It with deep sadness that we share the passing of Roger Paradis on July 9th at Exeter Hospital. While Roger was a beloved long-time attender at CCOR he was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Epping. His funeral will be held there on Thursday, July 16th at 11 AM. Calling hours are the night before from 4-7 PM at Brewitt’s Funeral Home in Raymond. A burial date will be set later. Our prayers and love go out Roger’s wife Sally, to his daughter Jane and son-in-law Don. May you know the solace of God’s peace.

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This Sunday, July 12th we hold our joyful ecumenical service on The Common at 9 am. We hope you will join us and your neighbors for worship! Plan to enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast before or after at the church (thanks to our crew and local Cub Scouts!)

Our outing to Star Island was great fun! We boarded the Challenger, listened to the lively narrator talk about the history of what we were seeing and snacked our way there. As the fog burned off we arrived, took a leisurely walk around the island, stopping in the grand Oceania Hotel and Chapel returning a little before one.

On Sunday, June 19th we will have a brief all-church meeting immediately following the service to vote on our new mission statement and nominations for the Pastoral Relations Committee (Sharon, Jon, and Lisa.) Then we’ll gather for a special luncheon in honor of Pastor Linda whose last Sunday is June 26th.

Planning for the Annual Chicken BBQ is in high gear.. This year the date is July 25th, 4:30- 6:30. This takes lots of work and preparation! The church and Tucker Lodge #99 work together to make this is a highpoint on the year. Umm!

~ Regina with her lovely granddaughters Katherine and Alexandra! ~

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If you know anyone in need, please be in touch. And as always, we welcome long-time members and visitors into the joy and fellowship of our sanctuary every Sunday at 10:30. No matter where you are on life’s journey you are welcome here. Music, prayer, friendship and joy form the foundation of our life together. There is always time of fellowship time to follow (with excellent goodies.) And please note that 211 NH is available for non-emergency assistance to find resources in your community for food, housing and more.

+ Several community groups meet in our building each week: AA groups, Adult Children of Alcoholics, and a Sunday afternoon craft group are all open to newcomers. Be in touch with Lisa for details at lstorck0789@gmail.com.

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+ We officially entered into covenant by the NH Conference of the United Church of Christ, and were joyfully welcomed at the statewide Prepared to Serve event in Pembroke on Feb. 28th (a wonderful day of worship and workshops) Our pastor and four of our attendees assisted with Communion in the morning. What a joyful occasion!

+ Pastoral Search Update: The NH UCC is assisting the congregation’s pastoral search team in securing a new (permanent) pastor as well as providing other resources we may need or want. We will also offer our gifts to our partner churches throughout the Conference. Those serving on the Pastoral Search Committee include Mike Mertinooke, Dana Zulager, Sharon Soles, & Susan Bruhmuller.

STOP BY FOR WORSHIP! We would love to have you join us any Sunday morning at 10:30. Our choir sings! The congregation sings and prays (and sometimes laughs a little,) scripture is read and reflected on– and then we spend time over goodies visiting, listening and getting to know each other. Consider this our heartiest invitation. Please feel free to bring a friend or family member. Every guest is welcomed with open arms. Worship lasts for about an hour.

                  Jesus depicted carrying home a single lamb, the centerpiece of our beautiful sanctuary stained-glass.

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WHO WE ARE

If this is your first visit here we offer a little background on who we are.

My name is Rev. Linda Lea Snyder and I serve this wonderful little church as part time interim pastor. Originally from Providence, RI I attended the University of RI and then, Andover Newton Theological School, receiving my Masters of Divinity degree in 1981. I now live happily in Nottingham on Lake Pawtuckaway. Kayaking, reading, my 3 grown children (and 2 wonderful grandsons) are, with ministry, my chief joys.

A little about the congregation…

The Congregational Church of Raymond (CCOR), UCC is a small and growing community of faith made up of long-time members and new members as well as a number of guests. Together we find supportive fellowship, a place to use our gifts to make a difference, and to explore what I call “holy questions.” Worship is traditional and innovative. We offer a big tent and welcome different perspectives — believing each person explores and discerns their own path to faith. (Important note: our coffee/tea time after worship is one of the best parts of Sunday morning.)

 As our 3-year interim season draws to a close I am filled with profound thanks– for you and to God– for all that taken place. Truly the Holy Spirit has been with us– healing, growing and organizing us, revealing our gifts and a new direction– daring us to live into God’s new thing for CCOR.