Newsletter - Goffstown Christian Fellowship

GCF Connection
Pastor Ed Young
67 Henry Bridge Road
Goffstown, NH 03045
(603) 497-5625 ▪ (603) 497-4432
[email protected] ▪ www.gcf-nh.org
“The Church in the Valley, serving God and the community since 1792”
January 2015
New Ministry for Mothers
Thank You to all the Volunteers
who helped selling Christmas trees for
the annual church fundraiser.
MOPS or Mothers of Preschoolers is an
intergenerational community organization that equips
churches with the resources they need to engage
moms of young children in their community. GCF will
be offering moms a safe place to gather in community
with one another. MOPS materials will help to direct
and build relationships within the group that can in turn
build our church.
We would like to thank all our
volunteers who have tirelessly
maintained the schedule for our annual
fundraiser of selling Christmas Trees.
They are:
Dan Reidy
Connie and Jim Sutherland
Ron Blain
Valerie and Scott Guerette – who
also provided Nitro’s Snack Shack
once again!
Jim Ramalho
Rick Creeden
Joe and Zak Puffer
Diana Chabot-Condon
Alexis Condon
Denise & Bob Marden
Starr, Nissi, James, Stella, & Rohi
Skinner
Richard Johnson
Dave Chabot
Josiah Sutherland
Mark Byers
Don & Tracey Smith
MOPS will meet twice a month on the second and
fourth Tuesday beginning with an informational supper
meeting for anyone who is interested on January 27 at
5 pm. Child care will be provided at each meeting
along with a supper meal.
The national MOPS organization has worked for over
40 years on creating all the tools and resources each
church needs to engage moms on a soul impact level.
We are looking to welcome women who are looking for
a glimmer of hope, deep friendships and a faith
community that supports their choice in this important
role of mother.
We are endeavoring to create a safe place for moms
and children where they can bounce ideas off one
another as they think through hopes and dreams for
their future and their children’s future hope. Reina
Reidy has taken the lead in this ministry and Rev. Dr.
Lori Wiley has come alongside her as advisor. Others
have stepped up as mentors, and child care
assistants. Look for great things as God blesses this
ministry. Group e-mail is [email protected] .
Thanks You! Mucho Gracias!
[email protected]
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A Message from Pastor Ed Young
WHAT’S NEW?
"What has been will be again
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun."
-Ecclesiastes 1:9
Solomon the wise, author of Ecclesiastes, informs us that there is truly nothing new
under the sun, so flipping the page on your calendar doesn't really change anything.
We're all faced with the same joys and sorrows, challenges and pressures as the day
before.
So Sol's right in that respect, but a new year may also bring new hope. Hope that life
can be better, problems solved, challenges met, and that things may turn a corner for
the better up ahead.
Our hope is in a God that has entered the time, space continuum to bring new hope
and change the eternal destiny of all who come to Him in faith. We believe in hope
because He is not only in the business of changing our circumstances but more
importantly is changing us through our circumstances to be in His image.
Things may stay pretty much the same in our natural life but spiritually, Jesus is doing
a new thing in us and that is our hope of glory.
Happy New Year!
Ed
Sign up for Pastor Ed’s “Thought-for-the-Day” e-mails at [email protected]
NOW AVAILABLE ON-LINE DONATIONS for your convenience.
[email protected]
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www.gcf-nh.org
In HIS Steps Learning Center
Mrs. Valerie Guerette, director [email protected]
Mrs. Donna Puffer, pre-school teacher
603-497-4432 – www.gcf-nh.org
Ms. Reina (GG) and Ms. Holly lead the children into the
sanctuary for the play.
Reina Reidy joined Valerie Guerette, and Donna
Puffer in producing this year’s children’s
Christmas play on our monthly Family Night,
Friday, December 19. The children’s play was
followed by the drawing of the numbers for the
Penny Sale items, a birthday cake, and the
movie of the month – Beauty and the Beet – a
Veggie Tale Movie.
Family members come out to support the children here
cousins Kelsey and Owen take the mic from Ms. Reina.
Ms. Val & Ms. Donna prepare children for play
Drawing the numbers for the prized Olaf and the
winner is Jim Ramalho.
Dates to Remember:
January 14 – IHS Annual Pizza and Pajama
Alexis Condon, Zak & Brianna Puffer are IHS alumni.
[email protected]
Update
Party!of pajama donations, 7 pair of pajamas and 7 books
were collected and sent off by the students at In HIS Steps.
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Community News:
High Five for December:
HIGH FIVE to all the volunteers who were able to
help out with the Christmas Trees, the Penny
Sales, Decorate the Wreaths, in spite of the
weather, the busy season, the power outage, and
family and work activities. Thank you for your
generous gift of your TIME!
Bible Study, Prayer, & Home Fellowships
Tuesday – Home Fellowship at Rick Creeden’s home will resume on Tuesdays in October call 606-7198.
Thursday Women’s Bible Study at Connie Sutherland’s home at 10 am. Please call Connie for more information at 4974586.
Thursday Night Prayer Meeting and Bible Study at 7 pm in the church office, for more information on this group call
Pastor Ed at 497-5625.
