The Bellman Page 1 September September The Bellman

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1 The Bellman Page 1 September September The Bellman North Church of Portsmouth Rally Day is Sept. 16! 9 AM Parish House Chapel ~ Worship 10 AM Church School~ Creation Fun for Everyone fellowship*games*art*face painting & a wonderful drop in activity in our new library Please bring a donation of fresh fruit & vegetables for The Seacoast Family Food Pantry. Please invite a friend! Parents: If you are unable to attend Rally Day, but would like your children to attend Rally Day and Church School, please call Mary Ann Drapcho, Director of Parish Life: All children are always welcome! Friends, I have been your Director of Parish Life for a year, and it has been my joy to begin to know you. We have served on boards together, taught Church School together, carved pumpkins together and served people who are homeless together. Thank you for your friendship! In a few short weeks, on Sept. 16, we ll meet at Spinney Rd. to celebrate Rally Day together. We ll begin with worship at 9AM, when we will hear words from the beginning of Genesis. At 10 AM we ll celebrate our fellowship with everyone, all people of all ages, encouraged to play games, enjoy an art activity, get their faces painted, and participate in an activity in our new library. Teachers will be present to meet and say hello to new and returning students. No doubt, there will be a many friends seeing each other for the first time in a few months. On Rally Day, we will have the opportunity to donate fresh vegetables and fruit to the Seacoast Family Food Pantry. Our donations of fruits and vegetables will be very welcome! North Church offers us an opportunity to continue to grow rich and new friendships through the sharing of worship, fellowship, faith formation, mission and service. Please invite your friends to join our circle of friends, for this Rally Day Sunday, and for every Sunday! Mary Ann Drapcho Director of Parish Life September 19th 8am Café Espresso

2 The Bellman Page 2 September 2007 NORTH CHURCH WOMEN Wednesday, August 15 a memorial service was held for Thomas J. Pearson who had recently passed away. Tom was the husband of Barbara Pearson and together they started the wonderful Children's Garden at the Parish House. This service was followed by a collation for family and friends. It was prepared by North Church Women and NCW from Circle C. Work is still being done on the program year. Any ideas regarding programs would be welcome. We are in need of volunteers who would serve a simple refreshment for a meeting. Please call Carolyn Layton ( ) or Liz LaPage ( ). The Craft Group meet on Mondays at 9:30. You can come for all morning or even a few hours. They are working on items for the Holly Shoppe Christmas Fair which will be Sat. Dec. 1, If you have your own crafts for the fair to work on, fine, but if you haven't they have supplies and ideas for you. Bring your lunch and join this lively group. In this month s issue: Rally Day Message from Mary Ann cover Women s Fellowship Opportunities 2 Urgent Need: Seacoast Food Pantry 3 Blood Drive 3 Worship Schedules 4 Special Thanks! 4 Cabinet 5 From the Pastor 6 Children s Library 7 Parish Life Happenings 8 Thoughts & Prayers 9 Book Signing Program 9 Letter from UCC Conference 10 Birthdays & Anniversaries 11 EVENING WOMEN S GROUP Monday, September 24 from 7-9 p.m. at the home of Liz Good in Eliot to plan for the new program year. All interested women and friends of North Church are invited to participate. For more information, contact Liz Good at Weekday Bible Study will resume in October. Watch for further details. The possibility of an evening adult Bible/ faith formation class is being explored. Please let Pastor Dawn know what might interest you. Confirmation for students in the 8 th and 9 th grades will be offered on Sunday evenings beginning in January though May 11. Further details will be mailed to youth and parents.

