Smith Memorial Congregational Church UCC

Author: g1bbyR0cks

April Worship Information

Anticipate that all will be recorded at the parsonage and uploaded to our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/smithmemorialucc/. The WMUR website also links to churches worshipping online.

April 5 – PALM SUNDAY

Communion Sunday—we will bless the bread and cup you choose to use at home.
Scripture Lessons: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29, Matthew 21: 1-11
Sermon: Hosanna

April 9/10 – MAUNDY THURSDAY/GOOD FRIDAY

Instead of the traditional service and vigil, please read a /some Gospel Scriptures about the passion narrative of Christ:
Matthew 21-28
Mark 11-16
Luke 19-24
John 12-21
Please also consider watching a movie such as ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’, or The King of Kings’.

Here are some questions to consider as you read or watch:

  1. What is most striking to you about the different Gospel readings?
  2. At the Last Supper each of the gospels refers to Jesus and the disciples ‘sang the hymn’ after the first Communion. They sang Psalms 113 and 114, one is about God being the helper of the needy and the other is about God’s wonders during the Exodus, so this truly was a Passover celebration. Does that surprise you?
  3. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays but cannot get the disciples to stay awake and pray with him or wait for him, yet what he prays is documented. How is that possible? The two beliefs for that are either the disciples were dozing/resting their eyes so not really asleep and unaware, or ‘sleep’ is a symbolic reference that they were too anxious and concerned to be near him for fear of what was expected to be happening. What do you think of those potential explanations.
  4. How does the imagery of a movie connect with your images and understanding of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

April 12 – EASTER

Due to the pandemic we will not be having a sunrise service, breakfast and then a glorious worship service in the sanctuary. We will be mindful that the first Easter did not happen at a church, but rather outside of an empty tomb while the disciples were in hiding at home, grieving the death of Jesus, and fearful of what was happening.
Scripture Lessons: Jeremiah 31: 1-6, John 20: 1-18, Acts 10: 34-43
Special Music: John Brinton and Pam Stohrer
Sermon: An Everlasting Love

April 19

Scripture Lessons: Psalm 16, John 20: 19-31
Sermon: Locked

April 26

Scripture Lessons: Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19, Luke 24: 13-35
Sermon: Opening Our Eyes

Food Pantry Update – Generosity Evident Again

Because of YOUR generosity, the shopping cart was indeed filled to the brim with personal care and cleaning supplies dedicated during the March 1st offering. Highlighting such products as Smith Church’s donation to the Food Pantry is making a difference.

Who could have predicted that selecting such items as our contribution would prove to be so timely ? With the novel coronavirus the current event, these products are even more important.
Our April 5th collection and dedication will still qualify for this year’s annual fund-raising campaign by the Food Pantry. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated!

The Food Pantry is operating differently during the pandemic. Any donation deliveries can be delivered between 4:30 and 5pm on Tuesdays. Please bring them to the back door on the loading dock, knock on the door to get the attention of the volunteers, return to your vehicle and the volunteer will pick up the donation. For distribution of food, the window facing the bank will be where clients drive up to check in and then are able to pick up the bags on the front porch. The pantry will be open from 5-7pm. This temporary system allows for safe social distancing, especially as many clients have compromised immune systems.

As we will not be gathering together for worship on Palm/Communion Sunday, our monthly donation offering can instead be a check made out to the Hillsboro District Food Pantry at 3 Church St.

Family Promise Week March 1 – 8

Our next week for Family Promise is March 1-8. We are well supported with volunteers and are anticipating 2 families, so 4 adults and 3 children (3 and under), and always with the possibility of an additional family.

For more information you can contact Barbara at 464-5237 (bdaley@tds.net) or Fran at 464-3630 (fcharron@tds.net). Thank you for supporting this worthwhile ministry.

Barbara will be at the Dubben House on Sat 2/29 to do some spruce up cleaning and organizing and would welcome some additional helpers to ready the house for our guests.

Friday, March 4th – World Day of Prayer

Are you interested in learning more about why churches in Africa are growing faster than in USA? Do you like African music? Do you need to hear some uplifting messages during this time of cold winter weather and politics?

Come join a celebration planned by women from seven churches in Hillsboro, Antrim, Deering, Washington, and Henniker areas. The Program was written by women of Zimbabwe on a topic of :“Rise, Pick up your mat and Walk”.

Join people from 170 countries in the world in celebrating this annual event. This year’s program will be held at Deering Community church, since they have a sister relationship with churches in Zimbabwe (similar to other UCC Churches in NH)

LOCATION: Deering Community Church (Across from the Town Hall of Deering on Rte 149)
TIME: 6PM potluck- including some Zimbabwe dishes to try and a 7PM service.

A donation will be collected that will benefit projects around the world and locally in NH that help women and children in need. For further information, call 478-5650 The service is planned by women, but all are welcome to come (men and children as well).

Smith Memorial Church Prayed for at the Wailing Wall

The Wailing Wall is the sole remnant of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and was the western wall of the second Temple. According to Jewish teachings, God’s divine presence filled the Temple and still rests upon this wall. To this day Jews gather to wail and pray for the restoration of the Temple. Christians from all around the world travel to the Wailing Wall to pray, and to visit the Temple where Jesus prayed, taught, and overturned the moneychangers’ tables.

