Announcements for Sunday, September 20th Welcoming Hearts - Growing in Faith and Service
CONTINUING TO ADAPT TO LIVING WITH COVID The Session, this week, approved a set of protocols for church committees of six people or less to meet in person, if they wish. No committee is to require members to come in person and must make provision for others to participate on Zoom if they wish. Any committee wishing to meet at the church must contact Pastor Sally at least 48 hours ahead of time so that the meeting can be put on the schedule and that the building may be prepared for the meeting.
Worship will continue to be via Zoom at least through November at which time the Session will discern the best way forward. Meanwhile, UV lights are being installed in the HVAC ducts to kill bacteria and viruses as the air passes through the system. And a sanitizing fogger has been purchased to use to sanitize the church building after use. The Session is following advice from CDC, the State of NH, our denomination, and our insurance company in making decisions about when and how to open the building up again. The building is still closed to all outside groups. Many thanks to everyone who is working so hard to find the best ways to proceed and to all those who are working at enriching our distanced ministry. WE are the church and we are continuing not only to worship together but to reach out and support our neighbors through our many ministries.
YOU'RE INVITED TO WATCH OUR PRESBYTERY MEETING ON MONDAY THE 21ST which will be shared live on the Presbytery's FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/presbyterynne The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM and last until about noon.
NEWS FROM PNNE Rev. Cindy Kohlmann this week sent a letter to the Presbytery sharing that she will not be renewing her contract for the coming year. We are grateful for her resourceful leader and deep compassion as she has led PNNE. And we'll miss her!
WHAT'S NEW THIS WEEK - MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
PEACE & GLOBAL WITNESS OFFERING Peace is active, not passive; peace is doing, not waiting. Your gifts will help more people experience the freedom and dignity that Christ wants for everyone. The Peace & Global Witness Offering provides the means that allow us to offer ourselves to the pursuit of ending violence and bringing about reconciliation, no matter where it occurs in the world. This offering enables the church to address systems of injustice in own communities and across the world. This is one of the four Special Offerings of the PCUSA a nd is received each year on the first Sunday of October. 25% will stay locally, 25% will go to the presbytery, and 50% supports Presbyterians' global effort – all supporting the work being done for peace and reconciliation. Our local portion will go to Nashua Host Home Network. You can send your gift to the church with “Peace & Global Witness” in the memo line of your check. Thank You!!!
CLEAN UP BUCKETS for CHURCH WORLD SERVICE From CWS: We shipped out more than 2,000 CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets in August for disaster relief. Now, we have fewer than 5,500 left in stock. Each bucket is 5 gallons of love--and supplies like sponges, masks, cleaners and more-- that help families whose homes suffer water damage. A generous supporter has donated 3,000 empty buckets. We need YOUR help to fill them. Usually it costs nearly $75 to fill a bucket with supplies. For a limited time, you can fill a bucket for only $25. Donate now to stock our shelves and be on the front lines when the next call comes. https://www.facebook.com/donate/245602089750363/10157622662076985/
CROP WALK - OCTOBER This year’s Crop Hunger Walk for the Greater Nashua area will take place during the entire month of October. Walk our 3.4 mile route or the Milford Methodist Church route, or any walk or route that you choose. Walk with your family group or pod, or socially distanced organized groups. Raise monies by emails and phone calls. Last year we raised $47,843 and were the largest walk in New England! We aim to raise the same or more this year, as hunger and poverty are worse than ever now. It will be easiest to raise money online this year. Go to: https://www.crophungerwalk.org/nashuanh/Team/View/137209/Nashua-Presbyterian-Church You can donate and register to walk on our NPC Team on that page. Then follow the prompts to send emails to friends and family requesting donations. On October 1 we’ll launch our kick-off video of our YouTube channel.
