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December Calendar

www.wolfeborochurch.org

First Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

115 South Main St.

PO Box 913

Wolfeboro NH 03894

(603) 569-1555

Fax: (603) 569-1558

The Rev. Gina M. Finocchiaro

Transitional Minister

gina@wolfeborochurch.org

Sam Miller

Sexton

sam@wolfeborochurch.org

Church Office Hours - Fall and Winter

Monday - Thursday

8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Worship

Sundays at 10am

Church School

and

Childcare available

O Beloved of God!

It is my fault that the newsletter is so late in coming this month; please forgive me! I have wanted to write about our time together at last Sunday's (12/4) all-church meeting. Of course, the week has been overly full, and I'm just sitting down to focus on the newsletter now, and it's Thursday!

We gathered in good numbers last Sunday, to consider the matter of the church building. There are two architectural plans before us for deliberation. One plan imagines that we will do an extensive renovation, improving the accessibility of the building, expanding the chancel area, replacing the roof, and dismantling and rebuilding two of the exterior walls. The second plan imagines that we will rebuild the whole of the structure-taking down all four walls and the roof, expanding the footprint of the foundation, and widening the sanctuary space with significant options for flexibility in all ways. Of course, there is a great cost differential between these two visions.

It became clear that we needed more time to consider which path we will choose. I have worked with Taylor Hudson and John Brooks to develop a summary of the scope of work and the cost estimates for the two plans. We will get it out to you in the next week, I promise. I think this information will help you to be able to wrap your mind around the plans better. We agreed that on Sunday, January 29th at our Annual Fiscal Meeting, we will revisit the motion and vote together. I'm certain that we will have more clarity about what and how to vote by then. Do remember, the plans are still posted on the church website for your review.

What followed in the meeting was wonderful! We went through both plans, one floor at a time, to ask "what excites you about this plan? And why?" It was palpable, the energy and enthusiasm that grew in listening and watching each other. It was clear that we are dreaming together-about a worship space, a fellowship space, an office space that will carry us into the next generation(s) of ministry together. Things like welcome, accessibility, flexibility, energy-efficiency, beauty, function are of utmost important to you. I love it!

In these waiting days and weeks of Advent, we are trying to shift our focus to holy things, to the way that God breaks into the world through the birth of Jesus. We remember the prophecies of the Hebrew scriptures. We tell stories of angels promising miracles, shepherds amazed by lights in the sky, a family becoming a holy family. Holy times are not just in mangers far and long ago. They can be in the here and now, too. We are dreaming together about a space that will host, invite and transform the sublime into the sacred. Keep dreaming.

My wish for you this season is to hear the Christmas story again, really hear it. It is a story of miracles, mystery and promise. In these moments, we are a Christmas people. Keep dreaming.

Blessings of peace, hope, love and joy to you and yours,

... and sweet dreams,

Pastor Gina

This year the church school is presenting an intergenerational pageant called "Room for One More"

during the 10 am service on December 18th. If your child is interested in participating and hasn't been at church school, please let Bridget know ASAP.

Here are some important dates:

Sunday December 4th , 10 am - Pageant Rehearsal and

Costume Fitting during Church School.

Saturday December 17th, 8:30 - 10:30 am - Pageant Rehearsal and

Costume Fitting

Sunday December 18th, 9 am - Pageant Rehearsal

Sunday December 18th, 10 am service - Pageant

_____________________________________________

YOUTH GROUPS

Youth groups are open to all area youth. Jr High is for grades 6-8 and Sr High for grades 9 - 12. Friends are welcome!

Here are some important upcoming dates:

Junior High Youth Group:

• Sunday December 18, 3:00 Meet at the Food Pantry to pack Christmas boxes.Then, travel to Gina's house in Tuftonboro for a Christmas party ending at 6:30. Please bring a wrapped gift ($5 or less) for a Yankee Swap.

Senior High Youth Group:

Sunday December 11, 7:00 - 8:30 Meet at FCCW to plan 1st Night Fundraiser

Bible Sunday Sponsors Needed

We are looking for sponsors for Bible Sunday which will take place in January. Third graders and older children who have not received a Bible will be presented with one during worship. Sponsors will be assigned a child and cover the cost of the bible (under $20) as well present the Bible to the child by reading a Bible verse chosen specifically for the child. Please contact Bridget if you can help with this!