3 The Bellman Page 3 September 2007 URGENT PLEA FROM SEACOAST FAMILY FOOD PANTRY Below is received from Ellen Garrity on August 28. You are invited to assist by taking donations to the Pantry on Junkins Avenue or dropping donations off at the Parish House. Thank you! Good Morning to you all- I wanted to reach out to all those I know are committed to helping us and support our mission. Our food pantry shelves are looking very bare and due to a recent/ongoing shortage at the NH Food Bank, we are unable to obtain enough food at cost to re-supply at this point in time. If you have any ideas, or are a part of an organization that would entertain the idea of hosting a food drive, please let me know! Any mention in bulletins, or newsletters would be greatly appreciated, and we will give letters of acknowledgement to all for tax purposes! I am including a list of foods we are in need of for your information. Seacoast Family Food Pantry 7 Junkins Ave. Portsmouth, NH Please visit us online at Soups- vegetable, chicken noodle, tomatoe, hearty varieties. Spaghetti sauce- with and without meat Canned vegetables- corn, green beans, carrots, peas, asparagus, wax beans, etc. Canned fruit- peaches, pears, mixed fruit, applesauce, raisins, dried fruit, frozen fruit, anything! Cereal- healthy varieties, including high fiber and low sugar. Macaroni and Cheese Canned tuna Baked beans Fruit juices Jelly- grape, rasberry, low sugar. Milk, yogurt and cheese Shelf stable milk Spam Frozen meats- chicken, ground beef, turkey, fish fillets, etc. Diapers in all sizes! And, of course, gift cards to any and all grocery stores or pharmacies! BLOOD DRIVE The North Church Diaconate will once again sponsor the ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE on Mon. Sept. 24, 2006 at the Parish House, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Volunteers for registration, escorts, and canteen (kitchen help) will be needed as well as donations of sandwich fillings such as tuna, egg or ham salad. Sign up sheets are available at the Parish House. Please come and donate blood and remind your friends and family of this annual appeal. For more information, please call Jim McDevitt at

4 The Bellman Page 4 September 2007 Worship in September September 2: Holy Communion NO Chapel 10:30 AM Market Square Lectionary: Jeremiah 2:4-13 with Psalm 81:1, or Sirach 10:12-18 with Psalm 112; Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14 September 9: 9:00 AM Chapel 10:30 AM Market Square Lectionary: Jeremiah 18:1-11 with Psalm 139:1-6, or Deuteronomy 30:15-20 with Psalm 1; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33 September 16: Rally Sunday 9:00 AM Worship Service NO 10:30 Service (due to running of Criterium Bike Race in downtown Portsmouth) Lectionary: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14 or Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 51:1-10; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 (Please note that Scripture Selections for this day will be from the Creation story in Genesis.) September 23: 9:00 Chapel 10:30 Market Square Lectionary: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; Psalm 79:1-9 or Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113;I Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 September 30: 9:00 Chapel 10:30 Market Square Lectionary: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; Psalm 91:1-6, or Amos 6:1a, 4-7; Psalm 146; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31 Coffee Hour Schedule September 2: NO CHAPEL SERVICE September 9: MEN S BREAKFAST CREW September 16: MEMBERSHIP RESOURCE September 23: OPEN September 30: OPEN THANK YOU To June Parker whose dedication to volunteering as organist for Chapel is now a decade long! We are grateful for June s commitment and thoughtful preparation. Thank you, June! To our gardeners, especially Glen Brown, Marty Fernald, and Ray Gordon. Thanks, too, to Paul Brown who helped Ray fix the fountain! Are you a gardener in search of a new project? Call Glen! Help is always welcome. To Barbara Bolko for the hours she has devoted to helping with the record keeping for the Market Square Steeple Fund. To everyone who responded to the request for items for our food pantry. Your generosity has filled the cupboard again and we are able to assist more hungry people! To John MacLeod and everyone who helped make the 25 th Anniversary season of Music in Market Square a happy success! To everyone that volunteered for Coffee Hour this summer! Watch for more opportunities! To Nathan Amsden for hanging in there with us as the Director of Music Ministry search continues!