THE WATER WALK is a fund raiser for the Thank You Project here in Nashua. Usually we would have a team of folk walking in this 6th Annual walk but this year we are participating virtually. Read more about it at: https://thankyouproject.org/waterwalk/Including these words: "Please join us online for the rest of 2020 as our in-person Water Walk set for September 27, 2020 has been cancelled. We will follow with more details regarding participation virtually. Regardless, you can still donate as we will lose our only fundraiser for the year. Remember, we not only are working on our third Water Well in Nigeria (at a cost of $30,000) but also are providing college scholarships ($2,000/student) to those who cannot afford to go to college in Nigeria."
INVITATIONS TO MINISTRY
Our GARDENS are beginning to fade and most of the vegetables are gone from the Deacon's Garden. BUT the trees are just starting to turn and our grounds are still a wonderful place to come and walk and pray.
The many DEACON'S MINISTRIEScontinue with 80 school kits delivered to Dr. Crisp School, 25 toiletry kits and one clean up bucket headed to CWS, and the next project is our November Sock Project (this year the Deacons will purchase the socks instead of collecting socks – but you can send a donation to the Deacons to help pay for them).
Our PRAYER TEAMcontinues to communicate via email to hold in prayer all those whose names are shared with them. Let Pastor know if you would like to join the team.
DIRECTORY UPDATE We're working on updating the directory. If you have any new contact info, please email it to Pastor Sally or the church office by 6 PM on Sunday, the 20th. The new directory will be available on Oct 1st and can be emailed to you.
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES Our SUNDAY SCHOOL has begun on Zoom. If your family would like to be included in Sunday School, please the the church office know.
TABLE TALKS– Wednesdays 7-8 PM ‘Table Talk’ was what Martin Luther called his collection of musings from talks around the dinner table. Since we can’t have our traditional Bread & Soup Suppers, you are invited to join our Table Talks on Wednesdays this year where you can feel free to eat your supper as we talk. Each week will be a different topic with introductory information via Zoom and then time to reflect together on our thoughts about the topic of the day. We will meet on Zoom using the same sign info that we use every Sunday for worship.
21 DAY RACIAL JUSTICE CHALLENGE CONTINUES THIS WEEK and until the 30th - Join us! Presbyterians across the church have been challenged to join together in learning more about racism particularly as we see it from the viewpoint of our mostly white PCUSA. You are invited to join us in committing to spend about an hour a day either reading or watching a video. The Challenge for each day is posted on the home page of our website or you can find the whole 21 days on the PNNE website: https://pnne.org/Matthew-25/Structural-Racism/21-Day-Racial-Justice-Challenge Bring your thoughts to our Table Talks on Wednesdays during September to enliven our conversations each week.
OUR CHURCH LIBRARY Our library has undergone a total overhaul - with new books added and smaller categories to make it easier to find what you want. Even during COVID, you can arrange to come to the church and browse the library --- or buy a book from the book shelves outside the library. Contact the church office if you would like access to the church.
WORSHIP The Session has decided to continue to worship via Zoom at 10 AM on Sunday mornings until it is deemed possible to be back in the building safely. Feel free to invite family and friends to join us on Zoom. Our Sunday Zoom time opens up at 9:30 AM so come early and say ‘hi’ to folks. At 9:50 the Prelude begins and we have a time for prayer before worship begins at 10 AM. After worship, hang around and visit as long as you like. Immediately after the service you will be offered a chance to join a smaller group for conversation or to stay with the pastor and others in a larger group. Please contact the church office if you would like the Zoom link to join us in worship.
SOUND ON ZOOM - You will be muted once the Prelude begins - At times you will be invited to unmute yourself (we can’t do it for you – we can only invite you to unmute) - When you are invited to unmute, a banner will pop up on your screen with instructions. - Once you accept the invitation, you will be able to speak - If you called in on a phone without video, you can mute and unmute yourself by hitting : *6
OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION Many congregations are facing difficult financial times during COVID. While our income has dropped, thanks to your faithful support of our ministry, we are still able to pay our bills. Thank you so much!! Gifts to our Special Offerings, the Deacon’s Ministry, and to our General Budget can all be sent to the church at: 1010 West Hollis Street, Nashua NH, 03062