Londonderry United Methodist ChurchJuly, 2018 Volume 32, Issue 7

The Methodist Messenger

“Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your minds” Romans 12.2.

“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth,do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43.19

We are in the longest season of our Christian calendar, called Pentecost. This is a season oftransformation. Many people think of Pentecost as a season of change, associating transformation with change. Inthe Christian church these two places of being, transformation and change, are not identical.

One of my favorite authors, Flora Slosson Wuellner, puts it this way:

We are surrounded, overwhelmed, battered, swept along by outer change. The inner self adapts, adjusts, survives,but too often does not undergo any deep transformation. We have reacted rather than acted.

This is the great, grave distinction between change and transformation. Change refers to adaptation, reaction,without necessarily involving any newness of being. Transformation implies new being, a new creative energy flowing fromthe center which act with creative power upon surrounding events.

Our faith community seeks transformation, which in turn creates new and renewed spiritualenergy. Following through with suggestions from worshippers on spirit life, activities for youth and adults,upkeep of the physical building, we continue to transform everything from worship to the wall space allpowered by the Spirit of Pentecost.

The transformations appearing rise from a living relationship with Christ, rather than from laws andcommands. As one Spiritual Journal, Weavings, said, “We cannot bring forth the full fruits of the Christian lifeunless we are rooted and growing in the Source of that life.” (Weavings is no longer in print at this time.)

Transformation and openness to the Spirit lead us to new places, new devotion, new understandings ofGod, self and others. This summer and Pentecost season, as we rest a bit, remember to make time fortransformative reflections and activity. Among those activities might be: Food for Children every Saturday atJFK parking lot in Manchester handing out food (just bring yourself); going on the mission the week of July22nd (for ages 13 up to 100+) or by making yourself known as someone interested in wanting training for amission team.

May the transformation of our Spirit lives be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord!

Blessings, Amy

What are we about ? “Loving God, Loving People, Making a Difference”

The Methodist Messenger

United Methodist officials are making a public appeal to the Philippines government to release a detainedmissionary and allow him and two other missionaries based in Davao City, Mindanao, to leave the country.

Tawanda Chandiwana has been held since May 9, when he was arrested while attending a training seminar at theMindanao Peacebuilding Institute. The charge was related to delayed paperwork regarding his expiring visa, buthe later was found to be on a “watch list” of suspected subversives. Chandiwana has denied any wrongdoing.

He and the other United Methodist missionaries — Miracle Osman and Adam Shaw — were detained at policecheckpoints in February while taking part in an international ecumenical fact-finding investigation of allegedhuman rights violations, including the deaths of nine indigenous people.

The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries has been working for weeks with Filipino United Methodistbishops and others to secure Chandiwana’s release. He was moved from Davao City to Manila on June 4 andcurrently is in the Bicutan Detention Center.

“We have exhausted all our diplomatic and church channels,” Thomas Kemper, the mission agency’s topexecutive, told United Methodist News Service. “Nothing has come to fruition.”

Now, the mission agency and the United Methodist Council of Bishops are mounting a public campaign onbehalf of the church workers. Global Ministries also has created a petition on Change.org for people to sign andthe World Council of Churches has joined the appeal.

Osman’s passport was confiscated as she was extending a tourist visa while waiting for her missionary visa to beapproved, making it impossible for her to leave the country voluntarily. Shaw has been informed that an order toleave is imminent but it has not been served, Global Ministries reported.

The Council of Bishops has released a statement backing their episcopal colleagues in the Philippines andrequesting “assistance and cooperation in the immediate release of three of our missionaries from the country.”

The bishops also called upon United Methodists worldwide “to observe daily prayer beginning at noon on June27, for the missionaries’ safety and for government permission to return to their homes.”

Both Chandiwana and Osman are part of the Global Mission Fellows program of Global Ministries, which placesyoung adults ages 20-30 in new contexts for mission experience and service.

Chandiwana, 28, from Zimbabwe, is a lifelong United Methodist who says he was saved by God and wants toserve God by serving others. A member of Hilltop United Methodist Church in Mutare, he has a master’s degreein public policy and governance from Africa University, the United Methodist institution there.

