D YOU ARE AS

PRECIOUS AS THE

NEW BORN BABE!

YOU ARE A PERSON

OF VISION AND

PURPOSE no matter

who you are, no matter

where you are on Life’s

journey. Whether you’re

traveled or more prone to

local life, the vision and

purpose are yours to

embrace and LIVE as

FULLY as you are able.

I was sitting with

someone who’d faced

and come through serious

surgery. I asked, “How

are you?” They looked at

me with wide eyes and

said in the most deeply,

humble, thankful way

possible: “I’m alive!” I

was moved by this

response, warmed and

inspired. I am alive! By

virtue of that fact alone, gratitude abounds. It

embraces each and every moment with deep breath.

For in this realization and expression, breathing in

then breathing out, God is ALIVE and Present in

our unique self and moment. By virtue of this fact

we reach out to others, to our aching planet, to our

God and say THANK YOU for this breath. Thank

you for this life. Thank for the ability to look out on

this world that is as blessed and called good as you

are and I am.

We are all on our “twisted, limping way to

God” but the paradox of the matter is, we are

Dear Deering Community Church, UCC and Friends,

2020?!?!?!? Happy New

Year???!?!?!? I will never get

used to writing about what’s

happening in the next two

months when we haven’t yet

even gotten through Christmas!

Be that as it may, I share these

beautiful words with you from The Radical

Christian Life: A Year with St. Benedict, by Joan

Chittister. It is a compilation of her reflections on

the writings of Benedict and her life as a

Benedictine.

“At first it seems to be a

contradiction: at the very time that

Benedict saw the world in one glance,

he saw only one person in it. But once

we begin to look at the world as God

looks at the world, that’s exactly what

happens. We see every person in it as

unique, precious, all-absorbing. People

cease to be numbers and stereotypes and

races and sexes. They become

individuals to us. Every one of them on

their twisted, limping way to God….

“The scripture says, “Without

vision the people perish.” Every life, in

other words, should have a purpose.

What’s yours? Be careful. If it’s not big

enough, you will live a very stunted

existence in a very small world that

dulls early and goes too drab too soon.

What are you reaching for that is worth

the measure of a life?” (pp. 128-129)

Profound words for reflection as we make our

way from the wonder and magnificence of

Christmas into the New Year. YOU ARE UNIQUE!

Thoughts from the Pastor’s Pen January-February 2020

Book review, Deacon’s report 2

Sunday Ministry Meetings 3

Budget Appeal, PPRM 4

Council report, Outreach ,

church office report

5

Guild Report 6

Events Pictures 7

Events Pictures 8

FYI, food pantry, birthdays,

Anniversaries, web info,

9

Jan / Feb Calendars 10, 11

Back page 12

Inside this issue:

The Newsletter

eering Community Church

Thoughts from the Pastors Pen Rev Bill Beardslee

PAGE 2 DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

already there if can but wake up and be touched by

the vision and purpose of Christ-Love which

embraces any and all in universal acknowledgement

and blessing. It’s as simple as a glance, a kind word,

a letter to someone in need, a snow-flake greeting to

the imprisoned, a text or What’s App message to a

sister or brother in Zimbabwe, a can or box put in the

food basket, a firm NO to hate and divisiveness, a

meal prepared, a visit or phone call made, a prayer

offered. We are not here just for ourselves.

We travel into this new year, hopefully renewed

and restored by our Advent-Christmas journey. We

have waited with Advent anticipation for the

Mystery and beauty of the birth of the Child of

Possibility, the birth of Love in the manger of our

hearts, who unites and guides us. May we travel light

and well into this new year.

Peace.

Rev. Bill Beardslee

Book Review Schedule Rev Bill Beardslee

The schedule of discussion for the reading of The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope for and Believe, carries over from ADVENT into LENT because of the length of the book. It is as follows:

LENT

February 23 Chapters 9 and 10

March 8 Chapters 11 and 12

March 15 Chapters 13 and 14

March 22 Chapters 15 and 16

March 29 Chapter 17 the Epilogue and Afterword: Love After Love

Deacon’s Report Jack Hubert

Our mission is to engage in collaboration, communication and education through innovative tools and activities that support and nurture spiritual growth and a caring community.

.Reflections By the time you read this, the Christmas season will almost be gone – even Three Kings may have already slipped by. Blue Christmas as well as the traditional Christmas on the 25th will be just a memory, hopefully a meaningful one for each of you. Keen observers might have noticed a couple of small changes in the services lately. The liturgical colors shifted from Advent purple to white the week after Christmas. Also, Deacons streamlined the conclusion of the collection by bringing the plates forward sooner. A small thing which, importantly, comes from reflecting on the feedback survey.

