Ed Board This plant is given _____ in loving memory OR _____ in honor of: (PLEASE PRINT NAMES AS THEY SHOULD BE LISTED)

3nd Annual Women’s Luncheon ______A celebration for women of the church ______Come socialize get to know one another ______

and have a word of inspiration Your Name:______(PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD APPEAR)

Saturday April 6th Telephone:______

11:00 a.m. in Hardy Hall ____ I wish my plant TO BE DELIVERED to friends or members of our church family in hospitals or nursing homes. Cost $ 12.00 ____ I WILL PICK UP my plant(s) after the last service on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013.

Don’t forget your handbag! Please return form to: The Congregational Church of Hollis 3 Monument Square, Hollis, NH 03049

DEADLINE FOR ORDERING: Sunday, March 17, 2013 9 The Congregational Church of Hollis Non-Profit Organization (United Church of Christ) U.S. Postage Paid 3 Monument Square Permit No. 1 Hollis NH 03049 Hollis, NH 03049

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Holy Week Worship Schedule

Palm ~ March 24 9:00 and 10:30 services in the meetinghouse. Procession of Palms at 10:30 service

Maundy Thursday Service ~ March 28 at 7:30 p.m. At this beautiful and moving service we remember that last night Jesus shared with his disciples and partake of the sacrament of our Lord’s Supper. Following communion we observe the service of Ten- ebrae – the gradual extinguishing of the light – recalling the events of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, and cru- cifixion, and looking ahead in hope to the dawning of Easter day.

Easter Services ~ March 31 6:00 a.m. Sunrise Service at our new site — on the hill at junction Rt. 122 and North Pepperell Road, just south of Bud and Phyllis King’s Triple Knoll Farm. Those with difficulty walking are wel- come to drive up the King’s driveway and park behind the house. (If it is rainy, the service will be held in the meetinghouse) Easter Breakfast in Hardy Hall follows the sunrise service hosted by the Confirmation Class. 9:00 and 10:30 services in the meetinghouse with the Senior Choir singing at both services

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