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Children & youth opportunities in June!

  • Community Event: TRILLIUM SUMMIT
    8:30am-12:30pm • Whitney Community Center
    Initiative  to enrich and empower the lives of girls and women in Mt Washington Valley. Keynote by Riley Parkhurst. Includes interactive games, crafts, discussions, presentations
    and demonstrations. Girls and women will explore their own strengths, learn new skills, become better communicators and learn how to form healthy relationships with others. More info or to register for this program.
  • UCC Event: HORTON CENTER OPEN HOUSE
    All Day • Horton Center, Pine Mountain
    11am worship @ Castle Rock followed by BBQ, tours & games! All day! All are welcome to our Open House! Please call or email to register. No charge.

FAMILY CAMP
Horton Center, Pine Mountain (Off Rte 16 between Jackson and Gorham)
June 21-23
Rev Gail & Chris Doktor – Deans

  • Register for a weekend of outdoor adventures, family getaway, and faith engagement.

PEACE & EMPOWERMENT CAMP
8:30am-12:30pm • Mon-Fri, June 24-28
Jackson Community Church

  • Open K-6 plus CIT (counselor-in-training) positions for 7th-grade-and-older students.
  • Based (in part) on peace curriculum used at from Horton Center (led by Deans Chris and Gail Doktor June 21-23)
  • Focuses on peace and community activism
  • Contemplative practices
  • Music and arts
  • Development of spiritual practices to support this goal, draws on resources from Christian, Buddhist and other traditions
  • Register via eventbrite.
  • Free; donations accepted.
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Spring Youth & Family Program

FAMILY FUN NIGHTS: Fridays, May 3 & June 1
6-8pm

  • Pizza, games and connection for families.
  • Please RSVP to Rev Gail if you plan to attend these evenings.

SUNDAY SCHOOL
During 10:30am worship • Sun, May 5

  • Attend worship in church and then go to class.
  • Please RSVP to Rev Gail if you plan to attend.

YOUTH & FAMILY SUNDAY PROGRAM
9-10:15am • April 28, May 12, May 19, May 26

  • Start at Jackson Community Church, then go outside
  • Weather dependent: indoor option for inclement weather
  • Come dressed for outdoor activities such as hikes and exploration every Sunday morning.
  • Please RSVP to Rev Gail if you plan to attend, and indicate which dates you’ll be present.

YOUTH SUNDAY
10-11:30am • June 2
Jackson Community Church

  • Intergenerational choir
  • Special music by children and families … possibly a youth band?
  • Message by young adult connected with our community
  • Recognition of scout troops
  • Recognition of youth & young adults and their volunteer work in community
  • Recognition of community educators
  • Please RSVP to Rev Gail if you plan to attend

TRILLIUM SUMMIT
8:30am-12:30pm • Sat, June 8
Whitney Community Center

  • Watch for updates via Jackson enews and church email.
  • Worskhop with leadership panel, keynote speaker Riley Parkhurst, and world cafe engagement.
  • Designed by and for students.
  • Peer-led by middle and high-school leaders, with adult mentors.
  • Open to older elementary school students.
  • Both genders welcome, focus on girls & women’s issues.
  • Rev Gail will facilitate this workshop.

FAMILY CAMP
Horton Center, Pine Mountain
(Off Rte 16 between Jackson and Gorham)
June 21-23
Rev Gail & Chris DOktor – Deans

  • Register for a weekend of outdoor adventures, family getaway, and faith engagement.

PEACE & EMPOWERMENT CAMP
8:30am-12:30pm • Mon, June 24-Fri June 28
Jackson Community Church

  • Open K-6 plus CIT (counselor-in-training) positions for 7thgrade and rising students.
  • Based in part on peace curriculum taught by Deans Chris and Gail Doktor at from Horton Center (family camp June 21-23)
  • Focuses on peace and community activism
  • Development of spiritual practices to support this goal, draws on resources from Christian, Buddhist and other traditions
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This Week: MON, April 8 – SUN, April 14

THIS WEEK
at Jackson Community Church and Around Town

MON, April 8

  • BEREAVEMENT PRESENTATION
    4pm • Lesley University, Cambridge MA
    Rev Gail served as guest presenter for class in social work on the topic of bereavement.
  • SCOUT PACK 321
    6pm • Jackson Community Church
    Den meeting at church to work on ‘pew holders’ for sanctuary.