The Book Study ("The Universal Christ" by Fr. Richard Rohr) which began in December will resume during Lent.

Crafts Night is alive and well. It is every other Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm. It is open to the community, and quite a few have been attending, along with members of our congregation. Bring something of your own to work on – or see what will be available to ‘make and take home’ or begin creating items for the Summer Faire! There will be refreshments.

Music Program~ Jane Waters, Music Director

I'm pleased to report that our Lullaby of Broadway Singers repeated many selections for a very appreciative group of residents at Heritage Heights-Havenwood in Concord on November 20th at 3:00 PM. Then the annual ecumenical service engaged the choir to join with the participating choirs from Smith, St. Mary's, and Hillsboro Methodist Church who were this year's host. It's always a joy to sing with all of us together. Presently, our choir is preparing Advent and Christmas music, leading us into Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve at 6:00 PM, always a very meaningful service. Now it's time to mark your calendar for the annual SOIREE which will take place on Valentines's Day, February 14, 2020, at 7:00 PM.

The Caring Connection is a new, small committee who reach out to members in need of support. Carol Hubert, Bryan Terry, Pasca Ferwerda, Jeanne Bartlett, and Pastor Bill by asking others in the congregation to see if they would like to help us make phone calls as another way to communicate and show our ‘caring’.

Please think of people to reach out to make calls or who need calls.

Jack and Carol Hubert, Kay Daniels, Pasca Ferwerda, Joyce Peace, Rev. Bill Beardslee, Bryan Terry, Co-Coordinator

PAGE 3 DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

Deacon’s Report Cont. Jack Hubert

Sunday Ministry Meetings Bryan Terry

First Sunday Ministry Meetings

11:30a – 1:00p

There is a proposal on the floor for all Ministry areas to meet on a single day, the first Sunday of the month. This allows less mid-week meetings and a kind of efficiency we need to encourage to lessen the burden of our shared ministry’s and commitments.

The Pastor Parish Relations Ministry is unique in its vision and mission and is excluded from the first Sunday meeting time. They will meet the 2nd Sunday after filling the Feed-a-Teen bags. This will allow for the necessary confidentiality involved in this ministry.

There are two Coordinators in the Christian Ed Ministry. The two would be present for meeting to allow interested people (and Pastor Bll) to sit in and/or even participate in this ministry. If no one shows up the two could then go to the Deacon Ministry meeting.

These monthly meetings are to be efficient and concise. It is helpful to have an agenda to which the Ministry adheres as a guide to control the time. Meetings should not be any longer than an hour and a half.

Ministry Areas can meet in various areas of the church eg: Sherwood, Hall, Sanctuary, Living Room, Pastor’s office. If preferred, two or more groups may meet in opposite sides of Sherwood Hall simultaneously.

Everyone is invited to sit in on these meetings. It is not necessary to be a “ministry member”. Indeed, everyone is invited and urged to go to various ministries of interest. Part of the Reflection Feedback that the Pastor Parish Relations Ministry found was that many folks wanted to know more about our various ministries and what was going on. This is the perfect opportunity!

Schedule:

11:30am-1:00pm Grab coffee and go to respective ministry area: Outreach Ministry, Resource Ministry, Christian Education, Deacon Ministry/CE

PAGE 4 DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

Budget Appeal Peter Cram

Dear Friends,

At this time of year, several of us in the church have been working towards next year’s budget, one that will be presented at our annual meeting in January. This enthusiastic group of individuals has been working hard, looking at all of the various income and expenditure line items that make up the full financial picture of the Deering Community Church. I strongly encourage you to come to the annual meeting when we will discuss the final budget document.

Through the process of defining the budget, we’ve asked ourselves the tough questions.

What are the church priorities reflected in the budget?

What is the spending plan, and how can we allocate our resources to best accomplish our mission?

What is the expected income from giving and other sources?

We have a lot of information to work with, in-cluding budgets and actual expenditures from previous years. What we’ve come up with is a document that is reasonable, and shows prudent allocation of resources. I’m delighted with the projected expenditures for 2020.

We do have concerns however. Projected income

falls short of projected expenditures by a significant amount – at this point a ‘to be raised’ figure of over $21,000. With an overall budget of just over $95,000, this is a significant shortfall. We find our-selves uncomfortable with this level of a gap between projected income and expenditures. The largest decrease from last year to this year was in expected pledge income, falling over $12,000.