Continued …

By Linda BloomUnited Methodist News Service

The Methodist Messenger

Church Seeks Release of Detained Missionary

Osman, 24, from Blantyre, Malawi, believes missionary work is God’s perfect plan for her life, her bio says. Sheholds a social work degree from the Catholic University of Malawi and has been the young women’s coordinatorfor The United Methodist Church in Malawi.

Shaw, 29, of Brunswick, Ohio, is the son of the Rev. Thomas and Susan Shaw, who were missionaries in Tunisiaand Germany from 1994 through 2003. He has been a Global Ministries’ missionary in Mindanao since 2016 withSave Our Schools, an education network for indigenous children, and previously served in the region as a missionintern. Shaw says his vision of mission work includes a commitment to genuine peace based on justice.

Hannah Hanson, who has been part of Global Mission Fellows since 2009 — both as a staff member and aparticipant — knows all three and said they “really feel called to serve God and God’s people.”

While there are sometimes challenges with visas, Hanson added, in her experience with the mission program “thisis really something that has been unheard of, for someone to be detained.”

The three missionaries were assigned to InPeace (the full name is Initiatives for Peace), a grassroots, interfaithmovement that describes itself as supporting sustained peace negotiations among those involved in armedconflict with the view of achieving meaningful reforms from these talks to benefit the peoples of Mindanao.

Global Ministries has had a “long, long relationship of trust and mission collaboration with InPeace and hasplaced young adults there since 2006,” Kemper said.

The harassment of the missionaries has been unacceptable, he added. “I think we have to stand up for rights andfor human rights. It (the fact-finding) was not to take a political stand.”

Global Ministries has been supportive of Chandiwana on a daily basis throughout his detention, Hanson said.“We’re escalating the situation because we want his immediate departure. Our only aim has been for him to beable to leave. We’re ready and prepared for that.”

Becky Asedillo, a Filipino native and longtime Global Ministries staff member, visited Chandiwana at thedetention center in Davao City three times in late May. “He was hoping for early release,” she said.

Global Ministries engaged the Rev. David Pascua, a United Methodist missionary and professor at UnionTheological Seminary, to provide pastoral care for the three, Asedillo said.

Pascua organized a group to meet Chandiwana when he arrived at the Bicutan Detention Center in Manila.Visitors to the missionary have included delegations from the seminary and from the National Council ofChurches in the Philippines.

Kemper said he hopes to see Chandiwana on June 30 before a previously scheduled meeting in Manila and plansto make a detour to Mindanao early next week to visit InPeace in a show of support.

“We want to continue in mission in the Philippines,” he said. “It’s part of our global United Methodist Church.”

The Methodist Messenger

Detained Missionary (continued)

By Heather HahnUnited Methodist News Service

If The United Methodist Church had a “Paid-in-Full” stamp, it would be getting good use around the world.

A record 29 of the 56 U.S. United Methodist conferences — 52 percent — paid 100 percent of requestedgeneral-church giving in 2017, the denomination’s General Council on Finance and Administration reports. Anearlier press release from the finance agency said 28 but has since been updated.

That’s the highest number in the 18 years that the church has digital records and marks the fourth consecutiveyear that a record number of conferences reached the milestone — up from 25 in 2014, 26 in 2015 and 27 in2016.

This year also marks the first time the finance agency is reporting giving from the central conferences — churchregions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines — under the new central conference apportionment formula.General Conference, the denomination’s top lawmaking body, approved the formula as part of the 2017-2020general church budget.

Nine central conference episcopal areas — most of which contain multiple annual conferences — paid at least100 percent apportionments. They are the Central and Southern Europe, East Congo, Eastern Angola, Eurasia,Germany, Liberia, Mozambique, Nordic-Baltic areas and the Davao area in the Philippines.

Those episcopal areas encompass 32 of the 80 annual conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

All told, United Methodists in 2017 gave about $133.2 million to support the general church’s national andinternational ministries — about $1.8 million more than the previous year.

