Jackson Community Church

Summit, Spirit, Sky: connect to community and creation!

Category: Calendar

Upcoming events and information focused on education, engagement, and mourning: some for COVID and many for racial justice responses.

Some additional educational resources and regional/national events and correspondence focused either on lamentation for COVID or mourning and engagement around racial justice. Use what you find helpful, and please set aside those notices that you find out of alignment with your approach to these events. What is happening in this nation is complicated, and cannot be simplified into absolutes, binary/dualistic categories, or declarations that make us only “either/or”, “good/bad”, “right/wrong”, “in/out”. These can only be viewed and used as starting points for deeper and more comprehensive engagement in our own community.

From our local grammar school, some excellent resources:

  • Sesame Street Town Hall on Racism for families to watch together to begin or support the conversation in your home.

Additional links families (and adults) may find useful, per school leaders:

The NH Council of Churches has written letters and recommended next steps regarding racial justice responses to deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery,. See below.

The NH UCC offers this Theological Roundtable on Racial Justice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iczYc42Y1Rw&feature=youtu.be. 

  • This video features reflections shared by The Rev. Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister, New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ (NHCUCC); and members of the NHCUCC Racial Justice Mission Group, Kira Morehouse, Member and Delegate, Brookside Congregational Church U.C.C., Manchester; Rev. John Gregory-Davis, Co-pastor, Meriden Congregational Church; Rev. Renee’ Rouse, Pastor, Northwood Congregational Church; Harriet Ward, Member, Pilgrim United Church of Christ, Brentwood-Kingston; and Rev. Dr. Dawn Berry, Member, First Congregational Church, UCC, Hopkinton, and Chair, Racial Justice Mission Group.

Other interfaith and Christian organizations have planned national and regional memorial observances for COVID and in remembrance of recent deaths of African American citizens:

  • Sunday, June 7 @ 10am – A National Eulogy and Interfaith Service of Mourning for those who have Died of COVID. The service will be co-led by Revs. Barber and Theoharis and Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Imam Omar Suleiman and Valerie Kaur.
  • Sunday, June 7 @ 2-4pm – Boston Black Memorial for George, Breonna and Ahmaud. See link for details.
  • Monday, June 8 @ 3:30pm –  Peaceful Rally at Schuler Park, North Conway, NH. Details not available, learned of this via colleagues, so not sure of organizer identity or specific focus of rally, assuming a racial justice theme.
  • Monday, June 8 – National Day of Fasting and Focus planned by Poor People’s Campaign.
    • Noon EST/ 9am PST – “We Won’t Be Silent” Virtual Art Buildat  to be together and heal together through art-making, share messages of justice and get prepared for the day of action. Register here.
    • 5-5:30pm – Time of Silence and Liturgy with Dr. William Barber. The Day of Fasting and Focus will culminate at 5pm when we are asking people to stop where you are for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in silence. Event on Facebook.
By jacksonnhccPosted on Posted in Adult, Calendar, Home, Outreach, UCC NewsNo Comments on Upcoming events and information focused on education, engagement, and mourning: some for COVID and many for racial justice responses.

THIS WEEK: Tue, May 19 – Memorial Day Mon, May 25

With JCC and Around Town

ONGOING

  • JCC: PLANT DROP-OFF for Sat, May 30th PLANT SALE
    Leave plants at the Jackson Community Church (under the outside stairs). Or drop them off between 8-8:45am on the morning of the Sat, May 30th sale.  Please identify all plants dropped off. Popsicle sticks and some empty pots under outdoor stairs for your use.
  • JCC: RING the CHURCH BELL! If you want to be on the schedule to ring the church bell, please contact the church. We ring it at noon daily and 5pm a few times a week.
  • Community Event: HISTORICAL SOCIETY ART SALE
    Online:  https://www.jacksonhistory.org/artshow.html.
  • JCC: WALK a MILE
    JCC encourages everyone to move and connect with sunlight and creation. Rev Gail will post her walks on facebook. Share yours, too!

