Category: Happenings Now

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Photo Album for October 24 Drama

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Fr. John McCausland leads congregational discussion of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector and the dramatic response to it written by parishioner Pat Karpen. In the parable (Luke 18:9-14), Jesus shows how we are often so full of ourselves and so intent on holding ourselves up in comparison to other people that we make no space to listen to our conscience, where God can get through to us.

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Sarah (Sonia Schuler), feeling defeated by her math class and fighting with her mother about it, turns to her boyfriend Colin (Ben Harrington) for what could be the wrong kind of comfort.

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Sarah’s guardian angel Esmeralda (Pat Karpen, right) rushes down from heaven to prick Sarah’s conscience. This is Esmeralda’s first assignment as an angel, and her supervising angel Cummings (Marge Burke on ladder in rear) occasionally has to interrupt with promptings.

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Sarah’s boyfriend Colin (Ben Harrington), encouraged by Esmeralda, brings Sarah the right kind of help, in the form of some math books, bringing the story to a happy end.

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Ben and Sonia lead prayers of Confession and Intercession composed for the occasion:

First Reader: O Lord, you know the thoughts of our hearts. Nothing is hidden from you. You know that each of us is both a Pharisee and a tax collector. We confess to you the sins of pride and self-protectiveness that close us from your love and cause us to look down on other people.

Silence is observed, after which the Community sings “O Lord, hear my prayer.”

Second Reader: Lord, we know that you come to us when we are honest with ourselves and reach out to you for guidance and help. We ask you now to forgive us our sins and lead us into the ways of truth and light which you show us in your Son Jesus Christ.

Silence is observed, after which the Community sings “O Lord, hear my prayer.”

First Reader: Lord, in our arrogance we turn away from the needs of others: the poor, the sick, those who are bullied or shunned; the lost, the lonely, the unattractive and unpopular. We pray for them now, asking that you open our hearts to them, for we too in our deepest souls know what it is to be as they are.

Silence is observed, after which the Community sings “O Lord, hear my prayer.”

Second Reader: Lord, we thank you for the blessings of this life, especially those things we take for granted. Help us to share our blessings with those less fortunate.

Silence is observed, after which the Community sings “O Lord, hear my prayer.”

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Happenings Now

Holy Cross “Talent” Show Photo Album

Those who shared their "talents" posed at the end of the evening with their "prizes."
Those who shared their “talents” posed at the end of the evening with their “prizes.”
The Douzanis children, dressed in Tyrolean costume, sang some German songs with their grandfather.
The Douzanis children, dressed in Tyrolean costume, sang some German songs with their grandfather.
John Harrington and Will Townsend took the comedy award as "little maids from school" in a piece from Gilbert and Sullivan's "Mikado."
John Harrington and Will Townsend took the comedy award as "little maids from school" in a piece from Gilbert and Sullivan's "Mikado."
Marge Burke read three of her poems, some funny, some moving.
Marge Burke read three of her poems, some funny, some moving.
Maddy Goulet was a cat in a charming dialogue with her dad, Mike.
Maddy Goulet was a cat in a charming dialogue with her dad, Mike.
Yvette Desmarais sang a funny song about a woman who went through life complaining, especially about cleanliness, only to end up buried in . . . dirt.
Yvette Desmarais sang a funny song about a woman who went through life complaining, especially about cleanliness, only to end up buried in . . . dirt.
Shirley James told a great story about her husband Bill sixty years ago hopping a freight train to ride home after his late shift at the mill, only to find that he couldn't get off again.
Shirley James told a great story about her husband Bill sixty years ago hopping a freight train to ride home after his late shift at the mill, only to find that he couldn't get off again.
Fr. John and Anne McCausland sang "We Sing a Song of a Church in Weare" to the tune of "We Sing a Song of the Saints of God."
Fr. John and Anne McCausland sang "We Sing a Song of a Church in Weare" to the tune of "We Sing a Song of the Saints of God."

Here are the lyrics of John and Anne’s song, a tribute to Holy Cross Church through the years:

WE SING A SONG OF A CHURCH IN WEARE

We sing a song of a church in Weare, —-

                built in eighteen ninety- two,

by farmer folk who came to pray to the Lord they loved and knew.

Some were named Buxton and some were named Clough,

                some were named Breed, they were all strong and tough,

Episcopal saints of God true enough,

                and we mean to be saints too.

 

Now that little church kept going for years

                served by priests from St. Paul’s School,

who rode on horseback through woods and fields

                to teach the Golden Rule.

But one day the Feds came to build Everett Dam,

                and condemned the church just like that: slam bam!

paid them twenty thousand dollars to buy their land,

                took those farmers for some kind of fool!

 

But Holy Cross just would not give up,

                they moved their church on a truck.

Once again they prayed and worked

                and showed their saintly pluck.