TUE, April 9

  • PASTORAL CARE in SOUTHERN NH & MA
    All Day • Rev Gail will be visiting people in hospital and rehab in Southern NH and MA.

WED, April 10

  • PASTORAL CARE in SOUTHERN NH & MA
    All Day • Rev Gail will be visiting people in hospital and rehab in Southern NH and MA.

THURS, April 11

  • BLISS YOGA with Anjali Rose
    9am • First Floor, Parish House / Jackson Community Church. Beginning stretch, flow and align yoga; safe for new practitioners. Weather dependent; if schools are delayed or closed, the class will be cancelled.
  • Community Event: GREENING the GRANITE STATE
    12pm • Tin Mountain Conservation Center
    Cynthia Nelson and Kathy Black of NH DES will present on several of the State’s programs designed to help improve the energy efficiency and resource waste. The NH Pollution Prevention Program is a free, confidential, non-enforcement, pollution prevention and compliance assistance program available to all NH businesses, institutions, municipalities and agencies. The presenters will also discuss the NH Green Hospitality Program, which is designed to recognize and promote businesses doing their part to reduce energy use, conserve water and reduce waste. The Green Hospitality Program is free and open to all restaurants and lodging facilities in New Hampshire.
  • Community Event: CRAIG ALTOBELLO ARTIST RECEPTION
    5pm • Tin Mountain Conservation Center
    Come meet the artist, see his work and mingle with friends! Stay for the great birding program that follows.
  • Community Event: BIRDS from TRINIDAD and TOBAGO
    7pm • Tin Mountain Conservation Center
    Join Charlie Nims on a pictorial exploration of the birds of Trinidad& Tobago from his recent travels.   
  • AA
    6:30pm • Second Floor, Church. 

FRI, April 12

  • PASTORAL CARE VISITS
    Morning  •  Rev Gail will be making pre-arranged visits.

SAT, April 13

  • Community & Church Event: UKRAINIAN EGG WORKSHOP
    9am • Whitney Community Center
    $3/pp ages 15+ / Co-sponsored with the Jackson Community Church
    Decorate your own holiday egg in the distinctive Ukrainian pysanka style, using wax-resist method on real egg. Melt beeswax over a candle, draw lines of way on a raw egg with a traditional waxing tool, dip the egg in dye, and watch your pattern appear. The finished eggs will be vernished and hollowed, creating a permanent keepsake. Space is limited please register at: whitneycommunitycenter@gmail.com.
  • Community Event: DUCKS & DONUTS
    8:30am-11am • At Meet at the parking lot at Fryeburg Academy Field House
    The streams and ponds are opening up and ducks are returning.  We’ll explore the old course of the Saco River and other open water in search of wood ducks, hooded mergansers, common golden eyes, and other early migrants.  Bring binoculars and we’ll bring the doughnuts!  Call 603-447-6991 for reservations. 

SUN, April 14: PALM SUNDAY

  • INTERFAITH GATHERING @ OLD LIBRARY
    8am • Old Library. Hot beverages available. Come for poetry, literature, conversation and prayer.
  • YOUTH & CHILDREN PROGRAM
    9am • Jackson Community Church
    Games and faith formation followed by intergenerational choir practice. Prep for singing and participating in worship at 10:30am.
  • CHOIR REHEARSAL
    9am • Jackson Community Church
    Ellen Schwindt works with church choir. Drop-ins welcome.
  • WORSHIP: PALM SUNDAY
    10:30am •  Jackson Community Church with Palm Procession by children & families.
    * Story: Rev Gail
    * Accompanist: Alan Labrie
    * Choir: directed by Ellen Schwindt
    * Baptism & New Family Celebration
  • Community Event: POETRY WORKSHOP
    2pm • Jackson Public Library
    Learn about poetic forms, and write your own poetry with professional poet, Sarah Audsley.
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Spring Youth & Children’s Programming

