Litchfield Presbyterian

This sermon was recorded on January 31, 2010. To listen to this Sermon Audio recording  Click Here.

This sermon was recorded on January 10, 2010. To listen to this Sermon Audio recording  Click Here.

Jim and Bekki Spotts have been members of our church for about two years now.  Both Jim and Bekki are graduates of the United States Coast Guard Academy, and Jim is currently serving as commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma.  Right now, Jim and the crew of the Tahoma are engaged in life-saving relief efforts in Haiti.  On Friday, January 15 a feature article appeared in the Washington Post detailing the work that Jim is heading up in Haiti.

According to the article, “At first 10 children came, then 20, then 50. Finally, more than 100 young earthquake victims crowded into the clinic, where crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma were delivering desperately needed medical supplies and assistance late into the night.

“It was one of those days where we didn’t keep count. We treated a bunch of kids. We saved a lot of lives,” said Cmdr. Jim Spotts, commanding officer of the Tahoma, weary but still working with his crew at 9:15 p.m. But, he added, “a lot of older people had to wait.”

According to the article, Jim “brings his own expertise on Haiti. A former Coast Guard intelligence manager who has worked both the northeast and southeast marine borders near Canada and the Caribbean, Spotts from July 2008 until last May served as military liaison to Haiti at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince — contributing to largest previous relief operations in the region, after four hurricanes smashed Haiti in 2008.

Tuesday’s earthquake, Spotts said, left his former colleagues reeling. At Haiti’s century-old former Admiral Killick naval base, now a Coast Guard station that houses a Sri Lankan battalion and a Uruguayan maritime police unit that are part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, “only two or three structures” are left standing. It’s been hard,” Spotts said. “Obviously we need medical supplies . . . then food and water, and essentially the rebuilding of the entire city of Port-au-Prince,”  Spotts said.”

For more information and an interview with Commander Spotts, you can visit the WMUR TV 9 website.

Please pray for Jim and Bekki, their children Meredith and Ben, and for the crew of the Tahoma and the people of Haiti in these very difficult days.

Millions of people have been affected by a major earthquake that struck the country of Haiti on Tuesday, January 12. As the extent of the devastation in Haiti gradually becomes clear, people of faith and good will search for meaningful responses. Our first response is to join our hearts in prayer:

Let us pray,

God of compassion

Please watch over the people of Haiti,

Surround those who have been affected by this tragedy

with a sense of your ever-present love,

and hold them in faith.

Though they are overwhelmed by grief,

May they find in you some comfort;

Guide us as a church

to find ways of providing assistance

that may heal wounds and give hope.

Help us to remember that when one of your children is injured

we all suffer – Amen.

Beyond our prayers, there are other important ways we can help. Read the rest of this entry »

The January/February edition of the Lamplighter has been released.  Haiti, church library, breakfast, sermon audio, prayer shawl ministry, corned beef.

Join us again on the second Saturday of the month for our community breakfast.  Come for breakfast between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. this Saturday, January 9.  Gather in Hale Hall (the basement of the church) and share some good food and fellowship.

This year we are going to be traveling around Litchfield singing Christmas Carols on Sunday, December 20 from 3 – 5 p.m. We would like to leave the Fire Station at 2:45. There will be a school bus for all of us to ride. After caroling those who want can come with us out to eat at Romanos. Hope you can help us spread some Holiday Cheer

Merry Christmas!

Starting this month, we are going to start offering a community breakfast on the second Saturday in Hale Hall (the basement of the church).  Join us any time from 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 12 for a hearty breakfast.

The Deacons have put up the angel tree in the back of the church sanctuary.  This year we have 88 children that we are looking to find Christmas presents for.  Each child is represented by an angel on our Christmas tree.  A description of what the child wants for Christmas is written on the angel.  Choose an angel (or three) and then go Christmas shopping.

We are asking that presents be dropped off at the church (unwrapped) by by Thursday, December 17.  Thank you for your generosity.

Read all about it!  November/December 2009 Lamplighter Newsletter.  Free Breakfasts!  Christmas Eve! Giving!