They installed indoor plumbing and enlarged the church,

                called two young priests after careful search,

both of whom then moved on, leaving them in the lurch,

                so again it seemed they were stuck.

 

But Holy Cross still would not give up,

                told the Bishop they weren’t done yet.

Led by Ashworth and Knowles, Stehno and Starr

                they set out a new priest to get.

And as luck would have it, Father John and Anne

                came to see Holy Cross and said, “Yes we can,

we’ll come be with you, and together we’ll plan,

                a future that’s strong and true.”

 

Who would have guessed what that future held,

                the people who’d come through the door:

they filled that old church with folks young and old

                till the building would hold no more.

The Burkes and the Arvins, Harringtons and Roys,

                Yvette, Bobbi-Jo and her two boys,

they filled Holy Cross with a joyful noise,

                these saints of the Lord so true.

 

 

Then build a new church they set out to do,

                Donald Burke was put in charge;

and if problems arose in how to proceed,

                why, Donald could always ask Marge.

Father John helped raise money, Scott Arvin drew the plan,

                Craig Bland did the heating, they worked with elan,

the Bishop gave his blessing , said “Yes, you can,

                “you’re saints of the Lord it’s true!”

 

So now a new chapter lies just ahead,

                for the saints of Holy Cross.

But strong and together, in the Spirit one,

                they’re never at a loss.

Time, talent and treasure, if all do their part,

                with joyful thanksgiving in each one’s heart,

they’ll lift high the cross and God’s love impart,

                these saints of today in Weare.

                 

 

The audience thoroughly enjoyed the talent, stomachs full of potluck supper dishes.
The audience thoroughly enjoyed the talent, stomachs full of potluck supper dishes.
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Happenings Now

St. Francis’ Day Blessing of Animals

Ben Harrington, Connor Houghton and Ryan Compagna read stories of St. Francis and the animals as Henry and Henriette the chickens await their blessing in their box.
Ben Harrington, Connor Houghton and Ryan Compagna read stories of St. Francis and the animals as Henry and Henriette the chickens await their blessing in their box.
Officer Kelly and the new Weare K9 dog were a special hit at the blessing. The dog, presently just designated 26, showed a special interest in Tom Beland's rabbits. So criminal bunnies better watch out around Weare!
Officer Kelly and the new Weare K9 dog were a special hit at the blessing. The dog, presently just designated 26, showed a special interest in Tom Beland's rabbits. So criminal bunnies better watch out around Weare!
Baronness, Martha Peterson's horse, gets her blessing.
Baronness, Martha Peterson's horse, gets her blessing.
Chamois (Shammy?), John Heckman's new puppy, probably won the cuteness award.
Chamois (Shammy?), John Heckman's new puppy, probably won the cuteness award.
A great turn-out of human animals came for the blessing.
A great turn-out of human animals came for the blessing.
Bonnie the goat, with Holy Cross treasurer Yvette Desmarais.
Bonnie the goat, with Holy Cross treasurer Yvette Desmarais.
Shannon Tolley of Holy Cross and Shannon Camaro of the S.P.C.A. made it happen!
Shannon Tolley of Holy Cross and Shannon Camaro of the S.P.C.A. made it happen!
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Happenings Now

Weare Patriotic Celebration Photo Album

"Queen Alice" waves from the seat of Thom Thomas's 1964 Cadillac.
"Queen Alice" waves from the seat of Thom Thomas's 1964 Cadillac.
At the other end of the age spectrum, Joel also enjoyed a ride in the parade.
At the other end of the age spectrum, Joel also enjoyed a ride in the parade.
Will Townsend's flag-decked truck carried riders on an old church pew.
Will Townsend's flag-decked truck carried riders on an old church pew.
Fr. John wore an Uncle Sam hat complete with patriotic dreadlocks.
Fr. John wore an Uncle Sam hat complete with patriotic dreadlocks.
Terry Knowles and Kathleen Kenyon rode in style in Eric Peterson's convertible.
Terry Knowles and Kathleen Kenyon rode in style in Eric Peterson's convertible.
Brianna was in charge of the pole flying the Holy Spirit dove at the head of the line.
Brianna was in charge of the pole flying the Holy Spirit dove at the head of the line.
Kathleen Kenyon offered face painting at our booth after the parade.
Kathleen Kenyon offered face painting at our booth after the parade.
Hunter, Aidan and Brooke kept step with Fr. John and their grandmother, Diane Beland.
Hunter, Aidan and Brooke kept step with Fr. John and their grandmother, Diane Beland.
Annabelle decorates her T-shirt with garden designs for the parade.
Annabelle decorates her T-shirt with garden designs for the parade.
Jorja had the biggest bloom in God's garden.
Jorja had the biggest bloom in God's garden.
Mr. Brown wasn't the only one with his tongue hanging out by the end of the march.
Mr. Brown wasn't the only one with his tongue hanging out by the end of the march.
Tired marchers hitch a ride back to their cars at parade's end.
Tired marchers hitch a ride back to their cars at parade's end.
Yvette Desmarais and Anne McCausland try to move baked goodies in the afternoon heat.
Yvette Desmarais and Anne McCausland try to move baked goodies in the afternoon heat.
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Happenings Now