TUE, May 18

  • Community Event: STORYTIME with Miss Meredith
  • 9am • Jackson Library
  • Community Event: STORY by Believe in Books
    9:30am • Believe in Books Livestream
  • UCC Event: ANNUAL MEETING PLANNING SESSION (zoom)
    10am • Rev Gail attends
  • Closed Meeting: HOMELESS & HOUSING INSECURE SERVICE TEAM MTG 
    10am • Zoom
    Way Station leadership meets with other nonprofits, including Town of Conway and Tri County Cap reps to discuss guest needs.
  • Community Event: MT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY’S VIRTUAL CLASSROOM (Facebook Live)
    11:15am • Mon, Tue, Fri @ Facebook Live
    Connect live to the highest peak in the Northeastern US, Mount Washington, New Hampshire, as Weather Observers and Education Specialists at the non-profit Mount Washington Observatory present a Facebook Live program called “Home of the World’s Worst Weather Live.”
  • Closed Event: CLERGY LUNCH
    Noon • Zoom
    Local clergy convene for conversation to organize events & worship, coordinate spiritual support to community during pandemic (providing rotating voluntary chaplaincy services to hospital), and offer peer support. Rev Gail attends.
  • RING BELL
    Noon • Jackson Community Church
  • Community Event: LIBRARY PICKUP HOURS
    2-6pm • Jackson Public Library
    Order one workday in advance. Please email with the title, author, and what formats you will accept (eBook, downloadable audio, Kindle, paperback or hardcover, anything else). NEW: Do-It-Yourself Take-Home Craft kits: spring flowers or donated LEGO sets. Free during pickup hours. One kit/child. Contact: meredith@jacksonlibrary.org or staff@jacksonlibrary.org.
  • Community Event: VIRTUAL YOGA with ANJALI ROSE (Whitney Community Center Event)
    4:30pm • Zoom Series
    The Friends of the Whitney Center is pleased to be collaborating with local yoga instructor, Anjali Rose, RYT 200 RMT, to bring virtual yoga to the community.  This yoga class is FREE to Jackson community residents and is designed for all levels to participate.  Register by 2pm on Tuesday.  
    Register in advance for this meeting:
    https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqdO-qrz8vG9xcuXbAe5nTVJhi0djzr4FR
    Sign in to Zoom by 4:15 to make sure we can navigate any technical issues. Please complete the health waiver and simply type in your name and date indicating you’re in agreement with the waiver.  Questions? Contact Anjali at anjalirose15@gmail.com.

WED, May 20

  • SCHOOL SPIRIT WEDNESDAY – 
  • Rainbow Day with Jackson Grammar School
    All day: Wear your favorite ranbow gear!
  • BREAKFAST with REV GAIL (zoom)
    8am • Zoom link (contact church for info)
    Call to talk & gather.
  • Community Event: STORYTIME with Miss Meredith
    9am • Jackson Library Livestream
  • Community Event: STORY by Believe in Books
    9:30am • Believe in Books Livestream
  • Community Event: BUSINESS REOPENING ‘TRAIN the TRAINER’ TRAINING to follow STAY-at-HOME 2.0 GUIDELINES
    10am • GotoMeeting
    Memorial Hospital Education, Emergency Management and Infection Prevention staff have developed an educational tool kit for valley businesses. This session is a ‘train the trainer’ workshop to help businesses prepare to train their own staff using the educational kit. 150 people can be accommodated in each training session. If you wish to attend, sign up by contacting Becky Adams @ badams1@memorialhospitalnh.org. The training sessions are free to all Mount Washington Valley businesses.
  • Community Event: MT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY’S VIRTUAL CLASSROOM (Facebook Live)
    11:15am • Mon, Tue, Fri @ Facebook Live
    Connect live to the highest peak in the Northeastern US, Mount Washington, New Hampshire, as Weather Observers and Education Specialists at the non-profit Mount Washington Observatory present a Facebook Live program called “Home of the World’s Worst Weather Live.”
  • RING BELL
    Noon • Jackson Community Church
  • DEACONS MEETING (zoom)
    4pm • Zoom link (contact church for info)
    Community care review and worship planning.
  • COUNCIL MEETING (zoom)
    7pm • Zoom link (contact church for info)
    Church staff, officers and team leaders meet to make essential decisions affecting mission and operations of the church. Review of COVID-related policies included. Option to call in: 929.436.2866, Meeting ID: 968 5393 2521 (#)
  • Community Event: TIN MOUNTAIN ANNUAL MEETING (zoom)
    7pm • Zoom
    Business portion of Tin Mountain’s annual meeting. The meeting will require a password to attend. Contact info@tinmountain.org before 3pm to receive the password.

