April 2016 The Traveler - the First United Methodist Church of Gilford

April 2016
The Traveler
The First United Methodist Church of Gilford
Serving the Lakes Region
18 Wesley Way (Rt. 11A), PO Box 7408
Gilford, NH 03247
Web Page: www.NHLakesUMChurch.org
Pastor’s Letter
Dear Friends,
I suspect that most of us are aware of the numerous addiction recovery programs such as
Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous that have done so much to move countless
people into recovery from their addictions. We are privileged to be the host of one AA group
that has met for a number of years in our Fireside Room on Sunday nights. And I am quite
certain that there are any number of folks who are connected to our church who are in active
recovery and are involved in AA or some other similar program.
You may be less familiar with the spiritual grounding of these programs, and if so, you need
to understand that, in fact, all of the “Anonymous” programs are based on what are known as
“the 12 steps,” and that these 12 steps are in many ways completely compatible with our
Christian faith and practice. In fact, even though I have never had to battle addiction in my
own life, I have found the 12 steps of AA to be great resources for my own spiritual journey.
In other words, I and others have found that these 12 steps are helpful not just for people
who are recovering from addiction, but for many other people as well.
That is why I am going to be offering a sermon series based on the 12 steps of AA during the
month of April. I am calling this series, “12 Steps for Everybody.” My hope in this series is to
provide folks with the resources that have literally saved the lives of millions of people, with
suggestions for how to understand the 12 steps from a Christian perspective, and how to apply their principles, practices, and insights into all of our lives, even if we don’t battle with addiction and substance misuse.
I want to ask you to do two things: first, I hope that you will attend worship during April in
order to share in this series, and that you will be open to hearing how the 12 steps of AA can
be a resource in your life; and second, I would ask you to invite any folks you know who are in
recovery and who are not active in a church already so that they, too, can see how the 12
steps and our Christian faith can work hand in hand in their lives.
See you in church!
In evergreen love,
Pastor Tom
P.S. For more information about the 12 Steps of AA, visit
http://silkworth.net/aa/12steps.html
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Contact Information
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 12 Noon
Phone: (603) 524-3289
E-mail: office@nhlakesumchurch.org
Rev. Thomas Getchell-Lacey
(603) 769-0770
E-mail: Pastor@nhlakesumchurch.org
Staff
Office Administrator: Joyce Keyser
Director of Music: Karen Jordan
Organist: Phil Breton
Treasurer: Linda Graham
Financial Secretary: John Cooper
Sexton: Peter Ayer
Parish Nurse: Kathy Smith
Parish Nurse
Nursing Line: 603-524-1330.
(messages checked daily)
E-mail : health@nhlakesumchurch.org
Publication Deadlines
May "Traveler": April 17, 2016
Chairpersons: reports for the next Administrative Council meeting
are due on April 10 for April 20 meeting
Bulletin Announcements
Tuesday preferred,
Wednesday at the latest.
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Worship and Sunday school
Sundays at 10:30 AM
April 3—2nd Sunday of Easter
Communion Sunday
Sermon—”12 Steps for Everyone: The Power of Powerless” (Romans 7:15-24)
April 10—3rd Sunday of Easter
Native American Ministries (offering)
Sermon—”12 Steps for Everyone: Taking Inventory” (Psalm 51)
April 17—4th Sunday of Easter
Sermon—”12 Steps for Everyone: Making Amends” (Luke 19:1-10)
April 24—5th Sunday of Easter
Sermon—”12 Steps for Everyone: Proper Maintenance” (Psalm 1:1-3)
The Lectionary is a list of Bible readings used in many Christian churches.
It is set up in a format that after three years has covered most of the Bible.
Please use these readings as a study during your devotional times.
April 3—2nd Sunday of Easter
Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31
April 10—3rd Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:1-6 (7-20); Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19
April 17—4th Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:36-43; psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 20:22-30
April 24—5th Sunday of Easter
Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
Message on a T-shirt: I dream of a better world where chickens can cross the road without
their motives being questioned.”
*via the Joyful Noiseletter
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Why Wanakee?
Friends...
Some of your best friends are waiting for you at camp! Wanakee’s Christian community is
built through small group interaction and camping activities.
Fun...
Splash...get wet, cool off, swim at the waterfront. Move...play games and sports on the
grounds. Relax...share stories and sing songs! Grow...challenge yourself!
Faith...
From campfire discussions to Bible activities, experience and explore your faith with daily
devotional time and weekly worship.
New Brochures Are Out!
Have you been imagining a cannonball into the lake, a game of Gaga, or laughing with
friends around the campfire?
