It feels a little odd. I changed the sign a few days ago. Now it says “Game Night. Come play with us. April First. (No Fooling.)” I wanted to invite the community to join us. I want our church to be a place where everyone feels comfortable, welcome, appreciated. When people think of our church, I want them to remember happy moments. You know, we tend to go back to places where we felt blessed, where we laughed, where we had a good time. When people think of our church, I want them to remember having a good time. I changed the sign from the computer in my study, and then I went out and looked at it, and I wondered if it was OK. After all, it’s Lent. Most churches are focused on Holy Week preparations. For five and a half weeks now, we’ve been walking a solemn path with Jesus toward Jerusalem, the final confrontation, arrest and crucifixion. Some of us have undertaken special disciplines—fasting, extra time in prayer, spending time reaching out in new ways to share the good news with our neighbors. I wondered if anyone would take offense—here in the middle of a season of fasting, a season of serious self-reflection, a season of solemn prayer—I wondered if anyone would take offense at a sign that flashed in purple and yellow lights, “Game Night. Come play with us, April First. (No Fooling).” So far, no one has said anything. I hope you will come to our Game Night. It should be a lot of fun. Bring a game, bring a snack to share, most important, bring a friend. We’ll have a great time. And I hope you will come to our special Holy Week events. There’s a calendar of Holy Week events on page 8 of this Steeple Talk. On Sunday, April 9, we’ll wave our palms and walk with Jesus into the Holy City. On Thursday evening, we’ll share in a special way the story of Jesus’ last Passover meal with his friends. On Friday, we’ll meet with people from four local churches at All Saints’ Episcopal to remember the painful events leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross. After walking with Jesus through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, we’ll be ready to receive the astonishing gift of his Resurrection, gaze into the empty tomb and hear the angel saying, “He is not here, but he’s risen, as he said!” It does seem odd to be having a game night, inviting the world to “Come play with us. April First. (No Fooling)” even as we fast, spend time in solemn reflection, and prepare to walk through the pain and darkness with Jesus. But there it is. There he is. We tell our story, we live our story from the far side of the grave, where death is a conquered enemy, the darkness already dispelled. The joy we anticipate on the far side of the suffering is already here. What a wonderful mystery! What an amazing gift of Life beyond any expectation. Please do come and join us for Game Night. We’re going to have a really great time. And then, please do come and join us for Holy Week, and let the living story of Jesus’ astonishing gift of himself for our sake fill you with joy beyond all measure.

blessings, david

Steeple Talk First Congregational Church of Littleton

189 Main Street, Littleton, NH 03561

April 2017 PHONE 603-444-3376 FAX 603-444-6589 Volume 45, Issue 4

EMAIL: fstcong@myfairpoint.net WEBSITE: www.1stconglittleton.org

Contents

Pastor’s Message 1

April Calendar 2

“Classifieds” 3

Church & 4-10 Community Happenings

Upcoming Events

April 1 – Game Night

April 6 – Group LHS Drama

Outing

April 8 – Men’s Breakfast

April 10 – SLLC Board & CE

meetings

April 12 – Ladies Society

meeting

April 14 – Office Closed

April 20 – COG & Property

meetings

April 25 – Eastern Star

Production staff: Pam Nute

First Congregational Church April 2017

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Pastor’s Office Hours: Wednesday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Music Director’s Hours: Wednesday 6 p.m. – 8 p.m./Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