5 The Bellman Page 5 September 2007 New Office Phone System! When you call the church office now during busy times or when we are closed, you will be greeted by our new voic system. You may dial your desired extension at any time to go directly to a voic box. There is also a menu for information on things like Nearly New & Worship Services. Cabinet News Who s Where? 201 Melissa Wilson, Administrative Assistant /General Voic 202 Pastor Dawn Shippee 204 Mary Ann Drapcho, Director of Parish Life The sunny summer days begin to slip away as we find ourselves thinking about returning to activities placed on hold while vacationing. Although many meetings have been held over the summer, it seems that we get back down to the regular pattern with the passing of Labor Day. A special recognition should go out to those who did meet this summer and are ready for the fall season. Cabinet will again meet on the second Monday of the each month with additional meetings scheduled as needed. We are fortunate to have Nancy Layton and Tim Cushing joining June Ellis, Chris Pardus, Rich Mason, Betty Gilman and Pastor Dawn Shippee, to complete the roster for Cabinet. During the July meeting, Peter Kinner and Betty Gilman presented information regarding additional repair items for the Market Square facility. In an oversight during the restoration process, the gutter downspouts were not replaced and a portion of the Pleasant Street decorative fencing was missed in that repair. This necessary work has now been approved by Cabinet. In an effort to discourage the return of nesting pigeons, a noise system will be added to the roof and steeple area. Finally, as observed by many, the plaster damage on walls and the ceiling needs attention and was approved for repair and painting. Although a work schedule has not been completed, it is anticipated that work will be done on the sanctuary between the seasons of Christmas and Easter requiring the closing of the sanctuary for those months. As a reminder, September 25th is scheduled to be the Round Table for all committees boards, and groups related to the church to come together. It is a time that all interested friends and members have to hear the plans and visions of each group. It is a time of sharing so that all are aware of the many activities taking place within North Church. Details will be advertised within the Sunday bulletin, however, be sure to reserve that evening. ~ Betty Gilman N e a r l y N e w w i l l r eo p en T h u r sd a y, September 6, 6 to 7:30, a n d F r i da y, S e p t em b e r 7, 1 0 to 1: 3 0. F a ll a nd w i n t e r i t e m s w il l b e w el c om e d. Wo r k e r s a r e al w a y s n e e d ed. Call Charlotte Philbrook to learn more about how you can help!

6 The Bellman Page 6 September 2007 It is still true this is my favorite time of year. I enjoy a good snowstorm that keeps one by the fire for 24 hours. I like the smell of spring as the light grows. I treasure the warm summer days in a porch rocker with a stack of books. But fall, full of renewed energy to deal with realities and holding the promise of new things to learn and discover, will always capture me the way no other season does. As we turn this corner in the year, we find ourselves looking back and looking ahead. What did you do on your summer vacation? is a likely conversation opener, but the discussion quickly moves on to the plans for the fall. It is a time of year that sees a lot of change that we like to call new beginnings. We all struggle with change. What will the new teacher be like? Can I find my way around this campus? Will I like my new boss? I have to learn a new procedure? But, we ve always done it this way! Change has a lot to do with time and timing. We talk about time a lot. We either don t have enough or we have too much. We talk about killing time. We waste time. We say time will tell. We tell each other that time heals all wounds. We admonish others and ourselves to take time or give it time. It takes time to bring change about and time to adjust to change. In community life, as well as personal life, change isn t a process that happens in one season. We have to keep at it and be active in it, nurturing and evaluating it along the way. We have to trust that the struggle has a purpose bigger than we are. This is the season that we are most likely to take a deep breath and say, individually and collectively, it is time for a change, and this time things will change. I have long been a reader of the works of Sr. Joan Chittister, Order of St. Benedict and I re-read some books during the summer, as well as reading more recent reflections. In her 2004 Called to Question: a spiritual memoir, she writes: The spirituality demanded at a time of tension in the church itself requires more than patience. Time changes nothing, the proverb teaches. People do. But while we work for change, we need a spirituality of conviction, honesty, awareness, endurance, and faith in the God whose time is not our time. North Church continues to change, a good, if sometimes difficult, thing. We are called to do the best we can do in our time and to be conscious of the truth that all time is God s. It is our spiritual grounding that will see us through and continue to give us reason to celebrate. In this season of new beginnings, may we be mindful of the activity of the Holy Spirit in our time. I look forward to seeing you on Rally Day, September 16, beginning at 9:00, for a morning of worship, fellowship and fun for everyone. It will be good to talk about all the good times we have had this summer and about the good times ahead of us! Blessings ~ Pastor Dawn