The U.S. payout rate — that is, the percentage of requested apportionments collected — was 91.9 percent, anincrease over 91.4 percent in 2016. The central conferences’ payout rate was 65 percent overall — 298 percentfrom Europe, 36 percent from the Philippines and 17 percent from Africa.

Under the new formula, conferences in Europe were actually asked to pay less than they had previously. Withthat in mind, European United Methodists pledged not to reduce giving. Last year, European United Methodistgave nearly three times what the apportionment formula required.

“We not only want to thank the people of The United Methodist Church but also praise God for their faithfulwitness through their giving,” said Moses Kumar, the finance agency’s top executive and treasurer, in astatement.

Apportionments are the share each conference or local church pays to support international, national andregional missions. Some conferences call the offering “ministry shares” to emphasize that the funds areinvestments in what the church does both at the local and global levels.

The Rev. Karen Stoffers-Pugh will occasionally ask her congregation members: Have any of you ever founded auniversity?

Continued …

For 4th Year, Church Sees Record Giving

The Methodist Messenger

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“Everybody kind of laughs, and I say, ‘Well, in fact, you have,’” said Stoffers-Pugh, the pastor of WesleyUnited Methodist Church in Fresno, California. “Part of your giving goes to Africa University so all of usworking together founded a university in Africa.”

In addition to Africa University in Zimbabwe, general-church apportionments support bishops, ministerialeducation, most general agencies, general administration, and denomination-wide efforts such as the BlackCollege Fund and ecumenical work. For 2018, the General Council on Finance and Administrationrecommended that general church spending plans be based on payout rates between 89 and 91 percent.

Stoffers-Pugh said members of Wesley United Methodist Church have long had a commitment to giving fullapportionments. However, the church is part of a conference, California-Nevada, which just paid 100 percentof requested giving for the first time in years.

She attributes the milestone to a shift in culture within the conference and local churches. “We have gone totithe giving,” she said. “Each church is to give 10 percent of its income to the conference, and that makes upthe apportionment. We’ve been communicating that at the local-church level.”

United Methodists in central conferences have long financially supported the work of bishops. The newcentral conference apportionments go toward both the Episcopal and General Administration funds that,respectively, support the work of bishops and the operations of denomination-wide administrative bodies,including General Conference.

In the United States, the finance agency requests apportionments from each annual conference based on aGeneral Conference-approved formula that includes its local church expenditures, local church costs, theeconomic strength of the conference and a base percentage approved by General Conference.

Annual conferences in the central conferences have a different formula. That formula is based on membershipand modified by the gross domestic product of the central conference where an annual conference is located.

“We are blessed to be in ministry with people who support the connectional nature of The United MethodistChurch,” Kumar said. “Through this faithful giving, ministries of the denomination continue to thrive.”

For 4th Year, Church Sees Record Giving (continued)

The Methodist Messenger

Community Caregivers of Greater Derry 30th Anniversary BBQ:On Saturday, August 4th from 4:00p.m. to 7:00p.m, Community Caregivers of Greater Derry will host acelebration BBQ and basket raffle at the Mack’s Apple U-Pick Pavilion off Adams Rd. in Londonderry. Theparty will feature live music, catered barbeque, ice cream/shaved ice truck, games and a basket raffle. Cost is$15 per ticket. If you would like to contribute to the basket raffle or be a sponsor, please contact CindeeTanuma at cindee@comcaregivers.org.

LUMC Youth Group:This Mechuwana Mission Trip is for ages 13 and up. The adults who are attending are Krystal & GregSherwin, Josh Kaake & Maureen Sherwin. The youth attending are Anya Petravicz, Natalia Alvarez, GabrielAlvarez, Nolan Neily, Madeline Neily and Emily Neily and Jonathan Lewis. They are arriving on July 22ndand departing July 27.

Work Schedule: The normal work schedule consists of four days of work and one day (Wednesday) forexploring and visiting some of the many wonderful things to see and do in Maine. Work hours are normallyfrom 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with a break for lunch.

Other Activities: Evenings are for exploring the camp. Swimming and boating are available. You are invitedto share in a campfire on Thursday evening with the entire camp and staff.