During his recent visit to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Pastor Paul O’Neil of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church, placed a list of the first names of the members and extended friends and families of Smith Memorial Church into a crevice in the wall after praying for each of us individually and as a vibrant, beloved, faith community of God. His prayers for us are part of more than a million that are left each year. After 6 months all of the slips of written prayers are ritually gathered and buried in the sacred cemetery in the Mount of Olives. In one way or another, all are prayers for peace, for shalom.

March Family Movie Night

Please join us on March 14th to watch Curious George Royal Monkey. “In a case of mistaken identity, George is swapped with a royal monkey with a totally different personality.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m., March 14, Movie starts at 7:00 p.m.

Youth Groups News

March Schedule

Joyful Noise – Wednesdays, March 4 & 18 10-10:30 AM
The SCENE – Thursday, March 19 3:30-5 PM
RBA – Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 6-7:30 PM
RBA Laser Tag adventure Saturday, March 28
RBA Shareholder Banquet Sunday, March 29 5 PM
InCasts – Tuesdays, March 3, 17, 24, 31 7-8:30 PM
InCasts – Tuesday, March 10 (cook dinner at Mapleleaf) 6-7:30 PM
Family Movie Night – Curious George Royal Monkey Saturday, March 14 7 PM

THE SCENE

The SCENE (grades 1-5) met on Thursday, February 20. Thanks to Oliver & Addison’s family for providing our afternoon snack of popcorn and pretzels. We had the chance to learn how to play hand chimes as well as some singing, games, and discussion about some of our favorite things and where we see ourselves in five years. Our next meeting is Thursday, March 19 from 3:30-5 PM. Please contact Jean Crowley (464-4013; jcrowley@gsinet.net) or Barbara Daley (464-5239; bdaley@tds.net for more information.

RBA

RBA enjoyed a fun “bring a friend board game night” early in February and learned how to play some new board games. By the time you read this, we will have finished our mission/sightseeing trip to Washington DC and we look forward to telling you all about it at our Shareholder’s Banquet on Sunday night, March 29 – appetizers at 5, followed by dinner and a power point presentation. We have had some very successful fundraising for this trip. In addition to a large grant from the NHUCC Strengthen the Church fund and a generous donation from the Trustees to help pay the cost of our rental van, our spare change fundraiser so far is at $249.46 and our shares of stock fundraiser is at $800. We love to welcome new members to our group. Please contact Jenna Vaughan (910-709-6132; jennakaylewis1996@gmail.com), Tyler Vaughan (491-4126; tylerrayvaughan@gmail.com) or Barbara Daley (464-5239; bdaley@tds.net) for more information.

Jesus’ Last Teachings: A Lenten Study of Jesus’ Last Week by Margaret Williamson

Please join us for a Lenten book study during the four Wednesdays in March (4,11,18,25).

The same session meets twice in the same day to accommodate different schedules. We will meet in the pastor’s office as a brown-bag lunch group at noon, and then at 7pm.

Please email or call the church office by Feb 29 to register so that the books can be ordered.

An overview of our book:
As Jesus led his disciples during his last week in Jerusalem, he taught them along the journey. he taught through delivering prophecy, through allowing people to see his emotions on display, through his actions, through his responses to conflict and criticism, and through the way he completed his mission on earth. His audiences varied, and included his disciples and his followers, the crowds in Jerusalem, the religious leaders, the merchants in the Temple court, the political powers in Judah, and even the Roman soldiers. Everyone who encountered Jesus during this week had an opportunity to see or hear him teach. Studying Jesus’ teachings during this final week is like taking a master’s course in teaching. Jesus did it all . . . using methodology, understanding the audience, passionately conveying the content, and living out what he taught. Jesus taught from his authority as the Son of God and out of his deep love and compassion for mankind. Jesus passionately wanted to bring all people back to God, and he agonized when some of his audience rejected his message. Even when facing the humiliation and pain of the cross, Jesus did not change his message. Jesus provides us with the opportunity to see the supreme Teacher in action. Not only can we be changed during the process, but we might even become passionate about how we, too, teach with our words, actions, and lives.

Prepared to Serve: A Training Event for All of God’s People


Singing the Bible, Environmental Stewardship, Best Financial Practices for Churches, Secular Books for Sacred Discussion. Islam 101, Aging in Place, Socially Responsible Investing, Traveling to Zimbabwe as a Delegation Member, Promoting Your Church, The Comfort of Spirituality in Dementia (led by Rev. Donna Vuilleumier), and Financial Wellness Program for Personal Finance (led by Debbie Gray)……these are just a few of the workshops offered on Sat, Feb 22 at Pembroke Academy.

Beginning with Registration at 8am, and followed by worship at 9am, there are 4 workshop blocks to choose from, and a time for lunch and fellowship. Online registration is open until Feb 12 and is $40 for the workshops and lunch. To register or for more information, follow the link at www.nhcucc.org.

Family Promise Week in March

Our next week for Family Promise is March 1-8. If you have a particular day you would like to volunteer for, we will be setting our schedule soon and welcome you to call us with your choices. At this writing, there are three families. Things could change in a month. As usual, we will need people to sign up for evening meals, evening host and overnight people. Barbara and I usually sign up for Sunday host and overnight so that we can pass on any special circumstances of the families.

For more information or to sign up, you can contact Barbara at 464-5237 (bdaley@tds.net) or Fran at 464-3630 (fcharron@tds.net). Thank you for supporting this worthwhile ministry.