Quick overview of upcoming programming: 

  • Sun, Mar 31: 9am – Youth & Children Scavenger Hunt and Faith Formation followed by Intergenerational Choir Practice
  • Sun, Apr 7: 10:30am –  ‘Sunday School’ during worship with Lisa White as lead teacher
  • Sun, Apr 14 (Palm Sunday): 9am – Youth & Children Faith Formation Games followed by Intergenerational Choir Practice – stay for 10:30am worship with baptism (kids involved) plus choir performs in church
  • Sun, Apr 21 (Easter): 6am – Sunrise Service & 10:30am – Worship & Intergenerational choir performs during worship & 11:45am Easter Egg hunt after church
  • Sun, Apr 28: 9am – Youth & Children Games & Faith Formation
  • Sun, May 5: 10:30am ‘Sunday School’ during worship with Lisa White as lead teacher
  • Sun, May 12: 9am – Youth & Children Games & Faith Formation / 10:30am – Mother’s Day Worship (special speaker)
  • Sun, May 19: 9am – Youth & Children Games & Faith Formation9) 
  • Sun, May 26: 9am – Youth & Children Games & Faith Formation10) 
  • Sun, June 2: 10:30am – ‘Children & Youth Sunday’  – Intergenerational Choir, music by families/students (please let us know if you’d like to offer music), youth speaker

Family Weekend at Horton Center: June 21-23 (Fri-Sun)
Rev Gail & Chris Doktor serving as deans for this family camp! Registration info!

Peace & Empowerment Camp Summer Camp: June 24-28  at Jackson Community Church for grades K-6 plus counselor-in-training opportunities for students 7th grade and up. Lunch will be provided! We will run it one week, and possibly once more at the end of the summer, depending on response/registration. We’re collaborating with other local faith communities to welcome additional students. This camp is open to the community. We’ll work on concepts of Peace drawn from several cultures, based on curriculum from that Rev Gail is using as a dean this summer at Horton Center’s outdoor mountain top camp, including Aloha, Ubuntu, Haiwa, Si Se Puedo. Plus lessons in Empowerment. Spiritual learning will be part of the curriculum. Program also includes live music, games, arts, contemplative practices, outdoor excursions (weather permitting), reflections, and goal-setting.

Also: Bushee-Thorne Scholarships available for summer camps: application due ASAP. Return the scholarship application to me or the church email (jcchurch@jacksoncommunitychurch.org). 

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Lenten Resources for Families

Follow these links to PDFs, JPGs, or Word documents for calendars, devotionals and activity guides that you can use to count down the days of Lent. In particular, the “praying in color” ones also come with some directions to make this a contemplative, prayerful journal of daily experiences and emotions throughout Lent.

Day-by-Day activity/action calendar for Lent

Guides for things to do during Lent:

Devotional Lenten Resources
(to protect copyrighted materials, please contact Rev Gail — 978.273.0308 — if you want the materials below)

  • Reflections on Prayer – An Illustrated Lent
  • Seven Last Words – An Illustrated Holy Week/Good Friday Coloring Pages
  • Seven Last Words Devotional – An Illustrated Holy Week/Good Friday Activity
  • Stations of the Cross – An Illustrated Good Friday Activity
  • Stations of the Cross Devotional – An Illustrated Good Friday Activity

Praying in Color 2019 Lenten calendars:

Other Lenten Calendars which can be filled in day-by-day:

Quick Resources to Acquire for Family:These Stones Will Shout (downloadable on Amazon as Kindle Book onto phones for 99cents) daily devotional guide

Pauses for Lent: 40 Words for 40 Days (Kindle version for immediate download) or book version