THURS, May 21

  • Closed Meeting: WAY STATION Board of Directors Meeting (zoom)
    8am • Zoom
  • Community Event: STORYTIME with Miss Meredith
    9am • Jackson Library
  • Community Event: YIN/RESTORATIVE YOGA with Anjali Rose
    9am • Zoom (Link provided once participants complete health waiver is sent to anjalirose15@gmail.com and registration/payment for class received.) See Anjali’s website for full list of classes offered and instructions to register. 
  • Community Event: STORY by Believe in Books
    9:30am • Believe in Books Livestream
  • Community Event: BUSINESS REOPENING ‘TRAIN the TRAINER’ TRAINING to follow STAY-at-HOME 2.0 GUIDELINES
    10am • GotoMeeting
    Memorial Hospital Education, Emergency Management and Infection Prevention staff have developed an educational tool kit for valley businesses. This session is a ‘train the trainer’ workshop to help businesses prepare to train their own staff using the educational kit. 150 people can be accommodated in each training session. If you wish to attend, sign up by contacting Becky Adams @ badams1@memorialhospitalnh.org. The training sessions are free to all Mount Washington Valley businesses. Rev Gail attends this session.
  • RING BELL
    Noon • Jackson Community Church
  • Community Service: WAY STATION SHIFT
    3pm • Curbside package preparation
    5pm • Shift at curbside with guests
  • Community Event: CRAFTUP (Jackson Library)
    4pm • Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/888091236 
    All crafts and all skill levels are welcome.
  • Community Event: FROGS of  NH (Tin Mountain event)
    7pm • Virtual (zoom link to be provided, see Tin Mountain website for more info)
    For you ‘Naturevores,’ FROGS have been in the ‘news’ lately, perhaps in your ‘Backyard Column!’ Their vociferous calls highlight the twilight hours, ranging from the prolific spring peeper to the rare, snoring Leopard Frog as we recently learned in the Trivia column. Join Master Naturalist and Tin Mountain’s Research Director Rick Van de Poll for an introduction to the frogs of New Hampshire. Zoom session on the Ranids of our region. Join us!
  • Community Event: WHITNEY CENTER COMMUNITY SING (zoom)
    7pm •  Zoom Link:      https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4415382536
    Whitney Center Community Sing starts Thurs, May 21, 7pm. Continues weekly. This series is hosted by Heather Pierson and Bernice Martin. All ages and abilities welcome to an enriching and fun-filled hour of exploring your voice, learning new songs, making new friends, and experiencing the joy of connection and community with others. No singing experience is necessary!  No performances. Free: sponsored by Friends of the Whitney Community Center. For more info/questions, contact Heather Pierson at  heather@heatherpierson.com.