4:00 PM-7:00PM

Game Night - LP

7:00 PM-AA-FH

2 Fifth Sunday of Lent

9:00 AM – Adult Bible

Study – CR

10:00 AM-Worship Service

and communion

10:00 AM – Sunday School

11:15 AM – Coffee

Fellowship – LP

11:30 AM – Exploring Holy

Scripture - CR

3

11:30 AM-AA – FH

Pastors' Sabbath

4

11:30 AM-AA - FH

6:00 PM-AlAnon-LP

5

11:30 AM-AA - FH

4:30 PM – COG dinner

for LHS Drama @ LHS

Cafeteria

5:00 PM-AA-LP

6:30 PM-Choir Practice-

LP

7:00 PM-AA-FH

6

11:30 AM-AA – FH

7:00-7:10 PM –

Group gathering at

LHS Lobby for Drama

Performance

7

11:30 AM-AA - FH

8

8:00 AM – Men’s

Breakfast – Littleton

Diner

7:00 PM-AA-FH

9 Palm Sunday

9:00 AM – Adult Bible Study

– CR

10:00 AM-Worship Service

10:00 AM – Sunday School

11:15 AM – Coffee

Fellowship - LP

11:30 AM – Exploring Holy

Scripture - CR

Deacon’s Collection

10

11:30 AM-AA – FH

5:30 PM – SLLC

Board / CE following –

CR

Pastors' Sabbath

11

11:30 AM-AA - FH

6:00 PM-AlAnon-LP

12

11:30 AM-AA - FH

1:30 PM – Ladies

Society – LP

5:00 PM-AA-LP

6:30 PM-Choir Practice-

LP

7:00 PM-AA-FH

13 MAUNDY

THURSDAY

11:30 AM-AA – FH

7:00 PM – Maundy

Thursday service-LP

14

GOOD FRIDAY

11:30 AM-AA – FH

Office and

SLLC Closed

7:00 PM -

Ecumenical Good

Friday Service – All

Saints Church

15

7:00 PM-AA-FH

16 EASTER

9:00 AM – Adult Bible

Study – CR

10:00 AM-Worship Service

11:15 AM – Coffee

Fellowship – LP

17

11:30 AM-AA – FH

Pastors' Sabbath

18

11:30 AM-AA - FH

6:00 PM-AlAnon-LP

19

11:30 AM-AA - FH

3:00 PM – Missions – LP

5:00 PM-AA-LP

6:30 PM-Choir Practice-L

7:00 PM-AA-FH

20

11:30 AM-AA – FH

4:30 PM – Property –

CR

7:15 PM – COG-CR

21

11:30 AM-AA – FH

22

EARTH DAY

7:00 PM-AA-FH

23 Second Sunday of Easter

9:00 AM – Adult Bible

Study – CR

10:00 AM-Worship Service

11:15 AM – Coffee

Fellowship – LP

24

11:30 AM-AA – FH

Pastors' Sabbath

Steeple Talk

Submissions Due

25

11:30 AM-AA - FH

6:00 PM-AlAnon-LP

7:00 PM-Eastern Star

– FH

26

11:30 AM-AA - FH

5:00 PM-AA-LP

6:30 PM-Choir Practice-

7:00 PM-AA-FH

27

11:30 AM-AA - FH

28

11:30 AM-AA – FH

29

7:00 PM-AA-FH

30 Third Sunday of Easter

9:00 AM – Adult Bible

Study – CR

10:00 AM-Worship Service

11:15 AM – Coffee

Fellowship – LP

Food Pantry Collection

KEY:

FH – Fellowship Hall

LP – Ladies Parlor

CR - Classroom

Last Minute

Easter Lily Orders

To Glenda Iles 444-5336

$15.00 ea.

Please make all checks payable to:

“Cherry Blossom”

Wanted and Needed

Sunday Ushers and Greeters

Coffee Fellowship hosts

Please sign up on the board

Coffee Fellowship and Greeters

are an important ministry and

create a more welcoming

atmosphere for members and

visitors

Wireless Guest

Account

SSID: FCC Guests

Password: fcc189main

Enjoy!

February 29, 2017 YTD

Member support: $ 21,585

Scheduled w/d from trust funds

$ 3,500

Other Income: $ 1,376

Total Income: $ 26,461

Total Expenses: $ 26,216

Net: $ 245

Financial Report

Spring Clean Up

Mark your calendars for

Saturday

May 2nd

Details coming soon!

Men’s Breakfast 8:00 am

April 8 at the Littleton Diner

Food Collection Sunday April 30, 2017

The Food Cupboard is in need of the following items:

Canned fruit! Hearty soups, stews, canned meat (turkey, chicken, ham, corned beef, Spam). Canned or boxed (complete) meals. Small

containers of condiments. Coffee. Cat food. Crackers.

Thank you!

Your Generosity

One Great Hour of Sharing

$855

Deacon’s Fund

$219 February $179 March

Food Pantry (in addition to items)

$202 February

$152 March

Ladies Parlor ~ 4pm to 7pm

Bring something to share if you’d like (but not required)

a true Pot Luck

Games are provided or bring your favorite games to play

with others!

There is no charge and bringing a friend is

strongly encouraged!

Page 4 Steeple Talk

“Classifieds and Notices”

Page 3 Steeple Talk

Despite the weather, we have been having a great time! We went on a field trip to the Rocks’ Estate and learned the history of maple syrup, tapped a tree, and enjoyed maple syrup and maple donuts at the end (see pictures below!). We have had a visitor named Paul from the NH Fish and Game Dept. to further our learning about trees. He talked to us about how you can differentiate what kind of tree it is by the small of the leaves, what animals live in trees, and much more. Curious George and Cat in the Hat visited and read a story. They also gave us books to read and bring home.

