Lamplighter: May/June 2010
The Blessing of the Animals
Animals are the source of some of the richest blessings we experience. Animals provide us with food and clothing, transportation and labor, entertainment and humor, and above all companionship and love. We are so grateful for all of our friends and cousins in the animal kingdom. (You can joke about your relatives, but we humans are, after all, part of the animal kingdom!) How shall we give thanks for the animals? How about bringing them to church to be blessed?
For hundreds of years people have set aside special days for blessing the animals. Some say the tradition of blessing the animals goes all the way back to the 13th century monk, St. Francis of Assisi. Francis believed that all of the created world, the sun, the moon, the stars, the trees, and all the animals are part of our extended family and reveal something beautiful about their creator. Others say the tradition goes back even further – to the Bible itself. “The righteous take good care of their beasts,” says the Book of Proverbs.
This year I have a special reason to be thankful and her name is May. You see, my sister breeds Shetland Sheepdogs, otherwise known as “Shelties,” and she gave me the pick of a new litter. May is a beautiful eight-week old tri-colored girl, and we can’t wait to bring her home next week. One of the first things we’re going to do for May is to bring her to church to be blessed.
On May 16th at 10:00AM, we’ll be holding our annual “Blessing of the Animals” service. The service is open to everyone – and we’re bringing May. You too are invited to bring your furry, feathered, or scaled friends to be blessed. Not only dogs and cats, but “all creatures great and small” are welcome (you can even bring pictures of animals that can’t attend). The service will be held outdoors behind Riverside Cottage, unless it’s raining. If the weather is bad, we’ll move inside. Come to the Blessing of the Animals!
Steve Quinlan
Third Annual Strawberry Festival
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Hi Everyone! Here it comes!!!
On Saturday June 19th, from 11:00AM to 3:00PM the historic Litchfield Presbyterian Church will once again partner with the Litchfield Historical Society to celebrate family, friends and the beginning of summer with the third annual old-fashioned Strawberry Festival. The Strawberry Festival brings back memories of bygone days when rural communities often gathered to celebrate the seasons and share their bounty. The Strawberry Festival proudly features delicious homemade strawberry shortcake made with McQuesten Farm’s Litchfield-grown strawberries. You can also enjoy our famous sausage grinders, hotdogs, soft drinks, and amazing baked goods. Dine in the shade of an old maple tree or at a picnic table on the banks of the beautiful Merrimack River. There will be craft tables, raffle tickets, and more.
The Historical Society’s old town hall building will be open from 12:00 to 3:00 PM. You can tour the museum and see the many interesting local antiques and artifacts.
The Strawberry Festival Talks, an annual series of historical talks and stories, are a much-anticipated highlight of the day. This year, Mr. Peter Hendrick will be sharing the story of Elizabeth Richardson, a Litchfield woman who worked in the War Department during the Civil War and was friends with Mary Todd Lincoln. The Strawberry Festival Talks are scheduled to begin at 1:00P M at the Historical Society Building.
We are really looking forward to our third annual Strawberry Festival and the planning is already well under way. Below is a list of areas in which we’ll need help. Please let us know what you’ll be able to do.
- Strawberry picking, hulling and slicing (Friday Before)
- Shortcake baking
- Serving Strawberry Shortcake – yum!
- Famous Sausage Grinders – cooking and serving
- Soda and water selling
- Advertising/marketing/publicity
- Soliciting donations
- Setup/Cleanup
- Quilt Raffle ticket selling, Crafts and Cookbook selling
- Bake Sale Items – Baking and Selling
The main goal of the Strawberry Festival is to raise money for the continuing mission of the church, but also to have a good time and celebrate our wonderful community and our little country church! Please feel free to suggest to us any other ideas that you think might work.
The Strawberry Festival is always a lot of fun even while it’s a lot of work. So, thanks for helping. And please… spread the word!
Melanie and Steve Quinlan
Welcome New Members!
Litchfield Presbyterian – A Community Church recently received four new members into our congregation. We are delighted to welcome Joyce and Bill Kittredge, and Julie and Dan Doyle.
Bill and Joyce joined by letter of transfer from First Baptist Church in Hudson. Bill and Joyce have been together since high-school and traveled the world together during Bill’s career in the Air Force. They bring to us great wisdom and devotion to God. Bill and Joyce live on Nakomo Drive in Litchfield.
Julie and Dan have joined us by re-affirmation of faith. Julie is a guidance counselor in the Manchester City School District and Dan is a custodian at Bishop Guertin High School. Julie is from England, and when they were younger, they romanced in Spain. Ask them – it’s a story! The Doyles have already jumped into our church’s life with both feet. They live on Campbell Drive in Litchfield.
Take a Hike for Humanity
Come out and support local area Habitat for Humanity affiliates by raising money and hiking either at Mt. Monadnock (Jaffrey, NH) on May 22, 2010 or Blue Hills Reserve (Milton, MA) on June 5, 2010. For more information and to register for the event, visit www.takeahikeforhumanity.org.
Habitat for Humanity works to eliminate poverty housing throughout the world. In southern New Hampshire, this work is carried out through building affordable houses and also through repair projects. Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity had hoped to already be building a house in Milford, but they have run into some unforeseen issues. Greater Manchester Habitat for Humanity is undertaking a house renovation project at 50 Hosley Street in Manchester. We hope to get a group of people from the church to come out and work on a house this summer. Please continue to keep Habitat for Humanity in your prayers.
ABC Junction Closing
For many years Litchfield Presbyterian has been the site for pre-school and kindergarten classes. In the past the Kinder Klass, a church sponsored program led by Candace Hale, occupied the church basement. More recently, ABC Junction, a privately owned and operated preschool and kindergarten has rented the space for their classes. With the opening of a kindergarten in the Litchfield Public School system, the demand for privately run classes has dwindled, and so we have reached an end of an era. The church recently was informed that due to declining enrollment, and because of other commitments, at the close of the school year in June, ABC Junction is ceasing operations. We are sorry to see these good community partners close down and wish Mrs. Bois and Mrs. Vaillancourt all the best.
Second Saturday Community Breakfast
Our second Saturday breakfasts continue to grow and become known in the community. Join us for breakfast anytime between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 8 and Saturday, June 12. Breakfast consists of scrambled or fried eggs, bacon, sausage, home fried potatoes, home-baked muffins, coffee, and juice. Donations will be accepted and a portion of the proceeds benefit our community food pantry.
Did you know…?
- that Kim Tinkham and Alison Rivera are both expecting babies in July?
- that Sue Harman is still in Lahey clinic?
- that Bill and Joyce Kittredge joined the church?
- that the ABC Junction will be closing and is having a yard sale on June 12 at the church?
- that Julie and Dan Doyle joined the church?
- that the Deacons collect food from the Post Office food drive on May 8?
- that we are looking for talented guest musicians to add special music periodically to our worship service?
- that the Strawberry Festival is on June 19 this year?
Birthdays
- May 6: Wayne Hilson
- May 11: Joan Hall
- May 13: Lynda Sommer
- May 21: Nadine Collins
- May 31: Tara Hershberger
- June 14: Terry Jefferson
- June 17: Alison Rivera
- June 17: Melanie Quinlan
- June 23: Stephanie Marsden
- June 25: Esther Edwards
- June 25: Kim Tinkham
- June 26: Greg Lepine
- July 15: Amanda Murray
- July 15: Kay Hafker
- July 18: Betty Scofield
- July 25: Jessica McQuesten
Have something to add to the next newsletter? Email newsletter@litchfieldchurch.org
