traditional worship
progressive theology
welcoming community
14 Laban Ainsworth Way, Jaffrey, NH 03452
Finding “Community” in New Ways
For almost a year, our weekly meditation videos bring First Church friends and members together, even while we are physically apart. Here we share some of the comments received about this new way of connecting people and nurturing spirituality.
Comments:
“My girls would usually be off at college now. But they’re home with us. We plan a specific time on a Sunday morning to sit together and watch the First Church YouTube for the week, sing along with the hymn if we know it, listen to the Scripture and David’s comments, and enjoy the special music. Afterwards we share thoughts about what we’ve just heard and what these mean to us. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to be together as a family, both the wider one and our own.”
“What a surprise and pleasure to encounter our ‘summer friends’ as readers for the beautiful Lessons and Carols video! Even though I didn’t get around to looking at this until several days after Christmas, the delay didn’t matter. The Lessons and Carols was so meaningful, and beautifully done, I shared the link with a good friend who is one of the Trustees at the church I attend in winter. Will see you all again this summer!”
“The Taizé video you created back in the fall has become part of my meditation time each day, even now. Thank you!”
“Putting an arrow on the line of the hymn so we can follow where ‘we’ are is a great idea. I’m started doing that for the Zoom broadcasts we send out from our church.”
“David’s message was ‘Just What I Needed’ once again… all the time!”
“Look at all the coverage we’ve received because of these videos: not just the local paper, but Keene and even a picture on the front page of the Concord paper, with an advisory to read the article on page 3. Wow!”
“Bible study and other meetings are taking place with Zoom. It’s not quite the
same as being together in one room, but it works.”
Our Music Production Crew At Work
IN SEARCH of a NEW PASTOR
First Church’s Ministerial Search Committee has been meeting every other week since early November via Zoom and has completed the standard UCC “Local Church Profile.” This document is in the form of questions based on three main categories:
Who is God calling us to become?
Who are we now?
Who is our neighbor?
Answers to these questions require considerable research and thought — such as visions for the future, core competencies we desire in a pastor, and how this church has handled change and conflict as well as detailed demographic and financial data and organizational structure descriptions. The Profile, now running more than 30 pages, will become available to candidates shortly.
Individuals interested in First Church should contact the NH UCC 140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, NH 03275-3711 or email nhcucc@nhcucc.org who can then provide the full First Church in Jaffrey Profile. All applications are routed through the New Hampshire Conference of the UCC, and not directly to FCiJ. The Conference provides candidates with our Profile, and after review, if interested, candidates’ profiles are sent to our Search Committee.
PREVIEWS, Mar 5, 2021
Dear Friends,
… as we move further into Lent, with hope that the stormy gales outside our doors and inside our beings find calm… may the music and meditations offered here by our team at First Church in Jaffrey this week enrichen us. Do set aside time and experience these.
The videos enable us to be together, even in times where intimacy seems almost impossible. YES, feel and know you are loved. Share these words and songs. Feel loved, as you are.
Love’s gifts
Enjoy. In your space…share with loved ones or, perhaps, in these days, there is a need to meet your self…. enjoying these thoughts, songs and hearts together. Be nurtured. Do this in your way — by voice, by message, by sight… feel LOvE. Love’s gifts
God does love the world
Even as we fear, we also hope. We experience frustration. For far too many — loss. Gift yourself with these photographs from New Hampshire and music from Stainer’s noted oratorio; sustain your inner selves and perhaps share with friends by watching together, if in different places in this new world of communication “virtual”…God does love the world
A Lenten sing-along
Here’s an opportunity to sing to your heart’s content. This hymn speaks of the 40 days and 40 nights Jesus passed in the ‘wilderness’ trying to come to terms with the choice before him: to go to Jerusalem, or not! A Lenten sing-along
Carol Hess
Moderator, the First Church in Jaffrey
PREVIEWS, Feb 26, 2021
Dear Friends,
We move into the second week of Lent, with its gifts and its challenges. Life so often is made up of mixtures, especially as we make our ways through these Covid 19 times. Here the Meditation Team presents just what this Lenten season calls for. Take time to enjoy, be renewed, be fed.
COVENANT FAMILY
Connecting with family, close friends, and casual buddies has become heart-ache-territory in these pandemic times. So, what about a story that speaks of the beginning of family-connections that are yours, and maybe not heard about or not considered in this light? FAMILY, yes, they are. Enjoy this meditation in early spring 2021; family is there, perhaps a surprise. Covenant Family
BE THOU MY VISION
In this setting by John Rutter the old Irish words “Be Thou My Vision oh Lord of our hearts” are offered by the music meditation team at the First Church in Jaffrey, NH. Truly a gift for these days and these times … Be Thou My Vision
Carol Hess
Moderator, the First Church in Jaffrey
PREVIEWS, Feb 19, 2021
Dear Friends,
This weekend the Meditation Team offers delicious sites, sounds and ideas. There are two good opportunities to engage in “sing-along”, too.