FRI, May 22

  • BREAKFAST with REV GAIL (zoom)
    8am • Zoom link (contact church for info)
    Call to talk & gather.
  • Community Event: STORYTIME with Miss Meredith
    9am • Jackson Library
  • Community Event: STORY by Believe in Books
    9:30am • Believe in Books Livestream
  • Community Event: BUSINESS REOPENING ‘TRAIN the TRAINER’ TRAINING to follow STAY-at-HOME 2.0 GUIDELINES
    10am • GotoMeeting
    Memorial Hospital Education, Emergency Management and Infection Prevention staff have developed an educational tool kit for valley businesses. This session is a ‘train the trainer’ workshop to help businesses prepare to train their own staff using the educational kit. 150 people can be accommodated in each training session. If you wish to attend, sign up by contacting Becky Adams @ badams1@memorialhospitalnh.org. The training sessions are free to all Mount Washington Valley businesses.
  • Community Event: MT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY’S VIRTUAL CLASSROOM (Facebook Live)
    11:15am • Mon, Tue, Fri @ Facebook Live
    Connect live to the highest peak in the Northeastern US, Mount Washington, New Hampshire, as Weather Observers and Education Specialists at the non-profit Mount Washington Observatory present a Facebook Live program called “Home of the World’s Worst Weather Live.”
  • RING BELL
    Noon • Jackson Community Church
  • C3: COCKTAILS & CHRISTIAN CONVERSATIONS  (zoom)
    5pm • Zoom link (contact church for info)
    This week our hosts are Ginger & David Perkins. This week we discuss Jesus’ ascension as described in Acts 1: 6-11 . Option: Call in via touch-tone phone: 929.436.2866 Meeting ID: 83028442916 (#)

SAT, May 23

  • RING BELL
    Noon • Jackson Community Church
  • Community Event: LIBRARY PICKUP HOURS
    2-6pm • Jackson Public Library
    Order one workday in advance. Please email with the title, author, and what formats you will accept (eBook, downloadable audio, Kindle, paperback or hardcover, anything else). NEW: Do-It-Yourself Take-Home Craft kits: spring flowers or donated LEGO sets. Free during pickup hours. One kit/child. Contact: meredith@jacksonlibrary.org or staff@jacksonlibrary.org.

SUN, May 24

  • INTERFAITH GATHERING ( Zoom)
    8am •  Zoom link (contact church for info)
    Gather for poetry, conversation, readings & prayer. Bring your own caffeine. 🙂
  • CHOIR PRACTICE ( Zoom)
    9am • Zoom link (contact church for info)
    Choir practice with choir director Billy Carleton and music director Alan Labrie.
  • VIRTUAL WORSHIP & MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE SERVICE ( Zoom)
    10:30am •  Zoom link (contact church for info)
    Join us for worship, special music, prayer, scripture, and reflection with Memorial Day observance included. Stay for virtual coffee hour. Service will also be live-streamed to website and Facebook (if technology supports this function on the day of event). Afterward, recordings of worship service will be posted to Facebook, Vimeo.com channel & Youtube.com channel.
  • VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
    Stay after worship and we will break into small groups for brief social opportunity. Same link as worship.
  • RING BELL
    Noon • Jackson Community Church

MON, May 25 – MEMORIAL DAY

  • MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
    We will offer updates about plans to mark this day as they are announced in the community. The church will share its own plans for observances after the deacons meet this week.
  • RING BELL
    Noon • Jackson Community Church
  • YOUNG PEOPLE’s CHOIR 
    4pm • Zoom (link will be provided to participants only)
    • Choir director & musician Billy Carleton will meet virtually with young people who want to participate in weekly music-making. The Zoom link will be circulated in a closed email group for participants and leaders only. 
    • Please RSVP if your family has under-18 members who want to join us, and you haven’t already received communication about this group.
    • At the first session, Billy will work with music-makers to decide on songs and ways to integrate some instruments as well.
    • Voices and instruments welcome.

Notes:

  • SUPPORT: Do you need support of any kind? We have volunteers ready to assist with errands and other projects (via library’s Jackson Bridge listserv), access to emergency supplies, and Rev Gail is available for emotional and spiritual companionship. Call Rev Gail directly at 978.273.0308 or email the church: jcchurch@jacksoncommunitychurch.org
  • Jackson Public Library’s Guide to Online Services (activities, events, reading and information materials, etc)
By jacksonnhccPosted on Posted in Calendar, HomeNo Comments on THIS WEEK: Tue, May 19 – Memorial Day Mon, May 25

Youth Programs: May & June

Family Church-at-home-together Continues! Here’s an update on current plans!