Projects: The projects vary from season to season. In recent years, past mission campers have worked at localfood banks, many home improvement projects. Built the new chapel at Mechuwana and a new year roundretreat building. We have painted and re-roofed houses, demolished old buildings, and constructed new ones.Participants also have the opportunity to take part in our Nursing home Ministry as well as two clothingministries. Skills needed range from painting and basic carpentry to specialized crafts such as plumbing andsheet-rocking. Above all, enthusiasm and willingness to work together are the greatest skills needed at MissionCamp. A skills inventory worksheet will be sent to you following registration.

Another important contribution of Mission Camp is the connection to the summer camp program. For manychildren who come to camp, this is their first experience in a faith-centered environment. Many come fromhouseholds at or below the poverty line. And still others find Mechuwana to be their sanctuary from thestruggles in their world. It is vitally important that we keep the cost of camp as low as possible to allow asmany children as possible to attend. This would not happen were it not for the dedication and labor ofmission campers and other volunteers who have helped us add so much to our facility over the years.

In addition, we also provide weekly support to the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn. This facility servesas a clearing house for donated food for Maine and parts of New Hampshire and Vermont. They rely onvolunteers such as work groups from Mechuwana to sort and box food for inspection.

Spiritual Growth: As we go out into the world and work for the sake of others in the name of Christ, it isvitally important that our spirits are renewed each day as we grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Each group isencouraged to engage in daily study and worship. Assistance is available with this if requested.

The Methodist Messenger

The Kinderskills program at Jacob’s Ladder is now complete. The students and staff had so much fun doingscience activities, reading our favorite books, creating performances and plays, and learning about life under thesea – all while practicing important Kindergarten readiness skills and working tirelessly on our letter sounds andsymbols!

The Jacob’s Ladder family would like to take this opportunity to wish the LUMC family a summer filled withpeace and joy. We are looking forward to many more community collaborations with LUMC in the comingmonths.

Jacob’s Ladder is currently enrolling for the 2018-2019 school year for both our 3- and 4- year old programs.For information or to schedule a tour, please contact Christine Weston at (603)434-7857, or via email atjacobsladder56@gmail.com.

Jacob’s Ladder Pre-School

Kids Page

There’s the story of the minister who was making a wooden trellis to support a climbing vine.

As he was pounding away, he noticed that a little boy was watching him. The youngster didn’t say a word, so thepreacher kept on working, thinking the lad would leave. But he didn’t.

Pleased at the thought that his work was being admired, the pastor finally said, “Well, son, trying to pick up somepointers on gardening?”

“No,” he replied. “I’m just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer.”

~Homiletics

Taken from Newsletter, Newsletter

Pointers on Gardening?

The Methodist Messenger

Thank you from Brenda Clark

As much as I knew that we would be celebrating my retirement during worship, nothing prepared me for theextent of the celebration at the luncheon which followed…..from the number of people who attended, to theawesome food, and especially the expressions of praise and thanks from all those there as well as those who couldnot be there. To say that I was overwhelmed is an understatement!

This change is bittersweet. While I am excited about retirement, I am also sad about leaving a job that I haveenjoyed for 16 years. I am thankful, however, that I will continue to see all of my church family on Sundays andat other events. I am not going far.

My special thanks to all who planned this event, and for the scrapbook, collage of pictures with pastors, past andpresent, the plaque, and the gift cards from the congregation (you obviously know that I don’t really like tocook!). God is present in all of you.

Thank you all, and God bless you!

Brenda

Home Stretch 5K:

Family Promise of Greater Nashua at Anne-Marie House is holding a Home Stretch 5K family-friendly run orwalk. It will take place at Alvirne High School in Hudson on August 11, 2018 at 10:00a.m. (9:15a.m for same dayregistration). The cost is $25 for adults and $15for kids over 9. If you would like to lead our congregation inthis, please speak with Rev. Amy. To register visit: www.runreg.com/home-stretch-5K If you cannot make therace but would like to make a donation please visit www.annemariehouse.org.