RAINBOWS of HOPE
Living on Noah’s ark — might be like us now in 2021? Are you looking for the dove? Would it help to sing and see if a sound comes back? The music ministry this week offers a Sing Along…tunes and words from Taize, other ecumenical easy-to-follow songs of the soul reflecting care, concern, calls to action and balm! In the safety of your own space and open your heart, sing out!. Be well, be safe, be healed, be hopeful.
Enjoy the rainbows. Rainbows of Hope
AFFIRMING A COVENANT
“Covenant” is a rich word, so much more nuanced than just plain old “commitment”…. Worth celebrating with many colors. The First Church in Jaffrey NH music ministry does, in this video. Affirming a Covenant
Blessings and wishes for health and peace,
Carol Hess
Moderator, the First Church in Jaffrey
PREVIEWS, Feb 12, 2021
Dear Friends,
This week has meant “heads-up” on so many fronts! The First Church in Jaffrey NH invites you to sit back and breathe, healthy and considerations for a bit.
Not ignoring stresses and concerns of today but bringing to mind resources for dealing with these.
Have you considered? Healing is possible in this confused social world… Messages this week proclaim: cleansing is real! We may crave it, or never realize that is what we should seek and find.
HEALING WATER
Water is essential to life. It comes in many forms and from many sources. This sharing from the music ministry at The First Church in Jaffrey NH offers healing for these times.
Carol Hess
Moderator, the First Church in Jaffrey
PREVIEWS
Dear Friends,
… Do we have wings? Do we wish to be held up by angels of the super-natural or human kind? These days it tends to be “comfort” that we ask for ourselves and loved ones. This weekend First Church richly responds with music, images and stories of comfort given in extraordinary circumstances. Riveting. Rewarding. Eagle’s Wings
Dawn is more than a word… Dawn brings visions, insights, hopes, and hardships. The First Church in Jaffrey music ministry brings you dawn, with the assurance that it comes on Eagles wings. Raising you up
Carol Hess
Moderator, the First Church in Jaffrey
PREVIEWS
Dear Friends,
Here comes the weekend meditation with hymn, scripture, message and song.
EXORCISING DEMONS
Do we live with DEMONS in the 21st century? This old word brings thoughts of witch trials or dark nights around a fire pit. Yet today we do live with demons; we call them something else. NAME your demon, and be cleansed by the music and words offered by The First Church in Jaffrey meditation team with scenes from the Monadnock Region of SW New Hampshire. Exorcising Demons
GIFTS BEYOND MEASURE
We cannot measure the gifts we are given and may not even recognize them when we receive. The music ministry at The First Church in Jaffrey NH provides a lullaby of sorts on this subject coupled with scenes from our surroundings. Gifts Beyond Measure
Stay WARM !
Carol Hess
Moderator, the First Church in Jaffrey
NEWS
Rev. Dr. Luther P. Durgin
In Memoriam Rev. Dr. Luther P. Durgin August 28, 1932 – December 16, 2020 Luther and Diane Durgin came to First Church in 2000 after a long career of settled ministry and interim ministry, occasionally as co-pastors. Together they mentored our intended minister Debbie Hill while she finished her studies at Andover-Newton Seminary. In addition to providing guidance to the minister-in-training, our congregation thoroughly enjoyed Luther’s leading worship one Sunday a month, with Diane doing so another Sunday, and Debbie contributing her developing skills on the other weekends. After a judicious 6 months following Debby Hill’s ordination and formal call to be the settled pastor,...
CARE AND PRAYER
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” John 14:15-17
The Holy Spirit has often been described as the Spirit of God, of Love, that human beings make manifest among one another. In this spirit, the Caring Circle relies deeply on the Holy Spirit as we seek to offer support to members, friends, and those in our wider community who are in need.
THE GREAT TAPESTRY THAT IS
FIRST CHURCH IN JAFFREY
We recognize that we each are on our own spiritual journey, a journey that will not end here. As members and friends of this church we pledge to be companions as we journey for as long as we travel together in this place. We do this by respecting each other’s understanding of and relationship to Jesus of Nazareth, whom some of us call Christ, while acknowledging our commitment to the broader fellowship of the United Church of Christ and the wider Christian family. ALL questions are welcome here!
Meditation For A Difficult Time