Friday Night Home Fellowship meets every other Friday at 7 pm at Sandi Chabot & Diana Chabot-Condon’s home call
497-3944 for upcoming dates.
Food for Thought - by Annie Dieselburg, IM missionary in Thailand
I am about to go online and make some donations to others. I won't be taking a picture of myself doing it and
I am only mentioning it because it seems hypocritical of me to ask for financial support, but not give myself. I
want to sow into what others are doing. As much as I love NightLight, I recognize that it's not all about
NightLight.
The push for Giving Tuesday is overwhelming. Giving Tuesday is a big disappointment. I don't know who
started it. Maybe it was a response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. $50 billion was
spent on those days this year. It would be wonderful if giving matched the consumerism. But I too am
overwhelmed by all the posts about Giving Tuesday. It is easy to shut it off and not even pay attention. As my
frustration has grown, I decided to sow into the opposite spirit.
I’ve noticed the trends of giving. The majority of our supporters are in their 50's - 70's. We even have retired
people who are sacrificing to support our work. The younger generation is not giving as much while spending
more. I am concerned, not as much for the work of missions and charity as I am for our society and the
values that we hold. Studies show that generous people are more content. The world is a better place when
people give. In Isaiah, God tells us to spend ourselves on behalf of the poor. Consumerism shows us that we
are spending ourselves on behalf of ourselves. It's a dead end.
So I am going to make some donations and bless others. I want to encourage every one of you who reads this
to do the same. I don't care if you do it on Giving Tuesday; at this point I don't even care if you give to
NightLight. Yes, we need the support, but I am more concerned that you give. Give where your passion is
outside of yourself. If you follow anti-trafficking and are moved by the stories and work of activists, give to an
anti-trafficking organization. There are many in this difficult battle who need encouragement and support. If
your heart is for children, give to support their education or to feed them. If your heart is for the church, give to
the church, and church please invest in mission at home and abroad. Whatever touches your heart the most,
give there. Just give. Give because God commands us to, give because we all can spare at least $5, and give
because it does you good. If you give, if we all give, the world will be a better place. We don't need a Tuesday
set aside to do it. Do it any day of the week. Please, just don't let this season of God's greatest gift to us pass
without giving financially somewhere it is needed. Your gift changes lives, including your own.
(from Annie’s Facebook page) Recent post in the January ABC-VNH newsletter
[email protected]
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January Calendar
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 3 – Communion at weekend services and Agape Meal
January 4 - Communion at weekend services
January 11 – Important Church Members meeting and potluck
January 16 - Ladies Night Out “Secret Sister Reveal” at Valerie’s home 165 Bart Clough Road,
Weare, NH at 6 pm.
January 30 – Family Night activity to be announced depends on weather
Coming this February. . .
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February 7 & 8 - Communion at weekend services
February 13 – Special Valentine’s Family Night - a Chocolate Surprise
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February 20 - Ladies Night Out
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and more . . .
Take some time to look through our church’s history in picture display covering the last 40 years.
This is a project that Sandi Chabot did for her Church History IFL 105 course. It shows what we
have done, where we have been and our present hope. It reminds me of a saying my grandkids
taught me:
Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is a mystery,
Today is a gift,
That’s why it’s the present.
Don’t know who originally said this but it is a good thought to remember as we look to the New
Year with its new beginnings and new hopes. - sc
[email protected]
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Church Administration
Pastor Ed and Elva Young
61 Henry Bridge Road ▪ Goffstown, NH 03045
603-497-5625 (office) ▪ 603-497-2550 ▪ [email protected]
In HIS Steps Learning Center & Church Office 603-497-4432
[email protected] ▪ www.gcf-nh.org
School/Church office 603-497-4432 open Tuesday thru Friday 9 am – 2 pm Sandi Chabot, secretary please call first. Sometimes we are out
running errands. Thank you.
Weekend Worship Services
Saturday Service at 6 pm
Sunday, 10:30 am
Servant Leadership Team Ministries
Hospitality Café before and after services
Administration – Coordination and Communication with all ministry teams - Sandi Chabot
Building and Grounds – Oversight of Church Property, buildings, grounds, and housekeeping - Jim Ramalho
Children and Youth – Planning, Implementing, Programs for Youth – Open Position
Communication & Technology Team – Joe Puffer, Warren Denby, Bruce MacArthur, Diana Chabot-Condon
Finance Team – Collections, Counting, Depositing, Distributing, Reporting on Finances – Donna Puffer
Home Groups – Formation and Oversight of Home Groups - Pastor Ed Young
Hospitality – Greeting, Suppers, Events, Communion set-up etc. – Ellen Malloy
In HIS Steps Learning Center – Pre-school and Kindergarten Outreach Ministry - Valerie Guerette, Donna Puffer
Music – Plan music coverage for weekend services - Rich Araldi
Outreach – Mission to the Church and the World – Elva Young
Prayer and Preaching – Prayer times and preaching - Pastor Ed Young
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and
give you a heart of flesh.
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I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do
them.
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Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
Ezekiel 36:26-28 (NKJV)
The HOPE we have in Christ as we enter a New Year!
[email protected]
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