7 The Bellman Page 7 September 2007 Children s Library After years of faithful service, Ellen Patton is stepping down as our children s librarian. Fortunately for our children, Ellen will be teaching a children s Church School workshop in Thank you Ellen for your library service, and for your continued service to our Church School! Kevin Jordan will serve as our current children s librarian. Kevin has taught fifth grade and is Gracie and Teddy Jordan s father. Kevin has been hard at work moving our children s library to our church school wing, reviewing our books, and planning our library program. Thank you, Kevin! Children s Library News Over the summer, the little children's library of North Church turned a page in its history. Thanks to the forward thinking of MaryAnn and Dawn, some thoughtful requests from church school teachers, and a grand collection of literature set in place by Ellen's dedication over the years, the children's library has been transformed! Not only has it moved to a different space, it has been recreated with fresh purpose. Our new, not-so-little-anymore children's library is part of the church school on the lower level of the Parish House. Our beloved books have been re-organized onto freshly painted shelves, and there is space to grow comfortably, expanding our collections. This library can be better used to connect to church school programs and classroom activities. For example, the librarian will provide a story time and scheduled visit on Sunday mornings for most classes. Also, the teacher resource shelves hold new and varied stories for teachers to enrich their lesson plans. The walls will be used to showcase a particular classroom's creativity. This will continue to encourage our Children to practice being responsible by taking care of the books they check out and return them for others to enjoy; this will demonstrate value and care for their library. Kevin Jordan will be the children's librarian this school year. He has taught at the early elementary level for fifteen years as a specialist in children's literature, graphic arts, and thematic curriculum design. Also, Rachael Drapcho will grace the library on a regular basis as an assistant. Please come by during Rally Sunday events, or any other church school morning. You will surely want to see this new chapter in the life of the North Church Children's Library! And one final note: Recently, some generous book donations were made to the children's library. On behalf of the children and teachers, we are grateful. If anyone else would like to help our library to expand its collection, to reach all levels of readers in our church school, we specifically request board books and abc/123 books for our prereaders. If they have a religious or animal or family story to them, all the better. Check your shelves for gently used but well-loved books of these kinds and drop them off in the library any Sunday morning. And, never fear, our librarian will always help you decide if a book is appropriate for our needs.

8 The Bellman Page 8 September 2007 Our Faith Formation - September And God Saw that it was good ~ Genesis 1:25 Church School celebrates Creation! From Rally Day, Sept. 16, through October 21, our children will be learning the Creation Story. While learning about our Great Creator, our children will have an opportunity to be creators themselves. Please stop in our children s classes to catch their creativity! New this Church School Year Childcare: We realize that for some children, remaining in worship for the entire worship service is wonderful, and for some, challenging. For this reason, our Parish Life Board is organizing cooperative childcare from 8:50-9:45 AM for children under three years, and from 9:15, (following the Children s Message), until 9:45 AM for children three and above. The success of childcare will be dependent on many people volunteering their time for a few Sundays. To volunteer, please contact Christine Groleau at or cgroleau@comcast.net Please note: All children, of all ages, are always welcome to stay in worship for the entire worship service! Youth Ministry 6th-8th Gr. Youth Group: 10-11am; Youth room High School: Sept. 23, 6 PM: Book signing Caring for Ourselves While Caring for our Elders by Maren Tirabassi, her daughter Maria Tirabassi, and colleague Leanne Tigert. For more information, see the article in this Bellman. High School students will be meeting at various times, (to be announced) in Sept. to organize a Common Art Show for North Church. Common Art, a program of Ecclesia Ministries in Boston, supports the spiritual and physical needs of people who are homeless by providing space, materials and caring support staff to help them develop their artistic abilities. Adults: Beginning in October; What s on your mind? What does our faith say about today s world? Adult discussion in the Church School wing Church School Parents: Please feel free to join the discussion at any time! Rally Day, Sept. 16 Creation Fun for Everyone! Worship 9 AM Fellowship & fun, 9:40-11:00 Our Parish Life Board and our Youth have teamed to create a Rally Day that will include games, an art activity, face painting, and a wonderful activity in our new and beautiful children s library. Our Parish Life Board invites everyone to celebrate Rally Day together. Please invite your friends and family! Please bring a donation of fresh fruits and vegetables: We ll be helping to stock the Seacoast Family Food Pantry. SFFP Executive Director Ellen Garrity will be speaking to our congregation during worship. Parents and Grandparents: Each child will need new registration forms completed for the Church School year. Registration forms will be mailed to you before Sept. 23, and they will be available in the Church School hallway on Rally Day. Church School handbooks will be available on Rally Day. Children are always welcome: If you re unable to attend Rally Day with your children, but you would like them to attend church school, please contact or see Mary Ann, Director of Parish Life or mdrapcho@northchurchportsmouth.org Sept. 23 & Sept. 30 Childcare: Under Three: 8:50-9:45 AM ~ Wee Worshipers room Three and older: 9:15 (Following Children s message), - 9:45 Wee Worshipers room Church School 10 AM ~ 11 AM Younger than Three: Wee Worshipers Kindergarten, First and Second Graders: Younger Elementary Room Third, Fourth, and Fifth Graders: Older Elementary Room

