Sun, Nov 21 Pre-Thanksgiving Sunday Worship
SUN, NOV 21
INTERFAITH GATHERING
- INTERFAITH GATHERING: 8am • Old Red Library next to church (indoors) & Zoom (link required)
Poetry and conversation. Join us. Bring your own hot beverage on cold mornings! - NO VIRTUAL CHOIR (finish recordings and return to Billy Carleton)
- WORSHIP IN-PERSON & VIRTUALLY ((link required)
10:30am • Sanctuary & Zoom (link required)- Join us for worship with music, scripture, prayer and reflection.
- Live music by Alan Labrie
- Message with Rev Gail Doktor
- In-person attendance requires social distancing and masking for all attendees (additional precautions may be changed based on COVID stats and CDC guidelines).
- 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.
- Community Events: MUSIC AROUND TOWN
- Shannon Door: Sheehan & Holden • 6-9pm
- Red Parka: Blue Sunday with John Lackard Band • 5-8pm
Lenten Devotional – MON, Mar 22: Persecuted
Commentators connect this week’s blessings with the earlier Beatitude passage about peacemakers. All the blessings are integrated. One scholar writes, ‘Here again there is a profound significance in the order. The work of the peacemakers is not a light and easy work.’ When believing in, and working for, a righteous or just cause, a person may suffer ridicule or harm.
What does persecution mean? Why would we ever put ourselves in a position to experience it?
Perhaps the threat or damage is verbal or physical, psychological or emotional, personal or social. It can come in the form of insults and lies, gossip and judgment. It may mean torture or bullying.
The reason for which one experiences the persecution is integral to the blessing. The reason — the cause that speaks to our values — is the only reason we’d risk anything that could be called persecution.
The people who are persecuted have found something for which they’re willing to take risks. They are folk choose uncommon, even revolutionary paths, in the sense of going against public opinion. They’re committed.
They’re the family, friends, neighbors and strangers we’ve met in earlier Beatitudes. The pure-hearted, who are single-minded and whole-hearted. The meek, who are kind but strong when they choose to hold their ground.
This state of being includes those who are passionate about their faith, and what it calls them to do for other people we also see in the Beatitudes: the hungry, the poor, the sorrowing, the powerless, the marginalized, the vulnerable, the hurt, the broken. Do you recognize yourself in this description, as one who will stand up for others, because of your faith-based values? — Rev Gail
MEDITATIONS:
Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road. ― Voltaire
They can take our homes, our possessions. Our families. Our lives. They can drive us out, like they’ve driven us out before. They can humiliate us and dehumanize us. But they cannot take our thoughts. They cannot take our talents. They cannot take our knowledge, or our memories, or our minds. ― Amy Harmon
Challenge or Question: What causes require that you put yourself at risk, either exposed to public opinion or in some other form? Have you ever felt persecuted? Or perhaps, upon reflection, have you ever participated in the persecution of another person?
This Week: WED, Feb 20 – SUN, Feb 24
THIS WEEK
at Jackson Community Church and Around Town
WED, Feb 20
- TUNE UP FITNESS with Laurie McAleer
9:30am • Parish House.Fitness class. Free; open to public. These classes will continue through the end of February, then the instructor will re-evaluate whether she can continue into March. Classes remain weather dependent; if schools are delayed or closed, the class will be cancelled. - PROTESTANT CHAPEL ASSOCIATION MEETING
4pm • Parish House / Church Library, Second Floor. - COUNCIL MEETING
7pm • Parish House / Church Library, Second Floor.
Open meeting of church staff, officers and team leaders to make governing decisions for the operations and mission of the church. Any friends or members welcome to attend.
THURS, Feb 21
- FLOW & ALIGN 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. - AA
6:30pm • Second Floor, Church.
FRI, Feb 22
- PASTOR’s DROP-IN HOURS
7-9am • J-Town Deli
Come for caffeine, conversation. Or make a separate date to meet with Rev Gail by calling her cell (978) 273.0308 or email. - PASTOR’s OFFICE HOURS
9:30-11:30am • Church. Drop by or make an appointment to meet with Rev Gail by texting or calling her cell (978) 273.0308 or by email. - Community Event: GUIDED SNOW SHOE TOURS
10am & 1pm • Start from Jackson XC Ski Touring Center
$15 includes ticket and tour; rental equipment available. Tours are approx. 90 minutes. More info.