Campers should be receiving Wanakee’s summer camp program guide in the mail!
Soon there will also be copies here at church. You can also see the weekly schedule or view
the full brochure on the Wanakee website. Registration is open, with an early bird discount if
you sign-up before April 1st.
Wanakee's camper fees operate on a three-tiered "pay as you can" plan. There is information in the program guide as well as on our website.
You can register online, by phone (603) 279-7950, or print out and mail the registration
form to the address below.
Wanakee United Methodist Center
75 Upper New Hampton Road
Meredith, NH 03253-9516
Wanakee Work Day
Saturday, May 7, 2016
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Come to a Wanakee Work Day and work with others who love Wanakee, as you make
the camp ready for the summer! Many projects for varying skills, interests and ages: painting,
cleaning, clearing brush, mowing, remodeling, etc. Lunch is provided.
This FREE event is good for adults, families and youth. Plan to bring your youth group,
Sunday School Class, etc. Every hand makes a difference. We need YOUR help!
To register, call (603) 279-7950.
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The Producers
Directed by Jessica “J” Alward. Coming on April 29 and 30 at 7 PM and May 1 at 2
PM. This adult show needs to be seen for reasons including that a number of our theatrically
inclined church members are in it! — Cassidy Keyser, Ryan, Aaron and Alison Witham, Pastor
Tom and Emily Getchell-Lacey, the Alward Family, Karen Jordan, Phil Breton and Peter Ayer
will all be part of this hilarious show.
Come to the Interlakes High School auditorium for a hysterical night of songs, silliness
and debauchery! Max Bialystock was once one of Broadway's most successful producers, but
a string of flops has thrown his career into a tailspin, and now he struggles to raise the cash to
stage new shows by playing gigolo to lonely old ladies. While going over his books, accountant
Leo Bloom notices that Bialystock raised more money than he spent for one show, and points
out that if one raised enough money for a show that closed in one night, you could make more
off a flop than a hit. This strikes Bialystock as a brilliant scheme, and he decides to give it a try,
persuading Bloom to join him in staging the world's greatest flop. After discovering a truly vile
script -- "Springtime for Hitler," a musical set in the Third Reich written by neo-Nazi pigeon
fancier Franz Liebkind -- and giving a key role to the secretary Ulla, a drop-dead gorgeous
blonde with only a tenuous understanding of the English language, Bialystock and Bloom are
certain they have the disaster they need for their plan to work But the scheme unexpectedly
goes wrong when "Springtime for Hitler" becomes a "so bad it's good" hit.
Tickets are on sale at Greenlaw's Music in Laconia and at Innisfree Books in Meredith
and online at streetcarcompany.com. Cost is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors. Rated R show
not recommended for kids.
Hands Across the Table Annual Soupathon
Friday April 8th from 5-8 PM
Come support HATT and enjoy 8+ different soups breads-salads and cookies! Recipes will represent
those that our ancestors brought over with them
and are now part of our mixed culture. The event
will be held at the St. Andre Bessette Parish Hall
on Gilford Ave. in Laconia. Support Hands Across
the Table and enjoy a delicious meal!
Tickets will be available at door- Adults-$9,
Children 3-12—$3 and children under 3, free.
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Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice
780 North Main Street
Laconia, NH 03246
603-524-8444
Bereavement Support Groups - Spring, 2016
Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice is offering 7-week Bereavement Support
Groups in two locations from mid-April through May, 2016.
One group will meet in Laconia on Thursdays, early evenings, and the other group will
meet in Wolfeboro on Tuesdays late afternoons. Each group consists of a series of 1 ½ hour
meetings held each week for 7 weeks.
Support Groups give people the opportunity to learn about the grief process, to discuss
ways of coping with their loss and to gain the support of others in a safe and caring environment. Although grief is a unique experience through which each person finds his or her own
path, there are common threads we all share when going through grief. The support groups
are offered free of charge.
Pre-registration is required. To register for the group, for specific dates, times, locations and/or for more information, please call or email James Miller, Hospice Bereavement
Coordinator. Phone: 603-524-8444 x 2390 (Laconia) / 603-569-2729 x 3256 (Wolfeboro)
email: JMiller@centralvna.org.
Community Health & Wellness Fair
On May 14, 2016 the Health Ministries Team will be sponsoring a Community Health &
Wellness Fair here. This will also include a 5K Run/Walk that will benefit the Belknap House, a
homeless shelter for families of Belknap County.
This fair is in response to the growing healthcare needs of our
community, it will feature many vendors from the local area.