Sunday Morning Ministries

The Methodist Messenger

DATESERVICE

TIME USHERS READERS ACOLYTES

Sue Ahrens Don Clark Betty Poole

770-2779 765-2871 425-6498

07/01/18 7:45AM Cyndy Cleary Janice Greene

Roberta White

9:30AM Linda Maresea Brenda Clark

Connie Greenhill

07/08/18 7:45AM Cyndy Cleary Roberta White

Roberta White

9:30AM Sue Ahrens Sally Haroldsen

Kay Stowell

07/15/18 7:45AM Cyndy Cleary Marilyn Taylor

Roberta White

9:30AM Conrad & Sue Skov Terry Jefferson

07/22/18 7:45AM Cyndy Cleary Ma� Bernard

Roberta White

9:30AM Judy & Bob Bonham Terrence Brand

07/29/18 7:45AM Cyndy Cleary Chris�ne Brandel

Roberta White

9:30AM Linda Maresea Be�y Poole

Connie Greenhill

Londonderry United Methodist Churchhttp://www.LondonderryUMC.org office@LondonderryUMC.org pastor@LondonderryUMC.org

258 Mammoth Road, Londonderry NH 03053 Office 603 432 7083

Ministers Everyone !Anne Marie House Tami Hoffman 886.0156 tamihoffman@comcast.netBoy Scouts Dennis Menick dennis.menick@outlook.comChurch Council (Interim) Mike Costello 397.1652 lmcstlo@comcast.netChurch School Superintendent Tami Hoffman 886.0156 tamihoffman@comcast.netChristian Education Committee Frances Kenison 421.1942 fmkenison@comcast.netFinance Chair Troy Neily 423.0494 troy_neily@yahoo.comFinancial Secretary Nancy Morgan 434.2552 nbmorgan@hotmail.comJacob’s Ladder Pre School Dir. Christine Weston 434.7857 jacobsladder56@gmail.comKairos Prison Ministry Jeff Towne 440.8002 jrt11@comcast.netMissions Coordinator Rev. Amy 432.7083 pastor@londonderryumc.orgMusic Director/Organist: Beverly Mattson 580.2924 bevmattson@comcast.netWorship Choir Director Dana Fontaine trumpetroe@yahoo.comYoung Disciples Choir Beverly Mattson 580.2924 bevmattson@comcast.netOffice Administrator Erika Carullo 432.7083 office@londonderryumc.orgPrayer Chain Barb Towne 440.8001 prayers@londonderryumc.orgPrayer Shawls Karen West 505.6401 kncwest@gmail.comSonshine Soup Kitchen Cyndy Cleary 537.0595 clearyfamilynh@comcast.netStephen Ministry Barb Towne 440.8001 Stepheninfo@londonderryumc.orgStaff Parish Relations Comm. Liz Costello 434.6959 sprc@londonderryumc.orgTrustee Committee Bob Bonham 434.7997 trustees@londonderryumc.orgYouth Directors Krystal & Greg Sherwin krystal_sherwin@hotmail.com

Greg_sherwin@hotmail.comWomen, Jubilee Circle Judy Bonham 434.7997 bj.bonham@yahoo.comLocal Licensed Pastor Kelly Petravicz kpetravicz@gmail.comPastor Amy Alletzhauser pastor@londonderryumc.orgDistrict Superintendent James McPhee tri-state@neumc.orgBishop Sudarshana Devadhar bishop@neumc.org

Church Directory

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258 Mammoth Road

Londonderry, NH 03053

Phone: (603) 432-7083

Email: office@londonderryumc.org“Loving God,Loving People, Making a Difference”

We’re on the Web!http://www.LondonderryUMC.org

Londonderry United Methodist

Londonderry

United

Methodist Church

Our Vision:“Loving God, Loving People, Making a Difference”

Our Mission:

“To make disciples of Jesus Christ for thetransformation of the world.”

The Methodist Messenger is published monthly by the Londonderry United Methodist Church. Deadline for articles foreach edition is the 15th of each month. Our summer worship services include Traditional services at 7:45 and 10:00am and also Contemporary worship at 9:00 am.