Worship ~ Sundays at 10AM See you in church! Pastor Mike Bennett

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We are at a unique time for our congregation – a new senior minister, a new year and a convergence of challenges and opportunities – and the Pastor Parish Relations Committee invites every member and friend to help us bring all of these forces together to form a new era in the history of First Parish Church. Officially, the role of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee is “… nurturing the pastor, the relationship between the pastor and the congregation, and clarifying the role of the pastor.” The committee fulfills that responsibility by: 1. Assisting the pastor in becoming better acquainted with the church, its members, and the community. 2. Assisting the church in maintaining good relations between the pastor and parish. 3. Serving as an advisory group to the pastor. 4. Identifying areas of conflict in an early stage and assisting the parties involved in resolving their differences. 5. Providing a written evaluation of pastoral performance for annual consideration by the Council and Human Resources Committee. This year’s Pastoral Parish Relations Committee members are Don Beddie, Diane Fiske, Mary Norris and Kristin Simunac. As one UCC source points out, one of the hardest jobs of a PPRC member is getting started. The committee must learn quickly to trust one another and to be honest without being threatening or intimidating. Since the committee is not a legislative body that can vote on behalf of the church, we have to rely on good and open communication with all parties – congregation, church governance and the pastors to build that trust. We are blessed to have already begun a comfortable and trusting relationship. Communication is the key to success of any Pastor Parish Relations Committee. One of the ways we hope to keep communications flowing, open, and going two ways, will be to engage as many as possible in learning about the challenges of the ministerial vocation and career, the ways in which dynamic lay leadership can support our pastoral team and the different ways of addressing the kinds of questions which most often lead to a disconnect between pastor and parish. Keep yourselves open to learning and watch for different study opportunities this year. In the meantime, if you have any concerns, questions or ideas, please feel free to contact any of the PPRC members. We will listen and respond appropriately. Don Beddie, Chair of the PPRC NEIGHBORS IN NEED OFFERING This offering will be taken on Sunday October 7 th . Neighbors in Need (NIN) is the annual offering to support ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. It includes the Council of American Indian Ministries, justice and advocacy efforts and direct service projects funded by the UCC’s Justice and Welfare Ministries. On Sunday afternoon, October 21, the DARLA (Dover Area Religious Leaders Association) group is again sponsoring a Dover area family crop walk to raise funds internationally and locally to provide food for the hungry. Crop Walk is a program of Church World Service International. Sign-up sheets to walk will be available at the church as well as the opportunity to pledge for the walkers. For those who wish to get a head start on this event, go to www.cropwalk.org and click on New Hampshire, and then click on the Dover Crop Walk. You will then be able to sign up for walking and for pledging online. It is our hope that this will be a family event and families will sign up to walk and get pledges together. For those not walking, we hope for your support through pledging and donations for those who are walking. Erin Pender is the contact person in our church for Crop Walk. Funds raised in this years’ Dover Crop Walk will be shared between Dover Children's Home, Dover Cooperative ministries, and international needs.
SING AND RING JOYFULLY TO GOD With the start of the new church year in September, all our music groups will begin anew. This is a wonderful time to join one of our dynamic music groups! The Youth Choir is a group of children Grades 1-5 and youth that will rehearse Sunday mornings from 11:00-11:30 am. For more information, please contact Carol Seely, at k9vet@rcn.com. FIRST REHEARSAL will be Sunday, September 16 The Joyous Ringers is a youth handbell group open to all youth Grade 5 and up. This group meets on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Carol Seely at k9vet@rcn.com. FIRST REHEARSAL will be Monday, September 10. The Choir Chimes is a children’s youth choir that rings choir chimes open to Grades 1-4. This group meets on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Kim Rhine at 312-3009 or kimrhine39@gmail.com. FIRST REHEARSAL will be Monday, Sept. 10. The Senior Choir is a group of singers, open to all ages, from high schoolers through to adults of all ages. Choir rehearsals are on Sunday evenings from 7:00- 8:30 p.m. For further information, please contact Rick Gremlitz, Director of Music, at (603) 868-1196 or at rickgremlitz@yahoo.com FIRST REHEARSAL will be at the annual choir retreat on Saturday, September 8; FIRST SUNDAY EVENING REHEARSAL will be Sunday, September 16. The First Parish Ringers is open to all senior high school students through adults. Rehearsals are Sunday evenings from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Please contact Carol Seely at k9vet@rcn.com. FIRST REHEARSAL will be Sunday, September 9th. A church wide fund raising and community outreach event! Get involved with preparations, make new friends and have a good time too! * For information about Vendor Space/Table Rental contact Jane Kennedy (749-1042) janewkennedy55@comcast.net * To make donations of antique or collectible items contact Jim Prue (749-6897) jeprue@comcast.net * To help with publicity contact Kathy Daniels (742-3481) shesababe@hotmail.com * For general information contact Margie Buckingham (343-2631) kraftyone@comcast.net Meeting dates TBD will be announced in Steeple Chat and Weekly Bulletins Apple Harvest Day Saturday, October 6, our Alternative Revenue Task Force is planning for a First Parish Church table at this annual Dover event. This will be a great opportunity to increase our church’s “presence” and outreach into the wider community. Soon, there will be an opportunity for members and friends to sign-up to assist at the FPC table that day. Grants, anyone?? Another initiative of the Alternative Revenue Task Force is to investigate the possibility of private and foundation grant funding for programs and facility improvements. If you feel you have some ideas to offer in this regard, please contact Rick Gremlitz at the church. Watch for more info on a new craft group to be held in the evenings. No skills needed! Questions can be directed to Judy Edwards at 749-2130.
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Worship ~ Sundays at 10AM See you in church! Pastor Mike Bennett

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