Following is a sample list of what we are hoping to have included in this Health Fair.
 Assessments (blood pressure, cholesterol, height and
weight, fall and balance assessment, strength, eye test and more)
 Exhibitors: non-profit services and other community services.
 Demonstrations: Tai Chi, Yoga, Bike Safety, food/nutrition
 Seminars: Health topics
So mark your calendar: May 14th, 2016 from 10 AM to 3 PM here at the First United
Methodist Church of Gilford/Laconia.
A Thank You Note
Dear Friends at Gilford First United Methodist Church:
Thank you so much for your recent donation to New Beginnings. Each year we shelter
50 people and serve over 700 domestic and sexual violence survivors. The donation will assist
them in creating a fresh start for themselves as they leave our shelter, free from violence and
abuse. Your donation ensures that, while in crisis, they have dignity and a semblance of normalcy as they navigate the challenges of survivor-hood.
It is on their behalf that we thank you.
Sincerely, Aileen and New Beginnings staff.
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Church Family News
In Sympathy
Happy April Birthdays
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5
7
11
12
13
14
17
20
22
23
24
25
26
28
Bill Gorse
Barbara Madden
Joy Noble
Tom Roscoe
George Hetherington
Jon Scudder
Susan (Campbell) Storm
Carolyn French-Witham
Becky Bonardi
Brian Zackowski
Chad Avery
Randall Sims
Joshua Chandler
Ray Bowie
Barbara French
Rachel Young
Don Parks
Kelly Scudder
David Gill
Kathy Gorse
Dylan Zackowski
Steven Zackowski
Krysten Adel
Happy April Anniversaries
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17
18
26
Ned & Cynthia Beebe
Lynn & Randall Sims
Alger & Jayne Conger
Jeff & Joyce Keyser
The oldest living member of our church,
Helen Childs passed away on February 23 at the
age of 102.
Helen was the mother of Marlene
Witham, who shared her home with her from
2003. A reception was held in her memory after
church recently. Many of her family attended including Aaron and Alison Witham with sons Ryan
and Jordan, Ned and Carolyn French Witham and
Margaret, Noah and Charlie Witham, Bethany
Lamprey, and Helen’s other daughter Rebecca
Noyes.
Helen was active in the arts and crafts
group for a time and well known in the church.
Helen grew up in Springfield, Vermont where she
will be interred with her husband Lewis Childs.
Volunteer
There are many ways to help the church.
Please consider helping with the following and
contact the person organizing schedule directly. Thank you.
To Usher and/or be a Liturgist
Call Marlene Witham
286-9590
To be a Greeter
Call Barbara French
524-6795
To donate altar flowers, please see the flower
chart in the Fellowship Hall and sign up on a
vacant space. Fill out the little form below
chart and leave in secretary’s mailbox beside
If you or your family are not on the list the office door.
for birthdays or anniversaries, but
would like to be listed, please inform
Joyce in the church office.
To help during coffee hour, please sign up on
the bulletin board.
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Serving in April
If those signed up change their weeks
of service, please contact the church
office (524-3289) so that the correct
information can be placed in the bulletin each week.
Flowers
DD
April
3
10
17
24
Lela Corbin
Marilyn Miller
Barbara Madden
Nancy Morley
Liturgists
D
April
3
10
17
24
Joyce Ringleb
Joyce Keyser
Lynn Sims
Jack Woodward
Fellowship Time
D
April
Ushers
DD
April
3
10
17
24
Paul & Bonnie Weston
Rob & Vicki Stewart
Gail Tapply & Marlene Witham
Carl & Lorraine Gebhardt
3
10
17
24
Marlene Witham
People are needed to sign up for
Coffee Hour!
D
Greeters
DD
April
3
10
17
24
Jean MacFarland
Paul Weston
Bill & Kathy Gorse
Peggy Lacey
Counters
Nursery
DD
April
3
10
17
24
Carrie Chandler
Carrie Chandler
Stephen Read
Melissa Plyler
DD
April
3
10
17
24
Joyce Keyser & Roger Shelton
Joyce Keyser & Roger Shelton
Gail Tapply & Ellen Cosgrove
David Witham & Alger Conger
Thank You to all who Serve!
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Please notify the office of any additions, deletions, or other changes
in this calendar.
Please check Google Calendar on our website for additional items or
changes in dates of meetings and events.
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April 2016
First United Methodist Church
PO Box 7408
Gilford, NH 03247-7408
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit #85 Laconia, NH
Address Service Requested
Come to Worship!
Leave to serve!