We view our recent Stewardship Campaign as successful, and those who have made their pledge for 2020 have been generous indeed. We know there are some who have had to reduce their pledges due to their personal situations, and some people have moved away. We are hoping that others who may not have made a financial commitment in the past may step up and do so this year. If others who have made a pledge for the year are inclined to increase their pledge, we would certainly welcome that as well.

Again, I’m convinced that the level of spending has been and will continue to be fiscally responsible, and our plans for the next year are by no means extravagant. As financial stewards of the Deering Community Church, we look to keep our house in order, and ensure that the commitments and programs that define us continue to be funded appropriately.

Thank you very much for your support of the work we do.

PPRM Peg Hauschildt

Mission statement: The Pastor Parish Relations Committee covenants with the Deering Community Church to support and sustain connection and communication between the Pastor and the congregation through kind collaborative listening, education and ongoing mutual evaluation for a healthy community.

Members: Pastor Bill Beardslee, Jeanne Bartlett, Pasca Ferwerda, Peg Hauschildt, coordinator, Joyce Peace, Bryan Terry

Our Pastor Parish Relations Ministry is looking forward to opportunities in 2020 to continue our goal of “Checking the Pulse” of our congregation. We recognize the value of obtaining input from our members regarding various aspects of our church and community life. We intend to have this be an on-going process with an informal format that is conducive to members openly sharing ideas.

We are also discussing ways to provide educational programs and activities that are consistent with our Mission Statement. We welcome your suggestions!

PAGE 5

Council Report Chris Nase

DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

To represent and serve the congregation, using deliberate action, collaboration and leadership. Council members carry out the functional and ministerial working of the church to build a faith-based community of Christ love.

The Council met on November 12, 2019 and December 10, 2019.

Highlights from these meeting include –

Attic Treasures will be open each Saturday until December 21. After that it will be open on the first Saturday of the month until March.

A new copier was given to the church from the

Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. The snow blower was purchased and put to use during the recent storm.

The Council authorized Peter to pursue the hiring of a professional engineer to evaluate and create a plan for the structural concerns of the sanctuary basement.

The church endowment is doing well and we will be able to withdraw an additional $100 a month next year to support the church. We continue to look for practical and creative ways to store the trash and snow blower.

Council also agreed to try First Sunday Meetings where all ministry areas meet at the same time.

Outreach Ministry Chris Nase

To incorporate the work of social action and mission in the local and global communities by proposing projects, educating, and enlisting the support of our church membership. .

Chris, Bryan and Bill recently attended a Bobby Jo Valentine concert at The Federated Church of Marlborough. Bobby Jo Valentine is a spirit-focused singer, song-writer who reached out to our church about performing in Deering. He regularly performs in small, intimate venues like our church. He believes “the messages Jesus taught – the subversive last-shall-be-first mentality, the humble spirit-

focused life, and his peace centered, anti-empire, anti-materialistic story – is more…needed than ever in this day and age.” We enjoyed his concert and are considering whether our church is able to host him next spring. If you want to know more or are interested in helping with this endeavor please contact Chris Nase.

Christine Marcroft is working on re-establishing a contact person at the Women’s prison in Concord. We plan to make Christmas cards for the women and

wireless, paper notebooks are still accepted.

Church Office Report Ginks Leiby

Today as I write this note about what is happening in the office, it is a balmy 49 degrees outside and the recent snow is rapidly melting away. It feels like spring and just two days ago the weather felt like we were headed for a permanent deep freeze. Ah, New England weather! We all romanticized the weather from the days when we were small. We keep only the best memories and fleeting images left to us by our childlike selves. For me, it is the memories of 200 Main Street in Easthampton, Massachusetts. I re-member looking up at 8 foot snow piles left from plowing the roads and the driveways; standing across the street with my brothers and sisters waiting for mom to see us and bring us back home from sledding across a very busy street; clearing the snow with my sister Anne off a solid sheet of ice on the lawn so we

had an ice-skating rink; shoveling the walks as a teenager for $1.50 an hour; and let’s not forget hot cocoa with marshmallow after coming inside. I miss those times and would love to go back for a day, especially to see long lost relatives and friends. Alas, it is not possible yet until time travel affords us the chance to revisit ourselves in an entirely different dimension. All this brings up memories of movies such as Rod Taylor starring in the 1960’s hit The Time machine. I recommend it. While hokey in a way, it stirred my imagination as a child. And even today, when I see it offered, I’ll tune in for either a short while or stop and watch the entire movie if I haven’t seen it for a decade or so. The Time Machine challenges us to understand what makes us human and what a terrible world it can be without

PAGE 6 DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

Church Office Report Cont. Ginks Lieby

compassion and a sense of right and wrong.