9 The Bellman Page 9 September 2007 In Our Thoughts & Prayers We celebrate the August 25 th Baptism of James Paul Enright, son of Jim and Nicole (Grimbilas) Enright. James was baptized, as were his brothers Joey and TJ before him, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. We pray God s blessing for James and his family. On July 8 th the Sacrament of Baptism was celebrated for McCenzy Grace Martenson, born March 22, 2003, and Avery Jean Martenson, born September 21, 2006, daughters of Ronald and Catherine Martenson. Cathy and Ron s son Andy was baptized here and we welcome the Martensons into the life of North Church and pray God s blessings for them. On August 25 th Debra Basaraba and Craig Desjardins were united in marriage. Deb and Craig have attended North Church for almost 2 years. Their wedding ceremony included Holy Communion and they thank Brenda Delfino and Nancy Layton for serving the sacrament. We pray God s blessing for the Desjardins life together! Our sympathy is extended to the family of Thomas Pearson Jr. who died, August 6th. Tom, the widower of Barbara who planted the garden at the Parish House, was always at her side to help with that labor of love. Over the summer a number of people have been ill, hospitalized, and recuperating, among them Russ Knox, Jackie Davis, Daisy White, Ryan Watts, Suzette LaFleur, and Barbara Shaw. We keep them in our prayers. Our prayers continue for our troops at war in Afghanistan and Iraq. We pray for families and friends that watch and wait and for those who grieve. As we honor and support those who sacrifice, we also pray for and end to the war and the coming of true peace. September 23 Book-signing Program with Maren Tirabassi Sponsored by Deacons Parish House 6:00 7:30 Refreshments provided Maren C. Tirabassi and Leanne McCall Tigert will lead a program based on their new book Caring for Ourselves while Caring for our Elders. Contemporary issues and concerns of caregiving for elders long-distance management, blended families, past alienations -- are as recent as yesterday s phone call to the church or synagogue office, senior center or assisted living facility, and as old as the book of Ruth where a middle-aged foreign widow accepts residential, financial, and emotional responsibility for her mother in law. Caring for Ourselves while Caring for our Elders shares twenty-five encouraging, discouraging, confusing and REAL stories of family members, and even those who are not related, who are caring for elders. Scripture frames the stories representing a diverse group of caregivers as well as short psychological commentaries. Discussion questions for groups using the book or individual reflection, some humorous and serious weekly assignments and prayers complete the cycle. The third author of the book, Maria Tirabassi (who lives in Los Angeles) shares the perspective of teens and twenty-somethings involved in family situations where eldercare is the central focus. After a brief program and a sharing of stories, empathy and experience, Leanne and Maren will sign books and continue some informal conversation, Rev. Leanne McCall Tigert is a pastoral counselor in private practice in Concord, faculty member at Andover Newton theological School and former pastor. This is her fifth book with Pilgrim Press. Rev. Maren C. Tirabassi is a writer, Pastor of Union Congregational Church in Madbury and a former Poet Laureate of Portsmouth. This is her thirteenth book.

10 The Bellman Page 10 September 2007 July 13, 2007 NEW HAMPSHIRE CONFERENCE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, New Hampshire (Concord Area & Out of State) (FAX) (Toll-Free in New Hampshire) Dear Sisters and Brothers of the NH Conference United Church of Christ, As you know, on June 15, 2007, the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ, at its annual meeting, voted overwhelmingly in favor of A Resolution of Christian Witness in Support of Ending the U.S. War in Iraq and Opposing Future U.S. Pre-emptive Wars. We on the Peace With Justice Task Force are inspired that our Conference has raised its collective voice for peace in this significant way. While many churches have been quiet regarding the U.S. war in Iraq, the United Church of Christ in New Hampshire is now speaking out in opposition to the war with a strong and clear voice. Our resolution has been sent to our New Hampshire representatives in the U.S. Congress, the majority and minority leaders in the U.S. House and Senate, the President, Presidential candidates, and the media. (To view this resolution in its entirety, go to and click Annual Meeting 2007 page and then click 2007 Amended Resolutions. ) I am writing to encourage NH UCC members and churches to add strength to this resolution and to make our collective voice even more pronounced by actively engaging in nonviolent resistance to the U.S. military occupation of Iraq by means of advocacy, protest, and electoral action. Our resolution is a good first step; but ongoing, sustained efforts are needed to bring about the kind of change that will end the U.S war in Iraq and put our nation back on a path toward peaceful engagement with the world. I am also writing to encourage NH UCC members and churches to further educate themselves in the theology and practice of nonviolence as a faithful solution to resolving conflicts. Jesus showed us that nonviolence is not just a periphery philosophy but is the imperative of the gospel and the mandate of the Christian faith. If we hope to harvest a world of peace and nonviolence, we must sow the seeds of peace and nonviolence, beginning with ourselves. The Peace With Justice Task Force wants to assist churches and members of our NH Conference UCC in engaging in nonviolent resistance to the U.S. military occupation of Iraq and in educating themselves in the theology and practice of nonviolence. We will publicize opportunities for both as they become available, but we will also respond to any churches or individuals requesting support in these endeavors. Please do not hesitate to contact me at the addresses listed below if the Task Force can be of service to you or your church as you seek to join your voice and spirit with that of the wider NH Conference in proclaiming NO to war. In the Peace of Christ, The Rev. Gordon L. Crouch Chair of the Peace With Justice Task Force of the NH Conference UCC, on behalf of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ Contact Information: The Rev. Gordon L. Crouch First Congregational Church of Hopkinton, UCC 1548 Hopkinton Rd, Hopkinton, NH revgordon@mcttelecom.com