  • Young People’s Choir & Band begins Mondays, May 24, 4pm via Zoom.
    • Choir director & musician Billy Carleton will meet virtually with young people who want to participate in weekly music-making.
    • The goal will be to record songs every 4-6 weeks to share during worship.
    • Voices and instruments welcome.
    • At the first session, Billy will work with music-makers to decide on songs and ways to integrate some instruments as well.
    • Note: Young people’s Zoom sessions are only open to young people and their family/guardians (if their adults wish to attend), but is closed to other community members for the safety of the young participants, except by invitation of the choir director or music team. The Zoom link will be circulated in a closed email group for participants and leaders only. Please RSVP if your family has under-18 members who want to join us, and you haven’t already received communication about this group.
    • Note that Billy Carleton teaches for SAU9, so he is familiar with teaching and working with younger singers as well as adults.
  • Leaders-in-Training (L-I-T) Program Starts in June
    • Engaging older youth to continue last summer’s L-I-T experience.
    • Should be 7th grade and older
    • You will help create educational and entertaining challenges that invite younger participants outside in safe and creative ways (with their adult family/guardian members participation)
    • Together we’ll create some physical/virtual challenges such as letterbox kits on-site around Jackson/Bartlett, design scavenger hunts for summer recrreation and other ways to have physical engagement outside, with prompts designed and facilitated by our Leaders-in-Training
    • RSVP if you want to be part of the Leader=in-Training initiative (7th grade and older)
    • Letter-boxing/geo-caching challenge designs
    • Scavenger hunt design
    • Extended game design
    • Mystery game / live puzzle design
  • Puppets and Story-telling:
    • Expect a delivery of make-your-own puppet kits to families and “church at home” kits.
    • We’ll create live-action puppet skits of sacred stories, filmed via Zoom or other ways, to share with the church once-a-month during worship!
    • Young people who want to participate may pick characters for their puppets and tell the story in your own words, your own way! With your own puppet, that you make!
    • You will choose the stories we tell also.
    • Unless your family doesn’t want such a kit, we’ll plan to deliver one to all of our families as soon as the materials arrive (we hope to have them this week).
    • We’ll schedule Zoom times to explore stories and work out skits, unless we can gather safely outside in small groups, with appropriate social distance precautions (to be determined as circumstances unfold)
  • Church-at-home kits:
    • We’ll deliver church-at-home kits with devotionals and art pages to your families for some quiet, contemplative activity options
  • Prayer flags:
    • We’d love to fly your flags!
    • We’ll provide prayer flag materials, and we invite you to make ones to use at home
    • We also want to share one of your prayer flags in a display outside the church.
  • Prayer Fence:
    • The chalkboard fence will be re-painted white and ready for public use by the end of May.
    • Painting the fence has been adopted as a service project by one of our families.
  • Community Care cards:
    • We would love to include handmade cards or artwork from our young people in care packages that we’re continuing to distribute in the community.
    • If you make cards, we’ll provide a safe place at church for you to return them, for redistribution to members, friends and neighbors who need your cheer & care
    • Messaging is your choice, but we suggest cheerful, inspirational and optimistic messages with universal themes (these won’t be addressed to specific individuals or specific issues) like “thinking of you”, “have a nice day”, “smile”, “friendship”,”peace”, “hope”, “love” and/or “sending you prayers and good thoughts”
  • Adopt-a-friend:
    • As an extension of the Community Care card initiative, we have a small list of vulnerable community members who are lonely or isolated for different reasons. If we have an expression of interest among our younger families, we’d like to match families with some of these neighbors to create some inter-generational communication and relationship-building
    • You can explore how to activate this connection might work.
      • Occasional phone or zoom calls might work with some people, although hearing loss and technology challenges can make this a case-by-case option.
      • Cards and mail are excellent ways to connect.
      • Care package drop-offs are also excellent ways to connect(with social distance precautions)
      • Social-distance visits to wave and chat are possible in some instances, if health isn’t an issue, but we should discuss case-by-case
  • Youth Day(s) in Worship
    • We’ll aim for youth-led worship at least every quarter, every 9-12 weeks with youth-led reflections, readings and music
    • The first such worship session will take place toward the end of June – after graduation activities have concluded (more info to come) – integrating whatever contributions we can provide by that time
  • Scripture readers: 
  • Graduate Recognition:
    • Please RSVP if you have a pending graduate!
    • Please share bios/photos of your graduates, whether they’re finishing high school, college (any level), professional certification programs/training or other educational milestones that we may not have named here
    • In June, we’ll celebrate these young people in the church newsletter and other communication platforms (though not to social media unless we have permission to do so)
    • We want to include all Jackson-based youth plus any local youth (Bartlett, Conway, etc) connected as friends or members of our faith community
    • We welcome updates on other young people connected to our friends and members as extended family such as grandchildren (even if they live in other locations)
  • Music & Art contributions: 
    • If you are a musician or singer or artist, we continue to want to share your special music!
    • The contributions of several families have already made worship and other gatherings a richer, deeper experience, and more such offerings are welcome if and when you’re able to share them
    • Sacred and/or secular music selections are both welcome
    • Pre-recorded audio-only or video performances are best for now
  • Open-ended Outdoor Summer Challenges
    • With the help of Leaders-in-Training, we’ll offer a variety of active outdoor engagements that are educational and entertaining, and can be completed on the family’s schedule, such as scavenger hunts, letterboxing exploration, and more
By jacksonnhccPosted on Posted in Calendar, Home, YouthTagged , , , , , , , , , No Comments on Youth Programs: May & June