Some of our toddlers are moving up to the preschool side as we start to get some new little ones. It is surprising how quickly the children grow and learn things. Sometimes we feel like it sneaks up on us and we remember how little they once were when they first started. We are excited for some spring whether! We are also starting to collect some donations for our calendar fundraiser that we will start selling at the end of May. We could use your support and will provide more information soon.

Page 4 Steeple Talk

Page 4 Steeple Talk

Thank You! For joining us for

Mardi Paws March 12, 2017

Christian Education:

Kim and Curran Smith (left) delivered $38.00 in cash, a $25.00 Gift card, paper towels and bird seed

that were donated to Second Chance Animal Rescue. Younger brother, Brayden, is on the right

checking things out. THANK YOU TO ALL who donated to this fun event.

Thank you to Rich Larcomb from Above the Notch Humane Society for coming and setting up a

display. Cash and all kinds of other doggie items were donated.

Steeple Talk Page 5

Who’s looking at whom?

In Memory of Anna Jackman

The Ladies Society will be sponsoring the planting

of lilac trees in the spring in memory of Anna

which was recently approved by the Property

committee and Council.

Thank you to Brenda Fairweather (fellow prayer

group member) from her property and another

will be purchased.

It is called a Josee lilac (a dwarf, re-blooming

variety that has lavender-pink blossoms).

Mission Spotlight

2017 Meals on Wheels Walkathon:

On Saturday, May 20, 2017, the Littleton Area Senior Center, on behalf of the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, will host the fifth annual Meals on Wheels Walkathon, starting at the Littleton Area Senior Center, 77 Riverglen Lane in Littleton. Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and walkers will have the opportunity to fortify themselves for the walk with a pancake breakfast. The walk will commence at 10:00 a.m. and alternative 1-mile and 3-mile routes are available. The event will also feature entertainment, face painting, assorted vendors, plus a barbecue lunch to be served at the conclusion of the walkathon.

The Littleton Area Senior Center is one of eight senior centers under the GCSCC umbrella. The senior center’s service area includes Littleton, Bethlehem, Franconia, Sugar Hill, Easton, Lisbon, Landaff and Monroe. In addition to a wide range of programs including trips, educational programs, health screenings, exercise programs and regular entertainment, three key components of the center’s functions are the home-delivered meals (Meals On Wheels) program, lunches (weekdays at noon, in Littleton) and a very busy transportation program for trips to medical and other appointments, shopping, etc. Many of the center’s clients are unable to afford even the modest suggested donation of $3.00 for a home-delivered meal, and a recent survey suggests that for some of the clients, the meal delivery driver is the only outside contact that they have in a typical week.

The Community Outreach Group and the mission committee will be working to organize a robust

complement of church members and friends to participate in the walk, donate and/or solicit supporting pledges. Pledge sheets will be available during Coffee Fellowship and in the church office soon. For those who are unable to participate, donations are always welcome; checks should be payable to “Littleton Area Senior Center” and a notation of your affiliation with the First Congregational Church would be helpful.

Dinner Bell:

Our church will next host the “Dinner Bell” community meal at All Saints Episcopal Church on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. A sign-up sheet for volunteers and

food donations will be available in the near future.

Missions Meeting: The next missions committee meeting will take place on April 19th at 3:00 pm in

the Ladies Parlor. More members are needed. Please come!

Steeple Talk Page 6 Steeple Talk Page 6 Page 6 Steeple Talk

Are you looking for a wonderful way to provide a service for a child in need?

The Fresh Air Fund

is seeking families willing to open their hearts and homes to New York City children for one or two

weeks this summer.

Hosts may request a boy or girl between the ages of 7 and 12. As a volunteer host family you will

help a child enjoy the simple pleasures of a summer away from the hot city streets. Please call

Sally Sherrard at 444-2289 or visit www.freshairfund.org for more information.

OUR COMMUNITY

Please join the

The Community Outreach Group

in Supporting the LHS Drama Dept.

Evening performance—Thursday, April 6th HALF PRICE FOR THE GROUP!

Meet at the Littleton High School Lobby to support the kids at 7:00pm - 7:10 pm

Other performances: April 7th & 8th (Friday and Saturday) at 7:30 PM, or the Matinee, Saturday April 8th, at 2:00 PM

COG is hosting a rehearsal dinner for the LHS Drama Dept.

on Wednesday, April 5th for 50 people!