11 The Bellman Page 11 September Sep Cal & Betsy Canney 07-Sep Fred & Cathy Bisset 13-Sep Frederick & Mary Ann Watson 15-Sep Paul & Becky Kelley 19-Sep Kevin & Wendy Mello 20-Sep Clifton & Charlene Hodgdon 01-Sep 02-Sep 03-Sep 07-Sep 08-Sep Martha Rahn Grace Jordan T. Russell Brightman Kenneth Lurvey John Melita 18-Sep 18-Sep 18-Sep 18-Sep 19-Sep Rachel Drapcho Scott LaPointe Lorinda Layton Andrew Layton Susan Foye 08-Sep Priscilla Pettis 19-Sep Shael Moyer 09-Sep Katherine Drapcho 20-Sep Amy Barry 11-Sep 11-Sep 12-Sep 13-Sep 13-Sep Tracy Darrow Connor Holly Alison Rahn Claudia Groleau Frederick Mauer 22-Sep 23-Sep 24-Sep 24-Sep 25-Sep Connie Warren Kyle Barry Shirley Hodgdon Carolyn Layton Tom Fuller 13-Sep 13-Sep Erich Vogt Kim Whitham 25-Sep 26-Sep Mike Hirtle Adam Drapcho 14-Sep Jennifer Mason 27-Sep Julie McDevitt 16-Sep 17-Sep Hannah Seward Harriet Saxe 29-Sep 29-Sep Paul Kelley Elmer Truesdale Stewardship Update Though our stewardship campaign culminated in submitting pledges in June, there is still progress to report, and ongoing activity. We have had a very positive response and are well on our way to reaching an unofficial goal of $120,000 pledged for the current church year. We can celebrate our mutual willingness to put into concrete form the attitude of caring we have for our church community. As we greet each other in worship and at other church activities, may we appreciate the contributions each of us bring to our spiritual life together. Thanks to all who give so much so that our church can continue to thrive! The Mission and Stewardship Board

12 NORTH The Bellman CHURCH OF PORTSMOUTH Page 12 September 2007 Church Sanctuary Market Square, Portsmouth, NH Church Office Parish House 355 Spinney Road Portsmouth, NH phone fax Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Parish House Chapel 10:30 a.m. Market Square Sanctuary Fellowship Time Following 9:00 a.m. service at Parish House Church School 10:00 am Parish House (Sept - June) North Church Staff Pastor: Reverend Dawn A. Shippee Director of Parish Life: Mrs. Mary Ann Drapcho Administrative Assistant: Ms. Melissa Wilson Custodian: Mr. Paul Gobbi Interim Organist: Mr. Nathan Amsden Office Hours: M F, 9:00am - 3:00pm NORTH CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT W e the members of the North Congregational Church Family, a loving and compassionate people of faith, gathered to worship God, accept our responsibility to seek justice for all God s people. Inspired by the Holy Spirit we resolve to share the Word of God with those seeking spiritual growth. Following Christ s teachings and example, we accept and embrace the challenge of a changing church community, nation, and world as we strive to live out our faith. North Church of Portsmouth, UCC 355 Spinney Road Portsmouth, NH Return Service Requested Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Portsmouth, NH Permit No. 2