ANNUAL PLANT SALE SAT, MAY 30th • 9am-12pm

Corrected date (due to cold spring weather): ANNUAL PLANT SALE
Time: SAT, MAY 30th • 9am-12pm / Plant drop-offs 8-9 am
Location: Jackson Community Church parking lot
Raindate: Sun, May 31 • 1-4pm / Plant drop-off 12-1pm

  • Questions? Email Gloria: jcchurch@jacksoncommunitychurch.org
  • Donate plants: if you are fortunate enough to have an abundance of plants; perennials that need dividing,  extra seedlings, or a healthy houseplant looking for a new home…please consider donating to our sale! If you need pots, please help yourself to the ones under the outside stair at the church.
  • Drop off plants: Leave them at the Jackson Community Church (under the outside stairs) anytime starting Monday, May 18. If you wish to drop them off the morning of the sale, we will have a driv-thru area where we help you unload from 8 – 8:45am on Sat, May 30.  Please identify all plants dropped off.
  • Buy plants: Come the day of the sale to choose from a large selection of locally grown perennials, annuals, seedlings, and houseplants to enhance your home and gardens!
  • Proceeds support food-insecurity programs: The fundraising from this plant sale will help those suffering from food insecurity, both locally and internationally. 
  • Social distancing guidelines will be in place. 
    • No change will be given; so bring cash or checks, round up as needed, and drop your contribution in the container. Plants will be separated onto tables divided by priced.
    • Remember your face mask & gloves!
  • Also accepting shelf-stable food donations to go directly to serve locals with food insecurities. A basket will be placed on-site to collect items such as peanut butter, canned meals: canned soups & chilis, canned pastas, canned chicken or tuna, energy bars/granola bars, hiking snacks (individually packed), peanutbutter or cheese crackers.
  • Note: This fundraising event has been reviewed and approved by the town’s selectpersons and its emergency-response team and may operate with appropriate safety guidelines. It is considered an ‘essential service’ under agricultural functions.
By jacksonnhccPosted on Posted in Adult, Calendar, Home, OutreachNo Comments on ANNUAL PLANT SALE SAT, MAY 30th • 9am-12pm
Scroll to top