There is still time to sign up to help purchase pizzas ($17 ea.), water bottles or to

make a hand-held dessert or help serve food! The sign up board and more information will be in the Ladies Parlor on Sunday, April 2nd.

Contact Tim Gould if you have any questions. Thank you!

Steeple Talk Page 7

Page 8 Steeple Talk

First Congregational Church of Littleton 189 Main Street ~ Littleton, NH

Please join us

April 9 at 10 am

Palm Sunday Worship Service Location: Sanctuary Children are welcome to join us for Sunday school. Everyone meets in the Sanctuary at 10 am and the children follow the teachers to the classroom following children’s time.

April 13 at 7:00 pm

Maundy Thursday Service Location: Ladies Parlor We’ll retell the story of Jesus’ last Passover Meal with his disciples. (The pastor will be there by 6:30, in case you’d like to come for some quiet time before the service.) We’ll share the sacred meal with one another; we’ll let ourselves experience the growing darkness as Jesus, the Light of the World, breathes his last.

April 14 at 7:00 pm

Ecumenical Good Friday Worship Service Location: All Saints’ Episcopal Church The ministers of four local churches will lead worship. There’ll be a combined choir. It will be a different sort of service, helping us to reflect on the wondrous love Jesus showed us on Good Friday.

April 16 at 10 am

Easter Sunday Intergenerational Worship Service Location: Sanctuary Contact us by phone: 603-444-3376 email: fstcong@myfairpoint.net website: www.1stconglittleton.org

Holy Week Activities

First Congregational Church of Littleton, NH

Looking for Volunteers! The office has been contacted by Lifetouch®, a church directory and portrait company that would like to partner with the church. This was done many years ago and there is a new opportunity to work with this company. Volunteers are needed to learn more about what they have to offer including outreach and fundraising. The company is going through a re-branding and offers new services like easy online sign-ups for families and a phone call program managed by Lifetouch® to reach families for photography appointments and reminder calls. There is access to a dedicated customer service team for personalized assistance with the program. If someone(s) does decide to take on this project, every family will receive an 8x10 free portrait and directory. You can even have your picture taken with your pets! If this is something you would be interested in spearheading, please contact Pam in the office for more

information.

Celebrating Birthdays & Anniversaries

April

Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!

2nd Meaghan Clark 5th Cindy & Christopher Sparks

8th Connie Tuck 22nd Charron & Rick Sundman

9th Bob Oleary 22nd Kay & John Lofgren

13th Curran Smith

14th Carol-Ann Blake

17th Su Schott

18th Ross Fairweather

30th Christine Sundman

May (preview)

3rd Karen Lord

8th Linda Warden

9th Cynthia Nielson

*****************************************************************

Cranberry Crunch Cake from Vivian Davis via Taste of Home Prep: 15 min. Bake: 25 min. Makes: 12 servings 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup cranberries 1 cup sugar 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows 2 large eggs 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup chopped pecans 2 tsp. baking powder 2 Tbsp. melted butter 1/2 tsp. salt 3/4 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Steeple Talk Page 9

I apologize in advance for any errors or omissions.

The Deadline for submissions for the May issue is

Tuesday, April 25th!

~ Pam Nute, editor

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; beat until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. 2. Add flour mixture alternately with milk and vanilla to egg mixture. Fold in cranberries. 3. Spread batter in a greased 13x9 in. baking dish. Sprinkle with marshmallows; press into batter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and nuts. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake at 350° for

25-30 minutes.

First Congregational Church, UCC 189 Main Street Littleton, NH 03561 Return Service Requested

Page 7

STEEPLE TALK APRIL 2017

Steeple Talk

A newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Littleton

Page 10

Church Staff

Pastor: Rev. W. David Weddington

Administrative Assistant: Pam Nute

Organist & Choir Director: Dottie Morton

Officers

Moderator: Lars Nielson

Vice Moderator: Tim Gould

Treasurer: Dudley Bailey

Assistant Treasurer: Joyce Krill

Committee Chairs

Christian Education: Kim Smith

Deacons: Mary Menzies

Finance: Dudley Bailey

Mission: Judy Oleary

Music: Tina Peabody

Personnel Relations: Ann Craxton

Property Management: John Lofgren

Overseer of the Trust Funds: Dudley Bailey

Shining Lights Learning Center

Board Chair: Suzanne Schott

Director: Melissa Kam

www.1stconglittleton.org