Well enough nostalgia and back to current topics – particularly those related to the church office. We have a new “used” donated Ricoh copier in the office. Our Ricoh tech, Jim, came out last week and gave it the once over. The good news is it cleaned up beautifully and only needed one new part – a “hot” roller that cost $93.00 which was great as we were expecting to put a lot more money into the copier.

This machine has a finisher attached to the main body of the machine so we also have new bells and whistles including an automatic stapler and more to

explore and learn about. That reminds me. It is time to get the user manual off the Internet.

Over the past couple of months, the big project was Stewardship. Bill put a lot of time and effort into the materials. My work involved the various mailings. Thank you to all who have responded and continue to support the Church through donated time and financial assistance. Upcoming is the annual report. I look forward to helping with this project.

Wherever you are this winter, enjoy the season and either the warmth or the snow whatever comes your way.

Guild Report Jeanne Bartlett

Mission Statement: The purpose of this organization shall be to enrich the spiritual life and friendship of women in our communities, to aid our church especially in benevolent work, and to cooperate with state and national societies in world friendship programs.

The first Wednesday of each month finds the Guild members gathered at the Deering Community Church to have lunch together at noon, sharing updates on the wellbeing of members present and absent. The devotional period follows with inspirational words from many different sources: the humor and wisdom of Dr. Seuss, testimony at the NH Legislature re fair wages and housing, reading from a Contemplative Journal, the “riches of giving and gratitude”, a poem by Maya Angelou, the poetry of Padraig o Tuama entitled “Sorry for your Troubles”, –– thus the designated contributor brings her own touch to the group. The hostess of the month provides cake or dessert to celebrate a birthday. Well-fortified and inspired, we are ready to conduct business, managing our budget and funding our “benevolent work”.

Our February speaker, member of the scholarship committee for the Eleanor Campbell Charitable Foundation, Chris Hague, provided insight into the process of selection and the opportunities available to a student who applies and qualifies. A unanimous decision from Guild members to provide a $1500.00 scholarship resulted, putting to good use the income from our investment fund. Proceeds from a very successful Summer Faire, co-sponsored by church and community, helped our budget allowing us to fund The Little Free Pantry, Global Ministries Child sponsorship, Food Pantries, One Great Hour of Sharing, Greater Hillsborough Senior Services, Teen Food bags, as well as a financial contribution to the church.

Attic Treasures is another source of income for Guild and the Deering Church, and members are encouraged to sign up to staff each Saturday during spring, summer and fall, after which this church basement shop opens the first Saturday of each month only. Thanks to manager, Glenice L’huereux, her flair for display, online salesmanship and organization, this shop flourishes along with the aid of valuable volunteers. Donations to the inventory of AT are encouraged but a discerning eye keeps the quality of items appealing. We look forward to participation in this project from the community as well.

Other interesting speakers, during the year, included Valerie White, promoting sustainable local living, The Joy of Container Gardening and artist Linda Graham, local chapter president of Great Old Broads for Wilderness, who spoke about how this elder-woman-led-organization helps support conservation efforts and lobbies in Washington, D.C. on behalf of wilderness preservation.

PAGE 7 DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

Guild Report, Cont. Jeanne Bartlett

All women are welcome to join the Guild. A membership fee of $5.00 is due the first of the new year. More information can be found on www.deeringcommunitychurch.org, FB, Constant Contact. Please note Guild Gleanings reports in the church newsletters which are so ably edited by Barbara Glauner.

Respectfully Submitted, Jeanne Bartlett, President, Joyce Peace, Vice President, Chris Hague, Secretary, and Pasca Ferwerda, Treasurer.

Pictures of Events Christine Marcroft

This picture was taken at the ecumenical Thanksgiving

service on November 24 at the Methodist Church in Hillsboro.

From left: Pastor Paul O’Neill from The Methodist Church in

Hillsborough, Bill Beardslee, Pastor Donna Vuilleumier of

Smith Church in Hillsborough and Rev Marcel Martel from

St Mary’s in Hillsborough. A combined Choir sang a

Thanksgiving piece. It was a beautiful service full of music

and thanksgiving followed by refreshments including

wonderful hot chocolate!

