Archive for Missions

A campaign of Love – the 2016 – 2017 Stewardship campaign

We’ve been inviting our congregation to bring pictures to Hope to be placed around the sanctuary that show Christ’s Love and Grace in our Church community.   As the webmaster I thought “hey, we have pictures here in the website, maybe I can put some of them up!”   This little slideshow is just a small snapshot of all the wonderful people and events that happen because Hope is here.   Come and join us this Sunday for the annual church celebration of our campaign and bring your own pictures that show the outpouring of Love from our community!

 

Plant Sale and Bake Sale

On May 7th we had our annual Plant Sale.  The Sunday School was also there selling baked goods and lemonade for the Heifer Project.

Hope’s Place Thanksgiving Meal and Ecumenical Service

Thanksgiving(2)On Tuesday, November 24th, Hope’s Place will be holding their traditional  Thanksgiving dinner. Dinner will be served at 6:00PM and no reservations are needed. We welcome community volunteers from Bell and Hudson who will be serving the meal. This is also a celebration of the third anniversary of Hope’s Place!

Dinner will be followed by an ecumenical  Thanksgiving service in our sanctuary. The service begins at 7:00PM and we welcome all to join us as we give thanks for the bounty that God has provided.

Heifer Farm Visit

Saturday October 3rd turned out to be a cold and drizzly day but a hardy group bundled up and grabbed their umbrellas and headed off to Rutland to visit the Heifer Farm to attend the Global Harvest Festival.  We spent the morning learning more about Heifer International and the way that they help impoverished families.  In their Global village we saw how people from other countries live.

 

Heifer digging potatoes

Justin and Ethan digging potatoes in the rain

Allison, Paige and Lauren making prayer flags

Allison, Paige and Lauren making prayer flags

 

We met llamas and alpacas, goats and rabbits, cows and sheep and yaks!  The children were able to participate in various hands on activities at each country’s site to help them learn about the culture.

Hannah and Ethan help with the apple press

Hannah and Ethan help with the apple press

We were then able to see and help make apple cider with a hand crank press!  For some of us the best part was the delicious warm cider that they had for us to sample; it was a real treat since we were pretty cold by then!

We ate our bag lunches in the community room of the barn and then finished up our visit watching a team of bareback riders who were giving a demonstration and of course a visit to the gift shop.

Abbie and Emily hamming it up!

Abbie and Emily hamming it up!

We are hoping to head back to the farm for another visit in the late winter when they have a pancake breakfast (or lunch).  We will be able to see the maple syrup being made and hopefully there will be lots of newborn sheep and goats.

The gang

The gang

“Buzz Off” Lyme Disease Event

Our own Lois Pare’ appeared on Mass Appeal today, November 10th, to promote an upcoming event to raise funds for the Lyme Disease Resource Center in Northampton.  The event is a Dinner/Dance that will take place this Sunday, November 15th at the American Legion Hall in Granby from 5 to 10 PM.

Tickets for the event can be ordered from the Lyme Disease website.   Check out Lois’ appearance on Mass Appeal to get more details about the event and to find out why it’s called “Buzz Off”!

Benefit Concert for Hope’s Place

musical notesOn Sunday, September 27 at 1:30 pm, The Narrow Gate will perform in the church sanctuary. The lead singer, Dave LeTellier, was the originator and lead singer for Cottonwood before retiring. The Narrow Gate is a faith based band with a twang toward country. LeTellier said in an interview, “I found that my musical abilities turned more positive, more inspirational and to more faith-filled lyrics. I just found it was more fulfilling and brought me closer to God, and brings others to God through my music.”
The concert is free, however, there will be a free-will offering taken at the end of the performance to benefit Hope’s Place, our monthly free community meal.
Please put this on your calendars and come out for a great cause and wonderful afternoon of music.