“Come and See” Survey Results

Twenty people answered the “Come and See” evaluation survey. Two-thirds of them reported inviting at least one family or individual to attend one of the three Come and See Sundays in April and May. This probably means that those who “got with” the project are disproportionately represented in the responses, which could skew the results towards the positive side. In any event, of the respondents, 47% were strongly positive overall to the project, 42% positive, and 10% somewhat negative. The negative responses reflected a feeling on the part of a few people that too much pressure was put on everyone to invite someone.

“I was pleasantly surprised at how many people came,” wrote one respondent. “I thought the concept to be a good fit for Holy Cross,” said another. “It was fun meeting new people and greeting old friends.” “I was thrilled to see the extra people at church.” “Valuable approach to encourage me to reach out.” “When we do good we must tell someone. We do and we did!” “The materials and the diocesan support really helped make this a good program. I think we could do more advertising with more lead time and more planning, but overall it seemed to unite people and bring new life into the parish. I wish we could find more young families interested in church.” “I had a lot of anxiety at first,” said one person, probably speaking for others. “But having the cards and the thank-you cards to follow up helped break the ice with those I invited. I could write to them first and then follow up, which was much more comfortable for me.

Those who explained why they didn’t invite anyone had a variety of reasons, including fear of rejection if someone said no (as many did!), people they know having a negative view of organized religion, living at too great a distance from church, and not being available on the designated Sundays.

There were some helpful suggestions for the program if or when we do it again. A number of people thought that more lead time, more training and more thorough planning would be helpful — reflecting the fact that the timetable for the project was indeed very tight. Some people suggested doing such a program annually; one person suggested a quarterly Come and See Sunday; one person suggested more emphasis on the invitation pledge forms.

One of the respondents was a person who had been invited to “Come and See.” “I was touched by the welcoming nature of the congregation and the priest,” she wrote. “I was compelled by the honesty and intelligence of the sermon. I think I’ve become a regular. I am reading and thinking. Asking. Reading a bit more [about the Anglican approach to Christianity]. Praying.” What a nice response!

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Happenings Now

Annual Barbecue and Yard Sale Photo Album

Nancy Stehno and Dani Bond-Ishak trades laughs over watermelon and rolls.
Nancy Stehno and Dani Bond-Ishak trades laughs over watermelon and rolls.
Old tools, always of interest to guys at the yard sale.
Old tools, always of interest to guys at the yard sale.
Yardsale faces: Abbie, soon to be a Florida coed.
Yardsale faces: Abbie, soon to be a Florida coed.
Yardsale faces: Motorcycle Mike
Yardsale faces: Motorcycle Mike
Yardsale faces: Aidan and Ian, boys of summer.
Yardsale faces: Aidan and Ian, boys of summer.
Kitchen crew: Cathy Arredondo and Dani Bond-Ishak.
Kitchen crew: Cathy Arredondo and Dani Bond-Ishak.

Down South they call it the "gospel bird."

Down South they call it the "gospel bird."

 

 

Waiting customers: the Combs family.
Waiting customers: the Combs family.
Happy eaters.
Happy eaters.
A wll-earned rest.
A well-earned rest.
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Happenings Now

Parishioners Share Emmaus Moments

On the Sundays during Easter this year, Holy Cross, Weare, members shared “Emmaus Moments” with the congregation. The project, which was received with warm appreciation, grew out of Holy Cross’s experience in recent years with “Ministry Minutes” during the fall pledge season. Like Ministry Minutes, Emmaus Moments were about 3-5 minutes long, offered right before the Peace. Where Ministry Minutes deal with people’s feelings about the parish and what it means to them, Emmaus Moments have a broader focus.

The name comes from the passage in Luke 24:13-35, in which two dejected disciples are walking away from Jerusalem on the afternoon of the first Easter. As they go, they are joined by a stranger, who explains how Scripture anticipated the crucifixion of Jesus. Inviting this stranger to dine with them when they reach their destination, the village of Emmaus, they realize “in the breaking of bread” that he is Jesus himself. So Emmaus Moments are accounts of times in people’s lives when the God of Jesus Christ seemed to break through and be particularly close to them.