SAT, Feb 23
- Private Event: AVALANCHE CLASS
All Day • Jackson Community Church
Private class providing instruction to outdoor athletes and emergency responders for avalanche preparedness and response. - Community Event: GUIDED SNOW SHOE TOURS
10am & 1pm • Start from Jackson XC Ski Touring Center. $15 includes ticket and tour; rental equipment available. Tours are approx. 90 minutes. More info. - Community Event: FAMILY SNOW SHOE TOUR
10am -Noon. Meet at the Dr. Michael Cline Memorial Forest parking area on Bald Hill Rd, Tin Mountain Conservation Center.
Who’s been here? Was it a fox, a bobcat, or even a fisher? Learn the four basic mammal track patterns and enjoy the morning outside on Tin Mountain’s new Bald Hill property. Families of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. Dress warm and bring snowshoes or borrow ours. Call 447-6991 for reservations. More info. - United Church of Christ Event: PREPARED to SERVE8am – 8:45 am Registration and Refreshments / 9am – 4pm Workshop • Pembroke Academy,
209 Academy Road, Pembroke, NH
Walk-in registration welcome. Download the event brochure to get a preview of this year’s workshop selections. The church will reimburse the registration fee for this event for anyone from our community who wishes to attend! Rev Gail will be attending. Full schedule includes time for worship, attending workshops, viewing exhibits, and enjoying food and fellowship with folks from all over New Hampshire. Over 50 different workshops offered on a variety of topics.
SUN, Feb 24
- INTERFAITH GATHERING @ OLD LIBRARY
8am • Old Library. Hot beverages available. Come for poetry, literature, conversation and prayer. - BLESSING of BODIES, BOOTS & BINDINGS
9:15am • Jackson XC Ski Touring Foundation
Rev Gail offers blessings to staff, volunteers and skiers. - WORSHIP
10:30am • Jackson Community Church.
* Story: Rev Gail
* Accompanist: Alan Labrie - Community Event: BIZARRE BIRDS
7pm • Jackson Public Library
An exciting nature program “Bizarre Birds of the World” with Steve Hale, owner of Open World Explorers. With over 10,000 bird species in the world, there are some amazing featured creatures that stretch our understanding of what it means to be a bird. This entertaining and educational program features extreme examples of birds and bird biology. Some of the special birds included in this program are the Hoatzin, Kakapo, Oilbird, Standard Wing Nightjar, and more. For more details, visit www.openworldexplorers.com. This lecture is free and open to the public, although a $5 donation is welcome. For more information, please contact the Jackson Public Library at 603-383-9731.
SAVE THESE DATES
WAY STATION WORK DAY
SAT, MAR 2
9am – 4pm
Nativity Lutheran Church
Come help paint and prep more rooms at Nativity Lutheran Church in order to welcome guests of the Way Station, a day resource center to provide essential services to the valley’s homeless and housing insecure population, including showers, laundry, internet access, post office box, lockers and more. Wear old clothing, supplies and paint will be provided! Staff and members of our church are serving as some of the motivating people behind the startup and opening of this new organization! Staff and members of our church are helping kick-start this initiative.
FAT TUESDAY &
MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION
Tue, Mar 5 • 6-8:30pm
- Authentic New Orleans recipes (buffet style)
- Warm-up music by KHS student jazz ensemble
- Featured music: live jazz with Heather Pierson’s trio!
- Come for food & fun & music!
- Dance and dine with friends!
- Wear some bling, but we’ll have plenty of fun beads and costumes to share!
- Suggested donation $5/pp or $10/family.
ASH WEDNESDAY
Wed, Mar 6
- ASHES to GO
7-9am @ JTown Deli & Noon-5pm / Church - ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Ecumenical Observance facilitated by Clergy of the Eastern Slope
6:30pm • Center Conway Methodist Church
This Week @ JCC & around Town: Aug 13-19
At church: balance class, fitness classes, yoga class, Sunday worship services. Community events: day resource center planning team, library book group, farmer’s market, concerts in valley, run or walk up Black Mtn, fundraising bike ride. Take note of upcoming events in which JCC will participate: fundraising walks, retreat.