Nursery Help Needed!

We are in need of help in the nursery. If you are able to volunteer to cover the nursery even just once in a while, please contact Bridget.

ADVENT SERIES TO BE HELD AT SUGAR HILL

Beginning Wednesday, December 7 at 2:30 pm Pastor Gina will begin an Advent Series entitled Bill Moyers: The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith DVD. Bestselling author and former professor Huston Smith offers a fascinating tour of the world's major religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - in conversations with Bill Moyer. The series will run 5 weeks - Nov. 30 - December 7, 14, January 4, 11, 18 in the Maple Room at Sugar Hill Retirement Community at 83 Rolling Wood Drive, Wolfeboro.

For those outside of Sugar Hill who wish to attend, please park iat the back of the building.

CHURCH FAMILY CARE BOARD

UPCOMING EVENTS

Upcoming Event!

PERFORMANCE OF THE NUTCRACKER

Saturday, December 10, 2:00pm

The holiday season just wouldn't be complete without seeing a performance of The Nutcracker! This year we have the opportunity to enjoy a performance at Prospect Mountain High School (on Rt. 28, just south of Alton circle) featuring several members of our church family-Elizabeth Waaks, Thomas Cook, Becky, Sam, Lily & Lucia Miller and Elizabeth Cook in the leading role as Clara. Group discounted tickets (10 or more) are $12 each. Regular ticket prices are $15 for seniors/students and $20 for adults. If you would like to attend this performance, please contact Phyllis Schamber at 544-2106.

TO DATE WE HAVE RAISED $1,494 FOR THE PARTIES TO DATE

We are rapidly approaching the end of fiscal year 2011 and it looks like we will close the year with a surplus because of savings on expenses. However, it is important for everyone to complete their pledge for 2011 if you are able to, so that we can achieve the Current Operating Revenue as budgeted. We mailed statements in late September, but if you would like to know where you now stand, or would like a current statement mailed to you, then please give me a call at 569-6467.

In January 2011, I wrote that the 2010 tax law restored Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) from your IRA accounts which count as Minimum Required Distributions for 2010 and 2011 (MRD). Here, your IRA provider makes the distribution directly to a charity and you do not pay income tax on the distribution. You can make a QCD during 2011 to count against your 2011 MRD.

You should talk with your tax advisor if you think a QCD might be useful for you, and to learn how it must be done. General information is available from Fidelity Investments. Just go to Fidelity.com and type QCD in the search window, and several articles will come up. The fourth article down (Q&A) gives a useful explanation, while the third article covers QCD's plus planning.

Thank you,

Jack Kay

Treasurer

To my Church Family -

My name is Amy Levin, I have grown up attending the First Congregational Church since I was a young girl. I was an active member as I was growing up and I have appreciated the support I have received from the members. I have continued to participate in community service projects throughout college. I have planned events to raise money for Prevent Child Abuse America, the Shriner's Hospital and work closely with the local Girl Scouts. I am now a senior Nursing student at the University of New Hampshire. I have recently been given the opportunity to join an organization called the Global Medical Brigade. This is an organization that brings medical help and supplies to under privileged countries.

Our chapter is a student led group traveling to Honduras. We will be visiting a few different communities that have limited access to professional medical attention. For a week in January our chapter will be providing clinics to these communities. We will be able to provide medical, dental and pharmaceutical assistance. In order to provide professional care we have recruited two RN's and a physician. We will also bring a variety of over the counter and prescription medications to administer while in Honduras. Along with providing medical attention we will also be holding educational meetings for the members of the communities. We will be focused on providing education on healthy lifestyles and disease preventative measures.

I am contacting you to ask for your financial support. This is an amazing opportunity for me; I have always been interested in traveling and providing medical attention to those who are less fortunate. If you are interested in donating on my behalf I have attached a form with information on how. You can either write a check or directly donate to my empowered donation page. If you would like to know any more information about my trip or how to donate please feel free to contact me at 603-986-7615. I greatly appreciate any support I receive.

Thank You

Amy Levin