Here are some pictures of our Game Night at

church on November 15. This was again a great

night, and everyone had a lovely and fun

time! There were some guests from the community

but mainly members of the church came to enjoy

themselves! Lots of different games were brought

in and new ones tested and tried. As before, there

were great desserts which added to the happy at-

mosphere. Jessica and Bryan Vitkauskas brought

their children Noah and Riley, who were having

such fun! All in all – this was a wonderful evening

for everyone, and we are planning more of these in

the future.

PAGE 8 DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

More Pictures of Game Night Christine Marcroft

PAGE 9 DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

For Your Information

FOOD PANTRIES

Hillsboro and Weare District Food Pantries.

Hillsboro: There is need for small cans of meat for February such as ham, tuna, chicken, etc. as school vacation week falls in this month, and paper products for January such as paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, napkins, etc, but each week you’re welcome to bring whatever food or personal-care items you have. The Food Pantry is still in need of large brown paper bags.

Weare: Donations of all types of food and personal care products are sorely needed.

Cash donations are always welcome. Please make checks payable to Deering Community Church and note “Food Pantry” on the memo line. Periodically, accumulated cash donations are divided and half is sent to each of the above food pantries. Food Pantry donations are part of our outreach program to help others less fortunate. Please help if you can. THANK YOU ! Pasca Ferwerda, Financial Secretary

ATTIC TREASURES

Upcoming Dates:

January 4, 2020

February 1, 2020

March 7, 2020

April 4, 2020

Donate! Clean out all that stuff you no longer need that can find a good temporary home in Attic Treasures.

January

Carol Hubert, 2

Benjamin Robinson 2

Greg Dumais 7

Marjorie Bryce, 8

Amanda Gunter 9

Jack Hubert, 12

Deborah Carpenter 22

Julian Gunter 23

February

Ray Petty III, 2

Fiona Craighead, 7

Stuart Huggard 8

Lisa Mahar, 12

Samuel Kelly, 13

Marion Sullivan 20

Happy

Anniversary JANUARY

Pasca & Tim Ferwerda, 26

Lisa Mahar & Bill Beardslee, 26

FEBRUARY

Kathleen & Raymond Daniels, 14

Newsletter Editor Barbara Glauner , abglauner@mcttelecom.com. Webmaster, David Glauner.

From David Glauner,

Webmaster

We have added a QR code (Quick Response code) to the back of the newsletter. A QR code will make

it much easier for people to make donations to the church online. Point your phone or tablet at it

and it will take you to The Deering Community Church Paypal donation page. The QR

code takes you to the same place as the donate buttons that we have added to the website.

Deadline Dates

for the Newsletters for 2020

February 19th, 2020

for the Mar/Apr issue.

April 22,2020

for the May / June issue.

June 22, 2020

for the July / August Issue.

August 19th, 2020

for the Sept/ Oct. issue

October 21st, 2020

for the Nov/Dec issue

December 21, 2020

for the Jan/Feb 2021 issue.

PAGE 10 DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

New Years

Day

2 Choir

Practice

5:30-7:00 pm

3 4 7 am

Breakfast, 8

to 10 am

Workday.

Attic Treas-

ures 9 to 1

5 10 am

Worship &

Communion

11:30 to 1

Ministry

Meetings

6 7 8 9 Choir

Practice

5:30-7:00 pm

10 11

12 10 am

Worship

PPRM

meeting

11:30

13 14

15 16 Choir

Practice

5:30-7:00 pm

17 18

19 10 am

Worship

20 21

Summer Faire Meeting 6 pm

22 23 Choir

Practice

5:30-7:00 pm

24 25

26 10 am

Worship,

11:30 Annu-

al Meeting

27 28

29 30 Choir

Practice

5:30-7:00 pm

31

January 2020

PAGE 11 DEERING COMMUNITY CHURCH

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 7 am

Breakfast, 8

to 10 am

Workday.

Attic Treas-

ures 9 to 1

2 10 am

Worship &

Commun-

ion, 11:30 to

1, Ministry

Meetings

3 4 5

Guild @

Noon

6 Choir

Practice

5:30-7:00 pm

7 8

9 10 am

Worship

PPRM

Meeting

11:30

10 11

12 13 Choir

Practice

5:30-7:00 pm

14 Valentines

Day

Music

Soiree 7 pm

15

16 10 am

Worship

17 18

19 20 Choir

Practice

5:30-7:00 pm

21 22

23 Wor-

ship 10 am.

11:30 Book

Study

resumes.

24 25

26 Ash

Wednesday

27 Choir

Practice

5:30-7:00 pm

28 29

February 2020

Deering Community Church United Church of Christ 763 Deering Center Road Deering, NH, 03244 603-464-5643

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