The participants in the Emmaus Moments project chose very different moments to share with the congregation. Marge Burke led off with the feeling of Christ’s intimate closeness and reassurance she had received on learning of her mother’s terminal illness. Her husband Donald shared his experience of overcoming fear while sailing through a hurricane on a Navy LST. Will Townsend talked about the new understanding he’d gained of the presence of God in Scripture after reading a book by Bishop John Spong, which had opened his eyes to a non-literalist way of receiving biblical authority. High school senior Abbie Stehno talked about the trip she made with classmates during spring break to work with Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans, where in nailing siding next to people who would be occupying the house they were working with, she realized that she was not just building a house, but a home. Her spiritual reflections on the trip were consolidated as she sat for three hours by the roadside in New Jersey on the trip home after the bus broke down! Tina Compagna talked about how God was revealed to her through the suffering of her mother from chronic illness. Laura Starr-Houghton’s Moment had to do with the birth of her son, suffering from a serious birth defect; it was particularly poignant because Connor, now a healthy 6 foot 4 inch high school junior, was being confirmed that afternoon.

Continue reading “Parishioners Share Emmaus Moments”
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A Lenten “Pilgrimage” to Marklin Candle

Tammi and Garrick pose beside "Big Bertha," the fattest candle Marklin makes.
Tammi and Garrick pose beside "Big Bertha," the fattest candle Marklin makes.

Two maxims express the spirit of Marklin Candle in Contoocook and guide its work: “God is in the details” (the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe) and “None [church furnishings and objects] should be made in such a way that it is far removed from the print of the human hand and human craft” (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Environment and Art in Catholic Worship). Our hour-long tour of the Marklin plant and shop (yes, they have a gorgeous gift shop with both religious and secular items for sale) was very much like an hour-long worship service (only more exciting than many of these!).

Martin Marklin displays one of his company's hand-crafted Paschal candles.
Martin Marklin displays one of his company's hand-crafted Paschal candles.

Most candle companies offer only mass-produced goods. Decorations are superficial and often deteriorate in use. Marklin has developed special techniques for incising their candles and then filling the designs with colored waxes. They also follow painstaking procedures for blending waxes, double dipping, smoothing and sizing candles. Besides Paschal candles, which they ship all over the world, they make a variety of altar candles, baptismal candles, candles for special events (not all religious) and decorative candles for the home. Nor are candles their only product. The Holy Cross group saw some of the liturgical furnishings (Paschal and Advent candle stands, ambos, altars, presider’s chairs) they make in their plant.

A Marklin craftsman works on the Holy Cross candle.
A Marklin craftsman works on the Holy Cross candle.

Owner Martin Marklin grew up in a Roman Catholic parish in St. Louis (also named Holy Cross). His pastor was deeply affected by the liturgical movement that grew out of, and helped shape, the Second Vatican Council and its reforms — as well as parallel reforms in the Episcopal Church, culminating in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. An old Polish woman each year decorated the Holy Cross Paschal candle. When she died, the Marklin family figured out how she had done this and took over her ministry. Out of this grew Martin Marklin’s vocation of crafting fine liturgical appointments and his company, now 25 years old. Most of the processes and equipment in the plant have been designed and built by Marklin itself. Its employees are as dedicated to care and beauty as its owner.

A note about Paschal candles: The word paschal means Easter, coming from the Greek word for Passover. At the heart of all Christian worship down through the ages is the liturgy celebrated on the eve of Easter Day, the Great Vigil of Easter. Beginning traditionally in the dark (in the days before Daylight Saving Time and when people were up to spending all night at church), the service begins outofdoors with the kindling and blessing of the New Fire. From this the Paschal candle is lit and carried into the church, symbolizing Christ the Light of the World, triumphing over death and darkness. An ancient hymn, the Exsultet, is sung as the candle is placed in its stand beside the ambo or lectern. It will burn there throughout the 50 days of Easter, and afterwards will stand by the baptismal font where it is lighted at baptisms. (It also burns beside the casket at funerals, symbolizing the Christian hope of the resurrection of the dead.) Paschal candles come in many sizes. The Holy Cross candle is 3″ x 36″, a nice large size; it rests in a wrought iron stand made for Holy Cross by a local Weare blacksmith. Marklin makes Paschal candles that weigh as much as 75 pounds, requiring two deacons to carry them into the church at the Vigil. Every year on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter), Martin Marklin rises in the dark to pray at the very hour that one of his candles is being lighted at the Easter Vigil in Guam, where Easter Day first dawns on the world.
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Happenings Now

Mutual Ministry Review Report

Every three years, each congregation in the Diocese of New Hampshire goes through a process called at Mutual Ministry Review. This is a chance for the congregation to talk about what has been going on in the parish, what excites people and where they see strengths, and then to look at areas where work needs to be done and – most important – where they discern God calling them to grow in the next few years. This fall Holy Cross has been conducting an MMR and the following is the report on the process we went through and the goals and plans adopted by the Vestry for the next two years.

Continue reading “Mutual Ministry Review Report”